Theo seeks a route to publication for Lorna's work

For almost two decades after her death in February 1942, Lorna’s parents Albert and Topsie treasured the archive of their daughter’s work, including the war diary around which this journal has been based.

They both lived another seventeen years until 1959. Topsie died first in Bristol. A few months afterwards, Albert died at sea while on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the Egyptian Prince. His body was buried in Gibraltar.

Four years later, in 1963 Lorna’s brother Theo - by this time the guardian of the archive - made an unsuccessful attempt to find a publisher for Lorna’s work. He would have been delighted to know that some of it has now ‘seen the light of day’ through this blipfoto journal. (He would not, it seems, have approved of twenty-first century television and theatre productions!)

Theo himself died in 1981, having looked after his sister’s creations for 22 years. Lorna’s work then passed on to Theo’s two children, i.e. Lorna’s niece (mentioned in yesterday’s blip) and nephew. They kept it safe for four more decades until another member of the family (and blipper) took an interest in it.

In the penultimate entry to this journal tomorrow, we will blip a photograph of Lorna’s niece and nephew, who are now both in their 70s, and the rest of Team Lorna (including the blipper). We will also acknowledge all the other people who have contributed to this project to bring Lorna’s war diary and her other work to a wider audience.