David Tomlinson(1917-2000)

David's first wife, Mary Lindsay Hiddingh, committed a murder-suicide on December 2, 1943 by taking her two children Michael 8 and John Hiddingh 6 and jumping out of a hotel window in New York. Mary was 34 and had been suffering from depression by the loss of her first husband Armand Guy Hiddingh who was killed in action during World War II. In 1943 she was hoping to join David who had returned to England after his RAF training in Canada, but while in New York City, Mary soon learned it was extremely difficult to get to England during war time which probably led to her murder-suicide.

Sometimes I think back to Father's pronouncement that I would never succeed at anything. I remember the variety of schools where I never achieved much - the times of childish despair. I never quite dared dream then that I would actually manage to earn my living in my chosen profession. I may be sentimental but I can't deny that I have been luckier than most.