Add MS 89161/3/19

Various personal letters, ordered alphabetically, including at the end of the list four letters from individuals not identified:

• Arthur Adamov. Typed letter (in French) signed, dated 15 May 1962. Refers to Michael Bakewell and Martin Esslin, and to having sent 'la version radiophonique du Printemps 71 (quell travail!) à Esslin'.
• Arthur Adamov. Three typed letters (in French), signed, dated 30 June and 4 July 1962, and 25 February 1963. Addressed to 'Cher ami' [Michael Bakewell], the letters refer to the English premiere, at Unity Theatre, of Adamov's play Le Printemps 71 and to a visit by the film critic Bernard Dort (France-Observateur).
• Alan Ayckbourn. Autograph letter signed to Jack [Emery]. Scarborough, 19 March (year not indicated). 'Many thanks to you and Joan for thinking of us during the first night at the Lyttelton.' Ayckbourn is 'back at Scarborough directing Noel Coward to open the season here'.
• Rowan Ayers. Printed e-mail, 22 July 2007. 'If anyone ever mentions Line Up, I instinctively think of you, as probably the most enduring member of that illustrious gang of insurgents that the BBC ever employed.' (Message printed on the verso of a random page from a typed transcription of an interview of the film-maker John Boorman, referring to his early television documentary work).
• Michael Bakewell. Autograph letter signed, Monday 22 October [2001]. Refers to co-operation with Bakewell's proposed autobiography.
• Michael Bakewell. Autograph letter signed, 28 June [2002?]. The letter appears to have been written in response to a question about the purchase in France of books banned in England. 'The only book I have any recollection of smuggling back into England - wrapped in a dust jacket of the poems of Shelley - was De Sade's Justine.' The topic is touched upon in Bakewell, The Centre of the Bed (2003), p. 108.
• Alan Bennett. Autograph letter signed, 3 January 2001. Has heard that that Bakewell is considering moving from Chalcot Square, and, if that is the case, would be interested in viewing the property.
• Elisabeth and Edward [Bond]. Bespoke card [December 1980] wishing a 'Happy 1981' to 'Joan and Jack'. The text of the card is 'Song' (beginning: 'Geese fly over the moon and do not know') from the play by Edward Bond, Restoration (1981).
• Margaret Drabble. Autograph letter signed, to 'Jack & Joan', Friday 17 May [1985 or 1991]. 'What a delightful weekend & what a good time of year to have a birthday.'
• Olga Edridge (editor of The Heart of the Matter). Typed letter signed (9 July 2001), originally enclosing ticket for Proms concert. Lists other guests joining them.
• Margaret Forster and Hunter Davies. Postcard, franked 8 April 1977.
• Susan Hill. Autograph letter signed. Oxford, 9 October. 'In the end, I'm afraid, my co-editor (Isabel Quigly) & I didn't choose one of your stories for the Art Council volume.' (Refers to New Stories 5: An Arts Council Anthology, 1980.)
• Margaret and Michael Holroyd. Autograph letter to 'Joan & Jack', signed. London, 24 November 1986. 'Thank you for a most enjoyable weekend.'
• Margaret E. Lambrick. Autograph letter signed. Chipping Campden, 8 October 1976. Refers to school friends. 'I can assure you that you have been placed at the top of our Honours Board!' ('Miss Lambrick' was Joan Bakewell's headmistress at Stockport High School.)
• David Mercer. Three typed letters signed to Joan Bakewell, written from Arcata, California: 27 June [1967] (3 sheets); 11 July [1967] (1 sheet); 21 July [1967] (1 sheet, with envelope franked 22 July 1967). 'I feel miserably trapped. I'm surrounded by typical small-town academics who lionise me but are mostly genial fools.' The letters rest inside a programme for 'A Tribute to David Mercer' (Aldwych Theatre, 26 October 1980), a memorial event in which Joan Bakewell was a participant. Also resting inside the programme, a typed poem (photocopy) entitled 'I hardly knew him', beneath which is a signed typed message to 'Joan' (signature illegible). For background, see Bakewell, The Centre of the Bed (2003), pp. 188-91.
• Nigel Mercer. Typed letter signed (from David Mercer's nephew). North Wraxall, Wiltshire, 12 August 2000. Lists VHS recordings held by Nigel Mercer of his uncle's plays.
• Desmond Morris. Typed letter signed ('Desmond'). Attard, Malta, 13 July 1972. Detailed holiday advice. 'If we were guestless in August, we'd love to have you here at the villa, but this year we are booked for house guests almost non-stop from May to the end of September!' For background, see Bakewell, The Centre of the Bed, p. 246.
• Lady Antonia Pinter [Fraser]. Autograph letter signed. Campden Hill Square, London, 8 December 1981. Originally accompanying a pre-publication corrected copy of the novel Cool Repentence (a 'Jemima Shore' novel published under the name Antonia Fraser in 1982). 'And you will see how far Jemima has moved away from her distinguished progenitor' (i.e. Joan Bakewell).
• Alistair Sinclair. Typed letter signed. Corbridge, Northumberland, 11 August 2014. With Order of Service to celebrate the life of Helena Ashley Sinclair (cousin to Joan Bakewell).
• Marjorie Thomas. Autograph letter signed. Blackheath, London, 3 January 2000. A letter from 'your old form mistress at Stockport High School for Girls!!' (Marjorie Thomas taught music at Joan Bakewell's school for a year before pursuing her career as an opera and oratorio singer.)
• John Wells. Autograph card signed. Whitehall Theatre, London, 29 November 1981. With thanks for dinner.

Four unidentified correspondents:

• Peter. Criterion, Saturday (with envelope franked 6 November 1955, addressed to 'Mr & Mrs Bakewell'). Would love to have lunch.
• Illegible signature. Autograph letter. Belves, France, 12 October 1978. 'Is it proper to thank you for the nice things you said ab[ou]t my little film in The Times?'
• William. Omaha, Nebraska. Undated autograph letter (5 sheets) to 'Michael and Joan'.
• Illegible signature. Typed letter. Chelsea Manor Gardens, London, 21 May 1994. 'You were so good to me and to the audience'.