SAVILIANS ON SAVILIANS. TONY LEE MORAL ON WINSTON GRAHAM (1908-2003). CHAIRED by JEREMY BARLOW.

The first in a series of Talks, focusing on notable Savilian figures from the past. The series will continue from January, with details to be announced towards the end of the year.

Winston Graham was not only one of Britain’s most popular and enduring novelists but also a fellow Savilian whose words continue to resonate with readers around the world today. Best known worldwide for creating the Poldark series, the sweeping Cornish saga that became one of the BBC’s most beloved dramas, Graham also penned over thirty novels ranging from historical epics to taut psychological thrillers. His suspense classic Marnie (1961) was brought to the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock in his 1964 film.

What makes Graham especially remarkable is the way he celebrated his Savilian roots. He wrote the introduction to Hang Your Halo in the Hall: A History of the Savile Club, recalling club life with wit, warmth, and his trademark storytelling flair.

In this talk, fellow Savilian Tony Lee Moral, who had the rare privilege of interviewing Winston Graham in 2000 for his book Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie, will share personal insights into Graham’s life, writing, and legacy, shining a spotlight on one of our most distinguished alumni.

Tony Lee Moral is an author and documentary filmmaker with a passion for storytelling across fact and fiction. He has written five acclaimed books on Alfred Hitchcock, including Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie, for which he interviewed Winston Graham. Tony brings both his professional expertise and personal connection to explore Winston Graham’s legacy and association with the Savile Club.

Jeremy Barlow, a Savilian for 65 years, started his professional musical life as 2nd flute and piccolo in the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. He then worked in the theatre; playing, composing and conducting, principally for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Crucible, Sheffield, while two-timing as a BBC Music Producer. Later, he directed his own group, the Broadside Band, which specialised in early popular music; his recording for Hyperion of The Beggar’s Opera won an Edison Award. Among many books and editions are The Enraged Musician: Hogarth’s Musical Imagery (Routledge) and The Complete Country Dance Tunes from Playford’s Dancing Master (Faber Music).