The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother, and Me
Page 43
lets slip that Robert was not Victoria’s father 375–83
death of 388
Heber-Percy, Robert Vernon (1911–1987)
character and descriptions of 2, 7, 10, 11, 54, 57–8, 61, 63–4, 74, 77, 153, 183–4, 241, 242–3, 313, 317
nicknamed the Mad Boy 2
welcomes his granddaughter and her mother to Faringdon 2–9
1943 photograph of 6, 7
death and funeral 9, 346–9
meets Gerald at Vaynol 11–12, 70–73
birth of 32, 50
family background 50–53, 57
dressed as a girl by his mother 53
education 53–4, 59–61
subjected to strong parental discipline 54–6
portrait of 59
leads a madcap life of decadent pleasure 61–3, 65–73, 317
joins the Army 62–4, 206, 213–14
asked to resign his commission 64–5
homosexual life and loves 67–9, 265–7, 317, 320, 336
brief engagement to Kathleen Meyrick 68–70
relationship with Gerald 74, 76–81, 89, 241
tries to commit suicide 78
takes up hunting 80–81
involved in local country life 90, 92–94
rides in the Grand National 97, 98
as superstitious 97–8
youthful friendships 99–112
dislike of Cecil Beaton 106, 323–5
relationship with Peter Watson 108
political views 120–24
believes the Folly was a 21st birthday present 132, 134
possible rift with Gerald 135
friendships and sexual involvement with women 137, 144, 155, 240, 318, 320–23
given ink drawing by Picasso 137–8
as Kit Lambert’s godfather 150
in charge of estate matters 153–4, 242
accompanies de Gaury to Saudi Arabia 188, 189, 195–200
involved in espionage 196, 200
letter to Gerald on his Arabian experiences 196–8
prepares a list of suggestions for Gerald to follow
in wartime 198–9
referred to as Gerald’s ‘agent’ 207–8
returns to Faringdon 214, 215
antipathy towards Clarissa Churchill 217–18
involved in Gerald’s play The Furies 234
marries Jennifer 235–8
relationship with Jennifer 241, 250, 278–9, 283, 300–301
health of 244, 245, 338–9
delighted with his daughter Victoria 248–9, 278–9
joins the Auxiliary Fire Service 256
separates from Jennifer 260, 263
relationship with Hugh Cruddas 265–7, 292–3, 312, 314
divorces Jennifer 275
looks after Faringdon and Gerald in his final
illness 283–7
feels lost without Gerald 287
furious with Peter for playing the piano at
Faringdon 304–6
asks Victoria and the children to join him on a
cruise to South Africa 308–9
life at Faringdon after Gerald’s death 310–20
allows elderly traveller to camp near Faringdon 313–14
enjoys foreign travel, particularly to Africa 313, 315, 322
love of controversy and tendency to shock 313–14, 315, 317, 330, 331, 339
takes over undertaker business 315
continues to welcome guests to Faringdon 317–20
celebrates Gerald’s musical and literary legacy 322, 394
relationship with Sofka 327–35
invites Jennifer to Faringdon 336–8
marries Coote Lygon 339–42
leaves Faringdon to Sofka 343–5
uncertainty as to his being Victoria’s biological
father 375–83
gives the Folly to Faringdon town 393
Heber-Percy, Victoria Gala see Zinovieff, Victoria
Heine, Heinrich 37
Helpmann, Robert 147, 150
Hemingway, Ernest 151
Henry VIII 41, 251, 353
Hepworth, Barbara 205
Herbert, David 267
Herbert, George, 5th Earl of Carnarvon 158
Herbert, Henry, 4th Earl of Carnarvon 157–8
Herbert, Lady Herbert 157–8
Herbert, Lady Victoria ‘Aunt Vera’ 167, 248
Herbert, Winifred see Gardner, Winifred Herbert
Hess, Myra 234
Heygate, John 170, 170n
High Bohemia 67–70
High Numbers (rock band) 319
Hill, Anne 226
Hill, Heywood 226, 254
Hitler, Adolf 119, 120, 123, 124, 186, 261
Mein Kampf 119, 356
Hobdell, Roy 291
Hodnet Hall (Shropshire) 32, 50, 50–56, 58, 64, 76, 98, 135, 382
Hoffman, Mrs Eleanor ‘Margot’ 112, 224
Hogarth Press 219
Holding (gamekeeper at Hodnet) 54
Holiday, Billie 202
Holst, Gustav 168
Horizon literary magazine 107, 182, 205–6, 232–3, 283
Hornbuckle, Patricia (housekeeper at Faringdon) 386
Horrocks, Samuel 356
Horrocks, Sarah 356, 368, 388
Howard, Brian 183, 232
Hulton-Harrop family 51
Huxley, Aldous 128
Ibn Sa’ud, King 188–9, 196
Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain 1942 227–8
International Surrealist Exhibition (London, 1936) 140–41
Jackson, Derek 104, 122, 254, 257
Jackson, Vivian 122–3
James, Edward 90, 139–40, 143, 270, 283
James, Henry 79
John, Augustus 296
‘John Knox’ (bird of Paradisaeidae family) 85
Johnson, Celia 168
Johnson, Ken‘Snake Hips’ 201
Johnston, Nicholas ‘Nicky’ 329
Johnston, Susanna 329
Kaye, Florence ‘Mouse’ 149–50
Keene, Mary 276
Keppel, Alice 44
Kinnoull, Mary Meyrick, Countess of 69
Kipling, Rudyard 171
Knox, John 85
Koestler, Arthur 232
Kretschmer, Edmund 28
Lamb, Henry 108n
Lamb, Lady Pansy 108n
Lambert (butler at Faringdon) 84
Lambert, Christopher ‘Kit’ 150, 319–20
Lambert, Constant (1905–1951)
comments on Gerald’s use of wit in music 37, 38
conducts Gerald’s ballet A Wedding Bouquet 147
writes music for Diaghilev 147
description of 148–9
friendship with Gerald 148
as Sitwell protégé 148–9
crisis in his marriage to Florence Kaye 149–50
as legendary reciter of Façade 149
health of 150, 187
as regular visitor to Faringdon 150, 159, 283, 379
relationship with Fonteyn 150
visits the Gargoyle Club 232
death of 319
Lancaster, Osbert 93
Lane, Philip 322, 394
Larkin, Philip, Jill 206
Las Pozas (Mexico) 140
Laughter in the Dark (film, 1969) 313
Laura, Duchess of Marlborough 323
Law, Andrew Bonar 159
Law, Freddie 286
Law, Mrs (cook at Faringdon) 216
Lees-Milne, James (1908–1997)
comment on the Princess de Polignac 223
travels round England on behalf of the National
Trust 225
comment on Jennifer’s ‘accident’ when laughing uncontrollably 255
comments on his visit to Faringdon 258–9
excoriating description of Jennifer’s party 275
Lehmann, John 280, 295
Lehmann, Rosamund 276
Les Six (Auric, Durey, Honegger, Milhaud, Poulenc,
Tailleferre) 44
Lewis, Rosa 65–6
Listener 288
London
Gargoyle Club (Soho) 7, 183, 231–2, 263
Tate Gallery (Tate Britain) 43
Harrow School 59, 69
Cavendish Hotel (Jermyn Street) 65–6, 182
Jules Hotel (Jermyn Street) 65
Café Royal 67, 183
Savoy Turkish Baths 67–8
‘Clarkson’s Cottage’ 68
Lily Pond tearoom 68
Lyons Corner House 68, 71
43 Club (Gerrard Street) 69
Silver Slipper (Regent Street) 69
Reid & Lefevre Gallery 96–7
Ritz Hotel 129
New Burlington Galleries 141
Sadler’s Wells 146–7, 153, 187, 268
Miss Wolff’s Girls’ School (Park Lane) 167
Sloane House (Chelsea) 167, 168, 181
St Paul’s Girls’ School 168, 173
500 Club 169
Taylor Institution Library (St Giles) 192
Café de Paris 201
Dorchester Hotel 223–5, 244
Heywood Hill Bookshop (Mayfair) 226, 245
Claridge’s 236
Royal Opera House 268
Lady Eden’s School for Girls (South Kensington) 299–300
Purcell Room 322, 394
Royal Festival Hall 394
London Blitz 222, 231–2, 233, 258
London Magazine 295, 296
Longworth (Gerald’s first object of desire) 24, 25
Lorca, Federico García 142, 213
Losch, Tilly 140
Lubbock, Ian 233–4, 243, 380, 383
Lubbock, Lys 232–3
Luke, Michael ‘Mickey’ 264–5, 272–3, 277, 280, 296, 298
Lycett Green, Candida Betjeman 317, 321
Lygon, Lady Dorothy ‘Coote’ (1912–2001)
childhood at Madresfield 99–100
description of 99, 104–5, 321–2
as regular visitor to Faringdon 103–5, 291, 321, 329
as role model for Cordelia in Brideshead Revisited 103
Waugh as ‘flirtatious older brother’ to 103
joins the WAAF 245
post-war life 321
marries Robert 339–42
returns to Lime Tree Cottage 342
at Robert’s funeral 348
continues to visit Faringdon after Robert’s death 354–5
helps to scatter Robert’s ashes at Faringdon 359
death of 388
Lygon family 66, 102, 156, 170, 269
Lygon, Hugh Patrick (1904–1936) 102–3
Lygon, Lady Lettice Beauchamp (1876–1936) 100–10, 103
Lygon, Lady Mary ‘Maimie’ (1910–1982) 99
as regular visitor to Faringdon 103–4
as role model for Julia Flyte in Brideshead
Revisited 103
Waugh as ‘flirtatious older brother’ to 103
description of 104
marriage to Prince Vsevolode 187–8
sexually involved with Robert 240, 354
Lygon, Lady Sibell (1907–2005) 101, 102
Lygon, William, 7th Earl Beauchamp ‘Boom’ (1872–1938) 99, 171
relationship with his children 100
exiled abroad 101–2
homosexual relationships 101
death of 103
Lygon, William, Viscount Elmley (1903–1979) 102, 104
MacLean, Donald 281
Madresfield Court (Worcestershire) 99, 101–4, 170, 171, 354, 388
Magritte, René 140
Manley (Great Dane) 316
Mannini, Tito (Gerald’s cook) 34, 102
Mardie (nanny to Victoria) 278, 281–2, 300
Margaret, Princess, Countess of Snowdon 318
Martin (gardener at Faringdon) 358
Mary Chess Company 201
Mary, Queen 12
Matisse, Henri 96, 150, 231
Maugham, Syrie 12, 84
Messel, Oliver 42, 108, 113, 124
Meyrick, Mrs Kate Nason 68–70
Meyrick, Kathleen 68–70, 156
Mills, John 246
Mimis, Mr (Greek landlord) 346
Minton, John 281, 296
Mitford, Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire (b. 1920) 97, 117, 120, 376–7
Mitford, Diana see Mosley, Diana
Mitford, Jessica ‘Decca’ (1917–1996)
told of Passing Fancy’s fall in the Grand National 97
dedicated to Communism 117, 120, 124
comment on the London season 176
Mitford, Nancy (1904–1973) 245
description of Faringdon 29, 84
comment on primogeniture 58
as Nancy the Novelist 117
brief flirtation with Fascism 124
comment on the Evelyns 169
friendship with ‘She-Evelyn’ 170
engagement to Hamish St Clair Erskine 179
as a dandy 181
friendship with the Harrods 204
Foreign Office asks her opinion on her sister
Diana 221
as frequent visitor to Faringdon 226
wartime work 226
comment on children 251
comment on Hamish St Clair Erskine winning the MC 255
involved in mischief-making concerning Hugh Cruddas 267
learns of Jennifer’s liaison with Henry Yorke 276–7
comment on Gerald’s health 282
comment on the 1960s 319
writes letter of possible condolence to Jennifer 380
The Pursuit of Love 5, 13, 84, 133, 204, 269, 311
Wigs on the Green 125
Mitford, Pamela (1907–1994) 117, 122, 254, 257
Mitford sisters 2, 102, 116, 156, 186, 269
Mitford, Tom 226
Mitford, Unity (1914–1948) 117, 119, 120, 123
Monsell, Joan Eyres 203, 203n
Moore, George 127
Morris, Mr (head gardener at Faringdon) 87, 198, 216, 252
Mosley, Diana Mitford (1910–2003) 71
marries Bryan Guinness 116–17
falls in love with (and marries) Oswald Mosley 117, 118–20
friendship with Gerald 117–18, 122, 124–5, 220–22, 267
rejected and ostracised by many 117
obsession with Hitler 119–20, 123–4, 321
description of 120
appalled with Wigs on the Green by Nancy 124–5
comment on Daisy Fellowes 146
comment on Gerald’s wartime anxieties 191
appears in Gerald’s dreams 194
imprisoned under Defence Regulation 18B 220–22
leaves Holloway prison 257
as regular visitor to Faringdon 257, 321
comment on Waugh’s praying for Gerald 271
comments on Gerald’s health 282, 284
attends Gerald’s funeral 286
Mosley, Oswald (1896–1980)
falls in love with (and marries) Diana Mitford 117 118–20
variety of people attracted to his New Party 118–19
holds Blackshirts’ rally in Olympia stadium 121–3
drops the word ‘Fascist’ but continues anti-Semitic
stance 123
briefly supported by Nancy Mitford and satirised
by her 124–5
holds rally in Earls Court 186
joins his wife in prison 222
released from prison 257
Moti (horse owned by Penelope Betjeman) 93–4
Muggeridge, Malcolm 233
Mussolini, Benito 42, 118, 123
Nash, Paul 136, 205
National Hunt (Cheltenham, 1934) 98
National Trust 225
Nazis 124
Nelson, Mrs Dora (Gerald’s cook) 88–9
Newick, Jeremy 326, 327, 329, 343
Nicholas Nickleby (film, 1947) 268
Nichols, Beverley 25–6, 127, 147, 266
Nicolson, Harold (1886–1968)
as jun
ior diplomat 27, 32
description of Gerald 32–8
as puffed-up character in story by Berners 32
‘mis-hears’ Lord Beauchamp’s words to his butler 101
seduced by Fascism 118
friendship with Gerald 125, 133
teased endlessly by Gerald 130, 211
contemplates German victory 191
fearful of ‘being buried under masonry’ 202
provides rationed paper for new Horizon magazine 205
hit by umbrella wielded by Dottie Wellesley 220
as visitor to Faringdon 224
Nifty (whippet) 370
Niven, David (1910–1983)
comment on Jennifer Fry 8
joins the Army Film Unit 246
marries Primula Rollo 246
shares memories with Robert 246–7
as visitor to Faringdon 246
description of 247–8
visits Jennifer and Billa at Oare House 263
gives farewell party at Claridge’s 273
goes to America 273–4
death of his wife Prim 274
Niven, David Jr 246, 263
Niven, Jamie 273
Niven, Primula Rollo (1918–1946)
education 172–3
friendship with Jennifer 172, 178
as visitor to Faringdon 185
marries David Niven 246, 248
as godparent to baby Victoria 253
visits Jennifer and Billa at Oare House 263
gives birth to Jamie 273
death of 274
Nuremberg rally 119
Oare House (Wiltshire) 162–4, 170, 181, 200, 201, 244, 260, 262, 296, 306
Obolensky, Prince Sergei 140
Observer 295
Olivier, Laurence 246
Olympia rally (1934) 121–3
Olympic Games (Munich, 1936) 119
Orwell, George 66, 205
Oxford (city) 200–201, 202–3, 209
St Giles’ 192–3, 209, 216
Randolph Hotel 205
Radcliffe Hospital 210, 216
Oxford Mail 132
Oxford Playhouse 234
Oxford Repertory Players 234–5
Oxford set 67
Oxford Times 235
Oxford University 182–3, 188, 214
Paget, Lady Caroline 292
Pansy Lamb (golden retriever) 108
Papadimitriou, Anna 374, 387
Papadimitriou, Lara 375, 384, 387
Papadimitriou, Vassilis 372–4, 384–8
Pargeter, Don (groundsman at Faringdon) 347, 364, 386
Partridge, Frances 254
Passing Fancy (horse) 97, 185
Peggy (Ward), Countess of Munster 310–11
Percy, William de 51
Peter (homosexual friend of Jennifer Fry) 180
Petty-Fitzmaurice, Charles, 7th Marquess of
Lansdowne 377, 379
Petty-Fitzmaurice, Edward Norman 376–80, 383
Petty-Fitzmaurice, Elizabeth 377, 379
Petty-Fitzmaurice, Henry, 6th Marquess of
Lansdowne 376
Petty-Fitzmaurice, Kitty, Baroness Nairne 377, 379
Piaf, Edith 202