Excerpt from BROWSING #13(December 1945, ed. Rosenblum for FAPA)
Yes, I know this isn't an issue of the BFS BULLETIN (links to previous and next below), but it is a news section published by Mike that kinda fits between them. Joyce Fairbairn: J. Michael Rosenblum is wishing to pour out to the world in general a vast amount of information regarding the doings and sayings of the tiny mass of humanity, Fandom. I have never been a fan, but I used to be in the Junior Astronomical Association and everyone knows that there are strong personal ties between the two. Last week [the final one in August] Michael took me away on holiday. To Scotland, to the homes of the Webster and the Macdonald. And in return he wants me to write about what he did. My memories are very mixed. Chronologically it went something like this:- Looking out of the train on that coast run from Edinburgh to Aberdeen whilst dawn was just breaking, the sea looked very gray and the light shone over the Firths; arriving at Aberdeen to be greeted by Doug Webster and escorted to a Webster house, empty of Websters but gratifyingly full of cats; talking to Doug all day until Edwin arrived in his own car from Inverness, and then talking to Doug and Edwin until as a result of loss of sleep on the overnight journey I fell asleep. Then all sorts of memories crowd in on each other - a ride in Edwin's car to Inverness via Culloden Moor, that bloodthirsty place where the last battle on English soil was fought. Edwin's house and family and hot Scotch broth and Edwin's books - the lad is the right sort. Incredibly cheap books in Inverness market, and Michael discovering that he'd dreamed of buying books in exactly that place months before. Riding to Fort William along the shores of Loch Ness (no monster observed) and incredibly lovely scenery. Rushing up and down Ben Nevis. On Thursday setting off to go to Kingussie, but on discovery that buses ran only Wednesdays and Fridays rushing back to Inverness and not a bit surprised to be casually sauntering down the street and run into Edwin. Riding to Aberdeen in a compartment with a dear old couple to whom Michael talked in his usual dogmatic way about food and vegetarians and atom bombs and music - before leaving they thanked us for making their journey so pleasant.
Then meeting Webster family who are making such a magnificent success of living together in a family and still getting on well - I could say a lot about the Websters and their methods, but Doug wouldn't be able to give his approval first as I'm doing this straight on a stencil. Ride to Banchory and the river Feugh and finding Doug waving a hay fork and still talking. Bookshops and Brother Tony's excellent records, intermingled with Mother Webster's excellent food. At night pubs, and invariable Webster conversation and hospitality until 2 am. The next night an all-night journey back but leaving Edwin and Michael to visit Dr. Gibson at Edinburgh - that is their story. It was a wonderful holiday. I can't say anything about *what* we did like the people who keep on writing informative accounts of fan meetings. Also I promised Michael to write a review of the play "Doll's House" which Ron Lane and I went to see in London and I have a feeling that he meant that to appear on this stencil too. Perhaps I could bring the two in together by comparing the Webster household with what Ibsen would have approved of. But I don't want Doug to get a bad impression of me especially as he did say something about all of us going back for Hogmanay. J. Michael Rosenblum: I've been pleasantly busy here of late, but not least pleasantly so, in entertaining visitors. Included is a weekend when Frank Parker and Allan Miles were in Leeds; at the end of August I went holidaying in Scotland and called, chez Doug Webster, Edwin Macdonald, Dr. W. A. Gibson, and Osmond Robb. Joyce Fairbairn who was along part of the time includes her impressions [above]. During the last two months callers at Grange Terrace have been Edwin Macdonald on his way South, Ron Lane of Lanchester--twice-- Sgt Norman Lamb of Toronto who is a ruddy-faced, cheery, bibliophile after my own heart, expert on pornography -- especially the classic pornographic works-- or would it be more accurate to say the pornographic classics? Don Smith once pointed out that the recipe for a work enduring through the centuries includes a modicum of fantasy and a modicum of filth. Just after Norm Lamb left, a phone call from Aberdeen informed me that a certain Milton A. Rothman was present there and intended to make Leeds his next stop. To tell the truth, Milty rather surprised me with his general quietude and reticence; unless, as is possible, the laddie was somewhat shy in this hectic household. Next caller was Al Godfry who emanates from somewhere in Southern Ontario and had been with a Canadian engineer unit in the front line fighting Caen in Normandy to the Ems canal in Germany, via Belgium and Holland, notably at Arnheim, Al was almost the opposite of what I had envisioned--tall, sturdy, self-possessed with plenty of confidence and composure and a faculty for making himself at home anywhere within a minute or two. All these visitors amused my two year old nephew enormously. No sooner has he got used to saying Uncle Nor-Nor, then its Uncle Milty, and Uncle Milty gives place to Uncle Ally within a few days. Incidentally, Milty and Al Godfrey did manage to meet up for a couple of hours and I'm hoping to see the results of some candid camera snap-shooting before long.
OTHER US ARMY VISITORS TO 4 GRANGE TERRACE:
| |||||||||||
