Charles de Gaulle and 99 Frognal House

• THE final paragraph of the report about the listing of General Charles de Gaulle’s house mentions the McPeake family and is inaccurate, (Inside No 99: New plans to restore
listed de Gaulle house, February 29).

My grandfather was called Ben McPeake (not Brian). In 1933 a Scottish lady called Mrs Croll bought the house in question – 99 Frognal House – not the McPeakes. The Crolls added the back staircase and roof-top sun room.

Subsequently Mrs Croll rented the house to Charles de Gaulle and his family between 1942 and 1944. After that, in 1945, Ben McPeake and his family bought the house and lived there till 1968, until they sold it to the Sisters of St Dorothy. The McPeakes then moved to a newly-built house at the top of the drive.

HELEN TSICHRITZIS
Ben McPeake’s Granddaughter
Address supplied