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Since writing the above, my aunt, the only surviving member of the family has recounted two more incidents which you may find interesting. Grandfather liked a glass of beer which he couldn’t really afford and he would say to Granny, have you got a “latch lifter”, by this he meant a penny because he knew if he got inside the pub he would win at dominoes and therefore get the rest of the evening’s beer free, what a character! But this was the way people lived ‘hand to mouth’ existence really.
As a young wife with two young children she (Ellen) lived next door to a large family of girls their name was Weedon, (1) one of these children was very ill with diptheria and Granny went round to help. Mrs. Weedon said “Go away. You have two young ones” but Granny said a suckling baby never catches anything. The Doctor came and said the only thing to save this child’s life is Champagne. Granny left her children and went up Marlow Hill, then a very narrow country lane, along the drive to Dawes Hill House, knocked on the door, the home of Lord Carrington, who was in residence. The butler asked her her business and she said “Can I speak to His Lordship please” he said “He’s at dinner but I’ll try to get a message to him”. In a little while he came and when she told him she wanted champagne for a dying child he said “Who are you, the Good Samaritan of the Yard”, Granny said “I don’t know about that” but he gave her a bottle. He was most highly thought of in Wycombe because of his great humanity and kindness.
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