Stalwart who has cared for family for more than 50 years

VERONICA Crook has worked for Jacob Rees-Mogg’s family since before he was born. The nanny, described by the Tory MP as a ‘remarkable woman’ who made him the man he is today, was originally hired in 1965 by journalist William Rees-Mogg and his wife Gillian to look after their children.

Since then, Miss Crook, who is descended from Samuel Crook, the rector who baptised English philosopher John Locke, has been ever-present for the Rees-Moggs. Nanny does not have her own children – prompting Jacob to say

‘we are her family’. He has also likened her to Mary Poppins, saying she has ‘a bag filled with almost everything that can be needed’.

Miss Crook has worked for Mr Rees-Mogg and his wife Helena for the past 11 years, with the MP declaring how ‘absolutely wonderful’ it is that she is still caring for his offspring.

‘I hear her telling them things she used to tell me,’ he said.

‘She reminds them of the postwar rationing. So if they have great dollops of butter on their toast, she says that would have been a week’s ration. I love that, the historic continuity you get.’

He added: ‘My children never tire of hearing about the bully who stole Nanny’s sandwiches at school. The next day, her mother sent her in with mustard ones and he never bothered her again.’

But even Nanny once behaved in a ‘childlike way’, he said. ‘When Veronica did not win the prize at Sunday school, despite the best attendance record, she joined the sober Methodists.

‘Naturally, this did not last as nannies do like the occasional tincture of sherry.’