History boxes

I found the hatbox in my then landlady’s garage at 3 Spinolarei, Bruges, waiting to be thrown away. It contained, and still does, her husband’s top hat. He was, in his time, a leading advocate in the highest levels of the Belgian judiciary. The hat (already a bit worn when I was given it) has since featured in many theatrical productions! At the same time as I found, and was given, the hat, I was given the same gentleman’s walking stick. See here.


The leather case beneath was a given to my father when he left the LLC (London County Council) to take up school-teaching in the 1950s.