Willie Hopkin, Dh Lawrence’s Socialist Friend, a Book Launch With John Pateman

Willie Hopkin ran a weekly “salon” in Eastwood, for local writers and local radicals, did soap-box meetings in local town squares, and sat on the local Council and the County Council.

William was famous throughout the Midlands as an independent social reformer, writer, broadcaster, wit, poet and naturalist. His circle of friends encompassed peers, tramps, renowned literary figures and, above all, colliers and farmers amongst whom he lived at Eastwood. William and his wife Sallie befriended the young D. H. Lawrence and remained confidants throughout the writer’s life. Lawrence’s indebtedness to the Hopkins is clear in many of the letters which form part of the Lawrence collection at Eastwood Library. Further evidence of his affection for the couple is shown in the inscriptions on many of the signed first editions also on show in the collection. Many bear William Hopkin’s personal ownership mark in the form of a caricature. For many years, William contributed his ‘Rambling Notes’ and ‘Rhymes of Truthful Bill’ to the Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser for several decades.

In this talk – which will launch John Pateman’s book on Hopkin, the author will map out how Hopkin appeared in many places in Lawrence’s work, barely disguised, but also show how much of his socialist world view impacted on Lawrence.

John Pateman is an active member of the DH Lawrence Society and a regular contributor to its journal. By trade a librarian, he is now retired, but looks after the library at the Lawrence site The Breach.

Willie Hopkin: DH Lawrence’s Socialist Friend is one of a series of short books on DH Lawrence’s world published by Five Leaves.

This event forms part of the 2024 DH Lawrence Festival.

The talk will be followed by complementary tea and cake.