Edward Knight's Family
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Charles Augustus Rice [3] continued.
... Court, and from there a stroll up the lane to Dane Court. After his father's death he was an invaluable support and help to his mother and his sisters, who relied on him for all manner of advice.
He had a great sense of humour, his wit was of the same nature as that of his mother and of his sister Louisa, and their meetings can never have been dull! He was really the wittiest member of his family, which is saying a great deal, and he was a master of repartee, which enlivened life for his relations.
On one occasion a visitor who seemed to think the Rice pride in their fathers status wanted taking down, said rather pompously, 'I believe, Major Rice, your father was a banker in Dover?' 'No', replied Augustus without a moment's hesitation, gravely, in his quiet, slow voice, 'He was the man at the end of the pier at Dover Harbour who rang the bell'.
As time went on, his infirmities increased. He suffered from a long and painful illness which eventually confined him entirely to his chair. He died, on August 11th 1905, at Eastry, Kent.
Of her beloved father a daughter wrote, 'Papa's wit was kind and very funny. Through all his terrible, trying illness he was so marvellously patient and gentle and amusing. No one could have had such a darling father as ours, and he was devoted to us. Everyone loved him.'
– His niece, Miss Marcia Rice.
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