The Visitors Book

Fred was utterly delighted to embark on parenthood and he started a journal called The Visitors’ Book in which he religiously recorded his growing family’s progress, adding drawings, photos and cuttings reflecting their lives and times over the next 14 years. Glimpses of young characters forming and anecdotal evidence of societal norms and historical events make it a fascinating read. It also reveals his hands-on approach to parenting and dealings with the nurses and servants who spent so much time with the family. He was genuinely fond of them, knew all about their own families, dealt with them fairly and was an inclusive and trusting employer. With the kids, he laughed, rolled around on the floor, read stories and took part in all sorts of sports and activities. He never fussed and was gentle but decisive; he was certainly a great foil to Eve’s paltry motherly instincts and tricky personality.