Dramatica tips and tricks

A Q & A brainstorm with James Collins and Jack Rousseau - Jack answering my questions:

I don’t want to give too much away as I want you to read the first draft when done without being forewarned, but what would you put in here?

Without giving too much away, the overall problem is to do with, let’s say, the release of an evil presence in a town/environment. ‘Something bad gets out and needs to be sent back to where it came from’ kind of story.

I’ve got a set for the MC of:

Problem: Nonacceptance

Solution: Acceptance

Symptom: Evaluation

Response: Re-evaluation

And for the OS

Problem: Nonacceptance

Solution: Acceptance

Symptom: Deduction

Response: Induction

The PROBLEM and the SOLUTION are basically Overall Story Throughline elements. Whatever "word" Dramatica comes up with to describe the Overall Story Problem is the general essence of what is wrong or out of kilter, the thing that gives the overall characters their mission to solve.

And the Solution of course is the real answer to the problem - what actually needs to be done to solve the problem.

So first of all, you must consider PROBLEM / SOLUTION in the context of the Overall Story.

Now, the MAIN CHARACTER PROBLEM will be exactly the same. It's because the MAIN CHARACTER has this same PROBLEM in his throughline that he is the Main Character. So his Problem and his Solution will be closely connected to the Overall Story Problem and Solution.

This means that the PROBLEM will always be something that is wrong between the Main Character and his Environment. I say "between" because it's something the Main Character uniquely needs to sort out, and the Problem will be some kind of imbalance between the Main Character and the environment.

To give some simple examples, if the dam is about to burst, the Main Character's problem is either to stop the dam bursting, or to rescue all the people and/or things threatened by it. But that's where the Problem lies OUTSIDE the Main Character. But if the Main Character is making everyone's lives a misery because he can't get over the death of his wife, then he needs to solve something within himself and move on. The PROBLEM lies inside, but the effect is on the environment around him.

The Overall Characters can see the Problem and the Solution OBJECTIVELY because they are not the Main Character. They can see the MC needs to realise he has to act to save the dam. They can see he's the only person that can do it. Or they can see the MC needs to get over his wife's death and marry again.

But the Main Character cannot see this. He only has a SUBJECTIVE VIEW of the Problem. He will not be able to see the REAL PROBLEM and the REAL SOLUTION straight away - otherwise we'll have no story. He can't see he needs to fix the dam or rescue the people. He can't see he needs to marry and move on.

Instead, the Main Character focuses on SYMPTOM and RESPONSE. These are his take on the problem and Solution. >From his Subjective view. The Symptom is what the MC thinks is wrong. But it's not the Objective view. He's not correct in his assessment. The RESPONSE is what he thinks, Subjectively, is the right Solution. But it's not. By initially going for the Response, he draws out the story. He will finally come to realise that he needs to recognise the PROBLEM (rather than the SYMPTOM) and he needs to apply the SOLUTION (and not the RESPONSE).

That is his journey of discovery, if you like, his arc of character - moving from SYMPTOM/RESPONSE to PROBLEM/SOLUTION. And when the Main Character converges on the Problem/Solution, he brings the story to its climax and end.

Now I realise that still sounds all rather technical. But you need to consider all that in the context of the WORDS that Dramatica comes up with for the four things: Problem/Solution and Symptom/Response and then see how that inspires you in the context of your story.

The Overall Characters can be equally confused from their subjective perspective. They won't necessarily know what the real problem and solution are - although they might. But the Overall characters are quite likely to see that the MC is trying to treat the Symptom where he should be treating the Problem. And the Impact Character will see that especially. Which then becomes the focus for his Impact. The Impact Character will be trying to get the MC to realise the mistake (in a story where the Impact Character has the right answer = that is, a CHANGE story).

The Saddling – Treatment

The Saddling – Treatment, now posted on InkTip

James Collins

Email: gosling@otenet.gr

WGA registration: 1521871

Logline: A young genealogist uncovers human sacrifice while struggling to solve a family mystery in the village of his ancestors.

Key characters:

Tom Carey, (MC/Protagonist) slightly overweight, early 20’s, obsessed with his family tree to the point of losing his girlfriend. Reliant on facts, technology, computers and one of the new ‘Facebook generation,’ not adept at face to face socialisation. From London.

William Blacklocks, (Antagonist) the village elder of Saddling, 60’s. Tall, gaunt, powerful and manipulative.

Dan Vye, (Impact character) 18, smooth faced, ethereal young man, son of the pub landlady in the village of Saddling. Distant, a dreamer, has been brought up knowing that he may die before he is 20.

Barry Cole, (Sidekick) 19, another village boy brought up under the shadow of possible death. He’s down to hearth, humorous, desperate for a different life.

Brief synopsis:

Act one: To inherit his dying aunt’s money, Tom Carey must unlock an old family mystery in the remote village of Saddling, in the Romney Marsh. There he is unwelcome and treated with suspicion, but this only drives him harder and he is determined not to be put off his task by the backward, superstitious villagers who are hiding something.

Act two:  The village elder, the much feared William Blacklocks, guards the parish registers that Tom needs to see, and stands between Tom and the clues to his mystery. While trying to get to these books, Tom befriends two of the village boys, Dan and Barry, both of whom are living under some kind of threat. Tom learns of the annual winter solstice ritual of ‘The Saddling’ which has been held in the village for hundreds of years. This solstice day Dan is chosen as the Saddling Prince. Tom struggles but acquires the books and in them discovers that the solstice ritual involves a human sacrifice. Not only that but it was his ancestors who originated the ritual. And Dan is chosen to be the next victim.

Act three:  Tom is inclined to run as a storm starts and floodwaters rise, threatening the village. Dan is prepared for sacrifice, anyone Tom turns to for help has been killed, and only he can save Dan. He is tricked into becoming the sacrifice, but manages to escape. He inherits his money and opts to stay in Saddling where his ancestors originated.

Treatment:

Prologue: In 1292 the south coast of England is ravaged by a storm. Floodwaters take whole villages. In the small village of Saddling the cleric, Roberte Di Kari, accidentally kills a teenage boy, John Blacklocks, and immediately the storm abates; the village is saved.

Act one: In the present day Dan Cary, an out of work, scruffy, 20-something, ignores a TV news headline about two Iranian teens being stoned to death for being gay, and works on his family tree. He is obsessed to the point that he has lost his job, and now his girlfriend. Tom needs to know who he is, he’s lost and doesn’t know what direction his life is taking him. He relies on Facebook for social interaction, and his PC for everything else.

Tom’s aunt Maud has charged Tom with solving an old family mystery: why did their ancestors leave Saddling, a village in Romney Marsh, one hundred years ago? She will leave her fortune to Tom if he solves the mystery before she dies. She does not have long to live. Tom’s hacker friend Dylan helps him discover that the Saddling parish books are still kept in the village. Tom must go and see them.

On Romney Marsh, a youth, Dan Vye, cuts a lonely figure against the broad, flat landscape He sees crows wheeling and runs, terrified of them.

Somewhere on the marsh, Tom finally reaches the boundary ditch that circles the village. He is reluctant to cross the small bridge at first as he has a fear of drowning. He is being watched by a tall man with piercing eyes, William Blacklocks.

In the pub, ‘The Crow and Whiteback’, Susan Vye the landlady is reluctant to give Tom a room. A teenager, Barry, tells her she must and she agrees immediately. Tom is given a basic, sparse room looking out towards the village green, church and circle of houses.

Village women hang winter flowers in wreaths on their doors. Four houses have candles burning in their windows, the rest have drawn curtains.

Tom is finding the pub quaint if a little backward, there are no sockets for his chargers. The villagers are wary of him being there ‘at this time of year.’ Tom tries to engage them in talk of his ancestors who were from Saddling, but no one is keen to be drawn in.

In the church crypt, Blacklocks is using Matt Cole to spy on Tom. Tom is after the village register book, and Blacklocks will use that to keep him here until after ‘The Saddling.’

Upstairs at the pub, Tom hears someone crying in the room next to his.

The next day, Tom starts to look around the village and finds the church locked. As the low winter sun creeps up, he meets Dan. Tom remarks on how beautiful the marsh is but Dan tells him it is deadly. He also suggests he visit Eliza if he wants answers.

In the crypt, Blacklocks is now working through the old books. He notes that in 1912 a Thomas Carey was ‘chosen’ but left, ‘unfulfilled.’

Tom pays a call on a blind woman, Eliza, who lives outside of the village. She is expecting him. She asks him what he is really searching for, it is something more than his ancestors. She says he must have faith without proof sometimes, not everything is to be found in books. She doesn’t answer his questions but gives him a small pouch of flour and tells him to look to his name.

Tom arrives at the bridge to find his bags unceremoniously ejected from the village and his laptop smashed.

Dan and Barry are in the churchyard watching the crows. They swear to look out for each other if they are ‘chosen’ and agree that things have to be changed.

Tom returns to the village furious and considers abandoning his search. Downstairs, Blacklocks is angry with Susan for going easy on Tom. ‘The harder we make it, the more he will want to stay.’

As Tom is leaving he encounters Blacklocks who tells him that he has located the books Tom wants. Tom’s obsession overrides his thoughts on leaving. He decides to stay.

Act two A: Back in London: Dylan gets a call from Tom’s aunt. Her time is running out, Tom must hurry. Dylan tries to contact Tom, but can’t. But he notices some patterns in the dates in Tom’s research.

William Blacklocks’ grandson, Mark, a teenager, is angry that Tom is not showing the correct respect to him during ‘Penit.’ Tom is confused, Barry wants to help him but can’t. William Blacklocks discusses village superstition with Tom, tells him of their festival to be held tomorrow, invites Tom to stay for it. It only happens once every ten tears. They discuss how both their ancestry stretches back a long way in Saddling. But Tom then learns that the village books are not here after all. The village is liable to flood at this time of year so they have been sent away for safety. Tom is suspicious.

In the graveyard, Matt Cole scatters sheep pellets to attract the animals to graze. Tom notices there are many graves for teenage boys. Matt tells him he shouldn’t be here at this time, ‘not with a name like yours.’

Matt tells Blacklocks that he is concerned that they are ‘playing with the ritual.’

Tom has to return ‘to the stone age’ when his palm pilot dies and he has to use pencil and paper for his notes. Villagers are giving Tom a wide berth. But Dan befriends Tom and explains more about the village and their antiquated way of life. It is what he is used to, it works for the village. This is how it is and even the teenagers accept it.

But Matt Cole is very worried about something and is preparing to run away with his wife and son, Barry.

Tom uses Eliza’s flour to bring out writing on tombstones. He finds some of his ancestors’ dates and names and starts making notes.

On the eve of ‘The Saddling’ the men gather in the pub, they discuss how the festival must go ahead ‘for the sake of everyone’ even though some grow more against it each time.

Susan tells Tom to leave her boy, Dan, alone. She has seen them talking, she doesn’t want Tom’s ‘out-marsh’ ways to influence Dan.

Downstairs in the pub, Matt tells Tom that the books he wants are in the church crypt after all. He also warns Tom off his search, saying Blacklocks blinded Eliza for delving in the past. But this is just conjecture and Tom only deals in facts. Barry tries to tell Tom to go home but when Tom refuses, Barry admires him even more.

At dusk, Tom meets Dan out on the marsh. Dan has never left the marsh, he doesn’t know what it’s like beyond the boundary. Tom feels crushed by this, feels sorry for the boy.

At night, Mark Blacklocks scatters sheep pellets outside his house. Inside the Cole’s house the village women gather to sing laments, crying, while four mothers hold hands around candles. Tom works through his research in his room as thunder starts to roll in.

But the next morning dawns bright and cheery, though the skies are threatening. The village prepares for ‘The Saddling.’ The village green plays host to music, dancing, stalls and a gathering of all villagers. Tom watches and finds it quaint. He takes a risk and steals into the church, finds the crypt. He is looking for the books when Blacklocks nearly discovers him, but a scream from outside draws him away.

The village green is mayhem: sheep run everywhere, villagers yell and laugh, call them over. It’s a good thing for sheep to graze on your lawn; they graze at the Blacklocks house, and the Coles, and the other house with the candle burning, but there are none at the pub, and the pub has crows on the roof. Susan is distraught. The crows and ‘whitebacks’ have chosen Dan for ‘The Saddling.’ Dan is stunned, Eliza is there, shocked, and Barry silently begs Tom to help.

Act Two B: Dylan arrives in New Romney, and finds the vicar at the church. The vicar refuses to give him directions to Saddling, he begs Dylan not to go onto the marsh today.

The festival on the green is over and the rest of the day is spent in reflection as the village prepares for a church service in the evening. Tom wants to know what’s just happened but Blacklocks only says that the village is happy. Dan has been chosen, it is an honour.

The men are celebrating in the pub where Susan is still distraught. Upstairs, Tom looks at Dan’s diary and sees no notes or appointments planned beyond this day.

Out at the bridge, Blacklocks paces, waiting, he sees a car approach, he smiles.

As the weather closes in, Tom tries to talk with Dan, but Dan is lost, confused, he can’t take it in. He argues with Tom, a clash of the Saddling traditions verses the modern world ‘out there.’ Tom slips into a ditch, his worst nightmare. He scrambles out but Dan has run off. Tom goes to see Eliza for some answers.

In her shack, Eliza is expecting someone when the door opens.

Tom gingerly runs across the Saddling bridge, it creaks and the water level is higher.

In his stationary car, Dylan looks through Dan’s research on a laptop, and in his family bible. He realises something shocking. He drives off through the gathering storm, the radio gives out a flood warning.

Tom finds Liza’s shack empty, the place is a mess. He heads back to the village. The planked bridge is being washed away and he has to jump half of it to get across.

Dylan drives past Tom’s car, parked up in a layby. No sign of him there.

Tom tries to find more clues from headstones in the graveyard; he is on to something. He goes to the Blacklocks house but is told that William is not there.

Barry and his father have slipped away from the festivities at the pub. Tom meets Barry and tells him it is now imperative that Tom sees the books in the locked church. Barry knows a way they can get inside.

William Blacklocks was at home, he is talking to a young, suited man, Philip, and someone we can’t see, about how he has ways to take care of Barry.

Out on the marsh a ditch wall bursts and the ditches start to flood.

Barry and Tom creep through the back of the pub and into the cellar.

Dylan is at the bridge, soaked, exhausted and half the bridge has been washed away. He jumps for it but the bridge collapses under him. He is in the water when the planks of the bridge hit him and Eliza’s body floats past, dragging him away and under the water.

Barry and Tom head into the old smugglers’ tunnel that runs from the pub to the crypt. There is water under their feet. They reach the crypt and find the books. But when they come back to the tunnel the water has risen higher. This really is Tom’s worst nightmare. They fight through the rising water until it is up to their chins and they are about to be swallowed, but they reach the pub cellar and Tom climbs out. But Barry is not with him. Tom has no choice but to dive back in and save Barry. Barry is saved, can’t believe Tom did that, and Tom tells him that a man must do what he knows is right, for his friends.

Later that evening, at Barry’s house, Tom is dried and dressed in clothes borrowed from Matt Cole. He looks like a Saddling villager now. While he is dressing, Barry is looking at the books for him and finds a journal note about how most of the Carey family fled in 1912. Barry assumes from the storms. Dan arrives to give Barry a parting gift.

Tom is back in his room with the books, devouring their information when he sees the villagers heading for the church. He discovers a pattern of dates in the book and realises that a village teenage boy dies every ten years on the same date; winter solstice. Tonight. Dan appears and says goodbye to him, but Tom is so obsessed with this new research that he doesn’t hear Dan’s words: ‘The thing that The Saddling teaches us is that it’s wrong to love. You can’t. The one you love might be chosen.’ Tom finally realises the horrible truth that it was his ancestor Di Kari that started this ritual and that since then a human sacrifice has been made every 10 years to keep the flooding at bay. And in 1912 his ancestors fled the village to avoid being victims; they were cowards. And worse than that, Dan is to be this night’s sacrifice. But Dan has left and Tom has been locked in.

Act three: Dan is outside the church with the villagers who chant, ‘For Saddling.’ Tom can see this from his room but he can’t do anything about it. He is stuck and all he has are his notes and research, papers, books all useless now. But Susan lets him out, tells him to run for it, go get out of the village. Tom, dazed and panicked, does as he is told.

In the church Blacklocks begins the ceremony. he realises that the Cole family are missing and sends some of his henchmen out to look.

Tom thinks off all those dead boys as he staggers away into the storm, he can’t believe it is all his ancestors’ fault. He is the last one, he is the only one to blame for this. He stumbles into Barry and his family escaping, and Matt Cole tells Tom what Blacklocks wants: he wants Tom to go willingly in Dan’s place, as the sacrifice, then the tradition can be ended. The debt would be paid; the last Carey in return for the original John Blacklocks. Someone must put an end to this ritual, and Tom is the only one who can. Will he give up his life for all those future victims?

Dan is on the altar, a girl sings the final lament. Tom races to the church. It’s locked. He must use the flooded tunnel. He runs through the graveyard and falls into a fresh, open grave.

Tom escapes the grave and runs to the pub, then through the tunnel and into the crypt. He bursts in on the ceremony’s climax. In a showdown with Blacklocks, Tom’s beliefs are called into question; what’s worse, following a religion like that of Saddling or the religion of the internet, being a slave to computers, phones, technology? It’s facts verses faith time and Tom knows that killing Dan will not stop the storm. But how can he be sure? It’s worked for hundreds of years.

The Cole’s are dragged back, the flood has started and the waters are rising outside.

His aunt Maud unexpectedly appears with Philip, her lawyer. She and Blacklocks together laid this trap so that Tom would go to the altar and the ritual would be stopped for good. Tom must do what is right by his family, and friends. Tom has to decide if he will die to save Dan and stop the slaughter of innocent boys. He has a chance to change Saddling, but it means having faith that his death will make a difference.

Tom gives himself up but, on the point of being killed, he gets free. His friendship with Barry and Dan works in his favour as hey help Tom fight the villagers who are trying to kill Tom. In the struggle, Dan accidentally kills Mark, the last generation of Blacklocks and the raging storm abates immediately. Mark tried to cheat ‘The Saddling’ but was sacrificed anyway.

William Blacklocks is last seen carrying his dead grandson out into the marsh, disappearing into the mist. Because Tom was willing to give up his life for family honour, his aunt agrees to leave him her money.

The following spring, the village is transforming, they are getting a phone line, and electricity. And Tom has decided to stay in Saddling. But has he stopped the flood? They won’t know for another ten years.

Quendon, Essex, Collin

Quendon Collins

Description
Quendon, a village and a parish in Essex, adjacent to the river Stort and the London and Cambridge railway, 3 miles N by W of Elsenham station, and 2 S from Newport station, both on the G.E.R., and 6 S by W of Saffron Walden. There is a post, money order, and telegraph office under Newport (S.O.) Acreage of parish, 657; population, 171. There is a reading-room in the village. Quendon Hall, a mansion of brick standing in a pleasant deer park, is a seat of the Byng family, who are lords of the manor and chief landowners. The living is a rectory in the diocese of St Albans; net value, £124 with residence. The church was rebuilt in 1861, and is a small building of flint, stone, and rubble in the Early English style. 

QUENDON, a small village on the London and Newmarket road, near the North-Eastern Railway, 2 miles South of Newport Station, and 6½ miles North North East of Bishop Stortford, has in its parish 213 souls, and 643 acres of land, mostly belonging to Mrs. Ann Cranmer, the lady of the manor, who resides at the Hall, a large and handsome mansion of brick and stone, in the Elizabethan style, with a large park, stocked with deer and well-wooded.

At the Domesday Survey, the manor belonged to Eudo Dapifer, and it afterwards passed to the noble families of Mandeville, Bohun, and Stafford. In 1520, it had become the property of Thomas Newman, who built the Hall, which was re-built in the 17th century by John Turner, Esq., who enclosed the park. It was sold during the last century to Henry Cranmer, Esq., from whom it descended to the late James Powell Cranmer, Esq.

The Church is a small tiled building, and the rectory, valued in K. B. at £9, and in 1831 at £165, is in the patronage of Mrs. Cranmer, and incumbency of the Rev. John Collin, sen., M.A., who has a good residence, and 53A. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1839 for £150 per annum.

Year:  1744 Supplied Surname:  HARVEY Surname:  HARVEY Full First name:  Sara Supplied First Name:  Sara Spouse Surname:  COLLINS Spouse Full First name:  William Spouse First Name:  Wm Place:  SAFFRON WALDEN County:  Essex

1800    Birth                Joseph T Collin (from 1841 census, Saffron Walden, aged 41)

1802    Vicar               John Collin starts as vicar of Quendon

1802    Register           (1735 – 1812) At front: list of rectors and patrons, ante 1324-1897; note of purchase of register at a cost of 15s. 6d., December 1735; note written by Revd. John Collin 'When I came to this Living [1802] I found it so very small' that he successfully applied for an augmentation and Land Tax worth £7 12s. was redeemed

1804    Birth                Joseph T Collin (from 1861 census Saffron, age 57)

1806    Bapt                John Collin bapt. Son of John and Anne

1807    Birth                John Collin (From 1861 census, Rickling, age 54) And in 1881 census is living in Rickling, and is 74, head of household, married, Vicar JP Collin, and he is blind.

1811    Birth                John Collin (from 1841 census, Quendon, aged 30)

1817    Marriage          Charles Collin and Jane Baxter, 17^th AUgust

1817    Bapt                28^th December Elizabeth bapt. Daughter of Charles and Jane

1829    Bapt                Kitty daughter bapt. Charles and Jane

1836    Burial              May, burial, Joseph Collin (FS)

1838    Marriage          Marianne Collin and George Robert Tuck, 26^th June

1841    Census             Joseph Collin, born 1811, age 30

            Census             John Collin born 1776, age 65

            Census             Anne Collin born 1781 age 60

            Census             The Rectory, Quendon:

                                    John Collin, Clerk 65

                                    Ann Collin 60

                                    John Collin Jnr, Clerk, 30

                                    Joseph Collin attorney at law, 30

1841    White’s directory        Rev. John Collin, sen. M.A., rector of Quendon, and rural dean of Newport

1851    Census             Joseph T Collin, age 41, born 1810

1861    Census             Joseph T Collin aged 57 born 1804

            Census             John Collin, 85 (born 1776 in Saffron Walden) head

                                    Anne Collin 84 (born 1777 Duxford, Cambs) wife

1866    Burial              Anne Collin, 5^th May

1866    Burial              Joseph Collin, 21^st May

1881    Sale                 FRANKLIN AND SON, AUCTIONEERS AND ESTATE AGENTS OF THAXTED, BISHOPS STORTFORD AND SAFFRON WALDEN. 1881 Sale catalogue: Cottage and garden and WHEELWRIGHT's shop and garden, QUENDON, belonging to the late Capt. Byng. Alfred Savill, auctioneer.

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Four

The Rev. Hugh George Collins

Collins Cycle Shop workshop 1918 (Harlow Museum)

Back to the Collins plot, Harlow, the Collins line and great-grandfather William Collins and his wife, Alice Jane (née Sapsford).

            In 1901, William and Alice had William’s 16 year old niece, Daisy, living with them. We’re not to sure who Daisy actually belonged to but she was born in Lambeth in 1885. I first thought she might have something to do with William’s wandering brother John, who was in South London around that time, but there is no record of him being married. Mind you, there are so many other brothers and sisters whose records are incomplete that Daisy could have come from anywhere. She may even have been employed by her uncle as a housekeeper or maid, we are not sure.

            But we do know that William and Alice had four children:

William Charles was the eldest son, born in 1890, one year into the marriage. This seems to be a common occurrence in our family history, the first born arriving in the year following the marriage, sometimes only a few months after the marriage, occasionally a few months before.

            Reginald James came next, in 1892, three years into the marriage, and later, when he married in 1922 to Muriel Eleanor Jacob (on August 7^th, brother Myles please note), he was a cycle engineer. Well, there’s a surprise.

            Leslie Harold was born in 1898, nine years in to the marriage. He is the great uncle Leslie I can remember my father talking about from time to time.

            Hugh George (my grandfather) was born on 8^th September, 1905, a full sixteen years after his parents were married, which suggests an accidental birth, making my being here to write this even more of a long shot. His birth was registered some time after his birth, which is another odd thing. It wasn’t uncommon for rural folk to register births late, when they could actually get to the nearest town to do so, but the family was in the centre of Harlow. Why the long gap between birth and registration? It is possible that my grandfather was taken ill soon after his birth and they didn’t expect him to live. His mother was in her forties, it could have been a difficult birth – we will never know.

            Before we meet Grandfather Hugh George Collins here is some information about the meaning of the surname Collin(s) and an image of the family crest my Uncle Hugh had made:

There are two origins for this surname. The first, and applying to most English name holders, is a derivative patronymic of the Greek-Roman "Nicholas". It is comprised of the elements "Col" plus "in", the latter being a shortened form of the Saxon "kin" to imply "Son of Col". Introduced into England by the Normans after the 1066 Invasion, some eighty derivative spellings are recorded, showing the great popularity of the name Nicholas (translating as - the victory people).

            The second possibility is as an anglicized form of "Coileain" prefixed by "Mac or O", and found principally in the West of Ireland. In this case the name translates as "the young hound", the clan being hords of Connello, one of the earliest Irish name holder being Fr. Dominic Collins (1553 - 1602). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Collin, which was dated 1221, in the "Kings Rolls of Devonshire", during the reign of King Henry III. [www.surnamedb.com]

            By the way, the Latin Domine dirige me means Lord guide me.

Hugh George Collins 1905 to 1974 Grandfather

Some of this information may be repeated later in this book where I reminisce interminably about my childhood memories. That’s something to look forward to isn’t it?

            I know that my Grandfather was, in 1940, serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves (RNVR). His war service ran from 1940 to 1946. Prior to this he had been a priest in the Diocese of York (1939), and a deacon in 1938, after spending some of that year at Queens College Birmingham. He must have had a very short time at Queen’s theological college[1]. Usually, people are made deacons in June (St Peter’s tide) but sometimes in the autumn, then priest a year later. He would have been made deacon and gone straight to Hull as curate. Then a year later, while still curate at Hull, made a priest. Then after a year of being a priest he joined the Naval Reserve as a chaplain. Actually he was ordained on 8^th November, in York Minster. I know the date (but not yet the exact year, probably 1939) as I once bought my uncle Hugh an icon of a Greek Saint on that saint’s name day, November 8^th. I spoke to him that Christmas (uncle not saint) and he was very impressed that I had thought to buy it for him on the anniversary of the date his father was ordained. Some little memories like that stick with you.

            Nigel, who of course supplied the other background information here, told me that:

           

Usually, you do two curacies before getting your own parish, but I guess they counted the RNVR as a second curacy. In any case, everything was all shortages after the war so I guess they needed parish priests quickly. That was still the days when virtually every parish had its own priest and often a curate as well. The parish paid the salary according to its wealth and investments. Which is why Crockford’s in those days listed salaries. They varied hugely from parish to parish. Later, all stipends were collected centrally, and priests were paid the same from central funds. This did away with the gross inequality. You should read up Trollope for an insight into this. Parishes were rated by what they paid and some only produced £50 a year. In Trollope you get poor clergy on £50 a year with a family of 10 struggling to make ends meet. Others, with virtually nothing to do, get £3,000 a year or more. And a huge house.

My grandfather had studied at the University of London in the late 1920’s. We know he was there in 1926. And we know those facts from a 1947 copy of Crockford’s. What we don’t know exactly is what he was doing between graduating from University in 1929 and going to theological college in 1938. Apart from; working at St Nicholas Church in Hull, in 1938, where he was made a curate, and meeting my grandmother and marrying her, then fathering two children.

            We can put some information in here from what I know and what I have been told. My grandparents met in a hospital in London. Lillian Meehan, my grandmother, was working there at a teaching hospital and Hugh George Collins was a patient. He had some form of bowel cancer, we think, and was treated and cured at the hospital. Grandmother, in later life, insisted it had been her who cured him; I suspect grandfather probably put it down to God or medicine or a combination of the two.

            My grandparents were married on 10^th August, 1932, in Co. Durham, but my grandfather was, at that time, living in Southampton. My Uncle was born on Christmas Eve, 1934, at University College Hospital, London, and, he told me, was immediately taken out to some posh London club for a celebration. (I doubt it, not if my grandmother had anything to do with it.) So we can assume that my grandparents were living in, or near, London in the early 1930’s. My grandfather’s immediate family, don’t forget, had connections to London, with the Whittakers, and his other family were not far away in Essex.

            Nigel wrote to me:

            Funnily enough, as I was looking at your grandfather's war record and replying to you, the post arrived with his marriage certificate. I'll scan it over the next few days and get it up.

            But in the meantime (and here is a strange thing):

            Marriage solemnised at the Wesley Church, Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, in the District of Auckland in the County of Durham.

            10th August 1932.[2] HUGH GEORGE COLLINS 26 Bachelor Wesleyan Methodist Minister, of 104 Porchester Road, Woolston, Southampton, son of WILLIAM COLLINS, garage proprietor. LILIAN MEEHAN 36 Spinster (no occupation[3]), of Oswald House, Coronation, St Andrew Auckland, daughter of MYLES MEEHAN (deceased), Police Sergeant. Married in the Wesleyan Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodists by Licence, by Charles Close, authorised person for the said Church. Witnesses: Myles Meehan[4], Lily Wilson, Richard J Soper[5].

            So he was that rare commodity, a Methodist minister who became an Anglican clergyman. Seen as a betrayal by some. A common sense move by others. But it clearly bridges that gap between their Methodist upbringing and the current Anglican status of your family. Very interesting. (Anglicans who become RCs are said to have "poped". I don't know what they call this.)

World War II

I obtained grandfather’s war record from the Royal Navy and here are the details of what the documents show, plus some other notes from Nigel, some websites, and a couple of people I contacted who know about these things:

June 1^st to 13^th 1940

RN Barracks, Portsmouth [HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth; additional)][6]

At this time grandfather’s address was, The Hawthorne, Farnham Lane, Haslemere, Surrey.

June 14^th 1940 to 10^th February 1941

HMS Isle of Jersey (hospital carrier) [based at HMS Prosperine (minesweeper & anti-submarine base, Lyness, Scapa Flow – Orkney Islands)]

            I think HMS Proserpine might also have been a base for Wrens. There was a ship in the First World War. But it was scrapped soon after. So I think the name later became a base. [NG]

February 1941 to January 28^th 1942

HMS Wildfire (RN base, Sheerness; additional) [from 13.02.1941 additional, for general duties] [from 24.03.1941 additional, for duties with auxiliary vessels based at Sheerness & general duties]

            It seems HMS Wildfire was not a ship but a base. It seems to have been the base in Chatham for the RNVR, which fits. It's still going today, but its present location dates from 1964. I don't yet know where it was in 1941. [NG]

            During this time grandfather was admitted to the Royal Navel Hospital at Chatham (16^th August, 1941) with phlebitis in his right thigh and discharged from the same hospital five days later. After seven days sick leave he was passed fit to serve again.

            He wasn’t having a very good year that year, or maybe he was. We were all once told a story about when grandfather was blown up during the war. What actually happened was: he was on a ship that was hit by either a bomb or a torpedo and everyone but three people on that ship were lost. Looking into this story now I find a record of a letter that grandfather wrote to Commander Arnold Piggott in which he writes about not being able to offer condolences to the families of those who died. This letter is kept at King’s College London and the date of the sinking was Wednesday, June 4^th 1941. According to people who know about this incident, the ship, the Van Meerlant (a Dutch minelayer which had been transferred to the Royal Navy) was mined itself, that is, it hit a mine, in the Thames estuary on June 4^th. Grandfather was aboard but was spared.

            The Van Meerlant came into Royal Navy service on 14^th March and grandfather was presumably sent to serve on it on 24^th when he was transferred to Sheerness.

            The letter, dated ‘10 : vii : 41’ (Thursday, 10^th July 1941, five weeks after the sinking) reads:

My Dear Piggott,

            Thank you for your letter. I enclose the list you ask for, but must tell that I have been forbidden by the Captain to write to any next of kin as it is against Admiralty instruction. Whether you do so or not will be will able to decide, [sic] but I thought I ought to tell you the position. It has come rather as a blow to me, & I am taking it up officially with the Admiralty on the grounds that a sympathetic letter is very desirable on these sad occasions.

            I hope your leg is making satisfactory progress, and that you are enjoying a well deserved spell at home.

            Please remembers me to Mrs. Piggott

            Yours sincerely

            Hugh G. Collins.

            This may have been the occasion of another old family story, though we remember that there were two occasions when grandfather was spared from a ship that took a direct hit. On one of them, possibly this 1941 incident, his bible went into the sea with him, or he took it with him more likely. The bible was saved, as was he, and this bible is now with my nephew Joshua. If you ever see it and look through it you will see ‘V’s on a couple of pages; marks left by the page-markers getting wet, one blue and one pink I believe.

In case you want to follow up this story there are in existence:

                Papers relating to Piggott's service in World War Two, 1939-1945, notably the sinking of HMS VAN MEERLANT, 4 Jun 1941, including typescript list of the ship's company[7], annotated to show survivors of the sinking, with manuscript notes by an unknown survivor relating to Piggott's exemplary conduct during the sinking, Jun 1941; manuscript letter to Piggott from Hugh G Collins, HMS WILDFIRE, relating to Piggott's injuries, the loss of HMS VAN MEERLANT, and to the writing of sympathy letters to the crew's next of kin, Jul 1941; letter to Piggott from Cdr Humphry Gilbert Boys-Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, relating to accommodation for Naval officers, Mar 1945; typescript notes on Piggott's career [1996].

January 29^th 1942 to May 1942

HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria, Egypt; additional) [from 26.05.1942 for disposal] [8]

            HMS Nile was a shore establishment, rather than an actual vessel. Based at Ras el Tin Point, Alexandria, Nile had a large number of personnel on the books - mainly those based in the Eastern Mediterranean.

                        I believe that this notation does normally indicate an actual vessel, but in this case HMS Sphinx was another shore establishment - an accommodation camp at Alexandria, commissioned on 20 Apr 1941 and paid off in May 1946.

                        There was a warship with the same name, but she was sunk in the Moray Firth in 1940.

                        Special Services (SS) Brigades was the title given to Combined Operations units and personnel prior to 15th August 1943. After that they became officially known as Commandos and other special units such as SAS, SBS etc.

                        HMS Nile was the RN base at Alexandria but was also located at Tripoli (06.1943-12.1943), Mersa Matruh (08.1942-12.1943) and Bengahazi (08.1942-12.1943).
            See: http://www.unithistories.com/units_b..._MedFleet.html

                        Your Grandfather was more than likely serving in my Grandfathers unit (Lt-Cmr E.R. Morse(E)), which I still have no official information on. The logic behind this is your Grandfather was a stoker (Navy Engineer) and this was a specialised Naval Engineering unit (Secret unit?)[9].

                        From April 1942 to December 1944 the Unit(s) were in charge of opening captured ports along the African/Mediterranean coast, then Sicily, Salerno and Naples in Italy. (Operations Avalanche, Torch, Husky etc)

                        Most of the experience they gained was used to plan the D-Day invasion.
            The unit was called NIMLRU, to my knowledge there were only four of these units and 2,3 & 4 were used on D-Day (Overlord).

                        This is the only official mention of an MLRU.

                        MLRU stood for 'Mobile Land Repair Unit' and was used extensively in the immediate aftermath of the D Day landings. It consisted of mainly Engineering officers and was used to keep everything that came ashore, working.

                        "To assist in beach recovery and repair, maintenance of naval vehicles, provide spares, and to provide emergency repair facilities in a captured port before the arrival of the port parties."

                        I will continue to try and track down the history of this unit, as there seems to be nothing recorded in any of the history I have found to date.

May 1942 to 13^th September 1942

HMS Sphinx (accommodation camp, Alexandria, Egypt) See the notes above.

September 14^th 1942 to February 1944

HMS Saunders (Combined Operations base, Kabret, Egypt)

June 23^rd 1944 to 19^th October 1944

HMS Pyramus (RN base, Kirkwall) & for duty in HMS Robin (RN Air Station, Grimsetter, Kirkwall, Orkneys) [till 25.06.1944 additional]

October 20^th 1944 to December 19^th 1945

RN Barracks, Portsmouth [HMS Victory; additional]

            As a conclusion to the War years, here are some notes then went back and forth between Nigel and I:

            Nigel:

            Having now updated Ancestry with the small changes Hans has clarified, I think that the gap Hans mentions (when [grandfather] was on dispersal prior to discharge) he would have spent preparing for civilian life at some dispersal camp. In his case this would have involved searching for a suitable parish to take him (a lengthy process - which resulted in being chosen for Herne) plus the usual lectures and lessons on returning to civilian life. Also, I guess, he was still recovering to some extent from his hepatitis.

            Of course, you realise that HG Collins’ decision in 1946 to opt for the parish of Herne was the crucial decision that led to you being born in Kent, or born at all, for that matter. Because that moved your father's home from Surrey to Kent and led to his meeting your mother.

            Me:

            While putting things I know onto the spreadsheet I came up with a question you may be able to help with… and then brother Myles rang from Australia and was on the phone for 90 minutes but did say some things of interest. [Only joking Myles!] Maybe some clues in here, if not fun stories.

1                    1^st, from me: Can we find out exactly when someone was ordained? GF I mean. I think it was Nov 8^th but not sure of the year. Uncle Hugh said he was ordained on ‘Panormitis Day’ (Greek Orthodox name day) which is Nov 8^th. Would it have been 1939?

2                    Myles thinks HGC was ‘blown up’ twice; once on a frigate or minesweeper in the Thames somewhere – only 3 survived, could that be the Piggott thing? The second time he was thrown into the sea with his bible –which I just discovered to my delight my dad gave to my nephew. (I thought the wicked stepmother had taken it.) But don’t think there are any photos or family names in there.

3                    HGC was flying to Alexandria via Malta and on the same plane was Montgomery, who was boring everyone rigid. Monty offered HGC a lift at the other end but HGC had transport arranged. When they landed Monty’s car wasn’t there but there was a Rolls Royce waiting for HGC, who then offered Monty a lift to where he was going.

4                    Myles thinks our grandmother (Lillian) was with the Queen Alexandria’s Nursing Reserves – or something similar – during the war. Do you now what this might have been, or if we can find records? Apparently she was very concerned during the Falklands War because she was sure she was going to be called up again. Bless.

5                    Myles Meehan, the painter, was also a policeman – according to uncle Hugh. But according to my mother, Myles was Lillian’s brother “Hi. Yes Great Uncle Myles Meehan was an "artist" [she wrote in an email] and I met him once I think in the late 50,s. He was GM's brother.”  Artist is in “” because his work was a little… dodgy. So maybe Lillian’s brother was also a policeman and moved to the Darlington area at some point – he left money to the art gallery there and also painted areas around Darlington.

6                    The Huguenot connection, again from Uncle Hugh, were Huguenots coming from France (when?) to Essex because they were silversmiths and there was charcoal in Essex that they needed. The name Herve Collens (Collens isn’t exact but a French version of Collin) came up with Uncle Hugh in his chats, so it may be worth looking in Huguenots records for Herve Co… to see if we can find any Essex connection.

7                    The name Norwood in Uncle Hugh’s name: U Hugh’s story is that a distant relative was friendly with the Archbishop (London?) and so granted a lease of land in the Norwood area of London. He later lost it while gambling. Don’t know when this was. For my grandparents to call their son Norwood, rather than William, Harvey, James, Miles etc. there must have been some connection – possibly just a nice name, or a friend, of course. Similarly we’re not sure where my dad’s ‘Clayre’ comes from. (Meehans came from County Clare in Ireland, maybe?)

8                    Another interesting anecdote. UH told Myles that one of our ancestors owned a tin mine in Cornwall (more likely just worked there I think) but he was ‘sent away’ or disinherited from the mine by the family for marrying a Portuguese woman. Again not sure of dates but possibly late 1700 early 1800. I reckon this would have been Sopers or Courtice? Strangely, Myles’ wife’s mother has a story that one of her ancestors, from Portugal, married a Cornish Tin mine worker/owner and was cut off from her family for doing so. An odd little coincidence.

Post war years

So I am sitting here trying to remember my grandfather from 1963 onwards. I knew him for 11 years as he died shortly after my 11^th birthday. While I am thinking up stories and information to pass on to you, here are some other notes and interesting things I managed to find out by contacting people and by searching around the Web:

           

An email from the current vicar of St Martin, Herne, Kent:

            Hello

            Sorry for the delay in replying!

            Yes you are right the Rev Hugh Collins was vicar of St Martin from 1946 to 1964... and his name is on the plaque of vicars in the church...there is no detail as to exact dates and months…

            I hope that helps

            Best wishes

            Elaine Richardson

Grandfather was vicar at Sundridge, Kent, from 1964 to his retirement in the early 1970’s. Here are some emails from the Sundridge parish online notice board:

            Hi

            I was not in Sundridge at that time but will ask Margaret King, who is an amateur historian, what she knows. Unfortunately she is not on the internet, so I will need to write up any information she has. I am copying in a couple of other people who may be able to help.

            Michael Stokes

           

The Collins grave is immediately behind the east end of the church. It has a white marble lid and stands out. There are three inscriptions: Rev Hugh 1905 - 1974, his wife, and probably their son 1933 - 2004. The marble lid was recently taken away for cleaning, presumably by a member of the family.[10]

            That piece of info is from the Chair of Sundridge Parish Council. Will try and see if the present incumbant has any information.

            Hi

            I have tied up some notes from Margaret King local historian. Not very specific, she is well over 80. I have also passed your email to the Rev David Attwood, the current Rector who has promised to email you with a picture of the grave, and to contact other long term residents to see what they remember.

            From Margaret King (and older parishioners):

            I remember the Rev Collins quite well and there must be many people in Sundridge who remember him and his wife, Lillian even better.

            I recall a handsome, charming man who was a considerable Greek scholar. His wife was particularly active in parish affairs, and survived him by a number of years. She is buried with him and is not easily forgotten…

            I believe that during the War he had something to do with naval intelligence.

            He was the last rector of Sundridge because on his departure the parish was joined with the neighbouring parish of Ide Hill, a move which your grandfather had opposed, but which was carried out by his successor…

            I believe he died of lung cancer shortly after he left the parish.

            People who are likely to remember him are:

            Janet Seeley of 18 Manor Road, Sundridge – a life long resident and church goer who sung in the choir during his incumberancy

            George and Gillian Johnson, 19 Chapmans Road, Sundridge, whose marriage was the last he conducted prior to his departure.

            Gillian Francis, 18 Greystone Park, Sundridge, a long term resident and church goer.

            A visit to the village would be fruitful, as none of the above are likely to have access to the internet.

And back to me, now I have remembered a couple of tales: I last visited the parish in 2004 when Simon, Myles and I attended the interment of our uncle’s ashes.

            My father once told me a story from his youth: he, and his brother Hugh, were at Herne and there was something of a storm going on. The local area had suffered some flooding and grandfather wanted to go out and see his parishioners, to see if he could help anyone. The three of them got in the car and grandfather drove through the rain-lashed streets with the two boys in the back. The rain was pelting down and one of the boys suggested, rather cheekily, that grandfather could ‘have a quick word with God’ and get the rain stopped.

            Grandfather wound down the window, put his head out into the downpour and bellowed, ‘in the name of our Lord I command you to stop!”

            The car conked out.

            My first memory of Hugh George, as grandmother always called him, was of being in a swimming pool with him. He was swimming and I was on his back, my face going under the water occasionally. I’m not sure exactly where this was nor how old I was at the time.

            I have other memories of the Vicarage at Sundridge, some of which are in my grandmother’s chapter. Hugh George was a brilliant pianist and church organist. According to Uncle Hugh, he was, in his day, one of the top five amateur organists in Britain. He had a piano at the vicarage, a grand or baby-grand, and a long piano stool with an embroidered seat that we later inherited. I would sit next to him and watch his long fingers dancing across the keys at unbelievable speeds. It must be from him that we three brothers get our musicality – Myles with his various instruments, Simon with his radio broadcasts and discos, and me the piano, and, more recently the oboe. Grandfather had an oboe and it was given to me to learn on when I was about ten or eleven. I didn’t last long and I can’t remember what happened to the instrument, an ebony Boosey and Hawkes, thumbplate model. Apparently grandfather didn’t get on with the instrument either.

            There is, somewhere, or at least there should be (with Myles, I think) a reel-to-reel tape recording of a sermon that, if I remember correctly, my grandfather made. It was in our father’s attic for many years, then it came to me with father’s slides and photographs, and then it went to Myles when he was still living in England. I mention this in case one of you wants to track it down. I don’t think I ever heard it.

            I also mention it as it reminds me of another story, possibly apocryphal, though it came from my father rather than uncle – Hugh did like to embellish, Richard was much less dramatic.

            Franco Zeffirelli directed a version of Romeo And Juliet, which was released in 1968. While casting the film he had heard my grandfather speaking – presumably a sermon, and was struck by his voice. Hugh George was invited to audition for the part of Friar Lawrence. I was told that he went to audition, was offered the part but turned it down. Joan Collins was auditioning for Juliet, I am told, but she didn’t get the part. (That went to Olivia Hussey, and Milo O’Shea was cast in my grandfather’s place.)

            There will be more tales about Grandfather in the section about his wife, later, and in the final part of this book where I try and remember other things from my youth.

           

Meanwhile, here are some events that took place during the year my grandfather was born:

• March 3^rd - Tsar Nicholas II of Russia agrees to create an elected assembly (the Duma).
• March 4^th - US. President Theodore Roosevelt begins full term.
• April - Albert Einstein works on the special theory of relativity as well as the theory of Brownian motion.
• October 5^th - Wright Brothers third aeroplane, Wright Flyer III stays in the air for 39 minutes with Wilbur piloting. This is the first aeroplane flight lasting over 1/2 an hour.
• October 16^th - Russian Revolution of 1905: Russian army opens fire in a meeting on a street market in Estonia, killing 94 and injuring over 200.
• The title Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is officially recognized by King Edward VII.

And some that took place during the year he died:

• Jan 8th - Loch Ness Monster photographed
• Jan 25th - Christian Barnard transplants 1st human heart without removal of old
• Feb 8th - Skylab 4's astronauts land
• Mar 4th - Harold Wilson replaces resigning Ed Heath as British premier
• Jun 16th - Homer Simpson & Marge Bouvier wed (couldn't resist that one!)
• Jun 27th - US president Nixon visits USSR
• Nov 8th - British Lord Lucan disappears
• Dec 2nd - Soyuz 16 launched into Earth orbit for 6 days

---

[1] Probably because he was already a fully qualified and experienced Methodist minister.

[2] A Wednesday, in case you were interested. [JC]

[3] This suggests to me that grandmother gave up her nursing career before 1932, presumably to take up the occupation of ‘vicar’s wife.’ [JC]

[4] Lillian’s younger brother. (We’re not sure who Lily Wilson was – a family friend possibly.)

[5] Richard John Soper, Lillian’s uncle. Probably a favoured uncle too as Lillian’s second son, my father was named Richard John.

[6] Additional means an additional post above the normal strength of the ship. The ‘Ship’ was not always an actual ship though, HMS Victory, for example, was the training base and not the famous old wooden vessel.

[7] I wonder if this list is the one your grandfather sent him.

[8] This section is from http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20376

[9] Not sure where the writer, Hans, gets this from, grandfather was a chaplain.

[10] 1933 to 2004 is my Uncle Hugh, whose ashes were interred there in March 2004. Who the mystery ‘family member’ is who took away the lid for cleaning is anyone’s guess!