NOVELS

Sir Quixote of the Moors (London: Unwin, 1895; New York: Holt, 1895).
(no UK paperback?)

John Burnet of Barns (London: John Lane, 1898; New York: Dodd, Mead, 1898).
Pan Books X116, (Feb) 1962, 3/6. Cover by James E. McConnell
B&W Publishing  1873-63131-6, xv+293pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97073-3, 2008, xiv+322pp.

A Lost Lady of Old Years (London: John Lane, 1899).
B&W Publishing 1873-63142-1, 1995, xiv+213pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97203-4, 2011, 210pp.

The Half-Hearted (London: Isbister, 1900; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1900).
(no UK paperback?)

A Lodge in the Wilderness, anonymous (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1906).
(no UK paperback?)

Prester John (London: Nelson, 1910); republished as The Great Diamond Pipe (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1910).
Pan Books 130, (Mar) 1950, 1/6. Cover by George Woodman.
---- [?2nd imp.] 1952. Cover by Sax
Penguin Books 1138, 1956, 207pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Penguin Books 0140-01138-2, (date?), 202pp.
Pan Books, (date?)
Oxford University Press 0182-82936-X, 1994, xxxiv+222pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32785-2, 2001, 215pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97064-1, 2009, x+207pp.

Salute to Adventurers (London: Nelson, 1915; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1915).
Pan Books X247, (Sep) 1963, 220pp, 3/6. Cover by Tayler

The Thirty-Nine Steps (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1915; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books 14, (Jun) 1947, 256pp, 1/6. Cover by J. H. Bruce
---- [2nd imp.] 1949. Cover by Bruce C. Windo
---- [3rd imp.] 1951, 1/6. Cover by Wynne
---- [4th imp.] 1953, 2/-. Cover *as 3rd imp.
---- [5th imp.] 1954, 2/-. Cover *as 3rd imp.
---- [6th imp.] 1955, 2/-. Cover by Unknown
Penguin Books 1130, 1956, 126pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Pan Books G218 [7th imp.] 1959, 2/6. Cover by De Marco
---- [8th imp.] 1960, 2/6. Cover by De Marco
---- [9th imp.] 1960, 2/6.
---- [10th imp.] 1961, 2/6. Cover by Sam Peffer
Pan Books X696, 1967. Cover by J. Oval
Penguin Books 0140-01130-7, 1991, 125pp.
Dent 0460-88128-0, 1992, 160pp.
Puffin 0140-35139-6, 1992, 125pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26080-0, 1993, 98pp.
A Sutton 0750-90482-8, 1993, 128pp.
Penguin Books 0140-62109-1, 1994, 102pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32793-3, 2001, 117pp.
Penguin Books 978-0141-44117-7, 2004, xviii+118pp.
Oxford University Press 978-0199-53787-7, 2008.
Arcturus 978-1848-37609-0, 2010.
Polygon 978-1846-97198-3, 2011.
Vintage Classic 978-0099-52839--5, 2011, xii+253pp.
HarperPress 978-0007-44993-4, 2012, ix+146pp.
Pan Books 978-1509-85843-9, 2017.

The Power-House (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1916; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books G441, (Mar) 1961, 155pp, 2/6. Cover by Pat Owen
Dent 0460-02243-1, 1984, xiv+112pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63114-6, 1993, 144pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32784-4, 2003, 95pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97029-0, 2007, xvi+108pp.
Polygon 978-0857-90508-6, 2012, 128pp.

Greenmantle (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1916; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books 18, (Oct) 1947, 256pp, 1/6. Cover by Unknown
---- [2nd imp.] 1950, 2/-. Cover by Unknown
Pan Books GP14, (Jul) 1952, 2/6. Cover *as 2nd imp.
Penguin Books 1132, 1956, 271pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.] 1958; [3rd imp.] 1960.
---- [4th imp.] 1961, 271pp, 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Peacock PK37, 1964, 271pp.
Knight Books 0340-03399-1, 1970, 271pp.
Penguin Books 0140-10641-3 [5th imp.], 1981
---- [6th imp.] 1981; [7th imp.] 1983; [8th imp.] 1984
---- [9th imp.] 1986, 266pp, £2.95. Cover still. TV Tie-in.
Oxford University Press 0192-82953-X, xxiv+295pp.
Wordsworth 1853-26204-8, 1994, 220pp.
Penguin Books 0140-62264-0, 1997, 266pp.
Penguin Books 0141-18696-8, 2001, 276pp.
Penguin Books 978-1411-03584-0, 2008, 345pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97197-6, 2011, 270pp.

Mr. Standfast (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1918; New York: Doran, 1919).
Penguin Books 1134, 1956, 230pp, 3/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.] 1960, 230pp, 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Pan Books M58, (Apr) 1964.
Wordsworth Classics 1853-26225-0, 1994, 287pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97155-6, 2010, x+338pp.

The Path of the King (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1921; New York: Doran, 1921).
(no UK paperback?)

Huntingtower (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1922; New York: Doran, 1922).
Hodder & Stoughton [Yellow Jacket C5], Jun 1950, 256pp, 2/-. Cover by C. H. Richard
Penguin 1133 , 1956, 229pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.]
---- [3rd imp.], 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Hamlyn 0600-20562-2, 1982, 204pp.
Alan Sutton 0750-90484-4, 1993, xviii+202pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63119-7, 1993, xiv+199pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-83229-8, 1996, xxxi+229pp.
Oxford University Press 978-0199-53786-0, 2008, xxxi+229pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97223-2, 2012, vii+221pp.

Midwinter (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1923; New York: Doran, 1923).
Hamlyn 0600-20563-0, 1981, 196pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63115-4, 1993, viii+247pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97070-2, 2008, xiv+254pp.

The Three Hostages (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1924; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1924).
Penguin Books 908, 1953, 282pp.
---- [2nd imp.] 1955.
---- [3rd imp.] 1956, 282pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Peacock Books PK15, 1963, 282pp.
Knight Books 0340-15580-9, 1971, 283pp.
Penguin Books 0140-10640-5, 1986, 282pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82419-8, 1995, xxx+300pp.
Wordsworth Editions 978-1853-26252-4, 1995, 261pp, n/pr. Cover Following the Scent by John Howard Lyon
House of Stratus 1842-32794-1, 2001, 317pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97157-0, 2010, x+306pp.

John Macnab (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1925; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1925).
Penguin Books 1135, 1956, 3/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Hodder & Stoughton 836, 1967, 287pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82935-1, 1994, xxviii+248pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26296-X, 1996, 188pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97028-3, 2007, ix+240pp.


The Dancing Floor (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1926; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1926).
Oxford University Press 0192-83287-5, 1997, xxxvi+231pp.
New English Library 0450-02901-8, 1976, 220pp.
Penguin Books 0140-06875-9, 1987, 251pp, £2.95. Cover by Kenneth Wynn
Polygon 978-1846-97031-3, 2007, ix+236pp.

Witch Wood (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1927; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1927).
Oxford University Press 0192-82941-6, 1993, xxv+331pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97071-9, 2008, xiv+304pp.


The Courts of the Morning (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1929; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1929).
Hodder & Stoughton 456, 1961, 316pp.
Dent 0460-02240-7, Oct 1983, 432pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63120-0, 1993, xvi+356pp. 
----, 2000, , xvi+356pp, £7.99. Cover: Sir Frank Swettenham by John Singer Sargent
House of Stratus 978-1842-32764-7, 2008, 405pp.

Castle Gay (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1930; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1930).
Hodder & Stougton [Yellow Jacket]
Penguin Books 1136, 1956.
Pan Books M194, 1967

The Blanket of the Dark (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1931; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1931).
Penguin Books 1653, 1961, 281pp, 3/6. Cover by Heather Standring
B&W Publishing 1873-63141-3, 1994, xiii+264pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97072-6, 2008, xvi+268pp.

The Gap in the Curtain (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1932; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1932).
Sphere [Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult 17] 1974.
B&W Publishing 1873-63109-X, 1992, 217pp.
House of Stratus 978-1842-32767-8, 2001, 224pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97224-9, 2012, xiii+219pp.

The Magic Walking Stick (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1932; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1932).
(no UK paperback?)

A Prince of the Captivity (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1933; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1933).
Pan Books X154, (Oct) 1962, 3/6.
Hamlyn 0600-20564-9, 1981, 271pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63168-5, 1996, xii+322pp.

The Free Fishers (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1934; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1934).
Penguin Books 1954, 1964, 268pp.
NEL/Four Square 1679, (Jul) 1967, 5/-.
Hamlyn 0600-20566-5, 1982, 224pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63132-4, 1994, xiii+263pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97065-8, 2009, viii+269pp.

The House of the Four Winds (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1935; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1935).
Penguin Books 1137, 1956, 237pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Peacock Books PK57, 1965, 232pp.
Dent 0460-02241-5, 1984, 201pp, £2.50. Cover by Brian Grimwood

The Island of Sheep (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1936); republished as The Man from the Norlands (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1936).
Pan Books 240, (15 May) 1953. Cover by FVM
Penguin Books 1131, 1956.
Penguin Books 0140-10642-1, 1988, 244pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26276-5, 1995, 272pp.
Oxford University Press 0182-82433-3, 1997, xxviii+240pp.

Sick Heart River (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1941); republished as Mountain Meadow (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941).
Hodder, 1965, 254pp, 5/-.
Penguin Books 0140-06804-X, 1985, 205pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63106-5, 1992, 211pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82937-8, 1994, xxxiii+221pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97030-6, 2007, x+214pp.

COLLECTIONS

The Watcher by the Threshold and Other Tales (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1902; enlarged edition, New York: Doran, 1918).
Digit Books R613, (Aug) 1962, 2/6.

The Moon Endureth: Tales and Fancies (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1912; New York: Sturgis & Walton, 1912).
Hodder 594, 1963, 307pp, 5/-.

The Runagates Club (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1928; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1928).
Sphere, 5/-.
A. Sutton 0750-91159-X, 1996, x+165pp.
Handheld Press 978-1999-82801-1, 2017.

The Long Traverse (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1941); republished as The Lake of Gold (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941).
House of Stratus 978-1842-32778-4, 2001, 130pp.

The Far Islands and Other Tales of Fantasy (West Kingston, RI, Donald M. Grant, 1984).
(no UK paperback)

OMNIBUS

The Complete Richard Hannay
Penguin Books 0140-17059-7, 1992, 1139pp, £10.99. Cover by Arthur Wakelin
as The Complete Richard Hannay Stories, Wordsworth Editions 978-1840-22655-3, 2010, 990pp.

The Power-House and The Thirty Nine Steps
B&W Publishing 1873-63195-2, 1999, xxviii+233pp, £5.99. Cover by Arthur Melville ("Company at Dinner")

OTHERS

VERSE
The Pilgrim Fathers: the Newdigate Prize Poem, 1898 (Oxford: Blackwell/London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, 1898).
Grey Weather: Moorland Tales of My Own People (London: John Lane, 1899).
Ordeal By Marriage: An Eclogue (chap) (London, R. Clay, 1915).
Poems, Scots and English (London & Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1917; revised and enlarged edition, London: Nelson, 1936).

NON-FICTION
Scholar Gipsies (London: John Lane, 1896; New York: Macmillan, 1896).
Sir Walter Ralegh; the Stanhope Essay (Oxford: Blackwell/London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, 1897). 
Brasenose College (London: Robinson, 1898).
The African Colony (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1903).
The Law Relating to the Taxation of Foreign Income (London: Stevens, 1905). 
Some Eighteenth Century Byways and Other Essays (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1908).
Nine Brasenose Worthies (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1909).
Sir Walter Raleigh (London: Nelson, 1911; New York: Holt, 1911).
What the Home Rule Bill Means (chap) (Peebles, Allan Smyth, 1912).
The Marquis of Montrose (London: Nelson, 1913; New York: Scribners, 1913).
Andrew Jameson, Lord Ardwall (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1913).
Britain's War by Land (London & New York: Oxford University Press, H. Mitford, 1915).
The Achievement of France (London,  Methuen Publishing, 1915).
Nelson's History of the War, 24 volumes (London: Nelson, 1915-1919); revised as A History of the Great War, 4 volumes (London: Nelson, 1921-1922; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1922).
The Battle of the Somme, First Phase (London & New York: Nelson, 1916).
The Battle of Jutland (Edinburgh, New York & London: Nelson, 1916).
The Future of the War. An address (chap) (London, Boyle, Son & Watchurst, 1916).

The Battle of the Somme, Second Phase (Edinburgh, New York & London: Nelson, 1917).
The Battle-Honours of Scotland 1914-1918 (Glasgow, George Outram, 1919).
These for Remembrance (London: Privately printed, 1919).
The Island of Sheep, by Buchan and Susan Buchan as Cadmus and Harmonia (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1919; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1920).
The History of the South African Forces in France (London: Nelson, 1920).
Francis and Riversdale Grenfell: A Memoir (London: Nelson, 1920).
A Book of Escapes and Hurried Journeys (London: Nelson, 1922; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1923).
The Last Secrets (London: Nelson, 1923; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1924).
The Margins of Life (chap) (London, Birkbeck College, 1923).
Lord Minto: A Memoir (London & New York: Nelson, 1924).
The History of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (1678-1918) (London & New York: Nelson, 1925).
Days to Remember: The British Empire in the Great War, by Buchan and Henry Newbolt (London: Nelson, 1923).
The Man and the Book: Sir Walter Scott (London & Edinburgh: Nelson, 1925).
Two Ordeals of Democracy (chap) (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1925).
The Fifteenth-Scottish-Division 1914-1919, by Buchan and John Stewart (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1926).
Homilies and Recreations (London: Nelson, 1926; London & New York: Nelson, 1926; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1926).
Montrose (London & Edinburgh: Nelson, 1928; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1928).
The Causal and the Casual in History (Cambridge: The University Press, 1929; New York: Macmillan, 1929).
The Kirk in Scotland, 1560-1929, by Buchan and George Adam Smith (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1930).
Montrose and Leadership (chap) (Oxford, University Press, 1930).
The Novel and the Fairy Tale (chap) (Oxford, printed at the University Press by John Johnson, 1931).
Sir Walter Scott (London & Toronto: Cassell, 1932; New York: Coward-McCann, 1932).
Julius Caesar (London: P. Davies, 1932; New York: Appleton, 1932).
Andrew Lang and the Borders (London, Oxford University Press, 1933).
The Massacre of Glencoe (London: P. Davies, 1933; New York: Putnam's, 1933).
Gordon at Khartoum (London: P. Davies, 1934).
Oliver Cromwell (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1934; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1934).
The King's Grace (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1935); republished as The People's King: George V (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935).
Augustus (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1937; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1937).
Naval Episodes of the Great War (London & New York: Nelson, 1938).
The Interpreter's House (London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1938).
Presbyterianism Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Lord Tweedsmuir (chap) (Edinburth, Church of Scotland committee on Publications, 1938).
Memory Hold-the-Door (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1940); republished as Pilgrim's Way (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1940).
Comments and Characters, edited by W. Forbes Gray (London & New York: Nelson, 1940).
Canadian Occasions (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1940).

Talk about obscure: as far as I can tell, Ruby M. Spankie wrote only one novel, and that for a minor paperback firm way back in 1933.

It would appear that Ruby Mary Spankie, born in Inverness, Scotland, on 19 October 1898, lived most of her adult life in London. Her mother, Catherine, was widowed at around the age of 41 or 42 and raised her children—of which there were at least five—in Bedford. Catherine Spankie seems to have lived in India for at least a decade between 1886-96.

Through local papers and the occasional official record, we can touch base with Ruby at various points in her life. She was crowned May Queen at a May Fair held to raise money for the Building Fund of the St. Peter's Sunday Schools and Parish Rooms in May 1908. She attended Crescent House Ladies' College, Bedford. She appeared in the operetta at Bedford Town Hall, The Tree of the Golden Guineas, in 1914. In 1921, she was working as a shorthand typist at the War Office, and the family were living in Fulham.

Ruby was the author of And the World Said— (London, Gramol Publications [Adelphi Novels 35], 1933). Whether she continued writing novels or not is a mystery. A search for her name on Google doesn't get a single hit, but it is known that she wrote at least two plays: 'Sheltered' (1938), which was performed by the Southern Cross Players at the Twentieth Century Theatre, Westbourne (Spankie was the Honorary Secretary of the Society); and 'All Change' (1939) from the same team.

Ruby lived in Fulham after the war and was at the same address, 64c Fairholme Road, W14, from 1945 until her death in 1983. It would seem that she continued to have an interest in local theatre and was an actress with the Beaufort Players and appeared as Miss Marple in Murder at the Vicarage at St. Andrew's Hall, Vereker Road, Fulham, in 1952. She also appeared in Sit Down a Minute, Adrian (1953).

(* My thanks to Jamie Sturgeon for the cover photograph. Expanded from a post from 6 September 2007.)

Following on from last week's discovery of a previously unknown science fiction writer, I continued to dig further and have found another—but this time we can actually identify a couple of his stories. Both appeared under the name Ron Paul in the pages of Authentic Science Fiction Monthly: 'Blue Rose' (little more than a vignette) in issue 56 (April 1955) and 'Lonely Immortal' in issue 67 (March 1956).

In the 25 February 1956 issue of the Louth Standard, above a headline 'Science Fiction Writing. Young Louth author's profitable spare-time occupation', is a photo of Ron Tilling at his typewriter. Sadly, the image in the copy I have available is so poor that he is barely distinguishable from the typewriter. The article reveals much about Tilling's persistence.

Science fiction writing has been turned into a profitable spare-time occupation by 20-year-old Ron Tilling, of 10a Queen Street, Louth. After finishing his day's work in a Louth office, he begins work on his own typewriter—bought out of his spare-time earnings. But instead of accounts and business letters he taps out accounts of life on other planets, space ships, space travel and the like.
    Since he started writing short stories three years ago Ron has had plenty of rejection slips, but has recently sold four stories—two to a science fiction magazine and two to "Midweek Reveille."
    His writing has earned him 36gns., which has almost covered the cost of a new portable typewriter and a correspondence course on fiction writing.
    Of science fiction writing he says "I try to base it on the accepted scientific possibilities. I hate fantasy."
    To give his stories the right authentic backgrounds, he reads all he can in the way of scientific news, and uses his imagination to enlarge on it.
    He took up writing as a hobby when he was at school. Prevented by attacks of asthma and bronchitis from joining in any kind of sport, he found he had more time on his hands than most boys.
    Later, he helped form a concert party among Youth Centre members. It was named the Flying Saucers (even then things from outer space had a fascination for him), and he wrote the scripts for the one act plays which were produced by them.
    The Saucers broke up in July, 1953 and Ron turned his hand to writing short stories. He took a correspondence course, and joined the Penman Club, who criticised his manuscripts and advised him about markets.
    A typewriter was bought out of money he had saved, and by now the machine has almost paid for itself out of earnings.
    His first  effort, 'The Guests of Binham Hall' met with lots of rejection slips, as did the stories which came after.
    Then his father died, and for almost six months Ron did not write a thing.
    Last winter came his first success, a science fiction thriller, 'The Blue Rose,' was accepted by Authentic Science, a monthly magazine.
    It was printed on 15th April—a great day for Ron—and appeared under his pen name Ron Paul. Paul, by the way, is the first part of girl friend Pauline's name.

SHIFTED PLANETS

Since then another of his stories, 'Lonely Immortal,' has been accepted by the magazine, and two humorous stories have been accepted by Reveille.
    "I used to enjoy reading science fiction, and that is how I came to write it," he explained. "There is a better chance of getting it published, too, because there are fewer science fiction writers."
    Although the stories he has sold have taken only a few hours to write, he is not always able to dash them off so quickly.
    One story, 'The Machine,' ran to 1,500 words when it was first written. After it had "done the rounds" of editors, he re-wrote it, this time extending it to 8,000 words and shifting it to another planet!
    He has also tried his hand at dramatic fiction and religious drama, and altogether has completed some 50 short stories.
    Ron is fast discovering the problems facing an up-and-coming writer. For instance, one editor to whom he submitted a story replied that there must be no mention of drink or gambling in the script. One of the scenes had been set in the bar of the "local."
    Ron's mother, Mrs. A. G. Tilling, had an urge to write when she was young. She was Ron's first critic, and is very proud of his success.
    He is a great reader. His favourite authors are Ray Bradbury, John Steinbeck, Somerset Maugham and Stephen Lister.

From the evidence in the article, it would appear that Ronald Tilling was born in 1936, his birth registered in Grimsby, not far from Louth in Lincolnshire. He was the younger son of James A. Tilling, a motor mechanic, and Alice Gertrude Johnson, who were married in 1928. A brother, Tony, was born in 1930. James Tilling died in early 1954, aged 51, and Alice married her second husband, David White, in 1957. The marriage did not last, as David died in 1958, aged 66, and Alice married a third time, to Cyril Leonard, in 1959. She died in 2002.

Ronald Tilling married Pauline Smith in early 1958, after which I lose track of him. [He is not the person named Ronald Tilling who died in 1982 (b.1918), 1988 (b.1914) or 2003 (b.1929).]

The Flying Saucers' Revue variety group ran for 14 months at the Louth Youth Centre and first performed in December 1950. The company of eleven was led by Mervyn Edward Cawte (1928-1996) and Miss K. M. Stephenson (warden), and made their first  appearance at the Youth Centre's Christmas party with a half-hour show. The group included comedians, tap dancers, singers, and musicians.

They made their performance debut in March 1951 at the Liberal Club in aid of the Old Age Pensioners' Building Fund. Ron Tilling appeared in a one act comedy play, 'To-day Of All Days', produced by Miss K. M. Stevenson and Mrs. E. Teesdale. A later show in June included a theme song ('Two Little Men in a Flying Saucer'), which opened the show, with Tilling appearing in appearing in comedy sketches.

They disbanded in January 1952 with some of the Saucers deciding to form a new company, the District Amateur Variety Entertainments Company, led by M. E. Cawte, with Ron Tilling as Secretary. I have a feeling that this was a short-lived venture as Cawte was soon after separated from his wife and moved to Southsea.

After too long, here's another mystery that has me mystified. T. Stanleyan King is an author with a career that may have lasted over 30 years but about whom nothing is known. There is no sign of a Stanleyan King in family records or in any newspapers that I have been able to access, so I have to presume it was a pen-name.

While I've never read a single one of his books, the titles alone made me want to track him down. Hopefully someone, somewhere will have some further information.

T. Stanleyan King's work dates back to Edwardian-era James Henderson’s  boys’ papers Lot-o'-Fun, Sparks and Nugget Library and the Amalgamated Press's Young Britain (stories featuring Staunton School in c.1921).  Collector John Medcraft, briefly discussing a “fine serial” entitled “Laleham’s Feud”—“founded on fact”—in the pages of Lot-o’-Fun, believed that King might be a pen-name of John Nix Pentelow, but Pentelow’s death in 1931 and the continued appearance of King makes it appear unlikely.

Stanleyan King was a regular contributor to various Aldine libraries in the 1920s, and may well have contributed to Aldine’s weekly papers, too. In the 1930s, he was writing novelettes for Mellifont Press, some of them featuring Scarsdale Waring and some with titles that hint at a horror/occult flavour. After that he disappears entirely from human ken.


Novels (series: Dixon Brett; Dick Daring; Scarsdale Waring)
Laleham's Feud. London, James Henderson (Nugget Library 141), 1909.
The Missing Statuette. London, James Henderson (Nugget Library 247), Nov 1912.
The Scarlet Ikon. London, Aldine Detective Tales 10, Jun 1922.
Dick Daring, the Mystery Pro. London, Aldine Football Stories 2, Nov 1922.
Dick Daring Scores Again. London, Aldine Football Stories 5, Jan 1923.
Dick Daring, International. London, Aldine Football Stories 9, May 1923.
Who Killed Stephen Tennant?. London, Aldine Mystery Novels 4, Jan 1926.
The Football Imposter. London, Aldine Football Novels 11, Mar 1926.
The Masked Apollo. London, Aldine Boxing Novels 19, Jul 1926.
The Missing Mayor <Brett>. London, Aldine Dixon Brett Detective Library 2, Oct 1926.
The All-Conquering Game. London, Aldine Football Novels 19, Nov 1926.
The Yellow Wolf <Brett>. London, Aldine Dixon Brett Detective Library 4, Dec 1926.
Comrades of the Canvas. London, Aldine Boxing Novels 27, Mar 1927.
Dandy Dick's Mascot. London, Aldine Boxing Novels 40, Apr 1928.
Diana’s Romance . Dublin, Mellifont Press, c.1932.
Through Flame to Fortune . Dublin, Mellifont Press, c.1932.
The Rosy Death . Dublin, Mellifont Press [4½d Series 10], c.1932.
The Grey Manor Ghost . Dublin, Mellifont Press [4½d Series 13], c.1932.
Viola’s Dilemma . Dublin, Mellifont Press 201, 1932.
The Headless Ghost . Dublin, Mellifont Press 204, 1932; reprinted, Mellifont Press 2319, 1941.
The Kidnapped Prince . Dublin, Mellifont Press 206, 1932.
The Motor Horn Mystery . Dublin, Mellifont Press 213, 1932.
Slayer of Souls . Dublin, Mellifont Press 214, 1932.
The Monk’s Croft Mystery . Dublin, Mellifont Press 227, 1933.
The Mummy’s Curse . Dublin, Mellifont Press 235, 1933.
Black Magic <Waring>. Dublin, Mellifont Press 256, 1934.
The Call of Death <Waring>. Dublin, Mellifont Press 291, 1934.
Vampire City <Waring>. Dublin, Mellifont Press 2116, 1935.
The Fatal Image . Dublin, Mellifont Press 2266, 1940.