Posted by John Wilson on November 22, 2006 at 13:23:57 from 202.154.136.85 user hugo.
In Reply to: Re: Holiday Tasks, more on posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on November 22, 2006 at 11:23:21:
Bob Blackett was probably local; he grew up with Jim & Molly Turner and they leave their names from 1901 in the brass box on top of Kanchenjunga (aka the Matterhorn).
Later Molly (or Moly & Bob) take over Beckfoot, the Turner family home where the GA had brought Jim & Molly up. This could indicate that Bob could not provide a home for his wife & daughters, or just that Jim Turner who was off roaming the world did not require it. Traditionally the family home would go to the son, whether or not he was the oldest, and we don’t know who is oldest - Jim or Molly.
The Turners evidently have some money. With just one or sometimes two servants (the maid when the GA leaves) at Beckford they are not rich. But enough for Jim’s world travel, and an interlude at Oxford. Plus a motor car and a (steam or oil?) launch at Beckfoot. Despite previous Tarboard speculation there is nothing to indicate where it is from, eg investments or local farms. And while Jim & Molly are still in awe of the GA who brought them up, I don’t think there is anything to indicate that the GA holds the purse-strings.
Did everyone pay income-tax in the 1930s, or does the GA’s remark about what you got for income tax (re the police in PM) indicate that she had a substantial income?