Gandhi's visit to Eton, 1931
Dear Mr Kingsley
I think you may be interested to know that my Mum who died last year at the age of 93, met Gandhi when he stayed at the Headmaster’s House in Eton in 1930.
We have just found a copy of her letter describing him. She was 18 at the time.
To cut a long story short; Mr Cyril Alington was the Headmaster of Eton at the time & we are distantly related to the Alingtons. (His son, Giles is still alive & lives in London.) My Mother, at 17, was asked to share Governess lessons with their daughter Joannie in the headmaster’s house. She came down from Leicestershire to do so.
Alington invited Gandhi to come and speak to the boys about his life and work. He stayed with the Alingtons with Miss Slade at his side. At any rate, my Mother describes him SO well at the tender age of 18.
If you’re interested in seeing the letter, please let me know. I can probably fax it to you. I believe that it has historical significance.
Thank-you, Jane Staunton
HEADMASTER'S HOUSE,
THE CLOISTERS,
ETON COLLEGE
24th October 1931
My Darling Family,
You will be surprised to hear that since last I wrote, I have slept under the same roof as Gandhi and I have just shaken hands with him in the drawing room, the same hand, that now writes to you!
He was an odd-looking man, quite small about 5ft.3ins. He was clothed in 6 yards of cotton, (to quote one of the detectives).
The Eton Political Society had invited Gandhi to come and speak to them on Friday evening.
On Friday mid-day, the Household was surprised to hear that Gandhi and his woman disciple, Miss Slace, were to sleep the night here. (Cousin Hester said she did not dare tell Cottell the head housemaid any earlier for fear the whole staff would give notice!) Well, yesterday evening (Friday) while Nanny was brushing my hair before my going to bed, George and Andrew (men-servants) entered the Nursery, their faces wreathed in smiles and invited us to go to peep at Gandhi's luggage. There were ten packages lying in the best spare-room, with injunctions. not to be unpacked.
There were parcels of luggage of every description; his Spinning Wheel, Flax, a basket of pears, a long canvas bag propped up against the foot of the bed, securely padlocked and marked, A.F.Gandhi in blocked capitals in white paint.
George was upset because he could not find a vestige of night apparel anywhere. Nanny snorted contemptuously and said, "Mad fanatics like him ought to have a tent in the garden." We learned from George that Gandhi had asked to be called at 3.30am. I believe that he then spins until 5a.m., after which he walks out-side, praying as he does so. Gandhi has to have two detectives with him always. One slept here last night; it is his business to take Gandhi out at 5a.m. and to see that he is neither booed at nor shot. This particular Detective was of portentous size and build. He applauded Nanny by patting her on the back, when she expressed her strong views on Gandhi and his followers. He confided to us that he did not much like his present job.
Gandhi's particular disciple seems to be an English woman, by the name of Miss Slade, who has turned Hindu and evidently looks after Gandhi like a mother. She slept next door to my bedroom and I heard the swish of her long flowing garments - Hindu-style wear. (The Household do not approve of her at all!)
Miss Slade spent all this morning between 7 and 8a.m. preparing Gandhi's breakfast in the Nursery Bathroom. (Oranges and goat's milk). She sharpens his "Tooth-pick" made of special twig things which Miss Slade soaks in boiling water before sharpening them for him. The detective informed us that there was no need for all that fuss as Gandhi only has 5 teeth in his head.
P.S. 18.04.89. What strikes me after all these years, is that the Headmaster of Eton and his wife were prepared to welcome Gandhi (a rebel against British Rule in Inida etc.) but that less educated people felt outraged.