ANGUS McBEAN : SECOND COMING : AT ART ON THE HILL, NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES

 

ANGUS McBEAN’S SECOND COMING

IN ART ON THE HILL : ST MARKS CHURCH 

NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES NP20 4PH

SAT 29 NOVEMBER –SUN 30 NOVEMBER

12pm-5pm

FREE ENTRANCE

ST MARKS CHURCH NEWPORT NP20 4PH

ANGUS McBEAN ORIGINALS FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT

SOME THEATRE ICONS

PHOTOS ON  BACK ROW :   NAMES  OF ACTORS/ ACTRESSES AND SETTING

PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013),  in “JB’,  by Alexander Macleish  at the Phoenix Theatre,  London, 1961.

VIVIEN LEIGH, (1913-1967), in 1955,  as Viola   in Shakespeare’s  “ TWELFTH NIGHT” .

LAURENCE OLIVER,  (1907-1989 ) as  “ Titus Andronicus”  Stratford,  1955 Season.  

RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ), as King Henry  V at Stratford Memorial Theatre, 1951.

PATRICK LUDLOW, (1903-1996). Best known for his roles in Noel Coward Comedies.

PHOTOS IN MIDDLE ROW : NAMES OF ACTORS/ACTRESSES AND SETTING

OKLAHOMA’. DRURY LANE, LONDON. 1948.  Howard Keel ( 1919-2004) as “Curly”.

DONALD SINDEN, (1923-2014),  as “JB’  at the Phoenix Theatre , London,  with  CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, ( 1910-2005). 

DONALD SINDEN, (1923-2014),  as “JB’  with PAUL ROGERS, ( 1917-2013),  as Nickles, Phoenix Theatre, London, 1961. 

Two Unknown Players in a Kodak reproduction. May be MICHAEL GOODLIFFE (  1914-1976) and ROSEMARY LEACH ( 1935-2017)  c1961. Kodak Image. found in a junk shop.

Appearing left to right   RODDY MAUDE –ROXBY (born 1930 ),  DONALD SINDEN,  (1923-2014),   GEOFFREY CHATER, (1921-2021),  &  FELIX FELTON,  ( 1911-1972), “ JB”, London. 

PHOTOS ON BOTTOM ROW: NAMES OF ACTORS/ ACTRESSES AND SETTING

Actress/ Fashion Icon AUDREY HEPBURN ( 1919-1993)  Poster Girl.  c 1950 Audrey in an  advert for LACTO-CALAMINE.

A Personal Christmas Card  Image from Angus and his partner David Ball to a friend, Marika. The message  reads “ For Marika Happy Christmas Love Angus and David”.

From 1936, Actors  IVOR  NOVELLO ( 1892-1951)  and MARIUS GORING ( 1912-1998)  in the play   “ The Happy Hypocrite” ,  HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, LONDON. 

VIVIEN LEIGH,  (1913-1967), as Blanche de Bois in  Laurence Olivier’s English  Premier production of “ STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE”, in 1950, at the Aldwych Theatre, London.

GERALDINE McEWAN, (1932-2015) , in 1954,  as Annie in  “For Better, For Worse”, Comedy Theatre, London and on UK Tour. Studio Photograph by McBean.

QUENTIN CRISP, (1908-1990). Raconteur, Author and art model. Lover of  McBean in the 1930s.  The 1968 cover for Crisp’s  memoir “ The Naked Civil Servant”  is based on a photograph by Angus  McBean.

BEATRIX LEHMANN, (1903- 1979) Actress.  Studio Work,  London, 1938.

IVOR  NOVELLO,  (1892-1951) : Playwright  & Actor.  1930s.   Studio  Portrait. Portsmouth.

IVOR NOVELLO,  (1892-1951):  2nd image (c1930s) Studio Portrait. Portsmouth.

FRASER CAMERON LOWDEN, ( 1932-2003). Producer & Actor. Worked with Angus  McBean  in the 1958 Manchester production of “ WEST SIDE STORY”.

Further information/ contact William Cross on email

williecross@aol.com

BRIEF LIVES: GEOFFREY GOMER DAVIES: 1908-1954

 

BRIEF LIVES: GEOFFREY GOMER DAVIES: 1908-1954

ACTOR AND THEATRE OWNER WITH DAVID LAMBERT

Geoffrey Gomer [Davies] was born in London  on 7 February 1908 and died today on 4 November 1954 at Dartford in Kent.

His father was Robert Cropley Davies , ( 1874-1941),  a  solicitor, his mother, Ethel  Beatrice Woolf ( 1878-1952),  was a Yorkshire lass.  The family home  with several siblings, was first at Gerrards Cross and Geoffrey later moved to Hartford, near Dartford.

He was educated at Lancing College, West Sussex,  and became an army cadet, he later joined the Territorial Army and he was also a Police Reservist.

As “ Geoffrey Gomer” he made a name for himself  as a stage  actor and stage manager  with  his  close friend and business partner, David Lambert, whose family was based in Lewisham, South London.

                              The Richmond Players

The Gomer/ Lambert combo thrived  for many years, with weekly rep played out at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln and  The Scala, Dartford.  As the “Richmond Players” they toured the country  in a number of shows, including Emlyn Williams’ drama “ Night Must Fall”, the screw ball American comedy        farce “ Arsenic and Old Lace” and Noel Coward’s “ Hay Fever”. 

                             Where the Rainbow Ends

In the 1930s, a notable role for Geoffrey as an actor was to play St George for four years at the Holborn Empire in “ Where The Rainbow Ends”,  a favourite Christmas children's entertainment.

In 1932 Gomer received rave notices for his performance in an epic show,  “ Miracle at Verdum”, a war parable  staged at the Embassy Theatre, London.

He also co-starred  at the Apollo Theatre, with stage luminaries Sybil Throndike and Marie Tempest in “ The Distaff Side” and with Ellen Pollock and Leo Glenn in “ Beggars in Hell” at the Garrick Theatre, in 1933.

             Geoffrey the Broadcaster in Rome in WW2

During the Second World War Geoffrey was a prominent radio producer and front man for the BBC, broadcasting at ‘pop up’ stations throughout Europe. He was later on the staff of  the BBC’s Light programme department. He also formed the Geoffrey Gomer Agency, providing freelance news services.

After demob from the army he joined up with fellow actors  David Lambert (1916-1979)  and Kenneth Cleveland (1920-2004),  with a season at the little Torch Theatre at Hyde Park Corner, in Knightsbridge. Their first presentation was Jack Alldridge's war story, set in Italy,  “All This Is  Ended”.

 Geoffrey later appeared in an early live recorded  BBC TV film,  of  "All This Is Ended"   the play produced  at the Torch, about the affects of war and  "Without the Prince"  ( 1947)  another BBC production,  an adaptation of a stage play by Philip King, a farce set in a rural English village. 

In the 1950s, despite  success and popular support  Goeffrey and David's beloved  Richmond Players were hit hard with financial problems, worries over the lease of  the 900 seat  Scala Theatre at Dartford.  

Scala Theatre, Dartford ( now closed)

These two bold and brave theatre men tried to keep a brave face on things, forming a Theatre Club but other factors were beyond their control.

The last shows  at Scala in the mid 1950s remain the last legacy of  Geoffrey Gomer and  David Lambert.

https://theatricalia.com/place/64y/scala-theatre-dartford-dartford

But  the much  greater sadness was over the uncertainty created by the deterioration in Geoffrey’s health  and this brought  its own dire climax.   

  Geoffrey Gomer Davies Grave at All Saints, Hartley

The end came suddenly, Geoffrey died  at  the early age of 46, with so much left to do. He was buried at All Saints, Hartley, where a small gravestone ( much weathered by time) can be found.

Another of the very great what might have beens.

 

William Cross, FSA Scot

4 November 2025

For more information, contact Will by email.

williecross@aol.com

For more information contact Will 

 

Remembering Lt. Hon. Simon Fraser: Gordon Highlanders: Killed in Action 29 October 1914

 

                        

                              Hon. Simon Fraser (1888-1914)

                                 KILLED IN ACTION TODAY  29 OCTOBER 1914

                          A WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

The photograph of Simon, above, is from Charterhouse School. [1]  The only surviving photograph of  Simon otherwise is as a young boy. [2]   Alas, no photograph survives of him  in the Gordon Highlanders Museum Collection.

Hon. Simon Fraser, 2nd Lieutenant 3rd Battalion (attached to 2^nd Battalion) Gordon Highlanders was  killed in action on  29 October 1914. [3]  He is remembered on Panel 38 Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.  Son of 18th Baron Saltoun and Lady Saltoun, of Philorth, Fraserburgh, Aberdeen. Several of  the sons of the Saltouns served in the Great War.  [4]

Simon was born on 7 September 1888, educated at Winton House, Winchester (prep school) and Charterhouse School, Godalming. He took up a business career in the City of London with Greenwell & Co, and in 1912 became a member of the Stock Exchange.  He was gazetted a 2^nd Lieut. 3^rd Gordon Highlanders 7 September 1914.  Served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. Later attached to the 2^nd Battalion of the Gordons.

Simon had everything to live for, handsome, sporty, a talented young man, like so many that were killed in battle in the Great War.  A what might have been, had he been spared. In the last year of his life he was often seen in the company of Hon. Gwyneth Ericka Morgan, ( 1895-1924), a childhood and family friend, they enjoyed each other's company at dances, balls and weekend jaunts to house parties.

Lieut. Col. H P Uniacke, commanding the 2^nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, wrote on 3 November 1914: “It is with the deepest regret that I write to tell you that poor Simon was killed .... when fighting a difficult rear guard action. Willie [5] (Simon’s younger brother) buried him in the morning of the 29 October in the grounds of an old chateau.”

  

A fellow officer, 2nd Lieut. Peter Duguid, adds: “Simon and I were with our platoons in a trench on the left of the Gordons’ position. The Germans came up on our left and drove back the troops there, and we had to take up new positions as we were enfiladed by a machine gun. In doing this I got a bullet through the flesh of my right arm. When we had time, Simon put on a field dressing for me, and also attended to two of his own men who were hit. We had to fall back to the village of Zandvoorde, where we helped to organise the men. About noon Simon very gallantly carried a box of ammunition to a machine gun over an open field under fire. I  rejoined him later and we took cover in a ditch during some very heavy shelling about 2pm. He had offered me a drink of water and had changed his position to further down the ditch when a shell burst near him and though I ran to him at once there was nothing I could do. I am sure he did not suffer.  I shall always think of his cheerfulness and fortitude whatever had to be done, He had an extraordinary aptitude for the work, and all his men liked him.” [6]

Ypres -Menin Gate Memorial

EXTRACTED FROM "THE MORGANS OF TREDEGAR HOUSE GREAT WAR ROLL OF HONOUR": BY WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT

CONTACT THE AUTHOR  FOR FURTHER DETAILS

williecross@aol.com

---

[1] Provided by Mrs A C Wheeler of Charterhouse School in 2008.

[2]  Enquiries were made in 2008 to establish whether a photograph of  Simon Fraser  survived in his family.  His niece [ the late]  Lady Saltoun was  approached by e-mail.  This is her reply of 6 January 2008. “Dear Mr. Cross  I should love to help you but I think you know more than I do about Uncle Simon's life.  The only photos of him extant in the family are photos of all four brothers aged from c.9 down to 5,  playing at Philorth, which are in the family album,  and I am not quite sure which is Simon and which is my father! They were very close in age. The family album is at Cairnbulg Castle,  Fraserburgh,  AB43 8TN,  which now belongs to my eldest daughter, the Hon. Mrs. Nicolson.  I don't for a moment suppose that a possible photo of him as a small boy is quite what you had in mind!    In the unlikely event that it is,  I am sure my daughter would let you send someone to photocopy the photos,  in that case you should write to her direct,  at the address I have given you. Yours sincerely, Saltoun”

[3] Simon Fraser was killed on 28 October 1914 and buried by his brother Hon. William Fraser (serving also in the Gordon Highlanders, 6^th Battalion) on 29 October 1914.

[4] Lord Saltoun’s eldest son, Alexander, The Master of Saltoun (1886-1979) (from 1933 20^th Lord Saltoun)  was also a Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders and was taken prisoner after the Battle of Mons. The 2nd son, the Hon. George Fraser (1887-1970)  (later a Rear Admiral)  was a Lieutenant  in the Royal Navy in the Great War.  The 4^th Son, William Fraser (1890-1964), also in the Gordons.

[5] William Fraser ( 1890-1964). A British army officer in both world wars. Reached the rank of Brigadier.

[6] Extracted from the book “  Menin Gate South: In Memory and In Mourning” By Paul Chapman, Pen and Sword (2016).

Fortune Press Writer : Terence Lucy Greenidge : (1902–1970)

 FORTUNE PRESS WRITERS 

 Terence Lucy Greenidge (1902–1970)

                      Terence Greenidge and Friends

Greenidge was  a poet, novelist, playwright, film-maker and actor.

A native of Oxford and product of Rugby Public School. He was a close friend and contemporary of Evelyn Waugh at Oxford and was a founding member of the infamous Hypocrites Club. He collaborated with Waugh in producing “ The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama” a silent movie of note. More on this if you Google it.

His Fortune Press titles are:

The Magnificent. A story without a moral (Fortune Press, 1933)

Brass and Paint: A Patriotic Story (Fortune Press, 1934)

Tinpot Country: A story of England in the Dark Ages (Fortune Press, 1937)

Philip and the Dictator. A romantic story (Fortune Press, 1938)

Girls and Stations, etc. [Poems.] (Fortune Press, 1952)  : With a Forward by John Betjeman.. 

See  RA CATON AND FORTUNE PRESS BY  Timothy D’Arch Smith Nos 243-247.

Greenidge’s first two novels were seized and banned by the powers that be. Police confiscated “ The Magnificent” and “Brass and Paint” under the Obscene Publications Act of 1857. Both books were destroyed. However, RA Caton at Fortune Press, failed to comply with the destruction order and a handful of copies were still available for several years. All of Greenidge’s titles are now very hard to find.

Terence’s first publication was "Degenerate Oxford" (1930) , this is a curious defence of the varsity of youth. One copy is currently on sale on Abe Books for £250. 

As an actor Greenidge was occasionally seen in the West End of London shows and overseas and regional tours organized by the British Council and playing Shakespeare at Stratford. On film he appeared in Larry Olivier’s production of “Richard III”.

Famously, as a protest Greenidge withheld paying his income tax for 10 years, citing the BBC payments systems to actors as “ mean and cruel”. He was later declared bankrupt.

Greenidge married but exact details of his wife ( Nora ) are sparse.

A remarkable and recent summary of Terence Greenidge’s life and his mental health struggles, deliciously written by Hannah Minton, can be gleaned on this web link. A MUST READ!

https://substack.com/home/post/p-156712472

  

 

 Enquiries, email William Cross

williecross@aol.com

 

Angus McBean Exhibition : Cwtsh Gallery, Newport, South Wales, Until 5 October 2025 : What You'll See

 

McBEANIA

 WHAT IS ON THE WALLS AT CWTSH 

These are the images that festoon the walls at Cwtsh Art Gallery  Newport, until 5 October 2025.

In addition there are dozens of other Angus McBean photographs, theatre programmes, magazines and artefacts, to ogle. 

1. Actress VERA PEARCE, ( 1895-1966) : Surreal Image. 1938

2. Actress BEATRIX LEHMANN,  ( 1903-1979): Surreal Image. 1937

3. Actress and Aristocrat, RENE RAY, ( 1911-1993): Surreal Image. 1938

4. Actress PAMELA STANLEY, ( 1909-1991) :  Surreal Image. 1938

5. Film Director, JEAN RENOIR,  ( 1894-1979):1959

6. US- born Actress,  FRANCES DAY,  ( 1908-1994). Surreal Image. 1938

7. Actress HERMIONE GINGOLD, ( 1897-1987): Surreal Image. 1952

8. Actress HERMIONE BADDELEY, ( 1906-1986) : Surreal Image. 1938

9. US-born Actress, DOROTHY DICKSON, (1893-1995): Surreal Image 1938

AND Actress /Icon AUDREY HEPBURN, (1929-1993). Surreal Image. 1949

10.  QUENTIN CRISP, (1908-1990). Raconteur/ Author: Studio. 1930s

11. Actress, AMANDA BARRIE,( born 1935):  Film Studio. 1964

12. Actress GERALDINE McEWAN, (1932-2015): London Theatre. 1954

13. Actress  BEATRIX LEHMANN, (1903- 1979). Studio. 1938

14. Actress  VIVIEN LEIGH, (1913-1967): Stratford. 1955

15. Actress VANESSA REDGRAVE,  ( born 1937): London Theatre 1964

16. Actress/ Icon AUDREY HEPBURN, (1919-1993) : Poster. 1950

17. US Actress/Dancer MARY ELLIS, ( 1897-2003): London Theatre. 1954

18. Actor PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013) : London Theatre.  1961

19.  Singer/ Actor TOMMY STEELE, ( born 1936).  Old Vic  Theatre. 1960

20. Actor IVOR  NOVELLO, ( 1892-1951):  Reprint/ Studio. 1930s

21. THE  BEVERLEY SISTERS :  Promotional for an LP Record.  1959.

22. Actor DOUGLAS TROW.  Born c1920s. Died 1992. Studio.    1950s

23. Actor  IVOR NOVELLO, ( 1892-1951):  Reprint / Studio.  1930s

24. Musical duo MICHAEL FLANDERS (1922-1975) & DONALD SWANN (1923-1994) c 1959

25. Actress VANESSA REDGRAVE, ( born 1937):  On Stage. 1960 

26. Actress  EDITH EVANS, ( 1888-1976). London Theatre.  1930s

27. Actress, MAGGIE SMITH, ( 1934-2024). Stage/ promotion. 1963

28.  Actress  EDITH EVANS,( 1888-1976).  London Theatre. 1949

29.  STAMPS ETC ON THE BACK OF PROOF PHOTOS by McBean

30. Actress, Dorothy Tutin, ( 1930-2001).  Studio.  1963

31.  Christmas Card  sent by  CHERRY  McBEAN. Angus’ mother

32.  Christmas Card  sent by  ANGUS  McBEAN to a friend 

33.  Another Christmas Card Sent by  CHERRY McBEAN. Angus’ mother

34-37.     Actress MARLENE DIETRICH, ( 1901-1992).  Film Studio. 1951

38. Actors DONALD SINDEN, ( 1923-2014)  &  PAUL ROGERS, (1917-2013). Stage 1961

39.  Actress ROSAMUND JOHN,  (1913- 1998).  Brighton Theatre. 1938

40.  Actors DENNIS PRICE, (1915-1973) & ROSAMUND JOHN (1913-1998). Stage. 1938 

41.   Actors in verse play “ JB”  by Archibald Macleish. London Theatre.  1961

42. Actress DAME  GWEN FRANGCON-DAVIES,  ( 1891-1992). Studio. 1950s 

43. EDITH EVANS (1888-1976)& ZOE CALDWELL ( 1933-2020). On Stage.  1959    

44. DONALD SINDEN, ( 1923-2014) &  CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, ( 1910-2005) Stage. 1961

45. Actor  RONALD LEWIS, ( 1928-1982).  London Theatre. 1955

46. Actor STEPHEN MURRAY, (1912-1983). London Theatre 1937

47. LAURENCE OLIVIER (1907-1989) & VIVIEN LEIGH( 1913-1967), Stratford. 1951

48. MICHAEL REDGRAVE (1908-1995 ) & YVONNE MITCHELL. RSC Stratford.  1953

49. LAURENCE OLIVIER,  (1907-1989 ).  RSC  Stratford.  1955

50. Actor RALPH RICHARDSON, ( 1902-1983). AND COMPANY RSC Stratford. 1956

51. MARIUS GORING (1912-1998) & YVONNE MITCHELL, ( 1925-1979). RSC 1953

52.  British-US Actor CHARLES LAUGHTON, (1899-1962). RSC  Stratford. 1959-60

53. RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ). RSC Stratford. 1951

54. Actress  JOAN PLOWRIGHT, (1929-2025) & MAX ADRIAN (1903-1973), Chichester 1963

55. RICHARD BURTON, (1925-1984 ).   RSC Stratford. 1951

56. ROBERT HELPMANN, (1909-1986 ).  RSC Stratford. 1948

57.  May be MICHAEL GOODLIFFE (  1914-1976) and ROSEMARY LEACH ( 1935-2017)  c1961

58. RONALD LEWIS, ( 1928-1982). London Theatre. 1963

59. Actor  JOHN GIELGUD, ( 1904-2000).  RSC  Stratford. 1957-8

60. PATRICK LUDLOW, ( 1903-1996).  Studio. Post WW2.

61.  IVOR  NOVELLO ( 1892-1951)  and MARIUS GORING ( 1912-1998). London Theatre. 1936

62.  US Musical ‘OKLAHOMA’. DRURY LANE,  Howard Keel ( 1919-2004). London Stage. 1948 

63-65. US Musical “WEST SIDE STORY”  On  Stage Manchester/ London. 1958

66. VIVIEN LEIGH,  (1913-1967), London Theatre. 1950

 

RSC= Royal Shakespeare Company . Performances were staged at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, The Old Vic, London and The Aldwych Theatre, London.

RECORDS : LPs/ EPs/46s records on display are :

Flanders and Swan ( LP & 45);  South Pacific; Spike Milligan; Paul Robeson;  Maria Callas; Max Jaffe;  Shirley Bassey ( Showboat);  Mrs Mills; Amy Shuard;  Another of Mrs Mills; Noel Coward & Joan Sutherland;  Memories of Ivor Novello ( Vanessa Lee);  Danny Williams:  Freddie  &  the Dreamers;  T S Eliot;  Cliff Richard 1; Cliff Richard 2;  Cliff [ Richard] Me & My Shadows;  Russ Conway x 2; The Beverley Sisters; More Russ Conway; Helen Shipiro;  The Fabulous Shirley Bassey; Matt Monro; West Side Story; The Beatles ( Red Album); The Beatles Hits; The Beatles ( Blue Album); The Beatles: Love Me Do; The Beatles : Please, Please Me.  

 

WINDOW DISPLAYS

 

THEATRE PROGRAMMES  & MAGS:  A SELECTION OF SHOWS PHOTOGRAPHED BY McBEAN

Actor FRASER CAMERON LOWDEN, ( 1932-2003): Studio 1959. The images from “ West Side Story”  originate from Fraser’s Archive.

Audrey Hepburn : Collage by various photographers.

The book on display beneath The Hepburn  Collage  is “Angus McBean: Portraits”  by Terence Pepper. National Portrait Gallery Publications. ( 2006).

Actress MARGARET LEIGHTON, (1922-1976), as Ariel in Shakespeare’s  “ THE TEMPEST” Stratford Memorial Theatre,   1952  Season.

 

Acknowledgements :

Angus McBean: MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES: Adrian Woodhouse. Macdonald. (1985)

Angus McBean “Facemaker” : by  Adrian Woodhouse. Alma Books ( 2006).

British Newspapers in particular “ The Sketch” and “The Tatler” Archives.

With much thanks to everyone at  Cwtsh Arts Centre, Newport , and  in particular  John Briggs.

Further Enquiries  Contact Will Cross by email   williecross@aol.com