This letter was written to Mary Downing by her father congratulating her on the award of the “Royal Red Cross Medal”. He addresses her as ‘Bobkins’ which ties in with the 1889 letter to Mary from WL Browne where she is addressed as Miss ‘Bobbie’ Downing. This letter gives an insight into the personality of William Edmund Downing.
Dec 20th/17
My Dearest Bobkins
At last “I take up my pen to write to you” about the beautiful big + you have gained & also to send you my best wishes for Xmas. I quite hoped to see you when Noel came home & also this Xmas, but as you are too busy to come for either events I am obliged to write my congratulations on the cross event. I quite hope the King will present you with it in person, I shall then be with you, & perhaps be able to pay him a visit myself at Buckingham Palace! This is something to look forward to in these sad times – and I hope he wont disappoint us. I do wish you were coming home for Xmas, but it can’t be helped. We have planned to have lunch with your Uncle Walle on Xmas day and he will dine with us here at night. I don’t know if Daisy will come over with the children to see us in the afternoon but I hope so – we are not having them here to any set meal. I have not heard how they got back from Llandudno or how far May has got towards Southsea – it seems to me to be a long journey this Xmas time. I hope you have fairly warm quarters this cold weather. We shall be very glad to hear from you when you have time to write. It will not be a Merry Xmas for any of us this time, but I heartily wish you a pleasant one.
Very fondest love from
Your affectionate Father
PS Walle has come in & made this letter too late for post.
Letter from William Edmund Downing to his daughter Mary
Letter from William Edmund Downing to his daughter Mary