Father's Oversight

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1940, Page 10

Father's Oversight

Son Left Out of Will

Mr. Walter Lawrence ("Lucky Jim" to his friends) sat in his crearh-furhished luxury apartment in Londpn talking about the father who loved 'him.- ' For ■the last 12 years, until Sir' Walter Lawrence, the building contrac'tor, ' died, father and son had worked ■ together. They never had a cross word. When Sir Walter's £183.000 Will *■ was published "Lucky Jim" found he had been left out of it. The father idolised the son. The son thought - more' tof - his father than of any body else in ."the world, but Sir Walter left most of: his fortune to one of his younger sons, Guy, and his two daughters. "It was a shock." That wasihovv.'Mr. Lawrence described the will to a D'aUy Express representative. Then he ad'Hed: "It was also a surprise to learn. that he had omitted my brother Pat, ■ to -whom he was very devoted. ^ '-"One thing- is certain— my; father's wi3.hes will be fully respected. .1 have certainly no reason to contest the term.s of the will. "Father and I had no difference of opinion. We were devoted. All my life —and I have been closely associated with him in business for the last 12 years- — I do not think we have ever had a cross word. "When father lay seriously lll I was constantly by his side. A blood transfusion was necessary, and I was the first person to offer myself. "It is difficult to imagine what: were his though ts when he made his. will. For many years a cheaue always came along ' on my birthday." ; Mr. Jim Lawrence, now 37- years oio and sole survivor of the aerOplane crash in which Lord and Lady Plunket iwere killed in Cali/ornia, added: "It is remar.kable to recall my father's many considerations. Immediately he knew that I was badly injured he sOnt my sis'ter to California. "Daily for six weeks he cabled inquiries about my condition; Instructions were given that I was to receive the. best medical attention available. "On the day of father's funeral, 1 distributed a printed obituary to 100 of his closest friends. It was mjTown signed ti'ibute to a wonderful mah.

Mr.' Lawrence, who at t! e- time of the interview, was to be married in a few days to Miss Elizabeth Corcoran, the young actress who appeared in "Follow the Sun," said his father had never met his future wife. "I shall still be a director in my father's company," he added, "though, I shall, of course, have to knuckle down a bit because of " Then he added three words he had used more than once while he talked. They were: "His slight oversight." Here are some extracts from the little booklet, given by Jim Lawrence to friends on the funeral day:— With the passing of Sir. Walter lawrence we lose one of the finest types of Englishmen — a big man in every sense. He was a tireless worker, devoted parent, loyal friend. and a host who will long be remembered. Ever since he joined his father's building firm in Waltham Abbey, 50 years ago, he spared himself not at all. His energy allied to a wonderful imagination gradually brought him to the top No one was less spoiled by success. For years he gave up a great deal of his time and experience to the London Master Builders' Association and other trade organisations and later to the Herts County Council. If he was at times impetuous, and who with Irish blood in his veins is not, it was usually characterised by acts of unpremedieted ger.erosity as. for instance, when, within a few mmutes of the news being published he telegraphed a large sum of money for the relief of the bereaved in ffie Rye lifeboat diaaster or, again, when he paid the high price on the spur of the moment f«r the manuscript of "Journey's End," which was auctioned at a charity •iinner. The manuscript was later presented to the nation. In spite of his devotion to duty in many directions. Sir Walter was fond of the good things of life, and during his holidavs he was often to be found. superstitious to a degree, waging a losing battle against the tables at Monte Carlo.