Eastwood, Victoria Terrace, Durham
13th Dec 1928
My dear Father
I have just been writing to Betty who has been so good in sending us daily news of you. We were so very glad to get good reports of you today and yesterday. The two distinguished invalids, the King and yourself, have both done well in producing better bulletins.
You may be interested to know that as the result of the recent visit of inspection here I possess a new title. I am now called the Registrar of the Halmote Court! It sounds imposing but I am not paid for it! I told Porter when he was here that local people found it difficult to understand my official position here. One can’t explain to them that old Smith is only a figurehead. So between us we devised this title. The Secretary approved of it with the remark, “All right, let him be called that, but don’t let him wear a wig.” This was a very pertinent remark, for at the recent enthronement of the Archbishop a wig was worn by the Apparitor. Now the Apparitor is only a glorified town-crier, though the holder of the office is a barrister. And Sir Lewis Dibdin who is Vicar General, and thereby entitled to a wig as a Law Officer, was very upset about it. Consequently Downing had been hearing a good deal about wigs and their rightful wearers!
At a subsequent day of the sale I told you about I bought two very nice Yorkshire chairs; we eyeing short of chairs in the drawing room. They are simple but beautiful and give me great joy; Peg says I get up at night and come down and pat them.
Much love and hope of another good report tomorrow.
George
