Reference
AU10/102/1/168
Title
Typewritten letter
Date free text
1 December 1967
Production date
From: 1967 To: 1967
Scope and Content
"I find it difficult to realise that it is three weeks since Andrew was here, so much has happened in the meantime, what with more visitors here, and a trip to London, mainly for the New College Annual dinner at the Savoy. On these annual occasions I usually stay in London for a few days, as one meets friends one has not seen for many years, and visits and dinners are arranged which take a week to get through.
I was very pleased to see Andrew again, and to talk with him over the days at Ampthill. He gave me information about people I knew, and persuaded me to play into his machine, though I was hesitant to do so as I am so much out of practice. I have fallen away very badly of late years, due to my voyages and journeys on the Continent: though I play a lot when I am in Normandy with my French relations. They have a beautiful Pleyel piano, a French make, which suits me better than any other piano. Mine is a Bechstein, and though it seems to sound beautiful when other people play it, I find it a bit heavy. The Pleyel is the piano Chopin used ... so that is probably why his music sound so well on it: also Debussy. However, I do not intend to change my Bechstein for a Pleyel at this stage of my life! It will have to see me out!
Thank you very much for the magazines, and the enclosures. No, I do not know the Reginald Hillam connected with the Buckinghamshire Water Board. In fact, I know no one of the name of Hillam. My father was an only child, and his female relations changed their names of course when they married. I am in touch with two families (one in USA) whose mothers or grandmothers were Hillams, but I do not know any males of that ilk. It is my mother's relations I am in close touch with. The Waddingtons in Yorkshire were my mother's cousins, and a sister of my mother married a Frenchman, and that accounts for the French connection: apart from my French grandmother.
The snap I enclosed last time was taken at Gargnano on Lake Garda on the roof of my friend's house. I am glad you like it. It seems to be popular ... I must have had nearly two dozen re-printed ... there has been a demand for it! When you consider I am only 15 months from 70, I suppose it shows me in the best of light!
And thank you for the cutting about Constance Eagles. You were the first to tell me. I heard from the lawyer the following day. Well, she certainly had a long life. I wonder how long Ada at Steppingley will last? The odd thing is that in the 1940s Miss Florence Eagles used to refer to Constance as "poor dying Constance" ... she was supposed to be a severe heart case. But she has outlived them all, except Ada.
No, I never heard of Kathryn Mills.
I was surprised to hear about Edward Du Sautoy's divorce. I remember his bringing Daphne up to the Rectory to see me when they were first married. She did not like the Sung Eucharist, and used to turn up with her sisters to the said Mattins in the Lady Chapel at 10.30, and then stump out as they were coming in for the Eucharist!
I must tell you, by the way, that Mrs.Stavert was in London recently and went to dinner with some friends where she met Mrs.McCorquadale (Barbara Cartland). It happened that Mrs.S. had recently got her latest book (not a novel, an autobiography) from the library at Hawick: so they had a point of contact.
I saw Dr.Zhivargo in Margate earlier in the year. I also went to see the controversial Ulysees at Ramsgate last week. I tried to read the book many years ago, and could make neither head nor tail of it. So with the film. I found it dull and depressing. Four-letter words came in, of course, but one has got used to that nowadays. It took me all my time to sit it out. I saw during the summer A Man for All Seasons - a film about Sir Thomas More - which was excellent.
I am due to leave for Antwerp to board the HORNBERG on December 13th. but there may be a delay of two or three days. But I shall be away before Christmas. The first port of call is Trinidad, from where I shall send a batch of postcards if we stay long enough.
We had a meeting about the cliff question last Friday. They expect to begin work in the spring, but we have all to put down £1000 per flat before the estimates can be accepted. I shall be glad when it is all over.
If I do not write again before I set out for the sun, I send my best wishes to you and your family for a Happy Christmas. I always remember the silver stars you used to make for the Christmas trees.
Yours sincerely,"
operas
Level of description
item