The Bantry family's rise and fall 2:2

Shortly after the funeral of Colonel Arthur Bantry, there was a reading of the will at Gossington Hall.

Despite the latest family problems, they were all there.

And in addition to the immediate family, the vicar and his wife had also been invited

By request of the deceased, the vicar read from Luke 12:15: Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

“So true!” said Mr Petherick, the solicitor, and continued reading the Colonel’s testament. “In spite of what you might think”, he said, “None of his children have been delisted from his testament. You will all get an equal part of his substantial savings and stocks. They are, however, to be kept in a foundation until you reach the age of Thirty-five. The estate and surrounding land is left as a whole to Dolly, “my wife, strength and true fortune in life” as he writes.”

“Thirty-five!”, Abigail whined, “why should we have to wait that long?”

“Abigail!!” Philip cried out, “Are you going to give our mother a heart attack as well?”

“Don’t give any notice to her”, he comforted his mother, “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, and you know she is not in balance.”

"I know, I know", Dolly said, "It’s not that. I know you are all… well, the three of you anyway, grateful and sensible. But I just realized I will have to cope with all the family problems myself from now on."

“Oh dear, oh dear”, the vicar said. “These are tough times for you. But even in difficult times God will be with you. And so will all of your friends here in St. Mary Mead.”

After the reading, John asked to have a separate talk with the solicitor and his mother. “There is something I need to tell you about”, he said. “I have done something very stupid. And possibly dangerous. I owe almost 200,000 pounds to some shady loan sharks in London. I’ve been playing on horses, and now they threaten to kill me if I don’t pay them back. Is there any way I could get the inheritance now? It would not be enough, but maybe I can buy myself some time…”

“Unfortunately no”, Mr Petherick said. “It is legally impossible, I’m afraid”. Dolly was num from the shock, and asked her son to leave. “I need some rest, and time to think, she said.

Deeply troubled she stood in front of her husband’s portrait. “Dear Arthur”, she said, “I hope you will forgive me for what I am about to do. But, as you reminded us today, a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Next morning Dolly invited the rich American, actress Marina Gregg to Gossington Hall. “I have a fantastic opportunity for you Marina”, she said, “If we can settle this without delay.

"I need to sell Gossington Hall, as soon as possible. Would you be interested?"

- The End -

(But it is NOT the end of course. It is only the beginning of another story.)

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)

The Bantry family's rise and fall 1:2

The entire edition of the chronicle is dedicated to the story about the latest development in the Bantry family, which has shocked most villagers in St. Mary Mead. The photo above is taken before the war, when the Bantrys still lived happily at Gossington Hall with their four children.

There were visitors and parties, like here at young John fourteenth birthday party, attended by the whole family, including the butler Fred.

His two years older sister Abigail, was a promising concert pianist, and expected to make a successful career in the music business. However...

After a nervous breakdown last April, probably caused by the high number of performances, and a seven months stay at the Redstone clinic for the mentally ill, Abigail is now slowly getting back at her feet again. She has a work placement at the reception in Mrs Jamieson’s hair salon, but her full recovery will take time.

She did want to live by herself, but Mrs. Bantry thought it would be best if Abigail lived at Gossington Hall for the time being. Occasionally she attended the dinner parties held for family and friends, and the Bantries looked almost like one happy family again. However...

Another tragedy of a more social kind was caused by the oldest son Philip, now a young man of twenty-four. He has definitely grown up, and to his parents dislike, he has started a relationship with the much older...

... Prudence Weatherby!!

The Colonel tried to talk them out of it, without much luck. “I can’t really see the problem”, Miss Weatherby defended herself. “He is an adult an actually two years older than you were when you married Dolly!” - That might be so, Dolly thought to herself, but I was definitely not twelve years older than my husband....

As this wasn’t enough, the oldest daughter also caused a scandal in the bourgeois families, when she took on a job as a female police officer. A very unusual situation to say the least, but her parents were said to get to terms with that, and the Colonel supposedly tried to arrange for an internship at Scotland Yard for her. However...

Deborah was, due to her job, getting in touch with the darker side of society, and made acquaintances not suitable for a girl with her background. It became the talk of the town.

Shockingly the young couple did nothing to hide their relationship.

They were even caught dancing and romanticizing at Gossington Hall, when Mrs Bantry came home early from her meeting in the St. Mary Mead Women's Association. It caused quite a stir.

The usually so calm and restrained Colonel literally through Mr Smith out the door, and told him never to put his foot in Gossington Hall again.

Rumour has it that Mrs Bantry herself had to go between the two men, to stop a regular fight.

The latest family problems was probably the last drop for the already week heart of the Colonel, and just a few days later he was hospitalized with a major heart attack. He did not survive.

After the devastating news, Mrs Bantry was met outside the hospital by her youngest son John, the only one who came to support her. “You are the only one who hasn’t abandoned me” she said, “the only one in our family without any ugly secrets in the cupboard.”

After sending his mother home, young John felt sick to his stomach. “Oh how wrong you are, dear mother”, he said to himself. “If you only new...” To be continued...  

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)