Robert Armistead

Doctor Watson's Trunk Robert Armistead

After Sherlock Holmes retired to the South Downs to raise bees - and of course, study and document their habits with his usual care and precision - Dr. John Hamish Watson reopened a medical practice and continued to live at 221B Baker Street for several years. Finally however, the absence of the excitement of sharing adventures with the great detective and acting as his biographer wore down the good Doctor's joie de vivre, and he decided to close his medical practice and retire as Holmes had done. He wrote his intentions to his cousin in Scotland, Ainsley Douglass, and received an enthusiastic response with an invitation to come and live with Ainsley and his wife Bonnie. "Our children have families of their own now, and as Bonnie and I are getting on, we find that rattling around in our big house just increases our feeling of loneliness. We would love to have you here, both for your company and, of course, your fascinating recollections of your adventures with Mr. Holmes.