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"London wife about our age drinks to boost confidence" = 'Dutch courage'. I'm guessing 'Dutch' is some kind of Cockney slang for wife? I've heard of 'trouble and strife' but Dutch is a new one on me, me old china's...

"Brown fan supplies some old money to" = -A-N-R which will nae doot be 'tanner' but why, exactly? (tan=brown and tanner=old coin, that much I can see...)

Many thanks

There's a very old song that goes "There ain't a lady livin' in the world As I'd swap for me dear old Dutch". In the song, Dutch is a cockney term for wife.

1. You are right about Dutch being cockney slang. And you will kick yourself over the explanation for courage. (about)=c + our age (in the clue).

2. Someone who likes (is a fan of) sun-tans could be said to be a tanner (someone who gets a tan).
This is also old money to (should be too really).

Thanks both. Terry, I was happy with 'courage' that's why I never mentioned it...

sorry.

Nah, nutataaaal... Just didn't want you thinking I was completely useless.

If anyone's still reading this...
Dutch is short for Duchess.
The Rhyming slang is Duchess of Fife = wife.
The song My old Dutch was written by Albert Chevalier in 1893.
Check him out on Wikipedia to see if you believe his full name.

Wow. Some handle...
Thanks, Bees.

Just to cross-check Wikipedia:

Oxford Biography Index entry

Albert Chevalier
Chevalier, Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis (1861–1923), comedian and actor

(Let's just call him Al).
Nice to know you're still there, Pooksahib.