pmLeader's photostream

Dramatis Personae, (people of the play, I think) as they say in plays (i.e. who's in it).

The woman is Queen Mary. Not the Queen Mother who died of gin poisoning a year or so ago, but George Vth's wife,

It was taken in the Italian Gardens at Chiswick House, late 40's or early 50s. It was a Sunday. Don is in his demob suit. Don is my dad, grandad of Joel and Adam, grandfather of Damian, Jamie, Robin and Jake.

If you zoom in, I think it's clear (notwithstanding that it's a b&w photo scanned up in COLOUR mode (b&w ruined it ,it's very old)), then you'll see she's saying (as Don used to say that she was) 'Who the hell do you think you are?'

The park had been taken over from the Devonshires (Duke + Duchess (the present one, Deborah, was a Mitford. Her sister, Diana married Moseley, the British fascist )) It was in lieu of Death Duties (1929)

They still want it back. Queen Mary was there on reconnoiter. The war might have left it vulnerable for reposesssion.

Don is saying 'Come round to the Parks Office, seven o'clock sharp, on Monday morning, and I'll see what I can do about getting you a proper job, with the Council. A bit of gardening or pricking out suit you, ma'am?'

He really did believe that class of person should take their turn working hard manually for a generation or two.

The woman in the background in glasses was her Lady-in-Waiting