A cook, maids and nurses were employed to help Clare. The little girls, Alice and Doris often played with their nurse in Kensington and Charles was one of the first to own an electric car.

In 1910 he moved his family to the quiet village of Hildenborough in Kent and Reggie was born there in 1911. The house, Meopham Park, which he bought was large and set in 120 acres of land. Charles' business was on the whole successful and he became a Freemason and was elected to the Worshipful Company of Musicians. The children were taught by a governess and Charles commuted to London each day.

Just four weeks short of his 42nd birthday, one Friday evening, Charles set off to drive to Tonbridge Station to meet a friend of the London train but never arrived. The next morning, he was found drowned in his car which had somehow crashed into the River Medway from the Ensfield bridge at Leigh. Clare was left with three children, Alice aged 11, Doris 8 and Reggie not quite 2.

Charles' death meant a considerable family financial crisis, as it came at the time of heavy declines in stock market values. There is some suggestion that his partner, who was an executor of his will, may have incurred debts himself and decamped to South Africa with the money. At any rate, it appears although Charles left a large estate, after paying creditors there was little left for the bereaved family.

From being well off, the family found themselves in a state of comparative poverty. Within six weeks, the house was sold to pay outstanding debts, the car was sold, the furniture was put in store and the household staff were let go. Clara decided to move her family back to London. It was no longer financially possible to employ staff and during the next year the family moved four times to various rented furnished boarding houses in different parts of Hampstead.

Alice was an artistic lady who after 9 years of working in the city and hating it, set up her own business as an Interior Designer helping the rich and famous to plan their houses.