A Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle
A Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle is an article written by Christopher Roden published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 3, 1992).
This report recounts the Arthur Conan Doyle Society's 1992 weekend in Royal Tunbridge Wells, centred on the unveiling of the Conan Doyle memorial plaque in Crowborough and the celebration of his birthday. Through lectures, performances, and tributes, particularly to Julian Symons, it highlights both scholarly engagement and the enduring communal devotion to Conan Doyle's legacy.
A Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle
Mark McPherson. Norman Rosenbaum and Christopher Roden at the unveiling of the Conan Doyle Memorial Plaque in Crowborough.
Julian Symons. Owen Dudley Edwards and Christopher Roden during Sunday morning's proceedings at 'A Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle'.
Royal Tunbridge Wells - 22-24 May 1992
It was no coincidence that The Arthur Conan Doyle Society's joint weekend with The Northern Musgraves Sherlock Holmes Society in May included the celebration of ACD's birthday and the unveiling of the memorial to Conan Doyle in Crowborough.
Some thirty-five members gathered at the Periquito Hotel in Tunbridge Wells on Friday evening to hear Christopher Roden announce that the weekend would be one of informality and celebration. In addition to the celebration of ACD's birthday, the weekend also coincided with the third anniversary of the Society's founding in 1989. From modest beginnings, the Society's membership has now grown to well over two hundred and fifty members worldwide, with interest increasing all the time.
The programme proper began with Chris Wills Wood presenting his own view of 'Doctor Conan Doyle — A Victorian Physician and Practitioner'.
On Saturday morning, David Stuart Davies offered his analysis of Micah Clarke, Literature as a Milkcow,' before members boarded the coach which would take them to Crowborough for the celebrations surrounding the unveiling of the Conan Doyle memorial plaque.
Crowborough's small town hall was crowded for the Town Council's Civic Reception at which we were welcomed by the town's Mayor. Dame Jean Conan Doyle's health allowed her to attend the Civic Reception and it was a delight to see her meeting up with old friends and acquaintances, as well as the many enthusiasts who had travelled some distance to be in Crowborough. In acknowledgement of his considerable contribution to Crowborough, Malcolm Payne, the Curator of the Conan
Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment and local historian, was presented with an illuminated address on behalf of the Council.
Marion Yates, the President of the Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment, had arranged a superb luncheon for us at the Crowborough Cross Hotel, a gathering which set the scene well for the unveiling ceremony which was to follow.
At 2.15 p.m... Sqn. Ldr. Philip Weller, the M.C. for the unveiling ceremony, alerted three boy scout buglers, who sounded The Last Post'. The unveiling of the memorial, a bronze bas-relief head of ACD set on a bronze plaque, was performed by the two daughters of the late Bill Latter. Sir Arthur's former chauffeur. Dame Jean Conan Doyle gave a strong speech in which she recalled the many happy memories she had of her time in Crowborough. Being able to be present for the unveiling had meant a lot to her, and we were all appreciative of her recollections. Dame Jean thanked everyone, and particularly Malcolm Payne, who had worked so hard to make the day a success.
Christopher Roden spoke on behalf of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society:
- By the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Lady Jean came to live in Crowborough in 1907. Sir Arthur was already established as one of the most popular authors of his day: almost half of the Sherlock Holmes stories had been published as well as many of his major novels. In addition, he had already established himself as something of a champion through his outspoken support for the plight of British soldiers in South Africa and for his defence of the unfortunate George Edalji.
- But it was at Crowborough that Conan Doyle was to become the family man. His marriage to Lady Jean blossomed and their three children. Adrian, Denis and Lena Jean were born here. It must have been very satisfying for him to live such a pleasant family life in surroundings as peaceful as Windlesham.
- Today we hear stories of the many house parties and the many important celebrities who visited Windlesham in those years. We can only marvel at Sir Arthur's wide circle of friends and acquaintances and the many causes to which he was prepared to devote his time.
- It was during the Crowborough years that Conan Doyle created one of his own particular favourite fictional characters: Professor Challenger, and his Windlesham study saw the birth of such novels as The Lost World, The Poison Belt, and The Land of Mist. Indeed, The Poison Belt describes the view which Conan Doyle must have had from his study window. The final Professor Challenger story. The Land of Mist, reflects the strong passion which Conan Doyle had for Spiritualism, and it was this subject which became his major interest for thirteen of his twenty-three years in Crowborough. It is an indication of his courage that he pronounced his beliefs so vigorously in the face of much criticism.
- We should remember Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for the courage he displayed in pursuing what he believed to be true and just causes. He was a fine citizen, a true Briton. and a great man.
The Memorial which has been unveiled today is, therefore, a worthy tribute to one of Crowborough's more famous residents. It is the culmination of years of hard work by the Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment, and the enthusiasm of one man in particular — Malcolm Payne. Malcolm works incessantly to promote the memory of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and he deserves much praise.
- It is extremely pleasing that the bust on this memorial is that of Sir Arthur and not, as is so common. an effigy of his fictional creation, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes has his place, but we should never forget that Holmes would never have existed were it not for the genius displayed in the idle moments of an underemployed young doctor in Southsea. That doctor was Arthur Conan Doyle, the man who we honour today.
- Long may the memory stay green.
Following the ceremony, we retired to the Conan Doyle Room at the Crowborough Cross Hotel where the Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment has mounted its exhibition of ACD memorabilia.
The Society's President, Julian Symons, joined us for Dinner on Saturday evening, the highlight of which was Mark McPherson's special adaptation of his one-man play An Evening with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His interpretation was greatly enjoyed, and a review by Julian Symons is included in the articles which follow this account.
Julian Symons, whose 80th birthday fell in the same week, was to be honoured by the Society on Sunday morning. Owen Dudley Edwards, who had travelled to Tunbridge Wells via Hay-on-Wye (not, it should be said, a journey to be undertaken lightly), paid tribute to Julian Symons' career and contributions to the literature of the crime novel, and also emphasised the vast contributions which he had made to poetry and biography. In drawing parallels between the contributions to literature of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Julian Symons, Owen Dudley Edwards said:
- What should this Society be but one which is prepared to accept the extraordinary task of saying: 'Here is the person who, of our age, has most directly realised the legacy of Arthur Conan Doyle? It is a very very great statement to make, and I want us to make it. I want us to make it by a device of choosing for the Society a form of award, and I want us to make this award an Honorary Degree. The idea would be that the Society confers upon one person, for the whole of his or her natural life, the initials 'ACD', to follow that person's name; that it should be held by one person; that a replacement for that person would not be easy to find, and that it may take some considerable time for the place to be filled. But that we should make a start; and that we should start today. It may very well be said by an indignant President: 'Why was I not consulted about this?" (as any President is entitled to do when he finds himself confronted by all the obvious signs of a palace coup). The answer is, if I may borrow a phrase from ACD: 'There can be but one man. Exactly!" There can be but one man, and that man is our President, Julian Symons. I'm asking the Society to resolve to accord to him this Honorary Degree, this distinction, this ACD of our time.
- It is with this sense of our deepest gratitude to Julian Symons, our very great sense of obligation to him, that I ask you to join with me in saluting him as the successor to Conan Doyle, of our time and of asking him to accept our Honorary Degree of ACD.'
The proposal was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Julian Symons then responded by thanking us for the great honour and modestly assuring us that he was unworthy. His light-hearted reflections on what it was like to be eighty (well, nearly eighty!) included the assurance that it was better to be forty'. He then spoke of the very great liking which he had developed for ACD during the time he had been writing his short biography and treated us to the history behind that biography. He would, he said, have liked to have written a more extensive work, but realised, as he had done when considering a biography of George Orwell, that he would have wanted to say some things of which the family would have disapproved and he felt that, under those circumstances, and as he had no wish to hurt feelings, that it was a work better not undertaken. In any event, the lack of access to the family papers would have been an enormous obstacle to overcome.
The Society is grateful to Julian Symons for the time he takes in supporting us, and for the interest he shows in our growth and development. One of the aims he shares with us is to see much of Conan Doyle's fiction in print once more. We hope it will not be too long before that aim is realised.
Following the mid-morning break, Anne Jordan raised the question Why Spiritualism?, before Joe Cooper briefly addressed the topic of 'General Drayson's Eggs', introducing his short talk with a music-hall rendition of a song for a spiritualist musical. 'Is anybody there?".
The morning's proceedings were rounded off by Geoffrey Stavert who recalled Doctor Conan Doyle in Southsea, highlighting much of the material to be found in his book A Study in Southsea. In all, the programme had made it a truly memorable 'Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle'.
C.R.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
