Willie, Beta, D’Arcy
Willie Fisher, Beta Richardson and D’Arcy Fisher
Taken between 1912 and 1918 (Willie was born in 1894, D’Arcy in 1895; D’Arcy died of Spanish flu in 1918.)
In a brief memoir written in old age, Willie recalled playing tennis at W K D’Arcy’s stately home, Stanmore Hall. Perhaps this was taken on that occasion.
D’Arcy and my father were both seconded to the navy in the 1914-18 war as radio engineers with Marconi . One day, dad said, they were going down a little country lane in Cornwall in their Stanley Steamer Car when they passed a couple of pretty girls – as they both turned to look at them they suddenly saw them breaking into peals of laughter – the 2 boys immediately turned to the front and saw that they were heading straight for a brick wall . Luckily , Dad said , they were not travelling very fast and managed not to embarrass themselves !!
How tragic that he came through the war only to die of flu! But I suppose it would have been an even less timely end if he’d died driving into a brick wall while eyeing up the talent.