| Description | The file contains the following:
- Correspondence sent to Richmal Ashbee [niece of Richmal Crompton] from Macmillan Children's Books, London, publishers, relating to: the Outlaws Club [a fanclub for the William stories]; [a possible television programme?] about William fans; and a radio programme [about the William stories?] by Brian Sibley. The correspondence is dated 1984.
- Scripts for the [stage play?] "William Goes to the Circus" by Richmal Crompton. This includes: printed scripts for the parts of Mr Brown , William, Violet Elizabeth, Ethel, Hubert Lane, Robert and Mrs Brown (all dated c1940s-c1950s); and a photocopy of a printed producer's script, containing all the parts (script dated c1940s-c1950s and photocopy made in c1980s). Also included is a note listing the different scripts and noting any that are missing; note written [by David Schutte? and Richmal Ashbee? (niece of Richmal Crompton)] in c1980s.
- Correspondence sent to Richmal Ashbee [niece of Richmal Crompton] from Hurdles Group, Bury, Lancashire, charity for disabled children, Pan Books, Basingstoke, Hampshire, publishers, Margaret [Margaret Disher? sister of Richmal Ashbee], and Alan Whitehead, relating to the creation of [William-themed] mugs to raise money for Hurdles Group and about other events arranged in Bury [for celebrations for the centenary of Richmal Crompton's birth]; correspondence dated 1990.
- A letter to Richmal [Richmal Ashbee, niece of Richmal Crompton] from Mary [Mary Cadogan], relating to the recording of an interview with Richmal Ashbee for the radio programme by Mary Cadogan titled "Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind William"; letter dated 1986. Included is a photocopy of a draft copy of the script for the radio programme.
- Notes [written by Richmal Ashbee, niece of Richmal Crompton] about events and publicity planned [for celebrations for the centenary of Richmal Crompton's birth]; notes written in c1990.
- A press release from Macmillan Children's Books, London, [publishers], advertising the following upcoming books about the William stories: "The 'Just William' Companion" ["The William Companion"] by Mary Cadogan; "The 'Just William' Map" ["Just William's World: A Pictorial Map"] by Gillian Clements and Kenneth Waller; and "Articles by William" ["What's Wrong with Civilizashun and Other Important Ritings by Just William"] by Richmal Crompton. The press release is dated 1989.
- A letter sent to Richmal Ashbee [niece of Richmal Crompton] from Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, London, relating to a transfer of a Richmal Crompton exhibition from Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood to Bury Art Gallery and Museum; letter dated 1990. Includes a photocopy of a list of the items in the exhibition that were loaned to Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood from Richmal Ashbee, and photocopies of some of the archival documents in the exhibition.
- A press release from Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, London, advertising the exhibition "The World of William: Richmal Crompton's Schoolboy Hero"; press release written in 1990.
- A letter to Richmal Ashbee [niece of Richmal Crompton] from Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, London, relating to the dispersal of items from a [William-themed] exhibition; letter dated 1997. Included are notes [written by Richmal Ashbee] about the dispersal of the items; notes written in c1997.
- A letter to Richmal Ashbee [niece of Richmal Crompton] from Pan Macmillan Children's Books, London, [publishers], relating to the creation of a postage stamp featuring William [from the William stories]; letter dated 1992. Also includes the following: a photocopy of the image to be used on the stamp (image created in c1992 and photocopy made in c1992); and three empty envelopes addressed to Richmal Ashbee and Paul Ashbee [husband of Richmal Ashbee] that include the William stamp (envelopes dated c1992-1993). |
| Related Material | Further documents relating celebrations held in 1990 for the centenary of Richmal Crompton's birth can be found in RC 86, RC 87, RC 88, RC 143, RC 216, RC 217, RC 218, RC 221, RC 241, RC 269, RC test 7, RC test 12, RC 279, RC 288, RC 289 and RC 324.
Further typed and printed scripts for William plays can be found in RC 29, RC 54 and RC 365.
A printed producer's script for "William Goes to the Circus" can be found in RC 365.
Further documents relating to the [stage play?] "William Goes to the Circus" can be found in RC 35, RC 79, RC 365 and RC 366.
Further correspondence from publishers can be found in RC 7, RC 40, RC 81, RC 112, RC 119, RC test 1, RC test 2, RC test 3, RC test 4, RC 120, RC 124, RC 128, RC 133, RC 137, RC 138, RC 139, RC 140, RC 141, RC 146, RC 147, RC 155, RC 156, RC 159, RC 163, RC 166, RC 167, RC 208, RC 212, RC 213, RC 214, RC 216, RC 217, RC 239, RC 346, RC 350, RC 351, RC 356 and RC 360.
Further documents relating to Mary Cadogan's biography of Richmal Crompton can be found in RC 139, RC 146, RC 181, RC 197, RC 198, RC 213, RC 227, RC test 12 and RC 290.
Further documents relating to the commemorative postage stamp featuring William can be found in RC 133, RC 277, RC 321 and RC 385. |