I asked if he had any photographs of himself with Robert, but there were
none, and so I moved to ask what he knew of their sons. He told me that
Robert never mentioned them nor discussed their lives, although of course as
a Trustee he knew that they were ‘both killed in the war’. However, I was
interested to see if there was any resemblance between John Augustin and
Emily, and so I showed him the RAF group photograph of 51 OTU (Plate
17.9) and pointed John out. He looked at the photo for some time, but
concluded that because she was so deformed, and of course by the time he
met her quite old too, it was difficult to say, although there was some possible
likeness. I then explained as sensitivity as I could, what had really happened to
Peter. He was very surprised as nothing regarding Peter had ever become
general—or even private—knowledge in Penn during the couple’s time there.
I was also able to explain how the news of Peter’s death was reported widely at
the time and I gave him a copy of the story published in the Daily Mirror
(Plate 16.4). He spent some time reading the article and then, clearly moved
and slowly shaking his head, he said softly ‘why do they do it?’. We agreed
that this must have been such a difficult time for Robert and Emily and I
wondered if they might have drawn some comfort from their religious beliefs,
and so I asked if Robert was a devout man? ‘No more than me! …’ was his
firm, immediate reply, and knowing from others in Penn that Robert was ‘not
an active parishioner’, and that the Agreement (Chap. 18) between the Le
Rossignols and the Fellowship was made ‘regardless of [the tenants’] religious
denomination’, we have to conclude that humanitarian considerations
probably played a much more important role in the couples’ life. As for
Clement Sorel, Robert’s nephew, Dr Sims knew nothing at all.
But the question of faith—or the lack of it—drew me quite naturally to ask
what he knew of their relationship with the Rev. Muspratt. Having just left
Christopher, a close family friend of the Muspratt’s, and at the time quite
unaware of Oscar’s ‘Marmite’ nature, his reply took me aback. Nasty man! …
‘he scowled, his opinion being that Muspratt was cunning and disingenuous,
regarding the Le Rossignols simply as ‘a source of funding’. But I suspect that
Robert and Emily were canny enough to see through all of that, and they in
their turn used Muspratt’s enthusiasm to further their agenda. But Muspratt
is not here to defend himself so we have to leave all of this at the level of petty
bickering.
Moving away from contentious issues, I asked about Robert’s
workshop. He told me that towards the end of his life he was not particularly
active there, that the workshop itself was ‘modest’ and after Robert’s death he
did not take advantage of the opportunity bequeathed him in his Will
(Chap. 18). I told him that Chirnside and family members describes him
508
D. Sheppard
none, and so I moved to ask what he knew of their sons. He told me that
Robert never mentioned them nor discussed their lives, although of course as
a Trustee he knew that they were ‘both killed in the war’. However, I was
interested to see if there was any resemblance between John Augustin and
Emily, and so I showed him the RAF group photograph of 51 OTU (Plate
17.9) and pointed John out. He looked at the photo for some time, but
concluded that because she was so deformed, and of course by the time he
met her quite old too, it was difficult to say, although there was some possible
likeness. I then explained as sensitivity as I could, what had really happened to
Peter. He was very surprised as nothing regarding Peter had ever become
general—or even private—knowledge in Penn during the couple’s time there.
I was also able to explain how the news of Peter’s death was reported widely at
the time and I gave him a copy of the story published in the Daily Mirror
(Plate 16.4). He spent some time reading the article and then, clearly moved
and slowly shaking his head, he said softly ‘why do they do it?’. We agreed
that this must have been such a difficult time for Robert and Emily and I
wondered if they might have drawn some comfort from their religious beliefs,
and so I asked if Robert was a devout man? ‘No more than me! …’ was his
firm, immediate reply, and knowing from others in Penn that Robert was ‘not
an active parishioner’, and that the Agreement (Chap. 18) between the Le
Rossignols and the Fellowship was made ‘regardless of [the tenants’] religious
denomination’, we have to conclude that humanitarian considerations
probably played a much more important role in the couples’ life. As for
Clement Sorel, Robert’s nephew, Dr Sims knew nothing at all.
But the question of faith—or the lack of it—drew me quite naturally to ask
what he knew of their relationship with the Rev. Muspratt. Having just left
Christopher, a close family friend of the Muspratt’s, and at the time quite
unaware of Oscar’s ‘Marmite’ nature, his reply took me aback. Nasty man! …
‘he scowled, his opinion being that Muspratt was cunning and disingenuous,
regarding the Le Rossignols simply as ‘a source of funding’. But I suspect that
Robert and Emily were canny enough to see through all of that, and they in
their turn used Muspratt’s enthusiasm to further their agenda. But Muspratt
is not here to defend himself so we have to leave all of this at the level of petty
bickering.
Moving away from contentious issues, I asked about Robert’s
workshop. He told me that towards the end of his life he was not particularly
active there, that the workshop itself was ‘modest’ and after Robert’s death he
did not take advantage of the opportunity bequeathed him in his Will
(Chap. 18). I told him that Chirnside and family members describes him
508
D. Sheppard