Introduction : The Stamp of Willie Hopkin

Artefact 5: The Stamp of Willie Hopkin

Willie Hopkin woodblock and stamp

John Pateman is a Romany Gypsy, Librarian and Communist. He worked in public libraries for over 40 years; experiences shared in his latest books Understanding Public Libraries (Facet 2024) and Reimagining Public Libraries (Facet 2025). It is no surprise then that he has turned to the archives for his chosen artefact – the personal stamp of Willie Hopkin. John found the wooden block and stamp in the cabinet of curiosities otherwise known as the Willie Hopkin Collection at Eastwood Library. It took him a while to connect this with the caricatures of Hopkin which are stamped in some of his books. The cartoon image perfectly captures Hopkin’s character and persona.

John Pateman

Willie Hopkin (1862-1951) was a poet, philosopher, social reformer, local historian and humorist who served across various organisations and institutions in his hometown of Eastwood. He was a powerful influence who introduced Lawrence to a range of progressive thinkers whom he otherwise would never have encountered. Through his conversations, Hopkin had a direct impact on Lawrence’s developing ideas, as outlined in the four essays that make up this series.

John is a council member of the D.H. Lawrence Society and is particularly interested in Lawrence’s ideology and politics which is what drew him to Willie Hopkin. In 2024 Five Leaves published John’s research in Willie Hopkin: D.H. Lawrence’s Socialist Friend. Lawrence is hard to pin down as a writer. He constantly experimented with form and through his writing and lifestyle, refused definition. He was a poet, writer, critic, philosopher, translator, and so much more. However, as John argues, it can be said that Willie left his mark on ‘Bert’ and Lawrence, in turn, left his mark on Hopkin. The book stamp, then, commemorates this friendship.