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John Pikoulis (Alun Lewis) Papers
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Various correspondents (Alun Lewis research papers)

Correspondence addressed to John Pikoulis from various sources other than those having had personal acquaintance with Alun Lewis but which have relevance to Alun Lewis and/or his literary work and therefore to Pikoulis's research into Lewis. Some items annotated in Pikoulis's hand.

Note that cross-referencing of names inevitably occurs between friends and acquaintances, military colleagues and academic/work colleagues of Alun Lewis - please refer to all relevant categories.

Each envelope marked with name of correspondent and date(s) (if applicable) of correspondence.

Short stories by Freda Aykroyd

Typescript copies of two undated and unpublished short stories by Freda Aykroyd titled 'The Mother' and 'The Broken Heart'.
See also under section titled Freda Aykroyd (Alun Lewis research papers).

Poetry of Alun Lewis (photocopies)

Photocopied draft and fair-copied manuscript poetry by Alun Lewis, one signed, sent to Gweno Lewis, apparently in the hope that she might find a publishing outlet for them (notes in Lewis's hand suggest a few sources - Horizon, The New Statesman, The Listener, The Spectator). The poems comprise 'Song of Sleep' (with note in Lewis's hand addressed to Gweno, in which he explains an image in his poem 'Raiders' Dawn', references hers and his mother's birthdays and also John Lehmann's publication New Writing in Europe (Pelican Books, 1940 - for which, see, for example: https://countryhouselibrary.co.uk/products/new-writing-in-europe-by-john-lehmann-pelican-1941); 'Karanje Village'; 'Song'; 'The Fisher-Girl' (a note in John Pikoulis's hand states that this poem was unpublished but was given to Andrew Davies, Lewis's fellow-teacher at the Lewis Boys' Grammar School, Pengam (for Andrew Davies, see under Letters to John Pikoulis from academic and work colleagues of Alun Lewis and from academic institutions) and published in the Aberystwyth University magazine The Dragon (see reference in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 300); 'Thoughts on the Eve of a Great Battle'; and an untitled rough corrected draft beginning 'For the darkness [ ? ] is throbbing now through all the desolate countries ....'. 'Song of Sleep' would eventually be published (as 'Songs of Sleep') in Alun Lewis's first anthology Raiders' Dawn and other poems (George Allen & Unwin, 1942) (for which, see, for example: https://www.library.wales/discover-learn/digital-exhibitions/europeana-rise-of-literacy/poetry-volumes/raiders-dawn-and-other-poems).

Estimated dates are those of composition, not of photocopying,.

Pleasant Place

Photocopy of a published play by Gwladys Lewis titled 'Pleasant Place', with accompanying note by John Pikoulis. A note in Gwladys Lewis's hand states that the play 'gained first place in a one act play competition run by the South Wales Council of Social Service in 1932'.
Date is that of the original play, not that of the photocopy nor of Pikoulis's note.
See also under Gwladys Lewis (Alun Lewis research papers).

Other material

Material which bears no apparent direct relevance to Pikoulis's research into Alun Lewis but which has nevertheless been obtained by Pikoulis or was in his possession during or following his period of research. This includes papers of John Pikoulis, papers of Freda Aykroyd and papers of members of the Lewis family where contents are not directly related to Alun Lewis.

Notes of interviews with Gweno Lewis

Rough handwritten notes taken by John Pikoulis during interviews, 1980 and undated, with Gweno Lewis (only one batch of notes dated).
Typescript transcript of an interview with Gweno Lewis conducted by radio executive producer and director Kate McAll and recorded in Aberystwyth in 2007.

Miscellaneous material

Miscellaneous material in John Pikoulis's possession which bears no apparent direct relevance to his research into Alun Lewis but which was in his possession during his period of research. The items comprise a piece by David (Dai) Smith titled 'Confronting the Minotaur' and an untitled piece by Smith (annotated by Smith and with a note by Smith directed at John Pikoulis at top of first folio); a response by John Pikoulis to a piece by Dai Smith (annotated by Smith and with a note by Smith directed at John Pikoulis at top of first folio); the second draft of 'Supertramp (W. H. Davies)', a film for television by Paul Islwyn Thomas, scripted by Manon Rhys, with covering note from Paul Islwyn Thomas and John Pikoulis's signature and date '27-1-95' at top right; and section of The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1678), written in a fair manuscript with hand-illuminated capitals (author not apparent).

Each item kept in marked envelope.

Miscellaneous material

Miscellaneous material in John Pikoulis's possession which bears no apparent direct relevance to his research into Alun Lewis
but which was in his possession during his period of research.

Each item kept in marked envelope.

Ministry of Defence declaration form

Declaration form, dated 26 February 1981, issued by the Ministry of Defence when granting access to official records of military personnel. The information in this case relates to 'Lt Alun Lewis (P214565) South Wales Borderers' and was presumably requested by John Pikoulis (form unsigned).

Military colleagues of Alun Lewis and military organisations (Alun Lewis research papers)

Correspondence of John Pikoulis largely with those who served with Alun Lewis in the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers and with post-war organisations related to the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers; notes taken by John Pikoulis during interviews with military colleagues of Alun Lewis; and Ministry of Defence declaration form.

Note that cross-referencing of names inevitably occurs between friends and acquaintances, military colleagues and academic/work colleagues of Alun Lewis - please refer to all relevant categories.

Letters to John Pikoulis from various correspondents

Correspondence addressed to John Pikoulis from various sources other than those having had personal acquaintance with Alun Lewis but which have relevance to Alun Lewis and/or his literary work and therefore to Pikoulis's research into Lewis, the correspondents comprising: faculty members of University College, Cardiff (1972, 1979, 1981-1983 and undated), the correspondence relating to Pikoulis's proposal to establish a Centre for the Study of Welsh Writing in English at University College, Cardiff, together with printed 1993 Centre for the Study of Welsh Writing in English study guide titled 'Wales at War Alun Lewis & other writers', the guide's consultant editor listed as John Pikoulis; writer, poet and literary critic Roland Mathias (1975); university librarian William Dieneman (1978, 1979 and undated); Bernard Cole (1978); [?writer] Leslie Frewin (1979 and undated); author and librarian Dr F. G. Cowley (1979, 1983); Manchester Central Library (1979); poet and literary critic Alun Llywelyn-Williams (1979); letter from John Pikoulis to writer and poet Derek Stanford (1979) and undated letter to John Pikoulis from Derek Stanford (enclosed in separate envelope); poet, critic, teacher and broadcaster Professor Jeremy Hooker (1979, 1997); David Sims of University College Swansea's English Department (1979); Howard Mallatratt (1980); literary editor, journalist, translator and poet Meic Stephens (1980); Comyns Close Clinic (medical doctors' surgery), London (1980); John R. Bieneman of Lowther College (1980-1981); the National Library of Wales (1980); Ellen Smith Dunlap of the Humanties Research Center at the University of Texas, Austin (1980); John A. Lloyd of the United Africa Company (1980); Keith (Picton) Evans of Bradford College (1980); economic historian Professor Sir Hrothgar John Habakkuk (1980); bibliographer, reviewer and antiquarian bookseller Timothy d'Arch Smith (1980); A. P. Watt Ltd, literary agents to Robert Graves (1980); writer, poet and playwright Ronald Duncan (1980); Alan Hancox (undated), enclosing letter, 1980, from John Pikoulis; Constable & Co. (1980); the British Medical Association (1980); Basil Blackwell of Basil Blackwell & Mott Ltd, publishers (1980, 1981); Paul O'Prey, Professor of Modern Literature at the University of Roehampton (1980, 1982); Faber and Faber Ltd (1980); George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, publishers (1980); Sotheby's, London (1980); Michael Foot, MP (1980-1981); [writer] John [Alun] Davies (1980); the Government of India National Library (1980); the Inland Revenue (1980); the Reverend John M. C. Yates (1981); Professor Jean-Bertrand Barrère (1981); poet and writer Stephen Spender (1981); The Observer newspaper research department (1981, 1983); writer, teacher and literary editor John Atkins (1981); the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (1981); The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (1981); the New Statesman magazine (1981); politician, author, journalist and broadcaster Woodrow Wyatt, Baron Wyatt of Weeford (1981); the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (1981); G. Davies, borough librarian, Central Library, Aberdare (1981); forensic scientist Margaret Pereira (1981); writer and lecturer Jacqueline Banerjee (1981); Bernard Knight, Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff (1981); writer and lecturer Horst S. Jarka (1981); Louisa Hopkins Bowen, Curator of Manuscripts at the Morris Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois (1982); poet and writer Ted Hughes (1982, 1985); the British Library (1983); George A. Hilton (1985); schoolteacher David Hughes of Clifton, York (1985); Professor John Harris Paterson of Leicester University (1985); Benedictine nun and author Dame Felicitas Corrigan (1986); writer and lecturer John Harris (1988); Jeff Morgan, director of the BBC2 drama-documentary Alun Lewis: Death and Beauty (broadcast 22 July 1994), enclosing third draft script of the programme for Pikoulis's perusal (1993); Edward E. Milburn (1995); Bethan Hensman (1996, 1998); Angela Morton (1996); Victor Golightly (1996); [most probably the writer] Paul Willetts (1999); writer Cynthia Rogerson (2002); [?] Richards (undated); university lecturer Eric Homberger (undated); academic, cultural historian, author and former BBC programme editor and broadcaster David (Dai) Smith (undated), enclosing copy of a published article on Alun Lewis by Dai Smith (text annotated in John Pikoulis's hand); and renowned authority on Welsh folk music Meredydd Evans (Merêd) (undated note).

Some of the material includes copious notes made in John Pikoulis's hand and several items are annotated by Pikoulis.

Please note that many of the names referenced within the correspondence may be found in other sections of this archive.

Correspondence requiring more detailed description comprises:

Letters, 1980-1990, and undated note on business card, enclosing photocopied material, to John Pikoulis from Ulrich Schaefer, Frankfurt, the contents of the correspondence relating to both Pikoulis's and Schaefer's research into Alun Lewis and his work; draft letter, 1986, to Ulrich Schaefer from John Pikoulis; and letters to Ulrich Shaefer from various other correspondents, including one, 1987, from Bert Harden, who met and became friends with Alun Lewis at Longmoor military camp in Hampshire in 1940 (see under Letters to John Pikoulis from Bert Harden and under Letters to John Pikoulis from military colleagues of Alun Lewis and from military organisations). One item amongst the photocopied material is a letter, 1987, to Schaefer from Gweno Lewis, in which Gweno responds to Schaefer's queries regarding Alun Lewis, her responses annotated, most likely for Pikoulis's benefit ('Do you know?'), in Schaefer's hand. Together with printed and photocopied details from book catalogues, reviews, etc relating to Alun Lewis's works and copies of some of Alun Lewis's work translated into German and French.

Letters, 1981-1982 and undated, to John Pikoulis from writer and novelist Elizabeth Berridge, who claimed, for a brief period, to have been psychically in touch with Alun Lewis through messages transmitted to Berridge from Lewis via automatic writing, or psychography. Together with a transcript of an alleged communication from Alun Lewis to Elizabeth Berridge; suggested rewriting by Elizabeth Berridge of Pikoulis's proposed account of the automatic writing sessions, later published in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), pp. 282-93 (attached to letter dated 19 March 1982); photocopy of an undated letter to Gweno Lewis from Elizabeth Berridge; typescript transcripts of Berridge's communications with Alun Lewis (annotated in John Pikoulis's hand) (originally enclosed with Berridge's letter to Gweno Lewis); and rough notes in Pikoulis's hand, on the dorse of which is a typescript transcript of short stories allegedly transmitted by Alun Lewis to Elizabeth Berridge via automatic writing (see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), pp. 285-93). The letters contain references to Gweno Lewis, Gwyn Thomas (see under Letter to John Pikoulis from Gwyn Jones) and to John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Miscellany of his Writings (Poetry Wales Press, 1982). For Elizabeth Berridge, see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), pp. 282-93.

Letters, 1988, to John Pikoulis from David Leslie Davies, Cwmaman; together with manuscript translation from Welsh into English by (now) Plaid Cymru politician Cefin Campbell of Job Lewis's elegy to his wife Mary, Job and Mary Lewis being Alun Lewis's paternal grandparents. With a manuscript note from Cefin Campbell to John Pikoulis and an attached note in Pikoulis's hand.

Letter, 1995, to John Pikoulis from Edward E. Milburn which refers to the death of his father at sea in August 1940 and to William E. Ellis, brother of Gweno Lewis, whose photocopied letter of 1 December 1944 to Milburn's mother is enclosed, along with a photocopied press article relating to the British freighter Anglo Saxon, the ship on which Milburn's father served as Chief Engineer and William E. Ellis as Second Mate (see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 99).

Each envelope marked with name of correspondent and date(s) of correspondence.

Letters to John Pikoulis from publishing companies

Letters, 1974-1988, to John Pikoulis from publishing companies, the correspondence largely relating to the publication of Pikoulis's Alun Lewis: A Miscellany of his Writings (Poetry Wales Press, 1982) and Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984) and to articles contributed by Pikoulis to literary publications. Correspondents comprise: Poetry Wales magazine and Poetry Wales Press/Seren Books, the representative correspondents being Sam Adams (Poetry Wales magazine), Cary Archard (Poetry Wales magazine and Poetry Wales Press) and Mike Felton (Poetry Wales Press and Seren Books); Peter Leek of publishers George Allen & Unwin Ltd (together with a rough draft of a report by John Pikoulis on John Parker's submitted typescript of his biography and photocopied texts of poetical works (one signed) by Alun Lewis); Philip Unwin, formerly of George Allen & Unwin publishing company (1981), and Philip Unwin's widow, Evelyn Unwin (together with rough manuscript notes by John Pikoulis); and Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc, New York.

Letters to John Pikoulis from military colleagues of Alun Lewis and from military organisations

Letters to John Pikoulis largely from those who served with Alun Lewis in the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers and with post-war organisations related to the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers, the correspondents comprising: politician and historian Alun Arthur Gwynne Jones, Lord Chalfont (1976-1982); the Regimental Museum of the South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regiment and from the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers Old Comrades' Association (1977, 1979-1981); poet, novelist and playwright Bernard Gutteridge (1979); Colonel Robin S. Cresswell (1979-1980); [?Humphry] [ ? ] (1980); G. T. Wards (1980); [signature illegible] (1980); Ron Willetts (1980, 1981); John [ ? ] (1980); Jack Aistrop (1980-1981); Major Ollie (O. A.) Evans (1980); the Royal Engineers Corps Library (1980); the High Commission of India (1980); Cliff J. Vivian, Chief Executive of Geest Holdings Ltd, Spalding, Lincolnshire (1980); the Birmingham Post, in relation to Captain William F. (Bill) Perry (for whom, see below) (1980); the Ministry of Defence Army Records Centre (1981); B. S. Hopkins (1981); P. Thomas, Aberfan (1981); Hugh Harries (1981); A. G. Gulliford (1981); the High Commission of Pakistan (1981); E. Thomas, Aberdare (1981); the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (1981); Kathleen E. Ruddock (1981); W. S. Daniels (1981); Captain William F. (Bill) Perry (1981); the Medical Directorate at Army Headquarters, New Delhi (1981); Captain F. E. Elliot of the Ministry of Defence (1983); Dick C. Littleford (1985); Bert Harden (1990 and undated) (together with letter, 1990, to John Pikoulis from Mick Felton of Seren Books); Ian Tibbs (1999); Lieutenant-Colonel Randulph Offley Crewe-Read (undated); and T. Griffiths (undated).

Each envelope marked with name(s) of correspondent(s) and date(s) (if applicable) of correspondence.

Note that some names are referenced in more than one letter.

Alun Lewis's close friend Richard (Dick) Mills, who served with Lewis, is described under Academic and work colleagues of Alun Lewis and academic institutions.

Letters to John Pikoulis from friends and acquaintances of Alun Lewis

Correspondence between John Pikoulis and friends and acquaintances of Alun Lewis as part of Pikoulis's research into the life and work of Alun Lewis. Correspondents comprise: Howell Davies (1977 and undated); Lady Marjorie Linstead (née Walters) (1978), together with a fair-copied letter to Lady Linstead from John Pikoulis, a copy of a testimonial letter, 1978, to Lady Linstead from J. Selwyn Davies, Director and Head of the Extra-Mural Studies Department, University College Cardiff, and rough notes made by John Pikoulis; Bernard Pile (1978); Professor Mansel Davies (1978); artist and engraver John Petts (1978, 1980); novelist, poet and literary historian Glyn Jones (1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1992 and undated); poet and novelist Lynette Roberts (1979); solicitor Cyril Moseley (1979); Iris Dawes (née Jones) (1979); Megan McTrusty (1980 and undated); [?Iris] James (1980 and undated); poet, lecturer and man of letters John Lehmann (1980); Leslie Sykes (1980-1981); literary journalist, editor and poet Keidrych Rhys (1980); John Williams, Cardiff (1980); poet, writer and educationalist Arthur Glyn Prys-Jones (1980); Barbara [?Farrington] (1980); Lady Renée Hopkin (1981); bookshop owner Christina Foyle (1981,1984); Irene Birdsall (1981); Elonwy Kirkland (née Maddox) (1981-1982); Sulwyn Williams (1981); G. Davies, Aberdare (1983); Gillian Somerville-Large (2001, 2003); T. J. Evans (undated); and Jean Gilbert (undated), librarian of the former Pontigny Abbey in Burgundy, France, together with draft letters and queries from John Pikoulis to Jean Gilbert, a photocopy of a letter, 24 August 1939 (date added later in French), from Alun Lewis to Jean Gilbert (see also under Correspondence of Alun Lewis (photocopies, typescript copies and transcripts)), a list of French phrases with English translations possibly in the hand of Jean Gilbert and [?transcripts] of letters, possibly from Elizabeth Leslie to John Pikoulis.

Each envelope marked with name(s) of correspondent(s) and date(s) (where applicable) of correspondence.

Alun Lewis's close friend Richard (Dick) Mills and Lewis's former girlfriend Wendon Jones (née Mostyn), both of whom were fellow students of Alun Lewis at Aberystwyth University, are described under Letters to John Pikoulis from academic and work colleagues of Alun Lewis and from academic institutions.

Letters to John Pikoulis from academic and work colleagues of Alun Lewis and from academic institutions

Letters to John Pikoulis from former work and academic (both school and university) colleagues of Alun Lewis and from academic institutions previously attended by Alun Lewis, the correspondents comprising: Richard (Dick) Mills (1977-1987 and undated); Chris Germanacos (1979, 1981); D. W. Thomas (1979); Glyn Rees (1979); Professor Christopher Cheney (1979-1980), together with notes by John Pikoulis on Lewis/Cheney correspondence, which includes a chronology of events in Lewis's academic life (for further notes on Alun Lewis's letters to Professor Cheney, see under Gweno Lewis (Alun Lewis research papers): Biographical and literary notes)); Andrew Davies (1980); Gwyn Prosser (1980); Department of History, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (1980-1981); Registrar's Office, University of Manchester (1980); Barrie Davies (1980); Sir Idwal Vaughan Pugh (1981); Gwynfor Evans (1981); Dr Charles Franklin (1981); Haydn Evans (1981); Cledwyn Hughes, Lord Cledwyn, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos (1981); John Jones, Gresford (1981); the John Rylands University Library of Manchester (1981); D. [?V.] Marks, St David's University College, Lampeter (1981); [?Nans] Richards (1981); Dewi Lewis (1981); Evan J. Hopkins (1983); poet, literary critic and translator Dyfnallt Morgan (1986); Wendon Jones (née Mostyn) (1986); and Matt Jones (1995).

Each envelope marked with name of correspondent and date(s) of correspondence.

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