THE ANGELA THIRKELL SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICACompanion to Cheerfulness Breaks In
This book is not quite up to the standard of the earlier ones and may have been rushed into publication as the war broke out. It begins to show some of the weaknesses of the later novels, in that its number of characters is unmanageably large, and much of it consists of brief glimpses of people from previous books. Highlights: Rose Birkett’s wedding; the evacuation of the Hosiers’ Boys’ School from London to Southbridge; introduction of the Mixo-Lydian refugees the Brownscus; the Christmas treat for evacuee children; Geraldine Birkett’s infatuation with the dreadful Fritz Gissing; Noel Merton marries Lydia Keith just before leaving for the war, and at the end may be missing after Dunkirk. Other romances: Geraldine and Geoff Fairweather, Octavia Crawley and Tommy Needham. This book has some memorable scenes and is hardly less entertaining than earlier ones but is simply too full of character and incident.
Book Title and Abbreviation
| High Rising | HR |
| Wild Strawberries | WS |
| The Demon in the House | DH |
| Mrs. Morland and Son | MMS |
| August Folly | AF |
| Summer Half | SH |
| Pomfret Towers | PT |
| The Brandons | B |
| Before Lunch | BL |
| Cheerfulness Breaks In | CBI |
| Northbridge Rectory | NR |
| Marling Hall | MH |
| Growing Up | GU |
| The Headmistress | H |
| Miss Bunting | MB |
| Peace Breaks Out | PBO |
| Private Enterprise | PE |
| Love Among the Ruins | LAR |
| The Old Bank House | OBH |
| County Chronicle | CC |
| The Duke’s Daughter | DD |
| Happy Return | HR2 |
| Jutland Cottage | JC |
| What Did It Mean? | WDM |
| Enter Sir Robert | ESR |
| Never Too Late | NTL |
| A Double Affair | DA |
| Close Quarters | CQ |
| Love at All Ages | LAA |
| Three Score and Ten | TST |
Character, Description, and Book Abbreviations
| Arabin, Francis, Dean | Character in Trollope. Fellow of Lazarus College, Vicar of St. Ewold’s, Dean of Barchester Cathedral. Married Eleanor Harding Bold. Children Ellie and Susan. Put bathrooms into Deanery in 1876. | CBI, MB, OBH, CC, HR2, CQ, 3S&T |
| Aurilio, Marco | Italian peasant with whom Felicia Grant lodged in Calabria. Had killed five men. | CBI |
| Banister, Canon | Vicar of St. Mary’s, Rushwater, later Canon of Barchester Cathedral. Always got eyeglasses tangled in cord. | WS, CBI, MH, MB, PBO, LAR, ESR |
| Barker, Jimmy | Evacuee child who took three bits of bread while another child complained he ain’t got none. | CBI |
| Barton, Alice | Daughter of Walter and Susan Barton of Nutfield Village. Delicate, timid, romantic, and studious, she attended her first house party at Pomfret Towers and was attracted by the repulsive Julian Rivers, an “artist,” then came to her senses and married big, protective Roddy Wicklow. Three children: Guy, Alice, Phoebe. | PT, BL, CBI, MH, HM, MB, PE, OBH, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S& T |
| Barton, Guy | Son of Walter and Susan Barton. Briefly engaged to Phoebe Rivers in PT. Later married daughter of the Archdeacon. Was in RAF in the war, then partner in his father’s architecture firm. | PT, CBI, MH, PE, JC, WDIM, ESR, CQ, LAA |
| Barton, Mrs. Guy | Strong-willed and competent daughter of the Archdeacon. Engagement to Guy Barton is announced in CBI. Her mother was a Rivers. Organized Land Girls during war. | PT, B, CBI, MH |
| Barton, Susan | Author of historical novels about obscure bastards of Popes and Cardinals. Lived more in the 16th century than in the present. Husband Walter, children Guy and Alice. | PT, CBI, MH, PE, CC, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA |
| Barton, Walter | Resident of Mellings House in Nutfield on Pomfret Estate. Senior partner of architecture firm Barton and Wicklow. Wife Susan, children Guy and Alice. His firm repaired Hiram’s Hospital. Author of Minor Domestic Architecture of East Barsetshire. | PT, BL, CBI, NR, MH, HM, PE, OBH, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA |
| Bellenden, Esme | Author of a Banned-Book-of-the-Month, Men of Harlech. | CBI |
| Bent, Miss | Friend of the rather terrifyingly masculine Miss Hampton. Resided with her at Adelina Cottage, Wiple Terrace, Southbridge. Much more feminine and fussy than her companion, a bit folksy-artsy, scraggly in appearance, and somewhat domestic. | CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, OBH, CC, JC, WDIM, NTL, CQ, 3S&T |
| Bill | Young naval man visiting Adm. Phelps. Had been torpedoed and was on his way to rejoin his ship along with his friend Tubby Smith-Hetherington. Had met Rose (Birkett) Fairweather in Las Palombas. Mrs. Birkett gave him Rose’s ocarina to replace the one that was lost with his kit. Was present when Capt. Vian rescued Altmark prisoners from Ark Royal. | CBI, JC |
| Bill | Drayman for Pilward and Sons, Entire, at Southbridge. | CBI |
| Birkett, Amy | Wife of William Birkett, headmaster of Southbridge School. “Ma Birky” to the schoolboys. Daughters Rose and Geraldine. Close friend of Laura Morland, the novelist. | HR1, DH, SH, CBI, NR, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, WDIM, 3S&T, MMS |
| Birkett, Geraldine | Younger daughter of William and Amy Birkett. Attended Barchester High School. As high school student, fond of the more gruesome aspects of nursing and medicine. Worked in Barchester Infirmary during war. Infatuated with Fritz Gissing until she finally saw him in his true colors. Married Geoffrey Fairweather. Son John. | HR1, SH, B, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, OBH, CC, DD, JC, NTL, CQ |
| Birkett, Rose | Older daughter of William and Amy Birkett. Beautiful but mentally negligible. Engaged six or more times, including to Philip Winter in SH until she threw her ring at him at the Keiths’. Always had an oft-repeated catchword (perfectly foul, meager, dispiriting, shattering, etc.). In CBI married John Fairweather of the Royal Navy, who could control his “elegant nitwit” well. Stationed abroad most of the war in Washington, S. America, Portugal, etc. Returned to England after war and became much more sensible, often helping others with their problems. Children Henry, Amy, two others all born 1940-1946. | HR1, SH, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Birkett, William (Henry?) | Headmaster of Southbridge School. Usually called William, but is called Henry in GU and 3S&T. Had been assistant master and Head of the Prep School before becoming Headmaster. Retired in 1947 and took the Dower House at Worsted. | HR1, SH, CBI, NR, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Bishop of Barchester | Never mentioned by name. Parsimonious, low-church, unpopular. One son, said to be “in mission field” but really worked in office at Westminster. Preached love for Germans, Communists, etc., and was a Liberal. Nicknamed “Old Gasbag.” Worthy successor to Trollope’s Bishop Proudie. Never made on “on-stage” appearance. | SH, B, BL, CBI, NR, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, PE, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Bissell, Elaine | Wife of Headmaster of Hosiers’ Boys’ Foundation School. Plump, placid, and efficient. Devoted to her husband, whom she called “Daddy.” Childless, but guardian to mentally defective niece Edna. Former psychology teacher. A bit Red, but nice, and her views became more conservative with time. | CBI, PBO, PE, CC, 3S&T |
| Bissell, Mr. | Head of Hosiers’ Boys’ Foundation School, which was evacuated during war from London to Southbridge. Lean, middle-sized man, well-meaning but quick to feel slighted, since the Hosiers’ boys were socially inferior to the Southbridgians. Had Communist leanings at first appearance. Devoted to his wife Elaine, whom he called “Mother,” although they had no children. Improved through constant association with the Birketts, became quite likable although gauche. | CBI, PBO, PE, CC, JC, 3S&T |
| Brandon, Amelia (“Sissie”) | 1858-1938. Aunt of Henry Brandon (deceased husband of Lavinia). Resided at Brandon Abbey, an architectural monstrosity. Very wealthy, headstrong, and irascible spinster, whose only emotional attachment was to her brother, Capt. Frederick Brandon, killed by a pig in India many years before. Vacillated about whether to leave her fortune to Hilary Grant or Francis Brandon. After her death in B, her fortune went to charity, except for £10,000 left to Capt. Frederick Arbuthnot, whose father was almost certainly the son of Capt. Frederick Brandon as the result of a liaison with Mrs. Col. Arbuthnot. | B, CBI, MH, MB, PE, CC, HR2 |
| Brandon, Delia | b. 1920. Daughter of Lavinia Brandon. 18 at first appearance in B. Became engaged to Hilary Grant in B. Son Freddie, daughter Felicia. Worked in Barchester Infirmary during war. Competent and a bit overpowering, much like Octavia (Crawley) Needham and Geraldine Birkett Fairweather. Fascinated by nursing. | B, CBI, NR, MH, GU, HM, PBO, PE, OBH, CC, HR2 |
| Brandon, Francis Oliver | b. 1915. Son of Lavinia Brandon. 23 at first appearance in B. Became engaged to Peggy Arbuthnot in PE. Although charming, could be selfish and self-centered. Had tendency to flirt with pretty women. Hurt both his mother and wife before getting his comeuppance from Lady Cora Palliser. Much of his bullying of his wife occurred when his business underwent a financial crisis. Three daughters, Effie and twins. | B, CBI, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, WDIM, CQ |
| Brandon, Lavinia Oliver | 1891-1961. Attractive and languid widow, in early middle-age at first appearance in B. Son Francis, daughter Delia. Absent-minded, inattentive, apt to say anything that came into her mind. Originally lived at Stories in Pomfret Madrigal (used as a nursery school for evacuees during war). One gathers that Mrs. Brandon, along with Mrs. Morland, is something of a self-portrait of Mrs. Thirkell as she saw herself. Expert at looking languidly beautiful and falling asleep at inappropriate moments, and at rejecting unwanted suitors. Beautiful hands, graced by a diamond given to her by Aunt Sissie Brandon because she was just the sort of woman Fred Brandon would have liked. Became engaged to Bishop William Joram in CC, moved to the Cathedral Close on their marriage. | B, CBI, MH, GU, HM, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Brown, Abner | Dairyman whose cows grazed on one of the school fields at Southbridge. Nephew of Joe Brown, landlord of the Red Lion. | CBI |
| Brown, Joe | Landlord of the Red Lion at Southbridge, also owned a taxi. Once attended Old Sewerworks Road School in London. | CBI, GU, PBO, PE, JC, NTL, 3S&T |
| Brownscu, Gradko “Gogo” | Mixo-Lydian refugee. Had title of Prodshk Browncu. Managed to live in considerable but unhygienic luxury. Yellow-faced and melancholy with beret and sheepskin coat. If possible, the Brownscus were even more selfish, disagreeable, and ungrateful than their compatriots. According to them, everything was better in Mixo-Lydia. After the war, they ran a school for peasant-weaving, folk-dancing, etc., at Bathwater Cold in the Cotswolds. | CBI, GU, HM, MB, DD, CQ |
| Brownscu, Mme. | Head of Mixo-Lydian refugees, wife (??) of Gradko. Real title was Prodshka Brownscu. Small, wiry woman with frizzled dark hair and leopardskin coat. Even more selfish, ungrateful, and disagreeable than her husband, if possible, The Brownscus represented the explanation for English resentment against the worst of the East European refugees who stayed in England after the war. | CBI, GU, HM, MB, DD, JC, CQ |
| Bunce | d. 1957. “Old Bunce,” the ferryman at Northbridge. Claimed the war would start in the fall because he knew the signs. Daughters Effie and Ruby. Foul-mouthed domestic tyrant, suspected of beating his daughters (who probably deserved it). Probably meant to be a descendant of Trollope’s Bunce, senior bedesman in Hiram’s Hospital, though Old Bunce represents all the negative traits of the “lower orders,” unlike Trollope’s Bunce. | SH, CBI, NR, MB, PE, OBH, JC, WDIM, DA, LAA, 3S&T |
| Carmichael, Miss | Head of St. Bathos (C. of E.) school, evacuated from London. | CBI |
| Carter, Everard | b. 1909?. Southbridge School History master and Housemaster who succeeded Mr. Birkett as Headmaster. Became engaged to Kate Keith in SH. Cambridge man. Retired by time of 3S&T. Lived at Northbridge Rectory after retirement. | SH, B, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Carter, Robert Philip “Bobbie” | b. 1938. Son of Everard and Kate (Keith) Carter. Aged 1 in CBI. | CBI, GU, PBO, PE, OBH, CC, JC, WDIM, LAA |
| Chiffinch, Nurse | Known as “Squiffy” to her nursing friends, Sisters Heath and Ward. First seen in PT caring for those ill of influenza. Drove Julian Rivers to distraction by being motherly. Later was nurse to Mrs. Keith and Lady Emily Leslie. Was at Cottage Hospital in MB. Shared apartment with Sisters Heath and Ward, and they planned to open a nursing home for wealthy patients needing unnecessary care. | DH, PT, CBI, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, CC, DD, HR2, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T, MB |
| Coates, Adrian | Publisher of Laura Morland’s books. Lived in London and had some “Jewish blood.” Proposed to Mrs. Morland under the influence of a motor wreck and George Knox’s punch, was refused (to his relief), later married Knox’s daughter Sibyl. | HR1, DH, PT, B, CBI, NR, MH, MB, PBO, LAR, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Coates, Laura | b. 1934. Eldest daughter of Adrian and Sibyl (Knox) Coates. | DH, CBI, MMS |
| Crawford | Dean of Lazarus College, Oxford. Bit of a nut about Russia. | CBI |
| Crawley, Grace | Daughter of Josiah Crawley, Rector of Hogglestock in Trollope novels Last Chronicle of Barset and Framley Parsonage. Married Henry Grantly, son of the Archdeacon. Grandmother of Rev. Septimus Grantly of Edgewood. | CBI, OBH, DD, HR2, DA |
| Crawley, Josiah | Canon, Dean of Barchester. First seen as a friend of Lady Pomfret in PT. Eight children, 17 grandchildren in PE. Had shared digs with George Knox at Oxford. Once blackballed Sir Ogilvy Hibberd for Polyanthus Club. Grandson of Josiah Crawley, curate of Hogglestock in Trollope’s novels. Opposed Bishop’s parsimony and low-church, Liberal views. | DH, SH, PT, B, CBI, NR, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Crawley, Josiah | Grandfather of Dean of Barchester, most prominent in Trollope’s Framley Parsonage and Last Chronicle of Barset. Moody, unhappy, ascetic, conscientious, hard-working curate of Hogglestock. Vindicated of stealing a cheque in Last Chronicle. Son Bob, daughters Grace and Jane, wife Mary. Later Vicar of St. Ewold’s. | SH, CBI, HM, LAR, OBH, DD, HR2, JC, DA, CQ, LAA |
| Crawley, Mrs. | Wife of Josiah Crawley, Dean of Barchester. Gave lavish teas to county families, subtly underscoring the miserliness of the Bishop and Bishopess at the Palace. Two sons, six daughters, including Secunda, Tertia, Octavia. | SH, BL, CBI, NR, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Crawley, Octavia | Youngest daughter of Dean Crawley. Competent, managing, hard-working. Interested in nursing. Married Rev. Tommy Needham and was a conscientious clergyman’s wife. Numerous children. | CBI, NR, MH, GU, HM, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, WDIM, ESR, DA, LAA, 3S&T |
| Damper, Dr. J. J. | Honorary Canon of Barchester. Former Head of Southbridge School (1849-56). Author of several hymns including the Duke of Omnium’s favorite, “Each morn we humbly bow the face, Before the coming of Thy Grace.” Also author of the Southbridge School Carmen. Wrote travel book Peregrinations in Palestine. | SH, CBI, PE |
| Danby, Rev. | Vicar of Southbridge. | CBI, NR |
| Deanna | Maid to Leslies at Rushwater. Was once injured by dropping a pot of tea on her foot. Walked out with Ted Higdon for ten years. | CBI |
| Dingle, Gladys | Eileen’s (of the Red Lion) married sister, who took in three evacuees from London. Cleaning woman at cottages at Wiple Terrace. Had alcoholic husband. | CBI, 3S&T |
| Dorrie | Evacuee child at Northbridge who told another the “nasty something” on her plate was kidneys. | CBI |
| Drake, Miss | Teacher of evacuee children who stayed with the Keiths for a while. She and Miss Potter, the other teacher, “did nothing but walk in the garden with arms around each other’s waists and call each other Draky and Potts.” Communists. | CBI |
| Driver, Miss | Senior teacher of the children’s nursery school billeted on Mrs. Brandon at Stories during the war. | CBI |
| Dudley, Matron Poppy | Matron at Southbridge School, aunt of George Empson the wireless expert. Frequently at odds with Mr. Ferris, the Housemaster. | HR1, DH, SH, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, CC, HR2, JC, ESR, NTL, CQ, 3S&T, MMS |
| Dumbello, Lord Gustavus | Character from Trollope’s Small House at Allington, Framley Parsonage, Last Chronicle of Barset. Married Griselda Grantly, later became Lord Hartletop. | CBI, OBH, HR2 |
| Edna | Mentally defective niece of Mr. Bissell. Accompanied the Bissells when they were evacuated to Southbridge. Both parents were also mentally defective. Mrs. Bissell was remarkably patient in working with her using modern psychological principles. Finally had to be placed in Ada Clotworth Mental Home. | CBI, PE |
| Edward | Handyman at Southbridge School. Became butler there when Simnet left. | HR1, DH, CBI, GU, PE, CC, JC, NTL, CQ |
| Eileen (later Bateman) | Barmaid at Red Lion in Southbridge. A dazzling blonde. Niece (or possibly sister) of Mrs. Dingle. Married Col. Crofts’ factotum and former batman, Bateman. Her sister Florrie married Simnet. | CBI, GU, PE, CC, JC, NTL, CQ |
| Emma | Geoff and John Fairweather’s Aunt Emma who left her money to John when she died. | CBI |
| Empson, George | Southbridge School Matron Poppy Dudley’s nephew. Normally a wireless operator and electrician on luxury liners to New York, he wired Editha Cottage for the Arbuthnots, with a running commentary on old wiring and proper method for rewiring that almost drove them crazy. His ship was RMS Vomitorium. Torpedoed twice during war. | HR1, SH, CBI, GU, PE, CC, HR2, JC, NTL, CQ, 3S&T |
| Fairfield | Member of firm Johns and Fairfield, publishers of George Knox’s books. | HR1, PT, CBI, MH, LAR, HR2, JC, CQ |
| Fairweather, Geoffrey | Elder brother of John. Sister Edith married Robert Keith. Contemporary of Tony Morland at Southbridge. Not brilliant, but good athlete, captain of boxing. School nickname “Fairy.” Married Geraldine Birkett, had son John. Became a Colonel in the Barsetshire Regt. during war. | DH, SH, CBI, GU, PBO, PE, JC, CQ |
| Fanshawe, Charles | Don at Paul’s College, Oxford, self-proclaimed “despiser of women,” something of a character. Honorary “Uncle” of Dean children at Worsted, former tutor of Winifred Tebben. In late 40s when first introduced in AF. Married much younger Helen Dean, after believing he was too old for her. Three children, including Rachel. Later became Dean of Paul’s. Was remembered for climbing around entire outside of college without touching round when he was an undergraduate. | AF, CBI, HM, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, ESR, DA, CQ, 3S&T |
| Featherstonehaugh | 1920-1939. Captain of Rowing at Southbridge School in ’37, went into Nigerian police. Killed when Lancashire was torpedoed and sunk. Contemporary of Tony Morland, Swan, and Hacker. Very shy. Enamoured of Matron when in Junior form. Special prize for Greek was named for his uncle. | SH, CBI, PBO, ESR |
| Ferris, Mr. | Assistant Maths master at Southbridge School, son of a country doctor. Tony Morland’s housemaster and scoutmaster, constantly at odds with Matron. Later became one of H.M.’s Inspectors of Secondary Schools. | HR1, DH, CBI |
| Fillgrave, Sir Abel | Well-known surgeon whom Delia Brandon wanted to see operate. Undoubtedly a descendant of Dr. Fillgrave in the Trollope novels, esp. Dr. Thorne. | CBI, GU, HM |
| Ford, Dr. James | Kindly, garrulous, and gossipy old G.P. at High Rising. Proposed to Anne Todd and was refused in HR1. Proposed to Sylvia Gould in DH, married her 20 years later after she had a broken engagement in GU. Could be very brusque to those he disliked. | HR1, DH, B, CBI, GU, MB, PE, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Foster, Edith, Lady Pomfret | d. 1938. Wife of 7th Earl, Old Lord Pomfret. Mother of Lord Mellings, who was killed in border skirmish in India. Née Thorne. Once beloved of Lord Stoke. Invalid, living mostly abroad. Died before BL. | PT, BL, CBI, MH, HM, MB, PBO, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, DA, LAA, 3S&T |
| Foster, Giles, Lord, 7th Earl | d. 1940. Old Lord Pomfret. Resided at Pomfret Towers. Fabled for rudeness, boring dinners, and efforts to prevent modernization of the surrounding countryside. Brother of Lady Emily Leslie and Lady Agnes Foster. Married Edith Thorne. Author of A Landowner in Five Reins. Bought Pooker’s Piece to keep Sir Ogilvy Hibberd from building on it. Died in May 1940, in CBO, with the names of his dead wife and son on his lips. | PT, B, BL, CBI, NR, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Freemantle, Rory | Apparently a women’s rights advocate, mentioned by Miss Bent. | CBI |
| Gable | One of three evacuee children taken in by Gladys Dingle. Brother Gary, sister Greta. | CBI |
| Gary | One of 3 evacuee children taken in by Gladys Dingle. | CBI |
| Gissing, Fritz | Son of Oscar and Gloria Gissing. Film producer. Wrote The Lion Turns Tail for the Anti-Imperialist Book Club. Twenty-four years old at beginning of war. Blond, slim, and rather effeminate. Did embroidery. | CBI |
| Gissing, Gloria | Mother of Fritz, wife of Oscar. Unpopular in Southbridge. | CBI |
| Gissing, Oscar | Had position in production with Dante-Technifilms. Whole family suspected by locals in Southbridge to be spies. Supposedly changed name from Van Geissing after WWI. All left for America, to everyone’s relief. | CBI |
| Gracie | Evacuee child at Northbridge who got a bigger bit of rabbit stew at the communal kitchen as reported by another child. | CBI |
| Grant, Hilary | Son of Felicia and Edward Grant, was reading classics with Rev. Miller at first appearance. Was writing a book on Jehan le Capet. After recovering from infatuation with Mrs. Brandon, married her daughter Delia. Son Freddie, daughter Felicia. Apparently became an archaeologist after the war. Author of “A Diabolist of the Reformation.” | B, CBI, MH, HM, PE, OBH, CC, HR2, WDIM |
| Grant, Mrs. Felicia | Widow of Edward Grant, mother of Hilary. Lived mostly in Italy and adopted Italian folkways, with which she bored everyone to death and embarrassed her son. The prototypical “Englishwoman abroad.” Author of a book on Calabria, where she remained during the war. | B, CBI, MH, GU, HM, PE, OBH, CC |
| Grantly, Henry | Son of Archdeacon Theophilus Grantly. Married Grace Crawley. In Trollope novels The Warden, Barchester Towers, Last Chronicle of Barset. | CBI, OBH |
| Gresham, Frank | “Old Mr. Frank” Gresham, M.P. for East Barsetshire, whose granddaughter married a Dean of Barchester. Grandfather of present squire. Married Mary Thorne, illegitimate niece of old Dr. Thorne in Trollope’s Dr. Thorne. | CBI, HM, MB, CC, JC, CQ |
| Gresham, Tommy | Friend of Lydia Keith. | CBI |
| Greta | One of three evacuee children taken in by Gladys Dingle (Eileen the Barmaid’s married sister). | CBI |
| Hacker, Percy | b. 1921. First encountered in SH as a very silent Southbridge student, friend of Tony Morland. Had pet chameleon named Gibbon, which he once offered to Philip Winter for coaching him before a scholarship exam. Once left the hot tap running and nearly flooded the lower dorm. In Ministry of Information during war. Became fellow and senior classics tutor at Lazarus College, later Latin Chair at Redbrick Univ. Author of well-known Latin text. | SH, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, 3S&T |
| Hammer, Mr. | Estate agent who leased Maria Cottage to Mr. Bissell. | CBI |
| Hampton, Miss | Hard-drinking, masculine spinster. Resided at Adelina Cottage in Southbridge with friend Miss Bent. Author of earthy novels, usually selected by the Banned-Book-of-the-Month Club. Drove ambulance in Northern France in WW I. Helped support four nephews—two in Army, one Navy, one in Consular Service. | CBI, NR, GU, MB, PBO, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, WDIM, NTL, CQ, 3S&T |
| Hartletop, Dowager Marchioness | Miss Bunting was companion to her on the Riviera one year. Married Lord Hartletop when he was still Lord Dumbello. | CBI, MH, WDIM |
| Harwood, C | d. 1939. Cricket pro who attended Southbridge. Once hit a ball from nets through window of Lower Dorm of Everard Carter’s house, crushing a print of the Martyrdom of St. Ursula. Mark that remained was called the “Martyr’s Memorial.” | SH, CBI |
| Hedgebottom, Mr. | Head of Hiram Road School (aggressively non-sectarian, not to say pink) evacuated to Southbridge from London. | CBI |
| Henry | Geoff and John Fairweather’s Uncle. Was to leave his money to them when he died; doctors had been saying for years that it wouldn’t be long. | CBI |
| Holinshed | A parent of one of the Southbridge School students in Tony Morland’s time. Had seven children. “Disgraced his family” by taking Holy Orders at an advanced age and having family prayers no matter where they were. | SH, CBI |
| Holinshed | Senior boy at Southbridge with a chance at mathematical scholarship. Once was given a C- in General Knowledge by Philip Winter. Concerned because he couldn’t get into the armed forces at the beginning of the war. | SH, CBI, GU |
| Holroyd-Skinner | At Lazarus College with Mr. Miller and Tommy Needham’s father. Killed early in WWI. His mother lived on the Riviera for her health. | CBI |
| Hopkins | Science master at Hosiers’ Boys’ School who declared himself a Conscientious Objector though he was 45 and limped, provoking Everard Carter to say he had never quite known what “common room” meant before. Born in Glamorganshire. Got a good job at end of term and left, unregretted. Was arrested and interned as a fifth columnist. Later became Socialist M.P. for Mrewinwillingwodd. | CBI |
| Humberton, Lord | (Or possibly Horberton?) Was run after by Griselda Palliser before he married Miss Phoebe Rivers. Son of Lord Platfield of Shropshire. | CBI, MH, ESR |
| Janice | Evacuee child whose parents were expecting another child and wanted her back to take care of the house. Attended Southbridge Christmas Treat. Her ribbon was put straight by Mrs. Bissell. | CBI |
| Jessie | Head housemaid for Everard and Kate Carter. Eyesight too poor for war service, but would never wear her glasses. Had a brother who was a milkman, a cousin in laundry in Southbridge. | SH, CBI, GU, PBO, PE, CC, ESR, CQ |
| Jobson | Member of chemical works in London. Communist friend of Mr. Bissell and member of Isle of Dogs Athenaeum. | CBI |
| Johns | Publisher in firm of Johns and Fairfield. Published George Knox, Hermione Rivers, and Susan Barton. Uncle of Mr. Wickham. His wife was well-known for giving extremely dull parties for literary lions. | HR1, DH, PT, CBI, MH, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Johnson | Southbridge “old boy” who became junior master at Southbridge. When he was a student, his hair fixative was used by Tony Morland. | HR1, CBI |
| Joram, Bishop William | Retired colonial bishop. Appeared to be mentioned first in CBI as Mbang-Ngango (English Roly Poly Witch Doctor) as he was called by natives. Rented rooms from Mrs. Tomkins when first in Barchester, and told hilarious stories of his work with natives. Became canon of Barchester and married Lavinia Brandon in CC. Plump, good-humored, earnest, and intelligent. | CBI, MH, PBO, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, WDIM, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Joseph, Sister Mary | Headmistress of St. Quantock’s Catholic School, evacuated from London. Resembled a devout white pouter pigeon. | CBI |
| Keith, Edith Fairweather | Wife of Robert Keith, sister of John and Geoffrey Fairweather. Mother of Catherine, Henry, and another. Former Head Girl at Barchester High School and a favorite of Miss Pettinger. Hearty and athletic, was once captain of school cricket and hockey. | SH, CBI, GU, PE, OBH, WDIM |
| Keith, Helen | Mother of Robert, Kate, Colin, and Lydia. Boring and domestic, not very intelligent. Lived at Northbridge Manor. Had “a bit of a heart.” During war went to Bournemouth to live with her sister Kate. Dead by WDIM 1954. | SH, B, CBI, NR, GU, PE, OBH, HR2, JC, WDIM |
| Keith, Henry | d. 1939. Resident of Northbridge Manor. Wife Helen. Killed when struck by a lorry when leaving Old Lord Pomfret’s funeral. Country-squirish landowner and solicitor. | SH, B, CBI, PE, LAR, OBH, HR2, WDIM, CQ, LAA |
| Keith, Henry | b. 1932. Son of Robert and Edith (Fairweather) Keith. | SH, CBI, GU, WDIM |
| Keith, Kate | b. 1916. Became engaged to Everard Carter in SH. Boring and domestic but nice. Children Bobbie, Angela, Philip, and Noel. | SH, B, CBI, GU, MB, PE, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Keith, Lydia | Tomboyish younger sister of Robert, Kate, and Colin. Awkward, gauche, boisterous, and energetic, until marriage to Noel Merton moved her energy into constructive channels. Children Lavinia, Harry, Jessica. During war she miscarried her first child because of overwork. Hurt by Noel’s flirtation with Peggy Arbuthnot in PE but was reconciled to her husband, whom she loved dearly. | SH, B, CBI, NR, U, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Keith, Robert | Brother of Kate, Colin, and Lydia. Wife Edith. Senior partner of Keith and Keith law firm. Bought home in Nutfield in GU and sold Northbridge Manor to brother-in-law Noel Merton. | SH, CBI, NR, MH, GU, PE, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, WDIM, ESR, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Klawhammer, Klaus | New York literary agent. Friend of the Gissings. | CBI |
| Knowles, Mrs. | Owned a stone house with a blue door in Northbridge. | CBI |
| Knox, George | Pompous, verbose historical novelist who could turn a single sentence into a discourse of parenthetical expressions. Widower, lived in High Rising with his daughter Sibyl. Escaped the clutches of his secretary, Una Grey, and became engaged to Anne Todd in HR1. | HR1, DH, B, CBI, MH, GU, MB, PE, CC, DD, HR2, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Knox, Sibyl | Daughter of widower George Knox of High Rising. Rather silly, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to become a writer, became engaged to Adrian Coates, publisher, in HR1. 3 children by time of CBI, eldest is Laura. | HR1, DH, PT, CBI, GU, MB, DD, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Lefroy, Mr. | Master at technical school. Friend of Mr. Bissell. A communist and member of the Isle of Dogs Athenaeum, as was his wife. | CBI |
| Makins | Teacher of art-weaving class in London. | CBI |
| Manners | Biggest of Hosiers’ Boys’ School boys. Intelligent, had won open scholarship to Cambridge. Father was a grocer and furniture remover in East End in London. Was given a free place at Southbridge and won a scholarship in history to Lazarus College. Became Physics prof. at Upping College of Redbrick University. | CBI, PE, NTL |
| Mason | Lower school sergeant at Southbridge. | HR1, CBI |
| Matron | Tyrannically benevolent matron of Barchester General Hospital where Octavia Crawley, Delia Brandon, and Geraldine Birkett worked during war. | CBI, MB, DD, HR2, 3S&T |
| McBean | Head gardener at Southbridge School. | CBI |
| Merton, Noel | First seen in SH as a young barrister, Married Lydia Keith having fallen in love with her gradually while watching her grow up. Had miraculous escape at Dunkirk, convalesced at Beliers Priory near Worsted. Later in Military Intelligence. He and Lydia bought her old home, Northbridge Manor. Had flirtation with Peggy Arbuthnot in PE which caused rare friction with Lydia. (Jessica Dean straightened him out). Became a QC, ran for Parliament in 1952. Became Sir Noel after Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. | SH, B, CBI, NR, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, ESR, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Miller, Rev. Justin | Vicar of Pomfret Madrigal, with strong Anglo-Catholic leanings. Married Ella Morris to whom he was attached years before but separated because of theological disagreement with her father. Became Vicar of St. in 1949. Had stepmother in Harrogate. Was on rowing crew at Lazarus College, where he was nicknamed “Goggers.” | B, CBI, NR, MH, GU, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, DA |
| Mitzi | Austrian maid of the Gissings. Locals suspected she was a spy. | CBI |
| Morland, Dick | b. 1911. Son of Henry and Laura Morland. Serving in China before war. Mentioned as serving in destroyer Flatiron during war. | HR1, DH, B, CBI, GU, MB, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, 3S&T |
| Morland, Gerald | b. 1917. Son of Henry and Laura Morland. Explorer in Mexico. Married just before war, had unspecified children. Attended Southbridge School. | HR1, DH, B, CBI, GU, MB, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, LAA, 3S&T |
| Morland, John | Son of Henry and Laura Morland. Stationed in Burma. In Navy during war. Married, attended Southbridge School. | HR1, DH, B, CBI, GU, MB, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, LAA, 3S&T |
| Morland, Laura | b. 1891. Widow of Henry Morland, sons Dick, John, Gerald, and Tony. Lived at High Rising. Author of Madame Koska mystery thrillers, which she began writing to support herself and sons. Also wrote two books anonymously. Attractive but rather scatter-brained, tended to lose glasses and hairpins. Acted as unofficial secretary at Southbridge School during war. It is generally thought that she is at least partially based on the author herself, though AT was, by repute, a more sardonic personality than Laura Morland. | HR1, DH, SH, B, CBI, NR, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Morland, Tony | b. 1921. Son of Henry and Laura Morland. Student at Southbridge School at first appearance, major interest was model trains. Became Sr. Monitor at Southbridge. Talkative, self-centered, well-intentioned with frequently disastrous results, one-track mind when a child. Attended Oxford. In Army in Burma during war. Worked for Red Tape and Sealing Wax Office after war. Married with four children. | HR1, WS, DH, SH, B, CBI, NR, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Morris, Ella | Middle-aged companion to “Aunt Sissie ” Brandon. Married Mr. Miller, former sweetheart from whom she had parted because of his disagreement with her father years before. Selfless and full of good works. Billeting officer during war and took all the worst evacuee children herself. | B, CBI, GU, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, DA |
| Morris, Rev. Justin | Father of Ella Morris. Once called “The Rev. and very selfish and disagreeable Justin Morris.” Hidebound, tyrannical, and unforgiving. | B, CBI |
| Needham | Tommy Needham’s father. Was at school with Mr. Miller. Known in college as “Mangles.” On rowing crew at Lazarus. Also two daughters. | CBI |
| Needham, Tommy | Secretary to Dean Crawley. In war stationed first in Iceland, then in N. Africa where he lost an arm. Married Dean Crawley’s daughter Octavia and became Vicar at Worsted. Eight children by the time of 3S&T, including fraternal twins born in that book. | CBI, MH, HM, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, DD, HR2, WDIM, ESR, DA, LAA, 3S&T |
| Norton, Lady Victoria | Known by most of Barsetshire as the “Dreadful Dowager.” Face like a well-bred horse, domineering personality, thought herself the best gardener in the county. Author of Herbs of Grace about gardening. Clothes tended to imitate the Queen Mother. Lived in Cheltenham, Lady Bond moved in with her in 3S&T. | WS, B, CBI, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| O’Rourke, Patricia | Youngest of London evacuees at Southbridge Christmas Treat. Received the doll from the top of the tree. Student at St. Quantock’s Catholic School. | CBI |
| Oldmeadow, Tom | Tommy Needham’s Uncle Tom. Captain of Games at Southbridge School in his day. In Officer Reserve. Had measles twice in one term. Mountaineering was his hobby. Played rugger for England. Related to Capt. Arbuthnot. | CBI, PE |
| Palmer | Parlourmaid for the Keiths at Northbridge Manor. | SH, CBI, PE, OBH, WDIM, LAA, 3S&T |
| Parkinson, Col. and Mrs. | People with whom Mrs. Tompion stayed during war. | CBI |
| Pecker | Worked at Free Library in London. Member of Isle of Dogs Athenaeum. Communist friend of the Bissells. Had an unmarried daughter who taught music and folk dancing at LCC. | CBI |
| Pedro | Hairdresser in Las Palombas who did Rose Fairweather’s hair. | CBI |
| Pettinger, Bertha | Headmistress of Barchester High School. Highly unpopular. Known to the girls as “The Beast.” Had tired waved hair and painted her face. Madeleine Sparling lived with her before the Hosiers’ Girls’ School moved to Harefield Park. Received OBE when she retired. | SH, B, CBI, NR, GU, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, DD, JC, WDIM, 3S&T |
| Phelps, Admiral “Irons” | Retired Rear Admiral. Small, dry-faced, quiet, and efficient worker on vital Committees. Lived at Jutland Cottage in Southbridge. Secretary of British Legion, Boy Scouts, and District Nursing Association, and churchwarden. Wounded at Battle of Jutland. Not well off financially. In increasingly poor health. Died in CQ. | CBI, NR, GU, PE, JC, WDIM, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Phelps, Margot | b. 1912. Daughter of Adm. and Mrs. Phelps. Large, not very attractive, efficient, and industrious. Devoted to her parents. Was transformed into passable swan by Rose Fairweather and others, who taught her how to dress and make herself up attractively. Received two proposals, married Donald Macfadyen of Amalgamated Vedge and after his death became engaged to Tubby Fewling in CQ. | CBI, PE, JC, WDIM, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Phelps, Mrs. | Wife of Adm. Phelps, mother of Margot. Wore slacks. A great, bouncing masterful woman who treated everyone in the village as inferior officers and crew. Head of ARP and Village Red Cross in war. In increasingly poor health after war. With her husband and daughter, made cheerful best of life of poverty. Died in CQ. | CBI, PE, JC, WDIM, CQ, LAA |
| Platfield, General Lord | Father of Lord Humberton, who married Phoebe Rivers. | CBI, ESR |
| Pomfret, Giles, Lord, 7th Earl | d. 1940. Old Lord Pomfret. Resided at Pomfret Towers. Fabled for rudeness, boring dinners, and efforts to prevent modernization of the surrounding countryside. Brother of Lady Emily Leslie and Lady Agnes Foster. Married Edith Thorne. Author of A Landowner in Five Reins. Bought Pooker’s Piece to keep Sir Ogilvy Hibberd from building on it. Died in May 1940, in CBO, with the names of his dead wife and son on his lips. | PT, B, BL, CBI, NR, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Potts, Miss | One of teachers of evacuee children. Stayed briefly with the Keiths. She and Miss Drake, the other teacher, did “nothing but walk around the garden with arms about each other’s waists and call each other Draky and Potts.” Communists. | CBI |
| Pridham, Sir Edmund | b. 1866. Elderly country squire type, J.P. at Pomfret Madrigal, close friend of Lavinia Brandon—even proposed to her once in a friendly way. Childless widower, commanded Barsetshire Yeomanry in WWI, had crippled leg from war wound. Knew everybody in the county and all their relationships. “Doyen of the county in years and service … Had an eye that had frightened the toughest troopers in the Barsetshire Yeomanry out of their wits and made the Bishop, who was saying the Russians were our brothers, wilt uneasily into a mumbling explanation.” | B, BL, CBI, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Reid, Mr. | Air-raid warden in High Rising in WWII. Kept a shop. | DH, CBI |
| Rivers, Hermione | Wife of George Rivers, mother of Phoebe and Julian. Niece of Old Lord Nutfield, Amabel Marling’s father. Wrote books about middle-aged women’s platonic love affairs with younger men. | PT, CBI, MH, HM, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Rivers, Phoebe | Actress. Had short-lived engagement to Guy Barton in PT. Married Lord Humberton (or Harberton), Lord Platfield’s eldest son. More likable than her mother Hermione or brother Julian. | PT, CBI, MH, HR2, ESR |
| Robinson, Dr. | Father of Juan Robinson, who was Rose (Birkett) Fairweather’s physician during her first pregnancy in Las Palombas, South America. (Thirkell’s geography seems a bit mixed, as John and Rose were said to be in Argentina, but also in Buenos Aires, and were said to have witnessed the Battle of the River Plate, which occurred off Montevideo, Uruguay.) | CBI |
| Robinson, Juan | Friend of the Archdeacon. Lived in Buenos Aires. His father lived in Las Palombas. | PT, CBI |
| Sanders | Chauffeur for Keiths at Northbridge. | SH, CBI |
| Scatcherd, Mr. | Partner in Barchester catering firm Scatcherd and Tozer. By 1949 had been bedridden for several years. | CBI, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Selassie | Dog belonging to Miss Hampton and Miss Bent before Smigly-Ritz, etc. Died and was buried in the garden. | CBI |
| Simnet | Butler for Birketts at Southbridge School. Was in France 1914-17. Impressively dignified. Formerly scout for Colin Keith’s hall at Oxford. Married Florrie, sister of Eileen the Red Lion barmaid, left Southbridge to serve as butler to Canon and Mrs. Joram in the Close. | CBI, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, HR2, JC, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Simon, Mr. | Head of the Pocklington Road Baptist School, evacuated to Southbridge from London. | CBI |
| Smidgly-Rydz | Small, black, shaggy dog belonging to Misses Hampton and Bent. His name was constantly changed to represent oppressed nations and their leaders during WWII. Successively Zog (for Gallant Little Albania), Schuschnigg (for Gallant Little Austria), Bene, Smidgly-Rydz, Mannesheim, Andersen, Eisenhower, etc. After the war, he was simply called Gallant because “nobody’s being gallant now.” | CBI, JC |
| Smith | Old grandfather of Mr. Brown of the Red Lion. Lived in London. | CBI |
| Smith, “Holy Joe” | Southbridge School chaplain. Once played football for Cambridge. Avid reader of thrillers. Fond of animals. | SH, CBI, PE, LAR, CC, JC, CQ, LAA |
| Smith- Hetherington, Tubby | Young naval man visiting Adm. Phelps. Friend of Dick Morland. Had been torpedoed and was on his way to rejoin a ship with friend Bill. They were with Capt. Philip Vian’s destroyer when he freed the Ark Royal survivors from the Altmark. | CBI, JC |
| Sparling, Dr. Madeline | b. 1900. Headmistress of Hosiers’ Girls’ School. Mentioned by implication in CBI as being offensively treated by Miss Pettinger of Barchester High School, to which the Hosiers’ Girls were evacuated. The Hosiers leased Harefield Park in HM and she escaped the Pettinger’s clutches. Tall, stately, rather attractive. Short dark hair, brown eyes. Given honorary D.Litt. by Oxbridge. Married Sidney Carton after also being courted by Caleb Oriel. Retired in LAR. | CBI, HM, MB, PE, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, CQ, 3S&T |
| Spindler, Mrs. | Wife of proprietor of Cow and Sickle. Former kirchenmaid to Victoria Norton. Felicia Grant tried to teach her how to make spaghetti. | B, CBI |
| Spurge- Mackworth | Author of A Concept of Neo-Phallic Thought. Studied milk allergies in children. | CBI, PE |
| Stoke, Lord Thomas | b. 1866. Ancient and eccentric antiquarian, half-brother of Lucasta Bond. A bachelor who once loved Edith Thorne (who married Old Lord Pomfret). Traveled by horse and carriage or on horseback in defiance of modern age. Was convinced that everything he dug up was Viking remains. Extremely and conveniently deaf. In NTL, he is called Algernon Courcy Stoke and is said to have been born in 1876. | HR1, DH, PT, B, BL, CBI, MH, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Stoker, Mrs. | Housekeeper to Laura Morland at High Rising. Garrulous, irreverent, dictatorial, and easily offended but with a soft spot for Tony Morland. | HR1, DH, CBI, HR2, ESR, NTL, DA, LAA, 3S&T, MMS |
| Swan, Eric | b. 1921. First seen as Southbridge School student who irritated Philip Winter by “looking at him through his spectacles.” Friend and classmate of Tony Morland and Percy Hacker. Went to Cambridge. Married Justinia Lufton after once being in love with Grace Grantly. Was in Africa during war. Became master at Beliers Priory School, later replaced Everard Carter as head of Southbridge School. | SH, CBI, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Swift-Hetherington, J. W. | Student at Southbridge School whose gym shorts were used by Tony Morland to mop up hair fixative he spilled. Also a participant in boxing competition against Fairweather. | HR1, DH, CBI |
| Thatcher | Of Grumper’s End. Father of Jimmy, Ernie, Herb, Teddy, Edna, Doris, etc. Unwashed and uneducated, with a bad leg. During war, all London evacuee children gravitated to his house because of a natural affinity for dirt. | B, CBI, MB, PE, HR2 |
| Thatcher, Doris | Like her sister Edna, the mother of numerous illegitimate progeny—Gladys, Glamora, Sid, and Stan. Worked for the Grantlys in Edgewood. | B, CBI, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, 3S&T |
| Thatcher, Edna | Had illegitimate son Purse, named after his father Percy. Worked for Grantlys at Edgewood. | B, CBI, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, 3S&T |
| Thatcher, Herb | One of the Grumper’s End Thatchers. Delia Brandon put a splint on his broken arm. A doctor (not Dr. Ford) set it improperly and it had to be rebroken and reset in Barchester Hospital. | B, CBI |
| Thatcher, Jimmy | b. 1931. Helped Mr. Miller at church services, wanted to be a dentist. Had appendicitis at the Pomfret Madrigal Fête. Got scholarship to Great Western University. In Air Force, went to be stationed in America. | B, CBI, OBH, CC, DD, HR2 |
| Thatcher, Percy (Purse) | b. 1937. Illegitimate offspring of Edna Thatcher of Grumper’s End and Edgewood. True Barsetshire in speech. Well-behaved, good with machinery. Received technical scholarship to study “woyreless.” | B, CBI, OBH, CC, DD, HR2 |
| Thatcher, Teddy | Of Grumper’s End. Disqualified in sack race at Fête because he had one foot out of the sack. Red hair. | B, CBI |
| Thorne, Admiral | Fought in battle of Trafalgar, had monument in Barchester. | CBI |
| Thorne, Canon | d.1948. Elderly bachelor with High-Church leanings. Very deaf; thin with a long neck. Lived like a hermit his last few years. Wagers were made as to the imminent collapse of his house in the Cathedral Close (The Vine ) after all the books were removed. | CBI, PBO, OBH, HR2, ESR |
| Tommy | Girl at Little Misfit who had a bull terrier and was a friend of Lydia Keith. | CBI |
| Tozer, Mr. | Representative of Scatcherd and Tozer, caterers, of Barchester. A mess waiter on Salisbury Plain during WWI. | CBI, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Trouncer, Mrs. | “Old” Mrs. Trouncer whose grave was almost late being dug because the sexton was admiringly watching Misses Hampton and Bent digging their wartime garden. Died at 99 in Northbridge, despite a bet with Hibberd the sexton she’d live to be 100. Hibberd was sick with flu and mad with disappointment that he couldn’t dig her grave. Young Bunce dug it. | CBI, NR |
| Tuckwell, Lillian | Author of The Truth about Byron (also the Truths about Keats, Shelley, the Brownings, etc.) | CBI |
| Tudor, Glamora | Seemed to be the star of every motion picture at the Barchester Odeon, including “Moonlight Passion,” “Lips of Desire,” “They Loved Too Well,” etc. Always with a different leading man. | B, BL, CBI, NR, MH, MB, PBO, LAR, OBH, CC, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Turner, Betty | Young niece of Mrs. Poppy Turner of Northbridge, with whom she and her sister lived after their parents died of influenza. First encountered on a picnic in B. Began each new statement with her favorite word, “Ackcherly.” Married Capt. Crosby Topham, lived in Norfolk after war. | B, CBI, NR, MB, PE, WDIM |
| Turner, Miss | Other niece of Mrs. Turner, first name never given. Married Tommy Greaves. | CBI, NR, MB, PE, WDIM |
| Turner, Poppy | Resided at The Hollies in Northbridge with her two nieces, Betty and “Mrs. Turner’s other niece.” A sprightly and energetic widow. Ran communal kitchen during war. Harold Downing was attracted, but was prevented from marrying her first by his dominant landlady’s possessiveness (Miss Pemberton) and then by his belief that his studious life was not suited for Mrs. Turner. Mrs. Turner lived with Betty and her husband after war, but returned to Northbridge and married Downing in 1953. | CBI, NR, MB, PE, JC, WDIM, DA |
| Villars, Rev. Gregory | b. 1886. Vicar of Northbridge. Former headmaster of Coppin’s School. Canon of Barchester by LAA. | SH, CBI, NR, GU, MB, PE, CC, JC, WDIM, DA, CQ, LAA |
| Villars, Verena | b. 1892. Wife of Rev. Gregory Villars, vicar of Northbridge. Typical languid, middle-aged, attractive Thirkell heroine. Had “a bit of a heart.” Two sons. | SH, CBI, NR, GU, MB, PE, DD, JC, WDIM, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Walker | Taught higher mathematics at Southbridge School. Very old. | CBI |
| Watson | Housemaster at Southbridge School. His wife shut herself up whenever their son was in a boxing match. | HR1, CBI |
| Wicklow, Roddy | Son of Mr. Wicklow of Barton and Wicklow, Architects. Assistant estate agent to Mr. Hoare at Pomfret Towers, later took over the estate himself. Big, good-natured, he married Alice Barton and became invaluable assistant to his brother-in-law Giles, Lord Pomfret. Wounded in leg, which kept him out of most of war, but returned to fight in Belgium near war’s end. | PT, B, BL, CBI, MH, GU, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, DD, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Wicklow, Sally | b.1914. Daughter of Mr. Wicklow the architect. Enthusiastic outdoorswoman who loved horses and dogs, “the best hands in the county.” Married Giles Foster, who became Lord Pomfret, and took much of the burden of duties over from him because of his poor health. Children Ludovic, Emily, Giles. Conscientious and hard-working, she was on every important committee during and after the war. | PT, B, CBI, MH, HM, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, WDIM, ESR, NTL, DA, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Winter, Philip | Under-housemaster to Everard Carter at Southbridge School, where he was Senior Classics Master. Son of a clergyman. At first meeting, a hot-tempered communist sympathizer. Was engaged to Rose Birkett, the nitwit daughter of the headmaster, and was extremely jealous. Became unengaged on day of memorable picnic on an island in the Rising River at Northbridge, culminating in Rose’s throwing her ring at him (a relief to all concerned). Joined the Territorials during the war, rose to rank of Colonel, and lost his communist sympathies. Was called “Carrots” and “Fireworks” in school because of red hair. Married Leslie Waring, started Priory School in Beliers Priory, later moved school to Harefield. | SH, CBI, GU, MB, PBO, PE, LAR, OBH, CC, DD, HR2, JC, ESR, CQ, LAA, 3S&T |
| Wiple | Small master builder of Southbridge. Created Wiple Terrace in 1820—Four small cottages named for his four daughters (Maria, Louisa, Adelina, and Editha). In 3S&T Wiple Terrace was rescued from Sir Ogilvy Hibberd’s plan to raze it and build a factory. | CBI, PE, JC, 3S&T |
| Wixett, Miss | Barchester High School’s first headmistress, predecessor of The Pettinger. Retired in Lyme Regis. | CBI |