Orlando the Marmalade Cat: A Seaside Holiday

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They point to recent positive indicators from the US, saying that an upturn in its economy is usually followed first, by the UK, and then, Europe. She once described herself as someone with a talent for being in the right place at the right time. Bernard Meninsky taught her at the Central School; she became an Augustus John groupie and claimed that his beautiful and taciturn wife, Dorelia, influenced her more than anyone - she remembered Dorelia with an armful of Siamese kittens, and, in her books, the kittens often come in armfuls. Augustus himself makes an appearance as the art master in Orlando's Home Life (1942).

We all have our favourite image of the marmalade monster. My own is the moment when Orlando, emboldened by a swig of milk to busk in a Dieppe café, renders his "world-famous imitation of a ham". Kathleen Hale was part of a very English artistic tradition of mild bohemianism and modest bloodymindedness. "I broke all the rules of decent behaviour," she once said. Her marriage in 1926 to Douglas Maclean, a doctor working in medical research, was unconventional in that it had been suggested by his father, Dr John Maclean, medical superintendent of the London Fever Hospital, whose treatment of Hale for suspected diptheria had led to "a great and loving friendingship". Maclean Sr felt that the gap in their ages was too large to marry her himself. Kavanagh says: "I think we have to be slightly more risk averse to start with. But the nice thing is, we can adjust the portfolio after three months if things start to improve." She married Douglas McClean, a young doctor working in medical research. They settled in Hertfordshire where they could bring up their two young sons and entertain their friends. She created Orlando and his world to entertain her children at bedtime. Orlando The Marmalade Cat 'with eyes like twin gooseberries' was one of the classic children's book characters of the 1940s and 1950s. The stories are known for their quirky wit and extravagant illustrations. They combine adventure with friendship and family life. As the creator of Orlando, Kathleen was awarded the OBE in 1976.The Independent, Jun 1994, review of Hale's autobiography: A marmalade cat in Fitzrovia: Christina Hardyment on the irrepressible creator of Orlando.

It's not often you get to hear a young man encouraging the women in his life to go out and buy designer handbags. But if you have an investment in the company making the bags, your perspective becomes a little different.Kathleen Hale OBE (24 May 1898 – 26 January 2000) was a British artist, illustrator, and children's author. She is best remembered for her series of books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat. When Hale was 96, her autobiography, A Slender Reputation, finally appeared. The title was taken from Cedric Morris's query, "Do you mean to tell me Kathleen, that you have hung your slender reputation on the broad shoulders of a eunuch cat?" Her characteristically witty memoir contains an unforgettable account of her employment as Augustus Johns's secretary at the age of 22, where her most arduous duties entailed trawling the King's Road pubs to find the artist, once his aristocratic sitters had arrived. Fluffy - Judge Wiggins' pet cat, he is the villain in Orlando the Judge for stealing Mr. Gorgon's cheese for his mousetraps. He eventually became a guardian for the Old Mice's Home as punishment. One of their cats was named Orlando, and he was a particular favourite of elder son Peregrine, who was devoted to him, and that is how the ginger cat came to be the central character in the stories. The first tales were written to entertain the young boys at bedtime; later they were lodged with a literary agent, but he did not find a publisher for them. That didn't happen until a friend of Hale's took them to Country Life, whose editor was known to the friend. He was enthusiastic and as a result the first two books, A Camping Holiday and A Trip Abroad were published in 1938 and 1939 respectively. After these two Kathleen learned to do the lithography herself, which took a great deal of time and dedication although it reduced costs.