Introduction

Clara Adeline Palmer was a good friend of the entire Beauchamp family, and had instructed the young Beauchamp girls on the piano when they lived in Wellington. At the time KM was writing the letter below, Palmer was residing in Rome, having been instrumental in setting up a special canteen for British servicemen there during the war. Her efforts were eventually rewarded by the British government with an MBE. Alpers quotes a long letter from KM’s mother, Annie Beauchamp, to Palmer, written on 6 May 1918, just three months before Annie’s own death, in which she relates to Palmer how ill KM has become with her lungs, and how finally, as the renowned black sheep of the family, she ‘has at last learnt to love her Mother and Father’, even though ‘poor poor darling she has missed so much in life, but it was quite her own choosing’.

[30 December 1918] [ATL]

2 Portland Villas

East Heath Road

Hampstead

N.W.3.

30. XII. 1918.

My dear Clara,

This morning Chaddie sent me your letter to her: I so enjoyed reading it and hearing your news, and I felt I must send you a greeting for the New Year – I have thought of you so often, dear Clara. I have a little photograph of you sitting in your room with little pictures by Greuze on the walls and lovely flowers on the table and the corner shelf. It must have been taken just before I left for England – twelve years ago – What changes the years have brought! It is so hard to believe that my precious Mother is no more – In spite of her frailty and delicate hold on Life – one really felt that she was an undying soul. She was such a part of Life – especially these last few years. She seemed to live in everything; and to be renewed with every spring. And it was so extraordinary how close she kept to her children – Her last letters especially were quite uncanny.