Old Style Romance from Hugh Thompson

Putney resident publishes book based on great-grandparents’ letters

Author Hugh Thompson peruses old photographs
Author Hugh Thompson peruses old photographs

Participate

Good for You, Gavin

Sign up for our weekly Putney newsletter

Comment on this story on the

Long-time Putney resident Hugh Thompson has just published a book, when “Nelly met Arthur, A Victorian Romance, 1885”.

It is based on the correspondence of his great grandparents, Nelly a governess and Arthur a music publishing executive, between meeting on Boxing Day 1884 and marrying the next September.

“It a real eye opener on manners, They start off not using Christian names but pretty soon love is declared and it’s choosing the curtains. Arthur is a bit of a stickler and doesn’t like eating or even opening letters in the street. Nelly is a great worrier and an out and out romantic. How they approach their romance is a far cry from what modern lovers send each other. Absolutely delightful.

“Not least because there existed a treasure trove of family pictures and because they went onto found the international music publishing business Bosworth &Co which was only sold in 1990, one hundred years after it was founded. I got some contemporary newspapers and it was all put together brilliantly by down the road Putney Design.”

The book came about when early last year Hugh’s wife Vivien decided on a clear out and one last look into an old box uncovered 41 priceless letters. The book brings the story up to date which involves one great uncle getting an OBE and be awarded the Military Cross in WW1, a great aunt working as a nurse and marrying an eminent Canadian plastic surgeon and Hugh’s grandmother an renowned cellist meeting her Indian Army husband.

Hugh adds, “Very much a story of a Victorian/Edwardian family made good. Although some of the marriages didn’t end too well, the family has prospered, my sister Barbara Thompson, the world famous saxophonist was helped early in her career by Bosworth and Co.”

The book is being privately published and copies can be obtained by emailing scribbler2000@yahoo.com,

Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More

This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.

Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.

We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more.

However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.

We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.

A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.

One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.

If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.

For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.

 

February 19, 2021

Bookmark and Share