Those "of a certain age"~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~may recognise the misquote:-

"Did you expect me to talk?"
"No, Victoria, I expected you to die!"

The Victoria plum, after many years faithful service, pounds of jam,  gallons of wine and more than a few games of "Tinker tailor, soldier sailor", finally "took bad ways" to employ the local vernacular.  She both started to throw suckers all over the area, from whatever was used as Stock on which to graft; AND started to show signs of disease. (Towards the bottom of the trunk)
As stage one I removed most of it and nothing showed all last year; this year she's returned to haunt me. 
Another attack is imminent.