Member of The E.F.Benson Society

I didn’t tell you before – because I thought it somehow a bit – inappropriate maybe? – I, always moaning about the trials of our move to Berlin – had the cheek to jump a few days before the actual moving day into a plane and took a flight to London – to stay for 3 days…

But the event had been on my agenda for so long – even before I knew that we would ever move to Berlin!

Because 2010 was a Silver Jubilee Year.

I am a member of the E.F.Benson Society, which was formed 25 years ago “to celebrate and promote the life and works not only of E.F.Benson himself but also of his fascinating family.” The Silver Jubilee was held at St.Paul’s, by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter because Fred would often come to services there.

Only a jubilee – and only my adoration for Lucia (or Mrs. Emmeline Lucas) could call me to London admidst our move – “in the swim, Georgie, in the middle of things”. 

In St.Paul’s Evensong gave service to Leo the Great, but also, in the words of the Dean of St. Paul’s, the Rt. Rev. Graeme Knowles: “… so give joyful thanks to God for the happy contribution of E.F.Benson to our literary life. (…) most especially Mapp and Lucia, in whom we glimpse the comedy and tragedy of life gently evoked.”  

Those beautiful voices of the little choir boys – demurely but proud in their white over black acolyte dresses, the chorally rendered office from the Book of Common Prayer, the stern woman with the black and white robe with a sort of silver sword in her hand – all those rituals were very impressing. Not only the Dean but also two members of the E.F.Benson Society preached.

On the way to Dinner in the Guildhall (“Formal”) we lost our group, but after asking two true Londoners (“Come stay with us, Love!”) we found our way. It had been a cold beautiful frosty day in London, so at the Ladies Powder Room that meant: out of the boots, the leotards and into the silk stockings and High Heels,  the LBD and a pink stole. 

It was such a jolly evening, with interesting people – on the picture you see an American lawyer at my side, coming all the way from America to partake! On the other picture you see the Dean (who had just come back from America from a successful fundraising tour) and one of our Vice Presidents.

If I were a name dropper or had only a bit of Lucia’s snobbery in me I would have told you that among our Vice Presidents are The RT. Hon.The Lord St. John of Fawsley; The RT. Rev. Graeme Knowles, Armistead Maupin and Aubrey Woods. But like all the people in Riseholme or Tilling: that would not impress you much ;-)

I loved the formal dresses of the gents: two even had capes! I felt like Lucia, talking to such an illustre group! Miss Mapp was missing, and I could not detect Diva Plaistrow either, but Georgie Pillson must have been there.

I want to thank especially the Vice Chair and Secretary of the E.F.Benson Society, Allan Downend, for all his work and The Dodo, the E.F.Benson Journal. I will remember that day as a wonderful gem in a chain of very hectic ones!

Au reservoir! 

PS: info@efbensonsociety.org