[Varley]

Interesting indeed. Anyone hear radio 4 this morning. Of the diminishing crowd celebrated at this time of year was a lady who copied German radio traffic for intelligence. The reporter mentioned that in her unbroadcast chat she had boasted of being the only old lady in her road who could use a machine gun.

Reminded me of an old family friend who had driven the Dutch Royal Family during their exile. She died after a fire in her flat at 90. While I was helping her niece to clear-up we found her personal security device in her bedside drawer. Knuckle dusters! I wonder if our generation would respond in such numbers as did hers and with such spirit. It was not universal. We had a Cousin who de-camped to Ireland to avoid serving and whilst Pa hurried back from the Argentine Ma resisted joining until she was conscripted and thought the whole affair beneath her.