An independent review of the Book of Good Handwriting

Extracts from a Review of ‘The Book of Good Handwriting, etc’

by

Caroline Franklin

TEN out of 10 stars if you sent thank-you letters this year and 20 if you eschewed the computer (um, I didn't) and the telephone and sat down with some form of writing stick and put your gratitude on paper.

I am not here to join the quantity of abuse about people who don't thank those who have been good enough to give them presents, though I am in absolute agreement (now hear this godchildren), but a small book by Kintbury's Derek Clements did prompt me to look at the whole business of putting pen to paper.

Of course it was the Romans (isn't it always?) who laid the foundations of our present alphabet, starting with only 23 letters. In the 10th century ‘u’ split from V to become a letter in its own right and approximately two cen­turies later ‘w’ was introduced since it was of help in many European lan­guages. Last to arrive was letter ‘j’ which waited until the 15th century to complete the alphabet which we know and love today.

Examples of 17th-century handwritten documents show spidery, wandering, though often elaborate lettering which takes much concentration to decipher. Nothing changes then and it was read­ing in the national newspapers that the captains of industry were in despair at the standards of writing and spelling, even among graduates, that decided Derek Clements to put together the small delight which is The Book of Good Handwriting.

His aim was simply to try to help improve standards while making writing a little more interesting, via a few asides which could help with spelling and, among other things, how to distinguish, using letters, between Bactrian and Dromedary camels. He sent over a dozen letters to several large companies and Heads of Industry explaining what he was doing. How sad that only two replied - Tesco and Marks & Spencer. M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose was particularly approving, complimenting Derek on the idea and saying it was just what was needed. Being in the trade, as it were, he appreciated the section on the spelling and punctuation of several greengrocers who seem to be working by different grammar books from the rest of us, particularly when it comes to apostrophes.

Each right-hand page in The Book of Good Handwriting has lines and a sentence to copy, firstly by tracing over the letters after which you’re on your own. The lettering progresses from the elementary to the advanced and includes examples of the beautiful illustrative lettering used in our grandparents’ day. Those days of screeching pencil on slate produced a firm grounding as shown by a near centenarian of my acquaintance who still has clear, neat, writing which would put most of us to shame, though the concentration required for her to produce this is greater than it was. When things moved on to the rows of pothook letters, there was frequently an improving sentence at the top of the page thus ensuring that pupils not only could write clearly but would be admirable citizens.

The ‘miscellaneous’ page in Derek Clements’ book reminded me of various mnemonics. If you want to spend a happy few moments ask Google for BBC2-h2g2-mnemonics and other learning devices. There you will not only find a saucy alternative to Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain, but also discover how Pink Camels Often Sit Down Carefully Perhaps Their Joints Creak Painfully Early Oiling Might Possibly Prevent Rheumatism could help you impress people at dinner parties with your knowledge of geological time periods - just in case the conversation ever turns that way, you know.

Derek Clements wrote the book last autumn, with ‘umpteen different drafts to get what I wanted’. It makes a change from his other occupations, among which are producing metal plaques for a wide variety of uses including those for bellringers to commemorate special peals. There are now around 450 such plaques to be found in Churches’ ringing chambers, not only in the UK, but in America and Australia.

This neat, unassuming little book could be just the thing for encouraging children in what seems to be the dying art of handwriting. Of the £5.85 purchase price, 50p goes to Children in Need - another good reason for this book which has such good intentions.

Published with acknowledgements to Caroline Franklin and the ‘Newbury Weekly News’'