Sir John Gielgud

Following its success on Broadway, EB 's play The Chalk Garden, began its impressive twenty-three-month run at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket , directed by John Gielgud and starring Peggy Ashcroft and Edith Evans .

After touring the provinces, EB 's play The Last Joke opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson .

During the Second World War EB became friendly with photographer Cecil Beaton (with whom she exchanged plays), Lady Diana Cooper , and actress Dame Edith Evans . Later she also became a friend of MGM

She was cremated and her ashes interred at Rottingdean. At a memorial service held in November, John Gielgud read the lesson and Vita Sackville-West 's son Nigel Nicolson gave the address. EB 's papers...