Waugh people at Lundy Island in 1925. Pictured from left to right are Olivia, Gwen and David Plunket-Greene and Terence Greenidge
Terence Lucy Greenidge (1902–1970)
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.
Among the works by Greenidge
published by Fortune Press 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])
See Timothy D’Arch Smith 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. Will would be
most happy to accept it as an early Xmas present.
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
WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT
CONTACT WILL FOR MORE INFORMATION
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