Sublime Tobacco - Compton Mackenzie

[jaingorenard]

From a cursory glance I can see this book has been discussed on the forum before, so this might interest/amuse some of you. Compton Mackenzie also wrote Whisky Galore, for those who know the Ealing comedies. Anyway, having never read it I thought I'd pick up a copy from the online Oxfam shop - the choice was between a £20 paperback copy or a £7 hardback, so I chose the hardback. It turned out to be a first edition with this letter tucked in the front.

 

[huntertrw]

We consider that the book is well worth reading and will provide a useful background of information on the whole subject of tobacco.

I cannot agree more!

You are a lucky fellow to have found this book and its enclosed letter. You will find that the former reads best when accompanied by a pipe of your favorite tobacco.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Wow there's a piece.. what a fortuitous find!

 

[camaguey]

Wonderfull book. One of the best i have ever read about the subject.

 

[simong]

An informative & humorous read, probably the best I’ve read on the subject. If you haven’t read it before, you’re in for a treat!
Like Barrie & Priestly, Mackenzie was a gentleman of a different era & like the tobacco those gentlemen enjoyed, a far better one than today.

If you’re anything like me, along with the fascinating history you’ll feel enlivened by the wit & humour in his writing.

after you’ve read it you’ll probably feel a little depressed with our modern era. Social media, forums, reviewers & all the rest of it.
From a good book to YouTube……what have we become?

 

[jaingorenard]

An informative & humorous read, probably the best I’ve read on the subject. If you haven’t read it before, you’re in for a treat!
Like Barrie & Priestly, Mackenzie was a gentleman of a different era & like the tobacco those gentlemen enjoyed, a far better one than today.

If you’re anything like me, along with the fascinating history you’ll feel enlivened by the wit & humour in his writing.

after you’ve read it you’ll probably feel a little depressed with our modern era. Social media, forums, reviewers & all the rest of it.
From a good book to YouTube……what have we become?

The 'YTPC' - I'll never understand it!

 

[jaingorenard]

Having tried to find out some information about Mr Beckwith, I can find nothing connecting him to the tobacco trade. He appears to have been an officer in the Sherwood Foresters who was captured in the war, and edited and wrote various things, including some war poetry.

 

[simong]

Having tried to find out some information about Mr Beckwith, I can find nothing connecting him to the tobacco trade. He appears to have been an officer in the Sherwood Foresters who was captured in the war, and edited and wrote various things, including some war poetry.

You might want to enquire at the university of Nottingham. They’re quite involved with the ex workers from player’s. Mr. Beckwith sounds like he might have been a local lad (local to n’ham-Sherwood regt).

 

[huntertrw]

If anyone might be able to shed light on the person of Mr. E.G.C. Beckwith, it would be our own jguss.

 

[jpberg]

Whisky Galore is such a great movie.
@simong , I’m asking the mods to ban you for a week for posting that abomination, and myself for a week, for watching it.

 

[jguss]

Having tried to find out some information about Mr Beckwith, I can find nothing connecting him to the tobacco trade. He appears to have been an officer in the Sherwood Foresters who was captured in the war, and edited and wrote various things, including some war poetry.

Absolutely right. To add a bit more, Edward George Chichester (EGC) Beckwith was born in Barnstaple, Devon on February 27 1905 to Richard Hornby Beckwith (1863-1921) and Janet Chichester (1884-1966). EGC was one of a family of two sons and three daughters. The father, Richard, was not in the tobacco trade, but his son EGC was by the age of 24 when his marriage record lists him as manager of a tobacco factory. Ditto the manifest eleven years later for a 1935 sailing to NY. During WW2 EGC achieved the rank of Captain and was interned in a German POW camp after being captured in Norway in April of 1940. He eventually received the Territorial Decoration for his long service with the Sherwood Foresters, and as jaingorenard notes wrote and published much poetry related to the war. In a May 1957 manifest (just a few months before the letter posted in the thread above) EGC is listed as a Director, and while there is no other evidence I suspect it was of a company in or associated with the tobacco trade. EGC died in the Cotswolds district on April 8, 1981 in Moreton-in-Marsh.

 

[huntertrw]

jguss comes through, again! Thank-you, Sir!

 

[jguss]

It’s probably worth adding that Beckwith wrote an unpublished history of John Player & Sons which explains (or reflects as the case may be) the connection between the letter writer and the recipient.

 

[huntertrw]

jguss:

Any speculation on who the letter-writer might have been?

 

[jguss]

As for Beckwith this letter dated the end of 1964 confirms his connection with JPS, and suggests that his entire career was with Imperial Tobacco (on the operations side for at least the 1920s and 1930s and most likely for the duration of his employment):



As for the letter writer if you can read his given name (I can't) and supply a surname I'll be glad to give it a shot. All that's clear from the letter is that his initials were J. A.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

In addition to writing poetry, Beckwith also edited a book titled The Quill: A Collection of Prose, Verse and Sketches by Officers Prisoner-of-War in Germany, 1940–1945.

 

[augiebd]

Amazing find and incredible context provided by forum members. Always love the rich source of knowledge that is only available here.

 

[huntertrw]

As for the letter writer if you can read his given name (I can't) and supply a surname I'll be glad to give it a shot. All that's clear from the letter is that his initials were J. A.

Based upon information contained in this Website (A History of John Player & Sons and its Horizon Factory · People at Players - https://peopleatplayers.omeka.net/horizon), my guess is that J.A. was none other than John Anstey, former Chairman and Managing Director of Player's, although I have a hard time reading either "Jonathan" or "Johnnie" from the signature.

 

[jguss]

Given Beckwith’s apparent seniority at the company that seems like a good guess

 

[jaingorenard]

Absolutely right. To add a bit more, Edward George Chichester (EGC) Beckwith was born in Barnstaple, Devon on February 27 1905 to Richard Hornby Beckwith (1863-1921) and Janet Chichester (1884-1966). EGC was one of a family of two sons and three daughters. The father, Richard, was not in the tobacco trade, but his son EGC was by the age of 24 when his marriage record lists him as manager of a tobacco factory. Ditto the manifest eleven years later for a 1935 sailing to NY. During WW2 EGC achieved the rank of Captain and was interned in a German POW camp after being captured in Norway in April of 1940. He eventually received the Territorial Decoration for his long service with the Sherwood Foresters, and as jaingorenard notes wrote and published much poetry related to the war. In a May 1957 manifest (just a few months before the letter posted in the thread above) EGC is listed as a Director, and while there is no other evidence I suspect it was of a company in or associated with the tobacco trade. EGC died in the Cotswolds district on April 8, 1981 in Moreton-in-Marsh.

Based upon information contained in this Website (A History of John Player & Sons and its Horizon Factory · People at Players - https://peopleatplayers.omeka.net/horizon), my guess is that J.A. was none other than John Anstey, former Chairman and Managing Director of Player's, although I have a hard time reading either "Jonathan" or "Johnnie" from the signature.

It could be J Anstey? Very difficult to tell.