Quotations from P G Wodehouse are copyright of, and reprinted by permission of, the Trustees of the Wodehouse Estate © 2012 The P G Wodehouse Society (UK)

A Pippin of a Picnic in Russell Square

The first batch of Arrow Books’ republication this year of about half of PG Wodehouse’s novels was launched in London on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Arrow is part of Random House, and full details may be seen on their website here.

Picnickers begin to spread out

Many Wodehouse enthusiasts mingled with curious passers-by at Russell Square, all taking advantage of London at its most charming (or is that an oxymoron?), picnicking in superb weather as the sun – searing by UK standards – dappled through the London plane trees.

Chairman Hilary Bruce prepares for a busy day

Wodehouse aficionados present included Tony and Elaine Ring, Norman and Elin Murphy, Hilary and Robert Bruce, and numerous members of the clan Cazalet, including Sir Edward. Hal Cazalet (Mr Wodehouse’s step-great-grandson), who is a professional tenor, entertained with two delightful soprano colleagues (Eliza Lumley and Sarah Whalen) and a five-piece band. Their repertoire ranged through many Wodehouse/Kern songs, as well as one or two others co-written with Gershwin and Porter.

Gary Johnson is one of five new members who signed up on the spot

Junior Wodehouse fans were equally and royally entertained with a schedule of Edwardian games for younger ladies and gentlemen of a sporting disposition, including pig racing, the sack race, the three-legged race, and (of course) the inevitable egg-and-spoon. Pleasingly, the latter was concluded without the slightest hint of superglue. And ‘tinies’ had the opportunity to demonstrate their artistic talents at the booth for colouring a selection of two-dimensional representations of authentic Fink-Nottle newts.

Hal Cazalet dazzles the crowd with Sarah Whelan and Eliza Lumley

The UK Society promoted membership alongside Arrow’s attractive stack of the new titles, and more are promised for later in the year. As a ‘taster’ for both existing enthusiasts and the hitherto unenlightened, Arrow had issued a ‘booklette’ for the occasion, containing introductory excerpts from Blandings Castle ("Lord Emsworth and the Girlfriend") and Jeeves and Wooster ("The Great Sermon Handicap"). Numerous copies were distributed by a cast of Wodehousian characters in costume, and I would guess that they will become a collectors’ item in their own right (the ‘booklette’, that is).

Young egg-and-spooners show their form

As far as I could see, no Aunts were present, remarkably few clergymen, only a smattering of gentlemen’s gentlemen – and a good time was had by all.

– Peter Gooday

Pig racing was included in the fun for young and old