Jarman, Wrenne |
| POET (ENGLAND) |
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BORN 1905, London - DIED 8 Mar 1953, London: Westminster Hospital BIRTH NAME Jarman, Madeleine Wrenne CAUSE OF DEATH cancer GRAVE LOCATION Richmond, Greater London: Richmond Cemetery, Grove Road |
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Wrenne Jaman was the daughter of the wealthy builder Job Jarman (1878-1931). Her friends called her Renjie. She worked as a journalist for the Richmond and Twickenham Times. During World War II, she worked briefly in an aircraft factory. She lived in the Hermitage and Vineyard area of Richmond and she was a member of the literary scene in Richmond. She became friends with Montague Summers (1880-1948), who lived in the area and she was one of the few to attend his funeral. Another friend was Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), who lived near her in the 1940s. Her poetry was published in the Poetry Quarterly, Punch and other periodicals. Her poetry collection "The Breathless Kingdom" was published in 1948 by Fortune Press. Her publisher Reginald Caton (1897-1971) introduced her to Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), who read his poetry for the visitors of her small literaty salon. He suddenly fell ill and vomitted in her fireplace. She was not impressed, but later remarked to a friend "Don't you think only gentleman should write poetry?". She was a devout Catholic. At one point in time she believed her house to be haunted and had it exorcised by a Catholic priest. After her death from cancer in 1953, "Nymph, in Thy Orisons" was edited by her brother Archie and published in 1961 in a limited edition of 250 copies. For many years after her death, flowers and letters were left at her grave. It was not until 2000 that it emerged this had been done by Lionel Kenneth Watson from Isleworth. He had never met her but he had read her poems. Related persons • was a friend of Summers, Montague • attended funeral of Summers, Montague |
| Images |
 The grave of Wrenne Jarman at Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, Greater London. Picture by Androom (30 Aug 2026) |
