Category: 1963 letters

Sunday 29th December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Sorry no letter from you so far this week so must get something off to you. We had the paper arrive okay on Friday and noted the passages you have marked with a ring. Hope the lad from the house in the quarry recovers satisfactorily. Also note the comment re: the land.

Well not an awful lot to report from this end after Christmas. We had a good but mainly quiet time this year. As you may know I have the week off and do not return until tomorrow. On Monday June wanted to go over to Ealing to see her mum and do some shopping so I made out a priv.* and June and the girls went on the train. They were away most of the day and while that was going on I did some re-arrangements to the mains wiring upstairs, and then changed round the furniture arrange arrangements in the loft. At the same time a deal of tidying was done so that it looks a bit more respectable. I met them at the station with the car at about 3:30 pm. We had expected Mrs Baker come up Pauline and Peter over for the night on the Tuesday, and waited for them, but they did not arrive. It later transpired that they had not realised they were coming on that date. However we knew they would be over on the following day so did not worry.

I am a little ahead of myself so far as dates are concerned, and we must go back to the Sunday when we attended the children’s carol service. Susan had to say some lines (from memory) and she showed no interest in learning, and on the Sunday morning she decided she did not know them, and did not want to go etc. etc., altogether she was a bit of a madam that morning. However not knowing what to expect we turned up at the church and she said her lines loud and clear with no fluffing at all. It was a good carol service, and they sang one or two we knew and some we did not.

To revert now to Christmas Day, we packed all the presents into the girls shoe bags and left them on either side of the Bureau. I took the precaution of locking the door and taking the key to bed with me in case someone should wake up and start on the prowl. They were not too bad in the morning, a bit early, but my precautions just enabled me to be on the spot at the right time. Of course they were delighted with all the packages, and presents, cards etc. and it really kept them quiet for a long time. They certainly liked the spoils from Clevedon and no doubt you will hear from them in due course. We all went to church at 10:00 a.m. – both girls wanted to go and there were many people there. The little room was full and I would say there was somewhere between 50 and 100 there. When we got back Les next door came around and asked us in for a drink. This we enjoyed and met Doug and Ethel there and Christine and Ron and the new couple from over the road on the corner and their little girl. We did not reciprocate this time but have it in mind for next year.??.

The family from number 17 arrived shortly afterwards and we all settled in. Peter and I went out for one at about 12:30 p.m. and back in time for lunch. June did us proud and we had a bottle of Graves to wash it down. Of course there were one or two sleepy ones about in the afternoon when we mainly watched television. More or less the same treatment for Boxing Day and our guests left at 3:30 p.m. taking Susan with them for a short holiday. Fog was beginning to build up as they went but did not descend totally until much later. We had two days of it and skies did not really clear until Saturday morning.

On Friday we decided to go down to the launderette to get some of the washing cleared out of the way, but by the look of the sky I decided not to take the car. The walk went against the grain, but worse was to follow and we found that the machines were all in use when we got there (down by station) so it was a question of wait or turn around and go back. We did the latter (June complete with yashmak against the fog) and as we went along the fog got thicker and thicker until we found the cars going nose to tail along the Victoria Road. That was it for the night and we could hear the cars growling up the road outside for a long time afterwards.

The stuff in the greenhouse seems to have come through okay despite the lamp having gone out on one occasion. We were lucky the last time as the temperature had risen in the night and the glass was reading 50º [F – 10ºC] anyway. I think we may have lost a tradescantia so look after yours and bring us a piece next time. That will be the most travelled tradescantia of all time no doubt**. Spent yesterday  putting up railway for curtains over the windows in the hall and landing. I am sure this will make a difference to the house temperature in the really cold weather. Can’t notice anything now while it is as warm as this. Put up a new aerial also yesterday and it looks to be working a lot better than the old one. The latter will now be taken down. We have spoken to Susan several times since she went away and it seems she is enjoying herself. Carol is quite well behaved so all is more or less harmony for a short while.***

Thank you both once again for the presents given to me while I was with you and the nice weekend. I have not worn the scarf and tie yet, but must do so for best. Hope you managed to enjoy yourselves. We thought of you and wondered if you would go to see Aston and his wife as last year. I do not think you told me what your plans were. Pity you were not nearer of course.

We made great inroads into the wine here and have now reduced stocks to a few bottles of commercial with just the dregs left, and about ten bottles of home-made of various denominations. The latter are all good drinkable types so will last a while yet.

Well there it is for this week, having nothing to reply to, I cannot comment so you will get a double dose next time I expect. I think that is all the news for now and you know how we spent our time. I must say a week is a useful time to have off at this time of year and quite looking forward to going back.??.

Went over to Jeff’s on the Christmas Eve with small presents for the girls, but no one home. Left the parcels in the cycle shed and rang him up. He told me they were going to spend a couple of days (or one meal cannot remember which) in a hotel near Croydon where his brother in law from Singapore had got all Stella’s family together for the first time in 20 years and was playing for the spread. I gather he is filthy rich.

It remains then to wish you both a Happy New Year, and have fun at the party. Love from us all. 

*Priv = ‘privilege ticket’, which was part of Alec’s compensation as a member of B.R. staff. The spouse and school-age children of staff members could travel either cheaply or free (depending on the service involved) on production of the appropriate paperwork.

**I strongly doubt it: presumably the original specimen brought from Virginia by John Tradescant the Elder in 1629 could claim that honour!

***Once again, great parenting. Can’t be arsed dealing with two children, let’s get rid of one of them. Result – the one disposed of naturally feels ‘less than’, the one retained develops a sense of superiority which never leaves her.

Friday 27th December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter and enclosures received at 12:10 pm today i.e. four days after postmark. Some post even for Christmas! Have started reply immediately after dinner in the hope of posting tonight for you to have it Saturday morning. Post should be normal now.

First of all then – congratulations on your New Year’s rise of £100 with more to come from the National Agreement in due course. A very good present for the New Year. Glad to hear you arrived home safely on Monday the 16th although the train a bit late. Also that June was pleased with the slippers etc. Presumably the girls have now made merry with all their Christmas presents and we hope they liked them all. Glad to hear Alec that you got rid of cold but sorry June had to take it. We managed to dodge it this time and have kept fairly well throughout this holiday. Mum was a bit off-colour one morning but managed to shake It off during the day. Plenty of sickness around again in this area.

Hope the girls kept free of illness over the holiday and continue to do so. How nice for them to take part in the church services and to be invited to the Mount Vernon Hospital party. We thought of you all during the Christmas and would very much like to have been with you but just look at the weather. Very sharp frosts last week and right up to Christmas Eve when it started to hail here about 11:45 p.m. and continued for many hours – in fact most of the day on the 25th. (Should have said the hail turned to rain early Christmas morning and that discontinued most of the day.) We went to 8 a.m. service and I was ringing from 7:30 a.m. and although the church is only just round the corner it was a nasty little journey. In the afternoon Mum and I went over to the Aston’s about 4:30 p.m and back home at 9 p.m. and yesterday the 26th they came over to us for the same period. Just made that little break from normal routine.

Fog was very thick most of the 25th and continued throughout the night and the foghorn in the channel was working overtime. Today it is inclined to a foggy wetness and the atmosphere is cold and damp as may be expected.

We hope you all had a very happy time at Ruislip and that June’s mother, Pauline and Peter were able to be with you for part of the time.

If the Mercury reached you earlier this week you will have noticed the paragraph about the young motorcyclist who was injured in a road accident. His parents only moved into one of the new houses in the quarry at bottom of this Avenue a few weeks back. The latest information is that the young man is still unconscious but not so deeply as during the first few days after the accident. It is touch and go whether he lives – a very poor Christmas for them all. Apparently the accident rate over the Christmas is the worst ever and I expect Marples will blow his top off again.

Your news of reorganisation most interesting and I expect you are all wondering when and where each individual will find himself when the reshuffle has taken place. Maybe the present headquarters staff will remain augmented by staff from some of the existing Lines Offices if as you say the work at HQ is to be increased. Anyhow the day-to-day routine takes on another outlook for you all in the New Year – guessing and contemplating the moves. Naturally we shall be pleased to be kept up to date with all of events.

Very sorry to hear about your greenhouse troubles but you must have had a most exceptional frost that particular morning. Hope your efforts to rescue the plants were successful. Just shows the severity of the frost in the various parts of the country. The temperature in my greenhouse did not fall below 30º [F, equivalent of -1ºC] and there was no trouble with anything growing there but in garage I’m afraid the frost got into the apples and has affected a lot of them. Glad to know you have found an improvement in living conditions in your living room following the erection of the lean-to.

Now for June’s letter. I see I have covered one or two items above but we agree if June can fix up for the girls to stay at school for dinner and they can be properly looked after there, then for the worst term of the year it should be a big advantage both to the girls and to June. As you say June if only you could drive. Never mind perhaps you can have another go when the weather improves. I certainly should not attempt at present. Incidentally Alec, Frank James (one of our bellringers) had to take his test at Weston-super-Mare at midday on Christmas Eve. What a time and day for it. Only remains to say he did not pass. I spoke to Bushell about the starting handle the other day. He remembers it and I shall have it in due course. Told him there was no immediate hurry now but I would like to have it by Easter

He called over on Christmas Eve and gave us a bottle of sherry for ‘kindnesses’ during the year. it is very nice of them to do this but the kindnesses he mentioned are really mutual as he does quite a lot to the car one way and another. Their little girl Ruth had a wonderful time with presents from grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins etc. Heels went to Rugby on Sunday the 22nd inst. and due back Monday 30th. He looked in on Saturday and said if you were coming down for Christmas you could put car in his garage. I thanked him but said you would not be coming.

There have been no further developments re: land other than what I marked up in Mercury. It certainly appeared from that our proposition was the only one of many to be passed by the council at their last meeting. The others were either not properly submitted or the plans not acceptable. 

As you may guess I have not done much outdoors lately – just chopped up sticks for fire lighting and picking green stuffs for dinner. A man came to the door one day last week with logs for sale. 2/- [roughly £2.50 in 2023 money] per basket or three baskets for 5/- [equivalent to £6.40]. Had three to help us provide the Christmas Yule log. In fact the logs were oak and ash and proved very good for burning – did not flare away as the others had done.

Brandy did you say Alec? I have not opened the bottle yet but you can rest assured I shall in due course and enjoy it. Thank you both once more for letting me have something. The strongest I’ve tasted this holiday is some of my homemade blackcurrant wine and two or three small glasses of that made me sleep well after dinner. Elford’s Bristol Milk Sherry is now 17/- per bottle [roughly £21.50!*] and I have found one or two bottles without the false bottoms and Elford has filled them up just the same as those with the false bottoms so I do not take him any of the latter when getting in supplies.

Mum now getting her breath back for the big night next Tuesday when the bellringers arrive for the annual feed. Mrs Cornish has promised to come over again and help out.

Our neighbour opposite in Miss Weekes’ old house looked over one day last week and asked if he could look at our drains as they were blocked up again on his side of road. I told him the two sides of the road were independent and joined up just inside Cornish’s gate but he said he had been to Cornish who had not been very helpful – said there was nothing wrong in his place. However I opened up our inspection covers and everything was all right. Later I heard that Cornish opened up his inspection cover and found the tank was full. He was then in trouble and went into Heel’s to find out how his drain was looking that proved to be all clear as ours was. The neighbour in Miss Weekes’ house called out the Council workmen to clear so perhaps Cornish will now have a part of the bill to pay.

Well I really think I have exhausted what bit of news is available this week so weill close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls and to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year. Here’s to looking forward to seeing you at Easter. Mum and Dad. 

*For this to make any sense, I would have to assume he’s talking about a 2 pint (aka a quart) bottle – the equivalent of 114 cl. The largest bottle of Bristol Cream Sherry I can find currently available is 1 litre, which retails at £14.75 for the ‘special edition‘ at Tesco’s, which would make that £16.82 per quart. Either the cost of production or the specification must have decreased considerably in the past sixty years.

Sunday 22nd December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for weekly letter. Cannot say what time it arrived this time, but it came on Friday o.k. Also thanks once more for the nice weekend spent at Clevedon. Also for the nice things you gave me to bring back for all of us.

You will be pleased to learn that my cold is quite gone now, and I only hope that it was not passed on as an extra Christmas present. June got it of course, but is now well over the worst of it. Sue not extra special towards the end of the week, and when I arrived home on Friday June on her way out with her to doctors. He produced some pills (via prescription) and that was that. She went to her party at the hospital on Saturday afternoon and does not seem at all bad now.

Hope you will not keep the brandy for medicinal purposes only, unless all purposes can be deemed to be medicinal. The girls have not seen their presents yet, and they will be produced on Christmas Day. June was soon wearing hers and very pleased too. Got back all right on Monday although the train was some 20-odd minutes late.

Well we learned a bit about our future on Wednesday last. Pearson-Armstrong, the Chief Staff and Establishment Officer, called all the staff of his organisation together and told them that from July 1964 the traffic organisation on the E.R. would be changed. Instead of the Lines and a three tier organisation we would have a two tier organisation involving Headquarters and five Divisions. The latter to be at Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, Norwich, Lincoln and Sheffield. So far as his staff were concerned, he said that no one would be worse off, but there would be a lot of work to be transferred to HQ from the Lines. Some of it would be absorbed by existing staff, but additional staff would be required to cope with the rest. He also said that Works Study would be hived off from his responsibilities and placed under a new Assistant General Manager (Special Duties). This of course is as we had learned on the grapevine. It appears that we may be transferred very quickly as the thing can be done en bloc. This will mean a date very early in the New Year I should not wonder.

The new AGM is Boland who came from the Southern region about one year ago and took the job of Movements Officer at Kings Cross. I gather he is comparatively young, and it is said that he only went to the last job as part of his training for bigger things. I reckon the same applies here as he knows nothing about Work Study. However I had a nice little letter from Pearson-Armstrong on Friday informing me that my salary would be increased by £100 [equivalent of roughly £2,500 in 2023 money] for 1964 and with some more to come from the wage award I could not care less if they had put us under the curator of the Railway Museum at York. I should think Bill Bryer would stand a chance of getting McDonald’s old job, that is if he has applied.

You say the sun has warmed your greenhouse, but we have had fun with ours. Could not see much in ours until I could see into it in daylight. Friday night was a terrific frost, and when I got inside the lean-to I found that the temperature was showing at about 20º minimum [Fahrenheit – the equivalent of about -7º Celsius] and a number of plants seemed to have had it. Bad cases were most geraniums, the fuchsia and the agrostemma. The latter had all its leaves limp and hanging down the side of the pot, while the fuchsia had lost most of its leaves and the remainder were dropping like crackers every time it was moved. The primula too was limp and dangling down the sides of the pot so that seemed to have gone too. However I had a quick go at things and brought all the affected plants except the fuchsia into the house. The former have revived and although some leaves are lost the plants will live. The fuchsia too seems… [line of text missing here] have brought all the pots in the lean-to towards the front of the staging and put newspapers around most of the front of the window to a height of about two feet. This plus turning the wick up and a dusting of snow in the night has prevented any further alarms. I am not surprised that Mum has brought all her cacti indoors. Without heat in that lean-to of yours they would not last long. I have moved the Christmas cactus over the top of the TV same as yours,as do not think we shall get anything from it this year. I must say that having the lean-to outside does make a big difference to the warmth of the dining room. Although we still get cold air from that direction, it is nothing like it was under the same conditions last year. If you recall we could not stay in here for many minutes.

Well not much to tell you this week, after last week’s visit, so will close now and resume after Christmas. Hope you have a pleasant time yourselves. We shall not be very active and I expect we shall not be sorry when it is all over. So for now will wish you both a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all. 

Wednesday 18th December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Just a few lines as promised and to thank you all very much for what Alec brought down last Saturday. So far as I am concerned the brandy will come in most useful in due course and as mentioned to Alec it is many years since I had a bottle of this on hand. We hope Alec got back safely and that he has shaken off that cold he brought with him. Also that June Susan and Carol will keep free of it.

It was nice to have Alec with us for a couple of nights and only wish you all could have been here. The weather as it turned out was not too bad and we were able to get out for the short walk on Sunday. Apparently you have had a little snow and a letter from Geoff yesterday confirmed this but like everyone else they hope it will not get worse. Alec was able to read all the correspondence relating to sale of land and be in a position to tell June all about it. Nothing further is expected to transpire until the end of the three month period viz. 15th February and then I expect it will be some time before the builders commence operations. In the meantime must think out what will be the best to do with resiting of garage (or building a new one) and greenhouse. The pond will be cut in half and that is a job for next summer when working conditions outdoors are favourable.

Have not seen Bushell yet but will ask him about the starting handle as soon as possible. Heel has been working for the auctioneer at the Yatton Poultry Market (Monday) and has I think gone to Winford today for the same purpose. Next week they are off to the Midlands for Christmas.

Have done nothing out doors so far this week – the easterly wind is back with us again although the sun warms the greenhouse up very well. Expect you thought everything was looking a bit derelict down here but you could see I’ve been recovering plants and timber etc from the ground which we give up in February.

Hope June had a satisfactory weekend with the girls on her own apart from the time Mrs Baker was there. We thought of them again during the dancing lesson time on Saturday and on Sunday during Sunday school time. Have they started the Christmas holiday yet? The children here have started and a party of them had their annual carol service in church on Monday evening. The juniors have their carol service next week at Christ Church.

Well I do not really think there is any more news at the moment – postman very late now so will get this off tonight in the hope it reaches you before the weekend. Shall be thinking of you all over the Christmas and hope you will have a very happy time and no upset tummies.

Again many thanks for all the nice things Alec brought down for us. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls

Mum and Dad

Sunday 8th December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for the letter and paper duly to hand. You will be interested to know that as a result of the experiment in separate dispatches from your end that the paper arrived at 8:30 a.m. and the letter arrived at 11:30 a.m.. What next?* Gather the letter sent off from here a bit late last week.

Not an awful lot to report from this end this week. Had another bit of fun with the car on Wednesday. When getting it out of garage got a bit too close to one side, and got the upright of the door support caught in between the front and rear nearside doors. The upright of the garage is about one inch wide and 3/16 thick and dropped in the gap so nicely that it could not go forward or back. In fact the action of letting in the clutch resulted in forcing the car against the upright even more. Had to ask Les to give me a hand and we had to lift the back clear of the garage upright. Results not too bad on the car as no effect on the metal of the doors and only a very thin section of paint removed down the  edge of both the doors. The garage however had the worst of it as cannot now close the doors properly. The upright has been bent about 1 foot up from the bottom (outwards) and although you cannot see it with the eye, the whole front must list a bit to the left now as left-hand door scrapes on the transom and right hand door scrapes on the ground. I may take the doors off and give upright a good bash with heavy rammer [sic] this morning, but meanwhile have secured the doors as best I could.

Note the weather has enabled you to get cracking on garden adjustments. You should get some specimen loganberries next year with something to drive them. Amazing how a garage like the Lex one in Bristol should be full up so often just shows how many people are about in cars now. One good thing about the department store lark, you only need to go to one and you have got all you set out to get.

I thought the price Mrs Marshall got for her land was just amazing. I suppose if one wanted to get the best out of one’s property by sale the best way to do it is by auction with a reserve price as a safeguard. However I do not think you can grumble about the figure offered to you for your land. Couple this with the timing of the deal it is an amazing bit of luck for you. Had this come earlier, you might not have been inclined to sell and in any case price would certainly have been much lower.

Had seen the building in Elford’s yard but not of course from the inside. Had an idea that it was only an old barn and never gave it a thought as a residence. Hope it can be made into something good for them. I suppose the shop is his to sell.

The local traders seem to be doing this Triangle lark every Christmas now and not a bad thing at that. Of course it is all good for trade, but nice to see someone doing something special.

Have not heard of ‘Robinsons of Middlesex’. This county is quite large as you know, but I will see if I can find out anything about them. Gather Mr Clore**, sorry Cornish, has been missing since his last big deal. Perhaps the strain was too great or he has gone to the Mediterranean on the expectations? By the way what about your cruise now?

Sorry to hear about Mr Aston’s mishap. Hope he is getting on all right now. He did not follow the saying of ‘not running for buses’ etc. I would rather miss one the run for it.

I remember having heard something about Ching having had a daughter sometime or other, but have no real recollections. Good luck to them of course – must want their heads read.***

Susan and Carol both pretty fit now, although not too certain about Susan. She is acting up a bit as if something wrong, but nothing obvious. The leg healed up very well and let’s hope she has learned a lesson. We all went up to see the lights last Sunday. Left here after Sunday School**** and took car to Eastcote Station. Left there by train at 4 p.m. and got up to Piccadilly Circus about 35 minutes later. Walked to Regent Street and Oxford Street and along to Marble Arch where we entrained once more. The lights and shops were not too bad, but I think it was still a bit early to get the best effect. I forget what time we got back but it was not too late.

Greenhouse had a temperature drop last night. It was a white frost and when I looked at thermometer this morning (from inside the dining room) the minimum looked like about 31º[F] [about -.5ºC]. Must get out there later and see what it really was. All around was as white as snow, and there is no doubt that we had a hard one. The plants look O.K. from here, but they won’t stand too much of that.

You may find breaking up the old concrete path a bit of a problem and not an easy job. Remember what got buried underneath – old razor blades etc.

No doubt that Jackson had car working O.K. when he returned it and we were just unlucky with a chapter of accidents. Everything okay now of course?

I will have a look for Stinchcombe’s name in the call book. There are about 10,000 names therein and if I had the call sign it would be easier as they are in call order and not alphabetical. However as he was licensed before the war that may reduce the extent of the search.

Will be coming down on Saturday, but as yet have not looked up the trains. Will take this letter to office on Monday and insert the details. Got caught last time as they had changed all the train departure times.

Well we did our shopping by car yesterday, then went over to Ealing in the car again in the afternoon. Brought Grandma Baker back to babysit for us, and we went to Roy and Delph’s***** for the evening. After getting back from them at about 10:45 p.m. drove Grandma back to Ealing and home once more. The cold was intense and all the cars were covered with frost. I must say the heating arrangements in the new car are far superior to those of the old. The heater acts much more quickly and really is hot.

Looking back through your letter, I note you are clearing up the weeds. I wonder if you’re going to rescue the bonfire ash from the field side of garden. There must be 30 years of good stuff there.

We are in the throes of decoration preparations here. The school has asked for decorations to be made by the children, and both Carol and Susan are hard at it. I believe there is a competition involved. We have glue, glitter and crepe paper plus glue etc. [sic] all over the table and floor, and I have to keep on breaking off this letter to sort things out. They have got June at it now so it is something of a Combined Op.

Well will close down now and look forward to seeing you at the weekend. Love from us all once again. 

*What’s next is the abolition of the second post, which actually lasted a surprisingly long time. As for the time of its arrival, Alec would be spinning in his grave if he knew ours could turn up any time between about 10.00 and 14.00!

**Alec’s expression for ‘Mr Moneybags’, i.e. anybody he believed to be wealthier than him.

***Presumably intended as an insult to anyone who chose to work with children, and reflecting his dislike of children as a species. Spoiler alert: he never wanted any of his own.

****This is interesting as I remember Sunday School as always being in the morning: we were sent there so as ‘not to get in the way while mother was preparing dinner’. However as it was Advent perhaps there was a special service.

*****Delphine Steinke, nee Baker, was June’s first cousin, their fathers having been brothers.

Wednesday 4th December 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 3rd December, 1963]

Many thanks for letters received first post this morning and we note it was postmarked 1 pm Tuesday which accounts for the later than usual arrival. Very sorry to hear about Susan and Carol and hope both much better now. Shall have to tell Susan she has two legs to stand on not to fall down. Were you able to go up to the City Sunday evening to see the lights?

Noted also that paper and letter arrived together. We had the paper weighed at Post Office to make sure of postage and as there is no extra charge will continue to post separately.

No I should not bother with the E.R. news sheet Alec. I have seen one or two of the W.R. copies and do not think a lot of them and it would be a waste of postage to send them on to me. Thank you for the thought though.

So far as the gale was concerned you may be right regarding age of property in this area but there is also the terrific force of wind to be considered which as you know can be very bad coming direct off the coast. It will be some time before all the repairs in the neighbourhood are carried out.

Noted you have taken some buddleia cuttings both indoors and out. I see we have one growing in one of the frames outside greenhouse.

I do not think Mrs Marshall will ever move out from her present house but with the sale of the ground her boundaries will be considerably curtailed – leaving I think only just the garden apart from the ground the other side of the river i.e between river and sea wall beyond our patch.

The booster will be brought through from Martindale to a site near our apple trees and I expect one or more of these may have to be uprooted to make way for it. It is quite certain that the class of houses to be erected will be in the £4,000-£5,000* region otherwise the land buyers will never see their money back. The West End will change character very much in the next few years. It has already altered considerably since we came here.

Yes I’m afraid our shed near back door is a bit of a dumping place but Mum also uses it for drying clothes in the wet weather and one cannot keep tools in a damp atmosphere. However at the moment we have the coal and wood stored in it. I want a concrete coal bunker in due course but do not think I would like to demolish this shed altogether. Anyhow there is still plenty of time to further consider ideas.

I had been thinking of breaking up the concrete path of the point of new boundary and possibly using the material recovered for crazy paving in the future. This path is still in very good condition but I must agree the apron outside the garage was a failure. Had not enough cement at the time to make the mix properly. This will be left for the next people to break up.

My word what a performance you had with the car. Can only hope now that everything is in good order and that you will not have any further trouble for a very long time. I read out that part of the letter to Bushell and he was very interested. He told me he’s going to take another test early in the new year and will have a few lessons first with a School of Motoring here. I should think you were properly fed up with the car’s behaviour. Do you think Jackson had it working properly when he returned it from Maida Vale?

So you still managed to get a little time in the attic with your radio on Sunday. Still working effectively by the sound of it. Richings used to have a friend in Yatton by name of Stinchcombe who used to operate a set before the war and had an elaborate setup in one of the rooms of the house. He had to dismantle it for the war period and Richings does not think he ever opened up again. Query if his name is in your directory.

Very pleased to hear of Susan’s effort at the church with 120th psalm. There is no doubt that she can read very well. Has Carol started yet? Glad to hear also they both had prizes and that they parted with some of their old toys for the mentally handicapped children.

Have ordered a small quantity of wine through Geoff but have asked him to store it until we next visit them. Can manage for the time being and what he holds for us will always come in handy later on.

It has been a dry day here, rather cold but quite nice for outdoor working and I have started to clear up some of the weeds from garden immediately on garden side of hedge. Also wheeled 8 barrows of manure to a site on this plot. The ground is still very sticky after so much rain but one has to take every chance at this time of year. We shall soon have such weather which will keep us off it for weeks unfortunately.

I assume with the car out of order last weekend you were not over not able to go over to Ealing and give Peter a hand with the concrete path. Hope Mrs Baker keeping fit now-a-days.

No more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.

P.S. Looking forward to seeing you on 14th. 

*Roughly £102,000 – £127,000 in 2023 parlance: good luck buying a house in Clevedon for that money these days, although it might just be enough for a one-bedroom flat.

Tuesday 3rd December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

No letter from you today so I suppose we must assume the Christmas postal rush has begun. Anyhow I can start off by giving you all the local news although that is not very much this week. Plenty of rain during the week but also some very nice spells which enabled me to do a bit outdoors. Have now removed all the timber edging to the paths of that part of the garden which we lose in February – most of it was rotten and only fit for firelighting. Yesterday I got out the loganberry and split the root into two giving Bushell one part and putting the other half-way across the garden just on the garden side of the Golden Privet hedge. Later on shall put up the wire to carry the runners and keep them off the earth. I think I have previously mentioned that Norman Baker had brought me a load of manure and now I have commenced to cart this from a point near the garage to that part of the garden which we retain. Incidentally when planting the loganberry I put nearly half a barrow load in the hole before filling up. This should have good results in due course.

Bought 3 pints of antifreeze from Boots yesterday and Bushell came over the morning and put same in radiator. The valve at the bottom broke off (due to action of antifreeze) and he had to pop down to Willcocks garage for a replacement – cost 3/- [roughly £3.75 in 2023 money].

Am still picking in apples especially Jersey Beauties and these will have to be kept for several months before they are eatable, then they are lovely.

Bushel told me he and his wife together with other friends went to Bristol last Friday and they could not put car in the Lex Garage – it was full up. Today Mum and I went into Bristol after dinner by bus and when we passed the Lex Garage noticed the ‘car park full’ sign showing. The place was absolutely full with people and vehicles – trying to compete with London I suppose. We only went into Lewis’s and were back home again by 4:30 p.m.. A nice afternoon but a very cold east wind.

Heel has been busy taking down his poultry houses and stacking the wood for possible future use. I have done nothing further yet regarding proposed new garage etc. except note various prices in advertisements.

Wonder what you thought of the price Mrs Marshall got for her ground. Quite a bit of comment around here. The cost of the houses and or bungalows will be that much more for purchasers to pay. Do you remember the old outbuilding standing in Elford’s yard? It is now being converted into a house for Mr and Mrs Elford to retire to. It will be quite a small affair but good enough for them. No idea of date they will retire from business but it looks as if they are getting ready for it.

Understand there was a big event in The Triangle last night when the streets were lit up for the Christmas – carols being sung outside the railway station. Somebody must have seen the Lights of London on TV during the weekend. It is an effort by the traders in the area to stimulate trade for Christmas.

By the way do you know the firm who bought Mrs Marshall’s land? They have only been recorded as ‘Robinsons of Middlesex’. Never heard of them before.

Still no contact with Cornish – he appears to have gone to earth. He has a big advantage now inasmuch as his ground is so devoid of anything useful either growing or non-growing that he has no need to clear any of it.

Mrs Aston called round last Friday and said Mr Aston was confined to house with a sprained ankle. Apparently he was trying to catch a bus at corner of Westbourne and around the last few yards and then stepped on edge of curb and turned his ankle over. I went over in the afternoon for a couple of hours but he had much improved (the incident happened on the Tuesday) and was able to hobble about with the aid of a stick. Have not seen him since but shall try and get over later in week. Roy Hewitt still walking badly but and it takes him a very long time to walk from his home in Westbourne Avenue to Tennyson Avenue.

Arthur Ching’s daughter Heather is getting married sometime during the Christmas holidays. The young man, also a teacher, is the son of the landlord of the Failand Inn and we understand they will make their home at Chippenham where they both continue teaching. Heather must be about 22 years old now. You will remember her of course. On second thoughts though perhaps you will not remember her as she could only have been about a year old when you went to London. Arthur Ching and wife are now living in a flat in Melbourne Terrace close to the station.

Tomorrow is your ninth anniversary – heartiest congratulations and all the very best to you both for the future. Nearly halfway through with the house too and the value has gone up a lot since you bought it. A most valuable asset to have at the back of you.

[Letter continues on Wednesday 4th December, 1963]

Sunday 1st December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks very much for letter and paper arrived together note same price postage, so no advantage this week. However in view of delay to other than regular sized envelopes no doubt we shall reap the benefit later on. I have not sent you any of the Eastern Region Rail News lately as gathered you were not impressed. If you would like them I can send them on, but none of us think much of them especially after the magazine it superseded.

Well what can we report on the health stakes this time? Well Carol was quite off-colour early in the week. She said she felt a lot better one morning when I enquired, but when I got home she was in bed having had a bad spell. Susan did not get it although she showed all the signs of getting it. However she made up for it in two ways. Firstly she has been very naughty and there was talk of stopping her from going to Brownies for the second successive week, but in the event she was unable to go as June could not take Carol with her. They both saw Dr instead and had the usual jollop. On top of this Susan has fallen down again* but this time the damage was quite extensive, and she would not leave the scabs alone – result she has a poisoned leg. This has caused her a lot of pain and is as sensitive and red as can be. She was almost unable to walk about the house yesterday, but after a bath last night and a general cleaning out of the wound she is a lot better today. She was able to get out into the sideway and walk a little way down the road with me. June and I both have our heads just above water so to speak – nothing to shout about or complain.

Your report of damage indicates that the effect of the storm was more extensive your end than ours. We do not know of any such damage round this way. I think possibly that the houses are in a better state of repair generally this end as the main construction here is fairly modern. However I will certainly agree that there are buildings that have been neglected badly and in need of paint etc. Yes Norman Baker certainly had a near one, and the damage is enough to bring the pangs on.

Nothing further to report from the greenhouse front. The heater has been on almost continuously since the last letter, and the temperature has remained above zero. Nothing moving there of course but I did take some more buddleia cuttings and stick them in pots last week and and they are all doing very well. I broke off a large branch at the same time and stuck it in the soil out of doors just on the off chance and find that it is growing, and new leaves have formed already.

Note you cannot remember the way Richings took you on your trip? Shall have to try and work it out.

Pity about the heavy construction having to be done at wrong time of year as you say. I read in the gardening books that March is the appropriate time for that sort of work, but the weather generally is not much better then. The idea I think is that the new growth of grass etc. in the spring will cover up the effects of carving into the soil fairly quickly.

Lucky old Nancy Marshall. I wonder what she’s going to do now. She has lived in that old barn of a place for so long she must be attached to it, but with that capital she could buy herself a palace almost anywhere she wanted. It is certain that West End is going to change in character before very long. One can only hope that the type of property to be put up will not further detract from the standard. I should imagine the houses will be of good style otherwise those gents are not going to get their money back.

Thought you would cough when saw you saw the price of the garages. We would have loved a brick or concrete one, but price far too high for our pockets. You could of course have a slightly [ … missing text here … ] take down the existing one. This would give you a considerable area of new ground you could use. The old shed has seen its best days, and its present function as far as I can see is a kind of lesser Steptoe and Sons. Alternatively if you cleared the old one out, had it repaired and possibly refelted, you could do without having a workshop added to the garage. The garage could then go alongside the old shed with a connecting door between the two. A moment’s reflection I am sure will indicate that to use the present shed as a dump is an awful waste of a useful facility, and you would not need another one if you made the best use of the one you have. Sick gloria in transit work study.

Re: coats etc., well of course any part of the coast is a long way from London and it is out of the question except in extreme case to think of working in London and living on the coast. If a suitable job turned up somewhere where living on the coast was feasible then of course we might be able to do something, but for the time being it is out.

Will let you know the train in due course, but I am the same as you, I have no timetable. Our man at Paddington** has not looked after us very well. We have however got one in the office.

Great pity to break up the concrete paths, but some of them should have been broken up almost as soon as they were made. We did not make a very good job of all of them. Particularly the wash outside the garage was a poor effort. Why do you have to break them up? Are they on your side of the fence?

Some game with Martindale then. Nice thing for the wife to have to attend too while husband away.

Do I understand the booster pole will be on your acre? Not that it matters, but just wondered if you were speaking collectively or individually when you said ‘our land’.

Well I must tell you about the capers with the car. Put it outside Jackson’s on Tuesday by arrangement, and when I got home in the evening it had been returned. I got in and just drove it into garage. Of course had no time to test brakes and in any case I thought I might be going out the following day to fetch Susan from Brownies so did not go around the block. I did notice that when I released the clutch that the car stopped rolling although I had not touched the brake, so I had to start again to bring the car to rest at proper place in garage. I assume he had tightened the brakes just a little too much and that it was intentional and would wear off with use. However I did not go out on the Wednesday as I said earlier, neither did I go out on the Friday to the club. This meant that several days had elapsed since car had been used or engine started up. First thing I found out was that battery was low, but just able to turn the engine. It did not respond and battery eventually died. Tried to move car to get [starting] handle in but it was rock fast and I could not move it. Got the help of the milkman and his mate to give me a push outside garage and then got to work. Found the handle dogs had worn and was almost useless. Spent a lot of time and sweat, but no go. Doug came out and linked his battery up with wire but that only produced a sound like a machine gun. Gave it up and just wandered out to the front and spotted Les***. Told him the tale and he (another embryo Bushell) promptly stopped gardening and came over. I should have said ‘took over’. Before you could say knife we had all the plugs out and reset, all all the leads and distributor to head off and dried out and the petrol pump and float chamber off and cleaned. All three filters were cleaned, and the pump tested (when open) to see if it was working. After all this we put it back together again and it did not work. That was the morning that was.

Immediately after lunch popped around to Jackson and he had just arrived home. He came after grub and had a go. Found that only air was getting to carb[urettor] and tightened the feed leads we had disconnected. This produced results (on his battery) and car run a couple of hundred yards. As I was stationary outside number 84 with engine ticking over it stalled and would not restart. He said there was [ … missing text here … ] Well he put some more in and primed the chamber vigorously and away we went. He changed over the batteries while engine was going, advised me not to use car until my own battery was fully recharged, and I drove home. He arranged that I should take the car around to his place this morning and have the brake adjusted. Tried to start this morning after putting battery on charge all night and although battery okay a short burst from the engine and silence. I primed but to know avail so popped around to him again. After much speculation he found that although the juice was getting to the petrol pump it was not going beyond. Result – petrol pump taken down again and we found that the diaphragm was not connected to the cam. This must have happened when Les and I cleaned it. By a bit of luck he was able to reconnect it without removing the whole assembly (no tools here for that job) and all o.k. once more. A real chapter of coincidence and one thing leading to another****. For all of these events you can say that if such and such had not happened the events that followed would not have happened. Brakes now in first class condition and so is the engine after the plug cleaning etc.

Well enough of the car. With luck we may go – by train – up to see the lights this evening. It is a fine day but a little cold so hope to take children up before the crowds get too thick.

Little news on the air. Worked a German station in Frankfurt this morning on the phone but not very promising otherwise.

Forgot to tell you that last Sunday Susan and another girl had to read the 120th psalm***** between them during the service at the church. I think there are five verses without turning it up and Susan read the last two. They were both very good and I heard someone behind me say it was very good for someone so young. There was a very good attendance at the church about 100 I should say. They both got prizes (Carol and Susan) and with some pangs gave up a couple of old toys for the mentally handicapped children.

Well I must close now and sign off as it were, and hope you are both okay now. from us all stop 

*I still have one piece of stone in my left hand and one in my left knee from this encounter!

**This refers to Geoff, who was involved in timetable preparation.

***Robinson, at number 82.

****A real chapter of two men taking a car apart when they didn’t really know what they were doing…

*****A bizarre choice for small children, and I have no recollection of this whatever.

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.

1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
    and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips
    and from deceitful tongues.

3 What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
    that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
    among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
    but when I speak, they are for war.

Wednesday 27th November 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 26th November, 1963]

Heard in Elfords last evening that Mrs Marshall’s nine and a half acres of land sold for £51,500 pounds [approx. £1.3 m in 2023 money] – not bad as this works out to about £ 5,421 [£133,000] per acre*. Understand there were several firms bidding but that Wimpy dropped out at £45,000[£1.15 m]. Have not heard who actual purchaser was. Lot of comment in the immediate neighbourhood this morning but I say good luck to Mrs Marshall. The ultimate buyers of the houses or bungalows will of course have to pay the higher prices for the ground but I’m afraid it is going to put the cost of the buildings up very high.

Lovely day here and I have been pulling up the sleeper edging to the path behind the runner beans.

No more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.

*According to online sources building land can go for anywhere between £300,000 and £1,000,000 per acre in 2023, or anything between three and seven times as much as Mrs Marshall received, but I doubt any formal Planning Permission was in place at the time of the sale.

Tuesday 26th November, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for a nice long letter and enclosures from the girls received this morning first post. Glad to hear our last letter reached you on time. Next time we go to the shops we will get some newspaper wrappers and try sending ‘Mercury’ separately and revert to ordinary-size envelopes for the letters. Don’t like the idea of keeping the papers and sending them on in bunches – they are apt to get lost before dispatch and the news is somewhat stale by the time they reach you. I do not think it is going to cost any more to send separately but we shall find out in due course. Between now and Christmas we must expect a little delay at both ends because of the heavy postings but that is exceptional.

We are glad to note you are all keeping fairly well today but it is a time of illness everywhere and this continuous rain is not going to help matters. Our neighbour opposite (in Miss Weekes’ house) had more damage than we told you about. Practically all the ridge tiles on one side of house were ripped off in the freak storm and you will see in ‘Mercury’ that Norman Baker had a narrow squeak and that damage on his farm amounts to £700 [£18,000 in 2023 money]. The builders are having a busy time doing emergency repairs all over the place. I think we were extremely fortunate here.

Yes both panes of glass came from Bushell’s side but the next door neighbour again (Drewett’s old house) lost very much more glass from their verandah. Your greenhouse stood up to it well but as soon as you can you must put the bottom part right and make it secure from penetration by wet. You will also find the greenhouse will keep warmer then.

Your drainage from the lawns seems to be very satisfactory now but I expect the Robinsons found a drop lying about.

However does June manage to get the girls to and from school under such conditions? Could do with the car.

Sounds as if your Christmas cactus has sufficient water but I will leave Mum to comment further on this. Geraniums do not need water this time of year and mine are very dry indeed but they seem to keep nice and green.

I’m glad you have run Jackson to ground and that it is possible the work will be done sometime today. You will feel much relieved when the job is completed. Wonder how the girls got on with the prize giving at Sunday school – did you attend for this ceremony? Your comments noted re: Carol may want to join same lot of Brownies as Susan but she will be a lot older by then and may not mind. If Susan is still going to Ruislip then Carol I suppose will go too*.

The Work Study section then seems to be moving towards a bit of a climax and you should be hearing what’s what soon Falls stop as we have said before – good luck if anything should come your way.

Re: our trip out with the Richings I doubt very much if I could take you over the same route again but to start with we passed your old school [now Broadoak Academy] and then turned left onto the Hutton road and after that up over Bleadon somewhere and on towards Bath**.

Mum and I popped into Weston yesterday morning to have a look around. It was fine and sunny but very cold but within half an hour of our getting home at 12:30 pm it started to rain and this became torrential in the afternoon so we think we were lucky for once. Nobody in attendance at the car parks so saved a couple of bob. Weston as you know is a very different place in the winter to the summer months when so many visitors are about.

Since writing last week have managed to do a little work outdoors – picking apples from the Jersey Beauty tree from the ladder and picking up others from the ground. Also I have taken up the sleeper edging at bottom of garden and dragged the same to a new storage position on the wide path alongside Heels’. The sleepers are half rotten and our only fit for cutting up for firewood now. In fact I had to cut the big ones on site with the cross cut saw before could move them. Have also taken down the galvanised sheets around plot beyond hedge and pulled up the stakes. It’s beginning to look like a wilderness again but I want to recover everything that might come in useful elsewhere even if only for the fire. Have also taken down the posts Norman Baker put in for the barbed wire and have even rolled this up ready for him to take away. Incidentally he sent down the other day a big lorry-load of stable manure and this will eventually have to be put on ground just the other side of golden privet hedge.

Most of the plants have now been taken out of the flower plot adjacent to pond ready for the rockery stones to go in. These latter are at present on ground which will be sold hence the need to move them soon. It is unfortunate all these things have to be done in the worst time of year.

Have not seen Cornish since taking him up to the solicitors but he has been seen talking to various neighbours in the Avenue no doubt keeping them well primed as to how he has negotiated the sale. Mrs Marshall’s land comes under the hammer today but I shall not go to the sale which is taking place at the Council House.

Have received catalogues from two firms advertising precast concrete garages but they are much too costly – in the region of £145 [about £3,700 in 2023 money] for one the size I require. This would not include enough room for a shed either. It seems as if the best proposition will be to have one erected of concrete blocks and rough-cast over to be in keeping with surrounding buildings and such building can be made sufficiently long to enable a partition to be put in to shut off a workshop. My measurements indicate that if this building is 28 ft long (18 ft garage and 10 ft workshop) there will still be about 56 ft left of the drive for the greenhouse to be re-erected thereon.

Yes I shall have to communicate with Council in this case as the building will come up to the recognised building line but they will simply be told a new garage is being put up and the existing one dismantled. A plan will of course have to be sent in. I carefully measured the land during last week and it appears I shall have to cut pond into about half its present length to be able to get a path on the far side of it. This will be a job for next season.

Have heard no more from Plumley and Weston or solicitor but do not expect to for several months now. We hear that Plumley and Weston have formed another company to raise the money for the project – this I thought they would do to keep it separate from their existing company.

Noted you favour the coast if and when you make a move from number 84. The parts you mentioned are however a long way from London and would involve many hours of traveling daily. No help for it because the coast is so far away. It is nice being in open country and we never liked being shut in by houses etc. and this makes us a bit dubious about our situation here when buildings are going up all around us. However there will be plenty of time to think further about this.

Now to June’s letter. Yes we shall be very pleased to see Alec on the 14th December if he can make it that day. Let us know train travelling so that I can meet you. I have not a timetable so look out return service please (from Yatton of course).

So Susan and Carol now getting some idea of the dancing – good, they will have something to show us later on. Sorry to hear your mum June is still paying out income tax – when will it end. Good idea to have a concrete path for the washing line to run along. We shall have some concrete paths to break up soon which is a great pity. Alec will remember the work put in on the many years ago.

Was picking apples from tree at the bottom of field last Saturday (from ladder) when Hoile called out from over the fence. Said it was his birthday that day and would I come over. That finished apple picking for the day although it was only about 11:30 a.m.. They are going back to London in the spring and very much regret the move. They are Londoners and have been here about three years and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Heard that Martindale (house at very bottom) had a rough time with the whirlwind – two holes made in roof and water poured into house. The wife of the occupant was there on her own (husband and son both working at Cheltenham) and she had to put baths and buckets down to catch the water. Builders have since put the matter right.

Have caught a total of four mice so far and think this is the lot for the time being. They will eat anything and I saw signs of them eating some of the apples which gave me the clue that they were still there after the ‘Beanfeast’. We have apples in all the drawers of the two chests of drawers in the garage and also have them stored in boxes around the place. Had a customer this morning for 34lbs pounds – mostly Bramleys. Our potatoes (bought from local farmer) are in sacks in porch near house where we think they may be warmer but in any case will be nearer to hand if it is necessary to take emergency measures in the coldest part of the winter.

The only thing the firm of Plumley and Weston can do before the 15th February is to bring the electric booster from the field beyond the river through the garden of Martindale into our land and erect same ready for serving the new houses. The people in Martindale have agreed to this so far as they are concerned but want it done quickly so that they can proceed with their own improvements on their property.

If your runner beans were green when you picked them I’m afraid they will not now ripen and will be no good for seed. I have had this trouble before. Will see if can supply enough for your purpose.

[Letter continues Wednesday 27th November, 1963]

*Look this is just bad research and poor planning, absolutely typical. And what’s more, when joining the brownies at Ruislip Manor, nobody there said “But there’s a pack nearer to you!”. It was just a question of getting on the coat-tails of the Williams sisters who went to Ruislip Manor – goodness knows why, but clearly it was more convenient for them to do so.

**Suspect this involved either turning off in Bleadon and running along the bottom of the hill through Loxton and Compton Bishop, or going south as far as East Brent and picking up the A38 there. Either way the outcome would be the same: A38 to Sidcot and left onto the A371 to re-enter Weston via Banwell and Locking. The roads approaching Weston from the east have changed out of all recognition in the years since – not least because the M5 now runs right through the middle – but it makes a comprehensible and worthwhile tour around. The only astonishment is that neither Leonard nor Alec seems to have ventured into this area before.