Mum was a bestseller of detective stories; Dad was a theatre actor. Her brother won the Silver Medal in Athletics at the 1908 Olympic Games. Her sister was invited to the Modern Art Exhibition in New York for her paintings. Laura, the youngest, was 14 and could read and write. They thought it would be great to go to New York to accompany their young artist. The whole family was so excited about the journey. Laura helped packing but the family decided that it would be better if she stayed behind with Nanny. She went to the port to say good-bye and cried when the Titanic left the port.