THIS is a note from me, Eleanor, because K was at a loss to know how to respond to your letter.
The reason for the thunderous silence was legal - to protect all parties - and compassionate: equally to protect all parties.
I cannot tell you how painful that time was, & indeed the preceding years. Between you and me, the agony of the school's dissolution began in the years before K & F's retirement. It could have been saved if Fred Sessa had been appointed then (when K retired). Poor Brian simply hadn't got what it takes either as a schoolmaster or manager or head. He was a super deputy. The "power" did terrible things to him.
We had an old scholars party at John & Jennie Swifts last weekend, as always in the New Year, & for the first time Brian looked really quite normal, if rather ancient. He doesn't come to the Summer O.S. meeting, quite rightly. Their daughter Sonjia is now a school leaver & just like Irene when she came as a young music mistress & Brian first set his hat at her in my final year at the school.
It is all terribly sad, & it was a bitter & destructive experience which could have been avoided if proper legal advice had been taken in the early stages, and some wisdom exercised in the choice of successor.
Yes of course K's description of you in the book is a fiction. He had to write it up in such a way that you would not readily be identified. And, oh goodness, I do so sympathise with you. How maddening (& hurtful) it is to be pigeonholed even with glorious epithets. K's loving loyalty & tendency to lionise & magnify those he loves is both a strength & weakness.
Don't lose touch, Alan. It means so much to Kenneth. He is so proud of the contact, never mind achievements, with the people he knew as youngsters with all life ahead of them, & it means a lot to get even an annual note. You, especially.
