Item 146 - Letter from Jean Monks to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 item.

39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh 7. - Describes 'exactly what happened on the day Sir Donald [Tovey's] died' since Miss Weisse's story is not correct: fetched her in a taxi at 9 am; at 1 pm, advised her not to go home as it was not obvious how long Sir Donald would live and she didn't want her 'to have the opportunity of saying that [they] had sent her away'; she had lunch by his bed until 3.15pm when she left, Lady Tovey having been 'seated in another chair but not resting'. Sir Donald 'grew worse at 6.45 pm and died at 7.30 pm'; Jean Monks did not fetch Miss Weisse as she 'would have been troublesome, Lady Tovey did not want her & she had left of her own accord'; telephoned her after Sir Donald's death but she had already left and soon arrived; she saw him then the housekeeper took her home. Sir Donald 'hadn't spoken at all on Wednesday'. Asks whether she should write to Miss Weisse, or whether Bessie will. Lady Tovey is 'really very wonderful, but is very stiff [from arthritis]'; Jean Monks thinks she will go south after settling affairs here. Saw Miss Weisse yesterday and could go again but doesn't much want to.

Envelope found with this letter addressed in Sophie Weisse's hand with postmark of 27 July 1940 and note reading 'Donald's death reported by Miss Weisse and The Nurse', now with 8/133.