4th February, 1987.

Dear Rita and Lex,

It is always difficult to start a letter with bad news but this is exactly what I have to do.

Nick died on 2nd December, the cancer in his bones could not be arrested and he was in a great deal of pain and confined to bed. It was not his wish to linger for the sake of staying alive, but he did put up a spectacular fight and never lost his interest in everything around him nor his wonderful sense of humour.

It was difficult to see him go but we were able to give him our love and care to the end.

At present, I am rethinking and reorganising my life, the family have helped in every way possible to ease my period of adjustment.

Now to brighter things. I can match your news with regard to a third grandchild. Ruthie is also expecting in June and she, too, has already two boys. If she and Leslie have special wishes, they do not say so and, in any event, it is in the hands of the gods or, if you like, mother nature. Angela, who looks after the kids when Ruth is at work, is a marvel, we hope she will stay on as Ruthie wants to return to the Treasury after maternity leave.

I was most impressed with the success stories of the various members of your families. They are an outstanding bunch, aren’t they? You must be delighted to see them successful and happy in their work.

I can’t remember where I left off last time I wrote to you. Briefly, David has had a few ups and downs with his business but problems are sorting themselves out at present. His wife, Noga, is in the computer world and doing well. No family yet.

Daniel is based in London and is still in corporate finance with Hill Samuel Merchant Bank. He has bought a big Victorian house in South London which needed a lot of attention. Working with his hands seems to give him pleasure, provides a good balance to his City life style.

Simon is happy in advertising. He is marvellous company and has gained a great deal of self confidence. Jonathan won the national Young Industrial Journalist of the Year award for his articles on the dockyards in Plymouth. He has now left the provinces and was offered a position with the Daily Telegraph. He is working on the City pages which is a new field for him and he has “to learn in a few months what took me years” (quote City Editor).

That completes the picture.

You, Rita, have a little way to go before you retire but you will not sit back when the time comes, I can see. I do hope your trip to Europe will materialise and we can meet again in the not too distant future.

With love and all good wishes,

Lore.