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From Aunty Connie in 1991

Aunty Connie was grandfather John's older sister, (as some of you probably know). She was also the first women lawyer in South Africa and a very decent human being.

She was married to Uncle Jack. She hadn't seen Dad (Tony Hall) her nephew and Mom for the 26 years while they were in exile. We saw Uncle Jack and Aunty Connie when we visited them in Pretoria in 1972 and then again in 1975.

It's a funny feeling to realise you have a large family after having lived in such a reduced family unit for many years.

Uncle Jack and Auntie Connie presided over a large gathering of their clans on both occasions. Tea and sandwiches and cakes on the lawn. Very nice people. And it's not just the cake talking.

I think Connie was about 94 when she wrote this note, making a few mistakes on the type writer as she did so. Like me she was interested in preserving all branches of her family history.

7.8.91

My Dearest Tony and Eve,

IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY A GREAT FEELING THAT YOU ARE AT LONG LAST BACK HERE!!

where we can all have an opportunity of getting full details of a new layer of our joint family structure straight from the horses mouth.

I must fire this typist as soon as I can replace her!!

Thank you so much for your kind birthday wishes & for that charming relaxed photo of our dear John. It certainly helped me to erase the sore memory of the last time a saw him after the diagnosis had been confirmed, poor dear, he looked so shaken and lost.

We here Will be looking forward to knowing where he will be located so we can pay our respects in due course!

You may now take off your glasses & relax, for this is the end of the news.

All well here send love,

Aunty Connie

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