Acknowledgements
| What the Press said |
I owe a great deal to a number of
people who helped me in making this play:
David Horlock took the risk of
commissioning the play and gave me invaluable guidance and criticism throughout
its creation. Peter Cheeseman introduced me to the methodology of
the musical documentary while I was an actor at the Victoria Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent. Dirk Campbell set me on the road
to Tolpuddle for a film script. My mother-in-law Ann Casson (whose parents Lewis
Casson and Sybil Thorndike played the Lovelesses in The Six Men of Dorset
in 1934) gleaned anecdotal material from descendants in Canada; among them, Ruth
Loveless, George’s great granddaughter, who showed me the bible George bought
in Hobart. The TUC published my account of
the story, Tolpuddle – an historical account through the eyes of George
Loveless, and Norman Willis, Brian Tyler and Christine Esteve gave me
support and assistance. The
Revd Philip Spence, Rector of Greensted, gave me insights into Methodism, and
suggested, from evidence in local histories, the reason the families left Essex. Stan
Newens MP arranged for me to visit the Essex farms. My
wife and children gave me constant encouragement and showed remarkable patience,
especially in Canadian graveyards. Richard
Emerson kindly transcribed the music for this edition.
I
also acknowledge the assistance of the staff of the following: Northampton Central Library, Dorchester Reference Library, Dorset County Record Office, Essex County Record Office, Library of Stratford Ontario, Marx Memorial Library, National Museum of Labour History, British Library Newspaper Division, TUC Library, Vaughan Williams Library of the English Folk Song and Dance Society. (Links) |