L. du Garde Peach
Encyclopedia
Lawrence du Garde Peach was an English author and playwright for radio, stage and screen. He may be best remembered as the author of over 30 books for Ladybird's
Adventure from History series of nonfiction children's books, published from 1957 until his death. It was the largest series Ladybird ever produced, and remained in print until 1986.
, and attended Manchester Grammar School
and Manchester University before taking up a postgraduate position at University of Göttingen in 1912, later earning a PhD at Sheffield University in 1921 for a thesis on the development of drama in France, Spain and England in the 17th century. He married in 1915, and served in military intelligence during the First World War, reaching the rank of captain.
From the early 1920s, he began regularly writing humorous pieces for Punch and other magazines, and after a period as a lecturer at the University College of the South West of England (later to become the University of Exeter
), Peach left academia to become a full time writer. A major outlet was the then new medium of radio, for which he wrote his first play in 1924. Much of his work for radio dramatised history and biography, and became a staple of the Children's Hour
strand for younger listeners.
He also wrote extensively for the stage, forming a close relationship with the Sheffield Playhouse, and from 1934 to 1936, he wrote for a number of films, ranging from horror The Ghoul (1933), The Man Who Changed His Mind
(1936), and musical comedy Princess Charming (1934), Land Without Music
(1936), to serious drama adaptations Turn of the Tide
(1935), and the all-star spectacular Transatlantic Tunnel
(1935). He turned down lucrative offers from Hollywood, preferring not to have to deal with all the whims of those in the production process. Frank Launder
once claimed that he and Sidney Gilliat
had to abandon "most of the script" for Seven Sinners (1936) and that Peach's "only virtue was speed."
Peach was also a great supporter of the idea of amateur theatre
, and wrote a number of plays specially tailored for particular kinds of amateur groups. In 1927, he founded an amateur group at Great Hucklow
, close to his home in the Peak District
of Derbyshire, which achieved a notably high standard. It continued until 1971. He wrote many plays and produced many productions for the group, and in 1938 created its own theatre, converted from an old lead mining building. After the war, he also produced a number of large-scale theatrical pageants, in Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere.
Peach also entered the world of politics, standing as a candidate for the Liberal Party
at the 1929 General Election in the dual member seat of Derby
, without success.
He was made an OBE for services for literature in 1972, and recognised with an honorary DLitt from Sheffield University in 1964. He died in 1974 at home in Foolow
in Derbyshire, about a mile from Great Hucklow, two years after the death of his wife.
Ladybird Books
Ladybird Books is a London-based publishing company, trading as a stand-alone imprint within the Penguin Group of companies. The Ladybird imprint publishes mass-market children's books.-History:...
Adventure from History series of nonfiction children's books, published from 1957 until his death. It was the largest series Ladybird ever produced, and remained in print until 1986.
Life
Lawrence du Garde Peach was born in 1890 in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and attended Manchester Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
and Manchester University before taking up a postgraduate position at University of Göttingen in 1912, later earning a PhD at Sheffield University in 1921 for a thesis on the development of drama in France, Spain and England in the 17th century. He married in 1915, and served in military intelligence during the First World War, reaching the rank of captain.
From the early 1920s, he began regularly writing humorous pieces for Punch and other magazines, and after a period as a lecturer at the University College of the South West of England (later to become the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
), Peach left academia to become a full time writer. A major outlet was the then new medium of radio, for which he wrote his first play in 1924. Much of his work for radio dramatised history and biography, and became a staple of the Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
strand for younger listeners.
He also wrote extensively for the stage, forming a close relationship with the Sheffield Playhouse, and from 1934 to 1936, he wrote for a number of films, ranging from horror The Ghoul (1933), The Man Who Changed His Mind
The Man Who Changed His Mind
The Man Who Changed His Mind is a 1936 science fiction horror film starring Boris Karloff and Anna Lee. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and was released in Great Britain by Gainsborough Pictures. The film was also known as The Brainsnatcher or The Man Who Lived Again.-Plot:Dr...
(1936), and musical comedy Princess Charming (1934), Land Without Music
Land Without Music
Land Without Music is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Richard Tauber, Diana Napier and Jimmy Durante.The film is also known as Forbidden Music in the USA.- Plot summary :...
(1936), to serious drama adaptations Turn of the Tide
Turn of the Tide
Turn of the Tide is a 1935 British film directed by Norman Walker.It was the first feature film made by J. Arthur Rank.It is set in a North Yorkshire fishing village, and relates the rivalry between two fishing families. The actors included John Garrick, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Wilfrid Lawson speak...
(1935), and the all-star spectacular Transatlantic Tunnel
The Tunnel (1935 film)
The Tunnel, also known as Transatlantic Tunnel in the United States, is a 1935 British science fiction film based on the 1913 novel Der Tunnel by Bernhard Kellermann, about the building of a transatlantic tunnel. It was directed by Maurice Elvey and stars Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, Madge Evans,...
(1935). He turned down lucrative offers from Hollywood, preferring not to have to deal with all the whims of those in the production process. Frank Launder
Frank Launder
Frank Launder was an English writer, director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat....
once claimed that he and Sidney Gilliat
Sidney Gilliat
Sidney Gilliat was an English film director, producer and writer.He was born in the district of Edgeley in Stockport, Cheshire. In the 1930s he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably with Frank Launder on The Lady Vanishes for Alfred Hitchcock, and its sequel Night Train to Munich , directed by...
had to abandon "most of the script" for Seven Sinners (1936) and that Peach's "only virtue was speed."
Peach was also a great supporter of the idea of amateur theatre
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
, and wrote a number of plays specially tailored for particular kinds of amateur groups. In 1927, he founded an amateur group at Great Hucklow
Great Hucklow
Great Hucklow is a small village in the Derbyshire Peak District which nestles under Hucklow Edge between the villages of Tideswell and Bradwell. It has a population of about 100. The area is now mainly agricultural, but the village was formerly a centre of the Derbyshire lead mining industry...
, close to his home in the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
of Derbyshire, which achieved a notably high standard. It continued until 1971. He wrote many plays and produced many productions for the group, and in 1938 created its own theatre, converted from an old lead mining building. After the war, he also produced a number of large-scale theatrical pageants, in Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere.
Peach also entered the world of politics, standing as a candidate for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
at the 1929 General Election in the dual member seat of Derby
Derby (UK Parliament constituency)
Derby is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950. It was represented by two Members of...
, without success.
He was made an OBE for services for literature in 1972, and recognised with an honorary DLitt from Sheffield University in 1964. He died in 1974 at home in Foolow
Foolow
Foolow is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District.The village green contains an ornate cross, similar to the one at Wheston but possibly of later date. It is inscribed with the date 1868, when it was moved from the site of the Wesleyan Reform Chapel and its shaft was replaced. A former bull...
in Derbyshire, about a mile from Great Hucklow, two years after the death of his wife.
External links
- Filmography, British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
- Biography, The Wee Web (Ladybird book collector website)