Paul Betjeman

Leilani Rigby

31 January 2022, 04:36

I dated Paul a few times when we were students at Brigham Young University (1964-65). I believe we met when I attended some informal jazz concerts in which he was playing. He told me his father was a poet, possibly poet laureate, I don't recall, but, sadly, it meant nothing to me. He lent me a book, The 4th of June, to give me some insights into his background. It was an eye-opener. The following summer, thumbing through my sister's high school literature anthology, I came across "Westminster Abby". I was stunned and embarrassed by my ignorance and the lost opportunity to learn more about Paul. I didn't return to BYU and lost contact with him.

Jessica L Stensrud

25 June 2021, 10:28

I used to visit Paul Betjeman and his then girlfriend, Linda Street, on Shelter Island within the forked end of Long Island, NY, USA in the 70's. She was a pianist who accompanied me for something- God knows what as I cannot recall right now. He was hilariously funny in that droll, sarcastic, played-down British way of his. I have long since lost track of them both and no longer reside in the USA. I absolutely LOVE telling British people I meet that I knew the son of the British Poet Laureate - or anyone, really, since we now live, it seems, in such an environment of almost forced, enforced stupidity.

Ian Mitchell

06 November 2019, 17:23

Ian Mitchell.
I was in the 13/18 Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) during National Service with Paul in 1957. We were stationed in the former Hindenberg Kaserne at Neumunster near to Hamburg as part of BAOR. A number of us including Paul used to meet from time to time in the Ratskellar restaurant where we would enjoy a meal and then play poker. We had to use matchsticks to keep a tally of winnings/losses as the management did not wish to have what would have been seen as obvious gambling on the dining tables if we had used cash. I was walking back with Paul one evening having been I think to the British cinema in the town. I had received a decent education in Scotland at Strathallan School in Perthshire. The name John Betjeman was unknown to us as students and so I never knew who he was as his reputation in England meant nothing north of the border. Paul maybe wondered perhaps why I never mentioned in passing about his background. I remember he asked what my father did and I said that he was a doctor from Aberdeen. I asked what his own father was and he replied that "he was a poet". This took me rather by surprise and I said, "A poet!. How could anyone make a living as a poet?" Paul then realised that really what his father did was a revelation to me. He looked at me and I could see from his expression that he was pleased that I knew nothing about a man who was reputed to be a big deal in England. To him this meant that our casual friendship was not influenced in any way by any knowledge by me of his father and he seemed relieved by that because it meant our friendship was because of our own selves. We paused counted up our cash - about seven Deutchmarks - just enough for something to eat in the Ratskellar!

J C H Longrigg

19 October 2016, 21:51

I was at school with Paul Betjeman, at the Dragon School, Oxford, and I think it would be fair to say we were best friends! One weekend I was invited back to their home, driven by his Mum. As we approached the front door Paul said "Talk to my Mum, not my Dad". We wandered round the garden, which was quite large, and I think they had a .410 shotgun for fun, or ??? All a bit hazy, around 67 years ago. But what I DO remember is when we were about to be driven back to school I was given a 10/- note! Ten shillings! A fortune for a twelve year old in those days!