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Brittany has long been a favourite
location for Britain's holidaying in France. John & Winifred Fortescue were
no exception. In 1922, following a Spring visit to Gibraltar, they took their
summer holiday in Brittany staying in a converted windmill in St.
Jacut-de-la-Mer, near to Dinard. They crossed to St. Malo on a sweltering day
and, as is often the case, had to wait outside for hours because of the
notorious tide. When they finally landed they had missed the little ferry across
to Dinard and had another long wait. They eventually reached St. Jacut and were
compensated for the journey by their accommodation, an old windmill, converted
by a clever Parisienne (who was also an excellent cook). During their stay they
enjoyed exploring on the wide sandy beaches and John was persuaded to paddle for
the first time in his life!
One afternoon they came across two young
girls who were also staying in the area. Winifred decided these girls would make
perfect models for her 'Cintra' fashions and persuaded them to take part in her
fashion show in the rose garden at Admiral's House, Hampstead Heath. One of the
girls was Betty Stockfield who went on to make a name for herself on stage &
screen.
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The swimming pool at Dinard c.1940 |
The swimming pool at Dinard - May
2007 |
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The beach at Dinard c.1920 |
The beach at Dinard today |
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The casino at Dinard,
now the town cinema |
Dinard Promenade 'Clare de Lune'
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c1930's
St. Malo - Dinard ferry arriving at Dinard
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The St. Malo to Dinard
ferry arrives at Dinard - May 2007 |
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The same location as above in May
2007 |
The beach at Dinard in May 2007 |
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Another view of the swimming pool at Dinard - May 2007 |
The slipway where ferries used to arrive in May 2007
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In 1924 John & Winifred took another
holiday in Brittany, this time close to Pont Aven. Winifred had suffered
another bout of ill health connected with her 'poison'. She had received
surgery in London and John decided Brittany would provide a good
location to recuperate. Despite a struggle back to full health and plans
to continue the expansion of 'Cintra' it was during this stay that John
decided that Winifred must close her business for the sake of her own
health. She was devastated at first.
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'........I slipped out alone
that night and pounded for miles along the shore until reaching
a wild and desolate spot I flung myself face downwards on the
sand-dunes and fought out my battle alone.' (There's
Rosemary, There's Rue) |
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The converted windmill at St.
Jacut-de-la-Mer (c.1920) where John & Winifred took their 1922 summer
holiday |
The beach at St. Jacut-de-la-Mer |
Still operating as an hotel today
Visit the
hotel web site |
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At the start of WW II Winifred, now
widowed, was facing the possibility of being interred as an alien in the
south. She decided to return to England to help the French war effort from
there. The decision was made just in time and there followed a frantic
dash by car across the entire country. As she neared each of the channel
ports she discovered they had been taken by the Nazis. She finally reached
the last port in French hands, St Malo, only to discover the last ship for
England had sailed the day before. She managed to get a room at the Hotel
de l'Univers where she had stayed on holiday in happier times. There
followed anxious days, not knowing if another boat would leave before the
Nazis arrived, and also in obtaining a licence for her faithful cocker
spaniel, 'The Blackness', who had made the dash with her.
Eventually another boat, and the licence, arrived and Winifred escaped to
the relative safety of England. |
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Hotel
de l'Universe
16 Place
Chateaubriand, St Malo
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Southern Railways Ship 'Dinard'
Dinard
built in 1924 by Denny (Dumbarton, River Clyde). When constructed she was
2294 gross tons and carried 1300 passengers (354 in berths). Dinard
served on the night route between Southampton and St Malo. She served with
distinction in World War 2 and is possibly the boat Winifred escaped
on in the nick of time. |
   
Pictures - P.Riley |
