On my way down to breakfast this morning, I happened to glance at this photo of Winston and me on the bookshelf.
“Winston!” I thought–there he is; there we are–smiling at the camera–a moment in time.
Winston Graham–a person of great significance in my life!
In the snapshot we are on our back patio in north London, sometime in the early nineties; maybe he’s come to dinner.
It was a brief moment of remembrance.
Days are made up of them. This was a Winston moment.
Late this afternoon, Meredith comes into the kitchen here and says,
“You know it’s Winston Graham’s birthday today? Maybe you should write something…”
I didn’t say, “Winston’s already tipped me the wink!”
Today is his 109th birthday!
Born in 1908 in Manchester, he moved with his family to Perranporth in Cornwall in 1925 after his father died prematurely at 53.
There he married Jean Williamson–whom he’d first met when she was 13 (Demelza’s age when she first met Ross at the fair!). He was just 18. They lived in Cornwall for the next 25 years, bringing up their two children, Andrew and Rosamund.
Winston steeped himself in Cornish history and customs. He wrote the first book of the saga–Ross Poldark--in 1945.
Eleven more books followed. The last in the saga– Bella Poldark—written when he was 92!
London Films, the company founded by Alexander Korda, bought the film rights, but–luckily for me and all us Poldarkians–they never managed to make a movie of it.
Instead they teamed up with the Beeb to make the first series in 1975.
And here we are forty years on and the second adaptation is thrilling a new generation of fans.
Bonne Anniversaire, Winston!
Proper job, Mr Ellis.
Nice remembrance. Thanks for posting!
Why thank you. His birth date is probably listed on the site or cited in the Private Memoirs, but I wouldn’t remember it, never having known him. He’s now influenced many lives. I’m at long last watching the first three episodes of the new season (via DVDs sent me by a friend) and I predict a number of the central actors/actresses of this series will have their lives changed by it.
Luckily I saw the first one with you in the 70s , I even wrote to you , I’ even have the box set ,now watching the next one with Aidan , it’s so lovely to see you in it , im afraid I’m totally hooked on Poldark Robin .
I first came in touch with Winston Graham when the Italian state television broadcasted the fortunate series you starred in. I was twelve and eagerly wait for those Sunday afternoons when the speaker announced “From the novels of Winston Graham…”. In the meantime I studied my English with love, also thanks to those images and feelings…I grew up and discovered that this gentleman was the author of “Marnie” as well, and I finally could have the pleasure of reading all the Poldark novels (from Ross to Bella) in English after having bought them second hand on Amazon. This happened before I could finally visit Cornwall, after more than thirty years after those magical Sunday afternoons. And I could read your “Making Poldark” first edition and other publications of Mr Graham dedicated to Cornwall and his personal experience over there. You two have been a relevant part of my life, of what I have become, made me dream of adventures and exotic worlds as a young girl and plunge into wonderful books as a woman. A lovely birthday Mr Graham, a real gentleman, your beautiful style in writing is so much missed…
Your words are so beautiful, Robin!!! What a wonderful remembrance of the late great Winston Graham!!!! Reading this lovely post brought tears to my eyes!!! Thank you for bringing Ross Poldark to life forty years ago and for returning to the new series!!!! I have been a long time fan of yours!
Good writing, and good actors coming together…..magic. One can’t help but fall in love with Ross and Demelza. I am enjoying the new series. Revisiting the wonderful world of the Poldarks. The truth is, no one can portray Ross and Demelza like the originals. The nuances you brought to the roll were just as Winston Graham intended. You were strong and manly and daring, but there was a tenderness you evoked that the new cast does not have. I am sure Meredith concurs. Thank you for making Ross, must see TV.
Thank you for your lovely note of remembrance and for all your blog posts – they always bring me a smile.
What a lovely way to remember a very special author. I read the books over and over again.
What a beautiful picture of two of my favorite people.
Beautiful memorial of a genius writer.I have just visited Perranporth and whilst sitting on Winston’s bench had a quiet moment to remember the great man and his wonderful timeless stories Thank you for your lovely words
To me, you are the real Poldark.
Indeed, I totally agree, but as an Irish woman, I can’t help feeling very proud of Aidan’s performance. I think he does portray Ross with tenderness and compassion. I’m also very impressed with Jack Farthing’s portrayal of George
Nice post. Amazing 40 years after watching the original series I am e-mailing the actor who starred in my favorite BBC show ever
Thank you so much. What a lovely remembrance.
A beautiful remembrance.
When you first met him, you could have hardly known what an influence he would be on your life.
Someday, I hope to visit Cornwall, because of his stories.
i have all of Graham’s books five feet away form my computer..easy access. He was and is a marvelous writer. I’m so happy you and the cast and crew brought him to my attention forty years ago. Can you believe it? Happy birthday Winston! And thanks to you Robin for your wonderful interpretation of Ross.
A wonderful photograph – thank goodness for Winston! He enriched so many lives with his magnificent storytelling, and will continue to do so long after we’re all gone I suspect!
Just wondered if Winston Graham was a Fan of Gene Tierney as I think she would have made a great Demelza. I also think the present day Demelza Eleanor Tomlinson resembles her.
Lovely tribute to a great writer.
Happy 109th Birthday Winston Graham . . . How strikingly sad it is that today I read a news article describing how a ten-month old baby, Charlie Gard of London, will be allowed/forced to die in front of his parents because he has a disease and ironically, one for which there may be a cure found in the US.
However, the British High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and finally the European Court of Human Rights have crushed his parents efforts to take Charlie to the US for treatment. I wonder if this is the kind of world Winston Graham intended to leave us.
President Donald Trump: “If we can help Charlie Gard, we’d be delighted to do so,”
Thank God that in the face of court after court denying Baby Charlie’s parents the right to take him from the hospital to their home for him to die; or to transport him to the United States to seek life-saving care and medical treatment, that there are people in London protesting this horrific verdict and people in the US, including President Trump, who are ready, willing and able to stand up and help this baby have a chance to live. I am grateful to be a distant, but none-the-less committed individual standing up for Baby Charlie Gard. May God help him and his family.
I wrote to Winston Graham, following the first series in the 70’s and had a reply… I was so happy.. I still have the letter..
Thank you Robin for all of your writings – they mean so much. HB Winston.
A lovely post Robin about the wonderful author who brought Poldark alive. Love the new series but the 1970s series is my fav.
A lovely memoir, from one lovely man to another…Thank you to you both for bringing so much enjoyment to so many…! :).
Happy Birthday Winston, lovely memory, i visited Cornwall years ago when i lived in England and of course visited the places where Poldark was filmed including Perranporth,Port Quin, Godolphin House, Botallack and was a member of the appreciation society and had the privilege of meeting Winston at one of the lunches, i emigrated to Australia in 2008 and am now planning a holiday back to the UK in September and of course i am going back to Cornwall, staying in port Quin and will defiantly go back to Perranporth. I am also reading the poldark novels again – on Millers Dance at the moment and loving them. it took me a little while to adjust to the new series but love it now,it helps that you are in it, but you will always be Ross to me
Thanks so much for sharing that memory of Winston Graham. You and the Poldark series will always be such a special film experience for me. So thank you Winston Graham for making it all possible. Yes, Happy Birthday to “the man”! P.S. I watched the original series from beginning to end on Acorn TV but now they are not showing the entire series. Very disappointing as I wanted to watch it all again.
I am so happy that a link to this blog showed up on the poldark twitter feed. What special memories! I am on my third straight read through of the twelve books and, when I get through Bella, will probably start the fourth! I haven’t seen your adaptation of Poldark, but plan to do that after the current Poldark has run its course. I don’t want to confuse the two!! I enjoy your appearances as Dr. Halse and hope they continue to the end of the current adaptation. Best wishes to you!
Robin,Meredith had a wonderful inspiration(!)
What a privilege to be (re)introduced to Mr Graham.
And to revisit Poldark!(original series)!
Reminds me of such a happy time in our lives!
I am sure that it gave him immense joy to see you portray Ross,and,especially,to have you as his friend.
Charming man, who I had the great good fortune to meet in 1993. I also have a lovely letter from him. After reading what was then the last Poldark novel, I wrote and asked him if he still thought about the characters. A long time passed, and then his letter arrived. He did indeed think about them, and the reason for the delay in replying, was because he had been writing the final book!
The first BBC version sent me to discover what has now become my beloved Cornwall. Winston was a wonderful story teller and I still re-read the novels.
Sent from my iPad
Heartwarming! Thanks Robin! 💜
Nice story. Didn’t know he was born in Manchester.
More than 70 years ago a man sat in a little hut overlooking the beach at Perranporth in Cornwall, scribbling, as he did every day, into his notebook. He may not have known it then, but Winston Graham was creating one of the most iconic Cornish characters in the history of popular fiction. Ross Poldark!
Winston may have looked up every now and then from his writing to gaze out over the deserted sands, and watch the breakers roll in.
Perhaps in his mind’s eye he saw Ross striding across that beach, and Demelza waving to him from high up on the clifftop. I like to think he would have.
So happy anniversary dear Winston Graham, and thank you for giving us Ross, and all the other wonderful Poldark characters.
And thank you, Robin, for this touching post.
But mostly thank you for bringing Ross to life on the screen in a way that none of us who watched and loved that first series 40 years ago will ever forget. x
A lovely remembrance of a wonderful author.
Sent from my Windows Phone ________________________________
People are hard sometimes & say ‘the past is gone,…move on’. but the past is never gone. It’s in our hearts & minds & the photographic images we surround ourselves with. Those gentle ghosts from the path are never gone.
Beautiful memories are the diamonds in our lives.
What lovely thoughts. Thank you.
Talented man with great stories. Sticks to the plot. 🎂
So he married his childhood sweetheart as if Ross had married Elizabeth I seems.
I’ve always loved the books but had no idea of the story of the man behind them. Thank you for your tribute and for sharing some of the back story!
Dr. Mr. Ellis,
Your touching post about Mr. Graham and the one about your father bring to mind the thoughts of Daniel Webster: “It is a noble faculty of our natures which enables us to connect our thoughts, sympathies and happiness with what is distant in places or time; and, looking before and after, to hold communion at once with our ancestors and our posterity. There is a moral and philosophical respect for our ancestors which elevates the character and improves the heart. I hardly know what should bear with stronger obligation on a liberal and enlightened mind than a consciousness of an allegiance with excellence which is departed, and a consciousness, too, that in its acts and conduct, and even in its thoughts and sentiments, may be actively operating on the happiness of others that may come after us.”
Wow! I wish I’d said that! But thank you–perhaps that is what was in my mind.
Dear Sir
Wonderful post on Graham.
We happened to watch your swan song as the judge in the new series: you confront your namesake of yore, see he has 3 witnesses, and promptly walk him as we here say, on what amounts to a directed verdict of acquittal. I was so glad they did a close up of you. Great stuff.
Many thanks for posting these things,
Thanks–not sure what “you walk him…” means?
It means several idiomatic things:
If you represent someone as his lawyer, and he is found not guilty, you, the lawyer, ‘walked him’.
It can mean a judge can do so by directed verdict, or case dismissed as in your episode.
It has come to mean, more generally, letting white collar criminals, of the Wall Street variety, “walk”, by not even prosecuting them in the first place, the way Paul Krugman used the term in the NYT.
Thanks for that.
[…] blogs on the new and older Poldark films a day after Graham’s 109th birthday. On his blog, Robin Ellis (once Ross Poldark) announced June 30, was Graham’s birthday: he had been born June 30, 1908, […]
Lovely memories of a lovely man and exceptional writer. Just home from a wonderful holiday in Cornwall.
Loved this post 👏👏💙
Dear Robin thanks to have shared your memories of this great writer with us!
Absolutely FANTASTIC! Give me what you are taking for breakfast Winston. A JOLLY GOOD BIRTHDAY to you xx
Shawdian
Thanks for sharing your memories. I loved watching you in Poldark & I am now watching the new series. The original series gave me a love of Cornwall & encouraged me to read Winston Graham’s great series. I have read the books more than once, they are brilliantly written 😊
You will always be the “real” Poldark as Winston Graham portrayed him.
Just come across thiis memory of Winston and his birth date; missed it originally. I met Winston on several occasions (and you and Meredith) through the PAS. When The Twisted Sword was published there was a publicity event held at the Poldark Mine, Wendron, Cornwall and we were asked to dress in costume to add interest to the day. Winston ‘s wife Jean was there and she had not been too well so whilst Winston was doing his interviews with the press he asked my husband and I to look after Mrs Graham to make sure she had refreshments and was ok. It was a privilege – she was a lovely lady. Christopher Biggins and John Bascomb who played Mr Pearce the Notary were there too.
In the evening there was a posh reception and dinner with the ‘great and good’ of Cornwall with the High Sheriff as guest of honour.
The next day we did some publicity shots with Winston and some of the national press at St Mawes Castle (Fort Baton). I have some great photos and wonderful memories.
Lovely memory. Jean was a great person and indomitable.