Letter from Anne Ruttan
September2020: Vancouver Island

Interesting that you have an article on Fairlawn Hotel. 

My family and I stayed there for two years on a long-term stay basis.  There were quite a few others along with us. I knew Vi and her husband Ted Smith very well and was friendly with their daughter Jennifer who was a year or so younger than me.

I stayed there from mid-1964 to 1966 before moving into our own place.  It had started as a transition place when my father was first transferred to Calcutta HO from one of the company's sugar factory branches— but ended up staying longer as I was the only one out of school. My three siblings were still schooling, my two brothers in Naini Tal for 9 months of the year. 

We had two rooms there.   I met and made friends with a lot of very interesting people – US Peace Corp volunteers, groups of Penn Tour tourists that came all the way from the UK by coach and flew from Calcutta to Bangkok at the end of their trip. So the courier (Belgian), his wife and driver were regulars. There were Russian and Japanese engineers as well – the Russians keeping a close eye on each other. 

Before Fairlawn could sell drinks legally, residents were told to say that they were being served with their own drinks by the bearers.  The bearers didn't wear gloves but I have heard the story before.  Mr. Ali was the receptionist at the time and he looked like a diminutive Air India mascot but he had a great personality and was quite funny, so people really liked him.

While there, I also met the Shakespearewallahs – the Kendalls that would tour India putting on Shakespearean plays in schools and small towns. They have left a legacy back there as Felicity Kendal (their younger daughter)  did a tour of India a few years back to follow the trail of her parents and found lots of places where Indian towns were still continuing to perform Shakespeare in the local languages.

  Felicity was nine months younger than me. Her sister Jennifer married Sashi Kapoor (who died not too long ago).  He had joined their group and had been touring with them. What a looker he was!  They stayed at the Fairlawn often while I was there during their periods of rest from travelling.

Jennifer died very young (as I'm sure you know) of breast cancer. Felicity went on to act in lots of British TV series.  She was very quiet and self-possessed.... did not really like being part of this theatre group and took her leave of them while still young much to the ire of her father. He always dressed in the kurta pyjama Indian outfit and his wife in plain long dresses.  I've forgotten their names.* 

I had Felicity's book “White Cargo” which was a recap of this life and her relationship with her parents but having loaned it out, it was never returned to me and I have forgotten who borrowed it.

The hotel has now been taken over by Oberoi International and they have made some changes (for the better).  Jennifer and her children did not want to manage it anymore.

Thank you for indulging my little memory. I came to Canada in October 1968 at the age of 22.

Note: *Geoffrey Kendall and Laura Liddell