Collected Poems of Humphrey Moore
I had a friend whose prep-school days were enlivened by encountering the alligator. This was no reptile, but an enlightened master who rejoiced in the initials C.R.O.C. and on the school timetable his lessons were called Alligator's Period. What actual subject he taught no one seemed to know, but his pupils could effortlessly recall decades later such gems as "How to write a begging letter to your parents".Humphrey Moore also had the quality of being memorable, and no-one could be too sure of what exactly was the subject of one of his lessons. On talking about Abbot Mendel and his experiments with genetics, he would toss in an allusion to Keat's 'Hyperion'. If one knew the allusion, the argument became clear at once; but if not, one had a burning desire to find out.
He was effective because he wore his knowledge lightly, yet was aware of the limitations and barriers in other disciplines. In brief, he brought imagination to science.
It is no surprise that H.M. was a poet. With so many other interests: birds, insects, toads, Clayesmorians; it is hard to gauge the time and effort that went into these verses. Possibly some were not captured in writing before the ideas had fled - I have no doubt that he had the type of mind which could engage in one subject whilst turning over thoughts on another, rather like those who can entertain newly-met guests at dinner, and at the end of the meal produce fitting clerihews on each.
The poems fall into various phases and aspects of H.M.'s life: Cambridge; Holidays; Wartime etc., and have a fine lyrical quality. He explores themes that were important to him; his mentors, and those to whom he tried to pass on his insights. There is a gentle melancholy which adds piquancy to his awareness of the passing of time. there are more than a few traces of hidden gold, and his paeans on the beauty of the countryside suggest he shared the same philosophy as Horace; Carpe Diem.
The commentary by John Bridgen is useful, but uneven, and parts of it would have been better left unwritten. Much about his family, his early life, school, university, early essays into the schoolmastering life, and his legendary war service in Iraq is probably compiled from family, friends and contemporaries and is engagingly written. Bridgen was a former pupil, and H. M.'s literary executor, but he has allowed his own feelings and agenda to obtrude and give a false emphasis and impression. It is a pity these reprehensible defects contribute to a picture which may or may not be wholly accurate, but is certainly unkind.
Michael D. K. Turner (42-46)
The Collected Poems of Humphrey Moore with a memoir by John Bridgen.(53-58)
A 228 page hardcover book with photographs. Published by the Lutterworth Press, P.O. Box 60 Cambridge, CB1 2NT. Copies can be ordered from the publishers. Price £27.50 For Old Clayesmorians, £18 including postage and packaging.
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