Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for your letter, received as booked. Sorry you did not think much of Susan’s drawing, at least Mum thought it good. I must say she shows talent if not exactly artistic. 

We have had some mixed weather again this week. I took the old umbrella three days when it looks threatening, but did not have to use it, but left it home on one morning that promised fine. Of course it rained. I have not had to water the garden here for some long time now, as rain has fallen at frequent intervals making it unnecessary. The effect of course is that the plants are making quite a lot of growth, but very sparse in the matter of flowers. That dahlias continue to do well, and although the flowers do not seem to last long in the vase, there are plenty of others coming along to keep a decent show indoors. Find we have managed to keep one of the yellow ones. From the appearance of the leaves and stalk I had thought this particular plant to be one of the large pink cactus type flowers, but was pleased to find I was wrong. 

Have not ordered the passes yet for our journey, but will have to do so early on Monday morning as Mr. Lay and myself go to Reading on the 9-30 a.m. The Yard Staff have now asked for Work Study Bonus Scheme so we shall have an informal talk with the L.D.C. reps and tell them the tale. Had a meeting with the Old Oak Common Signalman’s L.D.C. on Thursday, they are a bit militant, as their chairman is the Secretary or Chairman of the Signalman’s Union (U.B.S.)I believe it is called. We start on Monday of this week by taking studies of Ladbroke Junction signal box. 

Susan’s pals have now had their marching orders for good. Details when we arrive. 

Put car in for repairs last Tuesday, and asked for it back for Saturday (yesterday) but although I had it back he has not finished it, and will take it again tomorrow morning and says he will return it on Thursday. I shall have to get him to return it on Wednesday or leave him the key of the garage as we shall be on our way to Clevedon on Thursday evening. At the moment, the front bumper is off, and the headlamp out, but the wing has been reshaped (good workmanship) but the paste wants sanding down, the whole of the alterations sprayed (several coats), and the piping etc. around the edges requires to be renewed. Jackson will also utilise any paint over to spray over one of the rear wings which for some reason is a slightly different colour from the rest of the car, and he will rehang the bonnet so that it fits properly. You may recall that there was a slight overlap or overhang when you passed car over to us. 

I see from the Sunday papers that Beeching is not to be allowed to have his expensive assistants from outside industry, so that may give some of us a chance. Any advantage here is bound to filter down through the ranks as there are still comparatively few trained and experienced “productivity hounds”. Not an impossible position for Norman to fill. Strange things happen these days. It has been found that what were once thought to be specialist jobs, jealously guarded by staff in the appropriate sections, can be done by reasonably bright people after quite short periods of training. There is after all nothing very difficult about marshalling that he should not be able to grasp after a few weeks. 

I saw the bit in the newspapers about Tossa, some do.

Note you have picked a large quantity of runner beans and tomatoes, suppose you will exceed the hundredweight in tomatoes this year. Good spare time indoor job this winemaking, enables some interesting activity when the weather is too bad for outdoor work. We shall not be able to transport any wine this time as we shall be without the car, but I hope we shall have the chance of tasting some when with you. Have nearly finished your cherry now and ready to broach the next variety. Thanks for the tip about elderberries, we have no bushes near us so cannot tell the progress of the ripening. If you are interested, you may be able to gather some blackberries over the next couple of months and try a new flavoured wine with them. 

I do not think I knew or knew of Anthony D**** but it is always a tragic business. I think I heard somewhere that the old chap had died. So if so it is just as well in the circumstances.

It sounds as though you had a very severe gale your end. We had it bad but no real damage to report – nothing to damage much. There was a tree blown down in The Fairway but I did not see it. 

We had our office car rally yesterday. June and I went over to meet the rest of them at Burnham station (8 cars all told) and we all all went to Burnham Beeches for a picnic tea, (take your own picnic), from that point we set off one at a time to conform to the printed instructions handed to us. A sort of mystery tour, with an adult form of Treasure Hunt included. Some of the places we passed through were Beaconsfield, Forty Green, Penn, Saunderton, and Henley-on-Thames*. We finished up at the latter, and after one drink in the hotel opposite the station June and I left for home. The rest remained for a buffet supper and convivial evening. McDonald and his wife attended and took part in the rally. He was highly delighted and wants the next one as soon as possible. 

Well we will look out for you at Yatton station off the 5-5 p.m. Paddington on Thursday. In the meantime will say love from us all.

*Google Earth suggests this is roughly a 40 mile loop with an additional 40+ miles of travelling to and from South Ruilsip at either end, therefore roughly 85 miles of driving plus a picnic tea and a drink in the pub afterwards. It’s difficult to see this all taking much less than four hours and possibly a lot more, depending on the speeds possible on the roads that day.