independent Cornish news and comment

COMPILERS OF QUILLER COUCH DVD SEEK FILM, PHOTOS AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch 1863 - 1944
The call is going out from the Trustees of the Sir Arthur Quiller Couch Memorial Fund for anyone who filmed, photographed, or has anecdotes about the famous writer to allow their material to be used in a special DVD. The Fund (registered charity number 306599) is hoping the DVD will be a popular product and a major fundraiser.



The 'Q Fund' was set up after his death in 1944, with its Trustees empowered to make grants to those engaged in local research on literary or allied subjects.



After last year's presentation on 'Q' by Dr Joan Coombs at the Daphne du Maurier Festival it was realised there is a wealth of information, photographs, cine film, radio broadcasts and personal reminiscences about 'Q' which are neither listed nor contained in the archives of the Cornwall Record Office, Trinity College Oxford or Jesus College Cambridge. So the idea of gathering a variety of information onto a DVD was born.



The Committee set up a working group to see how this could be taken forward. Using new technology it is planned to make a 'virtual' collection of memorabilia, information and images on DVD, ideally to include an archives, resources and literature section, plus a documentary and publicity section about Q the man. This may feature archives and a bibliography of his work, but also interesting audio and visual material including photographic images - film of 'Q' himself, readings from his works, reminiscences from those who remember him, material from the BBC archives - plus many other possibilities.



It is hoped that the DVD could be used at fund-raising events and sold to raise money to boost the 'Q' Fund.



Time is of the essence because some people will have to record their reminiscences. The project needs to get underway soon as it is hoped to have the DVD ready for the 2007 du Maurier Festival and a Q Fund Committee fund-raising event in the autumn of 2007.



The DVD should prove popular as Q was voted one of the greatest-ever Cornishmen in a poll of readers of the Western Morning News. Among the most popular novelists at the turn of the century, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch first used the pseudonym 'Q' in writing for the Oxford Magazine, and then throughout his career. His famous range of adventures, mysteries and humorous bestsellers includes 'The Delectable Duchy', 'The Ship of Stars', 'Lady Good-for-Nothing' and 'Troy Town' - which was modelled on his native Fowey.



The first Professor of English Literature at Cambridge University, Quiller-Couch was a renowned critic, scholar and educational reformer. He edited the enormously popular 1900 Oxford Book of English Verse and the 1923 Oxford Book of English Prose (1923). Knighted in 1910, Q was Chairman of Cornwall Council's Education Committee from 1925-31.



MORE INFORMATION Lesley Dobel, Chief Executive's Department 01872 322104