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RETIREMENT

THE MONEYPENNY FILES UP FOR SALE

Sean Connery and Lois Maxwell in Dr No, 1962

Wednesday March 26,2008

By Geoff Maynard

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THE story of the real-life Miss Moneypenny is about to be told – in letters exchanged between her and James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming.

Typist Jean Frampton helped Fleming with his celebrated novels and was relied on by the author for her criticism of his “half-baked ideas”.

The letters between them, which are up for auction in the centenary year of Fleming’s birth, showed that he encouraged her to suggest plots and edit his manuscripts.

In his novels, Miss Moneypenny – played by Lois Maxwell in 14 film versions – was the flirtatious secretary of secret service boss M, and loved distracting Bond from the straight and narrow.

But Mrs Frampton kept Fleming strictly to the job in hand.

In a 1960 letter, headed with his Fleet Street address, he tells her: “I have written a James Bond story called Thunderball.

“I am afraid this is not a good typescript and I would be deeply obliged if you would apply your usual keen mind to any points that might help get it into shape.”

He says her criticism would be “endlessly welcome,” adding: “I am sorry to pass to you a half-baked job.”

The late Mrs Frampton, who lived in Christchurch, Dorset, writes: “I regret the end of Thunderball. What about Blofeld (does he live to fight another day?)”

Included in the coming auction is Mrs Frampton’s bill for typing and editing the Thunderball novel – £8.12.6d (£8.62p).

The sale of letters, at Duke’s auction house in Dorchester, Dorset, takes places on April 10 and is expected to raise £2,000-£3,000.

Amy Brenan, of Duke’s, said: “You can look on Mrs Frampton as Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny because he really relied on her.”

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