Novello: Memorial Bust, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,

Sixteen items relating to the unveiling ceremony of the Ivor Novello Memorial at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 2 May 1952. The memorial was a bust by Clemence Dane, unveiled by Dame Sybil Thorndike with the reading of a poem by Mary Ellis.
7/1-3) R. E. Gray, Secretary, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Three signed typescript letters to Macqueen-Pope, with carbon of a reply. In his first letter, 30 May 1951, Gray writes that he will put 'the offer by his Executors of a bust of Ivor Novello, to be set up in Drury Lane' to the theatre's proprietor 'Mr. Littler' when he returns from holiday, adding: 'in the meantime I feel sure that my Directors would wish me to convey their thanks for the offer of this gift to the theatre'. The second letter, 15 June 1951 accepting the offer of the gift of a bust of Ivor Novello. In the third letter, 21 March 1952, Gray writes that he has spoken to Littler regarding the unveiling ceremony, but that Littler 'does not wish to perform the ceremony himself, he suggests that it might be a good idea if this were done by an artiste who was associated with the Novello productions at this Theatre, he did mention Miss Mary Ellis.' The letter ends: 'I quite agree about restricting it to guests only, otherwise we shall be inundated with "waves of hysteria".' With carbon of Macqueen-Pope's reply, in which he states that Ivor Novello's executors 'want Dame Sybil Thorndike, one of Ivor's oldest and staunchest friends, to take part also [...] We shall have to keep it quiet until the ceremony has actually been performed. And even then we shall have to guard the doors.' (5 items)
7/4-6) Typed press release, 'Wit[h] W. Macqueen Pope's Compliments': 'Ivor Novello Memorial at Drury Lane'. Typed draft of invitation to the unveiling ceremony. Typed 'Suggestion for Order of Ceremony at Unveiling of Ivor Novello Memorial'. (3 items)
7/7-9) Typed list of 'Ivor Novello Bust / Invitations', headed by Sir Edward Marsh, and including Gielgud, and Dame Sybil Thorndike, and with 'Mrs Loraine - representing Noel Coward' (with copy). With typed 'Suggested List of Guests for Unveiling of Bust of Ivor Novello. Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 2 May 1952', with manuscript additions, and together with manuscript list on which it was based. (5 items)
7/10-11) Two drafts (with copies) of 'Press Invitations - Ivor Novello Bust. 2 May 1952.' More than forty journalists (with the names of their newspapers) are included. (4 items)
7/12-16) Carbon copies of letters from Macqueen-Pope.
To 'Webby' regarding the 'inscription on Ivor's bust or the pedestal thereof', which is considered 'sufficient' by Christopher Hassall and Ivor's friends. Letters inviting Sybil Thorndike and Mary Ellis to the ceremony, both dated 24 April 1952. To Ellis he writes: 'The idea is that Sybil unveils it and then you speak your poem and that is all.'
Letter from Macqueen-Pope ('Press Representative / Theatre Royal, Drury Lane') to the Chief Picture News Editor, Daily Graphic, 28 April 1952, giving details of the ceremony. Concludes: 'The bust is the work of Clemence Dane, the famous novelist-artist-dramatist, who was a close personal friend of Mr Novello's. Macqueen-Pope to 'Mr Todman', 25 July 1951, stating that 'it has not yet been possible to fix a spot for Ivor's bust at the Lane owing to the fact that I have been so pressed with outside work, including a big pageant'. (5 items)

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.

Published