me realize that control rests with whomever worries least about being seen to exercise it, and with cold deliberation I agreed to mend fences with my husband if only to keep a roof over my head.
Three months later, Sam and I moved abroad.
CORONER'S COURT
Medical Report on Miss Ann Butts, submitted to Mr. Brian A. Hooper, coroner, on December 12, 1978, by Dr. Sheila Arnold, CP, FRCP, from the Howarth Clinic, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (Formerly a partner in the Cromwell Street Surgery, Richmond, Surrey.)
(Dr. Arnold left for a twelve-month sabbatical in America on September 10, 1978, and was absent at the time of Miss Butts's death. Although Miss Butts had been assigned to one of Dr. Arnold's partners for the duration of the sabbatical, Miss Butts died before the partner had time to meet and assess her. It was therefore agreed that Dr. Arnold would submit the following report from America. A full set of medical notes relating to Miss Butts has been made available to the Coroner by the Cromwell Street Surgery.)
Ann Butts was my patient from June 1969 until my departure for America on September 10, 1978. She suffered from Tourette's syndrome, a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent muscle tics and involuntary vocalizations. It was an inherited condition from her mother who had a complex form of the disorder, which manifested itself as coprolalia, a compulsion to utter obscenities. Ann, who cared for her mother for many years until her death in 1968, had a good understanding of Tourette's syndrome and had learned to manage her own condition successfully. Ann's most noticeable symptoms were 1) motor tics in the face and shoulders; 2) a compulsion to talk to herself; and 3) obsessive behavior, particularly in relation to home and personal security.
I referred her in December 1969 to Dr. Randreth Patel (Middlesex Hospital), who took a particular interest in Ann and was sympathetic toward her firmly held views against the taking of psychoactive drugs, which she felt had worsened her mother's condition rather than improved it. While no one has yet discovered a cure for Tourette's syndrome, the disorder tends to improve with age and Ann was no exception to this. My understanding is that her tics were a great deal more pronounced when she was a teenager (DOB-12.3.36). As a result, she suffered considerable teasing and unkindness from her peers and had few social skills following an early withdrawal from formal education. In recent years Ann's symptoms had been comparatively mild although she was inclined to exacerbate them from time to time through an overindulgence in alcohol. She had an average IQ and had no difficulty leading an independent life, although her obsession with home and personal security meant she shunned the company of others. I made a point of visiting her every six to eight weeks and on my last visit-September 8, 1978-she was in good health, both physical and mental.
Sheila Arnold
Sheila Arnold GP, FRCP
TWENTY YEARS LATER
Family correspondence prior
to the Ranelaghs' return to England-dated 1999
CURRAN HOUSE
Whitehay Road
Torquay
Devon
Thursday, May 27, 1999
Darling,
I don't know why you always have to get so angry when someone questions your decisions. It's most unladylike to scream like a fishwife down the telephone, particularly when you're three thousand miles away. Of course Daddy and I will be pleased to have you home but you can't expect us to be thrilled about this silly idea to rent a farmhouse in Dorchester. It's over Two hours' drive away, and your father will never be able to manage the double journey in a day. Also, it's hurtful. We've only seen our grandchildren twice in twenty years-each time on very expensive holidays-and we always hoped you'd bring them to live near us when you finally came back.
I can't help feeling it's not too late for me to find you something in Devon. We have a very good real estate agent here who has a list of reasonable properties to rent. Have you taken the trouble to have this farmhouse vetted? The description you gave was very vague, and frankly L650 a month sounds very expensive for a house in the middle of nowhere. You do realize, I suppose, that there are a lot of charlatans about and it's very easy to put an advertisement in the 'Sunday Times' in the hopes of attracting foreigners to summer lets.
You know I hate to be critical, but I do wonder if Sam and the boys have been consulted about this move. As usual, I fear you have made a unilateral decision and totally ignored the wishes of everyone else. You say you're only renting the farmhouse for three or four months, but do please explain why Dorset is preferable to Devon. It's absurd to say you want to revisit the place where you spent your honeymoon. I thought you had more sense than to pursue holiday memories from 1976.
We 're glad to hear that Sam is on the mend although we found Luke and Tom's flippant references to his 'dodgy ticker' somewhat inappropriate, particularly as Sam was clearly listening to the phone call. I find it difficult to believe that they're now eighteen and nineteen. Frankly I'd have expected a little more maturity from boys of their age, and 1 fear you've been spoiling them.
I shall wail to hear re the real estate agent.
All my love, Ma
PS Dear M. personally, thought the 'dodgy ticker' was wonderful and loved to hear Sam laugh at the other end. What a marvelous relationship you and he have with your boys and what a blessing they've been these last few months. I'm much looking forward to sharing some of the Ranelagh Jr. fun, even if it means driving two hours to experience it! Tell Luke I have every intention of having at least one go on a surfboard even if I do go 'arse over tit' in the process. I may be an old codger, but I'm not in my grave yet.
Dad
XXX
