Olave's diary for 1936 Index
Our grateful thanks to Sharon Dorricott and Derek Elwell for the transcription.
X
South Africa again! Durban
Start the New Year with my first go of malaria for me. Robin has it too, but both well round the corner today, though stay in bed sweating out the fever.
Charming looking out of our cabin window over Durban Harbour. The place is so busy with lots of ships coming in and going out.
Thursday January 2nd 1936
Quite well myself and could get up. But still get a bit boiled now & then so laid more or less in bed all day.
Pack everything.
Leave Durban at about 10.0
Robin not so well. Temp. still up (99) & he feels very seedy. Fortunately he sleeps a lot.
Friday January 3rd 1936
East London
Arr East London
Met privately by Miss Alexander (Prov. Com.) & Millicent Porter (Prov Sec) & Matthew Wilson & Kenneth Fleischer (Sec. for the Scouts of the whole union) Land quietly & stay at Beach Hotel again.
R. still seedy. Temp. is normal but he feels & looks rotten. Goes straight to bed. Dr Bruce Bayes comes & prescribes good medicine.
Saturday January 4th 1936
Robin normal & medicine effective in putting his tummy right. But he is most frightfully pulled down, & even very wobbly on his legs moving from bed to a chair to sit up for a bit. It is bad luck this mosquito having caught him like this.
Went up to the Jamboree camp site. Very military! Tents in rows & all cooking to be done by trained cooks! Not a bit Scouting preparations; but it will be better when the 3000 scouts turn up!
Sunday January 5th 1936
Robin perhaps a tiny bit better. There is nothing wrong now & fever finished. But he is just so weak & feeble, poor lamb, & feels rotten.
Millicent Porter came for lunch & a nice chat.
Went to awfully nice concert in City Hall – orchestra & fine pianist.
Monday January 6th 1936
Robin distinctly better. Has Bovril [?] & a little fish, so now he will pick up. We have hired a car for our time here & he went out for an hour with Heather driving.
I went in afternoon to shop. Took Joan Walton & Pauline (her niece) also. Robin better again in evening, so now every hour will see improvement.
Tuesday January 7th 1936
Took R. out for another drive, & he is perhaps a shade better. He walked a wee bit along by the sea – but he is so weak & frail & his voice is so unlike itself.
Went to see film – “Les Miserables” – very harrowing but well acted.
Found R. not so well on my return – slight tummy trouble again & a bad night. Too trying for the poor darling.
Wednesday January 8th 1936
R better, thank god. He went out for a drive & also sat out in the sun, & felt better.
Clnel Robins (Scout Com. For Rhodesia) came to lunch.
We have altered & re-altered all our plans for these coming months – such a business.
Went to see the local Prov. Guide office.
Gran & Joan & Bet & I will go on tour leaving R. in Heather’s care.
Thursday January 9th 1936
Jamboree
Went up to Jamboree Camp – now officially open & full with its 3700 Scouts. Met workers.
To the official lunch given by the Town to chief leading Scout people I spoke on R’s behalf opening of Jamboree. R. just able to do it & spoke so well – his speech being broadcast to whole Empire.
Friday January 10th 1936
Left East London 8.0 with Mis Alexander (Alec) & Bet & Lizzie MacVeillie (Perfect Chief Com for S. Africa). Lovely drive across the Sishei [?] nature territory & arr Grahamstow 12.30. Met by happy crowd of Guides having training week at the Teachers’ Training College.
Very important meeting & Wayfarers joining hands with Guides – a most critical moment.
Talked at nice Camp Fire about World Guiding.
Saturday January 11th 1936
Grahamstown
Definitely important meeting of Guide & Wayfarers Joint Council. Everybody much worked up & marvellous decision taking definitely to join hands. One of the most thrilling history making moments.
Garden party for local inhabitants - & I talked on World Guiding. All so friendly and this has been a good day.
Sunday January 12th 1936
Go up to hospital & see some cripple Guides. Drive up the hill – lovely view. Guides’ Own in evening & I talk & talk and go on talking with first one & then another of these dear splendid people – lots of whom I have known before.
Meeting in evening of S. African Guide HQ Committee
Monday January 13th 1936
Conference all day – first with all the Guiders and then even after dinner the HQ committee sec till 10.0. A long day.
But it is riffing [?] & I am thankful to be here. Lizzie MacVeillie is a gem – pure gold - & Winifred Wiley such a sane level headed chairman – a charming fine lot of women on the Committee.
Tuesday January 14th 1936
East London
Good-byes and leave at 9.0. Lovely drive again – 120 miles. Had a puncture but reached East London in time for lunch.
Free afternoon, but went to huge Garden Party given by the Mayor. About 1200 people & all shook hands! Lots I knew of course from former visits here.
Robin not so well as I hoped & no improvement these days much
Wednesday January 15th 1936
Cambridge
Went out to Cambridge. Had wee Rally of Guides & Brownies. Then morning tea in the Town Hall & gave a talk to women & Local Assoc.
R went up to the Jamboree for an hour to see the Wolf Cub display (Very poor!) He looks & is very frail & thin from this beastly aftermath of malaria. We went up again in the evening for the last Jamboree Camp Fire.
Thursday January 16th 1936
King Williamstown
Lady Crewe [?] motored me the 40 miles out to King Williamstown. Public meeting & [?] in Town Hall. Gave long good talk! Big lunch party given by Mayor, to Provincial Guide Council. After attended meeting of Provincial Committee all afternoon.
Home at 6.0.
To bed forthwith dinner-less. Robin a shade better – but only a shade. It is a slow business.
Friday January 17th 1936
East London
Went shopping in the morning. Robin perhaps again a fraction better, but has horrid indigestion so cannot eat well – so cannot pick up strength yet.
Lunched & gave talk at Rotary Club – about 100 men & women. Spoke for an hour to nice audience of women at the City Hall. Mrs Bruce Bayes – Mayoress – as chairman.
Saturday January 18th 1936
Rudyard Kipling died.
To meeting in the morning with Indian women & children of the Indo-European Association. They want to have Guides & I was able to tell them that they will be able to quite soon – after the Committee in Feb which is deciding the future policy for South Africa on the question of “colour” etc.
Unveil memorial tablet in the local Scouts’ “Bryant Hall”.
Robin a wee bit better.
Sunday January 19th 1936
The King very ill.
Robin again a shade better. It is awfully slow, but there is tiny gradual improvement. He doesn’t want to walk at all yet, but went out for two drives. He has started writing again for “The Scout” etc. & his voice is almost his own again.
A full day for me & I wrote reports to home etc. of guide doings, went for a nice walk with Bet; and to orchestral concert in the City Hall.
Monday January 20th 1936
Grave news of the King.
Robin again feeling better & can now eat fish, chicken cream, etc so this is all to the good. He has got most frightfully thin & will need a lot of building up. Packed.
To large tea party for the ladies of various associations who had all helped behind the scenes at the Jamboree Camp. Gave Robin a message of Thanks & shook hands with all.
To see film “Stormy Weather” – rather funny.
Tuesday January 21st 1936
The King died last night.
Robin about the same. Don’t really like leaving him, but started as planned on tour with Gran & Joan & Pauline (MaLay – her niece) & all travelled to Queenstown. Bet went on by road with “Aunt Jane” Worters. Took from 10.30 to 7.15 to do the 170 miles, but nice smooth journey & able to type. Delicious looking out of the window too!
Heather will take good care of R. and they get on so well together. She is now most capable & reliable & likes managing him.
Met at station by Scout & Guide Committee chairman etc. Stay Hexagon Hotel.
Wednesday January 22nd 1936
Day of Mourning for King George V. We all feel it very much & yet it was blessed for him to go quickly & painlessly. To church & felt very weepy – couldn’t help it!! Heard Edward VIII proclaimed King in London over the radio at 12.0. A most stirring odd feeling singing “God Save the King” today – “Le Roi est mort – vive le Roi”
Laid foundation stone of the Boy Scout Hall here in Queenstown – on Robin’s behalf. Tea with the Vicar – Rolfe, & friends.
Thursday January 23rd 1936
Queenstown
To tea with nice Mrs Wilkinson, President of Local Guide Assoc. & met all the Committee & gave them a long talk. They laffed [?] it down.
Small Rally of local Guides & Brownies, and talked to them in their nice Guide Hut that I opened here in March 1927. Also met & talked to more grown ups who came in from mothers etc with their guides. Saw a few Wayfarers also.
Left Queenstown at 7.20 & slept on the train
Friday January 24th 1936
Arrive Bloemfontain at 6.0 a.m. Stay at excellent hotel (formerly Polley [?] where we stayed in March 1927)
Winifred Wiley (excellent Prov. Com.) comes for talk. Deputy Mayor & Scout officials to 11.0 tea.
Afternoon see Wayfarer Leaders at their Native Location for small talk.
Large tea party of local Assoc. & other grown ups & I give talk on World Guiding.
Wire came from Heather at East London saying Robin is better.
Saturday January 25th 1936
Bloemfontain
Went to call on Mother Superior at St Michael’s School – also ditto at the Convent, & talked with their staffs. Called on R.C Archbishop & the Murrays at Holden who we stayed with last time here in 1931.
Guide Rally in Kings Park – a sort of picnic tea & games and I talked. Lots of them had been Guides & Brownies when I had a similar Rally here before. A nice little lot, but there are lots of difficulties to contend with here.
Spoke for an hour to girls of the two big good schools St Michael’s & “Eunice High”. They laffed [?] down my “geography lesson”!
Sunday January 26th 1936
Bet and I did letters & drove up onto Navel Hill & saw wild animals there zebra, camels, & kudu. Also to the wicked memorial to the women & children who died in the concentration camps during the Boer War.
To nice tea party of Guiders at Winifred Wiley’s nice little house. Sat out in the garden & just chatted – all so friendly & they are bricks the way they work at Guides here.
Monday January 27th 1936
Kimberley
Left Bloemfontain at 8.30 & travelled across the bare veldt to Kimberley. Met at the station by the Mayor & Guides & Scouts.
Stayed as guests of De Beers Co at their very nice Guest House (The Lodge). Most comfy & had free afternoon for letters. Party in evening a Mrs Frynn’s house for the Guiders & Local Assoc. members. Talk a lot.
Tuesday January 28th 1936
King George’s funeral day. To nice service in the Cathedral, & guides all paraded there too.
Heavy thunderstorm all afternoon.
Went to see Wayfarers at Native School – so nice seeing how keen they are.
“Camp Fire” in evening for Guides, but owing to wet had it indoors. Mrs Eden, very energetic Div. Com. & was guiding here in 1926 and 1931.
Wednesday January 29th 1936
Klipdam
Oh my programme. This is called “a day in the country”! Started from Kimberley at 9.30 with five car-loads of Guides, local Assoc. etc. Saw Wayfarers & Sunbeams on the road near Barklay West (speech). Arr at Barklay West & find Guides & Brownies & Local Assoc. & Scouts etc. in the Tow Hall. Inspect – tea – and speeches! Run on 20 miles to “River diggings” for diamonds at Gong Gong. Most interesting. Return – complete with my entourage to Barklay West & have vast picnic lunch by the Vaal River – rather charming.
Rush on then to Klipdam & find Guides & Brownies & Local Assoc. gathered there at the school. Inspect & talk to Guides & then give small speech to the grown ups. They presented me with a small diamond.
Then rush on again, followed by more cars to Windsorton. Tea party given by Local Assoc. – very hot, all very shy & rather painful short speeches! Yet another talk & thanks required & then the 40 mile drive back to Kimberley. And all this with the temperature at 96o!! A strenuous day
Mr Louis Oppenheimer and a nice old Mr Gillow (in diamonds) both staying here too.
Thursday January 30th 1936
Went over diamond works – the “[?] treatment” plant where they crush the rock, & the “pulsator” where the diamonds shake to the bottom of the mud & run out over greased tables. Afternoon visit De Beers offices & see £250,000 worth of diamonds spread out in heaps on show!
Tea party at the Lodge & I talk again on Guides to grown ups & small Rally of Guides in the garden – about 100 – of Kimberley, Douglas & Koffiefontain.
Leave on 8.30 train & seen off by kind friends
Friday January 31st 1936
Arr Johannesburg 7.0. Met by Scout & Guide Comms. Stay Carlton Hotel. Very nice being housed like that & free to do telephoning, meals etc.
Did letter all early morning - & at 10.0 did meeting of Local association members.
Rushed out to Roodepoort to visit the Guides Club House (Schielling) there that I visited in 1927. Saw & talked to about 100 Guides & Brownies, and Local Assoc. members.
Bet went too, & then we had quiet dinner & did more letters all evening.
February 1936
Our grateful thanks to Derek Elwell for the transcription.
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February 1925:
Monday 2 This is a quaint little place and just right for us. Quite primitive little inn but being right on the river makes it ideal, & M & Mme Etcheverry (host & hostess) most friendly & nice. Walk up the river and R. fishes the whole day in this lovely bouncing rocky river as I sit & watch him & read. To bed at 8.! & sleep almost the clock round!
Tuesday 3 Walked off again early with our nosebag & rods down the river. R. fished & I sat & read & then we lunched & Robin slept in the sunshine. Oh this is a jolly restful time-less and carefree holiday. We are revelling in it so & R. is so much better now, eating & sleeping so well.
Wednesday 4 Walked off again early with just the trout rod up the smaller river Jouri(? — unable to trace this one), that runs into the Nive just below this priceless pub. Exquisite rambly path winding up the valley all to ourselves. Sat and basked by the river on a sheltered gravel beach and had quite the jolliest of picnics. Lovely mountains at every turn to look at and the gurgling river is quite lovely too & perfect paradise of a spot.
Thursday 5 Walked to the Post Office and sent off letters and wires re our return home.
Trained up after déjeuner to Ossès (6 kilometres). Changed there and trundled on to St Etienne. Got a car there and went the most glorious drive up through the mountain pass to the Col d’Epergny (should be Col d’Ispéguy) — the Spanish frontier. Exquisite view of snow capped peaks miles away. Tea at St Etienne & looked at the quaint old church & then trained back to Bidarray.
Friday 6 The Montagu Kirkwoods turned up to call on us, having heard at St Jean Pied de Port that we were here. Lovely hot sunny day, & we strolled up the river again, and picnicked at the bend about 3 kilometres up. Refreshed — but no fish forthcoming as it is too early and the water is too low. Very cold at night here.
Saturday 7 Showering. Take our lunch out though and walk up the Jouri again & find jolly little shelter of an old barn with dry bracken to sit on & spend another idle holiday day drifting happily through the hours.
Sunday 8 Quite rainy. But it really doesn’t matter and we go off between the worst gusts up the Jouri to our little barn hut shelter place and sit there and have our lunch and read all day more or less, returning by the winding mountain path round by the quaint little old church on the hill.
Monday 9 Went for a last lovely ramble up the River Nive and Robin again fished and I sat & basked in the sun. Picnic lunch & then returned to the inn. Our luggage went to the station in an ox cart! Trained down the jolly valley to Bayonne. We stayed at comfy but noisy hotel near the station there. After dinner, having nothing to do we ran out by tram to see the waves by moonlight at Biarritz. Delightful.
Tuesday 10 Went off early in a hired car & drove past Biarritz to St Jean de Luz. Looked at the old palace & then on across the Spanish frontier at Hendaye. Through Irun and on to San Sebastian. Lunched at swagger(?) big hotel looking onto the jolly little bay, & so enjoyed it all. Drove round the cliff & then back to Bayonne via Fonterabbia (should be Fontarrabie). Lovely old world fortress town & most picturesque. Glorious views of mountains.
Wednesday 11 Left Bayonne at 8.0 & travelled all up through vine country to Poitiers, arriving there about 4.0. Stayed at quite comfy Hotel du Palais. Explored the old town of many churches & also went all over the wonderful old hall & sort of “municipal buildings” where Joan of Arc was tried — all stuffed with historical interest.
Thursday 12 Go for jolly ramble & explore & see inside the Church of Notre Dame & the cathedral & the church of St Rannigonde (should be Ste Radegonde). All very old and interesting, especially the latter where they pretend to have a foot print made by Christ!! Climb the hill & get fine view of the old town. Catch train to Paris, arriving there 8.40. A Cook’s man takes our luggage, & we go to dine & another cinema near La Madeleine& later catch night train for Cherbourg.
Friday 13 Rather a restless night, but might have been worse! Arrived Cherbourg about 5.0 & got up & went to Casino Hotel at 6.0. Bath and breakfast & then walked about Cherbourg & explored back streets & marine barracks in an old fort. Packed and went off in the Cunard tender at 10.30 & climbed into the giant “Berengaria” & sailed for Southampton. Glorious ship. Anchored off Cowes & some people landed late, but we slept on board.
Saturday 14 Woke to find ourselves alongside the dock. Breakfasted sumptuously and then at 9.0 the two babies arrived with Ganny in the car. Showed them all over the ship which they loved, & then motored home.
Settled in again and unpacked. Afternoon ran into Alton & saw the Guide World conf film etc and gave a long talk to the assembled audience.
Sunday 15 Did letters and puddled contentedly about this darling house. Took babies riding round by Isington. The Fair 6 motored by by chance & stopped for a chat. Put the babies to bed. They are pets.
Monday 16 Robin played with his trout breeding arrangements in the river at Isington. Took babies for a walk ride & had the two ponies shod with new shoes at Froyle.
Tuesday 17 To London. Guide H.Q. Committee. Dame Helen chaired. Good but small and very long meeting. Miss Arnoldi (from Canada) lunched with me at Gorrinjes. Did office letters. To chiropodist at the Stores & then to stay with Mother at her flat. She is very sweet & likes having me like this.
Wednesday 18 Went to Stuarts agency in Fulham Rd to try & find elusive housemaids. Then to Guide Office & had long talk with dear old Ba. Did letters with Lettice. Lunch at flat. Go to see the eye man, Mr Clark. Says the eyes are much stronger & alters glasses. Then to see new dentist that Mother goes to called Harvey (7 Stratford Place). Good & nice & stopped two teeth quite painlessly. Bridget Hill to tea at the flat.
Thursday 19 Went to interview housemaids at various agencies, all rather unsatisfactory and it really is an awful business haggling over this pursuit of a housemaid so long. Lunched at the Fullers, & went to Guide office. Home by the 3.0 train & R. met me, having taken the babies to the dancing class at the Bourne.
Friday 20 Robin to London for the Mercers & also saw his doctor Niall who thinks him much improved & orders another 6 months’ rest. Ride walk with babies taking Audrey Jones also on Barrel. Such a nice wee kid of 4. Mrs Baldwin called. She is shortly leaving Willey(?) & offers me her pony & her housemaid!!
Saturday 21 Leave Pax early to go to Greater London Rally at Woolwich. Horrible crowded train journey with Rosie Kerr to Blackheath & lunch there with Hughling(?) Jackson (the O.C.). rally took place in the Town Hall, & the Guides sang well & gave good little displays. Rosie talked & then I talked & all went off well. Rosie & I had an extra high tea together at Waterloo. Miss Joan Arnoldi (Canada) travelled down with me to Pax
Sunday 22 Our birthday again. Lots of kind greetings, & flowers & presents from Ganny & maids. Drove Miss Arnoldi (and Annie for a treat) down to Foxlease for lunch. Nice Brown Owls there doing a “week” & they were nice. Ran on & saw the Haut Commissioners also having a conference at the Balmer Lawn(?) Hotel. Home in time for tea. The Rays came for tea. Miss Arnoldi left by 5.44.
Monday 23 Took the children for a walk round by Isington as it was too cold to ride. Fixed up with temporary housemaid at last!
Tuesday 24 Run off in the car after lunch. Call & see a housemaid of Mrs Baldwin’s who will come in April. Took Yvonne to see dentist, Mr Barton, at Woking & he stopped some of her teeth. Fetched out Peter and Christian & Clare and Heather from school & ran out to Chertsey & had a huge tea there in a restaurant by the river. They were jolly! Dropped them all again at their schools & got home late.
Wednesday 25 Poured literally all day & the garden is a swamp. Winifred Hale (a temporary housemaid) came.
Thursday 26 Robin went with Mr Ray to Odiham to see about the fish for the river. Babies to the dancing class. By the 4.1 to London & to stay with Mother at the flat. R. and I to “Hamlet” at the Haymarket. John Barrymore, the American, was really very fine and good, but Fay Compton very poor as Ophelia. What wonderful language it all is, and it was a good presentation of it.
Friday 27 To Guide office. Then to see Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan at Birkbeck College (where she is professor of Botany etc.) to chat about Guide things. To Hamblin re glasses. Lunch with Rosie Kerr at the club. Run back to the flat & take Mother out — to see dresses at “Celia”, to tea at Delray in Brompton Rd and then to a service with a charming address by the Preb. Gough at Brompton Church.
Saturday 28 Robin goes home to Pax. Run up “to London” early for the flat & go to Rally at Chelmsford. Travel down there with Rosie and Lady Agnes Peel, who has just taken sister in law Agnes B-P’s place as C.C. Lunch at Mrs Hanbury’s house, near Chelmsford, in her absence with several Essex D.C’s. Meeting of Guides and grown ups in the Corn Exchange. I introduced Lady Agnes, and talked to Guides & everybody made speeches. No displays which was bad. Home to Pax again.
March 1925
Our grateful thanks to Derek Elwell for the transcription.
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Sunday 1 Robin’s niece Maud & her husband Hervey Moore and his three tiny daughters came down from London for lunch. Poured with rain so they had to play about indoors. Gen & Mrs Smithson (an old ex 13th who served with Robin) came over to tea from Hascombe with her niece Miss Mordaunt!
Monday 2 Trout came over from Odiham and we all go down to the river bridge (towards station) & see them turned out of the cans into the river. Walk ride with children to Isington. Miss Smith joins me on the road with James. Pack for our trip in the car to Scotland.
Tuesday 3 Start off at 8.30 in “Jimmajor” with bag and baggage stowed inside. Go via Reading to Oxford. Call & see Lady Burrows for a brief chat & then go to Brasenose & see nephew Bobbie B-P.
Then run on to Aylesbury & lunch at St John’s Lodge with dear old Aunt Connie Smyth & Hilda B-P. Bundle on after to Newport Pagnell & call at Gayhurst(?) but the Carliles were away. Had tea at Northampton & run on to Kettering and sleep there at the Royal Hotel.
Wednesday 4 On the road north. Started off again & ran to Stamford on the Great North Rd. Thence to Grantham. Called to see old ex-butler Hardy there, but he was away. Ran on via Newark to Tuxford. Lunched at delightful clean inn (Newcastle Arms) there, & explored old church. Then on to Retford and Doncaster, thinking to stop at Wetherby. Nasty looking place so pushed quietly on to Boroughbridge. Stayed at excellent Three Greyhounds hotel & explore old village of Aldboro’ (Aldborough, Yorks.) where they have wonderful old Roman remains. Also saw very interesting 3 old big Stonehenge-y sort of stones near.
Thursday 4 Started off again North. Stopped at Richmond where R lived in 1907 & explored the castle. Then ran on over ugly mine country rather(?) via Princebridge, Tow Law, etc. Very up & down and bad road. Picnic lunch near Riding Hall. Right on to Haixty(?) to see Abel Chapman’s animal museum. He was away. Back to tea at Chesters with Mrs Clayton, & saw wonderful Roman remains there. Stayed at Abbey Hotel at Hexham.
Friday 5 Amused ourselves by going to an excellent cinema last night! Walked round abbey restored very ugly-ly. Off again past Chesters & ran along the old Roman Wall road. Gorgeous views each side. Went up to Borcovicus (Housesteads) and saw splendid old Roman camp unearthed there & the Wall well preserved. Picnic lunch on hill near Bank. On past ruined old Lanercost Priory, Bampton, Longtown, Gretna Green, Ecclefechan, Lockerbie to Moffat. Stopped at “Moffat House” hotel for tea & then decide to stop the night there, comfy ex-private house.
Saturday 6 Off again and do a glorious 20 mile run through wild hills and uninhabited country past St Mary’s Lake to Inverleithen, Peebles and thence to Edinburgh. Through the town to Queensferry and there we lunch in the car in front of the Forth Bridge. Wait an hour for the ferry& then bundle across the Forth. Drive then through hideous mining town of Cowdenbeath to Kinross, Milnathort & arrive at Bridge of Earn to stay with Aubyn Wilson.
Sunday 8 They have got Moncrieffe House, very comfy & jolly hills round about. Walk into Bridge of Earn to see their village sign (like an open book like ours at Bentley). Wash the car, in biting wind! Ian Wilson (Aubyn’s younger brother) & his wife Molly came over from St Andrews for afternoon and tea. Loaf about. Aubyn’s three kids nice. Kynan, Jonne(?) and small boy as well.
Monday 9 Snowing. Run into Perth early and R. and Aubyn go to fish for salmon on the Tay & I trundle down by train to London. Nice journey, with lovely views of the Lake District & then also able to settle down to read for several hours. Arrive London 7.30 & go to sleep at Mother’s flat. She likes my popping in like this now and again.
Tuesday 10 Leave flat and call at Guide H.Q. and do letters there. Home to Pax in time for lunch. Take babies for ride walk round by Isnage(?) and the “up and down lane”. Delicious being home again and Robin will be very happy having his precious fishing in Scotland for a week or two.
Wednesday 11 To performance at the village hall, got up by Mrs Eggar. Helen Whittaker & Ann Kindersley did a sort of play of Ann’s called “Colour”. Mrs Eggar did “Mrs Jarley(?) to waxworks” all funny & up to date and very well done by her & Miss Archer, Eileen Harrap etc. and Helen did charming play called Kitty Clive too. Tea with the nice Ray’s. Katherine Furse to stay at Pax.
Thursday 12 Katherine left. She is a very wonderful person, and we talked for long hours last night. Drove the babies in to the dancing class at the Bourne. Wire from Robin saying he has caught a fish!
Friday 13 Motored up to Woking in Jimmi & left him in a garage there, & train on to London. To Guide office & see Monty & on to Mother’s flat to lunch. Her old friend Miss Adelaide Fontblanc(?) to lunch. Take Mother to see dresses at Machinka(?), Then to fill time we go to see a film at the “Capitol”. Tea at De Brys & to Brompton church service with good sermon by Gough. Mrs Carl Lazel to dinner.
Saturday 14 Shop and call at Guide office. See “Peki” dress maker about a dress for a Court this spring. Train to Woking & run in Jimmi to fetch Peter from school & then fetch Christian, Clare & Heather too. Lunch then at the Huts Hotel at Wisley. Played in the woods and then the Surrey drag hounds met there. Children very thrilled! Dump them back at their schools & bundle home. Tea with Mrs Baldwin en route. Olivia Burges & her man Stuart Rawlins and Herchard Mornsey-Heysham(?) to stay at Pax.
Sunday 15 Olivia very happy being engaged to S. Rawlins & he seems very nice. Ride walk & send O. & her man off on Toppy & Dido for a bit! They left after lunch. Herchard helps me with E?? the spaniel & leaves after nursery tea to go back to Aldershot. He is nephew to dear old friend Ba, & in Scots Guards. A most unusual boy. Talked to Ganny about his probably leaving in the autumn.
Monday 16 To London early. Shop. See Mrs Dixon at H.Q. with Katherine Furse & Rosie Kerr re horrid trouble in Dublin over Guide matters. All lunch together at the ex-service women’s club. H.Q. Executive meeting. Dame Helen G.V. as usual excellent & so sound in the Chair. Home to Pax. Happy letters from Robin in Scotland enjoying his fishing so much.
Tuesday 17 Did letters etc. To London by 11.20 train. Rush to the office. Mrs Hughes (Nigeria) & Mrs Harrison Crawford (D.C.C. Scotland) lunch at Gorrinjes with me. H.Q. Council meeting at 2.30. Over well & quickly. All adjourn to see the Guide World camp film at picture theatre near. Then the H.Q. Council has a nice tea party at the Rubens for itself & all County Comms who like. Lots there & all very easy & happy. And then they gave me my Standard. It is lovely & touching & sweet. Home — & so happy.
Wednesday 18 Wrote letters to some of the dear kind Guide people who have made the glorious present for me. It has taken two years to make & has been subscribed for by all the County Commissioners and some overseas people; and given in recognition of what I have done! As if I didn’t love it all! But it really is too sweet there (sic) giving it to me & the Standard itself is quite beautiful. Miss Martin to stay a night.
Thursday 19 At the presentation to me of the Standard on Tuesday the ceremony was: Jenny Crewton acted as spokesman on behalf of the C.Cs. Rachel May Shuttleworth carried it with Duchess of Abercorn (Ulster) & Miss Mara (Canada) as colour party. I took it and handed it to Fflorens (sic) Roch (D.C.C. Wales) to hold for me & she had as colour party Rosie Kerr & Mrs Hartson Cranford (D.C.C’s). Take babies to their dancing class and shop in Farnham.
Friday 20 Ganny went off for holiday. Motored to Reading in Jimmi & dumped him there. To London. Katherine F & Mrs D’Avigdor met me there and took me to the London Guiders’ School. My Standard paraded with me there for the first time! Talked on overseas guiding for an hour to these fresh guiders. Lunch with Monty at Gorrinjes. Catch 3.15 from Paddington to Gloucester. Heini(?) Burges met me with her car & together we go to stay with Mrs Georgina(?) Holford at Hartpury(?) House.
Saturday 21 Such a quaint Hostess! But I enjoyed her and her unusual-ness & language! The daughter is D.C. for Gloucester. Strolled in jolly garden & talked shop with Miss Bruce, the C.C. To Cheltenham for excellent Glos County Rally, about 1800 Guides and all cheery & good & well run show in large Town Hall. Lots of Commissioners & people I knew & all delightfully friendly & nice. Caught 5.50 train from Gloster (sic) to Reading & drive home from there in the dark 23 miles in 1½ hours in Jimmi.
Sunday 22 It is jolly getting back to my own dear home always after these outings! Do all my “following up” letters of thanks comfortably. Take the two babies for a nice walk & they have tea downstairs with me for a treat. Robin very happy in Scotland all this time catching health, but no fish!
Monday 23 Mrs Eggar comes to lunch, to have a good old chat. Take children for ride walk by Faulkener’s to Duncans. My old former governess Frida to stay. Miss Fflorens Roch and Mrs Fairweather come together by road from London for the night in Fflorens’ car. Ruth and Gladys Ainsworth to dinner. Quite a gay little hen party!
Tuesday 24 Fflorens & Mrs Fairweather left. Frida & I motored off in Jimmi & picnicked near Pyrford. Called on Peter, & showed Frida his school. Then picked up Heather & Christian and Clare at St Mary’s Hill and took to the Woking Guides sale of work. Bought things, inspected the guiders & helped to open it, though I only went unofficially — in uniform fortunately! Tea with Miss Rayner at her (on to next page) house, Brantwood, near to the Guides Hut there. Called on “Jonah” Strode too & then home. Dear old Frida enjoys this all very much.
Wednesday 25 Wrote letters and “did about”. Called on Annie, & took babies for briefest of ride walks. Ganny returned from her holiday.
Thursday 26 Betty was a bit sick last night, and is left in bed. Took Frida & dropped Yvonne at dancing class. Had my hair washed & shopped in Farnham & home to tea. Dear good Monty (the Guides General Secretary) came for the night & we talked shop hard!
Friday 27 Left Pax early for London & catch excellent 11.45 from St Pancras. Read and have comfy meals on the train and arrive Carlisle 6.22. Darling Robin meets me there with the car, having run down from Kelso in time. Bundle out together to dear ugly old Castletown to stay with Ba Heysham & young Herchard(?) who is home on a week’s leave to celebrate his coming of age.
Saturday 28 Go off in both cars to Warwick Hall & Robin & Herchard fish vigorously all day and catch nothing. Ba and I call on her sister in law (Baroness Inez Boescheger[?]) who is now in the Benedictine convent here. Too awful to contemplate people burying themselves like that. She talked with us from behind a grille. Picnic lunch by the river & then Ba and I went to Langholm to tea with Mrs Milne Home (C.C. for Dumfries). Had chance to stay at Castletown.
Sunday 29 Morecambe: It is delightful being here and with Ba and takes me back in mind to the years — 1900 & onwards when we used to come so often and I was a mere child then — was so devoted to her.
Left Castletown in the car & drove to Penrith. Then turned off through glorious mountains, past Ullswater, over the steep Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside. Called at the ??? of Education there & discussed a possible governess for us in autumn. Called on nice Dr Henderson& Mr Sladen (Scout men) at Windermere. Thence via Kendal & a picnic tea at Sizergh Castle to Morecambe & stayed night at comfy Grand Hotel facing the sands.
Monday 30 Bridgnorth: Left Morecambe and ran through Lancaster, Preston, Wigan and Warrington. Oh the ghastliness of these black ugly lands! And how wonderful that the people should look as well and happy as they do! Picnic lunch near Lymm in the car and then to Altrincham to call on the Behrens. Found all of them very seedy & sad. Called also on the Gaddums(?) (Scout man) & they were so pleased to see us. Run on thence via Northwich, Tarporley & Whitchurch & Wellington to stay at good Crown Hotel, Bridgnorth.
Tuesday 31 Woodstock: Walked about the quaint little old town perched on the side of the hill. Motored off again to Worcester & went over the cathedral. Picnic lunched on a side road on the way thence to Pershore. Called at Pershore on Ganny’s dull parents. Ran on to Broadway & had tea & long talk with nice Rita Sandford (née Flower) & daughter Honora, who is R’s god-daughter & guider. Also called & saw Rita’s mother, old Mrs Edgar Flower aged 92! Quite bright & delighted to see Robin. Her husband (then runs on to page for Wednesday 1 April) Edgar Flower was brother to Sir William Flower who married Robin’s mother’s sister — funny old Aunt Rosie. Ran on from there via Chipping Norton to Woodstock & slept there at very comfy old Bear Hotel.
April 1925
Our grateful thanks to Derek Elwell for the transcription.
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Wednesday 1 Walked about Blenheim Park, & felt bad & very socialistic at the wrongness of a “wrong ’un” having this huge place as a gift from the nation. He ought to give it back!! Ran back to Oxford & via Wallingford to Pangbourne. There we trespassed into Purley Hall grounds, & picnic lunched on the hill looking down on the house where we lived from Dec. 1901 to May 1904. Such fun, & met the gardener who had also gardened near my other old home Bradfield, Laurie. Coincidences do happen. Lovely getting back to Pax again in afternoon. Peter home & in bed with small chill.
Much of Wednesday written on Thursday 2 page, with date scratched out and no apparent entry for Thursday itself.
Friday 3 Lettice Hill came down for the day to do letters. Robin to London for the Mercers. Peter in bed again but nothing bad. Betty & Yvonne also have slight colds. To Farnham to shop & am photographed with my old violin, Diana, which Ba Heysham bought for me & gave to the Guides Assoc.
Saturday 4 To London early. See Mrs Rogers Watts at H.Q. about her lecturing on “poise” overseas on her tour. From Euston by 12.0 train to Llandrindod Wells for Conference there of guiders and Comms. Such a jolly nice fresh lot of people & gave me a great welcome. About 140 present. Talked to them about overseas guiding & had my Standard there proudly to be shown!
Sunday 5 Did letters & went for a small walk in morning & chatted on with these nice friendly Welsh guiders. Miss Matheson spoke awfully well on “Adolescence” and Miss Chilton Thomas on Brownies. Had small special session for Commissioners only. Miss Noel spoke in evening extremely badly on the Ideal Guide. Otherwise an excellent Conference.
Monday 6 Left Llandrindod Wells 8.53 — seen off by dear nice enthusiastic Guide people & travel to London with Monty, Miss Ewing Matheson (clever woman) & Dorothy Drage. To H.Q. office & see Mrs Whittaker Maitland re Guides in Jersey. Change clothes & go to stay with Mother at her flat. See “Penny” Charles, former governess to Christian & Clare in case she might come to us this autumn.
Tuesday 7 Leave flat early. Call at “Petra” re dress for Court in May. To Guide H.Q. & see Mrs Ashwright(?) (D.C. for Croydon) re a guide who has earned the loan of my fiddle which Ba has given to the Movement. Leave Waterloo& Carpenter joins train at Surbiton. Pick up Christian and Heather at Woking & get home to Pax for lunch. Carpenter leaves in afternoon. Eustice Penberthy to stay the night. Robin went to the Mercers.
Wednesday 8 Eustice left. Really lovely summer day. Wrote all morning. Took children out riding. They are so happy being home again. Pichie and Lord Hampton came to stay the night. Robin rather seedy. Old Chase Clayfon(? — looks different from the “t” in “Hampton”) (82 year old Mercer) called here for tea yesterday on his way to Bournemouth.
Thursday 9 Lord Hampton and Pichie left. Take Peter, Christian and Heather into Farnham to shop for Easter. Gardened in the rose garden. P. to Wolf Cubs.
Friday 10 Off early in Jimmajor — R. & me& Peter & Heather — & go to Hungerford via Newbury. Explore the Trout Hatchery there. On to Ramsbury & call on Shuttleworths for five minutes. Picnic lunch by a stream beyond Aldbourne. On through Swindon to Cirencester & see old church there. Tea picnic near Birdlip & arrive at 6.0 at Hartpury House to stay with Mrs Georgina Holford & daughter. Kids very shy naturally being amongst strangers in so large a house!! Mrs Hanbury Tracey & her kids (Buffy 16 & Tiger 12) also staying here & young Jack Money a sailor.
Saturday 11 All off early in two car loads to see the Severn Bore near Elmore below Gloster (sic). Most interesting. The wave itself not so big as I expected but most thrilling seeing it rush up & the river turn & run the wrong way! Olivia & co saw us there for a wee talk. Motor over to see lovely old “Owlpen” House. Picnic tea on a hill near Hartpury & the children rode blissfully on donkey & pony. Mr & Mrs Spender and Miss Harford also came to stay. Nice house party!
Sunday 12 Left directly after breakfast & stopped & saw the Bore again by the bridge near Gloucester. Most attractive thing! Up Crickley Hill & via Fairford to Lechlade. Picnic lunch by river & Robin fished for an hour. On via Farringdon & Wantage & Newbury & picnic tea on the heather near “Essert(?)” there. Home — after a lovely beautiful run.
Monday 13 Such plans materialising for our change for the babies this autumn. Ganny has come to the end of her tether now & finds these five too much for her, so she leaves probably in July. Yvonne will go to St Mary’s Hill school in Sept. & we shall have our own darling Heather Penny here to lessons with a new gov. here instead. I don’t regret her time at school but home is best!!
Tuesday 14 Showery. Took the children for ride walk & gardened. This family of our own & other people’s children is a handful! & they are all so different & very difficult to deal with properly.
Wednesday 15 Robin & I take Peter & Christian to shop in Farnham. Buy tennis equipment for them all to start learning the game. Miss Parsons (of the Girl Scouts of America) comes for afternoon & tea with her niece & companion, Miss Robertson, en route for Foxlease.
Thursday 16 Betty’s birthday. She feels “very big” now she is eight! Easter Egg party in afternoon. Five particularly nice Carver children, Harraps, Robertsons, Shepherd Cross children, Jones, James Wade & Knights came & played games in the music room. Rose Holland, new permanent housemaid came.
Friday 17 Miss Pennicuick Clarke, former governess to Clare & Christian came to lunch & talked over the idea of coming to us later in the year. Robin and I to stay with Mother at the flat & went & “did host & hostess” for the Charterhouse Ball. About 450 people & the most hideous dresses — tight short & fashionable! Got away before supper as it was tiring for R. Miss Bliss, the Hon Sec. managed it well.
Saturday 18 Buy some clothes at Celia’s & Gorrinje’s. Lunched at the flat with Mother & R. & we went together to see the sketches at the annual show of the London Sketch Club that R. belongs to. Pichie joined us there. Thence to see the film (“R.N.R.I.” — presumably “I.N.R.I.”, German film from 1923) of the life & death of Christ at the Philharmonic Hall. Extremely bad & stupid when it might have been so good. Home to Pax.
Sunday 19 Herchard Maunsey-Heysham came over from Aldershot for the night yesterday& played about with the kids & us all today. Played tennis with them. Such fun whacking the ball again! Haven’t played since the old old days at Gray Rigg in the summer of 1912 before we married! & as nice now playing again with my own kids.
Monday 20 Walk ride round by Isington.
Tuesday 21 Struan Robertson comes over for the day to play with the others. Robin to London just for the Mercers’ Dinner & home at midnight. His “home-coming” is always delicious as he arrives looking so lovely in evening dress & all his medals & “orders”, and then he sits and has “Ovaltine” & tells me all about his guests & speeches.
Wednesday 22 All went down to the river to see some big trout put in from Hungerford Fish Farm. Robin took Peter over to Reading & did some fishing near there with a man called Chapman. Nell Gwynne Holford came in her car to stay the night. Christian, Heather & Betty to tea with the Ainsworths.
Thursday 23 Nell Gwynne Holford left. Took Christian & Heather & Peter in Jimmajor to Foxlease, where the “Dip week” is going on. Lunched with them & children picnicked alone in the Barn. Talked to the Dips in afternoon. Such a nice lot, & Carpenter “acting” as Commandant. Went over Romsey Abbey & picnicked near Winchester on the way home.
Friday 24 Robin to London for the Mercers. Took babies to shop in Farnham & then all to tea with the Carvers at Shortheath. She is nice (D.C. in Alexandria) & her five children are charming. Helen Whittaker came to lunch at Pax too with her boy, Mark, & Ann Kindersley.
Saturday 25 Wrote letters, gardened etc. Children to party with Mrs Richards in Farnham & I bundled off to London. Had tea with Aunt Ger who has moved into a nice flat in Abingdon Court. To Mother at her flat to stay the night. To the Q.M.A.A.C. officers’ dinner at the Forum Club as guest of Dame Helen. Returned thanks for the guests & Dame Maud Macarthy (should be “McCarthy”) spoke too. She was Matron in Chief during the war in France.
Sunday 26 Went home to Pax again. Struan Robertson came to play with the kids in afternoon, and all the nice Carvers came to tea too. Robin had lumbago in his poor back, & felt seedy too. He is certainly NOT taking the 6 months complete rest Dr Niall ordered! the darling slave that he is to his task.
Monday 27 Robin better & went to see Dr Hussey. Then decided to go off alone with Peter in the car for a jaunt & got to Southam & stayed the night there. The nice Ray’s & their friend Mrs Hughes, the Shepherd Cross girls & boys, Col. & Mrs Trevor Wright from Emshott (should be Empshott) came to tea & played tennis between showers.
Tuesday 28 Took Christian to London, & left her to finish holidays with Mother. Try on my Court train at “Celia”’s; & also get new day dress at Gorrinje’s. Lunch with Mother at the flat. H.Q. Committee in afternoon. Dame Helen chaired & all very nice. Home to Pax taking dear Alice Behrens too for the night.
Wednesday 29 Alice leaves. Take Betty & Yvonne to be fitted by Miss Shenfield for some summer & school things. Heather also to Bentall to be measured for new riding things. “Ride walk” on my bike up to Barley Pound & lose my tiger bone brooch, on the far steep hill. Bike again in evening to find it safely by the side of the road.
Thursday 30 Take children for another “pony-bicycle-walk-ride” up by Barley Pound. Robin returns home with Peter, Having had a jolly run round the Isle of Wight. Peter to Wolf Cubs.
May 1925
Our grateful thanks to Derek Elwell for the transcription.
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Friday 1 May 1925:
Robin to London early for the Mercers. Take James Wade with Eileen to have his hair cut in Farnham — ditto Heather & Peter. Then run on to drop P’s luggage at school. Picnic lunch between Byfleet & Cobham. Pick up R. at Esher Station. See some houses near Esher for Mother as she wants to live there! All had tea with Helen Talbot at Glenhurst, Esher & then drop Peter at school on the way home.
Saturday 2 May 1925:
Babies all go out for a lunch picnic. Violet Parrett, the little between maid for the holidays, left. Gardened. The nice Rays & Mrs Hughes to tea. The latter is Australian but lives in Ceylon.
Sunday 3 May 1925:
Garden. Two boys from Sandhurst, Critchley & Loftus who want to go into Robin’s 13th/18th Hussars came to lunch, for him to vet them as Hon. Col! Walked over the hill in the rain with R. & kids rode.
Monday 4 May 1925:
This page appears blank, but with a lot of print-through from following pages, so trust nothing missed here …
Tuesday 5 May 1925:
Robin takes the babies to the river for a ride walk. After dinner when “snugging” Heather in for the night I tell her the secret plan about Yvonne going to school in September & her coming home for good. She was so thrilled & is such a darling & though she tries not to cry she hates going away — & I hate it too!
Wednesday 6 May 1925:
Off early in Jimmajor with Heather etc. Drop Betty & Yvonne at Farnham to do clothes wih GAnny. Drop Heather’s luggage at St Mary’s Hill. Call on Peter at Dane Court & give him his bat, prayer book & ball of string! Meet Mother in her car at Esher with the C’s a & picnic there. Take Mother to look at nice “Moore Place Hotel” with a view to going there sometime. Also call & see Helen Talbot at Glenhurst where Mother used to stay 40 years ago! Mother takes Heather on to school with the others & I go home!
Thursday 7 May 1925:
R. to lunch with 13th Hussars at Aldershot.
Friday 8 May 1925:
Robin to London for Mercers. Poured with rain. Prepared my speech for Swanwick. Ganny to London about a job. Nursie bundled off in the car to nursing home at Woking & has baby daughter born at 1.0 in the night. Picked R. up in the car at Farnham, called on the De Courcy Shorts & then to tea with the Trevor Wrights at Heath House. Several people there. Returned via Crondall. Monty to stay the night.
Saturday 9 May 1925:
Blank page.
Sunday 10 May 1925:
Mrs Eggar calls very “Sunday-fied” to find me gardening in my “scrub kit”.
Monday 11 May 1925:
Eileen up to do R’s work & does some letters for me too. Run Ganny & children into Farnham to shop & have hair cut etc.
Tuesday 12 May 1925:
Blank page.
Wednesday 13 May 1925:
Swanwick Conference begins.
Thursday 14 May 1925:
Miss. Fetch Violet Parrett.
Next two days left blank.
Sunday 17 May 1925:
Most of us to church & “the Preb” Gough preaches very well. Miss Niven spoke on “The need of the World” & Dr Henderson (Chief Scouts Commissioner) quite beautifully on guiding generally. Very jolly camp fire after dinner & we all sang and then “summed up” thanked everybody & talked a bit. All very nice.
Monday 18 May 1925:
Hurry & bustle early & we all begin to go as the “noiseless Swanwick” ends. It has been a nice conference. To London. Do office work & shop. To overseas guide tea party at Eve Fisher Rowe house in Thurlowe (sic — should be Thurloe) Square. Very nice. To stay with Aunt Ger at her flat. Join Robin at Princes & attend the Mafeking dinner on the 25th anniversary. See R off to Scotland in his sleeper.
Tuesday 19 May 1925:
Very nice being with Aunt Ger & having the car here too. To Guide H.Q. Committee. Lunch at Gorrinjes. Fit new guide uniform. Call on Mrs Rawnsley (C.C. Lincs) in a nursing home in Park Lane. Tea with Alice Behrens at her aunt’s flat near Mother’s where she lives with our old friend Mrs Moffat. Run down to Woking & see Nursie & her wee baby & also call & see Jonah Strode. Then home in time for dinner.
Wednesday 20 May 1925:
Alice had a lesson from Court on how to drive a car! & then left for Manchester. I rode dear “Sweetie” the new pony we have bought from Mrs Georgina Holford. She carried me well & great fun going all together — Betty on Dido & Yvonne on Toppy.
Thursday 21 May 1925:
Off in Jimmajor at midday & lunch at St Mary’s Hill with Heather etc. Drop maids at Nursie’s nursing home & on to London & stay at Mother’s flat though she was away. Take cousin Bridget Hill to her first Court. Great fun & felt & looked nice in a new pink dress!! Very wonderful night though I don’t like the display of jewels worth millions!!
Friday 22 May 1925:
Car takes Aunt Ger for a jaunt to Kew. I shop & do work in the office. Lunch with Aunt Ger & Bridget & then run home, calling in on Heather & Nursie again on the way at Woking. Happy letters from Robin enjoying himself in Scotland.
Saturday 23 May 1925:
Car fetches Angela Shuttleworth & her daughter Nancy from Lasham for lunch & tea. Mrs Duthy calls & has tea too. Olive Nicholl & Miss Mara (guide Comm. For B.C. Canada) come to stay. Drive Angela back to Lasham in evening. Gladys Ainsworth to dinner, as she is going off to nurse a sick sister in Canada next week & wanted to meet Miss Mara.
Sunday 24 May 1925:
Miss Mara left. Herchard Mounsey-Heysham came over from Aldershot for tea & dinner & rode with the children on Sweetie & played his bagpipes to us.
Monday 25 May 1925:
Olive Nicholl went off back to London in her car. Ride walk to Froyle. Took the two babies to tea with Mrs Robertson. An eight lb. salmon came from Robin in Scotland.
Tuesday 26 May 1925:
Mrs Rose Price, Guide Commissioner in Mandalay came to lunch en route from Foxlease. Erica Bradbourne (cousin — niece also of Aunt Gertrude Hill) & her child Mary aged 6. came to stay. We hadn’t really met & talked together since she came as a child with her mother to stay at Bradfield in 1906.
Wednesday 27 May 1925:
Poured without stopping the whole day. Derby Day. Stuck photos & scraps in Ganny’s book & my own. Helen Whittaker & Ann Kindersley called for a chat about the Guide doings in Belgium & Dublin.
Thursday 28 May 1925:
R. returns to London from Scotland for 13th/18th dinner. Trout arrived from him, caught in Loch Dupplin.
Friday 29 May 1925:
Took the babies & rode Sweetie — who is now re-christened Dandie — & had her shod at Froyle. R. came home from London, looking much better. Eileen Wade to dinner.
Saturday 30 May 1925:
Went off directly after lunch & picked up Peter & Christian & Heather & Clare & took them off to tea at the Wheatsheaf Hotel at Virginia Water. They loved it & were like a lot of puppies let loose! Played in the woods & then back via Staines, dropping them at their respective schools again.
Sunday 31 May 1925:
Old friend of Robin’s Tom Elliott & his wife came to stay, coming in their car like Jimmajor from their home near Kelso, N.B.
June 1925
Our grateful thanks to Derek Elwell for the transcription.
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