Primula Venables
The CBB -> Book Discussions
#1: Primula Venables Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:18 am

Please discuss Primula Venables here...

 

#2:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:14 pm

Given that Primula is only 2 when we first meet her we never see very much of her. I always think she is a bit overshadowed in the nursery at Die Rosen between all the Russells and Bettanys. Also I think she is one of the characters EBD periodically forgets. I would like to know a lot more about her!

 

#3:  Author: Katarzyna, Location: North West England PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:28 pm

What exactly do we know about her? well save for the blond hair!

She's 2 when she first appears and becomes part of the nursery party - seem to recall her being described as a allie of Davids. She is, i think about 5 years older than the triplets but the war books fail to mention her most of the time, she then appears to be either older or younger than Bride - depending on the book.

We are told at some point that she is delicate but never hear of her having health issues, I assume that she never made it to prefect let alone head girl or we would have heard more about her.

Am i right in thinking that she is still at school when Daisy marries and they go to Switzerland - if so where does she go - university, to school in switzerland or does she stay at Glendower House, why doesn't she at least become a Millie.

I assume that after Daisy marries Primula moves in with her rather than with the Maynards/Russells/Bettanys - where has she disappeared off to by the time the Rosomons move back to the platz!

Ok dear, erm, bunnies............ go away!

 

#4:  Author: delilah_siren, Location: Sydney, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:43 pm

From what I remember, Primula stays with Jo while Daisy is away on honeymoon and then moves in with Daisy and Laurie. Also, I got the impression that since Daisy lived with Jo a lot of the time, so did Primula. If I remember correctly, and it's a bit IF, that happened in Joey goes to Oberland, but it's been a fair while since I read it, so I'm not entirely sure.
And at that point Primula was still at school I think....

 

#5:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:33 pm

I always tend to lump Primula in with the Verity-Ann types - very dependent and prone to tears.

She was 18 when Daisy marries in Joey goes to the Oberland :

Beside Daisy stood Primula, a tiny creature of eighteen, as fair as her sister and very dainty and spirituelle in her white georgette frock and big hat.

when Daisy goes on her honeymoon, Primula is supposed to stay with Madge but Jo invites her to travel out with her and return swith Daisy + Laurence when they go back to England to settle in to the new home with D & L. She was then returning to Welsen for a year.


Beyond that, I know nuffink Confused

 

#6:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:07 pm

I think she got embarrassed easily as well. I don't remember any interaction really between her and Daisy over the years even though they were sisters. I don't even remember a conversation between them. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

 

#7:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:35 pm

Wasn't she married by the time Daisy and family moved back to the Platz, or am I mixing her up with Verity?

 

#8:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:31 pm

Primula's wedding doesn't occur after Reunion. Jo, Mary-Lou and Grizel talk about what to get her for a present. Verity's wedding has only just happened a few weeks prior to the conversation.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who confuses these characters post-their time as pupils!

 

#9:  Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:59 pm

She was one of those charactor who never went anywhere which is a great shame

 

#10:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:50 am

If Margot's husband had been Jem's brother, then the reason Primula looked so much like Jem could have been that Jem was Primula's father.

 

#11:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 4:22 am

But if Margot's husband was Jem's brother, and as Margot is Jem's sister, then brother and sister married! That's a scandal, if you like! You don't even need Jem to have an affair with Margot (his sister).

 

#12:  Author: jennifer, Location: Sunny California PostPosted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:38 am

I was re-reading The CS in the Oberland, and it mentions that Primula had gone to Canada to spend the summer holdays with the Russells, and was staying with them until they all came back. She could then have not gone back to school for a single term, but rather stayed with the Russells until Daisy's wedding, at which point she could then head off to Switzerland for a year at Welsen.

She's actually at least mentioned in almost every book from Highland Twins, where she's in second form, through Carola, where she's in Lower Fifth, then vanishes from sight for about two years, but if she's in England for a year of that, it would explain part of the gap.

 

#13:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:30 am

Chair wrote:
If Margot's husband had been Jem's brother, then the reason Primula looked so much like Jem could have been that Jem was Primula's father.


If Margot's husband had been Jem's brother Daisy and Primula's surname would have been Russell not Venables.

 

#14:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:37 pm

I know that Jem couldn't have been Primula's father but I was just saying that could have been an interesting way for EBD to write the story. Maybe I've been watching too many soaps!

 

#15: primula Author: Phil, Location: London UK PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:26 pm

Very underused character.

I forget who her CS contemporaries were, but couldn't she have evolved a bit more with them?

At least her uncle Jem gives her away at her wedding, Jem is unable to do this for Daisy, and I have always felt this a bit hard on Daisy. Yes she's fond of Jack, but Jem is Daisy and primula's only living blood relative, yet they are both palmed off to Joey. I feel Jem could have made more of an effort as regards his late sister's children, he doesn't.

Maybe that way we could have seen more of Primula. Poor old Primula, I wish I could say more about her.

 

#16:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:28 pm

The only thing I remember of her when she was at school is that she was quite shy and she always blushed when attention was brought to her.

 

#17: Re: primula Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:05 pm

Phil wrote:
I forget who her CS contemporaries were, but couldn't she have evolved a bit more with them?


Possibly, but I guess as her age inexplicably changed, then she didn't have the same contemporaries throughout.

Liz

 

#18:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:03 pm

What I never quite forgave EBD for was marrying Primula off to a man whose surname was Garden. And no-one even comments on it, as far as I remember!
Does Primula have any children by the end of the series? I'm sure she'd call one after her sister, so there might be a trend - imagine, Daisy Garden, Rose Garden, Primrose Garden...

 

#19: Re: primula Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:48 pm

Phil wrote:
I forget who her CS contemporaries were, but couldn't she have evolved a bit more with them?


Prim was basically in the same form as people like Sybil Russell, Blossom Willoughby, Jennifer Penrose and (later) Polly Winterton.

 

#20:  Author: delilah_siren, Location: Sydney, Australia PostPosted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:04 am

when i was reading lavender i got the feeling that jo liked daisy more than Primula. Like, Daisy is older and thus more of a friend and more helpful for her, so you can sort of understand it. But after Stephen was born, Robin and Daisy was invited home to see Jo and the baby, nothing was mentioned of Primula!

 

#21:  Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:55 am

Can't remember much about Primula.

Wasn't she in the same form as the Mcdonald twins when they came to the school? Although they were a bit older than her.(not to sure about this book isn't to hand)

Ruth

 

#22:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:04 pm

The MacDonald twins were in the same class as Bride. I think Primula was slightly older.

Liz

 

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