Family background and childhood Stella Gibbons

plaque honouring frances buss, on wall of camden buildings of north london collegiate

stella, couple s first child, born on 5 january 1902; 2 brothers, gerald , lewis, followed in 1905 , 1909 respectively. atmosphere in kentish town house echoed of elder gibbons s household, , dominated telford s frequent bouts of ill-temper, drinking, womanising , occasional acts of violence. stella later described father bad man, doctor . charitable poorer patients , imaginative in finding cures, made life miserable family. stella favourite, time reached puberty mocked looks , size. fortunately, mother calm , stabilising influence. until stella reached age of 13 educated @ home succession of governesses, never stayed long. family s bookshelves provided reading material, , developed talent storytelling amused young brothers.

in 1915 stella became pupil @ north london collegiate school, situated in camden town. school, founded in 1850 frances buss, among first in england offer girls academic education, , 1915 recognised model girls school. after haphazard teaching methods of governesses, stella had difficulty in adjusting strict discipline of school, , found many of rules , practices oppressive. shared attitude contemporary stevie smith, future queen s gold medal poetry winner, joined school in 1917. although moderate performer in school subjects, stella found outlets talents writing stories fellow-pupils, becoming vice president of senior dramatic club, , featuring prominently in school s debating society of became honorary secretary.

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