School Daze at Dartington Hall: An Interview with Former Tharg, Steve MacManus

Steve MacManus

Image via Steve MacManus

Steve MacManus began his career in 1973 as a sub-editor on the weekly comic Valiant, published by Fleetway Publications. He went on to work on Battle Picture Weekly and Action, before moving to 2000AD, which he edited from 1979 to 1987. Subsequently, he sought to establish a market aimed at older readers, launching the titles CrisisRevolver and the Judge Dredd Megazine in quick succession.

I first met Steve when he was signing copies of his memoir The Mighty One, originally available as a limited hardback edition (200 copies only), as well as the usual softback edition.

Last year, he self published another volume of his memoirs – Elmsworld: My Life At Dartington Hall School 1963 -1971 – about his days at a progressive boarding school, Dartington Hall in Devon. I caught up with Steve recently and asked him about the book…

Richard Sheaf: For those who haven’t read Elmsworld, can you describe what the book is about?

Steve MacManus: Elmsworld is about my time at a progressive boarding school in Devon. I was there from the age of ten in 1963 and I left halfway through my A-levels in 1971. The back cover blurb probably describes my time there best:

“Take a trip back to the 1960s in this nostalgia-filled memoir for the Easy Rider generation. You are the new arrival Dartington Hall School, joining a co-ed tribe that has no uniform, no rules and no time for any item of clothing made of suedette! And through it all will be the drumbeat of the music of the time, from The Beatles to Canned Heat, from Joan Baez to Janis Joplin. Groovissimo!”

Elmsworld by Steve MacManus. Cover photo of Susan by Steve Cook. Font used by kind permission of Rian Hughes, book design by Ryan Gale

Cover photo of Susan by Steve Cook. Font used by kind permission of Rian Hughes, book design by Ryan Gale

Richard: What inspired you to write Elmsworld?

Steve: I’d really enjoyed writing The Mighty One about my time in British comics editorial, so I toyed with the idea of writing a prequel. My mind was made up when I discovered there was a Facebook group for former pupils like myself — it has eight hundred members and I was sure some of them would be interested to share in the nostalgia — for the price of a couple of pints!

Richard: Two books in relatively quick succession – Any plans for Volume Three of your life story? Or maybe some fiction?

Steve: Definitely. I am writing a novel which I hope to publish later in 2019. They say one should write about what you know, so you won’t be hard-pressed to guess the subject matter…!

Richard: Would you / did you send (your) children to either Dartington itself, or its modern equivalent?

Steve: Put it this way, if I was ten again, and the school was still operating, which it isn’t, I would certainly send myself there. The school’s founders, Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst, described it as, “a place for adventure”and I think that’s a great starting point for any educational establishment. (Now you get the title!)

"Action" man Steve MacManus

“Action” man Steve MacManus in the 1970s

Richard: Do you think your life would have gone down a different path if you’d stayed at school in London?

Steve: Without a doubt. I would have had an amazing career as a professional footballer and doubtless captained my country in the 1978 World Cup Final.

Richard: Can you explain who the woman on the front cover is?

Steve: The cover photograph is by Steven Cook, who I knew from working with on 2000AD and other titles. He has an amazing website showing his photographic work over time.

I was perusing his site, looking for an image that would be symbolic of all the girls I knew at Dartington, and Steve’s photograph of Susan was perfect. Apparently, she was an early girlfriend of his.

Richard: Thanks for your time, Steve.

• Elmsworld: My Life At Dartington Hall School 1963 -1971 is available for Kindle and in print from Amazon (affiliate link) | Follow Steve on Twitter @Mac_1

WEB LINKS

Dartington – Official Site

Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst purchased the Dartington estate in 1925, and initiated the ‘Dartington experiment’, setting up a host of farming, forestry and educational projects. Since then Dartington has become a magnet for artists, architects, writers, philosophers and musicians from around the world, creating an exceptional centre of creative activity.

Dartington Hall School Facebook Group

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