Stella Mary Newton in 1970: a recollection by Robert Ribeiro

I first met Stella Newton about six months after Aileen had joined her History of Dress course at the Courtauld in 1969. I had already heard a great deal about her, and it may be of interest to readers to know that students always referred to her as Mrs. Newton in those days. I was looking forward to meeting her, but had been warned that she could be fairly formidable.

At some time early in 1970 a soirée was arranged, which must have been either at the flat of Valerie Carter (as she then was) or of Jo Miller (as she then was), in Greenwich.

The theatre in London at that time was at one of its peaks, and it was normal to go about once a week. Naturally, as we all drew near to Stella Newton, the conversation turned to what each of us had been to see.

Jo Miller described a play that she had been to see, possibly at the Greenwich theatre, and Stella at once asked:

“What were the costumes like?

The costumes were duly described, and then it was the turn of Valerie to describe her latest theatre outing.

“And how were the costumes?” said Stella.

Next there was Laura, who had also been to one of the plays on in London. She was in turn quizzed about the costumes.

I was agog; it was like the court of Louis XIV. My turn came next to do homage. I wondered how I would pass the test, if at all.

Now it was Aileen and I in front of Stella. We had both been to see Robert Bolt’s new play Vivat Regina, about Elisabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.

“And how were the costumes”? Asked Stella.

I let Aileen do the talking!

Then Stella turned to me. “And who are you?” she said.

I told her, and must have looked as if I was about to express an opinion about the costumes.

“Ah,” she said, “well you wouldn’t know about the costumes!”

This was said with a twinkle, and that twinkle saved the moment, as it so often did with the great Dr Johnson when he held court.

Thereafter Stella Newton and I were always good friends.