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More About Morcove
Abbreviations:
SO = The Schoolgirls’ Own
SGOL = The Schoolgirls’ Own Library, first series
SG = The Schoolgirl
GF = The Girls’ Favourite
An Example of a listing:
SO 425-429, Pam and the Casket of Kangpur, SGOL 647 = The Schoolgirls’ Own No, the title of the series, and the reprint of the same story, most of them somewhat abridged, in the SGOL version.
Note 1: From an article on Charles Hamilton in SPCD Spring Special 2006:
“The actual fact is, that if you write for boys, you must write for adults. You can’t write down to a boy, he spots you at once and throws the thing aside. And if there’s anything he doesn’t understand, he’s perfectly willing to pass it over without understanding it. He thinks that’s something the author knows and he doesn’t.”
And
“I know it’s utterly absurd at my time of life, but when I’m sitting at a typewriter I’m only sixteen years old. Oh yes, I live at Greyfriars.”
Note 2:
a. Although this article has been collated over several years and expanded as more Morcove material came into my possession, there are many, many missing gaps. Gary and Keith have some of these missing gaps, and reference has been made of some of them and kindly asking if they can at some stage add their own conclusions.
b. Throughout the article, reference is made to several SO’s and the accompanying SGOL version if there is one. For ease though, sometimes reference is made to a singular SO within a set - for example, an illustration.
Many, many thanks go to Alison, Keith and Gary for so much help over the years. It is hoped that wherever Horace Phillips is, he enjoys this article and gets a certain satisfaction that Morcove means so much in the 21st Century.
Morcove School, situated on a rugged, wind swept cliff top, which is also lashed by the raging Atlantic Sea, is about four miles from the market town of Barncombe in North Devon. SO 5 The Form Against Her (SGOL 36 When Betty Came to Morcove) describes Morcove as overlooking the Bristol Channel, and strategically placed where several shipwrecks from the Spanish Armada have eventually yielded their treasure to the Morcove girls, such as SO 8-10 Treasure Trove (SGOL 46 The Morcove Mysteries) and SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure. SO 560 The Mystery Ship at Morcove gives such a good description!! Morcove’s locality is of course, fictional but with Phillips’ style and Leonard Shields’ illustrations, the locality becomes alive and real.
Morcove was the main feature of The Schoolgirls’ Own, a weekly publication of The Amalgamated Press. It ran from No 1, of 5 February, 1921, until the final edition, No 798, of 23 May, 1936. Morcove was then transferred in smaller format to The Schoolgirl, also a weekly publication of The Amalgamated Press, from May 1936 until 1938. Some of the stories were published for The Schoolgirls’ Own Library, First Series, although some stories were heavily edited. Stories, features and playlets were also published in The Schoolgirls’ Own Annuals, from 1923 until 1938.
GF 41-54 The Rivals of Morcove, a slightly more grown up version of Morcove story was published in The Girls’ Favourite, and it is unknown who the author was, or if there were any other stories – published or unpublished. It ran fairly close to Phillips’ Morcove, with the author’s own interpretation of Morcove and its locality.
CONTENTS:
A Little Bit on Horace Phillips
Morcove Crest and Colours
Morcove’s Illustrators – Leonard Shields and Evelyn Flinders
Headmistress
Staff
Temporary Staff
The Girls
Fourth Form Studies
The Morcove Magazine
Main Morcove Characters
Other Core Characters
Profiles
The Circus
Morcove’s Immediate Environment
Holidays, Foreign Climes and Dangerous Times
Grangemoor
Other Schools
What Happened To?
Heroes and Heroines
Spies, Villains and Impostors
Names
Inaccuracies and Observations
Some Story Lines and Plots
Morcove One Offs
Wise Sayings
A Little Bit on Horace Phillips
Morcove School is the brainchild of Horace Phillips (Marjorie Stanton). He was born in 1881 and died in 1972. He had a love on the West Country; (See SO 631 My Dear Readers); seems to have been a fan of Shakespeare; (See SO 649 page 877), Georgian architecture; the theatre; classical music and dogs, especially Spaniels. He transferred his love of dogs through families such as the Willoughbys, who had three dogs – including a Clumber and a Cocker; the Lintons had a dog; Polly found a dog whilst at Fallowfield, and the Creels had at least two dogs. Pat Lawrence’s Aunt Jessica had a Spaniel named Pickles. Miss Somerfield has various dogs throughout the saga as well. Phillips also seemed to have a soft spot for Lancashire, as many of his characters came from Lancashire, like Betty Barton, Cora Grandways, Judy Cardew, Hilda Fawley, Dick and Edna Loring, to name a few. Also, many Lancastrian sayings appeared right throughout the saga.
Phillips also had a love for the genteel, elegant life, and this shines through with elegantly dressed people, lavish teas resplendent with egg shell china, the country house touch such as Swanlake, Beechwood Park, and of course, Barncombe Castle. Even the abandoned and deserted ruins had an elegant air in their decay.
He introduced his own kind of vehicle, known as the Roysler. Several characters drove these – of varying vintage, including Miss Somerfield, and the Lundys. Barncombe Castle had a fleet of them, complete with the Lundy crest. Paula was overcome with joy whilst out driving with Lady Evelyn to Grangemoor, to find a specially appointed vanity case set in the back seat of the latest model, coach built twelve cylinder Roysler purchased from the last Motor Show.
Phillips wrote under several pseudonyms, including Joy Phillips and Walter Hope. As Joy Phillips he wrote stories for The Girls’ Favourite, and some of his stories were re-printed in The Schoolgirls’ Own Library. Some of the editors and authors from The Amalgamated Press had their names immortalised in the Morcove saga and one example is George Richmond Samways, in Samways’ Circus. Another, W. Stanton-Hope is another writer from the Amalgamated Press. I don’t know if there is any personal connection between Phillips and Stanton-Hope. There isn’t a lot of information around regarding Phillips, and there doesn’t seem to be any existing copies of his adult writings. Some insight about him though, can be obtained from the following publications:
Chin Up Chest Out Jemima - Mary Cadogan
You’re a Brick, Angela Mary - Cadogan and Patricia Craig
The Morcove Companion - Mary Cadogan and Tommy Keen
The Friardale website also includes some discussion regarding Horace Phillips, and an electronic copy of The World of Frank Richards, by W O Lofts and D J Adley which includes information on him.
Horace Phillips narrates his stories like a documentary to the reader, with the clarity of David Attenborough narrating his documentaries to the viewer, such as Life in the Freezer. Full of atmosphere and emotion. In suitably intense situations – of which there are many - such as Betty losing her Captaincy due to anothers’ scheming, he introduces outside influences such as a severe thunderstorm to heighten the extreme emotion the character, such as Betty is feeling. Another apt description of his is when the Fourth hear some totally astounding news, they sigh, and it is just like a soft wind rippling a field of ripe wheat. He also recaps during the story to bring it up to date for new readers in such an unobtrusive manner.
Another superb stroke of Horace Phillips is describing increasing tension so that the reader can actually feel it as well as reading it. Mary Cadogan writes of her experiences with Phillips’ masterfulness in this regard, in SO 463-467 Christmas at Swanlake (SGOL 706The Legend of Swanlake). Other examples are:
SO 345-350 Boarded Out at Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove).
SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder)
SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain; SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret
SO 746-750 Agatha Drew and Head Girl
Morcove Crest and Colours
Black, orange and green. In SO 147 The Morcove Girls at Stormwood, the girls are described as wearing green jackets.
Morcove’s Illustrators - Leonard Shields and Evelyn Flinders
Leonard Shields
There is nothing like an excellent illustrator to bring a story to life, and indeed Leonard Shields did a superb job. He was born on 18 November, 1876 and died in January, 1949. There is quite a lot of information available regarding him, including articles in Mary Cadogan’s books, Lofts and Adley’s The World of Frank Richards, by W.O. Lofts and D.J. Adley, and an article sent to me by Keith Bates.
Amongst the many wonderful illustrations by Leonard Shields, some are of similar design and others totally outstanding. Some examples can be found in:
SO 43-46 Cora and Judith - Captives
SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday Home, Weir Hall
SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family
SO 503-508 The Morcove Peeress Here, Leonard Shields draws some of the girls with outstanding beauty. Pam’s Lady Ravenscroak dress is also similar design to the bridesmaids’ dresses in SO 414-419 The Morcove Wedding.
SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday These illustrations are thrilling. The evening camping scenes, the girls and ladies dresses, the dapperness of the men, and even the villainess Carlotta looks wonderful in her cloak and evening dress. Horace Phillips even gives a detailed description of these!
SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House a disgruntled guest at Cromlech Manor is almost identical to Miss Massingham!
SO 727-730 Pam Willoughby Masquerade in London Pam, at her ravishing best.
He also used some of his architectural details, such as Morcove’s wall and gate details, on other buildings such as Grangemoor; Miss Redgrave’s new house in Barncombe, Stormwood School and Hunter’s Rock Manor to name a few.
Pam’s famous hairstyle is repeated by Leonard Shields during the saga, giving it to Kate Barnard for one and even some illustrations of the dreadful Ursula Wade showing a similar style.
Leonard Shields updated several of his original illustrations on the front cover or inside The Schoolgirls’ Own for the front covers of the later reprinted and usually heavily edited story in The Schoolgirls’ Own Library. This subject is also touched upon in Collector’s Digest – The First Fifty Years: Morcove and its Artist, by Dennis L Bird.
Some other examples are:
SO 397-404 Rebels of Rosemount School (SO 399), SGOL 639 Driven From Morcove
SO 414-419 The Wedding at Morcove (SGOL 653 The Wedding at Morcove)
SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall (SGOL 681 Morcove’s River Holiday)
SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder)
SO 503-508, The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress)
SO 754-? Grangemoor to Guard Her (SGOL 563 Grangemoor to Guard Her)
Evelyn Flinders
Evelyn, amongst several Amalgamated Press magazines including The Schoolgirls’ Weekly, also illustrated some of the later Morcove stories, including SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain.
Mary Cadogan writes in SPCD of January 1998 that Evelyn Flinders died on 31 October, 1997, and she gives a brief description of some of Evelyn Flinders work over the years.
There are a lot of wonderful illustrations in The Schoolgirls Own Annuals. Many of them are not by Leonard Shields, but they still manage to convey a sense of place.
Tel: Morcove One.
The Morcove opened in November, 1895, but it isn’t until 1921 with SO 1 Scorned By the School. that the daily doings and adventures are chronicled. A main benefactor was the Sixth Earl of Lundy, Father of the present Earl.
Morcove stands high on a headland, facing west. The road that runs alongside Morcove has Barncombe in one direction, and Droverton the other. The site has special significance in that it has always had an educational influence, right from the Middle Ages. Morcove is a white stone building in the Grecian style, with North and South wings. During the many renovations, additions, improvements and structural repair work from the absolutely necessary dire disasters to befall Morcove, the main building itself retained its integrity. Morcove surrounded by a boundary hedge, with the requisite thinned out parts that enable the girls to climb through.
There is a bell tower and belfry, where Naomer has been seen climbing the ladders and ringing the bell.
Although the exterior is of Grecian style, the interior is mainly Georgian. Horace Phillips also attested this Georgian style to many of his other buildings and houses are attested to this style. Leonard Shields has endowed Morcove and the various country estates with many internal archways, rambling staircases, heraldic fireplaces, arched passages, diamond paned windows, large stone fences with ornate gateways.
“Fine playing fields, a huge schoolhouse, and the wants and the happiness of every scholar well looked after! Big ‘gym’, a splendidly equipped ‘san’, airy class rooms in the schoolhouse, and as for studies – well, if it was a case of three scholars to a study, all the chummier! Not to mention that the teaching staff, from Miss Somerfield, Morcove’s famous headmistress, down to the mere visiting instructress, were all adored – bar one, perhaps, and that was Miss Massingham! Miss Massingham had nothing to do with the Fourth Form, anyhow, and so – “ (Excerpt from SO 614). SO 614-619, Polly Linton at Fallowfield School.
An invaluable source of reference on the social history of Morcove are the Schoolgirls’ Own Annuals. Whether these are written by Horace Phillips is unknown, but he must have had a hand in them somewhere. There is though, some conflicting evidence between the Annuals and the actual Schoolgirls’ Own weekly magazines, with some discrepancies noted below. But, they all make for interesting and in some cases, delicious reading!
Main building (facing West):
A wide entrance hall runs from the main doors under those Grecian columns, and North and South Wings also run from this hall. All other rooms such as below run at varying angles from the entrance hall. A large wide staircase leads from the rear of the entrance hall to the upstairs regions.
Big Hall, with a telephone lobby at the rear.
Dining Hall
Music Room
Form Rooms
Library
Maids on the top floor
Fourth Form dormitory on the third floor
Common Rooms
Classrooms
Downstairs are several rooms, including the dark room.
South Wing:
Dormitories are on the floor above the studies, with a half landing that has push bars opening onto a fire escape. This fire escape is used many times by the girls for entry after lock up.
Studies
Sixth Formers studies/sleeping cubicles on the ground floor
Fifth Formers studies and dormitories on the second floor
Fourth Form studies on the third floor
A lot of the above was taken from SGOL Annual 1933 which is a mine of information, but in SGOL Annual 1935 where Naomer takes us on a tour of Morcove, the information is slightly different again! She mentions that the Fourth Form corridor and studies are on the first floor, and that the Fifth are on the floor above. Also, that the Fourth and Fifth Dormitories are on the same floor. So there’s a lot of conflicting evidence in the Annuals themselves, and when consideration is given to the information given in the SO’s, it is hard to get an accurate picture.
Some of this conflicting evidence can be found in the following:
SO 697 Morcove and the Mystery Gypsy: Fourth and Fifth Form dormitories are on the same floor, separated by a large landing. The Fourth Form dormy faces the front of the school (and it has its own emergency exit via a glass door leading to an outside landing where there is a cork screw staircase.
SO 560 The Mystery Ship at Morcove!: Fourth Form studies are on the floor above the Fifth, facing the ocean. At the end of the passageway is a pantry where hot water can be obtained and the girls can do their washing up.
An actual excerpt from SO 603 All to Save a Senior: Sixth Form studies are on the first floor (The ground floor, all spacious class rooms and inner and outer halls, then this first floor, with carpet down the study corridors actually, and the studies themselves, well, if this was a fair sample, the seniors did things in great style). (
North Wing:
Mistresses Rooms are on the first floor.
Headmistresses Private Quarters – This is also confusing as it is stated that Miss Somerfield’s private living quarters, are separate from the main building, and are two storey – SO 595 With-held From the Form. A private entry to this leads from the moors, through her private garden, to the house. This garden is well stocked with herbaceous plants, flowers, and especially, roses. Later though, in the saga, it is mentioned that she sleeps in the school itself - SO 697 Morcove and the Mystery Gypsy and SO 702 Whilst the School Slept. This is tricky!
Kitchens
Some Staff rooms
The property room is adjacent to the House Keeper’s room on the ground floor.
As the school is in such a high position, it is an ideal place for clandestine night time activities by various shady characters, including secret signalling from the upper floors as in SO 280-284 Return of Audrey Blain as Servant (SGOL 507 The Mystery Servant of Morcove) and SO 558-560 The Schoolgirl From the Skies.
The tuckshop is located just inside the main gates, near to the gatekeeper’s lodge. Mrs Marlow is gatekeeper/tuckshop operator in the early saga, followed by Mrs Steggles, as Dame Steggles. SO 312-317 Lena Daunt (SGOL 546 When Morcove Misjudged Madge) states the lodge is next to the gates of Morcove School. The illustrations by Leonard Shields don’t seem to include this lodge, and as with the tuck shop, these two buildings seem to disappear later on in the saga.
The quadrangle is in front of the main building.
Morcove has its own chapel, with stained glass windows.
Early on in the Morcove saga, the Crypt with its underground chambers is frequently mentioned, but later during the saga, this location for various doings is put aside as the countryside opens up with more desirable locations.
Morcove has its own ruin, which originally consisted of a Nun’s Chapel and Tower. All that remains now is fenced off by a railing. It is thought that the ruin originated from the very early days of development on the site. It is at the extreme eastern boundary, and at one time used as a gatehouse. SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure gives details of the original landscape, buildings, walls and so on, and Leonard Shields illustrates these well, including the trouble that Fay and Edna Denver find themselves in.
There is also a tunnel - SO 425-429, Pam and the Casket of Kangpur, (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery). Ursula Wade accidentally comes upon this tunnel, when she is trying to hide a precious casket belonging to Pam Willoughby. The tunnel’s entrance is located near a small stone walled tool shed, and exits in the props cupboard under the stairs behind Big Hall. This tunnel doesn’t seem to feature again in the saga, however it is intriguing and its original use was probably linked with smuggling in the old days. It could have linked to the seashore below the cliffs, the Crypt, the Nun’s Chapel and the Tower.
Coal house is situated mid way between the kitchens and the tradesman's mestic quarters
Many outbuildings surround the main building, amongst these are more Staff quarters, sheds, garage, and cottages for the Chauffeur, and the Gardener. One of the spare cottages were allotted to the dreadful Morgans lived in whilst they were ‘on service’ for the school. How that awful Edna Morgan ran down the place! SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder); See also SO 564-566 Judith Grandways and Dave Lawder;
The Museum is located in a large room near the front hall, and is mentioned in SO 43-46 Cora and Judith – Captives (SGOL 191 The Hidden Schoolgirls) and SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure. At one stage the Sacred Lamp of Susalah held pride of place in the exhibits.
Science laboratory is next door to the Museum.
Art room
Library is next to the Music Room
The attics naturally held many a prisoner, and were also refuge for the girls, such as Hetty and Cora in SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl, where Miss Massingham made her tremendous error of judgement. Those attics were also a place to shield many innocent victims of various crimes until they were proven innocent. And of course, as they were next to the boiler pipes, they were warm and dry.
The tennis courts are beside Miss Somerfield’s private quarters. There is a good illustration of these in SO 595 With-held From the Form -page 803.
Senior and Junior playing fields – both with pavilions, facing South.
Chemistry laboratory, and next to it is the lumber room, which houses old sporting equipment.
The gymnasium and changing room - a huge building with an underground cellar, is separate from the main building. A shed adjoining the gym is used by Tess when she is working on large stage props. Adjacent to the gym is an indoor swimming pool.
Stables
Pet’s house
The Sanatorium, with its Gothic porch, is separate from the school, between the quadrangle and playing fields. It can be seen from the Fourth Form Dormitory. It is the scene of many a melodramatic illness, a scare, or near death experience. Girls congregate out the front and have whispered talk whilst awaiting news of who ever may be in the San. Pam especially, has been in the Sanatorium more than once including SO 445-452, Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685, When Pam Made Morcove Wonder), SO 592-597 Pam and Hetty Inter-Sports. As she is so loved, it seems appropriate that she suffers more than most! Madge has also had her time in the San - SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident. Judy as well. -SO 170-173, Return of Cora and Judith, (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove).
During the saga because of damage, re-building, renovations and schemers against Morcove, all or parts of Morcove School are housed in different locations. Amongst these are:
Sawnton House
SO 241-246 Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415 Turned Out of Morcove), where it takes over the completely run down but once magnificent mansion after being evicted by the scheming Lupina family.
The Old Priory
SO 88-93 Old Priory (SGOL 145 When Morcove Moved). The girls are still at this location in SO 94-98 Madge Minden’s Search (SGOL 151 Madge Minden’s Secret)
Modena, a boarding house in Barncombe
SO 346-350 Boarded Out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove)
Over the years, Morcove’s staff were many and varied. Some as we know, featured regularly throughout, such as Miss Somerfield, Miss Redgrave, Miss Everard, Miss Massingham and the loved parlour maid Ellen. This list includes as many that are known, including the absolutely necessary Impostor Mistresses. E L Rosman, the creator of the super character Jemima Carstairs who later decamped to Cliff House, also created some characters. These are noted with his initials against the name. As many characters as possible are also included from the The Rivals of Morcove.
Miss Esther Somerfield, M.A., F.R.G.S.
An Old Girl of Morcove, and one of the first pupils when it opened in November, 1895. (In SGOL Annual 1928 she is known as Alice Edith Somerfield. Oh, well!)
In SO 3 and 5, Miss Somerfield is described as ‘Having a calm, even tempered nature, equal to most of the trials and perplexities which filled her daily life as the able principal of Morcove, and putting true womanhood before pride of position’.
Miss Somerfield has various issues throughout the years, such as health problems, car crashes and personal torment. During SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant ) she suffers a breakdown so the reins are handed to Miss Massingham and Miss Redgrave. Miss Bertha Snode becomes the Fourth Form mistress during this time and she inflicts her tyranny upon the girls. See more on her in Profiles. Personal torment comes in SO 241-246 Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415 Turned Out of Morcove), where she is the victim of the South American Lupina family, out to get at her brother, Jack Somerfield. He exposes a fraud that the Lupinas are involved in, and to get back at him, they attack the soft targets, Miss Somerfield and Morcove itself. So much so, that Miss Somerfield is forced to move the school to an alternative, the run down but once majestic Sawnton House. Eventually though, all is righted but at a huge cost to Morcove and especially, Miss Somerfield herself.
During the early saga, Miss Somerfield frequently holidays with the girls, but this practice seems to be disbanded. Perhaps Phillips this could lead to too much familiarity, and anyway, it wasn’t long before horizons were widened. Towards the end of the saga though, Phillips paints Miss Somerfield as a more remote, even sometime distant character. She subsequently punishes Betty and the girls more than once on circumstantial evidence only, whereas in earlier stories she was the Coterie’s staunch supporter. Examples are: SO 764-768, Denver Sisters v Betty Barton; SO 731-733 Betty Barton’s Ordeal; SG 396-? When Morcove Expelled Her. During SO 788-791 Zillah Raine, she is unduly harsh towards Pam Willoughby and is deceived by the awful Zillah Raine whom she brings back to Morcove after attending a Headmistresses Conference in the USA. Zillah is a tempestuous and venomous character who craves attention, and she develops a passionate envy of Pam and causes a lot of problems for Pam. Towards the end though, Miss Somerfield does start to have misgivings about her.
Miss Somerfield occasionally shows a lack of judgement, as does the School Board in certain circumstances such as the employment of such temporary mistresses as Miss Cunliffe and Miss Kitten.
Miss Somerfield is on various charity committees in Barncombe, therefore she is in frequent contact with and very friendly with the Earl and Countess of Lundy.
Miss Somerfield is very partial to dogs. In SO 731-733 Betty Barton’s Ordeal she has a dog named Laddie. In previous stories she has had other dogs with other names.
Although described and illustrated as sometimes matronly and middle aged, Leonard Shields illustrates her as being young and rather beautiful in SO 475 Fighting For the Form.
Miss Massingham is personally responsible for the rampant snobbery that is evident when Betty starts at Morcove. She encouraged wealthy girls to be outspoken about their parentage and money. She insists on Paula being Fourth Form Captain, purely on the grounds that she is rich and aristocratic, and never mind the fact that Paula is completely unsuitable to be a leader.
Very tall, and statuesque she has white hair. There are no really complimentary illustrations of Miss Massingham. Her only interests are Maths and Botany, and it seems as though her only friend is Miss Bolton, the Maths Mistress of Barncombe House. Miss Bolton seems to be on a similar par with Miss Massingham. She has absolutely no idea on how to treat girls, and lacks compassion. Due to her lack of compassion and inability to understand girls, she likes to show her superiority and won’t admit it when she is in the wrong. So of course she is very unpopular. But for all that, she is an excellent teacher, as straight as a die, and has very high principles.
Miss Massingham doesn’t like Betty due to her humble beginnings and how proud Betty is of the early Ribbleton days, and how she got a good start at the local council school there. Shortly after Betty arrives at Morcove, Miss Massingham’s necklace is stolen and so she automatically blames - Betty, entirely because of her ‘unfortunate background’ as she sees it. In actual fact it is Ursula Wade and Miss Massingham must have been aware of Ursula’s disposition as she is in a tight corner at the time of Betty’s arrival.
Miss Massingham has no time for Miss Redgrave either, and the reason is unclear apart from the fact that she is young. In fact, she is just not a people person at all. After an incident during a cricket match against Combe House School, she begins to see that her decision in installing Paula as Captain isn’t the right one, and she does back Miss Somerfield when she deprives Paula of the Captaincy. Miss Massingham’s dislike of Betty does somewhat abate, although she never gets to quite like her.
She is Mistress of the Fourth at the beginning, with Miss Redgrave to aid her. After Miss Redgrave is promoted, she takes over the Fifth. Because of her seniority in the school, she sometimes has to stand in for Miss Somerfield, and it seems as if the first time is during SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) bhere she warns Betty that she doesn’t want any upsets or complaints. This temporary position doesn’t give her any real power, such as suspending or expelling anyone. She knows this fact of course, but sometimes ignores it, and blunders along, sometimes to her peril, and on occasion she shows complete inadequacy. One such time is when she is hoodwinked by Hetty Curzon when Hetty first arrives at Morcove in SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl Miss Somerfield and Miss Everard meet with a motoring accident, and Miss Massingham has to take over the reins. Just prior to this, she also allows her dislike of Betty to come to the fore when she misreads an encounter between Betty and Hetty Curzon: “Temper, nasty temper,” the Fifth Form-mistress was reflecting. “And that’s bad in a girl who is captain of her Form. The new girl is nice enough, I’m sure. And yet there is this -. She called after the captain peremptorily:
“Betty, come here again! What’s the matter? Is that how a Form captain should look? Sulky –“
“I am not sulky, Miss Massingham.”
“You are in a nasty, bad temper - and no excuse either, I am sure! Go away now, and try to be a better example to others-as a captain should be. I don’t know what you can be thinking about, behaving like this!”
Miss Massingham eventually deprives Betty of the Captaincy and awards it to Hetty Curzon instead, which wreaks havoc upon the Form and also on to Miss Massingham’s own head. When she finally realises that she has been deceived by Hetty, she feels she should resign, but of course, this doesn’t happen. She is given a bit of a hauling over the coals by Miss Somerfield when she receives a ‘please explain’ letter from Miss Somerfield whilst in hospital, asking about certain matters, and why Hetty has been elected Captain in place of Betty Barton.
Another time is when she is again standing in for Miss Somerfield, around the time of SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain and SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret Miss Massingham is forced to take charge of the Fourth, after things get too hot for the bogus Miss Kitten (See Miss Kitten’s profile in Spies, Villains and Impostors), and thinks she can manage them during their ongoing strike against the vitriolic and formidable impostor Miss Kitten. She threatens all kinds of punishments including suspension, but all to no avail. In the end, she is forced to pardon the Fourth Form strikers when they take matters into their own hands as a protest against Miss Kitten. Finally, it is up to the real Hetty Kitten to force Miss Massingham’s hand in pardoning them, and they hope that one day the real Miss Kitten may be a Mistress of the Fourth.
In SO 683-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea, the Fourth are in between Mistresses, and Ethel Courtway is placed in charge. But Ethel disappears, and Miss Massingham has temporary charge of the Fourth. (Ethel, although Head Girl, is given certain Mistress duties for a while in the Morcove saga) Quite a humorous description of Miss Massingham as observed by Etta Hargrove in SO 686 page 345: The last girls, just there, were on top of the wall, and even then dropping down on the other side of it. In vain Miss Massingham ran to and fro, her repeated cries adding to all the din. And Etta laughed. “I’d like to see her get over the wall herself.” Miss Massingham did not do that. But she did finally run to another sector of the boundary, where there was only a privet hedge. There again she was too late; all the girls were gone. The hedge, however, could offer new-made gaps, one of which the irate mistress was quick to use. And again Etta laughed. The sight of a Form-mistress of Miss Massingham’s age, stature and cherished dignity struggling through that hedge was one that appealed to Etta’s sense of humour.
It’s interesting to note that E L Rosman’s interpretation of Miss Massingham is different to Phillips, and in SO 191-195 Tess and the Morcove Vendetta (SGOL 319 The Morcove Vendetta)
he really humanises her. Unfortunately though, he states that the girls are no judge of character, we know that is entirely untrue!
Mistress of the Fourth until she marries, Miss Redgrave is another Morcove Old Girl. She has quite a tragic past. Her Father John Seagrave, was imprisoned for years for a crime he didn’t commit, and her Mother died of a broken heart during this imprisonment. Miss Redgrave, who starts at the same time as Betty, is also a Northern girl, and she recognises in Betty a kindred soul. An intellectually and emotionally far sighted person, more than Miss Massingham, for example. Miss Redgrave, although respecting her for her seniority and experience, does not like her methods in promoting the rampant snobbery, which causes such chaos in the Fourth. It is Miss Redgrave who foresees a great future for Betty at Morcove.
Miss Redgrave comes a huge cropper by the hand of Mabel Cunliffe in SO 345-350 Boarded Out at Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove). A temporary teaching staff member is employed whilst some renovations are carried out. Everyone is looking forward to meeting the new auxiliary mistress, and so Miss Redgrave is despatched to meet the her at Morcove Road. When she discovers the new teacher’s identity, she almost collapses. Miss Cunliffe – known by Miss Redgrave as Mabel Denver, has in the past caused her extreme anxiety and strife due to jealousy. Miss Mabel Cunliffe (Denver), is described by Phillips on first meeting as ‘a charming, silken voiced young lady’. This of course hides her true personality and she quickly pulls the wool over the eyes of everybody – especially Miss Somerfield. Miss Redgrave is the only person up against her, and luckily for Miss Redgrave, it isn’t too long before Betty & Co. start to have suspicions. Miss Somerfield is harshly censurious of Miss Redgrave due to the machinations of Miss Cunliffe, when she and the girls move into Modena during the renovations to their Studies at Morcove.
See below Keith Bates’ personal impression on Miss Cunliffe - it is just so apt, and a tiny snippet on her. She is so shocking that a profile should be done on her, and is in the pipeline.
Miss Redgrave has a niece Teresa Tempest, who is the creation of E L Ransome - SO 31-35 Teresa Tempest Troublemaker (SGOL 7 The Trouble Maker at Morcove). Miss Redgrave goes onto marry Dick Burnaby, a distant cousin of Diana Forbes, and they build a nice house in Barncombe. Due to the jealousy and machinations of Diana, the wedding almost ends in disaster - SO 414-419 The Morcove Wedding (SGOL 653 The Wedding at Morcove). After they come back from their honeymoon and are settled in their house, Miss Redgrave (Burnaby) frequently entertains the Morcove girls. She also becomes friendly with Mrs Loring, Dick and Edna, whose house named Highlands, is just around the corner in the next street.
She replaces Miss Redgrave, and her arrival is featured in SO 498-502 Miss Everard New Mistress (SGOL 730 On Trial at Morcove). For some reason she comes with a slightly unfair reputation of being weak and indulgent and perhaps a little young for the job. However, it is soon apparent that these assumptions are completely unfair. Unfortunately, Miss Everard, desperate for the job, leads Miss Somerfield to believe she is the daughter of an old school friend of Miss Somerfield and she offers to resign when she is caught out.. Of course, she is given a second chance. Miss Everard also comes up against the officious Violet Corfew, a Sixth Former who has ideas above her capabilities. Because of Miss Everards supposed lack of control of the Fourth together with Violet’s interference, Miss Everard is soon in trouble and actually suspended for a while. But there is a lot to Miss Everard that is unknown, including the responsibility of caring for her younger sister, Florrie who is who is unwell, and completely relies on her for everything. Nothing is known of her, and sister Florrie’s parents. Ultimately, everything is righted and Miss Everard goes on from strength to strength and becomes as well loved as Miss Redgrave. After her marriage to Tony Challenor, Housemaster of Grangemoor, - see SO 679-682 Marriage of Miss Everard, her link with Morcove remains as strong as ever, even though she isn’t actually teaching. It’s also in this story where Vera Kain is expelled from Morcove.
Mistress of the Fourth Form towards the end of the saga. I don’t know much about her, apart from having the same surname as Eva Merrick, and she seems to be really popular. She has a brother, Donald.
Mistress of the Second, and a Morcove Old Girl
Mistress of the Third
SO 1-7 When Betty Came to Morcove (SGOL 36 When Betty Came to Morcove)
Other Staff
These names have been lifted from the saga from the beginning through to the end. It is not known how long they stayed, or if other authors installed their own characters, or if some characters were for printing in The Schoolgirls’ Own Annuals.
Matron
Nurse Margaret
Miss Blanton (ELR) - Mistress of the Second
Miss Duke (ELR)
Miss Richmond (ELR) - Fourth Form replacement for Miss Massingham, and in fact, her cousin.
Mr and Mrs Braggart - Gate Keepers
Mr Morgan – Gardener. Has been there for over forty years.
Duffy – Gardener. Came from Samways Circus, in the early days of the Morcove saga.
James – Miss Somerfield’s Chauffeur
Johnson – Chauffeur
Pettigrew – Under Chauffeur
Mr Harris - Carpenter
Mr Codlin - Porter
Septimus Steggles and his wife, known to the girls as Dame Steggles – Porter and Tuckshop. Steggles features in SO 1 When Betty Came to Morcove, where he brings Betty from Morcove Road railway station up to the school.
Mrs Marlow – Gate Keeper and Tuckshop
Ellen – Morcove’s favourite Parlourmaid - In SO 679-682 Marriage of Miss Everard, it is mentioned that she is soon to marry her sweetheart, however in SO 783-787 Madeleine Dollond Boss of Morcove, she is still at Morcove.
Matron – known only as Matron. She has a woman in from Barncombe – a Mrs Morris, who helps her with the mending. Wonder if Mrs Morris ever meets Mrs Marlowe, the dressmaker?
Effie Barnard
Anna
Emily (ELR)
Kate (ELR)
Maud – Housemaid (ELR)
Miss Margaret Danvers SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses) and a few more stories. She is employed by Morcove’s Board of Governors as Head whilst Miss Somerfield and her staff are transferred to Stormwood School by Morcove’s Governors, to set it on its feet. Miss Danvers is described as tall and dark with a stately delicacy; clear cut features and a thin, aristocratic face. Although she possesses a brilliant mind, and with has several degrees, she makes a shocking start with seeming incompetence and lack of interest. When the girls arrive back at Morcove, in a posse of hired cars from Morcove Road. Jackson, one of the well known drivers, almost runs down a man, lurking around outside the gates. The man abuses Jackson, although it is clearly his own fault. Due to the incompetence shown by Miss Danvers, girls by their droves are taken away by their parents, including Eva Merrick and Elsie Drew from the Fourth, along with Margaret Matthews of the Sixth. Betty though, sees more in Miss Danvers than what is presented to the school, and instinctively takes a liking to her, but thinks there is something wrong. Miss Allardyce, in charge of the Fourth, is the only person to fully back Miss Danvers during this dreadful phase, and she calls upon Betty and Polly to keep a look out for a suspicious couple who are lurking around in the area. A robbery, which rocks Morcove shortly after, takes place, and for which Miss Danvers is blamed as in her torment, she inadvertently leaves a window open. Naturally she is blamed for this, and accompanied by her non performance, she threatened with dismissal. We learn that the ill tempered man almost ran down is in fact Miss Danvers’ brother, whom she hasn’t seen for years. Although known to the reader but unknown to her, he is actually an impostor. Of course, she is shocked and distressed when he fronts up, and begins his totally out of character demands, emotional blackmail and intimidation, right on her first day as Headmistress of Morcove. She falls to pieces and ceases to function. Her adored brother, as finely upstanding as she, is suddenly altered into a demon, and she cannot understand it. Things go from bad to worse and word gets out. The Board of Governors meet at Morcove. Whilst the ‘inquisition’ is taking place, Betty, Polly and the Coterie are out walking and exploring as they don’t want to see Miss Danvers in such indignity whilst the ‘inquisition’ takes place. They come across the temporarily unoccupied Cliff Edge Bungalow’s boat cave left open to the winds, so go in and check to se that everything is all right, with the intention of letting the Agents in Barncombe know that someone has been there. At the back of the cave, they discover disturbed sand and so they have a dig around and soon unearth the stolen articles from Morcove, including the solid gold Temperley Trophy which is the pride of Morcove. They return triumphant to Morcove, and meet the Governors who are flabbergasted. And for their reward, they ask that Miss Danvers be given another chance, which of course is given. She doesn’t show her gratitude openly, but at night time steals up to the Fourth Form dormitory and kisses each girl. Betty is awake and witnesses this, but says nothing. From here on Miss Danvers, although still tormented by her brother, gains strength from this second chance and quickly asserts her outstanding leadership qualities. The girls begin to return. Betty and Polly decide to do some investigating on their own. One night, Polly hears a noise so she and Betty go down to investigate, and catch Miss Danvers’ brother along with his wife, attempting to steal Morcove’s trophy cache again. (It isn’t until the end of the story that we learn that the impostor is an opportunist, but the fact is let known here, for convenience sake. He – along with the real Raymond Danvers, was travelling on the same train in France. He struck up an acquaintanceship and Raymond told him some of his family history. Ever the opportunist, the bogus one – oddly we don’t ever learn his name, although his wife’s name is Elma, sees an opening after the train crashes, and Raymond Danvers is injured. He steals Raymond’s Passport and identity, and comes to Morcove as a blackmailer.) Polly manages to frighten them off without the cache, and then Miss Danvers appears on the scene, and she is told what has happened. A few days later,the girls are asked by Miss Danvers to go to Morcove Road to meet Elsie Drew, who is returning to Morcove and they come across a man who is the spitting image of Miss Danvers ‘brother’. He asks them if it’s the right way to Morcove, and if the new Headmistress is there, by name of Miss Danvers. He seems weary, walks with a stick and his arm is in a sling, but at the same time polite and genteel.. But when the girls go and see Miss Danvers and advise her this news, she is puzzled and says no one has come. Later, the girls discover a walking stick on the side of the road, and the Police are contacted. They make some enquiries but come up with nothing. The impostor brother visits again, and intimidates Miss Danvers to such a degree that she is almost ready to give into his demands for her hard earnt money. Betty comes to Miss Danvers with a note from Miss Allardyce, and she witnesses this intimidation and she herself is threatened. He then leaves, and Betty is so incensed that she decides to follow, along with Polly, Madge, Helen and Tess. They track him from a distance, until they come to a disused, ramshackle dwelling out on a desolate bit of moor, where they have been several times before. Betty mentions this fact in where they had aventures some time ago in connection with Zonia Moore. They silently creep up to the ramshackle place and hear the bogus brother exultantly bragging to his wife that his deed is done, and they will reap the reward later on. Then a man’s face is discovered at an upstairs window. They are puzzled as because they can see the bogus Raymond Danvers through a downstairs window, and the man upstairs is a double of the bogus one. They devise a plan to enter the building, which they do and steal upstair, unheard by the bogus Raymond and his wife, Elma. They are still bragging exultantly when Elma hears a noise that sets an unpleasant adrenalin rush throughout her body and she passes her panicky vibes onto ‘Raymond’. They both rush upstairs, but are no match for the combined Morcove force, who are untying the real Raymond Danvers, so they flee. It’s at this point we hear Raymond’s story. Morcove celebrate when he is better, and Miss Danvers is on top of the world. No trace is seen of the impostor and his wife, and all efforts by Police are fruitless. But as Phillips relates, their punishment is enough, as they tried to blackmail but after all went away penniless.
Miss Danvers, along with Miss Allardyce, go on to Stormwood School after Miss Somerfield and Miss Redgrave have done their stint there. It’s unknown if Miss Danvers and Miss Allardyce stay on there, or if it is temporary.
Miss Edith Allardyce SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses), She comes along with Miss Danvers. Tall and fair haired, immensely popular with the Fourth. Miss Allardyce goes onto Stormwood School from along with Miss Danvers. Miss Allardyce is Miss Danvers’ chief champion and ally, and it is she who lets the Fourth know early on that the poor early impressions Morcove have of her are incorrect.
Miss Pike SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses)
Miss Prosser SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses), In charge of the Fifth, not much is known about her apart from the fact that the Fourth are glad she is not their mistress. An officious type.
Miss Monica Merlin SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove
Originally at Bramwell School,from where she was sacked due to the machinations of Laura Turner of the Sixth. After her name is cleared, she returns to Bramwell.
Miss Josephine Kitten SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain, SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret
Tyrannical, scheming impostor who steals her sister’s identity. Cause mayhem, and misery as well as thieving. Almost on a par with Miss Cunliffe. See more on Miss Kitten in Spies, Villains and Impostors.
Miss Cunliffe (Mabel Denver) SO 346-350 Boarded Out at Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove) As described by Keith Bates: For example, in Boarded Out In Barncombe, in addition to the usual Morcovians, we have a fascinating portrait of the tyrannical temporary mistress Miss Cunliffe who is so caustically vile that, when speaking, it's almost like she's spitting out formic acid onto the very pages I'm reading.
Miss Cunliffe, whilst ingratiating herself with the Fourth, at the same time ignores Betty & Co who are boarded out at Modena in Barncombe whilst their Studies are being renovated. Miss Cunliffe’s Profile is in the pipeline.
Bertha Snode SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant)
This is another story of which I don’t have all the details, so can only enlarge upon what I have got, apart from Keith’s explanation in his database.
Bertha Snode obtains this posting with the aid of Josiah Grandways, whose Empire has risen from the ashes. Bertha is engaged to Charles Grandways, the son of Josiah. Charles seems to be a decent sort – Keith’s database says he is a reformed character. In return for this posting, she is to continue on the vendetta against the Bartons by Josiah and Emma, and willingly assisted by Cora. In this case, Betty of course is the victim, in the form of vindictive persecution. Judy knows of the whole situation and she won’t have anything to do with it.
Phillips introduces Bertha to the reader as being a tall, slim, handsome girl of about nineteen, with dark eyes that flash forked lightning. A little later on, she is also described as having an excessive beauty, similar to the later Fay and Edna Denver.
Bertha Snode then introduces herself to the Fourth after a run in with Naomer and her dog Sammy whom she brings to school:
“My name is Miss Snode – Bertha Snode, girls,” the haughty young lady announced impressively. “I am sorry that my very first appearance amongst you has been the occasion for unpleasantness – impudence on the part of a scholar.”
Shortly afterwards:
“We are to be Snode under,” punned Polly, causing Paula to go off in loud laughter.
“Sh! Quiet, duffer! She’ll hear you!”
“Oh gwacious!” Paula dropped her voice to a whister. “Geals, pretty awful, what?”
Madge remarks that it’s a pity that she is so nasty, because she is so attractive. As well as being beautiful, Miss Snode is also exquisitely dressed, right down to her undergarments.
Miss Snode quickly makes her mark, singling out Cora for special dispensation, almost bordering upon adulation, and granting special favours to the Fourth in general. At the same time, she wreaks havoc upon Betty and the Study 12 Coterie, even inflicting corporal punishment upon Naomer, and cunningly making it appear as though they deserve all the trouble that they are in. She sets Betty impossible tasks, with equally impossible deadlines.
The first thing she does is to get Ursula removed from Cora and Judy’s study. This is done as a favour to Cora, although Judy is also pleased as it removes the awful influence Ursula has over the already awful Cora. Judy, mindful of the whole situation and hating it, writes an anonymous note to Betty, pleading her to be patient and advising that there is a friend out there, watching over the situation and that it won’t last for ever. Naturally, the Coterie thinks it’s from Miss Redgrave.
Phillips’ phrase of ‘high stepping’, which he gives to Freda Blair and Pam Willoughby, is perhaps used for the first time here, with Bertha’s walk, when she forces Betty and Polly to manhandle Naomer back from the stables after defying her orders regarding her dog, Sammy.
One of the punishments without crime with an impossible dead line is inflicted upon Betty is when she is denied visiting Stormwood School along with the rest of the Form (Cora has special dispensation of course to do what she likes) for an important hockey match. Betty has been looking forward to this because she can catch up with Zonia Moore. Just as the bus is about to leave, Betty is called back by Miss Snode. She keeps Betty waiting whilst she fiddles with a most superb, exquisite dress she tries on and although Betty is silent, inside she is fuming. Miss Snode deliberately goads her and Betty responds extremely politely that she cannot miss the match. Miss Snode then instructs Betty that she is not going to Stormwood at all, and she must take the dress into Barncombe to get it altered, and she must have it back by 5.30pm. To Betty though, the dress fits like a glove. Betty, with all the tact she can muster, tries to explain again, but of course Miss Snode is exultant inside that she has upset her. Betty goes into Barncombe, delivers the dress to the dressmakers who cannot fault it either, but must do as their client says, and that it is going to take several hours to alter. Eventually, when the dress is ready, Betty realises that there is no way she can get it to Miss Snode at the stipulated time. Then….. she sees Cora coming out of the picture theatre on her own. This of course is against the rules, and Cora is her usual malignant self gloating to Betty about her special leave. Betty doesn’t respond and asks Cora diplomatically if she can take the dress back with her on her motor bike. Cora gives another mouthful but takes the dress. This relieves Betty somewhat, although she cannot understand why Miss Snode didn’t get Cora to do the errand. She then discovers that the train she intends catching back to Morcove Road is cancelled, and that she is going to be very, very late back. When Betty does get back to Morcove, she is confronted by a gloating Cora, who threateningly tells her that she is headed for dire trouble the next morning. Betty cannot understand why, and she goes upstairs to see Polly and the rest of the Coterie, who are wondering what has become of her. Betty explains, and learns of the match and is cheered a little. Next morning comes, Miss Snode sends for Betty, and the inquisition begins. Betty learns that Cora ‘had motor cycle trouble’ on the way back from Barncombe (Deliberate trouble, Betty thinks privately) and that she didn’t get the dress until too late. Miss Snode goes on to gleefully goads Betty until she cannot take it any more and she spiritedly but politely defends herself which enrages Miss Snode even more, and then she shows her trump by telling Betty that she is going to close down Study 12, and that she and Polly are to share with Cora and Judith. Betty is mortally wounded, but keeps her dignity although she has something to say.
Miss Snode delights in publicly closing down Study 12 and forcing Betty and Polly into Study 8, along with Cora and Judy. During the move, Judy is totally sympathetic to Betty and Polly, longing to tell them all she can, but doesn’t at this stage, and Cora drives Polly over the edge when she swaggers in, holding the key to Study 12 and brags that she knows what is going to happen there. The Fourth, with the exception of the Coterie, think that Betty and Polly somehow deserve this punishment and they are twitted here, there and everywhere. Then the news is known that Miss Snode is going to have Study 12 as her own private room and installs Cora as her ‘private secretary’ Then in SO 209 things happen, however I cannot enlarge as it’s my missing part of this story. Maybe Keith can add something at a later date?
In the last sequence of the serial – SO 210 In Spite of Their Scheming!, things come to a head, including a visit to Barncombe Castle for an At Home, where Cora is given her due treatment by the Lundys.
Judy is cross examined by a visit she makes to Barncombe by Miss Snode, and is intimidated by her manner. She knows that Charles is in the district, and tries to see him and let him know what is going on, although loath to do so. She also doesn’t want to reveal all to her parents as she realises that they are behind the vendetta, but to which extent is unknown. All she knows is that it has gone too far. Judy is brave enough though, to stand up to Miss Snode by now, although finally warned off by Miss Snode. Judy makes a promise not to interfere, but only on Miss Snodes’ lines, and not Judy’s. Betty and Polly are once again punished – this time for Judy’s Barncombe visit, and so they are not allowed to visit the Castle. Judy also stays behind. Its also revealed how the Coterie would love to have Judy as part of their circle but it isn’t possible due to Cora’s continuing antagonism.
Cora is placed in charge, and overdresses herself to an extreme. As they travel in the bus to the Castle, though, the tables are turned on Cora, and she is the one to go flump! onto the floor instead of Paula. She is also given a hard time by the rest of the Form who are getting a little tired of her officiousness, so she plans a revenge. They finally arrive at the Castle, and are welcomed.
A little excerpt below on Lady Lundy’s receival of Cora:
“If you please, your ladyship,” Cora spoke up, feeling she was not getting enough attention, “I am in charge of the party. You may remember me – Cora Grandways –“
“Oh, yes, I certainly remember the name,” Lady Lundy said, as if she remembered it as a name that stood for very little in her estimation. “And so you are in charge, are you? Fancy!”
And a little more on Lady Evelyn’s receival of Cora:
“Hallo, everybodies!” Lady Evelyn greeted them gaily, mimicking Naomer’s broken English. “But where are Betty and Polly?”
“As, you may well ask,” said Madge. “It’s a great shame, they –“
“Betty and Polly weren’t allowed to come, as punishment for something they had done,” struck in Cora, in her self-assertive manner. “And I am in charge –“
“In charge? Ha, ha, ha! How delicious!” rippled young Lady Evelyn. And then, with a bit of an edge to her tone – for she knew Cora Grandways, and how that girl had often been the bane of Betty & Co.’s lives – she said coldly:
“Cora Grandways, isn’t it?”
“Yes! And it is such a pleasure, Lady Evelyn, for me to be –“
“’In charge’! I can quite believe it. But I couldn’t dream of letting you march Madge Minden and the rest round the place like a regiment! Girls, I am going to incide you all to mutiny, straight away –“
Cora soon sees a way where she can get back at the Coterie, when she sees Paula and Naomer in one of their affectionate ways, skittishly skirmishing dangerously close to a huge earthenware vase displayed at the foot of a staircase. She quickly pushes it over, and just as quickly openly blames Paula. Lady Lundy is upset over the loss, however brushes it aside as an accident. Paula is beside herself. Later on back at Morcove, Cora cannot wait to report all to Miss Snode. Meanwhile, Betty, Polly and Judy are passing a quiet afternoon, and for a while Polly is out of the room. Judy finally confides in Betty her feelings, and also lets her know that she wrote the anonymous note, and that perhaps Betty should now go to Miss Massingham and reveal all, and that she will back Betty up with everything she says. Betty is glad about Judy’s confidences, and wonders if there could possibly be an ace up her sleeve after all, and if she can let Polly know of these confidences.
Cora can be heard again, screeching in her loud voice that the Coterie who visited the Castle, including Betty and Polly, are to go to Miss Snodes’ room ‘on the double’. This they do, and once again Miss Snode begins her diatribe against the girls, when Judy rushes into the room unannounced, triumphantly. She is a strong, different Judy. Charles is at Morcove unexpectedly, as he has to go abroad on business, and he wants to see Miss Snode, wanting her to leave shortly because he hears that Miss Somerfield is convalescing well, and will shortly be back. Charles naturally, has absolutely no idea of this continuing vendetta instigated by his parents, let alone Bertha Snode’s involvement, and Judy, whilst learning the reason for his visit (And she is so glad he comes!) quickly works out that if she can talk Miss Snode around to dropping her persecution, Charles need not know of certain details. Judy confronts Miss Snode with the reason for Charles’ visit, and forces her hand. Cora suddenly turns into jelly, being the coward she is at heart, whilst the Coterie are agape at the revelations. In the end, Bertha is brought to her knees as she finally realises all she can lose by continuing on in her current vein. She suddenly snaps when she is told by a maid that Charles is waiting to see her, and she finally capitulates. As she looks at her engagement ring and ruminates, something comes over her. She sees where she is wrong, and quickly reverses what she inflicts, with humility. After all is finally sorted, none of the Coterie – especially Betty and Polly - bear her any malice, for which she is genuinely grateful. She does go on to marry Charles, and she remarks to Cora of her shame at being allowed to be talked around like she did, regarding the vendetta. She also says that Judy is a fine example of young womanhood, and perhaps Cora should follow in her example. But as we know Cora doesn’t!
Listed as far as possible from the beginning of the saga until the end. Some of these girls make a fleeting appearance; some stay longer; some stay right from the beginning until the end; others come shortly after the beginning and stay on as well. Some of the girls are known only from The Schoolgirls’ Own Annuals. E L Rosman’s characters are noted with his initials against her name. Horace Phillips endows some of the girls with exquisite, or exotic beauty, as with his villainesses. Included in these are Pam Willoughby, Hetty Curzon, Laura Turner, Audrey Blain, Fay and Edna Denver.
Sixth Form and Prefects
Clarice Berkeley
Violet Corfew – This officious type causes many a headache for Miss Everard in SO 498-502 Miss Everard New Mistress (SGOL 730 On Trial at Morcove).
Ethel May Courtway, Head Girl.
Cynthia Dainton - Ethel Courtway’s best friend. Cynthia at one time is infatuated by the venomous Enid Marchmont in SO 265-269 Ethel Courtway’s Rival (SGOL 471 Ethel Courtway’s Rival. Even though Cynthia instinctively knows Enid is a dangerous, she allows herself to be carried along with all the glamour and excitement that also goes along with Enid.
Althea Dillon
Vanessa Ducrane See SO 769-772 Polly Linton and the Sacking of Servant
Inez Enderby
Valerie Floyd (Definitely not a credit to Morcove)
Lena Grayson
Lena Hall (ELR)
Vera Kain See SO 679-682, Marriage of Miss Everard
Enid Marchmont See SO 265-269 Ethel Courtway’s Rival (SGOL 471 Ethel Courtway’s Rival). After this story, she features as a background character is mentioned more than once in the Morcove Magazine. It’s amazing that she isn’t expelled though, for what she does to Ethel.
Clarice Marlowe
Myra Marshall SO 88-93 Old Priory (SGOL 145 When Morcove Moved)
Margaret Matthews SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses)
Daphne Merrow
Clarice Monk
Laura Turner – Red hair, violet eyes, almost ‘carmined’ red lips, as described by Phillips. SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove); SO57-
Fifth Form
Millicent Ashwell
Juanita Baroja
Maggie Barlow
Connie Carteret (Captain)
Dora Dean
Edith Elwin (Captain during the early saga)
Sybil Golding
Elsie Harper
Millicent Gay
Agnes Green
Sybil Golding
Millie Hapgood
Ellen Mansfield
Ruby Maydew
Anna Silke
Violet Vane
Carla Vansittart
Mabel Webb
Kitty Weston
Fourth Form
Elsie Ashby
Betty Barton – Captain “We’ll manage!” and “To bear and forbear.” (Betty has a sister Doris and brother Joe. Apart from Doris, who is mentioned several times during the saga due to her ill health, Joe is seldom if ever, mentioned. Parents are Joe (Known as James in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) and Nell Barton. Uncle George Barton is the person who rescues the family from dire poverty in the early days) Betty is such a superb person, and about the only time she comes unstuck is during SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove) when circumstantial evidence against her is so overwhelming that she does crack for a while.
Hazel Baynard
Audrey Blain (See Profiles)
Freda Blair (See Profiles)
Shirley Branson
Judy Cardew (See Profiles)
Esther Carlow
Jemima Carstairs -The sensational creation of E L Rosman, comes to Morcove in SO 251-254 Introducing Jemima Carstairs (SGOL 439 When Jemima Came to Morcove). She leaves Morcove to go on to Cliff House, and there is a lot of information on Jemima in:
Chin Up Chest Out Jemima - Mary Cadogan
You’re a Brick, Angela - Mary Cadogan and Patricia Craig
Story Paper Collector’s Digest – Mary Cadogan
Mary Cavendish
Bluebell Courtney (Comes into the Morcove saga in SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove) Bluebell later disappears off the Morcove radar
Helen Craig (See Profiles)
Paula Creel (See Profiles)
Hetty Curzon (See Profiles)
Rozella Danton
Angela Dark
Lena Daunt
Violet Deakin (ELR)
Dolly Delane (See Profiles)
Edna Denver (See Profiles)
Fay Denver (See Profiles)
Elsie Drew
Ella Elgood
Sybil Farlow
Hilda Fawley
Linda Faye
Fay Flaxwell
Hilda Flone
Diana Forbes (See Profiles)
Brenda Fordyce
Grace Garfield
Brenda Garth
Cora Grandways (See Profiles)
Babs Harper
Etta Hargrove (See Profiles)
Monica Holden
Monica Hope (See Anne Sheridan)
Trixie Hope Her parents live at Moatby Grange, about 80 miles from Morcove.
Pat Lawrence (See Profiles)
Jess Lingard (A relative by marriage to Stella Munro) What a shame Jess doesn’t feature more throughout the Morcove saga. A fine, upstanding girl, this one.
Polly Linton (Brother Jack. Cousin Gladys James, Aunt and Uncle James. Cousins Percy and Ruby Linton, Uncle Ralph Linton who is Mr Linton’s eldest brother. . Cousin Cissy Norton. Aunt Jessie and Uncle George Norton – Aunt Jessie is Mrs Linton’s sister. SO 341-345 Polly’s Cousin Cissy Norton (SGOL 595 Her Misdeeds at Morcove); SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove.); SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied). Cissy disappears from the radar after a while. Uncle George Barker who lives in Daunton. features in several stories including SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School. The Lintons are rather well to do, their Chauffeur’s name is Fennings. Adjoining landowners to Linton Hall are Sir Timothy and Lady Elmsley, in their huge pile. Strangely, these people don’t feature with aid to the Lintons when Linton Hall is burnt down. Another cousin – Clarice, features in the final Morcove story featured in the SGOL Annuals, this being 1939. Oddly enough this story is set at Linton Hall, although Linton Hall burnt down and the land eventually sold. Linton Lodge a smaller home, is later built. Perhaps this is an earlier unpublished story, saved for the final feature.
Biddy Loveland (Biddy has an unfortunate start at Morcove, and is the ward of Clarice Marlowe’s parents. Clarice treats Biddy really badly until she sees the error of her ways. Biddy goes onto become a millionairess later on in the saga, with seemingly no mention of Clarice.)
Lucy Lyddon
Prissy Marlowe
Althea Marshall
Eva Merrick – Eva is not very nice at the start of the saga, but she slowly improves and becomes quite popular. She is easily led though, and this trait does get her into a bother at times. She is the first of the Fourth to leave under Miss Danvers’ rule, but of course she does return, as she features throughout the saga.
Madge Minden – (See Profiles)
Elsie Mordaunt
Jill Morrison
Kathleen Murray
Stella Munro
Naomer Nakara – (See Profiles)
Cissy Norton
Norah Nugent
Olive Owen (Beth Mortimer)
Brenda Ravel
Zillah Raine
Mabel Rivers
Laura Seldon
Ada Sharrow - Has a brother Harold, who is a Prefect at Grangemoor. He causes a lot of problems for Jack, Dave and Co.
Anne Sheridan (I believe this story is where Horace Phillips got the inspiration to write the India series)
Effie Stanford
Teresa Tempest
Tess Trelawney (Tess’ early character isn’t as strongly defined as in the later saga. She is an expert in photography as well as her art. Brother Tom, cousins Agatha and Gerald - SO 488-491 Tess’ Brother Tom Framed; Uncle John Trelawney and his wife May, SO 107-110 Cruising With Tess’ Uncle (SGOL 169 Morcove on the Sea). Uncle John is a New York millionaire - does he come to the rescue when Tess’s family is in trouble in SO 734-736 Tess Trelawney Distress at Home? Aunt Penelope Trelawney SG 396-408 When Morcove Expelled Her
Ann (Bunny) Trevor
Ursula Wade (Her Profile is in the pipeline)
Lorna White
Pam Willoughby (See profiles)
Third Form
Florence Cook
Dot Fairfax
Hermoine Merrick
Daisy Morrison (Presumably comes to Morcove after the Judson debacle in SO 519-523 The Morrison Sisters)
Beryl Westwood
The occupants of most of the Studies are regularly rotated, with the exception of a few, including Study 12. Some of the Studies aren’t numbered, and below is what is known:
Study 12:
The most famous rendezvous, was an ugly little box room that had been closed by Miss Somerfield at the beginning of the saga because she thought it unfit for habitation in its present condition. Miss Massingham, because of her enmity towards Betty, orders Betty into it, and soon after Polly decids to move in with Betty. They ask Miss Redgrave if they could improve it, which they did, with her approval. When Miss Somerfield discovers that the box room is occupied, she is pleasantly surprised at how the girls have transformed the room, and she allows them to stay. She knows nothing of how they come to be there, and the girls don’t let on what Miss Massingham did. Perhaps, though, she guesses! Anyway, it proves to be an excellent move as it goes on to become the famed Study 12.
Miss Bertha Snode, in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) closes it down and turns it into a private room for herself, and installs Cora Grandways as her private secretary. How she manages to convince Miss Massingham of this is unexplained!
Later, during renovations to Morcove, Study 12 is enlarged, big enough to accommodate Betty, Polly Naomer and Paula - SO 346-350 Boarded Out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove. It is ‘the place’ to gather in.
Sometime during the latter part of the saga, Form Captains such as Betty Barton are allotted a study to themselves. Betty isn’t keen upon this new order, so she spends as little time in it as she can. Her study seems to be the one that Cora Grandway used to occupy – just down the corridor from the other studies and into a little lobby. There is a good view of the sea and the moors from Study 12.
Some studies aren’t numbered as these numbers aren’t known. Perhaps Gary or Keith can shed some light on this subject?
Studies 7 & 8
There is some confusion between Studies 7 and 8. What is known is stated below. If anyone has more information to add, please do!
When Betty arrives at Morcove, she is placed in Study 7, along with Cora and Judith. There is no mention this Study 7 is the one just around the corner on its own.
Cora and Judith Grandways are then joined by Olive Owen (Beth Mortimer) - see SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove).
Ursula then joins Cora and Judy.
Audrey Blain and Stella Munro.
Paula, Helen and Naomer.
It is known as Study 8 in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant), where Ursula is still with Cora and Judy, and Bertha Snode removes Ursula.
Pat Lawrence and Eva Merrick.
Dolly Delane shared with Eva until she left to become a day girl.
Hazel Baynard then shared it with Pat during her sojourn at Morcove.
Betty later occupies it when it is thought a Form Captain should have her own study..
Study:
Diana Forbes and Katey Murray. Diana is expelled from Morcove after SO 561-563 Polly Linton on the Stage
Study:
Etta Hargrove and Ella Elgood. Hilda Fawley shares with Etta when she comes to Morcove. By the time of Etta’s Captaincy, SO 645-649 Etta’s Brother in Disgrace, Etta is sharing with Pat Lawrence.
Study 15:
Audrey Blain
Study 10:
Pam and Helen. Anne Sheridan. (Previously Paula shared with Helen until she went to Study 12) See the silly snippet below, in The Morcove Magazine. By the time Zillah Raine arrives at Morcove, Helen is asked to vacate this study to accommodate Zillah.
Study:
Madge Minden and Tess Trelawney
Study: Dolly Delane and Freda Blair
Study:
Pat Lawrence and Etta Hargove. Hetty goes into this study when she is parted from Cora by Betty.
Study:
Judy Cardew and Brenda Fordyce
The Morcove Magazine
In SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery, there is an article at the back regarding the origins of the Morcove Magazine. Grangemoor, led by Jack and Dave, produce a magazine and that is how the tradition catches on at Morcove. It is interesting in that this article features Enid Marchmont, the Sixth Former who causes such tremendous heartache and trouble for Ethel Courtway. Enid manages to escape expulsion for those deeds, and by all counts it looks as though she is still up to some of her old tricks.
This Magazine is invaluable for snippets of information on this and that. It gives details on present and past pupils; some of the villains and villainesses; recaps previous stories and gives the reader a chance to get the gist of any particular story that they may not have, such as in my case SO 435-439 Camilla Loretto (SGOL 669 Shielded By Morcove)
It is suspected though, that some snippets for The Morcove Magazine weren’t written by Horace Phillips. SO 536 is a classic example:
Is Your Study comfortable? Is it warm? Is it light and airy? If it is, for goodness’ sake change with me – mine isn’t! Apply Helen Craig
As Helen shares with Pam, and it is perhaps the most salubrious Study of Morcove due to Pam’s wealth and taste, it is highly unlikely that Helen would make such a statement!
Jack Somerfield, Miss Somerfield’s brother (See Heroes and Heroines, with Keith Bates’ portrayal of him)
Earl and Countess of Lundy – known as Lord and Lady Lundy of Barncombe Castle. Lady Evelyn Knight, their daughter. (See Profiles)
Joyce Marshall (Her Profile is in the pipeline)
Rose of the Desert (See Profiles)
Mr and Mrs Hamilton (See Heroes and Heroines)
Ellen, the beloved maid servant of Morcove
Josiah Grandways, Father of Cora and Charles; sometime Father of Judy Cardew (See Profiles)
Profiles
Betty Barton of course, is the heroine throughout the saga, although Horace Phillips also created some other super characters for Morcove School. Some of them are regulars, whilst others briefly touch upon the life of Morcove. Below are profiles of some of these characters:
Freda Blair- See Profile on the Friardale website
Hetty Curzon- See Profile on the Friardale website
Madge Minden
Described as a girl with exceptionally good looks. Dark eyes and dark hair. Brilliant at the piano, also a bit moody, very deep and a strong will. When she comes into the Coterie, she says she easily bores of friendships – a strange thing to say, because she is the staunch friend and loyal ally of the Coterie, and about the only one who can really handle Naomer successfully. Madge originally hails from Exeter, and later moves to Barncombe when Mr Minden becomes Agent to Lord Lundy. The story of how Mr Minden becomes Agent is told in SGOL Annual 1933.
Madge has a brilliant music career in front of her, including appearing at the Queen’s Hall, the classical music concert hall in London. Madge also has an eye for well made furniture and antiques. At the beginning of the Morcove saga – SO 20-24 Madge Minden Outcast (SGOL 58 The Girl Morcove Misjudged), Madge has both parents, but by at least SO 94-98 Madge Minden’s Search (SGOL 151 Madge Minden’s Secret), her Mother has passed away. In this story, Madge comes upon a young girl named Maggie Shaw, who lives in the poorest part of Barncombe, and who has a musical talent which Madge quickly picks up upon. Maggie also eventually goes on to perform at the Queen’s Hall. Phillips mentions Queen’s Hall several times during the Morcove saga. It was opened in 1893 and destroyed in 1941 by an incendiary bomb. Queen’s Hall was famous for many events, including the Proms.
Madge doesn’t make many errors of judgement, however two that she does are where she falls victim to Audrey Blain’s charms when Audrey arrives at Morcove, and after Judy’s reformation, she makes the mistake of thinking that Judy is far from reformed, and even thinks that Judy is by far the worse of the Grandways sisters. Madge is patient, and always thinks before she says anything. She comes in for trouble at the hand of Ivy Merrow, who is an aspiring pianiste but with no talent in SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident. Mary Cadogan of course, suspects that she goes on to marry Jack Linton. There is also a hint of this by Phillips himself in SO 419 The Wedding at Morcove. Family lines: Father. In the early series, Mother – what happened to her? Aunt Anna. Cousin Kyra Moore SO 151-154 Christmas Convict (SGOL231 Morcove’s Christmas Problems). Aunt Ada Fontayne in SO 741-745 Hiking Holiday in Brighampton
From an adults’ point of view, one wonders if Mr Minden himself ever got really close to any of the widowed ladies of the saga, such as Mrs Cardew or Mrs Daunt?
Judy Cardew (Previously Judith Grandways) See Profile on the Friardale website
The Grandways Family
Mr Josiah Grandways
A major character throughout the saga, Josiah is there at the beginning, and remains so until SO 792-796 Holiday With Alice Creel. He is rather corpulent and one can visualise his swaggering pomposity and jingling his money in his pocket. Paula’s personal opinion of him in SO 103 Who Caused the Fire is extremely apt: “Yes, wather! We wealise, don’t you know,” beamed Paula, “that the Gwandways tempewament is a wather aggwavating bai Jove! The twouble seems to be Mr Gwandways is all waist-coat, bai Jove, and no heart behind it – eh what!”
Totally chameleon like, he turns on the charm in a flash and just as quickly becomes a raging black bull. A bulldozing, ruthless businessman who loves to flash his cash around when he has it.”
As a family man, he is totally besotted by Cora. He is extremely proud of her as she is cast in the same mould as he is and he actually encourages most of her outrageous and despicable behaviour, as long as it doesn’t have an impact on him personally. He has a son Charles, who features in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) Charles doesn’t seem to appear in any further stories. Of Judith, he is particularly patronising, especially after her reformation in SO 66-69 Tuckshop (SGOL 121 The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers), right up until it is revealed to the reader that Judy is not a Grandways at all - see SO 564–566 Judy Grandways and Dave Lawder. Josiah treats Judy with contempt due to Cora’s deceit in SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films, and Cora’s later scheming in SO 540-543 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret. Before Judy’s true parentage is revealed, Judy, with her sensitive antennae, is always the first to empathise with Josiah in his many financial troubles, and to offer what aid she can but Josiah roughly brushes it aside which breaks Judy’s heart so many times.
Josiah is extremely wealthy at the beginning of the Morcove saga, and owns a cotton mill down by the dank Ribbleton canal, plus an allotment of sub standard tenement houses that he rents out to the cotton mill workers. These are little more than slums, and by a good bit of bribery, Grandways manages to keep them from being condemned by the local Council. In SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove) it is revealed that the money that came with Olive Owen for her upbringing actually ploughed into his own business affairs, as was the money that came with Judy. Olive – her real name is Beth Owen, stays with the Grandways family for ten years, and treated very shabbily, until she is sent to Morcove. When Olive’s Mother suddenly returns from the USA to claim her daughter after years and years of tragedy and high personal dramas, Josiah is forced to return the money, and this is most likely the start of his first downfall towards bankruptcy. By SO 103-106 Audrey Wins Captaincy (SGOL 163 The Hundred Guinea Prize) Josiah is in severe financial trouble, and decides to burn down his cotton mill to claim the insurance. Betty and her Father Mr Barton, are blamed and tried in Court for this despicable act. But to repeat that old saying that appears frequently in the Morcove saga “The biter is bit!” Betty wins the the prize of one hundred guineas and donates the prize to Judy, after she and Cora are forced to leave Morcove after Josiah is caught out and exposed for burning of his own cotton mill. It looks as though his Empire rises at around SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) because Cora and Judy are very well dressed, and Cora is boasting about it.
In SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove); and SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied, Josiah’s ‘Empire’ has but fallen again and this time he is heading for total bankruptcy, even to the length of losing the family home. He and Mrs Grandways flee to Egypt, where he has dubious investments , and the lure of a job offer. They both come undone, and just prior to this he ingratiates himself with Aunt Margaret Grandways, who has plenty of money. She is a delicate character, as opposite to Josiah as chalk is to cheese, and she is taken in somewhat by Josiah’s plausibility. So much so, that she takes a lease on Cliff Edge Bungalow to watch over Cora and Judy, and for her health. Josiah talks Cora into becoming a model citizen to impress Aunt Margaret, with a view to her money, of course. (See Cora’s Profile for more detailed information).
Josiah has many and varied interests during his business career. About the only genuine thing he does is when he becomes involved in Bitish Vocal Films. The finances are amazingly up again, and so he invests money and becomes the Chairman - SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films. Here, he seems to want to do the right thing, although this time, he is led right up the garden path by Cora because of her jealousy of the lead actress Lulu Helder the actress, and her son Ronnie. They are both contracted to act in an anticipated highly successful film named Fathoms Deep. Both highly influential and genuine down to earth people, they take an early interest in Judy, seeing her unconsciously conducting herself beautifully whilst some filming is going on at Morcove. Cora wants a lead role, but she is totally unsuitable due to her bragging and shallow character. Cora forces herself onto the set and creates a disturbance until Mr Flyte (Shades of Brideshead Revisited in this name!) a Director, has to give way to her. He doesn’t like what he sees and tells her so. Lulu and Ronnie befriend Judy, but due to Cora’s scheming and interference things go pretty badly for Judy. Cora also takes up with a dubious girl clerk on the set named Mabel Venniker. Mabel, another of those easily bored types and not seeing the cunning behind Cora’s pretended friendship, goes along with Cora who promises her the world if she can get a part. Cora and Mabel Venniker set fire to the film studios and Cora manages things so that the Helders are blamed for the fire, along with Judy.
Amongst his many business partners during his career, most are of the same calibre of himself, such as a Mr Elswick, who is his partner in an electricity company - SO 540-543 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret. There are a couple though, who are fine upstanding men, and one of these is Mr Curzon, the Father of the dreadful Hetty Curzon. Josiah gains enormously by the untimely death of Mr Curzon, and so he takes Hetty under his wing. When Hetty arrives at Morcove in SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl things are looking pretty good and he is driving a new, huge twelve cylinder car. And in SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon after Hetty is cast adrift by Josiah because she let the cat out of the bag regarding Judy’s parentage, Cora brags to the lovely Daisy Loveland, whose party she gatecrashes, that her Father Josiah is wealthier than any of them. This behaviour doesn’t go well with Daisy, who thinks Cora is absolutely vulgar. Daisy is quiet, genteel and very Old Money – rather like Pam, and Lady Evelyn. Another excellent business partner is the upstanding however extremely grumpy George Amberley, who is the financial director in the syndicate responsible for the building of The Headland Hotel. This is about the only other really good thing that Josiah involves himself in but here he dupes George Amberley, and causes mayhem and heartache for the Delanes, and is finally forced out of the syndicate.
There are many, many more grand schemes such as the one in SO 783-787 Madeleine Dollond Boss of Morcove. Here, Josiah is mixed up in the purchase of a mansion named Southport for the proposed opposition school to Morcove, and about the last time we hear of Josiah is when, he involves himself in the affair of The Silver Swift, a speed boat invention belonging to Paula’s Uncle, affectionately known as Crazy Creel in SO 792-796 Holiday With Alice Creel
Some stories featuring Josiah Grandways are:
SO 1-7 When Betty Came to Morcove (SGOL 36 When Betty Came to Morcove)
SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove)
SO 103-106 Audrey Blain’s Captaincy Bid (SGOL 153 The Hundred Guinea Prize)
SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove).
SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove)
SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL The Girl Morcove Pitied)
SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films
SO 540-543 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret
SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl
SO 640-644 The Headland Hotel.
SO 783-787 Madeleine Dollond Boss of Morcove
SO 792-796 Holiday With Alice Creel
Mrs Emma Grandways
Not a lot is known about her apart from the fact that she is tall, and good looking, and Phillips describes her as being plump in the early saga - SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove). But by SO 540-543 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret, she is quite slim and extremely elegant, who dresses well. Mrs Grandways patronises many high class establishments, including Soleil’s, the Court Dressmakers in Bond Street, London, as does Mrs Creel. But this is the only thing in common that these two far removed ladies share.
Underneath the elegance though lurks a character almost identical to her husband, Josiah. She is quite ruthless – especially with Judy, and she backs her husband all the way in his wheelings and dealings.
She goes to school with Audrey Blain’s Mother, and is instrumental in causing trouble for Mrs Blain whilst at school. Mind you, Mrs Blain is not the nicest of characters either! Emma is also a hard woman, who treats Judy as harshly as Josiah. During SO 540-543 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret Cora meets and becomes friendly with some nasties camped near Morcove. The ‘nasties’ are the children of an associate of Josiah and they take her into their confidence. Whilst the Study 12 Coterie are on a picnic out on the common, Madge discovers that her Father is camped out in an old shack, working on a top secret invention. He has nothing but trouble from the ‘nasties’ camped nearby, whose prime intention is to discover what new invention Mr Minden is working on. Judy discovers that Cora’s new made ‘friends’ - Sybil and Cyril Elswick, are up to something, so she keeps watch and learns the truth. She is dreadfully upset about the whole business, and lets her Father, Josiah know. To keep her out of the way, Emma comes and takes Judy away and goes to stays at Lorna Bay, about 90 miles from Morcove. It all comes unstuck though. Emma’s next handling of Judy comes in SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon and here, after Judy asks her if it is true that she isn’t a Grandways after all, she lashes out: “Then all I can say is, you must have wanted to believe it,” came from Mrs Grandways furiously. “And that’s a nice thing for a mother to know about her daughter! Have I been such a bad mother to you then, that you could hope that it was true? Haven’t you had such a home as I’m sure not another girl in this school – except your sister Cora – can show? The money that’s been lavished upon you!”
“I know,” Judith said gently, her underlip quiverng; “it has been a very grand home. There has been money for everything. But – money isn’t everything, is it?”
“I’d like to know what more a girl could want than what you’ve had! But there always has been that about you, Judith, and the older you get the worse you become! Always going about as if pining for something else. As your own sister has been forced to complain – a misery, that’s what you are, a misery!”
Charles Grandways
Brother to Cora and Judith. Not a lot is known about Charles, apart from the fact that he is a decent type and is engaged to Bertha Snode SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant). Keith, on his database, states that he is a reformed character. Charles seems to disappear off the Grandways radar after this story.
Luke Rusper
This Grandways relative is amusingly described by Phillips as tall and lean, with a cadaverous face. He features in SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove)
After the catastrophe of Josiah’s cotton mill, Luke takes in Cora and Judith, who have had to leave Morcove. He owns Watermoor Grange, a picturesque, mansion on the outskirts of Morcove. But, it hides a secret, and he wants to get rid of it fast. He has discovered, and soon after Cora and Judy, water in the cellars underneath the house. Upon further investigation, the water is part of an underground river that has altered course, flowing right underneath the mansion, and the foundations are slowly crumbling away. Like Josiah, Luke himself is also in severe financial straits and desperate for cash. It’s unknown or if he is a linked to Josiah’s ‘Empire’, however it’s quite possible as they are as cunning as each other!. Luke is anxious to offload Watermoor Grange before the structural defaults become known, and when he hears that the Father of Morcove’s newcomer – Helen Craig, is looking for a house in the area, he encourages Cora and Judith to become friends with Helen, and in fact offers to sends them back to Morcove. Cora, although hating Morcove, is bored and jumps at the offer, but Judy refuses when she realises the motives behind the ‘kind offer’. Helen is befriended by Cora and taken in by her duplicitous character at the beginning, but all is slowly revealed, and Watermoor Grange actually burns down instead of succumbing to the force of the underground river tearing through the cellars. Lucky for Luke though, he is insured, but at the end of the story he is still in a sorry plight and is unsure if he collects a payout. Phillips decides that he most likely gets his money, but makes him wait and sweat it out for a while.
Cyril Courtney
One of the decent members of the Grandways family - bluff, jolly and jovial gentleman. Unsure of the exact relationship, though, as with Luke Rusper. He is kind, genuine and honest. He adopts Bluebell and disappears from the Morcove radar later on in the saga.
Aunt Margaret Grandways (Miss)
Another of the decent members of the Grandways family. Sister to Josiah, and of a delicate disposition – Miss Grandways leases Cliff Edge Bungalow during SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove) and SO 367-372 (SGOL 634 The Girl Morcove Pitied). As we know, Josiah is in financial trouble again – to the extent of bankruptcy and losing everything. He hits upon a scheme when he learns that his sister is to lease Cliff Edge Bungalow for recuperation purposes. If Cora impresses her with ‘winning ways’, she may come with financial aid to the family. He inveigles Cora to be on her best behaviour personally wise and school wise in order to impress Miss Grandways – Aunt Margaret. It must be a while since Aunt Margaret’s last connection with the family, and she has absolutely no idea of Cora’s true character. She certainly is impressed by Cora until she discovers her true colours.
Miss Grandways seems to be financial and moral backbone of the Grandways clan, aiding Josiah frequently. She also seems to be responsible for Cora’s and Judith’s education after the disaster of Luke Rusper’s Watermoor Grange saga.
SGOL 617 - Miss Grandways on Cora: “All I know is,” sighed Aunt Margaret, with great feeling, “some people seem to be born to be a blessing and joy to others, whilst there are those who are never happy unless they are making misery for those who love them!”
Miss Grandways takes on responsibility for Judy’s education after she discovers Cora’s duplicity. She also, shelters Cora when she meets with her accident shortly after fleeing from the trouble she causes in Ribbleton where the Grandways mansion is up for auction along with all its content.
Cora Grandways
During Cora’s time at Morcove, the only girls in the Fourth who can match Cora for audacity, cunningness and outrageous behaviour are Audrey Blain and Hetty Curzon. Their profiles can be found on the Friardale website.
SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied): The wildest, most lawless and reckless girl that Morcove had ever known, and like this had Fate itself put a check at last upon all her waywardness and folly!
Here though, Horace Phillips has made a slight error, as Audrey Blain fits that description. Cora comes a fairly close second to Audrey though! The difference between Cora and Audrey comes down to sublety with a silken touch which Audrey possesses, whereas Cora is is just downright brash, brazen and loud.
Malignant, malicious, lawless and cruel, are some words also used to describe Cora throughout her reign at Morcove. Shallow and full of bravado, but when backed into a tight corner, an utter coward. Cora, along with Judith, feature right at the beginning in SO 1, where she refuses aid to the desperate Mrs Barton who is charring at the Grandways mansion, when Mrs Barton learns that her husband has a bad accident at the Grandways’ cotton mill.
Cora is a very good looking and fairly talented girl, who misuses those talents. She is ultra conscious of her strong good looks and thinks that these can tide her over any mischief and mayhem she causes. Due to her unfortunate personality, she is generally friendless, with the exception of a few undesirable types. Cora wears a coral necklace, and when she champs on it, it’s a sure sign that she is restless, bored and on the lookout for trouble. Lord and Lady Lundy, along with their daughter Lady Evelyn Knight, cannot stand Cora and they have no time for at all. It makes for delicious reading whenever they cross each other’s paths – Cora’s ingratiating and crawling nature, along with the Lundy’s formal and polite way of fending her off!
A few of these undesirable types are the awful Prissy Marlowe in SO 295-303 Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove), and a little later on she is also friendly for a while with Polly’s cousin, Cissy Norton – SO 341-345 Polly’s Cousin Cissy Norton (SGOL 595 Her Misdeeds at Morcove). Usually on, and then off with Diana Forbes and Ursula Wade. Perhaps the greatest relationship Cora has at Morcove is with Hetty Curzon. And of course, who can forget Cora’s adulation in the early days for Audrey Blain?
Cora of course is from Ribbleton in Lancashire, where Betty hails from. She hates Betty with a vengeance – for no reason at all, and she cannot let an opportunity to go by without inflicting harm in some scheming way or another. She is indulged by Josiah as we know, and he gives her a is given a motor bike for Christmas, soon after Josiah’s quick rise from the ashes from one of his bankruptcies, just prior to SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant). From then on, Cora’s exploits with this motor bike as she tears around the countryside is also delicious reading!.
Cora can’t wait to make mischief and cause mayhem when the Board of Governors come to Morcove to investigate Miss Danvers’ incompetence during SO 290-294 Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses) It’s a wonder that Josiah didn’t jump up and down during this state of affairs with his pomposity and bulging waistcoat!
Judith, Cora’s sister, is pretty contemptible in the very early saga, but nowhere near Cora’s league, until she reforms in SO 66-69 Tuckshop (SGOL 121 The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers). Judy’s conscience starts to get the better of her as early as SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove) and even Cora herself is quite frightened underneath her outward bravado when they set up Olive Owen (Beth Mortimer) as a thief. After Judy’s reformation, Cora’s treatment of her is despicable until Judy discovers she is not a Grandways, in SO 564–566 Judy Grandways and Dave Lawder).
There is an interlude though, in Cora’s behaviour, during SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove) where she seems to want to improve, but it doesn’t last long. An example of Cora’s treatment of Judy is in SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove:
She (Prissy) passed on and entered the Grandways’ study, round the corner. Both the Grandways girls were there, Judith, the younger, sitting at the table with a book between her elbows. Cora jumped up from an easy-chair as Prissy came in.
“Now, then, out of it, Judy! Bundle out, Misery!” was Cora’s tormenting command to her inoffensive sister. “We don’t want you in here!”
The book had been snatched from under Judith’s eyes by Cora, and pitched into a corner. Judith went and picked it up, and then, for the sake of peace, she passed to the door. Cora made a tight ball quickly out of a sheet of paper, and shied it after her sister.
“Bang on the mark – ha, ha!” chuckled Cora, as the missile bounced off Judith’s head. “Well, Pris, sit down and I’ll see if I’ve any chocs. left. You’ve just saved me from expiring of boredom.”
Cora gets into a lot of trouble during SO 66-69 Tuckshop (SGOL 121 The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers) and this is the first time she shows any regard for Betty and asks her not to give her away.
Her only major attempt at reformation is later on in SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove) and SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied). Cora comes back to school an apparently reformed character, but her act is seen through by Polly and Cissy Norton, Polly’s dreadful cousin. (See full detail on this particular tale in Story Lines and Plots).
By the time Pam arrives at Morcove in the next story - SO 373-378 Introducing Pam Willoughby (SGOL 611 When Pam Came to Morcove), Cora is still reformed. By SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove), Polly mentions that the only girls likely to be unpleasant and cause trouble are Diana, Eva and Ursula. No mention of Cora! Cora takes a background role in SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud Against Betty (SGOL 693 Study Against Study), where she seems to be genuinely nice and wants to do the right thing. She even tells Judy that she is such a good sister.
Right up to at least SO 503-508 The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress) Cora is in the background, with her reformation still intact, although in this story she is starting to backslide and is now friendly with Diana Forbes. (Horace Phillips must have decided that Cora, like the leopard, cannot change her spots and so from this story onwards she slowly descends into her original clothing.) Cora sees an opportunity for herself and immediately takes up with Ursula Wade – ‘Lady Ravenscaw’. She then discovers that Ursula is not the true inheritee of the title, and that it must belong to Muriel Swancrave, a maid at Barncombe Castle. Cora challenges Ursula with this information, but the duplicity is carried on by the pair of them because Cora is enjoying herself, with favours thrown at her and also a trip to London, and Ursula is too cowardly and craven to come clean. Although Cora is backsliding, she still has a conscience and in the end, she cannot allow the charade to continue on. Plus of course, the Study 12 Coterie and Muriel herself have come up with the same conclusions as Cora. Mind you, Cora milks Ursula for all she is worth! Ultimately, Cora is saved from expulsion due to her role in the duplicity, by the Study 12 Coterie. It’s the next story - SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films - that she is almost back to her old self and her treatment of Judy is extremely nasty. In SO 539-540 Madge Minden’s Father’s Secret, she is heavily involved with the awful Elswick family, who are secretly working with Josiah Grandways against Mr Minden.
In SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl, Cora pals up with Hetty Curzon, the protegee of Josiah Grandways. (See Hetty’s profile on the Friardale website). Here, Hetty talks Cora into a deception, whereby the Fourth and Mistresses are taken in by Cora’s amazing about face in behaviour, not knowing the reasons why! Here, Horace Phillips has another lapse when he says that Judy has never seen Cora so upset (When Hetty and Cora are scheming to get the Form alongside Cora after an outburst) as Judy witnessed her genuine and only reformation in SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove) and SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied). It isn’t long before Cora realises that she is being manipulated by Hetty’s for her own personal gain. Thereafter, until both leave Morcove, there is an on again, off again friendship, complete with a battle of wits.
During SO 564-566 Judith Grandways and Dave Lawder, Cora and Hetty plot and plan after Hetty’s bombshell is dropped regarding Judy. Hetty overhears a conversation between Josiah and Mrs Grandways that she wasn’t meant to hear, regarding Judy being adopted. Hetty decides to spill the beans to Cora during an ugly altercation between Cora and Judy, as she realises that now as she is ‘in big’ with the Grandways, she may as well take it one step further and ingratiate herself further with Cora. Hetty tells Cora though, to keep it to herself, but Cora being Cora cannot wait to hurt Judy and tells her the news in a moment of madness. Later, she is quite frightened by what she has done in creating a situation she has no control over. Judy’s poise and dignity, although not knowing her future or what will happen in the coming holidays, and her growing inner strength in dealing with Cora, results in extreme unease in Cora. Hetty knows that Cora has made a big mistake, but says nothing. When Cora learns of Mrs Cardew’s interest in Judy, she realises that Judy could be her long lost daughter, she schemes and plots and plans along with Hetty, but all to no avail in the end. Cora is at her worst in this story, and she loses out in a big way, and so does Hetty, with the Grandways washing their hands of her, although they are seen in Soleil’s Court Dressmakers in Bond Street during SO 567-569 Priors Wold Christmas.
When Cora learns of the new but eventual ill-fated school establishing itself at Fallowfield - SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School, she talks Josiah into sending her there, which of course he does. She is on again with Hetty, but only for convenience sake as by now she cannot stand her. Hetty also wants to come to Fallowfield (Although of course she is unaware that it is Mrs Cardew who is responsible for her schooling) so Cora schemes with Hetty to get inside information leaked from Morcove. Fallowfield needs more girls, so what could be easier? If the scheme is successful, Cora will ensure that Hetty will come from Morcove to Fallowfield. Cora’s treatment of Hetty is quite nasty though Hetty carries out Cora’s request. The leakage is discovered, and the blame falls on Miss Everard. Miss Everard is shattered and so she temporarily leaves Morcove. Fallowfield does collapse in the end, and Miss Somerfield does not accept Cora back at Morcove.
The next we hear of Cora is in SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce. Cora is Josiah’s assistant in this project. Its another instance in where she is really frightened, as she realises she cannot control a situation of her own doing. This time it’s the guard dog Josiah has installed at Cliff Edge Bungalow during the building of the Headland Hotel. Cora thinks she can handle him, but she can’t. The dog, a Mastiff, runs amok at the top of the zig zag steps and frightens Paula really badly. Then he careers down the steps and creates chaos on the beach, and is eventually fended off by Miss Everard, Betty and Polly. (See more of this story featuring the building of the Headland Hotel in Friardale website - A Little Bit on Morcove)
Later on in the saga, Cora features in SO 783-787 Madeleine Dollond Boss of Morcove, and her last appearance seems to be in the Alice Creel story SO 792-794 Holiday With Alice Creel.
Although Cora features in most stories, there are others, apart from the ones mentioned above, where she has a really significant impact, as in:
SO 241-246, Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415 Turned Out of Morcove)
SO 346-350 Boarded Out at Barncombe
SO 519-523 The Morrison Sisters
SO 553 When Madge Was a Mystery!
SO 603-606 Biddy Loveland New Girl
Helen comes to Morcove in SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove). A happy and jolly girl, Helen’s popularity quickly makes her a member of the Study 12 Coterie, where she remains until the end of the saga. Helen’s Mother died when she was very young, and her Father – John Craig, is a businessman who is more often than not, overseas. He has interests in gold and silver mines in Canada and San Rozel, Mexico. Helen has a special interest in costume design. Their home is in Bleak Street, the west end of London. There are quite a few stories featuring Helen and Mr Craig’s business interests, but as I don’t have them, cannot enlarge upon the subject.
Wonderful, lovely Paula! Paula, at the beginning of the saga, is described as being extremely tall and slim, and older than the rest of the girls. Born to extreme wealth, Paula is the blue blooded aristocratic daughter of Colonel John Creel, JP and Mrs Creel, from Somerset. The Creels are highly influential people, and are extremely popular. Mrs Creel patronises Soleil’s, in Bond Street, London, and occasionally, Paula is allowed to have special dresses made there. Amongst their friends are Lord and Lady Lundy. Paula is completely unspoiled by her affluence. In SO 1 Scorned by the School when Betty arrives at Morcove, Paula is Captain. We learn that Miss Massingham, due to the snobbishness of her character, has appointed Paula as Fourth Form Captain purely on the basis that she is wealthy, of good breeding and a nice looking girl. Paula of course is totally unsuited to the Captaincy, and by SO 11 Friendship Wins! Paula is starting to show her true character; she is very easily led, although she does involve herself in the general bad treatment of Betty, she doesn’t show any extreme vindictiveness as does Cora and the some of the rest, like Grace. There isn’t quite such an affectation in her speech until she becomes the beloved duffer of the Study 12 Coterie. Paula has no airs and graces, and she’s not quite as silly as she is made out to be. Very courageous as well. Extremely polite even under duress, such as the time she is punished by Laura Turner - SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove. She is constantly and mercilessly teased and tormented by Polly and Naomer, and in SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses) she quickly takes advantage of one of the several vacated studies, where she can have peace and quiet! It doesn’t last a day though, as she misses the girls and is japed by the Fifth, so quickly finds solace back in Study 12.
Paula shows backbone and spirit in several incidences, such as in SO 125-130 Morcove in London (SGOL 192 Morcove in London) where she bids against Audrey Blain in Tess Trelawney’s ‘auction’ for a caricature Tess does of Audrey. She is to the forefront in SO 324-328 Girl From the Wreck Hilda Morland (SGOL 571 Wrecked Near Morcove) and during SO 567-569 Priors Wold Christmas, she aids and befriends Molly Baxter, a young worker from Soleil’s Court Dressmakers in Bond Street, London. Morcove and Grangemoor are spending a few days at the Hotel Majestic in London before going to Priors Wold. Paula is allowed to have a special dress made at Soleil’s, and Molly is despatched with the dress for Paula. The way Paula displays grace and dignity here, in her treatment of Molly and her family, and including when her purse is stolen is good reading. I only have SO 567 Morcove’s Christmas Fairy of this series, unfortunately!
Paula is the perfect character to be saved from certain death, and this happens at least twice. One, where she truly becomes a staunch member of the Study 12 Coterie, is in SO 13-16 Captaincy (SGOL 52 The Morcove Election) and then she is saved again by Judith Grandways, in SO 66-69 Tuckshop (SGOL 121 The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers) which of course, brings about Judy’s reformation.
Paula’s advice on the game of cricket - (From SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France):
“Yes, wather! Wipping game, but stwenuous. My advice is,” continued Paula. “always hit a boundawy, Wosalie. Then you don’t have to wun. And, as wegards fielding, a good position, I always find, is long-stop. The ball is genewally stopping by that time, Wosalie, so it doesn’t hurt you vewy much. If it should be coming wather fast, the best pwactice is to get out of the way, and let the cwowd stop it.”
“I see,” smiled Rosalie.
“There are, of course other things one has to do,” Paula proceeded, combing her hair. “As wegards catches, nevah be too anxious to catch the ball if there is anothah geal who can do it for you. It is sporting to let the other geal make the catch, Wosalie, and, moreover, it saves stung fingers. Yes, wather!”
A superb description of Paula’s method of speaking is in SO 73 Robbed of Her Friends, which is entirely left out in the later reprinted edition - SGOL 127 Morcove’s Reckless Two: And this time Paula really had to stand up. Her languid nature was sometimes overcome by a desire on her part to indulge in forensic eloquence.
Paula, although constantly remarking that she is ‘pwostwated and exhausted’ is quite fit and athletic. She usually comes up trumps on the hockey field, and later on in the saga when Grangemoor is conveniently closer to Morcove than it used to be, rides the distance quite comfortably with the Study 12 Coterie.
By the time of the Santa Rita visit – SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday, Colonel Creel, who wears a monocle, has retired from the Army. He spent many years on duty overseas, especially India. During SO 567-569 Priors Wold Christmas the Creels are still in India. Here, Horace Phillips has made a couple of inconsistencies: In SO 440 Holiday Making With Paula, he is Colonel John Creel, JP. He is described as being quite a genteel and serious character. In SO 598 The Secrets of Santa-Rita, Mrs Creel refers to him as Tony, and his character has somewhat altered from the serious person into someone ‘hilarious’, and a ‘scream’, like Paula. He is also made a DSO at some time during his distinguished career. Horace Phillips’ comparison of Mrs Creel to Mrs Cardew is a little unfair: Mrs Cardew ‘looked a mere girl when beside Mrs Creel, who had married rather late in life’. Of course, Mrs Creel has spent many years out east, but then, so did Mrs Cardew, in Africa.
Some of Paula’s few relations appear throughout the saga. For instance, there is Brenda Ravel in SO 82-87 Paula’s Cousin (SGOL 139 Paula Creel’s Cousin) and the extremely likeable Alice Creel and her Father Geoffrey (Known as Crazy Creel or Cranky Creel) in Alice Creel SO 792-796, Holiday With Alice Creel.
The Creels live at Weir Hall, right on the riverbank, near Rivercombe Village in Somerset, which is so well described in SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall (SGOL 681 Morcove’s River Holiday). The almost country house like Weir Hall, is host to many events, including an annual garden party. Close to Weir Hall are The Gables, and Court Royal, home of Lord and Lady Rolverdon.
Etta is a well liked, extremely popular girl who starts at Morcove before Betty. She is one of the first girls to come over to Betty’s side - in SO 13 A Schoolgirl’s Scheme, along with Elsie Drew. Although not quite part of the Study 12 Coterie, she is included in many of their doings and is very friendly with Betty and Co.
Etta’s home is in Droverton, that town that is sometimes between 6 to 7 miles or up to 50 miles away from Morcove – depending on Phillips’ whim at the time, in the opposite direction to Barncombe. Etta comes to the fore in the stories SO 397-404 Rebels of Rosemount School (SGOL 639 Driven From Morcove), and SO 405-407, Etta Returns to Morcove (SGOL 643 That ‘Meddler’ From Morcove) Here, Etta is blamed for ruining an Elizabethan dress belonging to Polly Linton’s Mother, who loans it to Morcove for use in the fair that is held to raise money to build an Orphanage on the old Rosethorne Estate. Grace Garfield is the culprit, though, and being Grace, allows Etta to take the blame which results in Etta’s expulsion. Etta’s parents arrange for her to attend Rosemount School, a run down establishment on the outskirts of Barncombe, which is run by a distant relative, Aunt Catherine Lovejoy. Etta comes up against some pretty rum characters, and as much she is hurting by her unjust expulsion, she stands by her Aunt and decides to do what she can to try and improve Rosemount. Grace meanwhile, has conscience pangs about her actions which result in her becoming quite ill and she eventually owns up. Etta is of course cleared, however decides to remain at Rosemount, where she thinks she is starting to make an impact. Grace takes it upon herself to be sent to Rosemount as well, where she schemes again after she realises how ghastly Rosemount is. However, in the end, Etta’s fairness comes to the fore and the girls at Rosemount are gradually won around, and Etta returns to Morcove. Grace stays on at Rosemount, with her Uncle John sinking money into the school, and it becomes quite a decent, small school.
Etta, although completely fair minded, is swayed by public opinion in SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud With Betty. She also sides with Pat against the Form when Pat is accused of flouting orders, and causes a rift between herself, Betty and Polly. Privately though, Etta thinks Pat can be quite heartless. Ursula Wade is the villain of the piece here. The rift is soon mended though, and later on Etta becomes very friendly with Pat.
Etta has a brother Harry, who attended Wallsover and was in Chantrey’s House. Presumably Wallsover is near to Droverton, where Etta’s home is. Harry is employed by a firm of Lawyers in London – Steer & Manton, where his story is told in SO 645-649 Etta’s Brother in Disgrace.
Etta plays the piano rather well, and is just a good all round sport. Her leadership skills are discovered after the Rosemount School affair, and is asked to Captain a team against Barncombe House during SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove) She goes on to become Deputy Captain of the Fourth in various stories such as SO 570-573 Morcove in the Jungle; SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon; SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out; SO 645-649 Etta’s Brother in Disgrace; SO 683-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea; SO 764-768 Denver Sisters v Betty Barton.
Although she doesn’t possess Betty’s superb leadership qualities, Etta carries out her responsibilities in a popular and capable way. Her capabilities are summed up in SO 583 Morcove’s Fight For Fair Play:
“Nice girl, Etta!” exclaimed Betty. “I think she ought to keep the captaincy. Not that I ever expect to have it offered back to me! The way things are going - “
“Etta’s all right” broke in Helen Craig; “but she doesn’t inspire quite the same respect as you, Betty. Everyone likes her; but she can’t govern, really.”
Here, Betty sees in Etta depths of character that perhaps Helen and the others can’t quite see.
Such a lot can be written about Naomer, and Mary Cadogan has done so in her books. Her Majesty, Queen Naomer of Nakara is an intensely loyal and loving girl, one of the youngest in the Fourth. One of the Study 12 Coterie, her best friend is Paula. Naomer is a rebel though, and often ignores punishment tasks dealt out by Miss Massingham, in particular. After all, as she says that as she is a Queen in her own country, why should she have to do lines or be gated!! She can conform though, with gentle persuasion from the Study 12 Coterie - especially Madge, who can do anything with her. She often speaks before she thinks, just like Polly, and this gets her into a lot of trouble. Because of her wayward tongue, she isn’t always told all the facts whenever a certain delicate situation should raise itself. On more than one occasion she brings pets to Morcove, in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) she brings in a Pekinese named Sammy and another time she brings a monkey to school. Pets aren’t allowed in the earlier years of the saga, however this rule is relaxed later.
At the beginning, Naomer is described as a beautiful young girl, however what is irksome is at times, Horace Phillips downgrades her character which degenerates her into an object of ridicule, especially on the education front. This is a bit of a shame because if she is introduced as beautiful, then foundations should be built on this basis. Everyone at Morcove loves her, although she is a little lawless in such a delicious way. She is crowned a Queen at a very young age, with the country of Nakara to rule when she grows up. Naomer has a wonderfully simple philosophy on life, and is intensely loyal and loving. An example of this is in SO 503-508 The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress) where Muriel Swancrave has lost her memory and is recuperating in the San at Morcove:
“Yes, bekas, if you keep up ze appetite!” was Naomer’s sage advice. “Zen you will get quite well again, and all the works in your head will come to rights, you see!”
Naomer loves her food, and she is usually the cause of the Study 12 corner cupboard food stocks suddenly disappearing. One of her favourite haunts is in Barncombe, at The Creamery, where her favourites are Genoa cake and cream buns.
Ethel is Head Girl of Morcove School, respected and loved by all. Her home is in London, and it is presumed that she is an only child, with plenty of Aunts and Uncles, including Aunt ? - Miss Rosely, who features in SO 746-750 Agatha Drew and Head Girl (No SGOL) Also Uncle Peter and Aunt Janet Courtway, more of whom is below. Ethel as well as loving her duties as Head Girl, is passionate about golf and although friendly with everybody, her best friend is Cynthia Dainton.
When she features in The Rivals of Morcove (The Girls’ Favourite), Ethel’s home is at Courtway Lodge, and she is endowed with an adopted brother, Cyril Dudley, and an Aunt Susan from Winchmoor Down. In this story, a completely different world of Morcove as seen through a different author’s eyes, is brought to the reader. There’s a strong suspicion the author could be by E L Rosman or Reg Kirkham.
Ethel comes in for a very hard time during SO 265-269 The Strife She Started (SGOL 471 Ethel Courtway’s Rival), when the beautiful but venomous Enid Marchmont comes to Morcove. Ethel knows Enid from a country house party which both attended, where Enid was responsible for a destructive fire at the house, and several priceless artworks were destroyed. Ethel suspected Enid to be the culprit, but Enid got the blame put onto one of the servants who of course cannot defend herself. She then tried to blackmail Ethel into backing her, which of course she wouldn’t. So then Enid gets herself installed at Morcove, and puts Ethel through quite a hellish few weeks at Morcove, including the loss of Cynthia’s friendship and the following of the Sixth. Cynthia becomes so entranced by the dangerous Enid that she loses all grip on reality and soon suffers quite badly herself. Things do get sorted, although how Enid remains at Morcove after her actions is to be wondered at!
Whilst at Morcove, Ethel becomes temporary Mistress of the Fourth on more than one occasion, after having ”obtained the necessary papers during the Easter Hols.” In SO 683-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea where she is temporary Mistress, a little more is revealed about her family when her Uncle Peter and Aunt Janet take over Cliff Edge Bungalow. Uncle Peter – an inventor, is a very loving, but difficult and trying man, and he employs a ‘Retainer’ named Dawker. ‘Uncle Peter’ in this case, turns out to be am impostor, and the real Uncle Peter is discovered over on Gull Island. Dawker is another character described by Phillips as cadaverous, and certainly Leonard Shields’ illustration of him is almost in the vein of Luke Rusper. Ethel doesn’t like Dawker much as she doesn’t trust him and because he is so gloomy. It isn’t long before she discovers that all is not what it seems at Cliff Edge!
Ethel also takes over the reins as temporary Mistress of the Fourth, after the disappearance of the bogus mistress, Miss Kitten in SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret. During the superb SO 746-750 Agatha Drew and Head Girl, Ethel eventually comes up trumps against another impostor, this time it is Agatha Drew posing as Ethel, after Ethel has an accident and loses her memory. Another incomplete series, and it would be lovely to see how Agatha gets her comeuppance!
Clarice, of the Sixth Form, features in SO 603-606 Biddy Loveland New Girl. This story also introduces Biddy Loveland to Morcove. Clarice is really a bit above herself, and she shows a completely selfish streak. About the only person she loves is her cousin Garry Maxwell. Here, Phillips manages to convey such emotion running between Clarice and Garry – especially Clarice, which is quite tempestuous. Garry knows of her selfishness but sees beyond her not very nice exterior, and manages to handle her in a nice way after she creates some disasters. She sees right, in the end, with Garry’s quiet determination. Clarice sadly doesn’t appear in further stories, and out of Phillips huge Morcove output, this story is definitely worth a read. Biddy goes onto feature in many later stories, culminating in SO 773-775 Biddy Loveland Millionairess.
“She is going to be difficult,” was Etta’s unvoiced opinion.
“She is nice,” Ella was thinking; “but I doubt if she has much heart.”
“I’ve been lucky,” was Eva’s joyous belief. “To have got this girl for a study-mate – lovely!”
As described in Pam Willoughby’s profile, Pam and Pat, Two Spirited Girls by Dennis L Bird, published in Collectors’ Digest Annual 1994, also gives a good insight into Pat’s character, and it gives possible reasons for Horace Phillips toning Pat down.
Perhaps Pat’s character (Like Pam Willoughby’s) is based on Freda Blair SO 295-303, Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove) A co-incidence is that Freda comes from Lowmoor, and Pat attended Lowmoor prior to coming to Morcove.
Before coming to Morcove and making her huge impact, SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud With Betty, (SGOL 693 Study Against Study), Pat attended Lowmoor. Interestingly, in the SGOL version, she attended Eastgate! We don’t learn the full details of Pat’s departure from her previous school until the next series, SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters. Pat is a thoroughly decent girl, totally honest and straight, although she describes herself as a little heartless. No doubt this comes about due to the treatment of her at her previous school, where she is unjustly expelled. She realises that she has been ‘too trustful, too easy going and too careless.’ So she comes to Morcove hiding behind her new armour of brittleness and don’t care attitude. However, chinks in her armour soon start showing.
Pat shares a study with Eva Merrick, and soon becomes friendly with whom she calls the Three E’s. – Etta Hargrove Eva Merrick and Ella Elgood. She quickly realises that they are not quite on her ‘plane’ but are decent, nice girls. Eva isn’t the nicest of girls before Pat’s arrival, however she mends her ways and becomes quite acceptable. Pat’s treatment of toadying Ursula Wade when she first arrives makes for good reading, although Ursula’s retaliation against Pat takes its toll. Pat later comes up trumps with her final, successful thrust back upon Ursula.
Her don’t care attitude though, soon lands her in trouble and so there is dissention amongst the ranks, with Ursula Wade being at the forefront with her scheming, thanks to that rebuff she receives from Pat at the beginning of the story. This scheming of Ursula’s eventually leads to Betty resigning the Captaincy, and soon after, Pat is elected Captain. Pat, although elected by the majority of girls, shakes hands with Betty but refuses to acknowledge that they could be friends, and this is seen by the girls as a little heartless on Pat’s part. Pat is deeply attracted to Pam, and a friendship starts to develop after Pat is elected Captain of the Fourth. Because of what appears to be a bit of unfair electioneering on Polly’s part – entirely due to Ursula’s scheming - there is a rift between Pam and the Study 12 Coterie.
Pam to Pat after Pat is elected Captain: “You’ll come to like them in time, Pat.”
“Think so? It’s funny; I can never see myself doing that. You won’t like me any the more for saying so –“
“Oh, it’s best to be candid,” declared Pam. “Frankly, that scandal during the election was enough to make you less inclined than ever to look for friendship in that quarter. It upset me. I know that. A the same time, Pat -"
However the rift is quickly resolved when Ursula’s scheming is undone and she is found out – by her own hand of course. Even though Pat quickly resigns the Captaincy and makes a written apology to Betty, Pam is still saddened by Pat’s ongoing antipathy towards the Study 12 Coterie. Pat remains deeply attracted to Pam, even though Pam’s allegiance is with the Coterie.
It’s during SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters when Pat sees the true friendship of the Study 12 Coterie. Unfortunately, I don’t have the complete series, but can get the gist of this story. Pat’s Aunt Jessica, who owns and lives at Beechwood Park, a vast country estate near the coast in Somerset, is to be married to a Mr Crosby. He is about forty, and his daughters Norah and Lillian, attend Lowmoor School, the same school where Pat attended before coming to Morcove. He also knows Grangemoor well. Phillips’ description of Mr Crosby: A hearty, handsome, sportive gentleman, Mr Crosby; straight as a die himself, and fondly believing that his motherless daughters were as nice to others behind his back as they were to his face. But they aren’t, and Phillips describes the sisters as hoydens. Paula describes them as “Ready to sting like wasps”. The sisters’ scheming against Pat leads to dissention in the ranks between Pat and the Form, especially The Three E’s. They also cause a rift between Pat herself and Aunt Jessica. Mr Crosby has no idea at all of his daughters’ duplicitous characters; Norah, the worst of the two, has a similar character to Cora Grandways until the sisters are shown up by Dave Lawder. It is also revealed that Pat was expelled from Lowmoor for setting fire to the gymnasium. But of course she didn’t, and all is revealed in this story. Pat upsets The Three E’s, whom she promises to ask to the wedding. In the meantime, Pat’s Aunt Jessica invites Pam. When Pat meets the daughters of Aunt Jessica's husband to be, she finds out that they are the very girls who are responsible for her expulsion from Lowmoor. The Three E's, who have met these girls, stand by Pat and want to expose them. Of course, Pat doesn't want any upset and so she decides she cannot ask the Three E’s after all, and her attraction to Pam is still very strong. Also in this story, Pat learns of true friendship due to the intervention of Pam Willoughby with the Study 12 Coterie. Incidentally, the Crosby girls don’t go to Morcove after Mr Crosby had made some sounds that he may send them there. Pat, after this story is tamed right down by Horace Phillips, and just becomes a member of the Fourth Form. Pat is blonde - Leonard Shields gives Hetty Curzon who later comes into the saga, a similar hairstyle. Pat rides a motor bike and also has other talents, such as a good singing voice and can act.
Pat’s Aunt Jessica also owns a home in London, and the Lawrence name is known to the Lundys. Friends of Pat and her Aunt, the Norrises, take on a furnished place near Stormwood ‘for the season’, obviously they are also of wealthy old stock like Aunt Jessica. Lady Evelyn Knight, daughter of the Earl and Countess Lundy of Barncombe Castle, takes on an instinctive liking of Pat upon their first meeting. Pat, even with her admiration of Pam, takes matters into her own hand in SO 691-695 Morcove’s Feud With Grangemoor, and takes the step of overriding Betty in calling a meeting to denounce Pam, whom she and the Form mistakenly think is not being fair to the Form. During this battle with Grangemoor, for which the Denvers are responsible, Pam is blamed for disloyalty and continuing to meet Jimmy, after the girls cut off contact with Grangemoor. Betty is the only girl who continues to have faith in Pam during this story.
Even though she is so friendly with Etta Hargrove, Pat is also disappointed in Etta when Etta is made deputy Captain during SO 645-649 Etta’s Brother in Disgrace. Of course, Pat doesn’t know the reason behind Etta’s odd behaviour and her subsequent resignation. Pat herself becomes Captain, and although she seems to carry out the role well, she does become officious at times. Pat’s and Etta’s relationship strengthens after this story.
When Pam is made Captain during Betty’s accident in SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain, Pat once again doubts Pam’s character, and she is again back sharing a study with Eva Merrick during this story.
Almost unbelievably, Phillips decides that Pat becomes very friendly with Fay and Edna Denver in a slightly earlier story, SO 696-699 Madge Minden’s Accident. She goes on a spree with them after lights out one night. Absolutely incredible, and perhaps just an oversight by Phillips. Pat, with her straight character, would NEVER mix with the likes of these two!
Dolly is plumpish, has brown eyes, and her first appearance comes in SO 13-16 Captaincy (SGOL 52 The Morcove Election). She is an interesting and loving character, always ready to help other people, even to her own detriment. Some of the girls take advantage of this trait of Dolly’s, and more than once Betty has to intervene in the most diplomatic way. It isn’t long though, before Dolly’s eyes are opened to the users. She becomes temporary Captain of the Fourth whilst Betty & Co are at Stormwood in SO 147-150 Morcove at Stormwood (SGOL 220 When Morcove Came to Stormwood). Her family who are farmers, have their share of trials and tribulations during the Morcove saga, but in the end, through diligence and sheer hard work, they do succeed. The Delanes originally hail from Hampshire – Alstead, near the New Forest. Dolly shares a study with Freda in SO 295-303, Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove) and she is of tremendous help to Freda. During SO 318-323 £5000 Reward (SGOL 555 She Cheated Her Morcove Chum) there is trouble between Dolly and Grace Garfield. In this story, Dolly saves the life of a girl named Daphne Cranford. There is a mistake in identities, and the reward goes to Grace, who was with Dolly at the rescue. Grace doesn’t rectify this mistaken identity until towards the end of the story. Later on in the saga, the Delanes are forced out of their farmhouse in Hampshire by a Squire Hemshaw in SO 468-472 Althea Marshall the Lonely New Girl (SGOL 689 Alone at Morcove). because a certain document cannot be produced upon demand. The shady Squire installs the Marshalls – Althea’s scurrilous and lazy brother Dick, and her fine and upstanding sister, Margaret at the farm. Dick is tasked with the job of finding the document. Althea is sent to Morcove and she is treated unfairly by the girls because they think that she has some part in the scheme to get the Delanes off the Hampshire farm. And so the Delanes also come to Morcove, after Dolly hears that a severely run down small holding is available and so they take this up and build into a successful small business. Things are eventually sorted out with Dick’s exposure, and Althea and her sister Margaret’s total innocence. Althea leaves Morcove though. Dolly becomes Morcove’s only day girl from here on, and the small holding’s door is permanently open to Morcove. In SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother, the explanation of how Dolly and her family come to live at the small holding isn’t quite correct. When Josiah Grandways becomes involved in the Headland Hotel construction, he decides he wants the Delane smallholding to become part of the Hotel’s acreage, and uses unscrupulous methods to achieve this end, in SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce and the Headland Hotel. Of course, he doesn’t succeed, and so for a long period of time the Delanes are happy at the small holding until they are left Cromlech Manor, in a will by a distant relative. So the Delanes move to Cromlech Manor – which takes its name from a large rock edifice nearby - SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House. Dolly leaves Morcove to help her parents run the the guest house business there, and maintains constant contact with Morcove. Later, there is another story featuring Cromlech Manor, SO 724-726 Christmas at Cromlech Manor, and another Christmas story at Cromlech is in The Schoolgirls’ Own Annual 1936. What happens to the Morcove smallholding after the Delanes leave is unknown.
The Earl and Countess of Lundy live in Barncombe Castle and are the local aristocracy. They are introduced in SO19 The Girls Who Plotted, where Paula lets slip that her parents have been friends with the Lundys for years. On the cover is an illustration of Barncombe Castle, perhaps seen for the first time. Leonard Shields illustrates this garden party scene with Cora and Judith in the foreground, hopelessly envious of the genteel scene behind the shrubbery. This of course is in the days prior to Judy’s reformation, and Judy goes onto be absolutely loved by Lady Lundy and her daughter, Lady Evelyn Knight, whilst Cora is forever on the outer. The Lundys, despite their high standing and extreme wealth, prefer to live and act as normal people and be known as Lord and Lady Lundy instead of the higher rank of Earl and Countess. There is no pomp, swank or ostentatiousness. The Countess, who is one of Morcove’s Governors, simply signs herself as Dorothy Lundy. Phillips describes Lord Lundy as being tall and strikingly handsome, and Lady Lundy as lovely. There is some vagueness on the part of Phillips in regard to their daughter Lady Evelyn’s age. She is 17 in SO 19 The Girls Who Plotted, and 18 in SO 20 Madge Minden’s Folly. In SO 36 Fated to be Friendless! Lady Lundy offers a prize of a stay at Barncombe Castle for the winner of an art competition, so that the winner can be introduced to influential people from the art world. They also sponsor talented and disadvantaged young people, such as Maggie Shaw in SO 94-98 Madge Minden’s Search (SGOL 151 Madge Minden’s Secret). They also employ many local people, who go on to stay with them for many, many years. The Lundys and the Castle are host to many charitable events, soirees and garden parties, all to raise funds for the disadvantaged. The Study 12 Coterie – especially Betty, as well as Paula, are especial favourites of the Lundy family, and they just love Naomer. The Fourth in particular, are often called upon by the Lundys to get up a ’thing or two’ for their many charity events, and so the Coterie in turn are invited to many a tea at the castle on behalf of the Fourth. In SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove), mention is made of the Lundy pad, which of course is used to for the poison pen letters Cissy Norton wrote regarding Cora. Sea green covers, with gold embossing. One wonders if these notepads are anything to do with the Lundy family. The Lundys own a yacht, the Sea Nymph, which is featured in SO 703-709, Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara (Note: This title by Lofts and Adley is a incorrect, as not all of this holiday was spent on Cassara).
See the notes regarding Lady Evelyn’s age above. She didn’t attend Morcove, but frequently remarks to Betty & Co that if she were still a schoolgirl, she would love to be at Morcove. She is on especially friendly terms with the Study 12 Coterie and is totally besotted by Naomer. Lady Evelyn is frequently up in London or travelling on the Continent. She also works hard for the under privileged and is on many charity committees. In between times, she always ensures she has time to catch up with Morcove and the latest doings, and tries to see the Coterie on an almost weekly basis. Lady Evelyn as we know, cannot stand Cora, and it is superb reading to see how she treats Cora throughout the saga, in stories such as SO 346-350 Boarded Out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove). Lady Evelyn asks the Study 12 Coterie to call her Eve, however they prefer to respect her title. Phillips describes Lady Evelyn as Ravishingly lovely and the very essence of girlish charm – SO 645-649 Etta’s Brother in Disgrace, and in SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara, as The type of girl men go crazy about.
Lady Evelyn befriends Camilla Loretto in SO 435-439 Camilla Loretto the Italian Girl (SGOL 669 Shielded by Morcove). There is a recap of this story in the Morcove Magazine which goes with SO 527 What More Could Polly Do.
Cast in a similar mould to Cora Grandways, Diana is an unpleasant girl, and at Morcove before Betty. Diana’s main friend is Mabel Rivers. Nothing is known of the Forbes parents and her schooling is paid for by her Aunt Agnes. Diana has an equally unpleasant sister named Vera whom we meet in SO 561-563 Polly Linton on the Stage. Vera wants to be an actress, but she doesn’t have the talent to pull it off. She and Diana illicitly gate crash Linton Hall, where the Study 12 Coterie along with Grangemoor are staying for the weekend. Lily Lambert, a famous actress who is good friends with the Lintons, is also at the Hall. Vera tries to inveigle herself with Lily, but is politely but firmly turned down with her aspirations. Diana and Vera are put up by the Lintons that night due to Vera’s vehicle ‘being out of action’. A fire starts that night, which burns down the Hall, although everyone is safe. During the melee, Lily’s jewels are stolen by Vera. This event is about the only time where Diana’s conscience kicks in, when she is asked to look after the stolen jewels by Vera. She is beside herself, although she ultimately does. Events that lead on from this, which also involves Cora and Hetty, results in Diana leaving Morcove for good.
Diana doesn’t believe in supporting fair play, especially where the Form and Betty are concerned. For a while though, Diana seems to make good, and toes the line, but it doesn’t last. She’s always ready to be the fly in the ointment, like Ursula Wade.
Diana causes trouble and heartache for Miss Redgrave with her wedding in SO 414-419 The Morcove Wedding (SGOL 653 The Wedding at Morcove). She is also involved in SO 420-425 Polly Linton Circus (SGOL 651The Circus Girl Morcove Helped). Diana’s next foray into stirring is in the furore between Betty Barton, Hilda Fawley and Edna Loring in SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove). When Pat Lawrence arrives at Morcove - SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud With Betty (SGOL 693 Study Against Study) Diana again stirs the pot, causing even more dissention in the ranks between Pat and Betty, caused by Ursula. Diana is ready to toady to anyone if she can see a ‘meal ticket’ for herself, but girls like Pat with their shrewdness see through Diana straight away and she is soon rebuffed. She also makes mileage out of Ursula in SO 503-508, The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress)
Edna and Fay Denver
Edna and Fay enter Morcove in SO 691-695, Morcove’s Feud With Grangemoor. They are absolutely horrible girls without an ounce of conscience, are constantly on the look out for fun and excitement, careering carelessly over any obstacles in their way - uncaring if anyone is hurt in the process. Their first deed is to initiate a feud between Grangemoor and Morcove, and to injure Pam, who is the object of their almost insane jealousy.
Both girls are described as excessively beautiful, a description given by Phillips to the far earlier character, Bertha Snode. Edna is also tall and supple, and Fay being an outstanding, blonde beauty. Phillips has a minor lapse in his version of Fay and Edna’s beauty, because in SO 715 Kept Secret From the School he states: Jewellery shimmered, dance shoes came in for special comment; and was there just a suspicion of a face-cream to account for that lovely school-girl complexion with which neither Fay nor Edna was endowed by nature?
They come from Winchcombe – they seem to come from a moneyed family where a staff is kept, including the long suffering old Mrs Hopkins is housekeeper. The Denver parents travel frequently. A small piece of trivia is their telephone number – Winchcome 900.
Fay is far more wayward than Edna, who is always ready to step into the shadows for her, as she knows the favour will be returned when she wants it. Fay is far older than her years, and has an eye for the boys. Edna though, is the brains of the business. They have an equally unpleasant cousin named Bertie who is in the Sixth and a prefect at Grangemoor, where he wreaks havoc. At one stage, he is House Captain at Challenors. Fay is extremely fond of her cousin Bertie, and surprisingly, Jimmy Cherrol, whom Edna also likes. He has no time for either of them, and always treats them with the utmost politeness. The girls are a year apart in age, although both are in the Fourth. Their jealousy of Pam also shows in SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident, where they gate crash a garden party held at Swanlake. It isn’t long before their first suspension from Morcove in SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure, due to illicit smoking and unsupervised visits to the Headland Hotel. Back from suspension, Edna then sets her sights on Billy Charters, Pam’s cousin, who features fairly early on in the Morcove saga, as quite a good lad. He has a weakness in his character which shows up from time to time, and it is to the forefront in SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain, along with the new Mistress, Miss Kitten who is an impostor. Major problems are caused between Billy and Pam, and his weakness shines through and through. (Unfortunately I don’t have the complete story!) Fay and Edna have an Aunt Edith - their Mother’s sister, who is married to a man named Arthur Mordaunt, who is in business connected with the Wool Exchange. Surprisingly, although brash and loud, they are fairly decent people. Phillips describes Arthur and Edith as: Mr Arthur Mordaunt was stout for his age, and rather bald, whilst Auntie Edith was tall and as flat as a plank. Her evening toilette and her diamonds, and his immaculate “tails,” evidenced abounding wealth. (SO 715 Kept Secret From the School.)
They feature in the outstanding SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret, where Miss Josephine/Julia/Catherine Kitten, the impostor Fourth Form Mistress, has her undoing at the hands of Uncle Arthur Mordaunt.
Fay and Edna regularly feature with their scheming and suspensions, always just avoiding expulsion, right until the end of the saga.
Joyce Marshall Profile in the pipeline
Ursula Wade Profile in the pipeline
Freda Blair Click here to see Profile on the Friardale website
The Circus
The circus is a popular attraction, and it features regularly throughout the Morcove saga. Most popular is Samuel Samways’ Circus, which travels around the countryside, always stopping around Barncombe. Samways’ first appearance is in SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove), where the ravishing Laura Turner, in trouble at Morcove, seeks shelter as Donna Carlotta at the circus, and takes a young girl named Bluebell under her wing. Bluebell is eventually adopted by the kind and genuine Cyril Courtney, a member of the Grandways family, and sent to Morcove. Bluebell stays on for quite a time, and then disappears from the radar.
Samuel has a reputation for being a bit of a bully, and it is his wife who more or less ‘keeps the show running’ and her husband in check. Mrs Samways is described as a really rough uneducated woman, though with a kind heart.
Phillips has a couple of lapses of memory in the circus stories, as he states that the circus is sold to Ralph Linton, after Samways death in SO 420-425 Polly Linton Circus (SGOL 651 The Circus Girl Polly Helped). Oddly enough in this story, Roza’s Granny acknowledges Samways as being a kind man, with no hint of his bullying. Then, Lintons is back, known as Samways Circus, in the later story SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl, where Hetty Curzon, and Cora Grandways meet Joyce Marshall for the first time. Samways Circus goes on to finally appear in SO 797-798 SG 357-369 Morcove in Unknown Africa.
There is another story in the Morcove saga, featuring Calmani’s Circus although I cannot provide any details on it. Perhaps Keith and Gary can provide some information at some future stage.
Morcove’s Immediate Environment
A little more here, adding to what is already on the Friardale website. A map of Morcove and Barncombe in also in the pipeline.
The Zig Zag Steps
There are several sets of zig zag steps between Barncombe and Morcove. One set of about two hundred steps and surrounded by huge boulders, is located a couple of hundred metres from Morcove School, leading down from the cliff top path to the beach below. There is also a beacon situated around this vicinity. Another set of zig zag steps leads up through a small coombe, in the vicinity of Cliff Edge Bungalow boatshed, to Cliff Edge bungalow itself. Further along the beach again are another set of steps leading up to the newly built Headland Hotel. Excellent illustrations of the Morcove zig zag steps are shown in SO 558-560 Angela Dark, the Girl from the Skies. Another illustration, from SO 577 Their Secret From the Sea, is shown below. These particular steps are destroyed by an explosion in SO 764-768 Denver Sisters v Betty Barton. One hopes they are re-built! Further along past the Headland Hotel and towards Barncombe are more zig zag steps.
The Headland Hotel
A good description of this hotel is in SO 659 Hidden From Morcove, with illustrations from SO 640 Morcove Accepts a Challenge and SO 734 The Girl Artists’ Ordeal.
This high class hotel with the soon to be reputation of The Ritz in London, is an eagerly anticipated addition to the Morcove district and its beginnings are regaled in SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce/Headland Hotel.. Polly and Naomer sum it up in these few words, as the girls head back to Morcove for the Summer term on the rat and rabbit rattler from Barncombe railway station to Morcove Road:
“Mind you,” Polly carried on the talk, “I’d never see any objection to a really fine hotel being put up close to the school –“
“No, bekas, we could go there to tea sometimes!” piped in Naomer joyously. “And eet would be somewhere for mothers and fathers to stay, when zey came to see their girls; and zen zey would ask us out to dine – gorjus! Bekas –“
To put a thrilling twist to this story, Josiah Grandways, is the Managing Director of the Syndicate responsible for acquiring the land and subsequently the building of The Headland Hotel. He even acquires Cliff Edge Bungalow for his personal use during this time. Cora, of course, is not allowed back at Morcove after the Fallowfield School affair, and so she is living and aiding Josiah at Cliff Edge Bungalow during the building of the hotel, and delighting in being a thorn in the flesh to Morcove.
George Amberley, Josiah Grandways’ business partner in the Syndicate, places his ward and niece, Brenda Fordyce at Morcove School during the development phase of the Headland. Brenda is a thoroughly nice girl, whom the Study 12 Coterie take to on first sight. Unfortunately, Amberley has been duped by Grandways although he doesn’t know it. Josiah wants to get hold of the Delane’s small holding as he thinks it will be a stumbling block with the development of the hotel. Brenda, being a shrewd girl, soon realises something isn’t right, and cottons on to the duplicity and schemes. She pretends a great friendship with Cora in order to eventually expose Josiah and to protect the Delanes. Naturally, this ‘pretended friendship’ doesn’t go down too well with the Study 12 Coterie and much angst is suffered by Brenda. Eventually though, all is revealed and righted, with Josiah and Cora doing a moonlight flit. Brenda’s friendship with Morcove is re-instated and George Amberley is left in charge of the building project. It is presumed that Brenda leaves Morcove when the building is completed, as we don’t hear any more of her in the many events and teas that Morcove is invited to at the Hotel.
Dances, high teas and soirees are held frequently at the Headland and it gradually builds up an excellent reputation. Lavish décor of white and gold, and suitably here and there, many potted plants. Many people, including Betty herself with Mrs Barton, come to the Headland to rest and recuperate. And of course, the necessary shady figures such as Mrs Sharrow also come to stay. Generally, the Hotel is out of bounds to Morcove unless parents, relations or friends come to stay, or if there is a special occasion warranting the attendance of Morcove. of which there frequently is.
SO 647 By the Form Forsaken mentions progress in building the Headland Hotel, and how the Morcove girls are anticipating the opening of this building.
SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure – Morcove and surrounding coastline can be seen from the eastern side of the hotel, so this seems to suggest that the Headland is on a promontory jutting much further out into the Atlantic than Morcove.
Stories featuring The Headland Hotel:
SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce. Introducing the actual building of the hotel.
SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow. I don’t have enough detail for this story, apart from the fact that the Sharrows are a bad lot, with Ada Sharrow coming to Morcove, and brother Harold being installed at Grangemoor, while Mrs Sharrow bases herself at the Headland. She is still in residence during SO 666-670 Pam’s Protegee Shirley Branson.
SO 709-714 Pam New Form Captain; SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret. Betty Barton and her Mother, stay here for Betty’s recuperation after a nasty car crash in London.
SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure
SO 679-682 Marriage of Miss Everard. Tony Challenor takes a room at the Headland for a night or two during Miss Everard’s illness from her accident.
Cliff Edge Bungalow, boatshed and caves
Cliff Edge Bungalow’s first appearance in SO 215-221, South America and Delores Florissa (SGOL 379 When Morcove Was Mystified): “The low-built, commodious-looking dwelling crowned a headland as high as any along this part of the coast. Its front windows could not have been more than a hundred yards from the brink of a cliff, falling sheer to the shore, two hundred feet below. The couple of acres of ground that went with the lonely bungalow had been fenced on either side and at the back, and at present the fence did a good deal to obscure the building from the girls’ eager gaze.” “Betty & Co. nodded. They were aware that the cliff bungalow stood above one of the numerous seashore caverns, and that the original owner of the dwelling had gone to some expense to convert the cavern below into a private boathouse.”
SO 729 At Morcove in Disguise: “A mile from Morcove School, built close to the very edge of one of the beetling cliffs that towered above the rugged seashore, stood a snug looking bungalow. The man who had selected such a lonely, gale-ridden spot for his private residence had soon tired of being so often blown to bits by the winds that shrieked in from off the wide Atlantic. So “Cliff Edge,”, as the place was called, had declined into a “furnished bungalow – to rent for long or short period.”
Nothing is known of the owner apart from what is written above. The bungalow faces the Atlantic, and has a long verandah, with an expanse of lawn between the verandah and the edge of the cliff, so suitable for entertaining, such as the time when Madam Shandry Khan has her little garden party for the Study 12 Coterie in SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery)
Cliff Edge’s boatshed and cave, which is down on the beach directly below the bungalow, is kept locked by latticed gates. It is a handy place for people in which to take refuge; to hide; to secrete away contraband and stolen goods; an excellent kidnappers lair; just to name a few alternate uses by Morcove’s friends, villains and villainesses.
There are many caves around Cliff Edge, including one large cave that has an inner chamber at the back, which is accessed by a crevice in the rock. It is very hard to find, and is mentioned as early as SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove, where Olive Owen takes refuge after being cut off by the rising tide. Freda Blair is imprisoned in it during SO 295-303, Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove) and it becomes the place where Jack, Dave, Hon Bob and Calli take refuge in SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
It is interesting to see that Leonard Shields has drawn Cliff Edge as facing onto the Barncombe Road instead of the cliff face, and much closer to the road than Horace Phillips’ placement. Phillips describes a rough cart track leading from the main Barncombe Road up to the front door of the bungalow. See SO 215-221, South America and Delores Florissa (SGOL 379 When Morcove Was Mystified) and SO 270-274, Hildegard Astovel, (SGOL 487 At Morcove Under Guard) In SO 295-303, Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove) Phillips describes a short drive up to the bungalow’s front door.
Shields has done some magnificent illustrations of Cliff Edge and the garden, and one such illustration is of Cora with Brenda in the garden, with the Morcove girls riding past, in SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce and The Headland Hotel
Originally known as Cliffedge, the later wording is altered to Cliff Edge, the building can be seen from the dormitorites on the upper floors of Morcove - SO 564-566 Judith Grandways and Dave Cardew.
Some stories centered around Cliff Edge:
SO 295-303, Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove). SGOL 529
SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove);
SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied,
SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery)
SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films
SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother
SO 564-566 Judith Grandways and Dave Cardew
SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake
SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce and The Headland Hotel
SO 682-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea
SO 727-730 Pam’s Willoughby Masquerade in London
SO 764-768 Denver Sisters v Betty Barton
Morcove Road and the railway line
The railway is an integral part of the whole Morcove saga. The branch line from Barncombe terminates at Morcove Road, but in earlier days it may have terminated at the now disused quarries. Such is the dependency of the railway on Morcove, it frequently waits for its passengers, such as in SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon, New Girl where Madge Minden is late for the train: “Pay the other end, miss? Right!” said the genial guard, who knew how much this branch line depended upon Morcove School. “But you shouldn’t cut it so fine, young lady!”. Amazingly, there are three classes of compartments, even on this little branch line! Mr Monkton is Stationmaster at Morcove Road.
SO 557 gives a good description of the line: Suddenly the go-as-you-please ”local” was pulled up in a cutting. It was the sort of thing that often happened on that little-used branch line, where plate-layers could even ask a train to wait instead of interrupting their work to let it pass.
And
The engine whistled, and the whole train jolted on again, the rattle-rattle of such old rolling-stock drowning the muffled voices (Of the Fourth)
There are other branch lines in existence, such as the one from Barncombe to the vicinity of Stormwood. Although later, in SO 296 The Girl Who Did As She Pleased Phillips decides there is no railway or even bus service near Stormwood.
Another line which has a halt named Disford, runs somewhere near Grangemoor and Swanlake.
Holidays, Foreign Climes and Dangerous Times
Morcove occasionally, is mixed up in dangerous times as well as exciting holidays overseas. Most of the girls seem to have quite well to do parents, who indulge them during these holidays. Oh!! To have been such intrepid travellers as the Morcove girls. Below is a small selection of various experiences and holidays, both at home and abroad. Sometimes, especially on the holidays abroad, there is more than one objective for actually visiting a place, and so parents and guardians all pitch in together financially, such as in:
SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday; SO 650-653 India; SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara; SO 755-759 Morcove in North Africa;
United Kingdom
When in London, Morcove and Grangemoor frequently stay at the palatial Hotel Majestic in Mayfair, where they come up against mystery and adventure, such as in SO 567-569 Priors Wold Christmas; SO 622-625 Morcove in London; SO 780-782 Holiday in London.
In the illustration below, the Coterie together with Jack and Dave, can be seen against the backdrop of Westminster Bridge. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament can also be seen.
Bond Street, a favourite shopping haunt, accommodates Soleils, the Court dressmakers which is patronised by Mrs Creel, and occasionally Paula is allowed to have special dresses made. It is also patronised by the Grandways family. We learn its name in SO 567-569 Priors Wold Christmas where Paula befriends a young employee by the name of Molly Baxter, although the establishment is mentioned as early as SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove) but without a name, when Cora wants a special dress made for her to wear to impress Lady Lundy.
The Lake District - SO 635-639, Easter Caravan Tour. Jimmy Cherrol is introduced into the Morcove saga here. The first night away is spent camping somewhere along the way in Lancashire, and Polly remarks on how absolutely beautiful Lancashire can be. Betty’s reply: “’Tis Lancashire, sithee, and Lancashire hot-pot for supper, so Mrs. Cardew has said,” Betty laughed on.
Brighampton, Loberton and Rabbletree – SO 741-745 Hiking Holiday At Brighampton. Here, Morcove and Grangemoor, staying at a place named Beach House, become embroiled in a mystery surrounding a travelling entertainment troupe known as the The Red Revellers. These localities cannot be that far from Morcove, because Squire Druard of Rabbletrees knows Morcove and Grangemoor very well. The illustration shows the gaiety of night time in a seaside location, with lights on all the way along the promenade and on the pier, moonlight silhouetted water and elegance.
Sandcliffe – SO 285-289 The White Queen of Morcove (SGOL 515 The “White Queen From Morcove). This locality seems to be a popular one for Horace Phillips as he uses it for stories other than Morcove. It’s on a par with Sandton Bay, although more salubrious. In this illustration, Morcove and Grangemoor have set sail on the boat that Mr Linton has hired from Shingleham in their effort to save Rose of the Desert from her enemies.
Scotland – SO 619-621 Christmas at
Glenlochry Castle. Glenlochry Castle is in the Highlands of
Scotland, north of Edinburgh. Morcove and Grangemoor spend a Christmas here at
the Castle, which is owned by a Mrs Christina Campbell. She has fallen on hard
times plus there is a family tragedy. Morcove and Grangemoor do all they can to
aid her, and help clear up an old mystery.
France
Champferie, in the South of France - SO 335-340 Holiday in France (SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France). Sunshine, pines, orchards, vineyards and olive groves, and not very far from Deauville. The Coterie come to Champferie on holiday where Trixie Sharp is being educated at Sainte Marie School, having won her French Scholarship. An exchange student, Rosalie Duval, comes to Morcove a few weeks beforehand. Morcove aid the Duvals in regaining their fortune after being cheated by the Lafarge family. Here is an illustration of part of the Duval’s chateau which is part of their fortune. The chateau is quite close to Sainte Marie School.
Corsica - SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara.
A slight inaccuracy in this seven parter, one of the longest in the Morcove saga. Lofts and Adley have only Cassara in their listing, however the rest of it is set in Spain. But it’s fabulous, any way! The Isle of Cassara, situated four miles off the west coast of Corsica, is the first stage of their holiday. Cruising the Mediterranean with the Lundys on board their yacht Sea Nymph, are the Coterie, together with Jack and Dave, Jimmy and Tubby, and accompanied by Mr and Mrs Willoughby, Mrs Cardew and Mr Minden. Some of the group are booked to stay at the Castle of Cassara, owned by M. le Comte Josef of Cassara, whom Lord Lundy has known for a long time. The Comte has fallen on hard times, and needs a little income. He also has a niece, the delightful Madelina. Lord and Lady Lundy, Mr Minden and the Willoughbys cruise onto Genoa. The plan is to come back this way, pick up the others and then continue on with their holiday to Spain. In this stage of the story, Morcove and Grangemoor come across Bonifacio, who has a personal vendetta against M. le Comte Josef of Cassara.
Jimmy’s love for Pam is shining in this story. See Jimmy’s Profile for more information on Jimmy, and also reminiscenses between himself and Pam regarding this holiday.
The only jarring note about this story is the accent upon smoking that Phillips encourages, especially in Lady Evelyn. “Trailing clouds of glory” or ‘Whiffing enjoyably at one of her last Virginians” is how Phillips describes the cigarette smoke, which is also previously described in SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake.
SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara
Then it is off to Santanda in Spain, after being collected by the Sea Nymph, they disembark at Monserova and travel by train to Santanda, where they visit Madame Alvaro and her daughter Isabel who live on their farm, Sierra Juez. The Almaros featured in the previous story, set at Morcove in SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure
South America
SO 215-221 South America and Delores Florissa (SGOL When Morcove Was Mystified) This story is important, as it heralds the introduction of Cliff Edge Bungalow into the Morcove landscape. No further detail at this stage here.
Canada
Details unknown – over to Gary and Keith when convenient!
Africa
All below are loosely based around Morocco.
Nakara, Susahlah and El Kareb - Plenty of action in these localities! For simplicity’s sake, listings below are based on the proposed new database masterlisting at present under construction, and not based on Lofts & Adley’s original.
SO 47-51 First Morocco (SGOL 92 Morcove in Morocco)
SO 116-120 Third Morocco (SGOL 184 Morcove in Morocco)
SO 155-163 Fourth Morocco (SGOL 243 The Girl Spy of Morcove and SGOL 244 The Girl Queen From Morcove)
SO 285-289 Fifth Morocco (SGOL 515 The “White Queen” From Morcove)
SO 389-396 Sixth Morocco (SGOL 635 Morcove’s Desert Holiday)
SO 529-534 Seventh Morocco (SGOL 722 Stranded in the Desert)
SO 570-573 First Equatorial Africa
SO 671-678 Third France and Eighth Morocco
SO 751-759 Ninth Morocco
Note: SGOL’s 92 and 184 are entirely different stories
India
SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake; SO 650-653 India
Although the first story is set at Morcove and Swanlake, it is the preamble to the second story, which takes place entirely in India. This story is completely readable in itself without reading the second story - as what happened to me – then I was lucky enough to get the second one from Gary, and then the whole thing makes sense. This one is set in India, somewhere up near the Himalayas, and of course during the autumn of the Raj.
The India series must have made quite an impact to readers because in SO 701 Morcove’s Treasure Trail there is a letter from a reader who attended boarding school in the foothills of the Himalayas, and she describes a little of her experieces in getting to and from school, and how long she stayed there without seeing her parents. Absolutely fascinating!
Turania
Morcove travels to Turania a few times, where they spend time at Klosters, the Somerfields’ ‘vast old chateau like edifice, set on a spur of the mountain range – turreted, lattice windows, strong as a fortress.’
During SO 654-657 Morcove in Turania, a particularly memorable incident is where the Morcove girls along with Grangemoor, have to traverse a precipice known as The Cat’s Creep. Phillips describes this incident in full detail, and one almost has an adrenalin rush whilst Judy is blindfolded in order to cross this extremely dangerous pass, along with most breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Leonard Shields also illustrates The Cat’s Creep so explicity that the danger can be felt as well as seen.
It is also in this story, where explained previously, that Jimmy Cherrol is known as Dicky (Totally and utterly confusing!).
It is interesting to note that derivations of the name Turania are used by other authors, such as Murania and Tirania an example is A Princess in Peril by Muriel Holden, SG No’s inc 67of 1930 (SGOL 343 A Princess in Peril).
The Island of Santa Rita
SO 598-602, Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
Leonard Shields dresses his women exquisitely, be they the girls, parents, villainesses and impostors. He also creates a genteel and celebratory atmosphere in the night time gatherings at the Grand Hotel Santa-Rita as the catering marquee is known as, depicted below. Even in this wonderfully isolated location, dress standards aren’t allowed to drop! The Study 12 Coterie, Jack, and Dave, along with Mr & Mrs Linton, Mr & Mrs Willoughby, Mrs Cardew, Colonel and Mrs Creel, cruise to Santa Rita on board the S Y Coral Queen with the aim of searching for the lost treasure on behalf of Amy Stuart and her Father – SO 577-579 Amy Stuart and the Treasure Casket. Phillips places Santa Rita as a remote, virtually uninhabited island situated somewhere in the tropical Southern Seas. The Morcove and Grangemoor party select a suitable spot, and erect their other tents and marquees, two of which have been dubbed The Elephant House and The Hiker’s Rest. But Santa Rita is inhabited, in the form of the Hogan family with their daughter Carlotta, and their lovely but lonely girl servant, Mimi. They live in a dilapitated white painted and shuttered homestead, surrounded by a neglected yet colourful garden on a hillside. From a vantage point somewhere below towards the beach, they can see yachts and boats approaching the Island for miles. When the Hogans learn that the Morcove/Grangemoor entourage are searching for treasure, they try to pip them at the post. See also Spies, Villains and Impostors.
Tel: Grangemoor 4-7.
The first appearance of this school of about two hundred boys could be in 1926 when it is un-named. Keith thinks it may be in SO 329-333 Jack Linton Expelled (SGOL 579 Polly Linton’s Brother Expelled) when it is given the name Grangemoor. Situated about twenty miles from Morcove and not that far, but not within walking distance, from Swanlake, Pam Willoughby’s home. The tiny village of Grangemoor is located about a mile from the School. It takes Jack about 35 minutes to ride his motor cycle to Morcove. Interestingly, from about SO 564-567 Judith Grandways and Dave Lawder onwards, Phillips lessens the distance between Morcove and Grangemoor to be convenient for bike riding! When Dave has the reunion with his long lost Mother Mrs Cardew, he and Jack ride their bikes over to Morcove for explanations regarding the reunion and celebration. Polly, Judy, Paula and Naomer also quite comfortably ride the distance. Another example of this is in SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow, where Jack remarks they have made the distance on bicycles in just over an hour. And in SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure, Jack is proud to have done the distance in 47 minutes 9 seconds, accompanied by Dave, Jimmy and Tubby. In SO 788-791 Zillah Raine, Grangemoor is a few minutes walk from Swanlake, thus lessening the distance there as well.
There is a lot of detail on buildings, architectural design, cloistered walks and grounds layout in SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out, and architecturally speaking, Leonard Shields illustrates Grangemoor as having some with similarities to Morcove’s front wall and gates.
Grangemoor’s colours are orange and black, similar to Morcove’s orange, black and green. One wonders why Horace Phillips didn’t have a variation? Illustrations of Grangemoor’s crest and Phillips’ description of colours appear in SO 461 The Mistake Pam Made; SO 574 Judy’s Thankless Task; SO 580 Their Brothers – the Rebels; SO 668 The Upset in the Form and SO 732 Humbled For Friendship’s Sake. There’s a bit of an inconsistency regarding blazers, as Leonard Shields depicts the Grangemoor boys as wearing striped blazers in SO 691-695 Morcove’s Feud With Grangemoor. SGOL Annual 1933 also features these striped blazers, but it is possible that this illustration isn’t by Shields. In SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident the boys are wearing plain blazers. Perhaps they have both, however wouldn’t that be a bit stiff on parents’ pockets?
Grangemoor has houses, unlike Morcove. The Houses, with the exception of Head’s House, are named after the Masters managing them, and so when a new Master is appointed, the name changes. Some Masters who give their names to Houses for the duration include Messrs Fenner, Hawksley, Fenwick, Lethbury and Challenor. Tony Challenor, a Junior Master and an old boy of Grangemoor marries Miss Everard, and she goes on from Morcove to live at Grangemoor. He is promoted to House Master.
Horace Phillips’ description of Banting, the House Porter of Challenors as ex Service and very much battle scarred, just the right sort of character for such an important role!
The House that Jack and Dave are in has a number of changes. Firstly it is Fenner’s, then Fenwicks, and then Lethbury takes over. From Lethbury comes Tony Challenor. Tony is anxious to turn over some unfortunate changes that Lethbury introduces. One of the first changes is withdrawing all privileges from Bertie Denver.
The boys catch the train to Barncombe from Grangemoor – taking their bikes, and then either riding from there with their bikes, or taking the local to Morcove Road. As explained previously, there is some vagueness regarding these branch lines around the vicinity of Grangemoor and Stormwood. Jack of course, has his motor bike and side car which is updated at least once, and it is always a thrill for Morcove to see Jack and Dave entering their gates on it, or to see it in Barncombe. Later on in the saga the motor bike disappears in favour of bicycles.
Headmaster:
Dr Halden. He is known as the ‘Old Man’ or ‘Baldy’.
Even Grangemoor has its share of impostors – an example is in SO 580-583, Grangemoor Barring Out, where the bogus Dr Trouncer is installed as Headmaster. One of his nicknames is Old Shudders.
Staff
Not all staff are known and their Christian names aren’t known either, however include:
Banting
‘Beetle’ - Head Porter
Tony Challenor, known as Old Tony. It is interesting to note that in SG 409-421 The Madcap Remains Loyal, he is known as Mr Challinor.
Dawson
Fenner
Fenwick
Hawksley
Lethbury
Sergeant Japp
Mrs Robins - Matron
Sixth and Prefects
Gerald Rennard – Prefect. He is originally elected into this position, an unfortunate move by Lethbury. A really nasy type; he features in SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother and SO 555 Saved by Schoolgirls After his treatment of Jack, he is demoted as a Prefect, and re-instated by SO 555. He also features in SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Ralph Gayner – Prefect, another thoroughly unpleasant lot. He features in SO 745-??? (SGOL 563 Grangemoor to Guard Her)
? Fletcher – House Captain of Hawksley’s.
Harold Sharrow
Bertie Denver – Cousin of Fay and Edna. Due to good results in an exam, he is made House Captain of Challenor’s. Bertie is made of the same stuff as Fay and Edna - self seeking, venomous and pleasure bent.
Percy ?
Some Boys of the Fourth (And Some Profiles)
Dave Cardew (Lawder)
Keith Bates thinks that Dave enters the Morcove saga in SO 255-259 Christmas at Linton Hall and London (SGOL 451 Whem Morcove Chums Quarrelled) Dave – originally known as Dave Lawder, and the best mate of Jack Linton - is an integral character in the Morcove/Grangemoor saga. Quiet, studious, chivalrous, and as solid as a rock. Dave is adopted at a young age by a Mrs Lawder, a very wealthy widow. She dies soon after, though and leaves her fortune to Dave via her lawyer, a Mr Gregory of Fountain Court, Temple. Mr Gregory, a good but serious and dour man befitting a lawyer, takes on responsibility for Dave until Mrs Cardew comes along. Dave’s transformation from Lawder to eventual Cardew and discovery that Judy is his sister is told in SO 564-567 Judith Grandways and Dave Lawder. Dave, after the reunion with Mrs Cardew, keeps the name Lawder for a while in deference to the widow, but soon assumes the Cardew surname as Mrs Cardew thinks it too confusing.
Dave is also extremely shrewd and astute, never has much to say, although when he does speak, a couple of words mean millions. Dave has a motor cycle and side car in the early-ish stories, such as SO 329-334 Jack Linton Expelled. Polly doesn’t like him when she first meets him, and during SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House, he comes up against Polly and the girls, but unknown to them, he is working undercover in conjunction with his Mother, Mrs Cardew. Dave becomes dangerously ill and is sent to Cliff Edge Bungalow to recuperate in SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother where we are introduced to his old nurse Janet, who is more than a match for Naomer!
During SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters, Polly’s observations on Norah’s and Lillian’s treatment of Pat are:
“Queer, Dave!”
“What’s queer, Polly?”
“How girls like that can have gone on as they did, when all the time they must have had hearts! There, again, if it hadn’t been for you, Dave, it never would have been possible for Pat to –
“I say, Polly, you ought to be going to say your good-bye.”
“Oh, there’s plenty of time!”
And, for at least a moment or two longer, Polly keeps with Dave, stealing a glance at him, all unobservant as he is. This is not the first time when his quick wits have enabled him to solve some difficulty she realises. She can remember other times when Dave has helped both her and her brother, and their chums. How can she thank him adequately for all he has done? She knows quite well that he doesn’t like any fuss. She feels she has not said much, considering what is due to him. Perhaps she never will say all that she would. But it seems to her that he must know how much more they all esteem him now. Their quiet, strong, capable Dave. Not as cloudless as this, surely, would the wedding-day have been, had there never been those fortunate moments for them all when Dave Lawder helped!
Dave’s strength and honesty also attracts dubious and unscrupulous girls such as Carlotta Hogan in SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday; Thelma Curtis in SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House and even Joyce Marshall, whose first appearance is in SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon.
Mary Cadogan writes about Dave’s character in her and Tommy Keen’s book, The Morcove Companion. She predicts that Dave will marry Polly Linton, and of course, Dave is just the strong, quiet character who is able to handle Polly’s impulsive, headstrong and explosive nature. Some stories where Dave has a strong influence include:
SO 285-289 The White Queen of Morcove (As known in Lofts & Adley’s list)
SO 555 Saved by Schoolgirls
SO574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon
SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
SO 683-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea
Jack Linton
Jack is introduced to the Morcove saga as being older – about eighteen, and having just left school, as described in SO 70-75 Audrey Blain – New Girl (SGOL 127 Morcove’s Reckless Two). (He is still ‘older’, although now a schoolboy in SO 186-190 Polly Linton Day Girl (SGOL 307 Polly Linton Day Girl), although the name Grangemoor isn’t mentioned at all in this story. Jack owns a motor bike and sidecar, which he sells to Dick Loring in SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove), and updates to another one. Jack often drives a car as well, although he doesn’t have a licence and this fact is also mentioned in SO 186-190 Polly Linton Day Girl (SGOL 307 Polly Linton Day Girl) and SO 650-653 India. In SO 709 While Revelry Reigned he is mentioned in From the Editor’s Postbag as being fifteen years ten months.
Jack, although a madcap like Polly, and revels in playing the fool, also has a serious side to him, and he is not quite as ‘assy’ as he is sometimes proclaimed to be. He is a champion of the underdog, and cannot tolerate cruelty of any kind.
Jack uses some interesting phrases, such as ‘gooch’, one of the descriptions of the dreaded impostor Dr Trouncer in SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Mary Cadogan suspects that he ends up marrying Madge Minden, and like her theory of Dave marrying Polly, this should also be a great match.
Billy Charters
Pam’s cousin. Billy’s first appearance is in SO 458-462 Pam’s Unruly Cousin Billy, and then he is at Swanlake for Christmas – SO 463-468 Christmas at Swanlake (SGOL 706 The Legend of Swanlake). It seems that after these stories he goes back to the South Seas where his parents are Governors of one of the Islands, but he gets into trouble again and is sent back to be under the control of the Willoughbys. He attends Grangemoor as a day boy. Billy seems to be a troubled lad and easily led, although he has an affinity for animals, which is shown in his first appearance of the saga. He is blunt, and has no finesse at all. Mrs Willoughby continually frets over him and his behaviour. He manages to get himself mixed up with the dreadful Edna Denver and turns on Pam, causing she and her family a lot of grief. Jack refers to Billy as a ‘Rotten Swab’ when he steals sports club money for which Jimmy Cherrol is blamed. Pam saves him from drowning at Swanlake in SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain,
Unfortunately, my collection of stories featuring Billy are incomplete, so cannot enlarge on his character, and he seems to disappear from the radar after SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain.
Jimmy Cherrol
Jimmy comes into the Morcove saga with SO 635-639, Easter Caravan Tour. Jimmy is the ward of his Uncle, who has a son named Dick, and they all hail from Alderwich. Both boys attend Grangemoor. Dick, as we discover, is an absolute cad who manages to convince his Father that Jimmy is a thief (All the time Dick is the culprit). Jimmy is expelled from Grangemoor due to this. At the time we are introduced to Jimmy, Dick is asked to join the caravan holiday, along with Jimmy as they are at a loose end. But Jack and Dave don’t know Dick too well yet, and haven’t seen him in his true colours, which are revealed shortly after the trip begins. Pam immediately takes to Jimmy, but along with Polly, takes an instinctive dislike to Dick.
Strangely, Horace Phillips must have been in a forgetful state whilst writing the later stories, such as SO 650-653, India and SO 654-657, Morcove in Turania, as he mixes up the names and Jimmy becomes Dicky. I wonder if there was an outcry from readers re this gaffe? Later on again, he seemed to realise his error and Jimmy becomes Jimmy again, thank goodness!. Refer to SO 687, page 378
Jimmy has raven black hair, dark eyes, and is intensely loyal to his friends. Doesn’t say much, like Dave, and is a charming, extremely likeable boy. Won’t hesitate to act if he sees others treated unfairly. Jimmy unfortunately though, has a sense of inferiority which often shows. He frequently upsets himself as what he wants to say, he can’t, or it comes out all wrong.
SO 683-686 Morcove’s Monster From the Sea:
“Jimmy’s asleep, Jack says. I don’t believe it myself. Jack says that Jimmy is smiling in his sleep as if he were dreaming of you, Pam.”
“Ha, ha, ha!”
“Yes, well, tell Jack not to wake him,”: said Pam serenely.
There is a very special friendship between Pam and Jimmy. In fact, he is hopelessly in love with Pam, and she, with her breeding and insight sees Jimmy’s qualities with clarity.
SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House:
“Jimmy” – very calmly – “Dave’s over there, all by himself now. Won’t you run across and ask him if he won’t join us? Never mind if you feel – a bit – fed up –“
“Oh, I don’t mind anything,” Jimmy blurted out, and the implied “for you” was so obvious that Pam laughed.
“Nice boy, Jimmy,” she said, with her usual calm candour to Helen, after he had nipped away.
“Nice boy,” Helen agreed. “But nothing in him!”
“Oh, isn’t there?” Pam returned.
And
“That is it, Jimmy. You succeed with Jack, and then Polly will take example from him. So, you see,” Pam said, with that engaging candour of hers, “I’m getting you to do what I, for one, have failed to do myself. You must always, Jimmy, come to my rescue like that.
Jimmy takes a prominent part in SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara, where he takes over the role of boot cleaning boy after Cassara’s staff all head for the mainland after the threat of Bonifacio’s return is learnt. He is so protective of Pam and she reciprocates with her higher plane personality beautifully. An example is shown in this story, where he takes a large spider off Pam’s dress and puts it gently on the ground. Later on in the story, as the Coterie and Grangemoor are trudging a mountain track, Jimmy remarks to Pam:
“What, don’t you call this the last word in loneliness Pam?”
“Oh, it’s lonely enough to us. But to them – a main road!” she surmised. “And trippery, at times. We’re day-trippers, come to that.”
“Lets hope they think so.” She turned serious eyes upon him them. “Let’s hope they do, Jimmy.”
And yet he found himself hoping that they would – at least, not Pam. In his boyish way Jimmy always marvelled that she took any notice of him at all. At parties for instance, she got rushed at for dances, yet somehow there was always one for him. Sometimes there’d be two. And she’d eat an ice with him when she had just shaken her head: “No, thanks!” to some other fellow. It made times like that – and expecially a holiday-time like this – jolly nice for him. Only, as he often considered, it would all end some day. Leaving school would mean, for Pam, great things in life. She’d be presented at Court; there’d be a “coming-out” dance given for her by her mother; and then – well if he were there he wouldn’t be able to see over all the heads of fellows flocking around.
Jimmy features strongly in the two parter SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain; and SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret. His love and loyalty towards Pam brilliantly shines, although Jimmy is under a dark cloud due to the actions of Billy Charters, Pam’s cousin. Here is a conversation between Pam and Jimmy in SO 713 Pam Willoughby’s Downfall:
“You remember the hols we all had together, Jimmy?”
“Rather, Pam! We chaps often talk about them, in the study.”
“That island off Corsica, and then the week or two in Spain – at the farm,” she mused aloud. “It was all so jolly.”
“It was. Often wonder if we’ll ever get a time like that again.”
“Oh, we shall, Jimmy.”
What was it, during the silence that fell again between them, that made certain words of a famous air float through her mind? Was it simply her recollection of the romantic setting of those last summer holidays, and of peasants singing at twilight to the music of their thrummed mandolines? Or was there, also, something arising out of all the present smash-up of happiness at school, that she seemed to hear a voice within her singing:
“We shall be happy,
Then and for ever –“
What does become of Jimmy and Pam? We don’t know. It’s a sure bet that she will marry very highly, but Jimmy will for ever be in her orbit as friend and confidante. Because of his love for Pam, he probably will never marry.
Robert Bloot
Frequently referred to as Bobby or Tubby. He comes fairly late into the saga, and is admired by everybody. He is an extremely large and absolutely loyal boy, who is especially friendly with Naomer. Tubby is so tremendously nice. He, like Paula, with Polly and Naomer, suffers tremendously from Jack, who names him ‘The Blooter’ amongst many other things. Tubby as described by Phillips in SO 697 Morcove and the Mystery Gypsy: Bobby Bloot, the beefy one of the four; the cycle-saddle squeaking under him now, even as chairs were inclined to creak when accommodating his rotund figure. A stout fellow, this Bloot, in the literal, as well as the figurative sense of the phrase.
SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara: “There was an amplitude of cheek evidencing his love of the good things of life”.
Michael Heriot
Michael has an unfortunate introduction to the Morcove saga in SO 408-413 Muriel Lane the South African Girl (SGOL 653 Morcove’s Christmas Problem). But after that he becomes very popular and is included in many stories and holidays with Grangemoor and Morcove. He has a falling out with Jack though, during the Rennard affair. Michael is another one who more or less disappears off the radar
The Hon Robert Halliday
Fair, good looking, wears a monocle, shades of Paula Creel and Jemima Carstairs! Phillips could have made much of this character. SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Charlie Calligan - SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Ginger Helsway He is also known as Heldway. SGOL Annual 1933; SO 555 Saved By Schoolgirls; SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Tom Trevor
Brother of Ann (Bunny) Trevor
? Harris SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
? Merton
Appears in SO 659 Hidden From Morcove
? Baldwin SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out.
Combe House
Combe House is somewhere around the Exeter side of Barncombe, and it is the first school after Betty’s arrival where a sporting fixture is arranged - SO 13 A Schoolgirl’s Scheme. Miss Somerfield is fed up with the Fourth, their lack of sporting prowess, and Paula’s total inadequacy as Captain. Of course we know that Paula is installed by Miss Massingham on totally unsuitable grounds, and so Miss Somerfield finally intervenes and overrides Miss Massingham’s authority. A cricket match is duly arranged between Morcove and Combe House, and it is here that Betty’s leadership skills start to really show. Ethel Courtway’s strengths are also highlighted, and Etta Hargrove becomes a convert over to Betty’s side, being tired of ‘mucking about’.
Combe House isn’t mentioned
again during the saga, so nothing is really known of it, although one of the
Combe House girls is named Enid.
Barncombe House
Not as big as Morcove, nor does it quite have Morcove’s reputation. For all that though, Barncombe House is excellent and they share a wonderful friendship and rivalry with Morcove on the sports field. It is situated in Barncombe, very close to Barncombe Castle. A story which involves Morcove, Barncombe House and Stormwood is SO 592-597 Pam and Hetty Inter-Sports.
Listed below are staff and girls as far as is known.
Mistresses: Miss Bashington, Miss Bolton, Miss Heatherby
Some girls of the Fourth:
Freda Blair (See her Profile on Friardale website)
Beryl Blythe
Cicely Drummond
Sybil Fordyke
Effie Grant
Miriam Haste – Fourth Form Captain, - we learn of Miriam in SO 70-75 Audrey Blain, New Girl (SGOL 127 Morcove’s Reckless Two)
Biddy Watson
Stormwood
Zonia Moore, Stormwoods most well known pupil, has her first appearance in SO 140-146 Morcove’s Gipsy Girl (SGOL 219 Morcove’s Gipsy Schoolgirl) and SO 147-150 Morcove at Stormwood (SGOL 220 When Morcove Came to Stormwood). She is also mentioned in SO 207-210 Tyrant Mistress Bertha Snode (SGOL 355 The Morcove Tyrant) (There is a mystery about her as she is a great beauty, and has a birth mark) Zonia is befriended by Betty & Co, and subsequently rescued from the clutches of her Gypsy ‘parents’. She is not a Gypsy herself, nor has any Gypsy blood in her. Zonia saves Betty from being trampled by a horse and cart in Barncombe and due to this heroic action she is ‘adopted’ by Mr and Mrs Barton and sent to Stormwood School. Stormwood is chosen because Morcove is full to capacity, and that the school is being taken under Morcove’s wing. There is another story featuring Zonia – SO 222-230 Second Circus Zonia Moore (SGOL 391 From Schoolroom to Circus) - over to Gary and Keith again here, as I don’t have this story at all. Zonia later is mentioned in a few stories as still being at Stormwood, with talent as an athlete and then to disappears off the radar.
In the meantime, Betty & Co make themselves known to the Stormwood girls, who are a pretty rum lot, and about the first interraction between the schools is a paper chase from Morcove to around the Stormwood environs. The girls of the 1920’s were a pretty fit lot, because they seemed to think nothing of venturing about 10 miles in riding, walking and running. (No obesity in those days!)
Stormwood does conform, especially after the removal of Audrey Blain, who is installed there after Morcove expelled her, and known as Anna Blair.
(There are similar types of girls at Rosemount School in a later story featuring this school and Etta Hargroves’ time there - see below, and Etta’s profile.)
As we know, Miss Danvers and Miss Allardyce go on to Stormwood after Morcove, during its ‘setting up’ period.
Ella Elgood is especially friendly with Sheila Drood, Hetty Maynard and Brenda Travers.
Headmistress: Miss Taggart in the early days prior to the takeover by Morcove. Pam Willoughby’s Mother is very friendly with a later Headmistress, name unknown.
Fourth Form Mistress: Early on, Miss Mordaunt, later on, Miss Plimmer.
Girls of Stormwood:
Enid Allarby
Anna Blair (Audrey Blain, until she was exposed! And ultimate expulsion)
Sheila Drood
Gertie Gay
Maude Langley
Hetty Maynard
Zonia Moore (See above)
Monica Munro – Fourth Form Captain
Cissy Pryde
Millicent Sleet
Brenda Travers
Joyce Wilder
Becky Willard
Joyce Windlass
Ada ?
Rosemount
This is on the outskirts of Barncombe, out on the Exeter Road. Possibly not far from Combe House, although this school isn’t mentioned at all. Originally run by Etta Hargrove’s kindly old Aunt, Miss Lovejoy. Known as Old Mother Killjoy, the running of this school and the awful ‘occupants’ rather than students, this establishment has long past been a profitable concern, let alone a school with a reputation. Until Etta, forced out of Morcove due to Grace Garfield’s actions, is sent along to Rosemount. Then, with her gradual influence on the awful ‘occupants’ and also a young Mistress named Miss Allinson, Rosemount begins a long, slow climb up from total ruin. Etta eventually returns to Morcove. Grace Garfield, whose dastardly actions play upon her conscience, leaves Morcove and begins at Rosemount, where she ultimately stays, although causing more heartache for Etta. All of the Rosemount girls do reform, with the exception of Belle who remains defiant. She is allowed to remain on, due to the intervention of Etta on the eve of expulsion. Miss Allinson is promoted and Miss Lovejoy retires. Grace Garfield’s wealthy Uncle John who has a soft spot for her, injects some badly needed cash into Rosemount, and it is with this, plus the influence Etta has on the girls, not to mention the popularity of Miss Allinson, that sets Rosemount up into a small school with an excellent reputation.
Girls of Rosemount
Moira Danvers
Etta Hargrove (For a while)
Grace Garfield
Belle Dainton
Daisy Harper
Lizzy Parker
Fanny Sharpe
Flora White
Barncombe Grammar
This school plays matches with Rosemount. A happy, almost fee free school for girls, with a good name.
Hurstbourne School
Actual location unknown
Lionel Derwent, who attends this school, first appears in SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall, where he is known as Lionel Thurloe. Pam makes an especial friend of Lionel, like she does much later, with Jimmy Cherroll. Lionel returns to his rightful name of Derwent after the outcome of his ‘Uncle Tom’ and cousin Lena Thurloe’s involvement in a vendetta against the Creels’ butler, Anderson. Lionel is very friendly with Michael Heriot, and he later appears in SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family; SO 458-462 Pam’s Unruly Cousin Billy; SO 463-467 Xmas at Swanlake (SGOL 706 The Legend of Swanlake.) After these stories he seems to disappear from the Morcove radar.
Philip Wade, brother of Ursula also attends Hurstbourne, but nothing is known of him.
Wallsover
Etta Hargrove’s brother attended Wallsover, playing for Chantry’s House against Grangemoor. Wallsover is located somewhere in the vicinity of Droverton, where the Hargrove family live.
Fallowfield
See Friardale website for more detail.
What Happened To?
Joe Barton – Betty’s brother – he is mentioned at the very beginning of the saga, but then there is no mention of him again, unlike Betty’s sister, Doris.
Madge Minden’s Mother – when does she pass away, and why? At the beginning of the saga, Madge Minden has both parents but her death doesn’t seem to be documented. Mr Minden seems to have a financial crisis, and later on in the saga he is employed by Lord Lundy in SGOL 1933.
Likewise with Ursula Wade’s parents. What happened to them? Nothing is known about them, apart that they are abroad during SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery) and deceased by SO 503-508 The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress)
Molly Curzon – Hetty’s sister. Does she ever attend Morcove? It is only if Hetty does well in her first term at Morcove, that Josiah Grandways will allow Molly to follow on. We know what Hetty does during that first term, and the blow out when she lets slip about Judy’s parentage, and how Josiah washes his hands of her. SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl
Daisy Morrison – Jill Morrison’s sister. Does she, like Molly, get her chance? SO 519-523 The Morrison Sisters
The Girls’ Homes
Betty Barton – Ribbleton, Lancashire. Even when the family become affluent, they elect to stay in their home town.
Pam Willoughby – Swanlake, Devonshire.
Polly Linton – Linton Hall, Devonshire. This burns down in SO 561-563 Polly Linton on the Stage. Later another smaller place is built and named Linton Lodge, location unknown.
Madge Minden – Exeter.
Dolly – the smallholding near Morcove – more details on this in Dolly’s profile, and the Headland Hotel piece. Later they move to Cromlech Manor, where the details are explained in SO 686-690 Cromlech Manor House. Later, Christmas is also spent by the Study 12 Coterie in SO 724-726 Christmas at Cromlech Manor.
Cromlech Manor, by rail about 50 miles from Barncombe to the nearest halt, and then another 7 miles further on by road, is named after a naturally occurring table like rocky edifice named the Cromlech. There are several approaches to Cromlech, (one is along the quiet country road from the railway station which runs past Cromlech Manor, and has a tremendously huge hill.) The first time the Coterie visit Cromlech, they ride the 7 miles from the railway station and this hill leaves Paula absolutely ‘pwostwated.’ Another approach is along a main road which intersects this minor road from the railway. And yet another one runs near to the beautifully named Skerrington Old Hall, which is not as quite as hilly as the road from the railway station.
Pat Lawrence – Beechwood Park, Lowmoor, Somerset. (See Pat’s profile).
Judy – Priors Wold, in the Cotswolds. Known firstly as Prior’s Wold, later the apostrophe is dropped. Horace Phillips description of Priors Wold in SO 567 Morcove’s Christmas Fairy: Impressive name that it sounded! Prior’s Wold, suggestive of a great, rambling old stone house, all alone in the heart of the Cotswolds; a house with stone-mullioned windows, and clustered chimneys, and dim stone-flagged passages and sepulchral cellars, and possibly a haunted room! Yet a house whose great open hearths were just the ones for Yuletide logs, and what was it the juniors had been told about the ancient banqueting-hall, with a musicians’ gallery? Just the thing for Christmas!
Mrs Cardew takes a lease on this grand place, and it seems as though she later purchases it.
Naomer – Nakara, North Africa, somewhere near Morocco, an oasis in the desert. A short description of the Palace from SO 758 Morcove’s Race – To Nakara: Inside the palace yard all was very peaceful. The three went towards the Royal residence, passing marble-rimmed pools where fountains played. Doves strutted and cooed and went off into little flights, returning to favourite bits of ancient masonry. Exotic flowers were blooming in stone basins and mammoth tubs. The wide steps leading up to the columned entrance to the palace were be-strewn with withering blooms, which had been flung down when the Queen entered, such a little while ago.
Helen – London. A ‘fine old mansion’ in the West End. Helen’s Father is almost duped into buying Watermoor Grange, that picturesque but doomed old house from Luke Rusper, a relative of Josiah Grandways. SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove) features this story, see also Luke Rusper’s profile.
Tess – The Trelawney home is known as Langwood Court in SO 211-214 Tess Leaves Morcove (SGOL 367 When Tess Left Morcove). By SO 734-736 Tess Trelawney Distress at Home her home is at Woodicombe, somewhere in the West of England. Are both these houses the same? It is known that the Trelawneys don’t have a lot of money. Great illustrations by Leonard Shields in SO 734-736 Tess Trelawney Distress at Home.
Paula – Weir Hall, Rivercombe Village near Welworthy Junction, Somerset. Weir Hall is so well described in SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall (SGOL 681 Morcove’s River Holiday). The Creels are immensely wealthy, therefore able to retain quite a large staff. Amongst these are Anderson, Colonel Creel’s butler, and his daughter Gracie, who is maid to Mrs Creel. Their chauffeur’s name is Portland.
Cora – Ribbleton, Lancashire
Heroes and Heroines
Keith does very excellent portrayals of Jack Somerfield and Rose of the Desert. They appear below.
Jack Somerfield, brother of Miss Somerfield. Jack is a single man at the beginning of the Morcove saga, and goes on to marry Zora, who comes from Turania.
Keith Bates’ portrayal of Jack:
Jack Somerfield, I think, is the last factor in Phillips' desert romances that needs mentioning. He is the brother of Miss Somerfield - the Morcove headmistress. He is a gentleman explorer and adventurer somewhat akin, although nowhere near as rich and dim, to Lord Dorrimore in Brooks' St. Frank's saga. North Africa does seem to be Jack Somerfield's main field of operations but he is by no means confined to there: his interests also take him, for example, to Turania, Equatorial Africa and the South Seas. He is always portrayed as the perfect and heroic English gentleman - a Britisher through and through - stiff upper lip and all that. With hindsight, almost a century later, we may think of him as an imperialist meddler but it is important to realise that this is not the intent of his portrayal in the Morcove saga. Like Rose of the Desert, he is always on the side of good, his general policy in North Africa is definitely pro-Nakaran but he realises the importance of the balance of power in Morocco to guarantee peace. He also is particularly involved - rather like the British in India - in trying to bring the supposedly civilising effect of the railroad into North Africa. Rather like Lawrence of Arabia, Jack Somerfield speaks like a native and can effortlessly pass himself off as a native when dressed accordingly and bravely sneaking into desert cities often on a mission to release innocent captives.
Hugh and Norah Hamilton
Long time British residents in Nakara. Their first appearance in the Morcove saga is in SO 117-120 Morcove in Morocco (SGOL 184 Morcove in Morocco) and then in SO 529-534 Nassina the Spy (SGOL 722 Stranded in the Desert). Hugh Hamilton belongs to the Foreign Office, and he and his wife have lived in Nakara for several years. One wonders if they stay on in Nakara, or do they retire back to the Home Country?
Rose of the Desert
Rose enters the Morcove saga very very early on, as an enemy, and is intermittently present right throughout the saga. Her loyalties change early on and she does the Headmistress, Miss Somerfield a great service, so in return she is allowed to use Morcove as her base. Rose has a brother, Hussuf Ben Nazar. Rose is a mistress of disguise, and some stories including her are:
SO 47-51 Morcove in Morocco (1) (SGOL 92 Morcove in Morocco)
SO 62-65 Return of Rose of the Desert (SGOL 115, From Desert to Morcove!
SO 285-289 The White Queen of Morcove (SGOL 516The White Queen From Morcove)
In this story she is under disguise, known as Shirami.
SO 755-759 Morcove in North Africa. Rose is once again in disguise and known as Haidee, maid servant to the dreadful Mimi Lessard.
Keith’s portrayal of Rose:
Prior to Stewart's welcome post of Friardale updates, I was just checking whether I was right that there isn't a scan of SO 483 on Friardale when I was delighted to find that Gary had scanned SGOL 92 Morcove In Morocco. This represents the second and final part SOs 47-51 of Phillips' first ever Morcove desert romance SOs 43-51,1921/2. As I've recently babbled on about Phillips' Morcove desert romances at some length, I can spare myself the task of writing much about this seminal serial but there are some points which maybe worth making. I only own, and so had only previously read, SOs 43-45 and 47-48 of this serial. However, I knew much of this famous serial from other sources. The scan enabled me to conclude my reading. It was all good stuff in my view but the main point of interest to me was near the end. Rose of the Desert makes her first appearance in the Morcove saga in this serial. She is instrumental in both capturing Madge and Tess from a Morcovian Xmas at Linton Hall and then abducting them to the Susahlah desert state in Morocco, where they are held as hostages. We are told that Rose is devoted to gentleman explorer and honorary Morcovian, Jack Somerfield, because he once saved her life previous to this serial. However, Rose's main driving force is her devout Orientalism and her devotion to the Susahlah state, unfortunately with its cruel Sultan. She treats the Morcovians well and considerately during their capture and they become increasingly fond her. At the end of the serial, when the Morcovians have escaped from her custody, she wishes them well as they depart and, at least hesitantly, considers taking the offer of a form of political asylum with them. This asylum indeed does happen at the end of the second Moroccan serial SOs 62-65, 1922 - after which Rose becomes something of a stateless individual, even pro-Nakaran in some ways. More interestingly, the almost mystical devotion which Jack Somerfield and Rose of the Desert have for each other and which forms a significant romantic motif periodically throughout the Morcove saga, is at its most explicit here and almost enters Rudolph Valentino territory - but without the swooning and kisses: "If I were Mr. Somerfield," said Tess, I think I should be in love with Rose of the Desert!" "Isn't it pretty clear that he loves her just as much as she loves him!" said Betty Barton softly. SOs 43-51 are traditionally quoted as two serials but this is surely only because the serial was so long that it needed to be split into two SGOLs upon republication. Indeed, the editorial to SO 54 (sic) treats SOs 43-51 as one serial, calling it "The Lamp Of The Susahlah" Finally, for anyone who may wish to read this SGOL (SOs 47-51) with greater knowledge of the first part of the serial, here are my notes to SOs 43-46 (the contents of SO 46 are deduced because I don't have a copy of it):
43. Betty & Co. are elated that the Grandways sisters are leaving Morcove for a fortnight's holiday. At the train station, the Grandways get a telegram cancelling their holiday. To get opportunities to revenge themselves on Betty & Co. for previous matters, they decide to hide in the school for the fortnight. They secretly steal Paula's bed-linen which puts Paula in a temper with the 4th Form. Cora severely rags Study 12 and leaves a note incriminating Paula - causing a split between Betty & Co. and Paula. Cora rags Paula's Study, leaving a note incriminating Betty & Co. Cora hears, then sees, a ghost-like figure near their attic hideaway. The Form eventually believe the raggings are by another Form; they hear noises in the attics, rush up there, and believe that someone's living in a secret passage - and is presumably the ragger
44. In Barncombe, Betty & Co. are surprised to see a procession of exotic, dark-skinned foreigners. Cora and Judith see a veiled woman in the attic, find a secret chamber and descend from it into an old underground chamber below the crypt - to which then enters a veiled woman. Miss Somerfield sees a ghostly figure near the school museum and believes it is a tall schoolgirl playing a jape. In the school museum, Miss Somerfield tells Betty & Co. of her brother's explorations in Morocco, including him spending time disguised as a member of the Susahlah tribe. She shows them the Lamp Of Susahlah which he took from that tribe. Betty sees a photo of some Susahlah, notes their resemblance to the Barncombe foreigners and forms the obvious theory. At night, Betty & Co. intercept a Susahlah woman trying to steal the Lamp, they get the Lamp but she escapes. The police are alerted but eventually believe that the Susahlah have fled abroad.
45. Miss Somerfield's brother, Jack Somerfield (named for the first time in the Morcove saga), had taken the sacred Lamp as a revenge over the gratuitously cruel Sultan. Cora and Judith are being held in a complex of caverns on an island offshore (Gull Island, but not named as such till later in the serial). Only one of their captors can speak English - she announces herself as Rose of the Desert (named for the first time in the Morcove saga but probably appeared as the veiled woman in one or more of the previous issues of this serial). With Rose as stern interpreter, their leader El Valiante interviews them. In private, a still stern Rose tells them that Jack saved her life and taught her English and that, if they obey her, everything will eventually go well for them. Betty & Co. find the secret Morcove chamber and some of Cora and Judith's possessions in it; Miss Somerfield and Betty & Co. soon confirm that Cora and Judith were hiding in the chamber but are now missing. Cora and Judith give a solemn promise to Rose not to try to escape, but they throw a pencilled message into the sea; El Valiante retrieves it. Rose spurns Cora and Judith for their faithlessness.
46. The Grandways sisters escape from the unnamed Gull Island where they are held captive by the Susahlah. The situation "calls forth heroic qualities from certain Morcovians" - the Grandways are in "a rare pickle" and their appeal for help is instantly answered. Debut appearance of Jack Somerfield who visits Morcove and successfully prevents the Susahlah from getting the Lamp. After their escape, Cora and Judith refuse to talk about their captivity - consequently, Rose of the Desert's presence and role in these affairs is not yet known by anyone except themselves.
Thanks, as always, to Gary for the scan.
Hildegard Astovel
SO 270-274 Hildegard Astovel (SGOL 487 At Morcove Under Guard) Known as ‘only Hilda’ Hilda is the bodyguard of Rozella Danton, who comes to Morcove under the guardianship of her Grandmother. Rozella is an uncrowned Queen of her home country Danubia, however is unaware that she is in danger from enemies of her home country. Hilda is employed to protect her, however due to her unawareness, Rozella is soon fed up with Hilda’s constant attention and leads her a merry dance. Hilda is as equally as well bred as Rozella, although not of the aristocracy. No one at Morcove knows that Rozella is an uncrowned Queen which causes immediate problems for everybody, until enemies appear and so Miss Somerfield has to be let into the secret. Cora and Ursula - friends at this stage - cause major problems for Rozella and Hilda. It all eventually turns out well, although not without huge heartache for Hilda.
Some identities are listed below, with profiles created for various characters
Note: Horace Phillips endowed some of his female villainesses with outstanding beauty, comparable to exotic orchids or hot house flowers. This beauty hides the scheming, venomous souls that lurk beneath those perfect exteriors. Leonard Shields similarly clothes them with breathtaking designer label appeal.
Josiah Grandways
See Profiles.
The Sultan of Susalah
Nakara’s mortal enemy, he stages many uprisings but is usually pipped at the post.
Pearl Hartrey
One of those incredibly beautiful villainesses introduced by Horace Phillips. Pearl is about 18 years of age, and features in SO 62-65 Return of Rose of the Desert (SGOL 115, From Desert to Morcove!
Michael Carnay and his wife
This couple, who are forgers, are cast in similar vein to Lawrence and Elsie Eastman, who appear in the later SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake. The Carnays though, appear a lot earlier in the saga. Mrs Carnay is in her forties, extremely beautiful and wears designer clothes. Her husband is somewhat older, with grey hair and sporting exquisitely cut tweeds. Both are outwardly genteel, hiding their inner merciless, duplicitous characters.
SO 88-93 Old Priory (SGOL 145 When Morcove Moved)
Nassina, the Spy and Shulama, her daughter.
SO 117-120 Morcove in Morocco (SGOL 184 Morcove in Morocco)
SO 155-163 Naomer Nakara Princess (SGOL 243 The Girl Spy of Morcove and SGOL 244 The Girl Queen From Morcove)
SO 529-535 Nassina the Spy (SGOL 722 Stranded in the Desert)
Zilla and Jose Lupina
These sisters have an orchid like beauty, but are as dangerous as rattlesnakes. They can do no wrong in their parents’ eyes.
SO 241-246, Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415 Turned Out of Morcove)
Mr and Mrs Blain
Mrs Blain is an outstandingly elegant and beautiful woman, and as equally beautifully dressed by Leonard Shields. Her main appearance in the Morcove saga is in SO 280-284 Return of Audrey Blain as Servant (SGOL 507The Mystery Servant of Morcove) where she and her husband are under disguise as a Mr and Mrs Halden. Mr Blain is described as being quite handsome, although quite thin, and jaded. He doesn’t feature a lot in this story, as he is continually travelling, disposing of the smuggled goods and collecting the rewards. He is continually living ‘on the edge’, which would explain his ‘jaded’ character.
See also Audrey Blain’s profile on the website for more information on the Blains.
The bogus Raymond Danvers and his wife, Elma
SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses)
We don’t get to know his name, and only know her by her Christian name. He is moody and restless, and quite evil. An incessant cigarette smoker. She is smart and elegant, ever ready to buoy up his mood and play to his whims. They get their comeuppance and probably live their lives as parasites.
Miss Cunliffe (Fourth Form Mistress)
SO 347-350 Boarded Out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove) See Temporary Staff. She would have to be one of the WORST personalities ever! A profile on her is in the pipeline.
Tom and Edna Morgan
Read more of this awful pair in Pam Willoughby’s profile on the Friardale website. At least they do eventually see the error of their ways, and go on to a new life in Canada, thanks to the Willoughbys.
SO 445-451 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder)
Angela Dark
SO 558-560 Angela Dark, the Girl From the Skies
Mr & Mrs Hogan and their daughter, Carlotta.
The Hogans, with the vicious Carlotta live in the once lovely but now dilapidated tropical bungalow perched on a hillside in Santa Rita. Both Carlotta and Mrs Hogan are extremely well dressed, and both own considerable amounts of exquisite, although flashy jewellery – proceeds of contraband, of course. Mrs Hogan is of Spanish origin, tall, dark, and very slim. Mr Hogan is described as an ugly customer to look at – and uglier still to deal with! and a typical American gangster.
They are smugglers, and extortioners, and Santa Rita, being so remote but central, is a good location to operate from. Mimi, the lovely girl whom Carlotta treats so despicably, is treated as a servant. In actual fact she is the ward of the Hogans, and has been since she was a young girl. As she grows, she is forced to become little more than a menial servant, and is told a string of vicious lies about her parents. Over the years as she matures, she comes to the conclusion that she is being unfairly treated and lied to, and of course she is witness to the comings and goings with the smuggling operation. When the Hogans – opportunists as well as smugglers hear via Carlotta, who eavesdrops on conversations between Morcove and Grangemoor when they are landed on the island, learn that there is a treasure trove on Santa Rita, they turn their efforts into discovering it for themselves. It is good to see how they get their come-uppance, especially Carlotta. Like several of his villainesses Carlotta’s fate is eventually self imposed. Carlotta is described by Phillips as excessively pretty, although sallow, with large dark eyes, and a high flown look. Carlotta’s treatment of Mimi is as vicious and as cruel as her character allows. After meeting Dave several times, though, she surprisingly falls for him and his fine qualities, however she realises she will never be able to attain that higher plane of humankind in life.
SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
Ridgeworth Baynard (Sounds like an Agatha Christie character!)
SO 626-629 Hazel Baynard New Girl v Betty Barton Another of Horace Phillips’ mountebanks.
Lawrence and Elsie Eastman, along with the bogus Hunda Khan
SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake
Mountebanks, as self described by Elsie Eastman. The Eastmans come to Swanlake as caretakers for a period of time as the Willoughbys have to go away. They are employed on the basis of their glowing references and because they spent many years out in India. Mr Willoughby himself spent many many years in India, and theorises that if one spends time in British India, one must be absolutely trustworthy, with the true British spirit. How wrong he is! Elsie is young, slim, and has auburn hair. Lawrence Eastman is also young, impatient and very highly strung. The Eastmans aren’t what they seem though, and their main objective in coming to Swanlake is to try and steal certain papers related to a place named the Temple of the Moon in the north of India. Lawrence has spent many hours as a spy – not for a country but for himself, learning many local matters. He makes the mistake though, of robbing an Indian gentleman known as Hunda Khan, who also has an important part to play in what is called the two parter India story.
Gypsy Liz and Bill
The kidnappers of Pam in the Lake District. They have a grudge to bear against the Willoughby family. They are caught poaching on the Swanlake estate and so they escape North, living precariously. Morcove and Grangemoor are caravanning, and set up camp quite close to where Gypsy Liz and Bill are camped. They see an opportunity of getting back at the Willoughbys, and manage to grab Pam. The coward Dicky Cherrol is also involved here. Phillips describes her as a virago, with a face that is dark, lean, smoke dried and with a network of wrinkles. Shields’ illustrations of her don’t paint her quite as ugly as Phillips’ description. Bill is just as ghastly as his virago wife. They don’t atone for their wrongdoings.
SO 635-639 Easter Caravan Tour
Miss Josephine/Julia/Catherine Kitten (Bogus Fourth Form Mistress)
SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain; SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret
Such an appalling piece of humanity and one of the worst characters to enter the world of Morcove. Unfortunately, my collection of these two stories are incomplete, so can only surmise on some of the few details. Missing are SO 710, 714 and 719.
Julia Kitten comes to Morcove as an impostor – she has taken her sister Hetty’s identity. Unsure of the details as I don’t have SO 710, although it seems that after robbing Arthur Mordaunt (Uncle of the Denvers), she steals her sister’s identity, who at the time has come down with a severe illness. How she got past Morcove’s interviewing stage is beyond belief, however she must have been plausible. Naomer screamingly refers to her as Miss Miaow! Miss Kitten must have viewed Morcove as a safe haven, being far from London, intending to stay until the hue and cry dies down. Things start to unravel for Miss Kitten during the second story, and one can actually feel the tension like a corkscrew starting to build up and up and up, and events gradually unfold which throws her into a slow moving and uncontrollable tailspin.
For the first story, SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain she is fairly safe, and manages to keep just under the radar of Miss Somerfield and the Governors. Also, the Form, having its own code of honour, don’t want to and don’t complain of her treatment of them to a higher authority. Nasty, vindictive and a lover of inflicting corporal punishment on girls who are a soft target, such as Biddy Loveland. She absolutely HATES Pam Willoughby, who is temporary Captain of the Fourth and can’t wait to pounce upon her for imagined misdemeanours. Almost as soon as she arrives, she demands Pam’s resignation from the Form Captaincy. As mentioned above, I don’t know all the details leading to this resignation demand. Pam, being Pam, doesn’t react at all to her vitriol which infuriates Miss Kitten even more, and Miss Kitten goes on to inflict such damage that in the end she manages for a while to make life almost intolerable for Pam. The Denver sisters, Fay and Edna, being what they are, and quickly discovering some chinks in Miss Kitten’s armour, soon ingratiate themselves with her and soon they are granted favours, such as being allowed to go to Sandton Bay. Pam’s cousin Billy Charters, who is back from the South Seas islands, and who has been taken in by the Willoughbys, also features in this story. How this particular situation arises, I can’t comment as I don’t have the complete story! He is infatuated with the Denvers, especially Edna which doesn’t go well with Pam, knowing how weak he is. He treats Pam despicably, as well as Jimmy Cherrol. Jimmy has a strong role in this story - he is blamed for a theft at Grangemoor, of which Billy is responsible. Jimmy, being Jimmy, shields him and takes the blame. Pam knows that Billy is the thief. He gets into difficulties in the lake at Swanlake, and Pam saves him from drowning. After this, what happens to him I don’t know, although Jimmy is eventually cleared.
A bright note for the Fourth is that Betty, who is recovering from a car accident, comes to stay at the Headland Hotel with her Mother, for recuperation and to keep in touch with Morcove. She is soon brought up to speed with events at Morcove. Pam, due to misunderstandings – stirred even more by the Denvers and some innocent unplanned meetings with Jimmy, becomes very unpopular and loses the Captaincy. Even Pat Lawrence turns against her. Pam survives, though, because she is back as Captain during the next story.
In the second story, SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret the slow and uncontrollable tail spin begins.
One stormy evening, Tess, happening to look out of the dormitory window, sees someone outside in the school grounds, trying to seek shelter. Just prior to this Miss Kitten receives a letter from her sister - the real Miss Kitten - who is still unwell and in dire straits and who has managed to track her down at Morcove. Totally unnerved by this, she (Miss Kitten) goes outside to try and recover herself, and runs straight into the ‘someone’ whom Tess sees, who turns out to be her sister, the real Miss Hetty Kitten! The bogus one’s vitriol, never far from the surface, comes bubbling up like a cauldron. Even though she learns that her sister is desperate for help and is so obviously still unwell, she rounds upon her in no uncertain terms being ‘so inconsiderate’ in seeking help! Miss Hetty is also desperate for the deception to end, which is like a red rag to a bull for the bogus one. But in the end she gets her shelter for one night, telling her after that she is now on her own and that she must clear out.
Fay and Edna Denver are still the favourites with Miss Kitten, and they are still siding with her against the Form, and after an incident which results in the Form walking out, they are the only ones who don’t. Shortly afterwards though, when she learns of the arrival of the Denver sisters’ Uncle Arthur and Aunt Edith Mordaunt at the Headland Hotel for a short holiday, she really starts to panic. The Mordaunts as we know, are the people whom she was employed by and from whom she robbed, which of course started her life on the run. The Mordaunts want Fay and Edna to come for dinner at the Headland, but the rules are that they must be accompanied by a Mistress, and so Miss Kitten is consulted. Imagine her feelings when she realises that she must attend!. She gathers as much composure as she can whilst going over to the Headland, although quite manic, and then Fay and Edna introduce her to their Uncle and Aunt. Whilst Miss Kitten is trying hard to have a normal social interraction with Aunt Edith Mordaunt over on a lounge, Fay and Edna are told by their Uncle that a female clerk employed by him, and also by the name of Kitten robbed him of a large amount of money and then disappeared. Prior to this, they had no idea of this robbery. He also remarks that Miss Kitten of Morcove seems vaguely familiar to him. ‘Kitten’ is an unusual surname, and so the cunning Fay and Edna put two and two together and come up with the required four, as the robbery took place not long before Miss Kitten’s arrival at Morcove. Whilst Aunt Edith is showing Miss Kitten around the Headland, the opportunistic Miss Kitten sees a black satin handbag laying on a stairway. She picks it up, steals money from it, and then discards it. This bag belongs to Mrs Barton, and she is very distressed when she realises a little while later that she has mislaid it and cannot find it. Miss Kitten sees this as an opportunity to pass the money onto her sister and hopefully out of her life, which she somehow does.
The Denvers realise that with the knowledge just gained, they now have a stick to beat Miss Kitten with, and they start to use it. She is also becoming more manic and even threatens to use the cane. Pam decides to go to Miss Somerfield regarding Miss Kitten’s dreadful treatment of the Form.
SO 716 The Tyrant of Morcove: “Pam has gone to fetch the Head,” Polly found great satisfaction in telling the Form mistress.
“Indeed!” was the scathing retort. “But I am not going to say anything to Miss Somerfield in front of you girls – if that is the idea! You hae brought it upon yourselves –“
“We haven’t!” Polly cried out wildly.
She went unanswered this time. Miss Kitten, becoming suddenly unstrung, was hastily walking away. It was not the first time the girls had seen her change from ungovernable fury to a state of semi-collapse.
Unfortunately, Pam learns that Miss Somerfield has suddenly left the school, after receiving some upsetting news about her brother, Jack Somerfield, who has suddenly taken ill. Miss Massingham is placed in charge of the school once again. Miss Kitten temporarily quite exultant, and euphoric, begins a reign of terror. Shortly afterwards, the Form, along with Miss Kitten, are then asked to a soiree at the Headland Hotel, given by Mrs Barton for Betty. Naturally, Miss Kitten tries to oppose this visit, but she has to gives in, due to some certain words from Fay and Edna Denver, lightly threatening to expose her. By now, both girls are pretty sure that she is their Uncle’s previous employee and thief, and an impostor.
The soiree goes ahead, but with Miss Kitten declining to attend, of which the girls are pleased. They then learn that Miss Everard - now Mrs Challenor of Grangemoor - and the boys are also invited. Fay and Edna display shocking behaviour at the Headland, forcing Pam to make a complaint about them to Miss Kitten upon their return to Morcove. This doesn’t go down too well with Miss Kitten, who loses her euphoric state and is becoming increasingly manic, and so she vents her fury on Pam by breaking her pearl necklace and even ripping her clothing. At first, the Denvers think this is amusing but after witnessing what Miss Kitten does to Pam, even they start to become unnerved. And so, led by Pam, the Form with the exception of Fay and Edna decide to strike. Before they do actually strike, Miss Kitten is infuriated by Polly writing to her brother Jack and advising him of the problems at Morcove, and lays into Polly with the cane. She finally realises she has gone much too far and that her time is numbered. This event proves to be the last straw for the girls, and so Pam diplomatically does the right thing in announcing the strike and so they bar themselves inside the gymnasium. Fay and Edna cannot wait to let Miss Kitten know about the strike action, and for a reward they are given carte blanche by Miss Kitten to do anything they like.
Meanwhile the real Miss Kitten - Hetty – is still in the district and lands a job at the Headland as a dance hostess, under the name of Joan Holland. Betty meets her as she is still staying at the Headland, and takes an instant liking to her. She has a conversation with her about this and that, and goes on to explain some trouble with a new Mistress at Morcove, a Miss Kitten. The bogus, Miss Kitten of course, is totally unaware that her sister is still in the district.
This strike by the Fourth poses dreadful problems for Miss Massingham, who has no idea on how to handle the problem, although though she thinks she does. Chaos soon ensues, including Fay and Edna running free. Pam tries to negotiate with Miss Massingham but to no avail due to her inability to cope with such a situation, coupled with the fact that as she found out during the Hetty Curzon saga, she doesn’t have any power to suspend staff or students. Miss Massingham tries to cover herself with bluster, although she does contact all shops in Barncombe, ordering them to refuse to serve any Morcove girls.
Meanwhile, the strike by the girls becomes a labour of love, and they live by their wits in endeavouring to obtain food and other supplies. Word gets to Betty over at the Headland regarding the latest turn of events and she becomes their chief ally. She contacts the boys over at Grangemoor, who become suppliers of rations, along with Betty. Miss Kitten shows her unrest by continually visiting the gymnasium. During one of her rare moments of conscience, she is out walking and is amazed and unnerved to see her sister, the real Miss Kitten slowly walking towards the school, but as soon as she sees her, she quickly walks the other way. This sets alarm bells ringing in her increasingly conscience stricken state as she thinks she is finally out of her life.
Betty, over at the Headland, is upset to see Miss Holland, newly employed, suddenly being cross questioned by management about passing some stolen money Presumably, SO 719 deals with this stolen money passing from Miss Kitten’s hand to her innocent sister. This of course, is the money stolen by the bogus Miss Kitten from Mrs Barton. Miss Holland is subsequently is charged with theft and a Court hearing. Mrs Barton posts bail for Miss Holland. A little later, Betty comes over to the gymnasium for a chat with the strikers, and also to warn them that she hears there are plans afoot by authority to force them out of the gymnasium. She also tells them of the happenings at the Headland regarding Miss Holland. Miss Kitten is still doing her ‘thing’, lurking around in the shrubbery hoping for snippets of information or even to catch one of the strikers or aiders, and she overhears the conversation. She realises the implications to herself, on top of the imposture, if her innocent sister faces the court. It also isn’t long before Betty herself realises that Miss Hetty Kitten and Miss Joan Holland are one and the same person.
By SO 720 The Form’s Last Stand the strikers decide for safety reasons, to leave their stronghold, and they head for one of those several old large vacant houses on the moor surrounding Morcove: “Ready to step into – as the auctioneers say about houses up for sale,” Polly chuckled. “That house has been up for sale for donkey’s years. And why it hasn’t sold you’ll soon be finding out for yourselves!”
“It really is an awful ruin,” Judy murmured. “Absolutely derelict.”
“Such a shame, too for it was a fine house once,” added Helen, causing Naomer to whisper impatiently:
“Ah, bah, what ze diggings does it matter to us? Bekas, we are not going to stay zere for ever!”
The place, in fact, had been abandoned by its owner, the site possessing no value and the building being too far gone to stand being put in repair
Leonard Shields illustrates this abandoned place with one of his wonderful heraldic fireplaces, similar to the one he endowed Hunter’s Rock Manor with. Phillips goes on to describe a genuine Elizabethan stair case, carved newel posts, rare Elizabethan stencilling on the walls and carved mantlepieces in the bedrooms. These days, such a building would be ripe for restoration!
Anyway, back to Miss Kitten.
The girls spend an eventful night in their new abode, and also have an encounter with a ‘ghost’ who later turns out to be Miss Joan Holland, who doesn’t front up to the court hearing set for her.
Next morning, which is foggy, Miss Massingham arranges ‘Storming the Stronghold’ – the gymnasium, and of course she is unaware that the girls decamped the day before. She enlists the help of Harris, Morcove’s carpenter, and Old Morgan, the head gardener, and as witness, Ethel Courtway. Miss Massingham is heavy handed with all of them, including Ethel, who secretly applauds the strikers. Eventually the gymnasium is breached, and of course Miss Massingham is stupefied when she finds it empty! Almost at the same time as the gymnasium storming, Betty arrives at the new abode of the strikers, and she asks them if they have seen Miss Kitten lurking around the place. She remarks to the girls that she has seen Miss Kitten, and that she looks absolutely terrified. The girls also discover that Miss Kitten (The impostor) has discovered that her sister Hetty (Miss Holland) is also hiding in this place, and that she is looking for her. Then, they find their ‘ghost’ in the flesh - Hetty, the real Miss Kitten! Explanations and introductions all round, and then they all march back to Morcove triumphantly. Miss Massingham is waiting for them, quite exultant in the perceived fact that they come with ‘cap in hand’. She rounds on Pam, and Pam serenely explains that Miss Kitten is with them and that she would like to see ‘Miss Kitten’. This throws Miss Massingham into a state of utter disbelief and incredulity (It’s easy to imagine her state!), as she gropes for ways to handle the situation. She tells them that Miss Kitten has gone out, having no class to teach and that she looks worried! And so much is revealed by the rightful Miss Hetty Kitten; she asks Miss Massingham to pardon the girls, of course which she does, having no option, and then Hetty Kitten requests a private conversation with Miss Massingham, where she explains everything to her. So, finally everything is righted, and the impostor vanishes, not to be found, so it is presumed she goes on living on the knife edge. After all this though, the real Hetty Kitten (Joan Holland) is still ready to stand by her impostor sister and offer support, but of course we don’t know if this ever happens.
Pam also has the last laugh on Fay and Edna, when she catches them smoking, and tells them of the impostor. Fay and Edna throw it back in her face, saying they knew of the imposture for some time, but them Pam comes back advising that she will remember in future that they didn’t say anything about that subject at the time! Miss Somerfield returns, and is brought up to date with events, and she does all she can for Hetty Kitten. Hetty’s life then begins to resume some normality, and she goes on with her teaching. Morcove hope that eventually she may be able to teach there.
The Ameer of Abdur Khan
As ugly as sin, this unctuous, oily character does meet a grisly end in London – about the only character in the Morcove saga to actually have such a violent ending.
SO 727-730 Pam Wiloughby Masquerade in London
Jules and Mimi Lessard
Bribery and corruption in Nakara, with the Lessards thick in the middle of plots against Naomer Nakara and the Willoughbys. Mimi is another particularly elegant, beautiful and absolutely dangerous woman. Jules is cast in similar vein to the earlier villains – Raymond Danvers, Michael Carnay and Laurence Eastman – highly strung, quite slim and handsome. Jules almost loses his life in the desert as a result of all his scheming.
SO 755-758 Morcove in North Africa
Names
Horace Phillips used some Christian names, Surnames and place names more than once. Also similar sounding names but with different spelling. Why, it isn’t known apart from the fact that he may have liked them, or were reminiscent of places he knew and visited. A couple of examples of names used by other authors – presumably E L Rosman and/or Reg Kirkham are also here.
Fallowfield
Fallowfield Farm, Hampshire - SO 318-323 Cheated By Her Chum (SGOL 555 She Cheated Her Morcove Chum)
Fallowfield House - SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School
Loveland Court, the home of Daisy Loveland – SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon
Biddy Loveland – Fourth Form. Introduced in SO 603-606 Biddy Loveland New Girl,?
Priors
Priors Wold, the home of Mrs Cardew
Priors, the boys school in Barncombe - The Rivals of Morcove (The Girls’ Favourite)
Winch
Winchmoor Down – Ethel Courtway’s Aunt Susan’s home The Rivals of Morcove (The Girls’ Favourite),.
Winchcombe – Fay and Edna Denver’s home.
Surnames:
Ashby
Elsie Ashby – Fourth Form
Phyllis Ashby – Her name appears somewhere, although cannot recall whereabouts!
Blair
Anna Blair (Audrey Blain in disguise) - SO 140-146 Morcove’s Gipsy Girl (SGOL 219 Morcove’s Gipsy Schoolgirl)
Florrie Blair (Audrey Blain in disguise again) - SO 280-284 Return of Audrey Blain as Servant (SGOL 507 The Mystery Servant of Morcove)
Freda Blair – Fourth Former
Danton
Rozella Danton - SO 270-274 Hildegard Astovel (SGOL 487 At Morcove Under Guard)
Daphne Danton - SG 422-434 Nameless at Morcove
Danvers
Miss Danvers - SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses,
Moira Danvers – A Rosemount Girl
Denver
Mabel Cunliffe (Denver) - SO 346-350 Boarded out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove)
Edna and Fay Denver – Fourth Form
Dillon
Althea Dillon – Sixth Form and SO 662-665 Althea Dillon
Mr & Mrs Dillon – SO 235-240 Schoolgirl Pierrettes (SGOL 403 The Morcove Pierrettes)
Drew
Agatha Drew - SO 746-750 Agatha Drew and Head Girl
Elsie Drew – Fourth Form
Duval
Rosalie Duval - SO 335-340 Holiday in France (SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France)
Madeleine Duval – SO 335-340 Holiday in France (SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France)
Zelie Duval – SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake
Forbes
Diana Forbes – Fourth Form
Alva Forbes – a girl whom Madge Minden helped. SO 20-24 Madge Minden Outcast (SGOL 58 The Girl Morcove Misjudged)
Fordyce
Brenda Fordyce - SO 640-644 Brenda Fordyce
Vivienne Fordyce - SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School
Garth
Brenda Garth - SO 558-560 Angela Dark, the Girl From the Skies
Muriel Garth - SO 483-487 Jose and Garcio Mexican
Gray
Monica Gray (Pam Willoughby’s disguise) - SO 727-730 Pam Willoughby Masquerade in London
Florence Gray - SO 773-775 Biddy Loveland Millionairess
Harper
Elsie Harper – Fifth Former temporarily demoted to the Fourth SO 111-115 Loneliest Girl at Morcove (SGOL 178 The Loneliest Girl at Morcove)
Babs Harper – Fourth Form SO 200-206 Cheat at Morcove Babs Harper (SGOL 342 At Morcove to Cheat Another)
Headlam
Old Mrs Headlam - SO 515-518 Ravenscaw Castle at Christmas
Dr Headlam – Doctor from Barncombe who treated Pam – SO 592-597 Pam and Hetty Inter Sports
Elsie Headlam - SO 724-726 Christmas at Cromlech Manor
Hope
Interestingly, a pseudonym of Horace Phillips is Walter Hope! And a little trivia in the wrong place - Sheba Stanton is featured in SF 130 Rival Forms!
Trixie Hope – Fourth Form
Steve Hope – Trixie’s cousin. A ne’er do well. SO 329-334 Jack Linton Expelled (SGOL 579 Polly Linton’s Brother Expelled); SO 358-362 Christmas at Moatby Grange (SGOL 615 The Boy Who Marred Morcove’s Christmas)
Esther Hope – SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow
Monica Hope - SO 536-539 Anne Sheridan New Girl (Monica Hope)
Judson
Mrs Judson and Vera Judson - SO 519-523 The Morrison Sisters
Amy, Emily and Wilfy Judson - SO 622-625 Morcove in London
Khan
Madame Shandri Khan and her daughters Sherami and Lotilla Khan – SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery)
Hunda Khan – SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake; SO 650-653 India
Ameer of Abdur-Khan – SO 727-730 Pam Willoughby Masquerade in London
Sheranjee Khan – Mrs Willoughby in disguise, SG 370-382 Morcove Marooned (SGOL 714 Morcove Marooned)
Lafarge
Lucille Lafarge – SO 671-674 Chateau Dumont for Christmas
Hortense Lafarge and her parents – SO 335-340 Holiday in France, Rosalie Duval (SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France)
Loveland
Biddy Loveland – Fourth Form
Loveland Court – SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon
Daisy Loveland - SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon
Marchmont
Enid Marchmont - SO 265-269 Ethel Courtway’s Rival (SGOL 471 Ethel Courtway’s Rival)
Ralph Marchmont - SO 607-610 Dolly Delane’s Mysterious Boy Friend
Marlowe
Mrs Marlow SO 66-69 Tuckshop (SGOL 121 The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers)
Clarice Marlowe - SO 603-606 Biddy Loveland New Girl
Mrs Marlowe – Dressmaker in Barncombe, patronised by Morcove and the Willoughby family - SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother; SO 574-576 Hetty Curzon, Deceitful New Girl and further SO’s.
Prissy Marlowe - SO 295-303 Freda Blair New Girl, (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove)
Lilian Marlowe – SGOL Annual 1930
Marshall
Myra Marshall - SO 88-93 Old Priory (SGOL 145 When Morcove Moved)
Althea, Margaret and Dick Marshall - SO 468-472 Althea Marshall the Lonely New Girl (SGOL 689 Alone at Morcove)
Joyce, Daisy and Steve Marshall of Gorselands Manor
Merrick
Eva Merrick – Fourth Form
Miss Merrick – Mistress of the Fourth after Miss Everard left. Unknown if she is a relation of Eva.
Donald Merrick – Miss Merrick’s brother. SO 788-791 Zillah Raine
Merrow
Daphne Merrow – Morcove Sixth Former
Ivy Merrow – SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident
Mordaunt/Daunt
Arthur Mordaunt - SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret and SGOL Annual 1936
Miss Mordaunt - Fourth Form Mistress at Stormwood School SO 143-150 Stormwood School (SGOL 219 Morcove’s Gipsy Schoolgirl)
Elsie Mordaunt - SGOL Annual 1925
Mrs Daunt, Lena and Kitty. SO 312-317 Madge Misjudged (Lena Daunt) (SGOL 546 When Morcove Misjudged Madge)
E L Ransome (Rosman) - writing as Ida Melbourne, uses the surname Mordaunt.
Morgan
Tom and Edna Morgan - SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder)
Morgan – Gardener at Morcove SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure; SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret
Morgan family, an old retainer from Swanlake now deceased. His wife and two sons still live in a cottage on the estate - SO 710-714 Pam New Form Captain
Morland
Hetty Morland - SO 754-766 Grangemoor to Guard Her (SGOL563 Grangemoor to Guard Her)
Hilda Morland - SO 324-328 Girl From the Wreck Hilda Morland (SGOL 571 Wrecked Near Morcove)
Mortimer
Mr and Mrs Mortimer, long lost parents of Olive Owen (Beth Mortimer) - SO 36-42 The Drudge of Morcove (SGOL 85 The Drudge of Morcove)
Mrs Mortimer and daughter Sylvia – Fallowfield
Mortimer – an associate of Luke and Meg Pallant – SO 107-110 Cruising With Tess’ Uncle (SGOL 169 Morcove on the Sea
Munro
Stella Munro – Fourth Form - SO 121-125 From Council School to Morcove (SGOL 191 From Council School to Morcove)
Monica Munro – A Stormwood girl, SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove)
Norris
Evelyn Norris - SO 556 The Secret of the Schoolhouse
Eileen and Kathleen Norris – friends of Pat Lawrence SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud With Betty (SGOL 693 Study Against Study)
Raine/Rayne
Zillah Raine - SO 788-791 Zillah Raine
Violet Rayne - SG 422-434 Nameless at Morcove
Sheridan
Laura Sheridan - SGOL Annual 1932
Anne Sheridan - SO 536-539 Anne Sheridan New Girl (Monica Hope)
Thurloe
Lionel and Lena Thurloe - SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall (SGOL 681 Paula’s River Holiday) Lionel later reverts to the name of Derwent.
Miss Thurloe – SGOL Annual 1923
Turner
Laura Turner - SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove)
Alf and Kathleen Turner - SO 751-754 Bunny Trevor and Befriended Girl
Christian names:
Ada
Ada Sharrow - SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow; SO 666-670 Shirley Branson; SGOL Annual 1935
Ada Addison (Dolly Delane’s Aunt) - SO 607-610 Dolly Delane’s Mysterious Boy Friend
Ada ? – A Stormwood girl.
Ada (Polly disguised as a servant) - SG 409-421 The Madcap Remains Loyal!
Ada Adderley - SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films
Agatha
Agatha Ainley – SO 94-98 Madge Minden’s Search (SGOL 151 Madge Minden’s Secret)
Agatha Drew - SO 746-750 Agatha Drew and Head Girl
Agatha - Tess Trelawney’s very unpleasant cousin, SO 488-491 Tess’ Brother Tom Framed
Althea
Althea Hardacre - SO 379-382 Called Back to Morcove (SGOL 627 Pam Willoughby Makes Good)
Althea Marshall - SO 468-472, Althea Marshall the Lonely New Girl (SGOL 689 Alone at Morcove)
Althea Dillon – Sixth Form
Amy
Amy, the child Freda rescues - SO 295-303 Freda Blair New Girl (SGOL 529 The Girl Who Didn’t Like Morcove)
Amy, a housemaid at Swanlake - SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery)
Amy Stuart - SO 577-579 Amy Stuart and the Treasure Casket; SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
Amy Ashdown - SO 235-240 Schoolgirl Pierrettes (SGOL 403 The Morcove Pierrettes
Amy Judson - SO 622-625 Morcove in London
Biddy
Biddy Loveland – Fourth Form
Biddy Watson – Barncombe House
Carlotta
Carlotta Hogan - SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
Carlotta Delona - SO 215-221 South America and Delores Florissa (SGOL 379 When Morcove Was Mystified)
Donna Carlotta, Laura Turner’s disguise when she runs away from Morcove to take refuge in Samways’ Circus - SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove); SO 57-61 The Circus Girl of Morcove (SGOL 109 The Circus Girl of Morcove)
Charles
Charles (Charlie) Grandways – Self explanatory
Charles (Charlie) Calligan – a Grangemoor Fourth Former
Cissy
Cissy Norton, Polly’s cousin - SO 341-345 Polly’s Cousin Cissy Norton (SGOL 595 Her Misdeeds at Morcove)
Cissy Pryde - a Stormwood girl
Clarice
Clarice Berkely – Sixth Form
Clarice Monk – Sixth Form
Clarice Marlowe - Sixth Form
Daisy
Daisy Harper – A Rosemount girl
Daisy Loveland - SO 574-576 Judy Cardew and Hetty Curzon
Daisy Morrison – SO 519-523 The Morrison Sisters
Daisy Darrell - SO 741-744 Hiking Holiday at Brighampton
Dick
Dick Cherrol, Jimmy’s dastardly cousin - SO 635-639 Easter Caravan Tour
Dick Burnaby Miss Redgrave’s fiance and husband - SO 414-419 The Morcove Wedding (SGOL 653 The Wedding at Morcove)
Dick Loring - SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove)
Dick Merrow, Ivy Merrow’s Uncle - SO 696-698 Madge Minden’s Accident
Dick Marshall - SO 468-472 Althea Marshall the Lonely New Girl (SGOL 689 Alone at Morcove)
Doris
Doris Barton, Betty’s young sister
Doris Jessel, a friend of Vanessa Ducrane, a Sixth Former - SO 769-772 Polly Linton and Sacking of Servant
Edith
Edith Elwin - SO 67-69 Tuckshop (The Morcove Tuckshop Keepers)
Edith Enson - SO 180-185 Wembley Exhibition (No SGOL for this early story)
Edna
Edna Morgan - SO 445-452 Pam’s Problem With the Morgan Family (SGOL 685 When Pam Made Morcove Wonder)
Edna Denver – Fourth Form
Edna Loring - SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove)
Effie
Effie Grant – Barncombe House
Effie Barnard – A servant of Morcove
Ellen
Ellen – Morcove’s favourite parlourmaid
Ellen, a maid at the Callowby’s summer rental - SO 121-125 From Council School to Morcove (SGOL 191 From Council School to Morcove)
Elizabeth (Liz)
Gypsy Liz - SO 635-639 Easter Caravan Tour
Liz Robins, the Broker Man’s wife - SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove)
Elsie
Elsie Ashby – Fourth Form
Elsie Drake, a Barncombe girl whom Paula befriends - SO 384-388 Paula Captain (SGOL 631 When Paula Captained the Fourth)
Elsie, Mrs Daunt’s maid - SO 312-317 Madge Misjudged (Lena Daunt) (SGOL 546 When Morcove Misjudged Madge)
Elsie Harper – SO 111-115 Violet Vane’s Vendetta (SGOL 178 The Loneliest Girl at Morcove)
Eslie Mordaunt, a Morcove Girl - SO Annual 1925
Elsie Headlam - SO 724-726 Xmas at Cromlech Manor
Elsie Drew – Fourth Form
Elsie Ashby – Fourth Form
Elsie Askew - SO 741-745 Hiking Holiday at Brighampton
Elsie Maud Mullins - a maid at Swanlake
Elsie Jackson, (Myra, daughter of the bogus Dr Trouncer) – SO 580-583 Grangemoor Barring Out
Elsie Eastman - SO 630-634 Pam and the Strange Secret of Swanlake
Emily
Miss Emily Anstruther, aunt of Anne Sheridan - SO 536-539 Anne Sheridan New Girl (Monica Hope)
Emily Judson - SO 622-625 Morcove in London
Enid
Enid ? – A Combe House girl
Enid Marchmont - SO 265-269 Ethel Courtway’s Rival (SGOL 471 Ethel Courtway’s Rival)
Enid Hekler - SO 675-678 Morcove Girls in Africa
Evelyn
Lady Evelyn Knight, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Lundy
Evelyn Norris - SO 556 The Secret of the Schoolhouse
Esther
Esther Somerfield – Morcove’s Headmistress
Esther Hone – SO 26-30 Heron’s Haunt (SGOL 66 The Mystery of Heron’s Haunt)
Esther Hope - SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow
Florrie
Old Mrs Headlam and her grand daughter Florrie - SO 515-518 Ravenscaw Castle at Christmas
Florrie Everard – Miss Everard’s sister
Gracie
Grace Garfield
Gracie - a parlour maid at Swanlake
Gracie - a personal maid to Paula’s Mother, Mrs Creel
Hetty
Hetty Curzon - Fourth Form
Hetty Kitten, sister of the impostor Fourth Form Mistress, Julia Kitten - SO 715-720 Miss Kitten’s Secret)
Hetty Grover, a Rosemount Fourth Former - SO 397-404, Rebels of Rosemount School (SGOL 639); SO 405-407, Etta Returns to Morcove (SGOL 643)
Hetty Maynard, a Stormwood Fourth Former - SO 351-357 Ella Elgood and Minnie Maitland (SGOL 607 The Girl She Kept From Morcove)
Hilda
Hildegarde Astovel - SO 270-274 Hildegarde Astovel (SGOL 487 At Morcove Under Guard)
Hilda Fawley - SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove)
Hilda Morland - SO 324-328 Girl From the Wreck Hilda Morland (SGOL 571 Wrecked Near Morcove)
Janet
Janet, Dave Cardew’s childhood nurse
Janet Courtway, Ethel’s Aunt
John
John Craig – Father of Helen
John Willoughby, JP – Father of Pam
Colonel John Creel, JP – Father of Paula
John Trelawney – Father of Tess
Kathleen
Kathleen Murray – Fourth Form
Kathleen Norris – a friend of Pat Lawrence SO 473-478 Pat Lawrence New Girl Feud With Betty (SGOL 693 Study Against Study)
Kathleen (Kaff) Turner – SO 751-754 Bunny Trevor and Befriended Girl
Katey – A maid at Swanlake
Kath – Althea Dillon’s Aunt SO 662-665 Althea Dillon
Kate – Morcove housemaid (ELR)
Laura
Laura Turner – Sixth Form - SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove)
Laura Harper - SO 200-206 Cheat at Morcove Babs Harper (SGOL 342 At Morcove to Cheat Another)
Laura Dorland - SO 626-629 Hazel Baynard New Girl v Betty Barton
Laura Sheridan - SO Annual 1932
Aunt Laura, Tess Trelawney’s Aunt - SO 488-491 Tess’ Brother Tom Framed
Laura Dillon - SO 235-240 Schoolgirl Pierrettes (SGOL 403 The Morcove Pierrettes)
Lena
Lena Daunt - SO 312-317 Madge Misjudged - Lena Daunt (SGOL When Morcove Misjudged Madge)
Lena Grayson – Sixth Form
Lena Hall (ELR)
Lena Thurloe - SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall (SGOL 681 Paula’s River Holiday)
Luke
Luke Rusper - SO 170-173 Return of Cora and Judith (SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove)
Luke Pallant - SO 107-110 Cruising With Tess’ Uncle (SGOL 169 Morcove on the Sea)
Mabel
Mabel Rivers – Fourth Form
Mabel Stoddart - SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow
Mabel Venniker - SO 509-514, Morcove on the Films
Mabel Cunliffe - SO 347-350 Boarded Out in Barncombe (SGOL 603 The Scheming Mistress of Morcove)
Mabel Carden - SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters
Madeline
Madeline Hurst – SO 186-190 Polly Linton Day Girl (SGOL 307 Polly Linton – Day Girl!)
Madeleine Duval - SO 335-340 Holiday in France, (SGOL 587 Morcove’s Holiday in France)
Madeline Dumont - SO 671-674 Chateau Dumont for Christmas
Madeleine Dollond – SO 783-787 Madeleine Dollond, Boss of Morcove
Madelina Cassara - SO 703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara
Margaret
Margaret (Maggie) Shaw - SO 94-98 Madge Minden’s Search (SGOL 151 Madge Minden’s Secret)
Margaret (Maggie) Wade - SO 379-382 Pam Willoughby Makes Good (SGOL 627 Called Back to Morcove)
Margaret (Meg) Marshall - SO 468-472 Althea Marshall the Lonely New Girl (SGOL 689 Alone at Morcove)
Margaret Matthews - SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses)
Michael
Michael Heriot – A Grangemoor boy
Mike the Mysterious – SO 607-610 Dolly Delane’s Mysterious Boy Friend
Millicent
Millicent Gay – Fifth Form
Millicent Ashwell – Fifth Form
Millicent Sleet – A Stormwood girl
Mimi
Mimi Lorenzo - SO 324-328 Girl From the Wreck, Hilda Morland (SGOL 571 Wrecked Near Morcove)
Mimi – SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
Mimi Lessard - SO 755-758 Morcove in North Africa
Molly
Molly Curzon, Hetty’s sister - SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon Deceitful New Girl
Molly Baxter – SO 567-569 Prior’s Wold Christmas
Monica
Monica Hope - SO 536-539 Anne Sheridan New Girl (Monica Hope)
Monica Grey - SO 727-730 Pam Willoughby Masquerade in London
Monica Holden – SO 260-264 Morcove’s Shop in Barncombe (SGOL 463 When Morcove Started a Shop)
Monica Munro – A Stormwood Girl
Monica Merlin - SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove)
Muriel
Muriel Swancrave/Ravenscaw - SO 503-508, The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress); SO 515-518 Ravenscaw Castle at Christmas
Muriel Callowby - SO 121-125 From Council School to Morcove (SGOL 191 From Council School to Morcove);
Muriel Lane - SO 408-413 Muriel Lane the South African Girl, (SGOL 661 Morcove’s Christmas Problem)
Muriel Garth - SO 483-487 Jose and Garcio Mexican
Muriel Stoddart - SO 658-661 Ada Sharrow
Muriel ? - SG 370-382 Morcove Marooned (SGOL 714 Morcove Marooned)
Norah
Norah Hamilton - SO 117-120 Morcove in Morocco (SGOL 184 Morcove in Morocco); SO 529-534 Nassina the Spy (SGOL 722 Stranded in the Desert)
Norah Crosby - SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters
Rose / Rosa / Roza
Rose of the Desert
Rosa - SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove); SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied,
Roza - SO 420-425 (SGOL 651 The Circus Girl Morcove Helped)
Rozella Danton SO 270-274 Hildegarde Astovel (SGOL 487 At Morcove Under Guard)
Rosemount School
Rosemount Apartments
Samuel
Samuel Samways – Samways Circus
Samuel Robins – the Broker’s Man SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove)
Violet
Violet Corfew – Sixth Form
Violet Deakin - Fourth Form (ELR)
Violet Vane – Fifth Form
Violet Marlowe – Daughter of Mrs Marlowe, Barncombe’s Dressmaker. She is a talented violinist.
Violet Rayne - SG 422-434 Nameless at Morcove
Zilla
Zilla Lupina SO 241-246, Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415)
Zillah Raine SO 788-792 Zillah Raine; SGOL Annual 1938
Similar Surnames:
Mrs Denniker - SO 622-625 Morcove in London
Mabel Venniker - SO 509-514 Morcove on the Films
Mrs Heneker - SO 480-482 Pat Lawrence
Zillah Raine - SO 788-791 Zillah Raine
Violet Rayne - SG 422-434 Nameless at Morcove
Other Names
Sandcliffe
Horace Phillips, writing under his pseudonym of Joy Phillips, wrote SGOL 690 Her Strange Task at Sandcliffe. This story is unrelated to Morcove.
Interestingly though, Mrs Mortimer’s ‘finishing school’ was at Sandcliffe, before she made the ill fated decision to move to Fallowfield and expand. Fallowfield of course is within a couple of miles of both Barncombe and Morcove - SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School .
Betty & Co also go to Sandcliffe for their holidays - SO 285-289 The White Queen of Morcove (SGOL 515 The White Queen of Morcove).
Burnside
Hetty Curzon attended Burnside before coming to Morcove, and in an article on the website related to Horace Phillips, the name Burnside appears in an entirely unrelated story to Morcove.
Dixie
Polly finds a dog, which she names him Dixie in SO 614-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School
Mr Willoughby’s dog is also named Dixie - SO 788-791 Zillah Raine
Inaccuracies and Observations
Publication inaccuracies in Annuals
SGOL Annual 1935 – Both Cora and Hetty are still at Morcove. However, Hetty Curzon was expelled in February 1933, in SO 626-629 Hazel Baynard New Girl vs Betty Barton.
Cora left Morcove shortly before, in SO 613-618 Polly Linton at Fallowfield School.
Jack Somerfield’s wifes name is Zora, but in SGOL Annual 1935 it is Lena.
Miss Somerfield’s first name is Esther. SGOL Annual 1933 states her name is Alice Edith Somerfield.
Publication inaccuracies in The Schoolgirls’ Own
Samways Circus
The first appearance of this circus is in SO 52-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove). Samways is circus is sold to Ralph Linton, after the death of old Samways and this features in SO 420-425 Polly Linton Circus (SGOL 651 The Circus Girl Polly Helped). But then – the circus, named as Samways, appears in SO 548-552 Hetty Curzon, Deceitful New Girl where it is mentioned that Samuel is always on the lookout for new acts! It also appears in SO 797-798 SG 357-369 Morcove in Unknown Africa
In SO 479-482 Crosby Sisters, Pat is mentioned as having the name Pat Loring instead of Lawrence. The name Loring appears in an earlier story, SO 430-434 Hilda Fawley From Betty’s Hometown (SGOL 665 Not Fit For Morcove)
Morcove’s favourite parlourmaid Ellen, is known as Helen in SO 241-246 Turned Out of Morcove (SGOL 415 Turned Out of Morcove).
An inconsistency in SO 598 - ‘My Dear Readers’: Letters mention praise of the first instalment of the Treasure Island of Santa Rita. Perhaps it should have appeared in SO 599 as SO 598 is actually the first instalment!
There is a bit of an inconsistency regarding the Delanes. In SO 699-702 Spanish Treasure
it is stated that Mr Delane dug up a map whilst digging on his smallholding at Morcove. In fact at the time of this story, the Delanes had already moved to Cromlech Manor, and that Dolly was no longer at Morcove. There is no way that this could have been an earlier story printed before the Delanes moved - SO 687-690 Cromlech Manor House, as Fay and Edna are featured in this story, and they arrived in the earlier story, SO 691-695 Morcove’s Feud With Grangemoor.
Character inaccuracies
Grace Garfield
Below is some information sent on Grace from Keith Bates in December 2008. There had been some discussion on Horace Phillips at the time, and Keith writes:
“I didn't know he was a bit forgetful - that's why the rather grotesque mistake in SO 88 came as a bit of shock. I wonder - like Hamilton and Brooks - if he was writing other things at the same time as Morcove; perhaps some of his novels. That might explain some of the forgetfulness. Grace starts out like she is going to be a major character - perhaps the major 'bad' character. She's quite well drawn in some of the earlier SO’s. But soon Phillips, concentrates on the rather cartoon-like Cora & Judith as the main bad characters. A curious choice really - I think most writers would soon have concentrated on Grace rather than Cora and Judith. Later on, personally, I think that the reason that Judith reformed was that it was getting a bit too much having two barely distinguishable cartoon-like bad characters (all a bit tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee!) so Phillips concentrated all the nastiness of the two into Cora. I wonder if anyone ever has written a thesis on Morcove? It's quite possible - many theses just lie around on University shelves, uncatalogued and forgotten. One more bit of trivia. I'm not sure Phillips knew what to do with Grace Garfield or even remember who she was at times! I remember that you wrote something along those lines in one of your web articles. From SO 1 onwards, it starts off like she's going to be a very major character. Then, soon afterwards, Phillips seemingly 'forgets' to describe in detail her conversion to Betty's side. Later, astonishingly, in SO 88 Grace Garfield is confidently mentioned as being in the 5th Form.”
And more information on Grace Garfield from Keith, October 2009:
‘Let's take the case of Grace Garfield. She is an important character in the Morcove saga - a wayward girl, opposed to the fair play of Betty & Co. but sometimes reformed and decent. Apart from this near centrality, Phillips seems occasionally to entirely forget who she is:
1. When our heroine Betty first arrives at Morcove (SO 1), the whole Form is against her - Grace being particularly notable as one of her enemies. In the subsequent SO’s, Phillips shows in detail how each major character goes over to Betty's side leaving by SO 15, so we are told, just Ursula Wade as an ally of the snobbish, anti-Betty Grandways sisters. However, Phillips hasn't bothered showing or mentioning Grace's conversion to Betty's side: so, in SO 15, we just have to presume that she has been converted.
2. In SO 88, Grace firmly but wrongly appears as a Fifth Former instead of a Fourth Former.
3. In the magnificent serial about Rosemount School SO 397-404, Rebels of Rosemount School (SGOL 639 Driven From Morcove), and SO 405-407, Etta Returns to Morcove (SGOL 643 That ‘Meddler’ From Morcove), Grace is centre stage. She is deservedly expelled from Morcove and becomes a pupil at Rosemount School where, we are told, she thereafter remains. However, in SO 561-563 Polly Linton on the Stage. Grace casually takes a minor role - she is still sharing a study with Diana Forbes at Morcove.’
Naomer Nakara
Naomer is the grand daughter of an Eastern Potentate. SGOL 231 Morcove’s Christmas Problems states that she is the daughter.
Colonel Creel
In SO 440-444 Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall he is Colonel John Creel, JP, and seems to be a serious type of person. In SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday, Mrs Creel refers to him as Tony, and he is portrayed as a slightly eccentric, humorous type!.
Illustration Inaccuracies
SGOL 279 A Second Chance at Morcove shows Naomer on the cover. Naomer, at the time, is back in Nakara and doesn’t return until SO 176-179, Return of the Girl Queen (SGOL 295 To Morcove in Secret)
SO 426-429 Pam and the Casket of Kangpur (SGOL 647 Morcove’s Casket of Mystery)
The girls are at Swanlake for the weekend, and Phillips gives such a good description of them dressed in their finery for dinner. However, Shields illustrates them in their Morcove uniform!
SO 592-597 Pam and Hetty Inter Sports. Three wonderful illustrations of Mrs Willoughby, although with a dress detail missing, and different coloured hair and hair styles.
SO 626-629 Hazel Baynard New Girl v Betty Barton. There are two different versions of a vehicle Ridgeworth Baynard’s secretary Laura Dorland is driving, unless she has more than one!
SO 51-56 A Disgrace to Morcove (SGOL 103 A Disgrace to Morcove!) – on the cover of the SGOL Laura Turner’s hair is her original colour, however she had dyed it black before her first performance.
Pam’s short, dark bob hairstyle is replaced by a blonder, wavy, side parted look in SO 788-791 Zillah Raine and also in SG 422-434 Nameless at Morcove
Observations
Horace Phillips doubles up on some titles during the Morcove saga. Most of his titles end with an exclamation mark, however the doubled up example below is an example of one with, and one without!
SO 208 The Closing of Study 12! – where Bertha Snode forces Betty and Polly out due to her persecution of Betty; and SO 582 The Closing of Study 12 in which Miss Somerfield closes the study as a punishment to Betty & Co for their involvement in trying to expose the bogus Dr Trouncer, known as ‘Old Shudders’.
Most of the SGOL reprints from the original SO’s are quite heavily abridged. However, in the SGOL version of SO 290-294, Miss Danvers Headmistress (SGOL 521 When Morcove Changed Mistresses) the reverse seems to be the case. Phillips describes a planned dormi feast by the Fourth. Polly and Naomer go and get the grubbins and Polly sees a stranger lurking outside in the dark. The Fifth grab the grubbins, and Polly and Naomer go back empty handed. Although the Form are ‘cross’ with both girls and are disappointed, Betty sees the positive side of this prank of the Fifth’s, and she laughs, which releases all stresses and tension. This dormi feast escapade is entirely left out in SO 291, But to be entirely fair, I only have SO 291 and perhaps this was printed in another section of the SO version.
People such as the Creels, the Lundys, and the Willoughbys, who are of course extremely wealthy, are described as being very happy because they are giving happiness to others.
In the early days of the Morcove saga, there is a Guide Troop, and Miss Redgrave is Guide Captain, with many girls as members. This seemed to be phased out later on.
SGOL Annual 1929
In SO 552, The Editor states that the content of the Morcove stories will increase to twenty pages. This apparently was in the air for some time – along with consultation with Marjorie Stanton, and requests from readers for more Morcove content. Previously, each instalment was eleven or twelve pages.
Mary Cadogan notes that in the latter Morcove stories, and especially when Morcove was transferred to The Schoolgirl, that the use of individual girls names and the more full description of an event is shortened. In SO 788-791 Zillah Raine a theory by Keith Bates seems to be confirmed in that that once a character is fully developed and cannot be really ‘used’ any more, Horace Phillips seems to drop it. In this particular story, Judy and Helen are only mentioned as background figures whereas previously they were such an integral part of the saga.
For a while, The Schoolgirls’ Own had two Morcove stories. This began with SO 754, which had the last episode of Bunny Trevor and Befriended Girl (SO 751-754) and the first instalment of SO 754-756 Grangemoor to Guard Her (SGOL 563 Grangemoor to Guard Her. The Schoolgirl also ran two Cliff House stories around the same time.
In the latter stories, Horace Phillips allows the younger people to smoke. Instances of this are in SO703-709 Summer Holiday on the Island of Cassara; SO 727-729 Pam Willoughby Masquerade in London; SO 792-794 Holiday With Alice Creel.
The use of motor bikes comes and goes as well. Refer SGOL 639, page 45. We know all about Audrey’s motor bike and later on Cora’s. And of course, Jack and Dave’s frequent use of motor bikes. But later on in the saga, it is noted that Cora is relegated to a bicycle, as with Jack and Dave, and their bicycles are more frequently mentioned than the ‘outfit’ or the ‘twin cyn’. We do know that Phillips ‘lessened the original distances’ between Morcove, Grangemoor and Swanlake, as it becomes a frequent occurrence to ride between the three locations quite easily. This early use of motor bikes, then to bicycles, and then motor bike again, as described in SO 691-695 Morcove’s Feud With Grangemoor, where Phillips allows Bertie Denver to own and ride his own motor bike, as he is old enough to have a licence, seems confusing in the extreme! Perhaps Phillips was keeping up with current licencing laws. It’s around this time that Jack and his mates are relegated to riding bicycles, and also, after Cora Grandways departs from Morcove, there are no motor bikes at Morcove. Then again, in SO 704, it is stated that only Prefects are allowed motor bikes.
Polly Linton used to live at Linton Hall, however this burnt down - SO 561-563 Polly Linton on the Stage. Linton Lodge was later re-built somewhere fairly close. It is about three hours from Morcove. There are some similarities between Swanlake and the original Linton Hall. Both are in Devonshire, both have a mile long main drive to the house. Both have similar architectural details, cottages on the estate and so on.
Secret Societies were very popular. SO 768 – My Dear Readers. . In this particular issue there is a letter from April Jordan of Johanna River, Merrylands, NSW. This is interesting as here is an instance of the Australian followers of Morcove. All sixteen of them are Morcove fans, with two girls from New Zealand who correspond with them. Note: Where are they now and do they still think of Morcove?
In 1931, Horace Phillips wrote a series of entirely complete Morcove stories for The Schoolgirls’ Own, instead of the longer, serialised stories. Why, and were there more that were never published?
SO 553 When Madge Was a Mystery!
Madge Minden, the quiet, staid, musical chum of the Study 12 coterie is to the fore in this tale. Also, Cora Grandways and Hetty Curzon, together with the rather dubious Joyce Marshall of Gorselands Manor, feature in this story
SO 554 One Girl to Blame!
SO 555 Saved By Schoolgirls!
SO 556 The Secret of the Schoolhouse!
SO 557 When a Prefect Plotted!
Some Story Lines and Plots
SO 524-528 Polly Linton’s Brother This is an important story, as it opens up the world of Grangemoor, its architecture and the coming of the Marlowes to Barncombe. Mrs Marlowe is of course, a dressmaker whose talents soon reach the ears of Morcove.
SO 363-366 Cora Grandways Disgraced (SGOL 617 The Girl Who Fooled Morcove) and SO 367-372 Cora Grandways Reformation (SGOL 623 The Girl Morcove Pitied).
These stories deal with Cora’s wheelings and dealings, only to fall flat on her own face. Then her only genuine attempt at reformation.
It starts with Cora coming back to school an apparently reformed character, but her act is seen through by Polly and Cissy Norton, Polly’s dreadful cousin. Aunt Margaret Grandways, the wealthy and invalid sister of Josiah Grandways, comes to stay at Cliff Edge bungalow to recuperate after a severe illness. Josiah is on the verge of bankruptcy and so he talks Cora into making a good impression on Aunt Margaret with a view to perhaps his sister taking pity on him aiding him financially. Aunt Margaret, a decent and generous woman and who has aided some of her dubious and shady relatives in the past, takes on a local Barncombe girl, Rosa, as a lady’s maid. Rosa comes from a poor but good family and Cora takes an instant hatred to this genuine, hard working girl whom Aunt Margaret shows interest in, because she can stand up for herself and doesn’t tolerate Cora’s nonsense. She thinks Rosa is after Aunt Margaret’s money and affection, which of course is untrue. Some anonymous letters are written to various Morcove girls and also to Aunt Margaret, suggesting that Cora isn’t the reformed person everyone thinks she is. Cora unfairly blames Rosa for these letters and gets her dismissed. Various happenings take place, and eventually Cissy is exposed as the writer of the letters. When Cora discovers this information, she lashes out at Cissy and says a lot of nasty things which is overheard by Aunt Margaret, including her part in the dismissal of Rosa and how she hates Rosa. Naturally, Margaret Grandways is shattered by Cora’s vitriol and revelation of her true character and writes her off including Josiah. She vows to aid Judy, though. Cora is to be sent home from Morcove because of this incident, but whilst she is packing, she ignores an order to go to Miss Somerfield and takes off anyway. Miss Somerfield has the news that Cora cannot go home because Josiah and Emma Grandways have gone bankrupt, the family home is closed by the Brokers and they have fled to Egypt. Cora is under the impression that even though she failed in her task set by Josiah, she will still be welcomed. Imagine her shock when she arrives in Ribbleton she finds a home that is taken over by the Brokers. She manages to get into further trouble by stealing and trying to palm the goods off at the pawnbrokers, however the police are alerted. She flees back to Morcove. Judy and Miss Grandways’ faithful daily Rosa (Who is back on duty) learn of her arrival and Rosa even contrives a way to get Cora out of trouble by her becoming a disguised maid, which she reluctantly does. Cora goes along with this until it becomes too much for her shallow nature and then plans to take off on her motor bike. But she meets with an accident on checking the bike; there is an explosion and she becomes blind. Aunt Margaret soon learns of the deception and is absolutely shocked at what happens to Cora. Naturally, she takes Cora in and does everything possible for her. After this accident, Cora is genuinely remorseful and wants to change. She tries hard, and is a hard patient to deal with - Judy is almost saintly in her ministering to Cora during this phase. However, Cora being Cora, is a coward at heart and she finds it just too hard to continually go down the right path. Unfortunately for Cora, Aunt Margaret meanwhile has another health scare and is advised by her Doctors to go on a round the world cruise (Wow, this would be fantastic!) The only thing holding her back is Cora’s health problems and she decides that she must take Cora along with her if her blindness is still a problem. Of course, Cora regains her eyesight but keeps it a secret, although Rosa has her suspicions. At the last moment on the eve of the cruise, Cora decides she cannot keep up the deception of the blindness or accept Aunt Margaret’s offer, and so she joyfully announces that she can see, and of course doesn’t go on the cruise. Her contrition here is absolutely genuine, and so it continues for some length of time.
SO 598-602 Morcove’s Treasure Island Holiday
The Coterie, along with Jack and Dave, Mr & Mrs Linton, Colonel & Mrs Creel, Mr & Mrs Willoughby and Mrs Cardew, sail to Santa Rita to find the treasure that rightly belongs to Amy Stuart and her Father - see SO 577-579 Amy Stuart and the Treasure Casket. It is also the first holiday that Pam has after her near fatal fall over the cliffs near Morcove at the hands of Hetty Curzon – see SO 592-597 Pam and Hetty Inter Sports. Incidentally, in this Santa Rita story, Horace Phillips portrays Colonel & Mrs Creel in an eccentric amusing light as opposed to their more serious characters in SO 440-444, Paula’s Holiday at Home, Weir Hall. Colonel Creel there is also known as Anthony instead of John! Leonard Shields illustrates this tropical island setting in a delicious mode, with the dresses of the ladies being oh, so elegant and serene.
SO 535-539 Anne Sheridan New Girl (Monica Hope Ursula Wade doesn’t figure in this story until well into it, but the gist of the story is as follows: Anne Sheridan is a First Class passenger to England on board the liner Taj Mal. Shortly before the liner comes to grief by hitting a floating wreck, she meets some of the Study 12 Coterie who are on their way back from the Nakaran holiday, SO 529-535, Nassina the Spy, (SGOL 722 Stranded in the Desert). They get talking about their lives, why Anne is on the liner, and also about school. The Coterie suggest that Morcove is the school for Anne. Also, Anne has befriended Monica Hope, a steerage passenger from Australia. Monica, a really nice girl, is in for a grim time in England, having also come from an even grimmer time due to step relatives in Australia. But being the girl she is, assists a young mother who is sick, by looking after her baby. Just after Anne meets the Coterie, she goes steerage and insists to Monica that she go to her cabin to rest, while Anne herself looks out for the young mother and baby. When the liner sinks, Monica who is on the First Class deck, naturally is rescued, and of couse the authorities think she is Anne Sheridan, as she had the foresight to take Anne’s attaché case with her. And so ‘Anne’ is duly given over to her Aunt, whom she hasn’t seen for many years if at all, and then Aunt Emily tells ‘Anne’ (Monica) that she would have died if Anne had died. This upsets Monica, and so she keeps up the pretence of being Anne for a while, to protect her Aunt and it will also aid her in avoiding the unscrupulous step relatives she is bound for. Unfortunately though for Monica, the dreaded step relative Mrs Horder, somehow locates her. Sadly in this story, we don’t know if the young mother and baby survive. Monica, under the guise of Anne, comes to Morcove, as the recommended school. Shortly after, news reaches Morcove that a steerage passenger known as Monica Hope is rescued after all, and she is in hospital in Southampton with injuries and a lost memory. The Study 12 Coterie, whilst this is happening, are slightly puzzled by Anne’s behaviour and mannerisms, and eventually work out that ‘Anne’ could be an impostor. By this time, things are getting a little hot for Monica, and decides to flee Morcove, although heart broken. She writes a letter to Miss Somerfield, giving a full and truthful explanation about how she came to Morcove, and the deception. However, the dreadful Mrs Horder intervenes again and intercepts the letter. Morcove decides to hold a concert to raise funds for ‘Monica’ who has been found in a hospital in Southampton. This is where Ursula comes upon the scheme, and steals the proceeds of the concert, and hides it away at Hunter’s Rock Manor. Naturally enough, Morcove suspect that the missing Monica may have stolen the money. This is also the place – co-incidentally, that Monica finally seeks refuge in. There are some really good illustrations of Hunter’s Rock Manor in this story as well, by Leonard Shields. When matters are finally cleared up, by Anne regaining her memory, and Monica being exonerated, Anne asks that her Aunt Emily do something for Monica, and so she assumes responsibility for Monica and she eventually becomes a member of the Fourth. Betty in the end, due to Ursula’s demeanour, starts to suspect that Ursula may have been the thief all along, although nothing is said.
There are many, many wise sayings and little moral ditties throught the Morcove saga. Some appear below:
“Such a lot can be achieved by unconscious influence” - SO 574 Page 51
“It just won’t answer” or “It will answer in the end” - SO 691, and used many times, even by Cora Grandways!
“Yes, well” – Pam. And earlier, a favourite saying by Freda Blair.
“We’ll manage!” – Betty
“Life begins again for all of us every morning when we wake” (Miss Redgrave) - SO 419
“Live and let live” (Betty and Pam) - SO 703 Page 12
“But it’s a poor heart that never rejoices” SO 503-508, The Morcove Peeress, Ursula Wade (SGOL 701 The Morcove Peeress)
And the Lancastrian touch:
“Tha knows……”
“Happen…….”
“Say nowt…..”