engineered largely to serve the ambitions of one man. The anticipated
changes never really happened and the village is as peaceful today as it always
has been. For Robert and Emily, the links with Pennsylvania and the need for
a Penn Centre were probably never considerations regarding their gift. Theirs
was an humanitarian act providing a precious resource where vulnerable
people could feel safe and comfortable in their final years. Although they went
along with Muspratt, the conditions they imposed on the Trust show that
they were probably ‘singing from a different hymn sheet’. Today, the links
with William Penn have been forgotten, regarded by most as entirely bogus.
What remains stands not in homage to the Rev. Muspratt, nor the Quaker,
nor Pennsylvania, but as a testament to what decent people can do, and if
Robert and Emily ‘cheated’ a little bit in dedicating Penn Mead to the
memory of their sons who ‘both died in the war’, who could possibly blame
them? For all the Trustees past and present, the Le Rossignols wishes in this
matter stand immutable and long may Penn Mead survive to continue its
work, to provide comfort and security, to remember John and Peter and to
condemn the utter futility of war.
Plate 18.6 The opening ceremony at Penn Mead flatlets. On the extreme left is the
Rev. Muspratt, Earl Howe is centre delivering his speech with Sir Henry Floyd to his left.
On the extreme right is Robert Le Rossignol, listening politely and holding a plate on
which lay the keys to the building. (Photograph courtesy of the Bucks Free Press, Friday
10 October, 1967)
484
D. Sheppard
changes never really happened and the village is as peaceful today as it always
has been. For Robert and Emily, the links with Pennsylvania and the need for
a Penn Centre were probably never considerations regarding their gift. Theirs
was an humanitarian act providing a precious resource where vulnerable
people could feel safe and comfortable in their final years. Although they went
along with Muspratt, the conditions they imposed on the Trust show that
they were probably ‘singing from a different hymn sheet’. Today, the links
with William Penn have been forgotten, regarded by most as entirely bogus.
What remains stands not in homage to the Rev. Muspratt, nor the Quaker,
nor Pennsylvania, but as a testament to what decent people can do, and if
Robert and Emily ‘cheated’ a little bit in dedicating Penn Mead to the
memory of their sons who ‘both died in the war’, who could possibly blame
them? For all the Trustees past and present, the Le Rossignols wishes in this
matter stand immutable and long may Penn Mead survive to continue its
work, to provide comfort and security, to remember John and Peter and to
condemn the utter futility of war.
Plate 18.6 The opening ceremony at Penn Mead flatlets. On the extreme left is the
Rev. Muspratt, Earl Howe is centre delivering his speech with Sir Henry Floyd to his left.
On the extreme right is Robert Le Rossignol, listening politely and holding a plate on
which lay the keys to the building. (Photograph courtesy of the Bucks Free Press, Friday
10 October, 1967)
484
D. Sheppard