​Correspondence between Pippa and David Wright and Jennifer Wilson and Ruari McNeill

Description

Five letters and one typescript poem ('An Elegy, Phillipa Reid, 1927 - 1985') addressed to Jennifer Wilson and Ruari McNeill from David Wright, with copies of three letters sent by Wilson in return. The collection also includes one letter and one postcard from Pippa Wright (c1971).


These detailed letters cover a period of six months in 1986, during which Wright visited the McNeills in Dumfries. Wright discusses, in some detail, his family and family history. He also describes his travel plans and various projects he was working on at this period. Wilson's replies cover various subjects, including the ‘Annan Play’, and a discussion of the experience of grief.


Wilson and McNeill worked for Century Theatre, the mobile theatre opened in 1952 that visited towns in North West England and the Midlands. David Wright's wife, Phillippa Reid, was a member of the company in 1959, when McNeill first worked for Century; by 1966 (when Wilson joined Century) the Wrights had settled in Braithwaite, near Keswick, and were regular members of the audience, as well as friends. Both Wright and Reid gave regular readings to groups, including audiences in North East Lancashire after Wilson became Director of Mid-Pennine Association for the Arts in 1970; Wright read with Norman Nicholson at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham (see MPAA Archive, Lancashire County Council).


Wright read in St Andrews at Wilson's invitation at "Write On" in 1981; after Reid's death, he also visited the McNeills in both Edinburgh and Dunscore. He and Reid had previously visited Dumfries and Galloway, some years earlier, for genealogical interest: Wright's ancestors had owned the Corsehill Quarry (first with a railway) and built Lochinch Castle for the Earl of Stair. At around the time of the letters, Wilson took him to Annan to a) see his mother's gravestone in the kirkyard, and b) see the painting of the "Elizabeth Murray" in the Civic Chambers, a ship belonging to his Murray forbears.

Biography or history

Jennifer Wilson worked as Director, promoter and programmer for multi-arts agencies and venures in Lancashire (Century, MPAA) and Scotland (Crawford Centre for the Arts, University of St Andrews, Assembly Theatre, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association).


Ruari McNeill started his career as a Stage Manager, worked as Organiser for Britiah Actors Equity (Scotland and London), as General Manager Century Theatre and University Theatre Manchester, Deputy Director MPAA, Drama Officer Northern Arts, and General Manager/CEO of Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Scottish Theatre Company, Tron Theatre Glasgow, and Mercat Theatre Drumchapel.

Both held voluntary Directorships with other cultural organisations.

Provenance

The letters were donated to Special Collections by Jennifer Wilson in January 2019.

Access and usage

Access

Material in this collection may remain in copyright but further details are unknown. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available for tracing copyright status and ownership.