Mac's father, Dr Paton was the Denham village doctor. Mac tells his Christmas story:
Christmas was always a big event. One of my father's surgeries was in the house and the cupboards were stashed with liqueur chocolates which had been gifts from patients and other visitors. I remember one Christmas going into the room where the Christmas tree was and there were loads of mice tottering about, looking very bleary eyed after having eaten the chocolates.