Ian Handford's series of significant people

EDEN PHILLPOTTS (Part Two)  

Eden Phillpotts and his great friend Kenneth Day became a close friend of the Society when requesting a Blue Plaque to celebrate EP's birthday on November 4, 2007. The event was professionally filmed for Kenneth by a Torquay-based BBC cameraman.

Eden was called EP by Kenneth and he raised funds for the Red Cross during the First World War by donating a personal ebony walking stick.  EP was astonished to realise valuers failed to recognise its true worth so wrote 'along with their diamonds and rubies the walking stick should go' and after reassessment it, raised a handsome sum.

It was in 1921 that Torbay Council made EP a Freeman of the Borough and with his wife Robina they remained resident until 1929 before moving to Broadclyst at Honiton.

EP hated publicity and we know he made only two public appearances in his 98 years of life. The first was in 1904 after travelling to Exeter to attend the unveiling of a plaque honouring another friend R D Blackmore –author of Lorna Doone in the Cathedral. The only other came when appearing in an interview on TV alongside John Betjeman (who he greatly admired). 

Even in his early career, invites to prestigious events in London were always refused. Even a Westcountry Writers Association Conference in Torquay was refused, even though a toast to him was given.

Robina would read out his message to attendees. On his 90th birthday in London the Authors Club celebrated EP's life but again he declined although sent a poignant message stating -  'In some cases a man's work is all we want to remember about him. In others his work may be the first thing we want to forget. For me to know myself,  I am still in the memory of the rising generation awakens great pride and makes this birthday a red-letter occasion'

He also never attended any opening of plays, yet although some were seen as classics.

EP dubbed himself a mere 'rank and file writer'. The sheer volume and diversity of this author always made it difficult for his public to read all his work. With detective stories, travel books and poetry being very different reading, when short stories, essays, philosophy and stage plays were added it was obviously challenging to even his most ardent of followers.  

This amazing writer told how he hastened sleep when stating 'he often enumerates famous names and generally chooses those eminent in the arts. Tonight I might bring great painters to my mind, tomorrow summon a regiment of composers, or poets, or novelists, and so call a hundred and more of the illustrious to recollection'.

Yet today he is rarely remembered in spite of his five volumes of adolescence and Old Delabole published before a plethora of books in a series on Dartmoor.

Amazon's website still lists 33 publications by Phillpotts during his 1862-1960 period, and yet he would leave all his first editions to Torquay Library before his death in his 98th year on December 29,h 1960 at Broadclyst, Exeter.

Today just a rare tree, a Magnolia Campbellii remains in what was EP's garden over 90 years ago. Due to the support of Barrett Homes it can still be viewed at the Torre Marine site, a hundred yards from where Eltham was demolished.

The young sapling planted by EP and daughter Adelaide over 100 years ago, took 30-plus plus years to flower and today it repeats this only occasionally. We ensured the tree was protected in perpetuity by erecting a special metal tree guard with a special stainless plaque.

It together with a mason carved commemorative plaque on the front of Torquay Town Hall stating -  'Read wisely for a good book is a faithful friend - Eden Phillpotts 1907', and our Blue Plaque at Oakhill Road are the sole memorials to this amazing writer who wrote even more books than Agatha Christie.  

IAN'S COMMENT - Eden Phillpotts spent most of his life writing at his desk ultimately producing 300 books which does not include scripts and other works.

NEXT WEEK - SIR ARTHUR SLOGGETT

A copy of our pamphlet Edene Phillpotts may still be obtained by sending 2x First Class stamps and a small SAE. to Office 4 at No.1 Palace Avenue Paignton TQ3 3HA