Tuesday’s Child is Full of Grace

Part 1. By May Vincent, with additional notes by Graham Vincent

It is, I suppose, debatable whether good or ill emerged from my father’s sudden decision to join my mother on holiday at her parental home, Shedpark Farm, in the summer of 1925, when one consequence was my appearance the following Spring. Such an unexpected event must have brought my parents more than a little consternation considering their two sons were approaching their 11th and 9th birthdays and it was likely that their family was complete. It was probable too that my mother felt some apprehension at the prospect of a baby’s demands upon her at the age of 38 1/2 years, but on her own confession she actually floated on a euphoric cloud for a week following my arrival, almost disbelieving that she had been blessed with a little daughter at last. It happened that for six days prior to my birth there had been National rejoicing in the birth of a daughter to the then, Duke and Duchess of York. That baby was, of course, Princess Elizabeth their first-born child and through a train of unexpected events, destined to become Monarch. The mood prompted my father to a rare demonstration of paternal pride when he came to despatching telegrams announcing my birth, the text reading “Our little princess arrived 3 a.m. to-day” “to-day” being Tuesday, April 27, 1926.