A newspaper cutting in St Hilda’s College Archive, from an unknown local paper. By kind permission of the Principal and Fellows of St Hilda’s College, Oxford.
Charing Crematorium is at Charing near Ashford in Kent. The Philip Sprott who attended the funeral is the Philip to whom Sir Isumbras at the Ford is dedicated along with his mother Barbara, Broster’s sister; apart from Gertrude Schlich, I don’t know who any of the other people mentioned are.
Preceded by a service at St. Barnabas’ Church, Bexhill, conducted by Canon G. C. Rolfe, the funeral took place at Charing crematorium on Monday of Miss Dorothy Kathleen Broster, the historical novelist, of Broomhill, Catsfield, who died at Bexhill Hospital the previous Tuesday after several weeks’ illness, at the age of 72.
A kindly, gifted lady liked and respected by all who knew her Miss Broster had lived at Catsfield for about 12 years with a close friend, Miss G. Schlich.
Miss Broster was educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and St. Hilda’s College, Oxford. Her literary talents first found expression in the novels “Chantemerle” (1911) and “The Vision Splendid” (1913), written in collaboration with Miss G. W. Taylor. In 1918 appeared Miss Broster’s “Sir Isumbras at the Ford,” followed two years later by “The Yellow Poppy” with its Scarlet Pimpernel theme, and, after two more years, “The Wounded Name”.
In 1925 Miss Broster achieved wide popularity with the publication of “The Flight of the Heron,” the first of three novels celebrating the Forty-five, in which she wrote of the Western and Central Highlands in the 18th century with an admirable sense of drama and descriptive colour. At two-yearly intervals followed “The Gleam in the North” and “The Dark Mile.” In 1933 came her entertaining “Almond, Wild Almond,” and in 1937 “Child Royal,” based on the childhood of Mary Stuart in France. She continued her work during the war and in 1941 published “The Sea Without a Haven,” the story of a lady in distress escaping from France in 1793—one of her favourite periods and settings. Her last novel, which appeared three years ago was a sequel with an English setting—“The Captain’s Lady.” Miss Broster did not confine herself to historical backgrounds, however, and in some of her stories in “Fire of Driftwood” and “Crouching at the Door” [sic] dealt with the supernatural and the occult.
Miss Broster showed restraint in her handling of historical facts and the history in her novels was sound. She had a genuine gift of storytelling, and her work achieved distinction.
The service at Bexhill was attended by Miss Schlich, Miss Alice Blaikie, Miss Margaret Blaikie, Mrs Goring Thomas, Mrs C. C. Swift and Miss Swift. At Charing the family was represented by Mr Philip Sprott (nephew) and Mrs Sprott. Also present there were a few personal friends of Miss Broster, who had travelled from London.
The funeral director was Mr J. P. Mummery, of 50-52, Devonshire-road.