By Frances Roper.
As long ago as 1940 I got the idea of writing the story of my family and my
early life. I wrote to my cousin, Dr. Joan Evans, P.S.A. only to find that she
was planning the book which appeared in 1943 under the title �Time and Chance”,
which is a far more able work than I could hope to produce. I am much indebted
to her for her permission to make a short quotation from it. I should also like
to thank my friend May for her permission to mention her and her Grandparents by
name.
In every case I have used the real names of members of the family, but in cases
of those outside the family with whom I have lost touch, I have altered the
names.
I have not trespassed upon the ground so competently covered by Joan.
Frances Roper,
Worthing
March 1962.
It was many years before the proverb “It is an ill wind that blows nobody any
good” conveyed any meaning to my mind whatever. The agglomeration of
contradictions and negatives simply refused to register. However, the
experiences of the last few months have at last clarified it. An attack of
pneumonia which kept me in the house for two months, followed after three weeks
by influenza, combined with the doctor’s orders that I was not to go out as long
as the cold spell and east winds persisted, have given me the very rare boon of
a bit of free time. This I have utilised in writing this book.
As long ago as 1940 I first got the idea of writing the history of my family. My
husband had just rejoined the Army, and despite my many activities in connection
with Civil Defence, Red Cross, and all the other engagements of that hectic
time, I still had lonely hours to fill. I therefore wrote to my cousin, Dr. Joan
Evans F.S.A. but found that she was contemplating doing the same thing.
Whereupon I abandoned the project to her far more able and knowledgeable
keeping, and, like a dutiful little wife, followed in my husband’s footsteps,
and entered the Services, Joan’s book was published in 1943 under the title
“Time and Chance”, and is a far more comprehensive and scholarly work than I
could ever have produced. I am much indebted to her for her permission to make a
short quotation from it, also for her permission to make mention of her name. I
should also like to thank my friend May for her permission to mention her and
her grandparents by name, also my two brothers, the Revs. J. W. Hubbard and G.
E. Hubbard.
During the intervening years since 1940 the urge to write has continued to gnaw at me, but lack of time in a busy life has been a constant handicap till recently. I have not touched upon the ground so competently covered by Joan, but have contented myself by recording the background, and some of the quaint experiences of my youth, which I feel fully justify the title I have chosen.
Frances Roper.
1950