It is with great sadness that I record the death of Carolyn Caughey, a valued friend and colleague. She was the practical member of the editorial team on the ‘Gazette’, running it efficiently and dependably for many years. Once the content of an issue was established, I could safely leave everything to Carolyn.
We met some time in the 1980s, at a convention of the Sayers Society in West London. She confounded all possible expectation by producing from her handbag a corkscrew, to release from bondage the wine I had with me. I forget what we drank from – coffee cups, I guess. She was always excellent company, convivial, worldly, highly-intelligent.
She knew her own mind and invariably made her position clear, without ever appearing aggressive. I remember the second of the Society’s visits to Kersey, in Suffolk, scene of Look to the Lady. We gathered at the imposing gates of the former home of Hammond Innes, the top-selling thriller writer. As we gaped at the splendours within, Carolyn reminisced about her visits to the great man in her earlier days in publishing. She must have been with Collins at the time, since they were Innes’ publisher.
Her main career was with Hodder and Stoughton and she remained with them in the transition to Hodder Headline. Heads rolled, but not Carolyn’s. Following from a conversation in which I talked about Margery Allingham’s uncollected stories, she got in touch with Joyce Allingham and Jack Morpurgo. The eventual result was The Return of Mr Campion, published by Hodder in 1989. Nine years later, she embarked with Jill Paton Walsh on the sequence of sequels to Sayers that so distinguished her later career. Thrones, Dominations appeared in 1998 – and the rest is history.
All who knew her will have happy memories of Carolyn. We in the Society, and especially on the committee, will miss her greatly. She helped to keep the show on the road, and we’re grateful. Rest in peace, Carolyn.
A report on Carolyn’s funeral held on April 19th is given by member Hilary Robinson:
I attended the funeral last Friday together with Lesley Simpson, Catherine Cooke and Paula Cooze from the Society. St Michael and All Angels is a beautiful church at Bedford Park. Many people attended from all parts of Carolyn’s life, including family and friends from the neighbourhood, from the worlds of music, bridge, and her professional life; the vicar, Father Kevin Morris, was also a personal friend.
The service featured wonderful music from piano, organ and a soloist, Milly Forrest and we in the congregation did our best with the hymns. There were also tributes from her brother and two close friends.
After the service we all signed the book of remembrance before repairing to the Tabard Inn opposite.
(I’m so pleased to hear we were represented at Carolyn’s funeral. How nice that Paula was there ! B.P)
margeryallingham.org.uk 