Reference
AU10/102/1/59
Title
Handwritten letter
Date free text
18 February 1954
Production date
From: 1954 To: 1954
Scope and Content
"A wet afternoon has given me an excuse to make myself comfortable, and essay another attempt at reducing the pile of cards and letters on my table awaiting an answer. Thank you very much for remembering my birthday, and for the card. It was rather a sad one this year, as just over three weeks ago, poor Miss Florence was removed to the Priory, Roehampton, where you my remember I acted as Chaplain for a time some years ago. For a long time I have thought this was the ideal place for her in her sad predicament: but as it is on of the grandest Homes of its kind, and many of the patients are titled and moneyed people, I thought the fees would be too high. However, after consultations with her lawyer and other friends, we came to the conclusion that she must go there, even if it meant drawing on her capital. I feel quite happy about her there, as the doctors are personal friends of mine, and came here, with their wives, to dinner more than once while Di was still alive. So they know her quite well. I have not seen her since she went (as I had to retire into a nursing home with a severe attack of the 'flu two days after she went, and all the water pipes froze up here) but reports say she has settled down very happily, and has made great friends with two or three of the other ladies there. She has not asked for me, or the cat, but of course her memory has quite gone. She seems to live entirely in the present. In a way, it would have been better if she had died, as she will be a sort of ghost now. And there are fearful and intricate legal problems involved which our lawyer is getting down to. When this is all settled, I shall definitely be going abroad again: perhaps permanently this time. It all depends what they decide to do with this house. All her affairs have to to to a Chancery Court, and they may order that it is to be sold. However, sufficient unto the day. I don't envy you your new billet for the school, but it will at any rate be next door to home. And I gather the old schools have got into quite a sorry state. But I thought the Rector had opposed the scheme and that it was all held up! My film star nephew, Vernon Gray, is now busy making a new film in which he has the leading part. It has a queer title, but I've forgotten what it is. I went to see the new Eliot play "The Confidential Clerk" yesterday, and enjoyed every minute of it. Vernon brings some of his film friends down here at weekends, so you can imagine I am not dull! I have finished the locum at Barnes, though a new Vicar has not been appointed yet. My two weeks' illness broke my time there. I am letting the man who took my place carry on.
With all good wishes,
Your sincerely"
Level of description
item