Olave's diary for 1934 Index
Olave Baden-Powell’s diary for 1934
For July to December 1934, click here
Mrs Watson-Gandy
4 Connaught Square,
W2,
nice friend of Mrs Jagger. Ask her to something
Katherine Furse GBE,
5 Cheyne Place
SW
Germane Gaubert,
25 Chemin des Chutes Lavie,
Marseilles.
Nice little RC Guider I met there March 1933
Christian
36 Montpelier Row
SW
Harold Levy
14a Harley Street
(Welbeck 4444)
my oculus.
Harold Harvey
90 Harley Street
(Welbeck 6808)
my dentist
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January 1934
Monday 1 Jan 1934 Pax Hill
Betty came down to breakfast ready dressed for hunting but looked white and had a pain in her tummy. Half an hour later – safely in bed instead of hunting- she was sick and had a temperature. Got Dr Hussey and he suspected appendix and got Dr Sheaf from Guildford Hospital.
Popped her into Nursing Home in Farnham and he whipped the appendix out at 3.0 – just in time. What a blessing it happened like that. The others hunted.
Tuesday 2 Jan 1934
Betty wonderfully well and cheery and jolly. Drove Robin up to London and put him safely into Sister Agnes’ Hospital for him to be examined tomorrow and perhaps operated on for “prostate gland”. Called on Spillings on the way home.
Bruce Thompson to stay and went with H and P to dance down at Winchester. I must be sane! [sic] They are young and have no hearts.
Wednesday 3 Jan 1934 [London]
Robin's operation
Ran in to see Betty – very strong. Winnie Lloyd and Miss Whittington to lunch. To London and to Sister Agnes’. Just saw Robin at 4.0 getting ready poor darling for his operation - but so calm and good. Went through Hell for an hour – waiting. Saw him after it was over – unconscious but safely through it, thank God. Got Lettice Hill to dine and do a film for distraction.
Thursday Jan 4 1934
Stayed at Rubens
Telephoned early – and found Robin all right, and went to see him morning and again in afternoon and he is wonderful. Has some pain but bears it so bravely. Peter and Heather to Lincolnshire to stay with Rawnsley's.
Home and call to see Bet doing splendidly.
Put notice in the Press about Robin’s operation and it was broadcast too.
Friday Jan 5 1934
Went to see Bet. Doing well and very jolly. Telephoned to ask about Robin at 9.0 am and at 9.0 pm and reports from Sister Agnes’ say all gone well and the doctors satisfied.
Peggy Edge to stay, friend of Betty's at St James'. Bentley School treat and I show some of our films. It is awful thinking of my darling in pain.
Saturday Jan 6 1934
Call to see Bet early and then on to Wimbledon and see Bobbie B-P about things of Frank's to come to us. Then on to London and lunch at “Hot Dog Club” in Hanover Square where Clare is being waitress. Children to cinema and I sit with darling Robin all afternoon. He feels tired and has bouts of pain – but the doctors expected it.
Then home to Pax in time for dinner. Huge pile of letters and wires enquiring for . . .
Sunday Jan 7 1934
. . . news and Mrs Wade and Lettice Hill. I waded through them all morning.
Telephone reports say he is doing well.
Long quietening walk via Isnage Glade.
To see Bet – very well and she has had her stitches out already. Heather and Peter returned. My brother's divorce in the papers yesterday.
Monday Jan 8 1934
To London to see my poor darling again. He looks and feels ill poor lamb, but the doctors seem to think it can’t be helped and his “water works” are behaving as they should. Dance at Pax for 27 couple of young friends of Heather's. If we had put it off it would have appeared as if we were very anxious. Derek Adkins, Bruce Thompson the Mathers etc . . .
Tuesday Jan 9 Sister Agnes’
. . . staying.
All left – including nice Peggy Edge.
To London and sat all afternoon with darling Robin. He seemed a bit better today - and is quite calm and happy and resigned to bed and invalid life and just lies and doses[sic] and is washed and tended. He doesn’t want even to read as yet and is just lying fallow and the gusts of pain are a bit less.
Wednesday Jan 10 1934
To sit with Robin again. Found him very sleepy and not really at all well though doctors are satisfied.
Alida and Bobbie Brittain to stay and went with H and P to Flowers' dance at Guildford.[1] All these parties had been planned weeks ago and so it is best to let them all go on. Cancelling them would not help my Darling!
Thursday Jan 11 1934
Rush up in the morning to see my Darling again and find him really a wee bit more like himself. Hurry back again and give a talk on my travels to the Bentley Women's Institute.
H and P to dine with the Harraps.
Good report about my precious on the telephone, before going to bed, so I sleep fairly well - and pray for my Beloved.
Friday Jan 12 1934
I telephone each morning for news of my precious in Sister Agnes' Hospital. Good news of a satisfactory night, so I stay at home and get level with letters.
Ursula Farmer to stay, and “Pelly” Farrer-Manby, a friend of Betty’s at St James’. Jean and Michael Harrap to dine and they and H and P, Ursula and Alida and Bobbie Brittain to Hambledon Hunt Ball at Southampton.
Sat Jan 13 1934
House party left. All of us to London. Sat with Robin a bit. Lunched with Heather with the Thornewills at Ladies’ Carlton Club. All of us to Scout Pantomime – Puss in Boots – awfully well done as usual at St George’s Hall. We had 12 as our party – Wilfred Appleyard, Hobday girls who were on the Cruise, a young Hungarian called Poufraz[?], Billy White and “Bertie” (Lord Buckinghamshire). All had tea at Rubens. Saw Robin again and then home.
Sun Jan 14 1934
Ran over to Basingstoke to meet “Granny” Buckley. Heather driving Jaus quite well. I then ran up to London to see my Darling for a bit. Found him very sleepy and still having short spasms of pain, but not so acute. Doctors pleased with his progress.
Mon Jan 15 1934
Heather went hunting on Gypsy. Peter, Ivor, Yvonne and Pelly[?] to the meet at Well. I fetched Bet home from the Nursing Home – wonderfully well. Tea party here for 14 children and 15 grown ups – Jones family, Middleton family, Gadban family, Wade family, some new comers to Bentley called Woods, also Moore's and Mrs Chapman. Show films.
Tues Jan 16 1934
Granny Buckley, Pelly and Ivor left. To London. Meeting of Cruise Committee. Mrs Wiener (Belgium) to lunch at HQ. HQ Committee all afternoon. Sat with Robin all evening and home late.
He seemed a wee bit better and brighter, but it is horrible to see him laid low and suffering pain like this.
Wed Jan 17 1934
To London. Lunch with Lady Levy and daughter Alix – ex County Sec for Guides in Leicestershire. Robin not so well and I thought he was beginning to lose his powers of resistance from all this pain, so I telephoned Dr Lett (the surgeon) and begged him to complete the operation at the earliest possible moment.
Thurs Jan 18 1934
To London again and took Peter for him to plan a trip to Switzerland as a treat to try and restore his self-confidence. He is so depressed over his endless failures, but won’t show it except by putting on an armour of bravado and selfishness. Robin had dreadful spasms of pain and it is dreadful waiting like this.
Fri Jan 19 1934
To London. Find that Mr Lett can and will do the operation and remove the “prostate gland” tomorrow.
Robin bad, but better in mental outlook after this last move to get round the corner to having no pain – poor darling. Horrible it is.
Lunch with Eve Fisher-Rowe. Then home and get level with all letters.
Sat Jan 20 1934
To London feeling hopeful. See Robin just before operation – being so plucky and so good. Doctors quite satisfied with their hour's doings.
Saw the darling again at 3.0 and also later at 5.0. Going on as well as can be expected and being kept under morphia a good deal.
Went to see Aunt Fern(?). Lunched with old friend Babe MacGregor. Stayed at Eve F-R's house alone.
Sun Jan 21 1934
Robin had had a bad night naturally and pretty ill the poor angel. Sat with him most of the day and did all I could to fight his sufferings with him. Dr Lett saw him twice and Sister Agnes and special nurses do all they can. It is a grim and ghastly business.
Mon Jan 22 1934
Sat with the Darling most of the day and he seemed really better. Doctors quite pleased and though he has pain off and on he sleeps and it isn’t quite so bad as it was.
Went home to Pax and blessed to feel he is well enough to leave him safely.
Tues Jan 23 1934
All of us up to London in detachments to stay at the Rubens Hotel partly to be near my Precious and partly to give the children a bit of a treat. Sat with my darling who varies but is, on the whole, gaining ground.
Children to a play in the afternoon and then we all five went also in the evening to see a funny play “Fresh Fields”. Having cried with anxiety from 5 to 7 I then laughed all the evening as a distracting contrast.
Weds Jan 24 1934
With Heather to buy hats etc. Sat with the darling and he seems a shade better. Geordie Lennox-Boyd and Mrs Finlayson to lunch at Rubens and the children all go to circus. Yvonne goes back to school. Peter to stay with Mrs Rathbone.
Robin much the same in the evening. Felt I must have distraction in this ghastly strain so took H and B to nice play – Laburnam Grove – such good acting.
Thurs Jan 25 1934
Another grim terrible day.
Sat with the Darling all morning til 1.0 and left him feeling and looking better. Lunched at the Rubens and telephone rang suddenly to say my poor Angel had started to bleed. Rushed to the hospital and doctors rushed too and they did things and then he had blood transfusion. He had an awful time and ran a high temperature. All simply ghastly. Sat by him til midnight and slept two hours only on a sofa in the hospital office popping up to
Fri Jan 26 1934
see him off and on – terribly ill poor lamb. One shade better in the morning. Sat by him most of the day, and in the evening he seemed a bit better. One lives just from hour to hour hoping against hope.
Telephone calls and wires and callers and letters from many kind enquirers help to distract one a bit. Lettice Hill looks after H and B at the Rubens and
Sat Jan 27 1934
I stay with kind Mr Bell - living at 7 Grovesnor Crescent exactly opposite the hospital so I can pop in and out all the time. He is so ill - but just holding his own. They give him gas and remove the gauze plugging from his wound and he stands that all night.
But his strength is at a terribly low ebb. Children went home to Pax and Peter to the Everetts.
Sun Jan 28 1934
A ghastly nightmare of a day. Sat with him all morning with his mind quite wandering and spasms of pain. He knew me now and then, and did eat a little. The doctors feel a little less anxious, but he seems to me to be worse and weaker, the poor lamb and not to care. I can hardly bear it and cry terribly, with a cold terror of anxiety.
Mon Jan 29 1934
Just one tiny shade of improvement and the dear precious told me that he had himself thought yesterday that he was “done in”. Sat by him most of the day – just doing what one can and praying – yes me actually praying that he will pull through.
Went to dine alone with the comforting Cyril Maudes. Telephone from my bed when I wake in the night and get news of him from the night nurse.
Tues Jan 30 1934
In some ways he was not so well, in others better, so there is no change. But he is, thank God no worse all day. Improvement came a bit in the evening and Mr Lett decides to remove the painful tube from his poor tired middle.
Went to charming film of “The Constant Nymph” alone to distract my mind, and soothe my grim fear.
Weds Jan 31 1934
R had a good night and feels happier and is really better. Very tired and sleepy, so didn’t want to see Heather and Bet who came up from Pax for the afternoon. Took them to charming play “The Rose Without a Thorn” – about Henry VIII – beautifully acted, and quite delightful and good.
Bet went back to Pax with Eileen Wade and Angela Shuttleworth is there all this week to look after them and to rest herself too. Stayed with Mrs Bell-Irving(?) - so kind.
February 1934
Thursday Feb 1 1934
Real Big improvement in my Darling, and he slept well and is doing well in all ways. Lunched with Percy Everett, sat as usual with the precious all afternoon and then as he is now safe I ran home to Pax at last for a few hours breather. What a nightmare time it has been.
Friday Feb 2 1934
Ran up to London and sat with my Darling - going on well. Very weak and sleepy but happy. Lunch with Eileen Graaf from Cape Town.
Tea with Mrs Lennox-Boyd at the Rubens - Geordie's mother and talk over all this exciting matter of Geordie having proposed to Heather last week.
Saturday Feb 3 1934
Run to London again and find my Darling immensely better – really so much more himself. He talked more and is regaining interest in life and things. Told him about Geordie wanting to marry Heather and he likes the idea!
Lunch with Ba Mounsey-Heysham.
Sunday Feb 4 1934
To my Darling again all the afternoon- steadily improving and happy though weak. Doesn’t want to talk, but likes me to just sit and be there near him, and to read aloud or just chat about nothing in particular.
Monday Feb 5 1934
Stayed at home all the morning and went up to sit with my Precious all afternoon. It is such a relief to see him gaining ground, and at last rid of the hateful tubes in his insides. He can move about in bed a tiny bit now and lie more comfily and has no pain – just very weary and pulled down.
Tuesday Feb 6 1934
To London again. Found my Precious happier, and we talked gleefully of his possibly coming home next week.
Lunched with Gladys Hanbury-Williams at her V.A.D. club. Home in the evening. So nice having Angela Shuttleworth at Pax and she is so sweet and fits in so well and looks after the two children in my absence.
Wednesday Feb 7 1934
Good bulletin from hospital so did not go up to London. Did clothes with Bet, paid books etc, a nice home day feeling so happy about my precious improving so.
Geordie Lennox-Boyd came with his mother and we talked and we talked and we went on talking about this question of his marrying Heather.
Thursday Feb 8 1934
Feel that Geordie and Heather really do want to marry – and I do hope we can settle it happily for them.
To London and Angela goes back to her home. Bet and I stay at Rubens. Lunch with Heather at Mr Stevenson’s.
To sit with Robin who was so much better up till 6.0. Then his water oozed through his wound again – a little setback alas, but not very serious.
With Bet to a delightful play “Late Christopher Bean”
Friday Feb 9 1934
Rang up the hospital twice in the night and found my Darling was not so well and passing blood again. Mr Lett decides to put back his tubes and he has another blood transfusion to strengthen him – another horrid nightmare day of the darling in pain and suffering.
Bet and I lunched with Copley-Hewitt's and spent the rest of the day in the hospital.
Saturday Feb 10 1934
Robin a bit better again mercifully and doctors feel he is round the bad corner again. Lunch with Lady Manning in Cliveden Place. Sit with the Precious in afternoon. With Heather in morning and fix up about Peter's voyage to S.Africa on 23rd. Stay with kind Levy’s at 9 Grosvenor Crescent.
Sunday Feb 11 1934
The Darling had fair night and seems better in himself. Very sleepy and being drugged a bit to save pain with that dreadful tube in his middle. Pulse is good and temperature down, so run home to Pax in evening. Called to see Aunt Ger [sic] in afternoon, hibernating in bed for the winter. I do like getting home to Pax, like this, though I also don’t like leaving my darling.
Monday Feb 12 1934
Telephone report last night and this morning very good so I do letters etc, and go up by the 11.13 – and sit with him in afternoon and home by 6.38.
Peter comes home from staying with the Swan's at Medstead. It is a great relief having his plan settled for going to Rhodesia, and I only trust the Police there will accept him.
Tuesday Feb 13 1934
To London. Guide HQ Committee all afternoon and sit with Robin until 6.0 – then run for my train home and Mary Birley comes too to stay the night.
[Scanned pages for Feb 14 & 15 missing]
Friday Feb 16 1934
Heather goes down to stay at Broadley with Geordie and all his family.
To London. Lunch with Eve F-R – at least she was in bed with a chill! Stay night with the Levy's in Grosvenor Crescent again. Sit with my Beloved all afternoon and evening. To delightful play “Re-union in Vienna” quite beautifully acted.
Saturday Feb 17 1934
My darling really much better – such a joy. Lunch with Maye Bruce. Speak at the London Guides Conference at Church House, Westminster. A big enthusiastic crowd of around 1500. Talked on World Guiding but not well. Quite out of practice! To charming play with Alice Levy, called “Escape me never” It was a helpful sort of “tonic”.
Sunday Feb 18 1934
Lunch with Katharine Furse. Sit with my dear lovely darling most of the day – looking and feeling really better. oh! the relief of it. I shan’t feel really safe or happy until he is healed and at home, but he is gaining ground splendidly now, and is eating and sleeping better each day. Home to Pax.
Monday Feb 19 1934
Geordie brought Heather back last evening from Broadley and Lettice stayed at Pax too. Geordie seems more delicious than ever.
To London again and find the Darling still better and having eaten a mutton chop for his lunch! - an unheard of thing for him to eat meat, but he wants to gain strength, bless him.
Tuesday Feb 20 1934
To London. Lunched with Aunt Evie Mottistone at the Goring Hotel. See Lady Londonderry at HQ about her scheme for women's ‘organisations in the event of strikes, “national emergencies’ and war. [Inverted comma placements as written]
Sit with my Darling and find him again better ; and Dr Lett removed the hateful tubes painlessly this morning – a great step forward.
Wednesday Feb 21 1934
To London and find Robin going on so well. Oh so blessed. Peter home and I try to get some of his things packed for his departure on Friday. He is very calm and quite thrilled inside about going off to his new surroundings.
Thursday Feb 22 1934
Our birthday
To London and find my Precious simply smothered in flowers and telegrams and letters. Sit with him and then home again and wade gradually through colossal post and sending off a “thank letter” that I had got already printed for the purpose to all the kind people.
Friday Feb 23 1934
To London and find darling Robin really better. He is well enough to see Peter in the afternoon to say good-bye to him and then Heather and I take Peter down to the East India Dock to see him on board the “Umkuzi” – 7000 tons – and he sails away late in the evening. Heather and I to charming play called “The sleeping clergyman”
Saturday Feb 24 1934
Heather and I stayed at Rubens Hotel.
To sit with my own darling. Lunched with Hilda Brisco.
Spent afternoon at hospital again and then bundled home to Pax by the 5.8. Lettice Hill came too. Worked all the evening.
Robin much better and rubbed his hands with pleasure in his own way for the first time for 8 weeks.
Sunday Feb 25 1934
Stayed at home all day as Robin so much better now. Barbara Kingsberry (Mary Birley's daughter) and her husband to lunch. Also Greta Garstensee[?] from Denmark and her friend Patience Vera Nicholl from Frensham.
The Wades (from Kenya – our Wade’s brother and his wife) to tea.
Monday Feb 26 1934
To London. Find Robin better on the whole, but he had just a little pain and bother yesterday over the “waterworks” getting back to normal methods! Went to see our lawyer Hastie's about Geordie and Heather and their money matters.
Tuesday Feb 27 1934
To London again and find the Precious even happier and better and the wound beginning to heal which is the blessed “beginning of the end” of his time in hospital.
Joey Dalton to lunch to tell me about her Guide work out in Hyderabad.
Wednesday Feb 28 1934
To London and again find my Darling better, and his dear smile upon his face at last again.
Played three games of chess with him – an excellent form of pass-time[sic], as though he reads now he cant[sic] do that all day. He finds the nights very long and tedious, but likes all his nurses so much.
March 1934
Thurs 1 Mar 1934
To London. Call and see Mr Robbins at the White Star office about the Cruise. Call & see Miss Carey about the Junior Book Club.
Mr William Paxton to lunch with me to talk about my lecture at his Chapel next week.
Sat with Robin all the afternoon.
Aunt Nellie Soames to tea at Rubens with me and told me all about my brother’s wife Hopey leaving him. Home to Pax. [Brother Arthur Granville Soames married Hope Mary Woodbine 20 Dec 1913; div 1934]
Friday 2 Mar 1934 Rugby
Off in Jam-Roll [The 20hp Rolls-Royce, manufactured in Derby, was originally presented to Baden-Powell, along with a caravan (Eccles), at the 1929 World Jamboree on the Scouting movement’s 21st birthday. The car was subsequently named ‘Jam Roll’ in recognition of its connection to the Jamboree and Rolls Royce.] & drop Heather at Basingstoke to join Geordie for the day.
On, via Reading, Oxford, Banbury to Rugby, in time for meeting in the big School Speech Hall of Local Association members, Guiders, etc. Rather a stiff audience at first, but they warmed up.
Tea with Commissioners & people. Stayed the night with cousins Edward and Ruth Shann in their quaint modernist house.
[Edward Shann taught physics, chemistry and biology at Rugby School.
Ruth Shann was active in the Girl Guides’ movement and was a member of the Housecrafts and Arts Committee of Rugby Technical College.]
Evening had a jolly gathering of about 1000 Guides with songs and a talk from me.
Saturday 3 Mar 1934 Coventry
Left Rugby early and ran onto Coventry. Met Percy Everett & Scout & Guide people & went over most interesting factory (Franklins) where our badges are made. Welcomed by masses of Scouts & Guides in Old Palace Yard. Open the new H.Q. Scout and Guide joint shop and see Guiders there. Return to Palace Yard and see further lot of Guides & Scouts & then have nice lunch party of about 50 Scout & Guide people with good friendly speeches.
Left in Jam-Roll & started for Malvern - but had had slipping clutch & struggled along with frequent stops & could only get as far [continues on next page 4 Mar] as Pershore.
Left the dear wicked car there & took taxi onto St James’. Took Bet and Alice Whiteley out to tea at the Westminster Arms & they also came to supper with the Chitty's at the Garden Cottage. Stayed the night there.
Sunday 4 Mar 1934
Bet came to breakfast. Talked with Alice Baird a lot, about Guides & plans for building on to St James etc. Bear arrived up in Jaus (as I had wired for him to come to my rescue) and I then took him & dropped him at Pershore to deal [continues on next page Mar 5] with Jam-Roll's clutch & went on with Bet & Peggy Edge & Joan Arrowsmith & gave them a vast lunch at Tewkesbury. Rushed back to St James' and dropped them there; picked up Annie & Scofield & Geoffrey (who had come up in the morning in Jaus for the outing) and ran on home, calling on Gami at Pershore en route.
Bear got Jam-Roll right & got back just after me.
Monday 5 Mar 1934
To London & find Robin still better & he sat out in an arm chair for a bit.
Tuesday 6 Mar 1934
Dear Cousin David staying at Pax & doing his Chartered Accountant work at Guildford.
To see my Beloved again. He sat out in an arm chair for tea, but is so weak he cannot stand yet. But that will come in time & he is so happy & content to rest.
Wednesday 7 Mar 1934
Heather to London for a dance. To London again in the usual way – but for the last time, thank God! - to sit with my own darling in the hospital!
Read to him, & talk and gloat over his home-coming tomorrow. It is too lovely & thrilling & blessed to think of.
To see Lady Huntingfield (wife of governor designate of Victoria) about her helping Guides when she gets out there in April.
Thursday 8 Mar 1934
A wonderful golden glorious morning and my Darling arrives in his ambulance at 12.15 – none the worse for the drive & so happy. Just heavenly getting him back & nice little Nurse MacGahey comes with him. The ambulance men carry him up into the middle bedroom in the wing & he just gloats at being there in peace at last. I have to run up in [continues on next page 9 Mar] the evening and give lecture on “Peace and the Guide Movement” at the Union Chapel at Islington. Big lot of Guides & audience of over 1000. Get home before midnight & sleep in red room, close to my Precious.
Friday 9 Mar 1934
A divinely lovely day in every sense of the word. Just perfect being able to fuss round my own precious here, & he revels in being back & feels & is better already.
Saturday 10 Mar 1934
Another perfect day of sunshine in both senses! – and Robin basks by the window all day, looking happily out on the quiet garden and birds and soft loveliness of our view.
Dr Hussey comes and is very pleased with his progress. He eats well & has no pain anywhere & it is all just perfect. I am too happy! - It is divinely lovely having him back.
Sunday 11 Mar 1934
Glorious day in all ways. Robin sat all day on “Healer” by the window, and even stood up for a few minutes – rather wobbly & weak - but he is feeling so well in himself & is getting stronger every hour. Masses of letters to be answered from people now waiting to rejoice with us over his return home. My niece, Bunty Soames, came to dinner. Sweet thing.
Monday 12 Mar 1934
Busy day fussing happily around my Darling, letters galore and masses to see to as I have had a disjointed time of late!
Heather very thrilled that her engagement to Geordie will be able to be announced next week. I do hope it is all right. He is so attractive and sweet when he is there, but there is a queer feeling of instability about him somehow.
Tuesday 13 Mar 1934
To London to attend Cruise Committee meeting at Scout HQ. It is going to be very nice, I think, & such a joy that Robin will be able to go, even as an invalid. Shop & do letters at H.Q. Do H.Q. Committee in afternoon for a bit, & then run home & have tea with my Darling. He walked across his room – more or less on his legs alone – a great step!
Nurse MacGahey is excellent with him & so nice to deal with.
Wednesday 14 Mar 1934
Run up to London by 9.56. Speak for a little to the County Commissioners Conference at H.Q. and at the end of it Towser presented me with the Silver Wolf “in recognition of my work for the Scouts” – mainly in looking after my own darling! Lunch with all the nice C.C's – most of them such good old friends and a fine lot of women.
Home again and found R had walked from his bed to the window!
Thursday 15 Mar 1934
A lovely home day. Lorna Atkinson (C.C. for Northants) came to stay for last night, & left today again.
Mr Hugh Lett, the surgeon (who nearly killed R. & then made him well again!) came with Dr Hussey to see him & very pleased with his progress. The dear looks so well now & feels well, but hasn’t got his “land legs” back yet!
Friday 16 Mar 1934
To London. Go to have annual dentist inspection and as usual nothing needs to be done.
Lunch with Sir John Cadman & the members of St James’ Council at Britannic House & we have meeting there after lunch.
Dear Alice Baird, Percy Everett, Mr and Mrs Hoyland, Mr Haines (the auditor) etc. Discuss new big building plans.
Robin doing so well.
Saturday 17 Mar 1934
A home day.
Masses of things to do, & plan and think about.
But got level with work and actually had time to prune some of the roses!
Robin a wee bit quiet with indigestion and a little tired today – but all right really.
Sunday 18 Mar 1934
Robin walked a wee bit along the passage in the wing – and although he is still a bit weak on his legs he is gaining ground steadily.
Monday 19 Mar 1934
Margaret Wilson to stay night. She has done Guiding for us in Australia & Canada for the last two years.
Heather & she and dear little Nurse went to Farnham cinema.
Tuesday 20 Mar 1934
Heather's engagement to Geordie Lennox-Boyd announced in all the papers. Press reporters call to photograph her of course & masses of telephone calls & wires.
Geordie most elusive all day & it seemed odd that he didn’t come to see his beloved red headed thing on this important day.
Wednesday 21 Mar 1934
Heather with friends to Point to Point. Sister in law, Agnes B-P. came down from London for lunch with an elderly friend, a Mrs Mare.
To Alton for a Guide Handcraft Exhibition, opened it, had tea & then talked to audience about the Calgaric tour, & showed them our film of it.
An immense post about Heather!
Thursday 22 Mar 1934
Heather went away to go to the Grand National tomorrow. Ran in to Farnham to shop. The good vet Mr Scott, took little Turm[?] away to X-ray film & make him well. Robin so happy and tried to walk a little way down the stairs. His legs still very thin & weak.
Friday 23 Mar 1934
Nurse MacGahey had the day off to go to London.
I looked after my Precious Darling all day. He did walk down the stairs & sat in the Barn for a little.
Cable came from Peter safely arrived at Cape Town – having taken just a month en route in his cargo boat.
Saturday 24 Mar 1934
Heather came home. Mrs Bannon to lunch.
Mr and Mrs Rupert Anderson called at tea time.
Dr Hussey came to see Robin.
The Darling had his first bath (in the bath room) since the 3rd of January! It tired him rather and he slept in afternoon.
David blew in unexpectedly for the night.
Sunday 25 Mar 1934
Dr Hugh Lett came to lunch with his wife. The Wade’s and Mr Bannon came to.[sic] David left.
Sister Hayes (Robin's day nurse and so good) at the hospital came to tea with her “boy friend” Captain Oliffe Fry. May Mackie came too. Robin very happy & had a good day.
Monday 26 Mar 1934
Heather and I to London. Called to see our lawyer (Probyn[?] Williams) about Heather and Geordie's legal money matters.
Interview Mr Christie of the “Lecture Agency” about my doing some lectures in the Autumn to try & earn some money. Helen Talbot & Lady Huntingfield & her daughter lunch with us at Guide H.Q.
Home to Pax and find my Beloved had sat up a lot & feels so cheery about going off on Thursday
Tuesday 27 Mar 1934
Bet comes home from St James’ – very bright & jolly. Pack her clothes & garden a bit and pay books and generally tidy up!
Afternoon actually take Robin out in Jaus to Farnham - so that he shall see how he can stand going in a car again. He enjoyed it - though quite tired & glad to get back to bed.
Wednesday 28 Mar 1934
Geordie brought his mother over for lunch & the afternoon & had long talk. I still feel just a little anxious about this engagement, & Geordie seems somehow vague and elusive, but so attractive & charming.
The dear Spillings come over too to see us & to inspect Geordie & they quite approve!
Yvonne comes home & un-packs & re-packs frenziedly. She is a good child.
Thursday 29 Mar 1934 Adriatic Cruise
Children go off by train to London, and Robin and Nurse and I go in Jam-Roll, leaving Pax 1.15 to catch 3.15 Special Train at Euston. Awful traffic blocks so only just get there in time. Robin slept and travelled very comfily in saloon carriage alone and well guarded.
Arrive Liverpool 7.50. R. carried secretly & safely on board our “Adriatic”, & I inspect Scout[sic] and Guides mustered on the wharf to see us off.
Lovely big ship & we sail at 8.30.
Friday 30 Mar 1934
Cold grey day, but smooth sea. Do the usual Committee in morning, like we used to on the “Calgaric”, to arrange programmes and plans for lectures games, etc. on board, with Percy (Chairman), Rosie Kerr being splendid.
Col. Murray - managing the Scouters
Miss Marion Crowdy as the official photographer again & Geoffrey Chilton in charge of sports and concerts. To bed after lunch . . . [continued on next page 31 Mar]
[The Scout Association chartered Calgaric to take B-P and his family, Scout Leaders, Guiders and others on a Baltic cruise in August 1933 to introduce them to Scouts and Guides in those countries]
Saturday 31 Mar 1934
Bay of Biscay
. . . . & dozed & rested
& just lay and enjoyed doing nothing all day.
[No entry other than that carried forward as part of previous day's entry]
April 1934
Sunday 1 Apr 1934
“Adriatic Cruise”
Stayed in bed all day – slept and even too lazy to read.
Monday 2 Apr 1934
Arrive Gibraltar. All our ship's crowd land and do excursions etc. Land and have nice reception at Government House of Spanish Scout Leaders & members of Committees of Scouts & Guides of Gibraltar too. Big lunch party given there by Sir Charles and Lady Harington. [Governor of Gibraltar 1933-38]
Rally of Scouts and Guides – speeches, march past – all nice and fun seeing so many old friends that we saw [continues onto next page 3 April] here only last March. Go off with the Governor in his “barge” – he sees Robin, & then we sail again at 5.0. Robin spent whole day up on deck in the sun, and even saw all the Rally taking place through his Zeiss glasses.
Tuesday 3 Apr 1934
Glorious day of calm blue sea. Loafed on deck & Robin loved it & got sun-burnt.
Tea party with the Lones & Extensions [Lones were individual Guides operating remotely due to lack of nearby Unit and Extensions were Guides with a disability or long term illness requiring hospitalisation. Many Extension units were set up in hospitals and adaptations were made to badges and All Round Cord award to enable completion]
Wednesday 4 Apr 1934
Cold & grey. Robin stayed “below”.
Arrive Villefranche 4.0 Delegation of French Scout & Guide officials came on board to greet us – Mayor of Villefranche etc. All go off to Nice and have Rally of about 1500 Scouts & Guides by the beautiful War Memorial. Speeches and then all mix in a delightful way with our British ones. To a big dinner party of the Chief leaders. More speeches. Great success. Then a jolly concert given by Scouts & Guides to a huge audience of their own people and [continues on next page 5 April] about 400 of ours – all so jolly and friendly & such nice spirit about it. Back to our ship pretty late & all our people carried in busses[sic] supplied by the government.
Thursday 5 Apr 1934
Villefranche
Land early & drive up to Grasse with about 12 of our “official party” & see Guides there at the Ville Fragonard. Back via Cannes to Nice & visit Scout Camping Ground, & call on Mrs Lambert (Comm for British Guides on the Riviera) Then on to a camp of 80 nice Eclaireuses [Name for French Scouts, meaning ‘enlightener’] and had camp lunch – so jolly -[continues on next page 6 April] all so simple and original & friendly. Back to Villefranche in time to see Duke of Connaught who went on board to see Robin. He inspected some of our people on the wharf. Went on board the H.M.S. “Resolution” in the harbour & all our ship load did lovely excursions & then we sailed away at 5.0.
Friday 6 Apr 1934
At sea all day. Lovely hot sun and everybody enjoying it. Robin getting so well & sunburnt & so happy.
Saturday 7 Apr 1934
Malta
Arrive Malta 8.0. Scout & Guide “officials” come on board to greet us – all my old friends. Land – official welcome & guard of honour to be inspected. Our people all do sight seeing. I go with Lady Strickland for drive to see Guide “Camp” in old barracks & then speak at meeting of 400 ladies at the Palace. Lunch with Marie Denaro. Big Rally of over 2000 Scouts & Guides. H.E. the governor Sir David Campbell & wife present & 12000 public looking on. 2000 Scouts and about 400 Guides [continues on next page 8 April with “Saturday” handwritten over “Sunday“] on Parade. March Past and our 600 off the “Adriatic” joined in & looked quite splendid. The whole mass went to St Elmo for a huge tea – prepared for 4000 people! – and a rowdy cheery Camp Fire. The Scouts official party dined at the Palace with H.E. & the Guide official party dined with Lady Strickland. Sailed again at 11.30.
Sunday 8 Apr 1934
Sunday At sea. Lovely & hot & calm blue sea. Delicious day.
Monday 9 April
“Scouts Own” on deck [ Written above the date so likely relates to previous day, Sunday]
Arrive Algiers 11.0. Ship load disembarks & all go sight seeing. I stay on board all day with Robin & keep quiet, looking at Algiers from a distance.
Land & received by Governor General & we see over his Palace. Dine on board & then all 650 land again & go in busses[sic] to a quite lovely Camp Fire of all the Scouts & Guides – about 200 – of Algiers. They do delicious stunts & sing & are enthusiastic. All get back on board late.
Tuesday 10 April 1934
Sail away from Algiers at 8.0. Calm sea. Lovely going along in sight of North African coast. Tea with “Surrey” & also the “Bull Patrol”.
Also talk to the “non Scout” people on board in the lounge. Talk also for an hour on “Empire Guiding” to packed lecture hall full.
Wednesday 11 Apr 1934
At sea.
Betty has a birthday tea party – a little previous.
Thursday 12 Apr 1934
Lisbon
Arrive Lisbon. Met by Scout & Guide people & Godfrey Pope (half nephew) & Eileen, & the new Chief Guide (Donna Fernando D’Orey) Drive out to Cintra & see lovely Palace & Castle. All our 650 do so also – lovely drive. Lunch with Eileen Pope & the new Guide Council for Portugal. Speeches. Call on Director of Education. More speeches. Call on Lord Mayor – more speeches & a sort of meal. March Past of all the [continues on next page 13 April] Portuguese Scouts & Guides and our 650 through the streets, thronged with a huge admiring crowd. They all mustered on the wharf, and R. appeared in uniform on board for them to see. Sailed again at 6.0.
Friday 13 Apr 1934
After lunch, coffee with Miss Myres, Miss de Putron, Miss Herdman (whose brother owned our first home – Ewhurst Place) etc. all who served in France during the war.
Tea party with the “Quagga” group on deck.
Saturday 14 Apr 1934
Busy last day. Everybody wanting photos signed & I hardly dared go out of my cabin, as the dear enthusiastic souls swarmed round one rather – and I am tired rather & don’t feel I can talk increasingly! Good Camp Fire in the evening, with jolly funny “stunts” ! They gave me [a] lovely book with all their signatures in it.
Sunday 15 Apr 1934
Pack and arrive Liverpool 11.0. The Press & Photographers came on board and are a bother for Robin. But eventually we land comfily and travel luxuriously in our boat special (and a nice special saloon carriage for us) to Euston. Say good-byes and Jam-Roll home to Pax. Robin stood the journey well. Heather & Yvonne came home by train.
Monday 16 Apr 1934
A home day. Wade through letters galore. Delicious being back again. Betty stayed up in Lancashire with Peggy Edge, at Lytham.
Tuesday 17 Apr 1934
To London. Jenny Kennard lunches with me at the Rubens. H.Q. Council meeting at Guide Office. Always rather a dull meeting, but we all had tea after it, and I showed and gave a talk on the Calgaric Cruise film. Told them all about the Adriatic Cruise too. Home in evening.
Wednesday 18 Apr 1934
All to London & stay at Rubens.
Took Yvonne to cinema. Tea with Col Telfer Smollett (Col. of the H.L.I) [Highland Light Infantry] for talk about Geordie.
To lovely Scout Demonstration at the Albert Hall. Good displays & lovely choir of 600. The place packed with Scout enthusiasts. I gave short talk at the end and at the Camp Fire.
Thursday 19 Apr 1934
Run home by the 10.4.
Little Nurse Doris McGahey left. She has been a real treasure, so tactful, so patient and good & nice with everyone. Heather & Yvonne & Bet all arrive back in evening.
Friday 20 Apr 1934
The Wades came up & marked the tennis court out & then we played a bit.
Saturday 21 Apr 1934
The three children go to Hambledon Point to Point at Liss.
Letters – walk – and doddle about slowly in the garden with R. He is getting so much firmer on his legs now each day. Lettice Hill to stay, & also Cousin David.
Sunday 22 Apr 1934
Very worried about stories running round about dear Geordie!
To Windsor. Lunch with Sir Malcolm Murray. To the Castle and meet the King, the Queen & the Duke & Duchess of York & the 2 little Princesses & watch 1000 King's Scouts march past them. Nice talk with them all.
Big Scouts Service in St Georges [sic] Chapel. Percy read Robin’s message & [continues, overwriting the heading, on next page 23 April] I “said a few words” & the Archbishop of Canterbury did too!!
Monday 23 Apr 1934
Lovely home day, tidying things in the house, sorting out old books to go to hospital etc.
Children to Farnham to shop.
Mrs Meade (Gracie) to tea with her baby (Theodosia) to say good-bye as they are leaving Bentley to live in Suffolk. Bet & Yvonne Heather &I played tennis.
Tuesday 24 Apr 1934
Another delightful home day. I do love playing in my own house!
Showery April day, but we played tennis again – Y. & B. beating Heather & me!
Robin walked about a lot, & so much better & stronger, abd altogether looks more his own darling well self again now.
Wednesday 25 Apr 1934
Betty went back to St James' from Reading for the last time!
Walk up to Well, [local historical landmark about an hour's walk north from Pax] with the dogs & meet Heather & Yvonne returning in Jaus[?] from sending her off.
Robin so much better, & walked the whole way down the drive & back – his longest walk since Dec 11th!
Thursday 26 Apr 1934
Heather to London for the night, for a dance and stays with Mrs Jagger. Mrs Morris (from Haywards Heath) to tea for confidential talk about Geordie.
This information about his past un-reliability is very disturbing! and makes us very anxious about Heather being engaged to him and yet what can we do??
Friday 27 Apr 1934
Heather returned
Saturday 28 Apr 1934
Home day. Dick Mills came for lunch & took H to cinema etc. A nice young Scouter from Alresford, with a wooden leg.
Sunday 29 Apr 1934
Heather & Yvonne Jimney’d [a light, small 2- or 4-wheeled vehicle pulled by a single horse] over to tea with Guggisbergs at Yateley.
Monday 30 Apr 1934
Heather Jimney’d down to Broadley to see Geordie.
Yvonne and I went all the way over to Devizes & had tea with her father, Bob Davidson. He is now getting better from his long odd illness called “sprue” – caught in Ceylon. A lovely drive on a lovely day.
Memoranda
[Pencil notes]
Ask Miss Kathleen Wilkinson
Nutsford House
Nutsford Place W1
to lunch. Sent me talk on peace votes
Also – ask
Mrs Jean Campbell
Lloyd’s Bank
Depth G1
6 Pall Mall
who wrote nice letters when R was ill.
Send things for Putney Hospital Sale to Mrs Hitch there.
May 1934
Tuesday 1 May 1934
Heather to London for the day. Mr Downing-Fullerton from Lymington came to lunch. [Probably George Cecil Downing-Fullerton - b.1891 d.1953] Scout Comr. & I find that I knew him as a child when I lived at Purley Hall & he was with his old grandmother at Purley Park – near Pangbourne in 1901! Confidential talk with him about Geordie.
Wednesday 2 May 1934
Heather & Yvonne & I went over in Jaus 1 to Sheffield Park (Sussex) & saw Aunt Nellie Soames there. Old Uncle Arthur is very ill indeed. Met my brother Arthur 2 there by mistake – most unpleasant moment & he is barging about the place like a jackal waiting for the old man to die - & to then step in as heir to the place & fortune.
[1 B-P’s cars all had names: the first two were called Jim Minor – Jimmie – and Jim Major – JimMajor. Then there was JamRoll (a Rolls Royce given to them by Scouts from donations); and then there was Jaus – possibly the “aus” was because it was given by Australia?]
[2Arthur Granville Soames – b.12 Oct 1886 d.6 Jul 1962 - inherited Sheffield Park on death of uncle Arthur Gilstrap Soames 22 July 1934]
Thursday 3 May 1934
Took Yvonne on to Lewes, had tea there, & then dropped her at her school (Southover Manor). Home by dinner time. Took Annie with us for her to have the treat of a drive.
Friday 4 May 1934
Heather has had a horrid cough ever since we came home. So took her to see Dr Hussey. He finds her sound all right & gives her medicine. Took Robin along with us to Farnham too, & he likes the outing.
The Armagell Wade's to tea. He is brother to “our” Wade & so like him. He is Scout Cmr for Kenya & home on leave & staying in the village.
Saturday 5 May 1934
Heather & I go to Edward Knight's wedding to Peggy Williams at Alton. Huge do, & met everybody of the neighbourhood that we ever knew.
Agnes Worrall, & her tall boy, Billie, to stay. We all went - Robin included – to see film in Farnham of Dick Turpin.
Sunday 6 May 1934
Worrall's left after lunch.
Robin and I ran over to Froxfield Green & saw Helen Baxendale for private tell[sic] about Geordie.
Karin Robertson to tea. She is so nice when one meets, but we meet so seldom, though we are only 2 miles apart!
Monday 7 May 1934
Get masses of letters done and even – for once – clear my desk completely even though such clearness will only last a few hours! Heather and I to cinema in Alton with the Swan's and then on to dine with them at their charming old house Hattingley.
Tuesday 8 May 1934
Heather and I to London. She stays up for some gaieties.
Dora Little (an old friend of early days at Cranborne even 1900!) to lunch at H.Q. Also Mrs Springall from Mafeking and Miss Short – Com for Lones3 in South Africa.
[3 “Lones” – Lone Guides, a “correspondence” option for girls unable to attend regular meetings due to distance, health, studies or physical challenge]
H.Q. Committee all afternoon, tea at H.Q. with Ann Butler (now member of Committee & “governing” the Isle of Man. Home in evening.
Wednesday 9 May 1934
The two dear old Spillings[2] to tea. They seem to love coming over in their grand new Rolls Royce and we love seeing them.
Had bundles of letter[sic] from Peter by yesterdays[sic] mail, telling of busy doings in the Cape. He is now on his way up to Rhodesia.
Thursday 10 May 1934
Heather came back and “Dor” D'Engelbronner who was at St James' with her came to stay.
Friday 11 May 1934
Heather and Dor went off to Tidworth Horse Show together.
Take Robin up to Binsted to tea with Robertsons.
Katherine Furse [Inaugural Director of Women’s Royal Naval Service 1917-19 then President of WAGGGS 1928-1938] to stay the night to talk over World Guide doings.
Saturday 12 May 1934
Ethel Royden and Dame Rachel Crowdy called in & fetched Katharine away.
Heather & Dor to Tidworth again. How these young things do love rushing about!
Lettice Hill to stay in time for tea in the garden – hot & glorious.
Sunday 13 May 1934
Hot sunshine day divinely lovely. Gardened. Dug dandelions in the plot & later walked round by Isnage & the Up & Down Lane. Lettice left after dinner.
Monday 14 May 1934
Heather to London for a dance. Percy & Rita Everett to dine on their way home from Foxlease to Elstree.
Tuesday 15 May 1934
[Whole page blank]
Wednesday 16 May 1934
To London & had aTurkish Bath all the morning!
To Finnish Legation in Bryanston Square & Mr Gripenberg the Finnish Minister gave me my “Order of the White Rose” of Finland. Nine men also were decorated.
Heather joined me there & we tea’d together and went to see a film of Robin leaving Pax in Jam-Roll last month and me at Windsor etc. Home to Pax.
Thursday 17 May 1934
To London again.
Lunch party of overseas Guide people at H.Q.
Lady Stubbs (Ceylon) [Sri Lanka]
Lady Young (N. Rhodesia) [Zambia]
Mrs Lee Steere (W. Australia)
Mrs Gripenberg (Finland)
Cicely O'Rorke (N. Zealand)
Ruth Turnbull (S. Africa)
Eileen Russell (W. Australia)
Mrs Thomas from Cape Town who was in Mafeking with R. during the siege - etc.
Mrs Heather (Canada)
Mrs Gupta (India)
Mrs Robinson (Malaya) [Peninsular Malaysia]
Mrs Laferla (Malta) & Guider daughter too.
Took the dear old “Carpenter” Maynard to see film “The Man of Arran[sic]”. Tea at [continues on next page, May 18, ‘Friday’ crossed through and replaced with ‘Thursday’] Guide H.Q. with Penelope Gordon from Bulawayo. [City in Zimbabwe] Then onto the roof at H.Q. & received there signalled messages of good-will sent by flag-wagging [semaphore] from N. Wales, Cornwall, W. Yorkshire, and Cumberland [historic administrative county, now part of Cumbria since 1974] by Guides themselves - rather romantic & nice. Robin meanwhile came up from home in Jam Roll to his Mafeking Dinner – his first dinner since Dec 12th! – Fetched him away from it early, Heather joins us & all get home to Pax at 11.30.
Friday 18 May 1934
[No entry - Overwritten with Thursday events as above.]
Saturday 19 May 1934
[No entry]
Sunday 20 May 1934
Rosalind de Neuzy-Martin (the charming Guider from Farringdon who was on the cruise & is so nice) came for two nights.
Mrs Graham & her boy Killour[?], who was Peter's chief friend at Sandhurst, came to dinner.
Monday 21 May 1934
Heather took Robin down to the river in Jaus 1 for him to fish again in the morning & I took him again in the evening. He gets a bit tired but loves it.
Tuesday 22 May 1934
Rosalind left early.
Sir Edward & Lady Perceval to tea – such nice people – and Mrs Colvin & Guider daughter just come[sic] from London to live at Basingstoke.
Wednesday 23 May 1934
Heather to London for the day.
Took Robin to the river. Walked on up to Binstead & back. Found R. so absorbed & happy by the river, so ran back home & fetched picnic tea & we had it together in perfect peace by the willows near Couldrey Copse on the river Bank – heavenly!
Alice Baird to stay & talk about St James' & everything.
Thursday 24 May 1934
To London early
To Memorial Service at Christ Church Lancaster Gate for old Lord Meath [Chief Scout Commissioner for Ireland] & the unveiling of a hideous Memorial to him there by Duke of Connaught.
I laid a wreath there from Guides, & Towser for Scouts & a whole lot of other Movements did the same.
Lunched at H.Q. with Monty. Called on Mr Dring at C.P.R.[? Possibly Canadian Pacific Railway – Olave toured Western Canada in April 1935] office & settled our world tour programme.
Overseas Guiders tea party at Mercers Hall. Very nice Christian & Lettice dined with me St Rubens. Night train to [continues on next page Fri 25th] Glasgow arr. 9.30.
Friday 25 May 1934
Glasgow
Motor out with Nellie Cranfurd (Chief Com. for Scotland & such a dear) to stay with Lady Stirling at Glorat, C.C.[County Commissioner] for Stirlingshire. All went in to Stirling for good Annual Meeting for County. Lord Provost in the Chair and I spoke on World Guides etc. Large enthusiastic tea party at the Guide H.Q. there which I opened years ago, with a 21st Birthday Cake to celebrate the County Guides coming of age. Grange's to dine.
Saturday 26 May 1934
Stirling
Free morning. Drove the 20 miles into Stirling for County Rally – very good. Over 2000 Guides & Rangers. March Past & nice displays & delightful massed reel dancing of 1000 Scouts & Guides.
They are a nice fine lot of women doing Guides up here!
Sir Ian Bolton (Scout Com) & his sister Mrs Campbell to dine. She is Prov. Com for the Cape (S. Africa)
Sunday 27 May 1934
Early breakfast & Jean Stirling drove me the 20 miles to Stirling. There I was “collected” by Scout “Big Chief” Julian & Bobby Simpson & drove on the 30 miles to see about 100 Rovers in Camp near Kirkcaldy. Talked to and with them for half an hour, then had hurried lunch in Kirkcaldy & Molly Wilson drove me quickly back to Stirling.
Church Service there for all the Guides – beautiful sermon – in wonderful old church. Then rushed on to Falkirk & saw lots of Guides & had huge tea party of Local Assoc. members & guiders in local Guide H.Q. I cut their 21st birthday cake too & gave [continues on next page Mon 28 May] a talk & everybody very friendly. Got away at 5.30 & ran back to Glorat, and after dinner went in to Glasgow & went down by night train to London.
Monday 28 May 1934
Caught the 9.4 home to Pax.
Found Robin having a nasty cough & pushed him firmly into bed. Did about 27 letters and Mrs Wade did my “thanks” ones with me.
Tuesday 29 May 1934
Letters – letters – letters.
Robin better, and got up, but pulled down rather by this cough.
Dr Hussey to see him & says it is nothing serious. The Darling feels rather “cheap”. It will take a long time for him to get quite fit again.
Wednesday 30 May 1934
Took Mrs Armagell Wade (sister-in-law of our Eileen) & Rachel Soames & Sheelah[sic] McLintoch & Ruth A'Court down to Foxlease for lunch. Talk to the 16 Comms there & meet at last our new good Chief Com. for India – Mrs Glancy, etc. Ran on to Dudsbury Camp for tea with Miss Jones – the Div Com. for Bournemouth. I laid the Foundation Stone of this excellent Guide house some years [continues on next page Thurs 31 May] ago & they have made a glorious place of it for Guides – It is an old Roman encampment complete with moats & earthworks & lovely.
Ran on round by my old haunts through Bournemouth Canford & past Gray Rigg & back via Ringwood.
A wonderful sunny day of exquisite views & colour.
Thursday 31 May 1934
Work & walk & R. fishes a little.
June 1934
Friday 1 June 1934
Birmingham
Winifred Flower (from Guildford) to tea & her son Dick. Also Mrs Greville Williams (Gaston Grange, Alton) & then I took her and her nice child, Joan, along with me in Jam-Roll to stay the night with Mrs W. A. Cadbury, our nice CC for Birmingham, at their charming house, West Hills. She & her family very strong Quakers.
Saturday 2 June 1934
Went over Bournville Chocolate Factory – most interesting. Quite wonderful place. Lunch with all the Division Commissioners. County Rally of about 7000 Guides & 2000 Brownies. Very fine show.
Dinner with the District Commissioners at their fine County H.Q.
Pageant given in the Town Hall – excellent show. I talked & they all seemed thrilled with vast enthusiasm!
Sunday 3 June 1934
Left West Hills early. Ran to Kinver and met there by hundreds of Scouts, over 500 Guides & by public & I “opened” the lovely Log Cabin at the quite perfect Scouts Camp Site there.
[https://www.scoutshw.org.uk/kinver-scout-camp]
Rushed onto Malvern. Saw dear Alice Baird [founder and Headmistress of St James' school for nearly 50 years, where Olave's daughters were educated] Collected Bet & took her & Peggy Edge to tea with Mrs Newcomb. Dropped her back at St James’, picked up Mrs Greville Williams & Joan & ran the 108 miles home by 10.0 .
Monday 4 June 1934
Diana Erskine, who was with Heather at St James', staying at Pax. She & Heather to London to use our seats for the Trooping of the Colour. Struggled with letters. Took Robin to tea with the nice Percevals' in Farnham.
Tuesday 5 June 1934
Robin walked right down to the Wade's house without a pause - a real big improvement.
The two dear old Spillings to tea.
Wednesday 6 June 1934
Diana Erskine left. Heather to the Derby and on to London for dance.
Took Robin to fish.
David to stay the night.
Thursday 7 June 1934
[Page left blank]
Friday 8 June 1934
Jimney’d[?] in to Farnham to shop & bank.
Mrs Glancy, our newly appointed Chief Com. for India to stay - so charming & just right and I am delighted, as it was difficult to know who could take on that important and difficult job.
Saturday 9 June 1934
Berkshire
Croft Watts' called to see Mrs Glancy as their daughter is training guiders in Madras. [now called Chennai]
Run over to Reading for Berkshire County Rally at Erdlegh[?] Park (Mr & Mrs Sutton's house)
About 2000 there and a very delightful show. Fine March Past and good displays. Also nice tea party given by the Suttons on their lawn for all the Commissioners and some overseas Guiders. Take Mrs Lee Steere (State Com) West Australia home to Pax. Godley's to stay also.
Sunday 10 June 1934
Sir Alec and Louie Godley are nice. Took Louie and Mrs Lee Steere to church. Her husband and son came by road for lunch and took her away later.
William Collingwood & “Kill” Graham and Jim Delius all came over from Sandhurst for tea and supper – these nice boys all friends of Peter's. Mollie Bayes (Red Dip) also came for the day from London & left in evening with Godleys.
Monday 11 June 1934
Heather’s charming old St James' girlfriend, Denise Russell-Fergusson was also here for the week end and left this morning.
Heather to London for a dance.
Took Robin down to fish at Isington. He is so fit now, the Darling, & looks pink & blooming & and quite his old self. He still gets tired easily but that is improving.
Tuesday 12 June 1934
To London. Call and see Winifred Gordon (Betty's godmother) over in England for the first time for five years. Have small lunch party at Guide H.Q. of Gladys Niven[?] & her mother (from S. Africa) also Mrs Fleischer (Transvaal)[a province of South Africa until 1994 that lay between the Vaal and Limpopo rivers] Miss Mc Hardy (New Zealand) Monica Storrs[?] (Canada) etc. H.Q. Committee all afternoon.
Katharine Furze[sic], Mrs Glancy (India), Mary Birley to tea. Catch 6.38 home.
Wednesday 13 June 1934
Run up to East Molesey & collect Angela Shuttleworth & her girl Nancy & take them to lunch with Mrs Dickson at Wimbledon. To Royal Hospital for Incurables at Putney and open their Sale of Work & have to buy pounds' worth of things! Home again.
Robin went with Heather to see polo at Aldershot.
Thursday 14 June 1934
Helen Talbot came for lunch to talk about overseas.
Mary Carver (Com. for Egypt) came for tea.
Robin looks so much fitter the last few days.
Friday 15 June 1934
Robin to London for the day & night & to the Mercers [Worshipful Company of Mercers of which B-P was Master 1913-14] again at last – for first time since December!
Heather returned and her friend Dor D’Engelbronner and Ann Killick came too & all went to the Sandhurst Ball.
Ran over to tea with some Cripple Post Guides at Camp at Woodlarks (Farnham) so well run by Esme Strover. [Now an Assisted Living Centre which was originally set up by Strover and Olave B-P in 1930 https://thewoodlarkscentre.org/about-us/]
Saturday 16 June 1934
Col and Mrs Morris to lunch. He is the Head of Peter’s Police in Rhodesia, & it was nice to meet him & hear first hand about what Peter's work & life will be.
Mr and Mrs Sten Thiel (International Scout Cm) from Sweden came with their two small boys for tea. He was so kind to us in Stockholm in 1924 – and they are a charming couple. Our little former governess Penny to stay the night.
Sunday 17 June 1934
Collected Aileen Harrop, Mrs Sharpe, District Com. for Farnham and Beryl Soames (Alton who runs the Bentley Guides & took them over to Salisbury. Lunch in Camp with Guides in the Palace paddock, & then had beautiful service in the Cathedral. About 2500 Guides there from all over Wiltshire. I later gave a talk & had March-Past. Tea in Camp & lovely run home.
England IS beautiful!!
Monday 18 June 1934
Heather to London for dance & night. Robin also up to go to his 13th Regimental Dinner. The cousins Lord & Lady Erskine (nee Florence Flower) to stay.
Also Miss Mabel Corey formerly our Editor of “The Guider” and on our staff for years, & now organising Sec. of the Junior Book Club that I [am] trying to help.
Tuesday 19 June 1934
Erskine’s just “did about” all day and were very nice and comfortably at home here & no bother to look after. Robin returned. Nurse McGahey came down for lunch & tea – having her “day off”. Heather returned and Jane Thornewill came to stay & Cassandra Cook. They all went to the Tatoo[sic] & R. and I went to bed.
Wednesday 20 June 1934
Erskine's left.
Robin took Heather & Cassandra and Jane to see polo at Aldershot.
Thursday 21 June 1934
Malvern
Geordie came with his M.P. brother Alan, for horrible interview. Most unsatisfactory, & they left again quickly. R. and I went off in Jam-Roll to Oxford. Called & saw the dear good Burrows there. Dropped R. for tea at the Waltons at Longworth & went on to see the Masons at Eynsham. R. joined me there & we bundled onto Malvern, & stayed with the Chitty’s as usual, at the Garden Cottage.
Friday 22 June 1934
Bet comes to breakfast.
Run in to Malvern & call to see May Mackie (just become D.C. for
Malvern)
Robin lays the Foundation Stone of the new addition of a big Hall, dormitories etc. to complete St James' as the perfect school!
Dear Alice Baird so thrilled & keen about it. The School Bazaar & large tea party. Also meeting of the Council of the School.
Saturday 22 June 1934
St James'
Prize-giving by Lady Somers. Bet got 3. Took her off in Jam-Roll & collected dear old Aunt Julie Soames[born Julia Mary West, wife of her uncle, Frederick William Soames] & her grandsons, Bill Kington & Micheal[sic] Smith & his father & all picnicked by the river near Upton. Back to St James’ & watched swimming display & then as the “St James’ Council” met parents at tea. Later saw Betty act in nice little play “The Idea” & also a “debate” for the ...[rest of page not visible - cut off by scan]
Sunday 24 June 1934
Went up to St James' to talk to Alice. Took Bet along to lunch with dear Florence Newcomb. Left Bet there and ran off to Cirencester & called in for tea at the Abbey there – Maj. Dugdale & his wife who knew R. years ago in India. We camped here too in Sept. 1929.
Got home about 9.0
Found Heather having a party, and her old [continues on next page June 25] St James' friend Diana Littleton staying.
Monday 25 June 1934
The dear Hore-Ruthvens just home from governing South Australia, came over for a talk about Scouts and Guides.
Heather to London & returned bringing Margaret Townsend with her – second cousin of ours – a nice girl. Miss Juanita McHardy a nice good Guider from New Zealand came. Also Mrs Hunerson, the Chief Guide of Estonia. Maj. & Mrs & Miss Fiennes from Selbourne came over to tea.
Tuesday 26 June 1934
Heather & Margaret & Mr Bodger went over to Lewes, to see Yvonne at school there. Took Nita McHardy & Mrs Hunerson to see Woodlarks Guide Camp.
In afternoon we also went to Foxlease, and left Nita there.
Nice little crowd of Guiders assembled for a week. Stayed on there for dinner & then ran home in 1 hour 10 minutes!
Wednesday 27 June 1934
Mr Bodger left. He was Chaplain on our “Adriatic” Cruise and a keen Scout & now a missionary in Papua.
Heather & Margaret took Mrs Hunerson over to a fete at Charterhouse.
Thursday 28 June 1934
Mrs Hunerson left. Margaret Townsend left too.
Heather to London.
Miles & Esther Torkington to tea. They are thinking of going to Australia for the Jamboree
Friday 28 June 1934
Robin to London for the day. He is just in splendid form now and can do much more without getting tired - the Precious Darling.
Saturday 30 June 1934
Yorkshire
Left by the 7.44 to London and on to Leeds. Alba Ingilly[?] met me there & drove out to Wetherby Race Course. H.R.H. Princess Royal came & we had a quite splendid Rally of 10000 Guides of this West Riding North County.
Displays & Pageant & talk from me. Very fine show well run and a very fine spirit.
It certainly is fine to . . .
[continues on next page entitled ‘Memoranda' with ‘Ripon' handwritten above]
. . . . see a big mass together like that.
Stayed the night with the excellent nice good charming C.C. Phyllis Grotrian, at North Stainley Hall, near Ripon.
For July to December 1934, click here
