Members of Woking Writers Circle were saddened to hear the news just before Christmas that their  long-serving and very popular former secretary, Dermot Hoare, had died at the age of 88. Dermot had been in a nursing home in Sunninghill for 18 months.

Dermot joined Woking Writers Circle around 15 years ago, and his firm, courteous and humourous presence quickly set a new tone for the group which increased its membership during this time.  He concentrated on the short story, always aiming for a satisfying twist at the end, although he wrote an occasional amusing poem as well.  He was also keen on members displaying their work as a group, and an anthology, Podium, was published in 2008. He published two books of short stories under the pen-name of Douglas O’Shea on Kindle as well.

The social side of the group also boomed during his tenure as secretary. Dermot often hosted Christmas socials at his home, pioneered additional breakfast meetings on Sunday mornings in local cafes, and introduced the custom of making wine available, rather than just tea and coffee, during half-time breaks at the circle’s regular meetings.

There was always something happening when Dermot was around. The Writers Circle had got into the habit of repairing to a nearby pub, the Fox and Flowerpot, after their meetings at Strollers in Goldsworth Park. It was a rather disreputable pub, but neverthelesss  Dermot managed to get the writers banned from it, after leading a deputation to complain about the loudness of the music.

In later years he began writing local theatre reviews which then appeared on the Woking Writers Circle website, or on the Essential Surrey website, and organised other members to take part in a reviews rota. Dermot’s reviews always had a sure touch, and you can read one of his most recent ones, of the musical Funny Girl, here.

He also had a magnificent reading voice, which he projected to great effect when occasionally reading his stories on local radio. This was undoubtedly due in part to his days as a thespian and former member of the famous Cambridge University Footlights student comedy society in the early 1950s.

His daughter Sandra said:  “He got a huge amount out of the group, and loved being part of it.  He particularly liked the challenge of creating short stories and I have read many of them over the years.  The theatre trips and reviews brought him great pleasure … – as a former member of the Cambridge University Footlights, theatre was a huge part of his life and he adored it.  I accompanied him to some of the productions as the taxi driver (!) and our evenings together, as well as being asked to read and check the subsequent review, are great memories for me.”

She added: “I know the circle spurred him to write his memoirs … he published the book (Ich Habe Keine Gelt Aber Viel Humor: The Autobiography of a Contented Man) and it is a wonderful reminder for us, and we are eternally grateful he finished it.”

Two members of Woking Writers Circle, current secretary Amanda Briggs, and longest-serving members Liz Lennie, visited Dermot at his nursing home a few weeks before he died, and found him lively and in good spirits. Amanda said he left “many fond memories. It was good to see him recently; he keenly recalled and asked after everyone, and sent his best wishes to us all. He was such a gentleman and positive influence, albeit getting the WWC banned from the Fox and Flowerpot!”

Woking Writers Circle’s chairman, Peter Morley, said: “We will remember Dermot fondly for his engaging writing and warm presence in our group.” Another member, Heather Cook, said: “He was very helpful and welcoming to me when I rejoined WWC and I loved his writing – packed with humour and true life adventure!” Shaun Attwood addressed his remarks directly to Dermot: “I’ll never forget all of the times I sat next to you in WWC, and listened to your hilarious short stories delivered with your unique voice. Those moments live on in all of our hearts and souls. Thank you for being such an inspiration! Appreciatively yours, Shaun.”

Long-standing WWC member Alan Dale recalled: “My first memory of Dermot was at the conclusion of the very first reading meeting that I attended, as a guest. ‘Well, was that more or less what you’d expected?’ A knowing smile and raised eyebrows hinted at amused anticipation. I was happy to confirm that it had been. He’d managed to make me feel included and accepted, with one gentle inquiry.

“My subsequent impressions were comparative.  I greatly value and enjoy the opportunity to hear the rich variety of styles and narrative voices offered at each meeting. Dermot’s writing, a subtle concoction of patrician elegance, leavened with puckish, Feydeauesque humour, fascinated a raw beginner like me. Hearing and contrasting this with others’ narrative, descriptive and characterisation techniques taught me much, for which I remain indebted to him. His robustly detached view of the publishing industry was another, much appreciated source of encouragement. I am thankful for the privilege of having known Dermot, as I mourn his passing.”

A number of former, long-standing members also paid tribute to Dermot. Keith Jahans recalled:  “We spent many a happy hour together, mostly at Woking Writers meetings but also at his home and in a pub.  He will be missed by all those who knew him.”

Former chairman Kevin Smith – he and his wife Diana were both long-serving members of Woking Writers Circle – said: “It was saddening to hear of Dermot’s passing. He was such a strong presence in WWC and I always enjoyed his stories. Just occasionally I could spot the twist coming, but not often. I recall the Fox and Flowerpot banning, Amanda, one of the few occasions in the history of the public house when the ban was for being too quiet …”

Another former member, Ian Hearnden, said: “I first met Dermot Hoare when he was in his mid-70s. Recently moved to Woking, I joined the town’s Writers Circle with three hopes: to write more often, to write more satisfyingly, and to meet interesting, friendly folk. That I very soon realised I had met and exceeded the third aim owed much to pre-existing circle members. Dermot was in that number.

“Dermot wrote purely for pleasure. When reading his own material, he was entertaining and effusive, yet self-deprecating. When commenting on others’ work, he was unfailingly warm and constructive. Dermot possessed a wry wit which revealed his lived experience, and a youthful playfulness which belied it. For me, his generosity, wisdom and awareness helped make the writers’ circle a happy place.

“Outside of writers’ group meetings, Dermot was no less engaging and accommodating. Keen to organise and host get-togethers at Christmas and other times, Dermot opened the doors of his house in Chobham to group members on more than one occasion. No one left feeling anything less than valued and well looked after – testament to Dermot’s big-heartedness and geniality. I am very sorry to have learned of Dermot’s passing, but feel privileged to have spent time with him. He would probably balk at the suggestion, but local writing in north-west Surrey will be a lot poorer. RIP Mr H.”

Dermot’s funeral will be held on Friday 17 January 2020 at Guildford Crematorium at 2.15, and afterwards, tea at the Tithe Barn, Loseley Park.

Greg Freeman adds: You often find out so much more about a person at their funeral. Dermot did not tell us too much of his back-story – he saw no need to. But the service at Guildford crematorium, attended by the WWC’s Liz, Greg, Amanda, Simon, and Peter and his wife Rosie, we heard for the first time that Dermot’s father was a TV chef in the 1960s – no doubt the origin of his love for good food.

We also did not really appreciate the significance of – or rather, had no details about – his university years with the Cambridge University Footlights Revue. But his daughter Julia read a song ‘Turkish Delight’ that Dermot performed on the West End stage and co-wrote, and that was mentioned by Frederic Raphael in the writer’s memoirs:  “Dermot Hoare … landed the delectable part of the odalisque in the Ottoman number, and performed it with rouged and mascaraed aplomb.” The song included a refrain about “a man on my Ottoman”.

This solo number by Dermot featured in the revue Out of the Blue, a Footlights show that ran for three weeks at London’s Phoenix theatre in 1954. This performance also features in a history of the Footlights, with a preface by Eric Idle, which includes a drawing – pictured below – by the famous cartoonist Ronald Searle of Dermot in sultry Turkish costume alongside Jonathan Miller. It appeared in Punch magazine. There was also a photo on display at the wake at the Tithe Barn on the Loseley House estate of Dermot dressed up as one of the Bronte sisters, from the same early 1950s era.

However, as a result of his West End experiences Dermot dismissed thoughts of a career on the stage. In the fascinating memoir he wrote for his family and that his daughter Sandra has kindly allowed us to borrow, he said that “the theatrical people I met that fortnight were far too egotistical for my liking”.