Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the usual weekly budget of news and drawings received first post this morning. Seems as if you have not had such nice weather recently as we have. Last Friday for instance it was really glorious – rain on Saturday and we wondered what it would be on the Sunday but it turned out lovely again. Good again yesterday but showers today clearing up later afternoon.

Glad to hear you had no trouble with the Battersea Power Station out of action but noted Mrs Baker was cut off altogether for a while. Looks rather fishy as you say but will the authorities ever find out the true cause? We saw in paper that West Ruislip and Northolt rail lines were affected and thought then that perhaps you escaped.

Yes we went to Lyng on Sunday and had a lovely journey both directions but I’m sorry to say we found Don in a very poor state. He has great difficulty with his breathing or rather the trouble is in not being able to expel air from lungs. The medical diagnosis is emphysema and you can look this up in dictionary or medical book*. He has had to finish with the printing job and can hardly move about without gasping. He has got thin and, in my opinion, has lost the will to fight it. Says himself that he has ‘had his chips’. Apparently there is no disease which is confirmed by two or three X-rays but doctors tell him nothing further can be done. I have suggested in the letter sent yesterday that he ask to see a specialist privately even if necessary coming to Bristol to see one who specialises in Chest complaints. Moreover if there is any possibility of relief by undergoing treatment or an operation then to go to St Mary’s where I went. I am really worried about him and wrote Geoff last night and said that he ought to go and see him as soon as possible. Joan told us she has had to bath at him and dress him and also at times wash his false teeth which just shows the state Don is in. The illness is the after-effects of the flu and it is just possible he may improve with the arrival of the warmer weather but something must be done before next Winter or he will never get through it. Incidentally he gave me a party game he bought for himself at Christmas (this has been a habit of his now for many years) but finds that it is not quite what he wanted and he said let Alec have it when you go to Ruislip but please do not say anything to 169** about it or write Don. He asked that you would not acknowledge it so I thanked him for you. It cost 37/6d [roughly £46.75 in 2024 money] he told me but would not accept any money. Have had a look at it but it takes some working out. Hope you get some enjoyment out of it.

The girls having fun with the record player then – fancy losing the ‘needle’ or what takes place of the needle. Good job they kept the piece and you were able to put it right.

Yes the car went very well on road to Lyng and I noticed that it is very quick on the acceleration. There was a diversion at Pawlett via Puriton to avoid the beginning of Bridgwater and it brought us into Bridgwater via the back road. Lovely country and everything looking fresh and green.

I see Susan and Carol have given us the title of the records they would like and we must now try and get them to bring up. Yes we are counting the days now to our visit. Shall we suggest the first day before Whitsun visit the 14th prox. to come?

No we are not going over to 169 on the Bank Holiday Alec. Geoff and Stella returned that day from Exeter but we may give them a ring that night and fix up something for the next day. No theatre this time thank you and I hope to enjoy myself for once. So far as keeping free of coughs and colds hope you all will soon get rid of yours and keep free too.

Notice you have not yet purchased tent which will be shared by both young ladies. Perhaps we shall be able to see it when we look around the shops.

In previous letter we went to Weston on the Wednesday (lovely day) and of course first point of call was the electric showrooms where the person we dealt with on previous occasion tried to make out the cooker had not been ordered. When finally we got him stone cold on it the wires were buzzing all over the place to find the kind of cooker we wanted. He could not contact anyone just then and so we told him we would come back in an hour. Lines still red hot when we got back but not much definite information could be obtained so I told him to write me that night and report fully as to what was going to be done. He said I will do better than that I will send the Sales Manager to see you first thing in the morning with all the dope – and he did. The result is the cooker was connected up this afternoon at 4:30 pm so I shall be suffering from indigestion for the next week or two***. The way the chappie wriggled at Weston was amusing but he knew he was not going to get away with it.

noted still no news of Temple meats. Dom tells me a relief man is still covering dust and. I like your idea of amalgamating the delivery announcements jobs – what about floating a firm for the work? so the Russians and poles etc are plentiful in the short wave radio work then.

Yes it was the old sewing machine you knew here that fetched £5 when we exchanged it for the electric one. Not bad seeing it was made in 1897. Your mower must have been worth £1 to someone for it to be sold so quickly. Our grass here was so long that I got out the push mower for it on Saturday but yesterday whilst still waiting for some timber to come from Staddens (for bench in new garage) I used shears for the long grass under the trees. Too much rain today or would have had the motor mower out. Instead I finished off the bench in garage and have made quite a good job of it considering all things. It is firmly wedged in now and no nails used to fasten any part of it to the garage itself. Have also started making the ramp approaching the garage doors – have to rise about six inches to the actual entrance. The painting is finished and two or three people have asked me if it is a fire station because of the red paint. Never mind I have used up some paint which almost had whiskers on it.

Yes Cummings and family had a narrow squeak and now here is another one. Haskell of the old West End Post Office was driving in Bristol the other day and did not use the safety belts provided in car and very fortunate this omission turned out. He saw a timber plank flying through the air and coming straight for his windscreen which it smashed and passed through and went out of the window in the door on driver’s side. He ducked and the plank missed him but had he been wearing the belt he could not have got down out of the way. The plank fell off a lorry and a court action is pending for an insecure load.

I am enclosing a cutting taken from Evening Post of yesterday where in you will see the official reason for Ray Mogg leaving the Yatton Furniture Co. We have heard no further information on the subject.

Glad to hear you have done elsewhere for car repairs etc. Also noted position regarding fitters in the car trade.

So Peter is away again with the Territorials – quite a nice experience and a chance to see various parts of the country.

Have not started on greenhouse yet as this may have to wait until we return from Ruislip. Plenty of minor jobs to be cleared up in the meantime and a bit of gardening to be done. Not to mention the lawn again.

No sign of Cornish since I last wrote and I do not know the reason for the balloons which by the way are very much deflated now.

Yes I really thought you would not get BBC2 on your set. Some of the programs on the TV generally are poor stuff and we often switch off altogether.

Sorry the girls kept you waiting after the dancing classes but I expect Daddy will fetch them next time just the same. How are they getting on with it?

Fancy new potatoes – you have had them before us this time. Saw them in the shops when we went to Weston and I know Elford has them for sale but we have kept to the old ones to date. The rhubarb we brought back from 169 in October last is cropping well and we have enjoyed it. Broccoli also turning in and if any available when we take the road on the 14th prox. I will put them aboard.

Mum has been helping the afternoon in transferring a few things from the old to the new garage. A bit more room now that I have not to keep the tools on the floor but I but believe me I shall not have enough room to store all that is to be put back in the place. Shall have to make more use of the old shed (near back door) for articles which will not be affected by wet washing hung up. Can put tins of paint and suchlike in there alright. Have already got the chest of drawers in and the next move is to try and fix some shelves without nails. Mum’s cacti here are doing very well and several showing signs of flowering.

Incidentally I notice that Fridays are your Radio Club nights so please do not cancel the meeting for the 15th May just because we are at Ruislip. We shall be bringing up a few pictures – mentioned when you were here in March – for display in the radio room at 84.

Still no news of the Richings – wondering what is the matter with them. Expect they go often to Reading these days when he can get away.

Don told me the Taunton Station Master is now working as a clerk in Taunton Goods having had a breakdown in health. A man named Jenkins now Station Master and I’m wandering if this is the chap who was at Westbury formerly at Stapleton Road.

The builder on the church hillside is still using the drill to get down low enough for the foundations and it is noticed that some equipment has arrived on Mrs Marshall’s ground for the Robinson firm.

Heels were away over the weekend – to the Midlands somewhere – and they had some really good weather. They are also going off at Whitsun so the Avenue will be somewhat deserted that weekend. No need to get anyone to come over and look after the greenhouse stuff this time. It is a pity it is not in use but there is no help for this year.

Well I think this is the lot once more so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.  Mum and Dad

*N.B. Don did not smoke, but his father was always ‘bronchial’ and there is no doubt some genetic component to lung insufficiency as it has been an ongoing affliction throughout the family. Note all the references to catarrh etc. elsewhere in these letters.

**Headstone Lane, i.e. Geoff and Stella.

***There is of course no possibility of a woman, any woman, ever cooking well enough for any man.