[ Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Andrew Sproul
Date: 3/8/2002
Time: 12:48:16 AM
Remote Name: 203.161.113.10
It was with deep sadness that I read in the 'West Australian' newspaper today, of the death of Elyne Mitchell at the age of 88-daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel and a fine writer of subjects on or around The Light Horse. I'm sure that all readers 'discussion page' would be aware of this fact and it is not the purpose of this note to record an obituary. It is, however to put on record my personal contact with a fine and charming woman and my sense of loss of such a fine person.
I spoke with her a few years ago on the subject of a Test cricketer who died at Beersheba - obviously under her father's command. I asked weather her father had ever made reference to this famous test cricketer 'Tibby'Cotter. She informed me a most charming and disarming way that as a horseman her father lived for horses and that any other pursuit-including cricket was a waste of time. We spoke further on related topics. At the close of the conversation-due to it's sharp and witty nature that I was not aware that I had been talking to a woman in her mid 80's(at the risk of earning 'ageist' derision). I thought in the fullness of time another chat would be fun- unfortunately this will never be.