Moorhouse Inn, Leeds
Samuel is right as rain. We are still shaken though. Ally stayed upstairs cleaning tonight in readiness for the relief manager Richard Tully, who first came here years ago. Sam Rhodes Snr, returned tonight. He filled me in on ten years of family history. He says he is not a schizophrenic, but manic depressive. He married a girl called Christine in February, 1981, who grew from a size ten to a size twenty in as many months. She had herself sterilized, behind his back, and then took off to the divorce courts. My Uncle Harry is still with us, and living in Whitehaven, and according to Sam he doesn't drink quite as much as he did. Cousin Megan lives in the Dordogne, in South west France, with lover Roy. She hasn't worn shoes since 1973 (he says) and lives the life of a vegetarian farming peasant. Mavis lives in Ripon. Cousin Helen is in a home in Harrogate. Edward lived with a lady, fathered a child, and lost them both and is cut up about it. David is doing well in the United States, an 'American tycoon' says his brother. Lawrence is with the Leeds Permanent Building Society, a deputy manager in Middlesbrough, married with a daughter Alicen Frances Rhodes. Sam puts his 'insanity' down to a thwarted love affair in his teens, and we discussed everything from family, education, ancient Greece, and poetry. Bernie cast him funny looks and thought Sam might be a gipsy. Samuel has so much intelligence but his life is in ruins. Things look bleak for him. He will be 34 next month.
-=-
