Untold Story of the Survival of the Penn Central by Donald Prell - HTML preview

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To London

 

 As I flew back to Los Angeles next morning at least a  possible solution to the family Christmas dilemma began to  take shape. Reaching the Union Bank building in downtown  LA by mid-afternoon, I called Harry Volk to make my report.

 

“Mr. Volk, I’ll do my best to accomplish this --- but I  really don’t want to be away from my family over  Christmas. Since the bank has an apartment at the  Grosvenor House in London, I’d like to use it, if it is  available.”

 

After a call to Lee Swett confirmed the apartment was  indeed available through the first week of 1972, I drove home  to tell my wife not to buy a tree -- just get out the suitcases  and start packing.

 

“Darling, how would you like to spend Christmas and New  Years in London? Owen and Erin will come with us too, of  course.” My English wife had lived and worked in London  before we met, so I was fairly confident her response would  be positive.

 

“When do we leave? Who is paying for this?” She said,  with alacrity and practical British thrift.

 

“We leave just as soon as you’re ready. The bank will be  covering the cost, and we can use Swett & Crawford’s  apartment at the Grosvenor House.” Two days later, we  boarded a Pan Am flight to London, wearing winter clothing  and ready for the chilly December weather ahead.

 

These events happened over thirty years ago, yet I can  still recall as if it were yesterday.

 

While London has its share of fine hotels, the estimable  Grosvenor House on Park Lane still reflected its earlier  grand heyday. When Union Bank acquired a group of  insurance companies, which included Swett & Crawford, one  of the prize assets was an apartment in the Grosvenor House.  These units are the height of luxury: a separate entrance  from the street, room service around the clock, furnishings  and décor which are the acme of quality. Initially downcast  about leaving their friends at home at this time, our son and  daughter soon laid claim to their own bedrooms (with six- inch-thick goose down comforters) and eagerly began  devising their 'sees' and 'dos.' Quite sophisticated for their  ages, Owen Trelawny had just-turned eleven and Erin Teleri  nine-and-a-half, they had traveled abroad with us before.

 

Some good friends resided nearby on Mayfair’s Green  Street, within walking distance. We spent Christmas Eve  there before a candlelight service at the American Church,  then after a morning walk in Hyde Park, a memorable  Christmas Dinner. I had reached a decision; one that would  have a totally unanticipated result.

 

“Bette dear, I’m leaving tomorrow to try and resolve this  thing, and I’d like to take Owen along. He’d appreciate  seeing Zurich. You and Erin enjoy a few days together --- see  some plays, go shopping, just enjoy yourselves.”