This is from a message from Vicki Bourne (thanks for giving us permission to post this Vicki).

Thank you for this really comprehensive guide to the works of Ion Idriess. I came across it while looking for information on Mr Cousins.

My Mother worked at A&R as a copy holder and proof reader from when she left school in the late 30s to when she married in the early 50s (apart from time in the Navy during WW2). Mum was introduced to Ion Idriess by Mr Cousins. He pronounced the name EE-driss. Everyone at A&R used that pronunciation when they spoke with him. Of course, he may have been too polite to correct them!

Mum also said that Mr Cousins (like all his friends) called him 'Jack', while all the other staff called him 'Mr Idriess' and he addressed them just as formally. It was a much more formal (and possibly more polite!) time, and Mum regretted its passing. She also said that Mr Idriess' wife would come to collect him in the car when he'd been at A&R for the morning (usually in the Writers' Room). She would stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell "Sunshine, I'm here". The girls at A&R thought it had to be an ironic nickname as he was such a lugubious person! Mum died last year, and I keep coming across interesting things like this that make me wish I'd asked her more detailed questions while I still could. I guess that's the same for everyone. I hope this is helpful. Thanks again for the great blog. All the best, Vicki Bourne