Agatha Christie Wiki
Advertisement

In the novel Nemesis, Mrs Sandbourne is the tour guide on the Famous Houses and Gardens tour that Mr Rafiel wanted Miss Marple to take, to enable her to solve a mystery. She is about thirty-five years old.

Mrs Sandbourne is described as being "efficient", and she is able to draw the passengers of the tour group together. She creates little groups, by finding anyone who appears to be left out, and adding them to a group, and suggesting topics of conversation that would be of mutual interest.

After the accident in which Miss Temple is injured, Mrs Sandbourne goes to the hospital to see how she is doing. After learning that Miss Temple is still unconscious, and cannot be moved for several days, Mrs Sandbourne provides the remaining passengers with train timetables for those who wish to return to London, and discusses plans for the resumption of the tour. She also provides a list of suitable short expeditions near Jocelyn St Mary.

After the death of Miss Temple, Mrs Sandbourne gives evidence at the inquest. She gives details about the coach tour, the expedition that had been arranged for the afternoon of the accident, and of how the accident had occurred.

After the inquest, Mrs Sandbourne makes arrangements with Mr Courtney for the memorial service. She also makes plans to resume the tour the day after the service, with a programme that is reorganised on simpler lines.

Portrayals[]

BBC's Miss Marple[]

In the BBC 1987 adaptation of the novel, the guide is simply known as "Madge" and is portrayed by Joanna Hole. Madge appears younger than the Mrs Sandbourne of the novel.

ITV's Agatha Christie's Marple[]

In the 2009 ITV adaptation, there is no character by the name of Mrs Sandbourne. The tour guide is Georgina Barrow who is a hybrid of the original Miss Barrow and Mrs Sandbourne.

Advertisement