Roberta Hewitt: Lost and Found in the Archives

ROBERTA HEWITT:

LOST AND FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES

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Led by:

Funded by:

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Table of Contents Roberta Hewitt: Lost and Found in the Archives

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PRONI & the Hewitts

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Roberta Hewitt

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Timeline

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13 Things you should know about Roberta Hewitt by…

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Nuala Noblett (Belfast)

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Anne Bodel (Dundonald)

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Caroline Pollard (Derry-Londonderry)

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Claire Lowry (Whitehead)

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Frances McLaughlin (Belfast)

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Jennifer Burns (Dunmurry)

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Jennifer McCrea (Holywood)

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Joan McGandy (Limavady)

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Kelly McCaughrain (Belfast)

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Alison Duddy (Belfast)

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Susan Taylor (Bangor)

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Alexandra Barr (Lurgan)

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Tara McFadden (Belfast)

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Research Sources

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ROBERTA HEWITT:

LOST AND FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES This e-book was produced by volunteers of Roberta Hewitt: Lost and Found in the Archives, a digital volunteering project led by the CollabArchive team at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and the Nerve Centre in March 2022.

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, CollabArchive is a one-year programme that will create unique digital volunteering opportunities for new audiences to engage with PRONI's archives throughout 2022.

Lost and Found in the Archives was the first CollabArchive project and enabled volunteers to delve into Roberta Hewitt’s collection of diaries, papers and letters and help PRONI bring her remarkable story forward through this e-book and a short animated film.

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During the project, the volunteers went behind the scenes in PRONI to gain access to the Hewitt’s collection and learn more about conservation, digitisation, and access to archives.

They also took part in transcription and animation workshops and guest talks by writer Kelly McCaughrain and researcher Frank Ferguson (John Hewitt Society).

Since the end of this creative project, the volunteers have been busy transcribing a selection of material from the Hewitt’s collection which will be made more digitally accessible and searchable via the CollabArchive website and PRONI’s e-catalogue.

As this project demonstrates, Roberta Hewitt was more than the wife of writer John Hewitt.

Whilst family history is often channelled towards celebrated figures, our volunteers uncovered the many roles she played in a number of organisations and charities as well as how she was a thinker in her own right.

In this e-book you will find each volunteer’s response to Roberta’s own words and the 13 things they think people should know about her.

Laura Aguiar Community Engagement Officer & Creative Producer, CollabArchive

—--CollabArchive Volunteers Alexandra Barr, Alison Duddy, Anne Bodel, Caroline Pollard, Claire Lowry, Frances McLaughlin, Jennifer Burns, Jennifer McCrea, Joan McGandy, Nuala Noblett, Susan Taylor, Tara McFadden, Kelly McCaughrain.

CollabArchive Team Laura Aguiar, Community Engagement Officer & Creative Producer Niall Kerr, Project Manager Thanks to our PRONI colleagues Janet Hancock (Public Services), Lynsey Gillespie (Archivist), Lorraine Bourke (Private Records), Sarah Graham (Conservation), Joy Carey and Garreth Montgomery (Reprographics & Digitisation), and David Huddleston (Records Management, Cataloguing and Access) for their support during the project. Special thanks to guest speakers Kelly McCaughrain and Frank Ferguson and animation facilitator Dan Wilson.

E-book Design by: Irene de la Mora —---

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PRONI & the Hewitts The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the official archive for Northern Ireland and was created under the Public Records Act (1923). PRONI has a legislative responsibility to acquire, preserve and make available the records of the devolved administration of Northern Ireland.

In addition to this, PRONI also receives collections from private individuals. PRONI currently holds around 3.5 million historical records in its care — more than a third of

which have been deposited privately. PRONI's privately deposited collections include church records, local business records, landed estates, records from clubs and societies, families, and individuals. The collections can range in size from thousands of boxes to a single photograph or letter. These privately deposited collections allow us to build a fuller picture of community life and memory in Northern Ireland and help us to tell the story of our people and our place.

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The Hewitt Collection (D3838) first came to PRONI after the death of John Hewitt, who bequeathed a large amount of material to the Public Record Office in his will. Further deposits have been made since by the executor of John Hewitt’s will, allowing the collection to continue to grow. Much of what has been donated is personal material and effects.

The collection unveils information about John that his work does not, and gives a unique insight into Roberta, a woman who has been largely overlooked and overshadowed by her famous husband. Having this collection freely open to users of PRONI allows many different people to interact with it and to gain a better understanding of John and Roberta Hewitt.

A large chunk of the material relates to John Hewitt, including hundreds of letters both to and from him, legal correspondence, and ephemera. Roberta, sometimes also referred to as Ruby, has her own specific part of the archive and her diaries, used in this project, were part of the first deposit bequeathed to PRONI by John in his will.

Collabarchive has given PRONI the opportunity to enable a group of volunteers to meaningfully engage with the history that Roberta Hewitt has left behind. Each volunteer has brought a new perspective to Roberta and her collection, breathing new life and meaning into her words and experiences.

Lynsey Gillespie

While much of John’s published work has been deposited to other museums and libraries across Northern Ireland, the collection held in PRONI is a fascinating insight into the personal life of the Hewitts. It gives insight into their thoughts, feelings and friendships, their highs, their lows and their relationship with one another.

Archivist, PRONI

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Roberta Hewitt

Roberta Hewitt was a remarkable person.

It is fitting that her life and achievement are celebrated in this book and project. Like many people partnered to a writer in the public arena she has often been obscured. The work of her husband, the poet, critic and curator, John Hewitt, has cast shadows on her own accomplishments. Yet as her journal and other writing confirms, Roberta is an important literary figure in her own right. Articulate, perceptive and insightful, she emerges as a powerful commentator who is adept at conveying her own sense of being.

Born in Larne on 30 October 1904, Roberta “Ruby” Black was the daughter of Robina (née Urquhart) and Robert Shepherd Black, a watchmaker. After little formal secondary education, Roberta gravitated to clerical work before heading, like many before her, to seek for a better life in Canada. She returned to Belfast when this did not present itself and soon became reacquainted with a family friend, John Harold Hewitt.

This blossomed into a romance and the two were married on 7 May 1934. They would spend the rest of their lives together until Ruby’s death on 19 October 1975. However, the marriage was not without its tensions and difficulties and throughout her life Roberta sought fulfilment that was often lacking in her personal and public lives. For someone without a great deal of secondary education she worked in a range of jobs and involved herself in volunteering for the nursery education sector as well as for the Labour Party and a variety of political causes. Despite suffering from a number of health problems and often feeling her own wants and needs often compromised by her desire to assist John, Roberta appears in her journal as a powerful voice and chronicler.

"The work of her husband has often cast shadows on her own accomplishments.

Yet as her journal and other writing confirms, Roberta is an important literary figure in her own right."

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A journal is a powerful literary genre. Especially when there is a sense that publication is not intended. It permits a sense of candour and blunt honesty to prevail. It enables the author to articulate thoughts and feelings that might be challenged or softened in other media intended for public consumption.

“I’m ringin’ ye to find out if ye could let me have a bed .... ‘ I asked him where he was telephoning from: ‘The top o’ the Falls’, that is, the Catholic side of the city.”

“In about half an hour the doorbell rang.

When I opened it, a burly fellow lurched in, and, in the dim light of the hall, drew out of his pocket and showed me a letter from Radio Eireann to himself, as his visiting card. When we went upstairs to the flat, Roberta was up and had revived the ashes. She asked him if he would like a cup of tea, but as by an odd circumstance we had a single bottle of stout in the cupboard, he took that for preference.”

We must be grateful for John Hewitt’s decision to preserve Roberta Hewitt’s work after her death. It was a brave and farsighted decision.

Roberta Hewitt’s work acts as an alternative perspective, even a retort to his version of events in his poems and autobiographical writings. While poets may seek out muses, this role can consign an individual into an idealised, lifeless cage.

The atmosphere in the Hewitt residence is somewhat different when examining the night At times the “Roberta” of John Hewitt’s work, like from Roberta Hewitt’s viewpoint which she Dorothy Wordsworth in William Wordsworth’s recorded in her journal. She and Johnny had poetry, becomes a means for the poet to find been rowing that evening and she had gone the perfect ally, audience and literary helpmate. off to the spare bedroom. Upon hearing that She is the willing companion who appears on a visitor was coming to spend the night she poems of his literary discovery tramping across had shouted out: “I’m not shifting, you can take the Antrim moss, at others she is the fond object whoever it is in with you.” of affection, believed as in a poem written in 1982 to be happiest in her garden.

While both accounts suggest that ultimately Brendan Behan was well looked after as a guest Even when denoting the stresses of their and the marital row dissipated quite quickly, marriage, the most fraught metaphor that the journal remains as an important record of John Hewitt can often find is that of the Roberta Hewitt’s interpretation of matters. It hedgehog timidly seeking its way in the world. captures the immediacy and raw emotion of Contrast this to Roberta’s version of events the moment and fills in the gaps where John and a formidably different interpretation of Hewitt’s gentler, even colder longer-range happenings is supplied. One example of this reminiscences tend to ignore and gloss over. occurs over the visit of Brendan Behan to their home in Belfast in 1952. In John Hewitt’s view, Most of Roberta Hewitt’s adult life had been lived in the world of letters. As well as being written up after the fact around a decade later constant support for John Hewitt’s own in his memoir Northlight : aspirations for publication as muse, proof“I was undressing for bed, my braces off my reader and long-time champion, she had been shoulders, when the telephone rang downstairs. steeped in conversation on books and ideas I was asked in a thick Dublin accent ‘Is dat for decades with the many individuals and John Hewitt? Ye won’t know me but I’m a friend groups they were connected to in their various of Ben Kiely’s. Me name is Behan, Brendan Behan.” leftist and literary circles.

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1 A North 2

Light: Twenty-five Years in a Municipal Art Gallery (2013) Roberta Hewitt’s 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.602

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In many ways, the more outgoing, perhaps even more ambitious one in the relationship, she had felt the need for self-expression keenly in a life whose ambitions for career and family were often thwarted or set aside to facilitate the dreams and aspirations of her spouse.

Occasional poems and reviews of books for the Belfast Telegraph indicate that her literary ambitions ranged out further at times from the private world of the personal journal. A notebook of her own reading, in the John Hewitt Archive at Ulster University details a broad engagement with classic and contemporary writers from the mid-1950s-1960s.3

Little wonder that she longed at times in echo of Virginia Woolf for “a room of my very own & a key for it”.⁴ Who knows what Roberta Hewitt may have written had she had access to the room? What we do have is her journal and an important narrative of events, in her words and in her choosing. Nearly fifty years after her death, this book is testament to her power to inspire new readers to discover her thoughts and feelings on her life.

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Frank Ferguson John Hewitt Society

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Notebook F “Ruby’s Readings”, John Hewitt Collection, Ulster University Roberta Hewitt to Sophie Stewart, 1 December 1966 (PRONI, D3838/4/1)

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Timeline 1904

Roberta (Ruby) Black is born in Larne on 30 October. She was the youngest of three daughters of watchmaker Robert Black and shopkeeper Robina Urquhart and grows up in Belfast.

1918

She leaves school at 14 to work in the Flax Control Board. She also works in clerical jobs at Blackstaff Spinning Company, Arnott’s Department Store and the Saxone Boot Shop.

1915

Her father dies of cardiac failure, probably caused by alcoholism.

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1929

She leaves her work at Saxone Boot Shop to emigrate to North America: she first lives in Canada and then New York. While abroad, she works as a domestic and briefly becomes engaged to a young man called Weldon.

1932

She returns to Belfast for a holiday, but meets John Hewitt at an art exhibition at the Belfast Museum.

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1934 She marries John Hewitt. The couple later honeymoons in Paris and moves to a small flat at 45 Malone Road.

1938 She is one of the founders of the Edenderry Nursery School.

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1940-57

Roberta aand John live in Mount Charles, off Botanic Avenue in Belfast.

1941 She is one of the founders of the Frederick Street Nursery School.

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1957-72 Roberta and John live in Coventry and she becomes more active in politics, aligning herself to the local Labour Party.

1972 Roberta and John move back to Belfast and live at 11 Stockman’s Lane.

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1975 Roberta passes away and the cause of death is Bronchopneumonia and a Brain Tumour.

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13 Things you should know about Roberta Hewitt from the CollabArchive volunteers...

Roberta and John. John Hewitt Society.

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Nuala Noblett (Belfast)

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The title of W.J. McCormack’s book published in 2003 ‘The Silence of Barbara Synge’ could also have been a title applicable to the life of Roberta Hewitt (1904-1975). He says on page 2: “The woman mentioned in the book’s title may not acquire any more extensive biography in the course of the pages which follow. But her condition emerges of how indicative of how family history is channelled towards celebrated figures (the dramatist J. M. Synge 18711909) through others whose fate is to remain uncelebrated, even suppressed.”

Roberta’s diaries 1947-1974 break that silence. Her husband John Hewitt left the diaries to his nephew Keith Miller who donated his papers to PRONI: “His decision to make that diary public indicates his recognition that her voice had been temporarily occluded by his reputation but that it might one day be heard.”

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It is difficult to select one thing that I think Roberta's 1949 passport photo. PRONI: D3838/1/1 people should know about Roberta. The feature of her personality that shines through the diary for me is her confidence in her ability to: 1. Be proactive in her efforts to initiate social changes for the betterment of society.

2. Interact with ease in a creative and social sense with John and with the intelligent creative artistic company of their era: Seamus Heaney, Philip Larkin, Michael McLaverty, Michael Longley, Micheál Mac Liammóir, Louis MacNeice, Brendan Behan, John Luke, Colin Middleton and Charles McAuley to name but a few.

3. Write her diary with the style of a natural storyteller. Her honesty, sense of humour and lyricism make it a compelling read.

Roberta begins her education at Agnes Street elementary school, Belfast. Roberta’s father Robert dies in December 1915 age 52 years. She leaves elementary school at 14 years of age in 1918. She went to office work at the age of 14 years during the war and got into the Flax Control Board.

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The Field Anthology of Irish Writing, Volume 4 (2002): p.1012

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PRONI: D3838/3/19

She works as a Telephone Operator and Enquiry Office Clerk in the Flax Supplies Committee, Belfast from October 1919 to March 1921. She emigrates to Canada in 1929 and New York in 1930. Roberta comes home on holiday in 1932 and writes in her diary: “remet Johnny” [John Hewitt]. They get married in 1934. She becomes an integral part of his life.

Then we kept a house full of refugees in a house in Duncairn Gdns. which was called ‘The Red House’ for a couple of years for our Government wouldn’t allow them to work.

They were both convinced Socialists, and the couple became members of The Independent Labour Party, The Belfast Peace League (Roberta served as secretary before her marriage), The Left Book Club and the British Civil Liberties Union.

Roberta was an active volunteer in the Nursery School Association. She was one of the founders of the Edenderry Nursery School in 1938 and Frederick Street Nursery School in 1941 and worked as honorary secretary for both of these Belfast schools. She still found time to serve on the Management Committee for the Northern Ireland Fever Hospital (Purdysburn). In a newspaper interview, Roberta says of herself:

“1938 or thereabouts we worked very hard for ‘Aid to Spain’ against Franco. It was not a popular cause here. We collected a shipload of goods food & clothes & medical aid.

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“They were also instrumental in the formation of a progressive art group, ‘The Ulster Unit’, which included John Luke, Colin Middleton and others.”

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“I am a Socialist because I believe in equality of opportunity for all human beings regardless of birth, creed or colour. I feel any exploitation

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p. 43

7 https://www.johnhewittsociety.org/about-john-hewitt/

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of man by man, class by class or nation by nation to be morally wrong. My ideas came from my home background, which was Christian Socialist, and later working in nursery schools in industrial areas in the 1930s. I was shocked by the consequences of insecurity, unemployment and illness.”

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During 1938 they were both involved in ‘Aid in Spain’. Her diary entries swing from being disparaging to herself and resenting her perceived role in her partnership with John, to embracing wholeheartedly her position of wife to her literary acclaimed husband. She writes: “43 sounds fierce. I can’t get used to the idea it is me who is that age. I am just as lightheaded & indiscreet as I was at 20. Often, I have gained since, my marriage especially, a bit of knowledge about writing & art etc. & I do feel more tolerant & more forgiving to people in general. Tho’ I can be biting & bitter when I think I am ‘wronged’.”

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Describing her meeting with Maureen McNeill: “I feel very uncouth beside her. Clever women rather frighten me at first. If she gets to like us she won’t mind.”

Her own perception of herself is contrary to how she interacts with the creative people in John’s world. Advise to John Luke: “He is extremely self assured bordering on the self-righteous - he is sure his work is good the best in Ireland at least. I told him he was 'conceity'. But again we think he is the best, the most serious painter - living for his work alone, & is it wrong for him to feel he is right when we think he is right, & we praise his work?”12 She is stoic in her reaction to not being voted on to the Nursery School committee: “A bit embarrassing but I let it go. I will serve this year & retire. I do shoot out my neck sometimes.

They are all ‘Ladies’ & ‘Gentlemen’.”

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Her dismissive critique of the author ‘Sheridan’ saying he is a “queer customer - I needn’t read anymore about him.”

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“Americans are either dull businessmen who can make a million or a hundred bucks or else immense creatures like Wright, Whitman, Wallace [...]

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“He should have married a more intelligent woman with money. It is sometimes too much for me to be cook & cleaner, literary confident, wife & fan & then try to keep a person on the boards that is Roberta & not just Johnny’s wife […]

Johnny is obviously the nominated Bard. my job is too [sic] keep the wheels greased & remain a nonentity. But I can’t remain quiet for if there is any conversation I am in it before I know[…]”

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Roberta's Membership Card. PRONI: D3838/4/3 8 Newspaper clipping 9 Roberta

(John Hewitt Society) Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p. 5

Ibid: p. 9 p. 73-74 12 Ibid: p. 29 13 Ibid: p. 25 14 Ibid: p. 16 15 Ibid: p. 21 10

11 Ibid:

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Roberta writes beautiful descriptions of scenes in Cushendall:

We have no time for succulence. Hurry!

The barbed wire must be fastened. We are too old for scarlet reins; 18

"We watched the sun first yellowing the top of Garron, then Trostan & creeping over to Tieve Bulliagh. Trostan wearing the shadow of rump of Garron – slowly lighting the fields & lastly our private mountain Tiveragh – I always think of wee Tiveragh as a mountain – It is a mountainous wee hill.”16

A simple sentence marks the end of an era: “J goes to Sligo to WB Yeats funeral at 3 o’c.”

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She describes beautifully and atmospherically an evening walk with John down Layde Road, Cushendall, and going into the dark chapel: “I could not pray but I tried to concentrate on the spirit of the church & what it might mean to the coughing woman & the heavy footed tip shuffling man and wondered what help they got from the dusty crib with the only light in the church. Johnny was quiet and hoped he would find comfort there.”

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She wrote this “Surrealist Poem” for Irish Jewry publication under the name Ruby Black: Light up. The end is near.

Slow motion pauses on a speck of time. The beer gardens in February are green, The withered Laws

Roberta in Cushendall in 1955, John Hewitt Society.

16 Ibid: p.138 17 Ibid: p.33 18 Northman: John Hewitt (2015): p.62 19 Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.145

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“I am a Socialist because I believe in equality of opportunity for all human beings regardless of birth, creed or colour."

Roberta's personal documents. PRONI: D3838/1/1

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Anne Bodel (Dundonald)

“ I only know I shall grow old and die.”

(Roberta Hewitt) There are various features that I identified about Roberta Hewitt that, perhaps, should be known about her. From her own writings I see she had an acerbic wit; she despised the fact she had not had an education, subsequently feeling inferior to those with whom she and John socialised. She often claimed responsibility for having been the cause of the unease that sometimes existed between her and John.

However, the one thing that resonates with me is that Roberta is not only a woman of her own time (a housewife and wife without having income or career) but also a woman before her time. In the first instance, being born into a [somewhat] working-class background and leaving school at 14 to start work, she did not have the opportunity to proceed to university despite displaying what seems to have been a bright and inquisitive disposition.

She included wee often in her diaries; local vernacular that placed her firmly within Northern Ireland. From others’ writings — especially the letters of condolences sent to John — she is regarded as having been “a gracious lady” 20, “a very human person, and a ready listener to other people’s troubles" 21, “[her] warm friendliness ... always showed the same kindliness and interest to me as a girl.” 22

In addition, growing up in an era when women most often deferred to men, and particularly to men in authority, she displayed a sense of confidence that didn’t always meet the norm for the working-class girl/woman. She wouldn’t have been allowed to vote until the passing of the Representation of the People Act in 1928 when all women over the age of 21 years were finally allowed to vote. I don’t know if she used Whilst these qualities are cited by others, I feel that first vote, but she certainly was vocal in her they can be found in the weft of Roberta’s own diaries about religious and political issues, both words. Despite berating herself for the things that within and outside of Northern Ireland. made her feel less than others, we — the reader — see how she supports others, constantly and And, about a year after that Act was passed, tirelessly: working for various organisations on a Roberta moved to Canada and subsequently voluntary basis; supporting John and his poetry, New York, relinquishing the perceived parochial often to her own detriment and well-being whilst yoke of the Northern Irish working-class also supporting other local artists. woman. It may have been due to the onset of 20 Patrick Hughes, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19) 21 Harry Wilkinson, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19) 22 Maeve, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19)

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Roberta's US Migration Card 1930. PRONI: D3838/1/1/7

the depression of 1929 that drove her across the Atlantic, but Roberta was in employment when she emigrated in 1929; she states in her diary that she left Saxone Boot Shop to emigrate.23 In addition, the year before she married John, she carried a driving licence that allowed her to drive a car for one year. Again, I have no sense of knowing if she owned a car, drove someone else’s car, or indeed if she even renewed her licence, but she must have felt sufficiently confident to want to own one.

Without speculating about Roberta’s mindset at the time, I feel it displays an attitude of [her] taking chances and grabbing at opportunities.

Indeed, it is evident in her diaries that she often encouraged John to progress or apply for roles and/or potential openings.

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There is a dichotomy of the two diaries with the latter years reflecting Roberta’s jaded attitude. She seems to suffer from pains, gynaecological problems and numerous colds and ailments that makes her take to bed. She admits to having dark moods and blames herself for the problems that she and John experience in their later years; even admitting to striking him at one point.

However, and currently being a woman of similar age to Roberta when this was all occurring, I see it as a natural progression of life: how familiarity breeds contempt; how one feels invisible and obsolete. Now, and at the age she was when some of this transpired, it resonates as a truthful account of her feelings and changes occurring in her body. And I do see Roberta as being a truthful person. She commented on people, on religion and politics, and on her relationship with John.

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.2

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She often chastised herself about her comments and/or feelings but I believe them as truthful responses to genuine instances.

“Those days in the thirties when you and Ruby held open house on Sunday evenings had a marked effect on me.” 26

I admire John by the fact he didn’t negate Roberta’s diaries and decided to include them in a repository of their lives together. Moreover, whereas Roberta often cited her ignorance and lack of formal education I do feel that John recognised a ‘quality’ within the young Roberta on their meeting in 1933: a latent intelligence perhaps; or the energy and confidence required to urge a retiring young poet onwards.

What surprised me most about Roberta was her reference to sex. She referred to it on several occasions, one being when she remarked that John was ‘no lover’:

I’d also go so far as to suggest their relationship was symbiotic, wherein each required the other to thrive. Roberta flourished intellectually within the artistic community that surrounded John despite refuting her own worth (“I was there because I married culture”) after being invited to Lady Wakehurst’s evening event at Hillsborough in March 1953.24 However, on her death, one letter of condolence cited:

I think I now would like a room of my own. I have so many sleepless nights. Now, when I get so exasperated, I start to laying all the blame of anything on J’s sleeping head. When I get unhappy, he cannot talk to me at all & cannot help me. He is a good husband, but no lover. I feel I would be better alone. 27 Considering the time Roberta was born, sex was pretty much a private thing only to be considered between married couples. She may have discussed it furtively with other women, but to include it into her diary is somewhat daring and, I feel, revolutionary.

“I’ll never forget her cheerful, charming face, so vivid, so responsive [...] She developed from being pleasantly intelligent into a near intellectual. And you gave her this prolonged opportunity.” 25 And he most likely did give her this opportunity.

But John seems to have thrived also on Roberta’s support and willingness to listen to his readings despite her being tired and longing for bed. She also had the ability to welcome the frequent numerous artistic people into their home and, considering postwar austerity, the ability for Roberta to cater for those visitors. However, and whilst Roberta often remarked to feeling invisible, the letters of condolences to John acknowledge her kindness and wonderful qualities — how sad she didn’t see those qualities, or the fact they were well remembered: Roberta's driving licence 1933-34. PRONI: D3838/1/1/20 24 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.773 25 Elsie Patton, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19) 26 Bill Adair, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19) 27 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.774

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Again, this reveals the truthful woman; the woman who didn’t skirt about issues but tackled them head-on. It is also one of the instances wherein I say she is a woman before her time. Terminology conferred upon women, and especially middle-aged women, was often unkind but Roberta revealed herself as a woman who desired to be seen and acknowledged by the husband she loved.

And despite her angst, anger, and frustration, I do feel that she loved and admired John immensely.

At the beginning I stated that Roberta was ‘a woman of her time, and a woman before her time’. However, reflecting on her words of admissions and guilts, I feel she is representative of women universally; who start out as bright young things and who want to be educated, to be seen; to be heard. Yet even now, nearly half a century after Roberta’s death, there are women still subjugated to men, religions, and cultures. Roberta stated: “I only know I shall grow old and die.”28 And she did; as we all shall, but there had been a richness of abundance to her life that, somehow, she didn’t recognise.

Woman She who aspires.

Who contrives and conspires, Who nurtures and strives.

And survives. Somehow, she survives.

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Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.264

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Letters of condolence to John Hewitt, PRONI: D3838/3/19

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Caroline Pollard (Derry-Londonderry)

Muse: A person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

Many believe Roberta Hewitt to be her husband John Hewitt’s muse. Closer examination of her diaries often suggests the opposite and we can see that she did not share his artistic view of Northern Ireland and his sense of regionalism. Hewitt himself writes: “Roberta and I had our own places and interests; but she had frequently in our early days urged me to break away from Belfast, for she never had had the strong self-identification with its past and its future.” 29 Whilst Roberta was an intelligent woman whom many thought of as ahead of her time, it is also possible to see that she was capable of using her intelligence to ‘lead’ John through the arts world to ensure he used his artistic talents to maintain a high standard of living.

Throughout Roberta’s diaries, references are made to the money John earns. Some may argue that she is merely telling the reader of their everyday struggles but closer reading suggests something different as she documents the amount of money she spends and compares the differing ‘wages’ he earns. The reader can’t be faulted for coming to the conclusion that the

high paid articles are more highly regarded than her husband’s artistic thoughts: “Johnny has had his ‘Fame’ in the Bell & a poem in Irish Times in 1950 J had 15 poems published in papers & magazines J earned £21 for printed verse & about £24 from Radio. Old ‘Ulster Names’ has earned £16 last year & is to go on again another £8 – I was prompting J. to write more of these kinds of poems – J thinks it inferior verse.”30 Roberta continues by telling us she spent £18:8.6 on an expensive coat. In one diary entry we read about her disappointment of missing out on £100 “easy money” in a poetry competition because she believes her husband’s poem was not a winner because it was less of a“Festival Poem.”31 Roberta writes about how she sat with John while he wrote. At times the reader might feel that she is his muse and how they created together. But the opposite could be said when we read how she writes of arguing their different opinions until 1.30am and how:

29 A North Light (2013) 30 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.534 31 Ibid: p.605

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“J arrived up about 3am having rewritten the script and changed it considerably.”32 This clearly shows how she is capable of manipulating his train of thought. She also documents her frustrations of the whole writing process, hardly the thoughts of a supportive wife or indeed muse. She writes: “I’m getting weary of writing going on & going nowhere except duty calls – we will become unsociable – J is a terrific worker I think but I hope his Ulster Poets have some value to somebody in the future.”33 Roberta has written that: “A diary does give a limited view of a person”. 34 With this in mind are we to take her entries at face value or to read beneath the surface to uncover a muse to a great poet or maybe a wife and housekeeper who wanted to better their standard of living by any means possible?

Roberta and John's marriage certificate. PRONI: D3838/1/1/3 32 Ibid: p.542 33 Ibid: p.552 34 Ibid: p.623

36

Roberta and John. John Hewitt Society.

Roberta and John's 1949 passport. PRONI: D3838/1/1

37

Claire Lowry (Whitehead)

38

The one thing people should know about Roberta is that she found it very challenging to support John in his work and in the home whilst also maintaining her own personal life and interests.

Although she had a great admiration for John’s work and felt obliged, and motivated, to prioritise John’s career, she always had her own thoughts and opinions and wasn’t afraid to share them. She was very much her own person as well as being a supportive wife: “When he is really interested in something he expounds it to me in great earnestness, sometimes when I am rushed to death & trying

to cook or thinking of what I am going to give our numerous callers to eat. I listen with one ear & then I get some rather wonderful thought from him. I feel like a proper Martha & know I should listen to him & remember. He must talk out what he is thinking & working at. He should have married a more intelligent woman with money. It is sometimes too much for me to be cook & cleaner, literary confident, wife & fan & then try to keep a person on the boards that is Roberta & not just Johnny's wife. Maybe one shouldn't try. Should I say Johnny is obviously the nominated Bard. my job is too [sic] keep the wheels greased & remain a nonentity. But I can't remain quiet anyway for if there is any conversation I am into it before I know.”35

Roberta and John. John Hewitt Society 35

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.73-74

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"It is sometimes too much for me to be cook & cleaner, literary confident, wife & fan & then try to keep a person on the boards that is Roberta & not just Johnny's wife."

“I was getting restive. He was reading old poets & I said ‘You’re reading too much at those old poets & it is holding up your own work’. He said not but he got out some old notes & started working over them […]”36 She was a very active volunteer for various political, health and social causes. Her involvement in politics stemmed from compassion, a concern for human rights and a desire for peace. She worked behind the scenes for many of these causes in unacknowledged and unrecorded but vital roles such as secretary and cook.

“Andres & Fedora & Rosita Gueneshea [sp?] called to say good-bye they sail for South America (I must ask Jonny where) tomorrow we drank a little Sherry & I was sad to see them go. This is the end of the Spanish War to us. 1938 or thereabouts we worked very hard for "Aid to Spain" against Franco. It was not a popular cause here. We collected a ship load of goods food & clothes & medical aid. Then we kept a house full of Refugees in a house in Duncairn Gds. which was called the ‘Red House’ for a couple of years for our Government wouldn't allow them to work. Then this order was withdrawn & Andres & Fedora,

36 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.624

40

Newspaper clipping (John Hewitt Society)

Rosita was born 1940, after knocking about went to work on a farm in Strabane. They have had it hard & now they the last of them go to a Spanish Country."37 “I am a Socialist because I believe in equality of opportunity for all human beings regardless of birth, creed or colour. I feel any exploitation of man by man, class by class or nation by nation to be morally wrong. My ideas came from my home background, which was Christian Socialist, and later working in nursery schools in industrial areas in the 1930s I was shocked by the consequences of insecurity, unemployment and illness”.38

37 Roberta Hewitt's 1946-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.43 38 Newspaper clipping (John Hewitt Society)

41

Frances McLaughlin (Belfast)

42

The one thing that people should know about Roberta is that growing up in poverty and only having an elementary education had a profound effect on the person she was to become.

I have selected this fact about Roberta Hewitt’s life because it was one thing that may have held other women back at this time. Due to her own experiences, it is as though she can empathise with others and wants to right wrongs that had happened to her, so that others would not need to go through it. It also shows Roberta’s tenacity and thirst for knowledge as well as her keen sense of justice.

Her diaries, letters and evidence from her letter of recommendation for work show that she was a dedicated and hard worker. She also had a keen social conscience and sense of justice.

I had initially wanted to investigate Roberta’s work with the Nursery School association as I have worked in a nursery in the past. In using the Index that Roberta has very helpfully made, I looked up the references to the Nursery School Association. However, I found myself heartbroken for Roberta as, even though she was good at the work and she was good with children, she could not be given the paid position. This was because she had only an elementary formal education as she had to go out to work at an early age — she left school at 14 to work in the Flax Control Board. The people in the setting assumed that Roberta had a secondary education, presumably due to how she interacted with those around her.

Despite feeling let down by this episode, Roberta continued to stick with the committee as she was interested in establishing Nursery School Education in Northern Ireland.

The Roberta that emerges from her diary is a woman who is well-read, cultured and articulate. She has her own views on art, music and literature and a very sharp wit. She and John discuss the books that they have read, and he remarks that he likes when Roberta notices something that he had not. Her working-class background sowed the seed for her interest in the Socialist Cause and she was willing to stand up for what she believed in.

Quotes from Roberta Hewitt’s 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1) “At some stage my father became an alcolic [sic] & we were in great poverty. He died about 1915.” (p.2) “Wed 7th January ’48. I am a bit disappointed not to have heard anything about my going everyday to School FOR PAY. I suppose it is because I have had nothing but an elementary education. The committee, I presume, took it for granted that I had a secondary education.

I feel a bit ashamed of the fact, that is foolish

YHA Membership Card Photo 1955. PRONI: D3838/1/1/21

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of me, but I would have liked an education.

However I will not worry about it. I phoned Miss A. McCready, our Chairman of E.N.S. & she is a member of Ed Committee - she was very tactful & said it had been discussed

by Local Authority who were in favour of my appointment, but I would have to be paid by ministry of Ed. & probably they will require the qualified person in spite of the fact I am pretty good with the children. They are right, of course, only they cannot get the qualified person at the moment. I went to the school this morning to take charge of Mrs. Pritchard’s group while she was with the Dr. at medical inspection. It was lovely & some of the children ran to meet me & didn’t want me to go home.” (p.36) “I heard by chance that another girl was appointed to the school & still I have no official word. I was deeply hurt & came home & wept - It rubs in my lack of Education & now the committee must know that I have none. I felt humiliated. Johnny was kind & took me to his heart. This was on Friday night. Today it is healed I know it doesn't matter about these snobs really - if they think less of me, they are less in themselves. I will go to the committee on Wed. & I may say that I think it was not courteous to keep me a month & not decide & then not let me know when they had appointed someone else. But I may say nothing. But they shouldn't treat people like that - so much for an Education committee - it argues their attitude to human beings is wrong.” (p.44) “Sunday 18. On Wednesday 14th I went late to committee - I made a protest over the representation of mothers on our committee They should be made a stable part of our committee as it is important that they have the Right to attend our committee as it is we only allow them to come.” (p.45) "Mrs Pritchard has had poisoned hand & ministry asked me to take her place in school for two weeks - I confess I was pleased they had to come to me after their treatment God preserve us from small victories.” (p.53)

“I worked in the school from Wed 28 Jan till 13th officially - & had to get a medical certificate & fill in hours of training etc which was blank in my case. So wrote ‘Voluntary work in Nursery School for 10 years’ back on Monday & Wednesday to give Mrs. P a chance to try out new assistant which Mr Bass, Peggy Roberts & myself interviewed & appointed.” (p.54) “I have felt Britten rather too clever & blamed him for just arranging old songs & claiming too much credit.” (p.233) “I then read what I'd written about the book to him & he said he had missed what I find in it & was very pleased with my perception of the meaning of the message it held. He said he always admires a job done that he couldn't do.” (p.243) Quote from Letter of Recommendation from The Blackstaff Flax spinning & Weaving Co. Ltd (D3838/4/1/2/1/3) “During that time she attended to her duties in a very satisfactory and with conscientious care. In our judgement, she is an intelligent young lady of trustworthy character, possessing a tactful and agreeable disposition, and would be sure to give satisfaction to anyone engaging her for almost any kind of General Office Work. Unfortunately she leaves us due to sickness at home, and we are sorry to lose her.”

Letters of Sympathy to John Hewitt upon the death of Roberta (D3838/3/19) “ I always regarded Mrs Hewitt as a very ‘human’ person and a ready listener to other people’s troubles, however trivial." (Henry Williamson) “I have many happy memories of the work Ruby did to establish Nursery Education in Northern Ireland.” (Peggy Roberts) “She developed from being pleasantly intelligent to a near-intellectual.” (Elsie Patton)

44

Employment Letter. PRONI: D3838/4/1/2/1/3

45

Jennifer Burns (Dunmurry)

The one thing I think people should know about Roberta is that she was an articulate, strong-minded woman with great philosophical insight, who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, at a time when many women’s voices went unheard.

I selected this “fact” as her bravery really resonated with me in what was very much a male-dominated world in which she lived.

While in some respects she embodied a traditional 1950s housewife, she was in fact so much more. She was well travelled, and held modern and socialist views during a very divisive period in Northern Ireland.

She was engaging and sociable, providing great warmth in her husband John’s life, whilst also an integral part of his writing process.

Despite her lack of education, although never treated as such, she was a match intellectually to her peers. Sadly, this lack of education and female status did hold her back from achieving employment and personal goals.

I think it is important that Roberta is not merely defined by her marriage or John’s work, but as a great writer and thinker herself, who found greater value in people and the world around her than those in her social circle mostly found from books and paintings.

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary. PRONI: D3838/4/2/1

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Some of the quotes from Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2) that I think illustrate her strong opinions and deep thoughts: “Life and living and being as happy as one can be was more important than great art.” (p.540) “When I am dead I will either know nothing or have greater wisdom and understanding so why not be happy.”(p.638) “The world and I are very middle-aged. All the years we own between us don’t seem to have taught us wisdom.” (p.557) “I went to the meeting out of sorts and got tired of too much talk and told them so. I was popular.” (p.639)

Personal Documents. PRONI: D3838/1/1 48

Letter to Roberta in relation to political matters: PRONI: D3838/4/1

49

Jennifer McCrea (Holywood)

50

Roberta at the opening of Coventry Cathedral in 1962.

John Hewitt Society.

Roberta and John. John Hewitt Society

Roberta was a complex, multifaceted character, and the quality that I would like to focus on is her instinctive and informed response to cultural matters — specifically her critical analysis of art and literature. While John was the great man of letters, I feel that Roberta’s qualities influenced John far more than she has yet been credited with.

It is abundantly clear from her diaries that Roberta read widely and deeply: an example of her critical view and her familiarity with the forms and devices used in literature can be seen in the following quotation:

When reading the sympathy letters that John received after Roberta’s death, most are written with condolences and platitudes, just a small number described the intellect of Roberta that we have come to know from the diaries and our knowledge of her book reviews. One letter, written by Elsie Patton, noted that “…she [Roberta] developed from being pleasantly intelligent into a near intellectual.”39

“Sunday 11th. A wet Sunday. Had a lovely breakfast in bed and read part of B. Kiely’s ‘Call for a Miracle’. I am very much interested in it & feel that here we have J. Joyce’s influence in the right vein for the first time in our young prose writers. [...] I also feel he has a central theme more than a central plot & the meetings in the pubs of lonely people comparable to the Greek chorus. An important book.”40 In 1949 John and Roberta took a trip to Venice which included a day trip to Padua.

39 Elsie Patton, letter of condolence to John Hewitt (D3838/3/19) 40 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.653

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Condolence Letter from Elsie Patton to John Hewitt. PRONI: D3838/3/19

At different times both wrote their responses to visiting the Arena Chapel to see the frescoes of Giotto. Interestingly Roberta would have written hers first in her diary — presumably shortly after the visit. Whereas John wrote his account much later in his memoir/autobiography A North Light which he started in 1961. It is quite possible that John later drew on Roberta’s diaries for the parts in A North Light that coincided with the timespan of his book, as their versions of events such as their conclusions about the importance of Giotto’s frescos are very similar.

52

Condolence Letter from Elsie Patton to John Hewitt. PRONI: D3838/3/19

The visit of Brendan Behan, an incident in Venice where they drank wine and watched a sunset, or the Folkdance festival are just a few further examples of very similar accounts of events. The language is different, however, especially when evaluating art. John had a more considered and cerebral approach to art analysis, he is disegno! While he felt strongly about it and was tireless in promoting contemporary northern Irish artists, his writing is a little ostentatiously intellectual. This was possibly quite typical of the connoisseurial approach of the art curator of his era:

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“Hewitt might almost be criticized for being a throwback to a form of fustian antiquarianism, were it not for the pervading energy of of [sic] engagement with his subject.”41 In contrast, Roberta feels things in a much more instinctive and Venetian way, her remarks in relation to art come from the heart and are imbued with emotion and colore. This is important because it demonstrates that her thoughts in her diary are all hers and John may have used Roberta’s notes as an aide memoir for his later account. Perhaps we have underestimated just how integral to his work Roberta was?

The following is Roberta’s response to the visit to the Arena Chapel and this is the quotation that I would like to use for this project: “[...] the old place [university] was lovely, the modern paintings on the walls I disliked, (ah! grey hairs, Roberta) BUT THE GIOTTOS - Oh, dear, I have no words, to say lovely, impressive, spellbinding, wonderful, nothing comes near it, reverence perhaps and deep and lasting experience - certainly worth the visit to Italy alone. I remember meeting Edwin and Willa Muir, as we lowered our eyes to prople [sic] for a moment and seeing her eyes bright with feeling a [sic] her cheeks flushed, and obviously not wanting us to say a word or have to speak.”42 Roberta ardently conveys through her words that for this alone she would visit Italy, the impact of seeing this fresco cycle was a powerful emotional encounter and the experience incomparable: she notes in the entry that she found it difficult to leave the chapel. In A North Light, John reaches a similar conclusion that even a visit to Florence and Assisi years later could not compare to the experiencing the greatness of Giotto’s work in the Arena Chapel in Padua:

“The only other experience at all comparable to this was not in Venice, where Tintoretto stood supreme, but in Padua, in the Arena Chapel when we moved among to Giottos with the toy landscapes, with the sheep-like whippets and the smiling camel, where every human gesture had been grasped and made sculptural and hieratic forever; and in that place I realized why Giotto most always be counted among the first. The appreciation of Tintoretto was, in a way, our own discovery, for fashion had not then veered towards him so strongly as a decade later; but our confrontation with Giotto had all the sublimity of a Chestertonian commonplace, that grass is green, a greatness which received no increment from our experiences in Florence and Assisi thirteen years later.”43 For John, I think both Roberta and his work were equally the most important things in his life. However, Roberta took a typical mid-20th century approach to her marriage to John: her husband came first, and her role was to support him in both his life and his work and to defer to him and his educated opinion – and she did in most things. She didn’t even want him to read her diaries as she felt it would be a waste of his time. Despite her lack of education, Roberta had enough cultural awareness to express her own views as this diary entry demonstrates: “To the Accademia. We loved the Carpaccios, a lovely wee room of Bellini's and J. was thrilled to see the Giorgione. I like the Memling, but ilk [sic] the one in London of the Young girl with the net on her forehead better, not much impressed with Veronese - but I suppose I'd better keep this dark. Great Mantegna of St George. We thought the Louvre Guardi's were better than the Guardi's here. Liked St Clair by A. Vivarini, I had never heard of him. but One and a half visits to this place is useless, we misses [sic] many lovely things and saw many

41 A North Light: Twenty-Five Years in a Municipal Art Gallery (2013 42 Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.337 43 A North Light: Twenty-Five Years in a Municipal Art Gallery (2013)

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very ordinary paintings. J. says bad, but I am afraid to suggest that any bad things could come from the old Italians ...well, almost.”44 Roberta was not only a supportive spouse in a domestic context, but she was also an intelligent and knowledgeable partner…with a sense of humour! I feel that her intellectual contribution to their dialogue had a significant influence on John, yet that she was unaware of the value of this to him.

In the diaries there are many examples of Roberta’s informed opinion on art, or accounts of conversations with artists about their work that show she was capable of not just expressing her likes and dislikes but was a competent and critical judge of art. I selected the above quotation about the Arena Chapel visit because I would like to highlight Roberta’s confident and knowledgeable expression of her opinion and her feelings, and because I believe, that like Nora Barnacle with James Joyce, Roberta was more a part of John’s writing than she would ever have imagined.

44

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.338

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Joan McGandy (Limavady)

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The one thing people should know about Roberta is: She was at her happiest in the garden!

She was a role model with many interests and attributes whose involvement and contribution to family and community was admirable.

Married to John for 41 years, Roberta had unique, exciting experiences and insight to the life behind the scenes, particularly the literary world through hosting in their home and participation and attendance in many art-led events within society.

45

Both Roberta and John's roles connected and complimented and inspired each other. They both brought a lot to the table. I read the poem John wrote on the 24 July 1982 for Roberta after she died45: For Roberta in the garden.

“I know when you are at your happiest, kneeling on mould, a trowel in your glove; you raise your eyes and for a moment rest; you turn a young- girl’s face, like one in love.

Intent, entranced, this hour, in gardening, Surely to life’s bright process you belong.

I wonder, when you pause, you do not sing, For such a moment surely has its song.”

Poem included in Book 43, available at Ulster Scots Collectors

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John, Roberta and her aunt, Glens of Antrim, 1960. John Hewitt Society.

From reading the first line I believe he knew this to be true and that she was happiest in the garden, among a nurturing and natural world.

If anyone was to know this, it was going to be John. It resonated to me as a love poem.

Roberta, throughout her diaries, made references to simple, yet detailed descriptions of nature. This struck me straight away of her awareness, appreciation and attention of/to nature. The very first thing I read in Roberta’s 1951-1970 diary was: “1st. January. 1951. Chushendall. Monday. 1 We woke to a white world, most surprising trees were heavy with snow, but the thaw had already started. Two wee robins haunted our hedge & we left out crumbs. The little blue tit in the eves looked lost. Blackbird & thrush were busy in the woods but very silent.”46

Description of a walk along Lagan valley to Edenderry the water/river, the sunset: “Saturday 10th [February] [...] Then we walked along Lagan to Edenderry village – we crossed the river & the river was running swiftly & the water doing all sorts of acrobatics at the bridge where the backwater flows into main canal something blocking the fast flow of water threw up a spray – like a bush covered with icicles & blowing in the wind. The setting sun gave it a pinky-orange glow – I have never seen anything just like it.”48 “All our married lives I wished he would get a job elsewhere […] but he always gave me his talk on the ‘rooted man’ & I have repeated ‘Roots should be under your feet, but not around your neck.”49 Good advice?

“Tue 6th [February][…] my daffodils are full blown and they are lovely.”47 46 47 48 49

Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.532 .Ibid: p.537 Ibid: p.538 Ibid: p.835

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“All our married lives I wished he would get a job elsewhere […] but he always gave me his talk on the ‘rooted man’ & I have repeated ‘Roots should be under your feet, but not around your neck.'”

John and Roberta at Trafalgar Square 1949. John Hewitt Society

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Kelly McCaughrain (Belfast)

60

I enjoyed finding out more about Roberta’s voluntary work at the Nursery School Association. I thought it said a lot about her concern for children’s welfare, her progressive thinking, and her willingness to not only do admin work and political campaigning, but to roll her sleeves up and cook and clean and look after the children:

The day at the school was busy & the children not bad – no bruises or accidents.”51

“I served lunch to them. Miss Fleming tells me she feels relieved when I am in charge as I am grand with the children. I think she does mean it. I don’t boss them & don’t mind being defeated now & again by the big boys, but they do the necessary things for me. I used to boss children a lot & was quite sure of myself – now I am not & I am guided by their needs & don’t mind when they don’t obey in small matters. I don’t know if this is right but I am useful in the school & some of the new frightened children in fact most of them trust me quite soon.”50

“We learn with pleasure that the Charitable Institute will be known as Clifton House in future & so our times change. When it was installed & called the ‘Charitable Institute’ it was progress – and now charity is out of date – it is a pity we lost the meaning of charity as love.”52

“Mrs Pritchard (nee Miss Fleming) is away in Donegal attending to the selling up of her home there. So the Education Authority agreed to have me as Sub. for her (voluntary). She was pleased that they recognised that someone who had nursery experience was more useful than the trained Primary teachers they send as Subs. Nursery work is unknown here with this ministry except the Director of Education Dr Stuart Hawnt. I have been working in Edenderry Nursery school since 1938. I was secretary & I cooked three days a week for months till we could afford a cook & I have been helping ever since.

I thought that this quote summed up why she does this voluntary work. She’s passionate about social progress and reform because she has deep compassion for people, especially children and the working class:

1966-76 Passport Photo. PRONI: D3838/1/1/19

50 Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p. 8 51 Ibid: p. 16 52 Ibid: p. 67-68

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I admired her willingness to take on the management about injustice on behalf of the mothers and children:

than a man, and then was turned down for this job because she didn’t have one. She felt ashamed she didn’t have an education, and felt that applying for this job humiliated her “Miss Parkinson Supt. brought up that her because everyone now knew she didn’t have nursery (Greeves – Forth River Mill) is unsettled an education. because when mothers have to leave – because there is no work or are sacked – the The fact that everyone assumed she did have children are thrown out of nursery – I said the an education says a lot about how intelligent, children would be better on the streets than well read, capable and good at her job she 53 have this introduction to school.” was. She’d been doing this job as a volunteer for 10 years, and they were happy to have her continue doing it on a voluntary basis and fill "School A.M. Committee afternoon in school. in for paid staff when they were ill, but wouldn’t I have been making a stir about the treatment our Education Authority deal out to Teachers hire her. It felt ironic that the job was childcare, which is what a lot of people in the 50s & Sub Teachers & their delay in making assumed was all women should be doing: appointments and now the present treatment of our principal Mrs Pritchard. Really our “[...] I was asked by committee to take on ministry look on teachers as pawns they can job in school till June when more trained staff move around at will & do not think of them as 54 will be through their exams at Stranmillis. I human beings.” said I would. But so far have no word from Education Authority. I spoke on phone to “Edenderry N.S Committee. Mr Eakin there to answer our criticisms of Ed. Authority’s attitude assistant director he said he was willing to have me but he wanted ministry to pay me 16/1 to staff. Which I started – I switched on the old 55 per day & they would have last word as I had charm & slated him – so he took it O.K.” no qualifications not even secondary school.

Committee & Principal in school said I was “I went late to committee - I made a protest good at the work. I will feel badly if I am turned over the representation of mothers on our down – hurt pride – & the money would be committee They should be made a stable part useful just now.”57 of our committee as it is important that they have the Right to attend our committee as it is we only allow them to come.”. We will change “Wed 7th January ’48. I am a bit disappointed & a new committee come along & as it is they not to have heard anything about my going could be dropped.”56 everyday to School FOR PAY. I suppose it is because I have had nothing but an elementary This seemed brave considering she was not education. The committee, I presume, took it even a paid member of staff, just a volunteer. for granted that I had a secondary education.

The saga of Roberta being turned down for a I feel a bit ashamed of the fact, that is foolish paid job in the NSA was revealing of how she of me, but I would have liked an education.

However I will not worry about it. I phoned was seen by the people she worked with as well as women’s position in employment and Miss A. McCready, our Chairman of E.N.S. education. She would have liked an education & she is a member of Ed Committee - she but as a woman was less likely to get one was very tactful & said it had been discussed 53 Ibid: p. 140 54 Ibid: p. 141 55 Ibid: p. 160 56 Ibid: p. 45 57 Ibid: p. 28

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by Local Authority who were in favour of my appointment, but I would have to be paid by ministry of Ed. & probably they will require the qualified person in spite of the fact I am pretty good with the children. They are right, of course, only they cannot get the qualified person at the moment. I went to the school this morning to take charge of Mrs. Pritchard’s group while she was with the Dr. at medical inspection. It was lovely & some of the children ran to meet me & didn’t want me to go home.”58 “Mr Lennox Cotton our Sec. took me to tea afterwards & apologised about treatment about appointment. I made the point that the Ed. Authority should not be permitted to treat anyone applying for a job like this - they employ & dismiss staff without much thought & it doesn't make staff loyal to them.”59

less in themselves. I will go to the committee on Wed. & I may say that I think it was not courteous to keep me a month & not decide & then not let me know when they had appointed someone else. But I may say nothing.”61

"It is a pity we lost the meaning of charity as love"

“Mrs Pritchard has poisoned hand & ministry asked me to take her place in school for two weeks – I confess I was pleased they had to come to me after their treatment.

God preserve us from small victories.”60 “I heard by chance that another girl was appointed to the school & still I have no official word. I was deeply hurt & came home & wept - It rubs in my lack of Education & now the committee must know that I have none. I felt humiliated.

Johnny was kind & took me to his heart. This was on Friday night.

Today it is healed I know it doesn't matter about these snobs really - if they think less of me, they are

Condolence Letter to John Hewitt. PRONI: D3838/3/19

58 Ibid: p. 36 59 Ibid: p. 45 60 Ibid: p. 53 61 Ibid: p. 44

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Condolence Letter to John Hewitt. PRONI: D3838/3/19

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Condolence Letter to John Hewitt. PRONI: D3838/3/19

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Alison Duddy (Belfast)

66

The one thing I think people should know about Roberta Hewitt is her sense of humour and that John wasn’t the only person in their household who had a way with words.

So many times, reading Roberta’s diary, I was struck by her sometimes pithy but frequently witty comments and observations.

Monday 31st [May 1948]: “Colin is a wee old man. I said he looked like something you would find dangling on the end of elastic to amuse children. His hair is white & still thick but cut bowl shape - & he had a very high necked thick white woollen pullover.” 62 She even included her own little doodle of Colin Middleton in her diary.

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary. PRONI: D3838/4/2/1

Thursday 14th [October 1948]: “J. not home from his mother’s so I had to wait at front door. I dare not ring for Miss Breen below us is giving off about us being in bathroom at 1 & 2 AM & wakening her. Her bedroom is below. She says she hears everything in our bathroom - it is so because we hear her. Very unpleasant. She is very nervous old maid - old maid being her trouble. We must try to be quiet J. says. I know it is going to give him constipation. He is very considerate.”63

62 Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.100 63 Ibid: p.100

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Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary. PRONI: D3838/4/2/1 68

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Susan Taylor (Bangor)

1933-34 Driver's License photo. PRONI: D3838/1/1/20

The one thing I feel people should know about Roberta was that she had strong socialist beliefs.

I believe that Roberta Hewitt was a remarkable woman. She was very involved in many local causes as, I suppose, many middle and upper class women of the day would have been.

However, Roberta came from a fairly working class family and had to leave school early in order to help support her family. She was active in the Belfast Peace League and believed in equality for all.

I feel that she would have to have been a very strong woman to be able to voice her views and attitudes in the times she did.

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The quote from Roberta that I have chosen comes from papers deposited at PRONI after John Hewitt’s death: “I am a Socialist because I believe in equality of opportunity for all human beings regardless of birth, creed or colour. I feel any exploitation of man by man, class by class or nation by nation to be morally wrong. My ideas came from my home background, which was Christian Socialist, and later working in nursery schools in industrial areas in the 1930s. I was shocked by the consequences of insecurity, unemployment and illness.”64

Newspaper clipping (John Hewitt Society)

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Alexandra Barr (Lurgan)

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Roberta and John, Retirement from Herbert Gallery. John Hewitt Society

The one thing people should know about Roberta is that she had a wide range of interests and she recorded these in her diary and in doing so demonstrated independence of thought, acute observation and lots of reflective thinking.

I selected this because I was fascinated by the many things she was interested in and often passionate about. These ranged from fashion through art, literature and theatre to politics and the meaning of freedom.

During a visit to London, she described a busy schedule:

“Peggy Roberts & I went to Book exhibition – very exciting to see these old books [...] P.A.& I to Houses of Parliament at 3.30. Saw Ernie Morrison, Jenny Lee, Marquand & some others but no sign of Atlee or Winston Churchill.”65 She describes a late-night visit to Forbes near Trafalgar Square by herself where she shared a table and drank chocolate. She people-watched and at the table with her she recorded a “young man & fruity voiced very middle-aged woman. He was a little pimp & stung her for cream buns & cigarettes [...] they made me

65 Roberta Hewitt's 1951-1974 Diary (D3838/4/2/2): p.600

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rather sick and then very sad – they were both intelligent & yet obviously unhappy & trying to find something. The old woman milking youth – the boy I disliked most”. 66 Roberta draws a most vivid vignette from this late-night accidental encounter in a coffee shop demonstrating her skills in both observation and writing.

I loved her reflective thinking in June 1952 – she is reflecting on her thoughts about the phrase “in my opinion”. She writes: “I suppose it is because we know we have very few real opinions & we express what we have gleaned from the thoughts of others”.

comments on how freedom frequently had to be won: “Primitive man fought animal and nature to preserve his body. The negro’s fought against their bodies being bought and sold”.

She then moves on to reflect that sometimes having achieved freedom one is not willing to allow others the freedom of choice “Trade Unions had such a long fight to get a decent pay package that now they can’t give any worker the freedom not to be in a Trade Unionist”. Roberta finishes this section in her diary with “I suppose we can’t have freedom of thought until we can think – can we – can I”. 67

From here she moves onto freedom of thought and freedom in the material world and

Poem and YHI Card. PRONI: D3838/4/2/1 & D3838/1/1/21

66 Ibid: p. 600-601 67 Ibid: p. 713-714

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Tara McFadden (Belfast)

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Roberta in Portstewart 1933. John Hewitt Society

The one thing people should know about Roberta is that she came from a workingclass background. I was interested in Roberta Hewitt’s comments about her life before she started writing the diary.

Selected Quotes from Roberta Hewitt’s 1947-50 Diary:

In the first three years of keeping a diary, she didn’t talk about her past very much and it was more focused on day-to-day life. However, I thought that the few mentions she did make to her past were insights into ordinary life in Belfast in the early 20th century.

“I went to office work at the age of 14 during the war & got into Flax Control Board. then [sic] after war Blackstaff Spg. Co. with Peggy.” (p.2)

Her working-class background also provides context for understanding her experience of voluntary work. At the end of 1950, she wrote: “By virtue of J.’s job & knowlege [sic] he is meeting on committees & publicly the middle class, I ditto on committees, they accept you on a level, but not socially…” 68

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“At some stage my father became an alcolic [sic] & we were in great poverty. He died about 1915.” (p.2)

“I am a bit disappointed not to have heard anything about my going everyday to School FOR PAY. I suppose it is because I have had nothing but an elementary education. The committee, I presume, took it for granted that I had a secondary education. I feel a bit ashamed of the fact, that is foolish of me, but I would have liked an education.”(p.36)

Roberta Hewitt's 1947-1950 Diary (D3838/4/2/1): p.522

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Roberta's birth certificate. PRONI: D3838/1/1/1

Today it is healed I know it doesn't matter about these snobs really - if they think less of me, they are less in themselves.” (p.44) “I used to get 1d. on Sat. & usually bought ½d. bar of chocolate on Sat. & ½d. of Imperial mints for school on Monday…” (p.115-16) “I remember when the ‘Wireless’ came first & I had a cat’s whisker radio made by my young man Norman Walley then the Broadcasting station in London was called 2.L.O. & then after when we though [sic] anyone was trying to put on airs we said of them‘They were awfully 2.L.O.’” (p.177)

“I remember again walking to work with Peggy & talking about who we would like to marry.

Peg. was romantic & always said I knocked the bottom out of romance but I said & meant‘I would like to marry an Author & I could put up with all the queernesses he would have so long as he could write & I would look after him.’ I thought it was something really in the sky – like a Fairy Prince […]” (p.520)

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Research Sources

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1. Papers of John Harold Hewitt and Roberta "Ruby" Hewitt, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI): • • • • • • •

Bound volume of Roberta Hewitt's diary. October 1947-December 1950 (D3838/4/2/1) Bound volume of Roberta Hewitt's diary. January 1951-February 1974 (D3838/4/2/2) Index to people and events referenced in Roberta Hewitt's diaries (D3838/4/2/4) Roberta Hewitt Employment Papers (D3838/4/1/2/1) Letters and a postcard to Roberta Hewitt from various political figures (D3838/4/1/3/1) Birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, etc. (D3838/1/1) Letters of sympathy to John Hewitt upon the death of his wife Roberta (D3838/3/19)

2. Angela Bourke et al. (2002) The Field Anthology of Irish Writing, Volume 4 Irish Women’s Writing and Traditions. New York: New York University Press 3. John Hewitt (2013) A North Light: Twenty-Five Years in a Municipal Art Gallery. Dublin: Four Courts Press 4. W. J. McCormack (2015) Northman: John Hewitt (1907-87): An Irish writer, his world, and his times. Oxford: Oxford University Press 5. John Hewitt, Frank Ormsby (1991) The collected poems of John Hewitt. Belfast: Blackstaff Press 6. Ulster Scots Collectors: https://www.ulsterscotscollectors.com/john-hewitt/ 7. John Hewitt Society: https://www.johnhewittsociety.org/ 8. Making the Future: Dear Diary: https://www.makingthefuture.eu/dear-diary/diarist/robertahewitt

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