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10 June 1902 — 3 Savile Row | |
Tuesday. 10th [June 1902]. At 11 A.M. Blanche sent me word she was not well eno’ to go to Canford & her carriage took me to Waterloo Station to leave by 12.15 train. I found Cecil & Kate there– They had come up from Peterboro’ where Cecil is now in residence. Arthur Du Cane met us there & we went together– He provided us with a cold lunch. We reached Wimborne at 3.24– Louis DC. met us at the station– Mildred Mansell was there also. Hallam Murray & his sister Marian & 2 of the Edmund Du Canes. Ivor had sent an oil motor car to bring us from the station which brought us to Canford in abt 5 mins: I disliked the rapid motion. The funeral was fixed for 4 o’cl & drove over from Bournemouth– Canford Church was arranged with white flowers & high palms & mauve & white rhododendron flowers—& the chancel was bright & pretty. Cecil Alderson did the service helped by the clergyman of the parish. The coffin was of light oak—without a pall & covered with white flowers. Poor Richard Du Cane who looked very old & bent & is over 82 years of age was led by his eldest daughter Alice Murray & his ten children surrounded him. We, the family, all sat in the stalls of the chancel & the coffin in the middle– Then we followed to the grave which was simply dug in the earth & lined with white flowers—& all was soon over. Her grave was next to our mother’s & between it & Arthur’s. We all returned to the church & the Te Deum was sung & the bells pealed– These last things were rather a trial & I dont know who is responsible for this odd arrangement. Richard & the family returned to Branksome Dene. Constance had gone down there the day before & returned to town with Cecil, Kate, Edward D., Ivor, Ola & I after we had had tea in the Long gallery. Ivor & Edward had slept last night at Canford. We went to the station in 2 motor cars & left for London at 6 P.M. getting there abt 9. I went home & straight to bed being very tired. Our sister Maria lies at last at rest after nearly 2 years of weary suffering– The eldest of our whole family of ten she is the first sister to go– She was of a gentle timid nature a devoted mother & sister & had been always most kind & affectionate to me– When I look back I remember many long talks we had together over her plans & anxieties about her children for owing to Richard’s occupation he had generally left the management of their numerous family to her—& it was rather a strain upon her. She was fully repaid by the devotion & gratitude of her children & the success in life of her sons—but the strain ended in shaking palsy wh began about 1894 till now. | |
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