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Mr Cardew was the caretaker at Digby Arwell's Dorset estate in 1941. He was expected to be at the estate when Digby's sister-in-law Madge Arwell and her children, Cyril and Lily, came to stay over Christmas. (TV: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe)
However, near 21 December, he received a letter from the Eleventh Doctor, informing him that his work was not needed over the Christmas season and that he would look after the home. The Doctor provided Cardew and his wife Mrs Cardew train tickets to Bournemouth and a map with directions to a hotel where he had booked a room for the couple. He also ordered them a roast turkey for Christmas lunch and warned them that there would be a present waiting for them at the hotel that they should not open on any account. (PROSE: "Holiday Plans")
When the Arwell family arrived at Digby's estate, they found a seemingly empty home. After calling out Mr Cardew's name several times, Madge and the children came across the Doctor. They questioned his absence as they had been expecting the usual caretaker, to which the Doctor explained he was the new caretaker. (TV: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe)