Sir Robert Vansittart's Excuse For Missing A Club AGM

 

Sir Robert Vansittart

 

In the club's old files there is a letter, addressed to the club secretary on official paper headed 'Foreign Office, Whitehall, S.W.1' from Sir Robert Vansittart, the Pemanent Under-Secretary, apologising for not being able to attend the club's AGM later in the month because of 'pressure of work', but added that Lady Vansittart would continue her practice of presenting a bat to the best batsman.

'Pressure of work'. What sort of excuse is that? It so happened that Sir Robert was the Pemanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, and the date of the letter was 1st September 1939 - the day that Hitler invaded Poland.

---

Back to History | Back to Home