Category: Uncategorized

Sunday 31st January, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for Dad’s letter with all the news etc. We have had some of the apples and onions and very nice indeed. The sad and sorry story of Carol still continues I am afraid. She has got catarrah again badly and her poor little nose is streaming. We have had to put her cot back in our room and its like sleeping with a grampus. We had a very disturbed night on Friday and I finished up in back room with Susan and Carol went in with June and was propped up pillows. She was sick in car yesterday when we went shopping and coughed dreadfully all night. To-day she seemed a little better and we carried out a pre-arranged visit to some friends of June at West Drayton. We had not got half way when Carol treated us to another dose of it, messed herself and June up into the bargain then promptly went to sleep*. Although pale she seemed as right as nine-pence when we got there and has gone down well in her cot now we are back. There is no doubt that the catarrah is the root cause of her trouble but cannot see a way to overcome it. Susan went to her party at the Sunday School yesterday but have not been able to get much out of her. She came home with a bag containing a few cakes and said she had had a couple. She liked the jellies but did not have any bread and butter. I asked her why and she-said “well I have that at your house”. She said she played Musical Chairs, Oranges and Lemons and also played with some plasticine which she got from Santa Claus but which a boy took from her later. First week at Kensington now accomplished. We have in mind carrying out all the Parcels handling functions at that point which are now performed at Paddington. If it is practicable it will of course mean re arranging all the parcels train services accordingly also rescheduling such vans as now reach Paddington by Passenger trains. Thank you for sending on the Mercury – pity June had to pay postman threepence on it? ? ? Re the rebate on the charge for sending the apples, that one is still bouncing. I phoned friends in the D.O.S.O. to find out who signs and who receives. He of course said it should have been signed before consignment sent. Geoff was no help as he has not used the system. I filled in the form and sent it under covering note to the general section only to get it back with the suggestion that I try Mr Pinkham but that I should have arranged all this before the consignment was sent. I telephoned an old friend in the Caretaker Staff Office and he said I can get half charges back by writing to staff section enclosing the stamp and signing a receipt for the apples also explaining circumstances of the transit. They do not want the form as “that should have “been filled up etc. before the consignment passed”. It appears that if the form is completed before the consignment passes only half charges are raised in the first place but if claim is not made at the time, it has to go via Head Office then the Chief Accountant then when payment is authorised Briant has to be told. All very involved.** I think the best place to send any future consignments will be West Drayton and by Goods train at that. We can always arrange to go over to see the folks and pick up parcel enroute. Baynton-Hughes is only acting vice Wilkinson. Presumably he will get the job. I understand that he had an interview last week for Assistant General Manager ( Traffic Planning ) and so did Barnes. Where all this will lead to is anyones guess. Budworth who went to York for interview for job of Assistant to D.O.S. Wakefield has been told he has got the job. This is the story of the ten little [Indian] boys.*** Only John Welchman left and there is another job advertised on the L.M.R. this weak which he will be after. If Earnes or Baynton-Hughes goes the field will be wide open. It looks as though Patterson will get Parry’s job as he is already performing his office functions including taking the interviews for the ” Work Study Section. ” ? ? What Norman’s chances are I cannot tell as it seems that quite a few are pushing their favourites. Spent the morning putting up a barricade round our only remaining plot of earth. The children will play on it instead of the lawn and as it has a lot of ash on it you can imagine the state they get in also paths. I hope that it will keep them at bay for a little whiles. I do not know what I shall plant. Probably a few carrots and parsnips and perhaps a few peas and runner beans. You might let me know what you will be growing in quantity so that I can grow alternatives. Note you will be O.K. for the holiday dates. Had got car lined up[ for going to Paddington on Monday but it looks as though the strike may not come about. I am afraid that it is only postponed. I drove up Kensington on Thursday . It takes about 35 minutes against 75 by rail. As I am starting at 6-O am three days this week I intend to travel that way this week. Get expenses for Kensington so its worth it. Some activity in the test match by all accounts. Suppose the West Indians did not like loosing so many wickets so fast****. I saw a Cactus in flower on Saturday. It was very similar in appearance to a Fuchsia. We can always do with Cacti but I am afraid we have no-where safe to keep them (Away from the kids) and when we put them upstairs they die through lack of warmth and water. I opened my tin of Gladioli this morning to find they have been putting out long white shoots. Hope this will not affect their proper growth. Glad to hear Mother has been out on the tiles. Hope she was sober when she came home. Have not been doing any wine tasting lately but did have a look at my Apple ( two jars) Carrot ( one jar ) to-day. Seems to be clearing very nicely and forming a thick firm deposit. Well will close now till next week. Love from us all. June Susan Carol and Alec

*Having been told what to do (take the children out of the unhealthy climate of London) and declining the advice, he is now at a loss. Note, too, the total lack of sympathy for the ill child but the concentration on the inconvenience to himself.

**This pursuit is for a sum the equivalent of £7.50 in today’s money, which admittedly is not nothing but there is surely a point beyond which so much persistence becomes ridiculous.

***’Indian’ is the slightly more acceptable variant of the expression originally used. Actually, I think he was probably thinking of the old campfire song “There were ten in the bed, and the little one said ‘Roll over!'”

****”The third day’s play was severely curtailed by a riot, but it was still the decisive day of the match, for West Indies slumped to 98/8.” Whether or not Alec’s view of this could be considered racist is something I must leave to the judgment of the reader.

QSL cards

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Alec’s hobby of amateur (ham) radio hasn’t made much of an appearance here yet because he didn’t take it up until the 1960s, and then it spent some considerable time evolving. However – as there is a gap in the correspondence here – this seems a reasonable time to introduce the subject of QSL cards.

As Wikipedia tells us, a QSL card is sent from one amateur radio operator to another to confirm their communication. At one time these had a standard format, but over the years – as printing methods improved and materials became cheaper – they became more personalised. Alec must have sent out thousands – via the RSGB and/or his local club – over the years, and in due course received thousands in return. After his death a large box of QSL cards – roughly divided by geographical region – remained in the family’s possession until it was eventually passed on, together with his log books, to his only grandson Robin. (Robin is occasionally to be found on fora at sourceforge.net, and elsewhere online, using the screen name g3rrk.)

The original – standard – design. 73s are ‘best wishes’ and OM is ‘old man’.
After moving to Yorkshire in 1967, Alec joined the Scarborough Radio Club and clearly ordered his QSL cards through them.
And when you move to Budleigh Salterton and have a daughter with a vaguely entrepreneurial nature, you go 100% home-made.

There were probably other variants, too, but these are the only known examples to have survived.

Alec – ‘the early years’

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This picture is labelled ‘Clevedon Infants School 1928’. Alec is the child with the model boat, standing at the left-hand side; he would be five years old here, so perhaps this is his class’s ‘intake’ picture when they started school in September of that year. The only other people named are Harold Dax and M Ellis-Barret (both on the back row), Frank Brooks, Roy Binding and Barbara Shopland on the middle row, and Gordon Stone and Harold Marshall at the front. I also love the lady in the cloche hat peering over the wall; I wonder if she was one of the mothers?

‘St. Andrews Clevedon Parish Church Choir, outing to Weymouth c 1934’ Alec is the child in the school cap, second from left on the front row and being affectionately strangled by a pal. He would be roughly eleven years old here. The vicar (far right) also turns up in the next picture without his dog collar, which caused some confusion for many years because he has a distinct resemblance to Leonard. I could imagine, though, that the Home Guard did not appeal to Leonard; his work was too demanding, and he had of course ‘done his bit in the last lot’ and was probably only too happy to stay out of it.
The label on the back of this one tells us everything we need to know: ‘Clevedon West End Platoon Home Guard, 7th Somerset Light Infantry, c 1941. ADWA [Alec] 2nd row 1st inside from right’. [i.e. next to the chap with the Indian-looking appearance.]
I’d be interested to know when Alec began wearing his glasses full-time as he is definitely ordering a pair in London in 1944; his diary records as much.
The only other thing to be said about this particular picture is that here Alec looks far more like his second daughter than his first … but since we were both more than fifteen years in the future at this point there is no great significance to this observation.
The vicar, of course, is in the back right hand corner next to the eaves of the building, and there is a very good chance that this was actually taken in or adjacent to the churchyard.

Jesus paid my fare/A Little Pilgrim

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This item is a bit of a mystery. It’s handwritten, and I suspect it may have been copied from a newspaper or magazine; although I don’t recognise the handwriting I think it’s a safe bet that it may have been Emily’s. Emily comes through from all the documents I have as being a very devout – not to mention stern – Christian, who had a tendency to impose her views on other people. (No doubt believing she was doing so for their own good.) I could well imagine this being the sort of sentimental thing that would appeal to Emily, particularly towards the end of her life. Frankly I find it rather mawkish myself, and the quality of the verse is pretty average. I haven’t been able to track down an author’s name, but a publisher called Bible Truth is still charging money for it – although I suspect it is Victorian in origin and any copyright that may once have existed on it has long since been extinguished.

JESUS PAID MY FARE

One summer evening, ere the sun went down

When city men were hastening from the town

To reach their home, some near at hand, some far

By snorting train, by omnibus or car

To be beyond the reach of city’s din

A tramcar stopped, a little child got in.

A cheery looking girl, scarce four years old;

Although not shy her manners were not bold

But all alone one scarce could understand

She held a little bundle in her hand

A tiny handkerchief with corners tied

But this did not some bread and butter hide

A satin scarf, so natty and so neat

Was o’er her shoulders thrown, she took her seat

And laid her bundle underneath her arm

And smiling prettily, but yet so calm,

“Please sir,” she gently said, “may I sit here?”

The guard at once replied, “Oh yes, my dear.”

And thus she seemed inclined to make her stay

While once again the tram went on its way.

The tall conductor over six feet high

Now scanned the traveller with a business eye

But in that eye was something kind and mild

That took the notice of the little child.

A little after and the man went round

And soon was heard the old familiar sound

Of gathering pence and clipping ticker too

The tram was full and he had much to do.

“Your fare, my little girl,” at length he said.

She looked a moment, shook her little head.

“I have no pennies, don’t you know,” said she;

“My fare is paid; ’twas Jesus paid for me.”

He looked bewildered, all the people smiled;

“I didn’t know; and who is Jesus, child?”

“Why don’t you know, he once for sinners died,

For little children and for men beside

To make us good and wash us from our sin

Isn’t this his railway I am travelling in?”

“Don’t think it is, I want your fare you know.”

“I told you, Jesus paid it long ago.

My mother told me just before she died

That Jesus paid when he was crucified

That at the cross his railway did begin

Which took poor sinners from a world of sin.

Why, mother said his home was grand and fair

I want to go and see my mother there.

I want to go to Heaven where Jesus lives

Won’t you go too? My mother said He gives

A loving welcome. Shall we not be late?

Oh let us go before he shuts the gate.”

He knew not why-he fumbled at his coat,

He felt a something rising in his throat

Whilst all the people listened to the child

Some were in tears, the roughest of them smiled.

“I am a pilgrim,” said the little thing;

“I’m going to Heaven; my mother used to sing

To me of Jesus and his father’s love;

Told me to meet her in his home above.

And so today when Aunt went out to tea

And through the door the sunshine I did see

I got my bundle, gave my doll a kiss

And put its Sunday frock on pretty miss

And got my hat and then I left my home

A little pilgrim up to heaven to roam.

And then your railway stopped and I could see

You looked so kind, I saw you beckon me

I thought that this was our dear Saviour’s train

To take me up to mother long the empty lane.”

The poor conductor only shook his head

Tears in his eyes, the power of speech had fled.

Had conscience by her prattle roused his fears,

And struck upon the fountain of his tears;

And made his thoughts in sad confusion whirl?

I loved her much; she was my little pet,

And with great fondness I remember yet

I loved her much; she was my little pet,

And with great fondness I remember yet

How much she loved me, but one day she died.”

“She’s gone to heaven,” the little child replied.

“She’s gone to Jesus-Jesus paid her fare.

O dear conductor, won’t you meet her there?”

The poor conductor now broke fully down

He could have borne the harshest look a frown

But no-one laughed, while many sitting by

Beheld the scene with sympathetic eye.

He kissed the child, for she his heart had won

“I am so sleepy,” said the little one.

“If you will let me, I’ll lie here and wait

Until your railway comes to Jesus’ gate.

Be sure to wake me up and pull my frock

And at the gate just give one little knock

And you’ll see Jesus  The strong man wept.

I could but think as from the car I stept,

How oft a little one has found the road,

The narrow pathway to that blest abode:

Through faith in Christ has read its title clear,

While learned men remain in doubt and fear.

A little child! the Lord oft uses such

The stoutest heart to break, or bend, or touch;

Then by His Spirit bids the conflict cease,

And once forever enter into peace.

And then along the road the news we bear, –

On our way to heaven-that Jesus paid our fare!

A Little Pilgrim

CompuServe

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In an effort to be helpful to the members of his small family history group, Alec published the following in the ‘Fewings Newsletter’ in 1993. How times have changed!

CompuServe

I obtained a brochure from the CompuServe office at Bristol. The service is strictly for those into computers and equipped with a modem for connection to the telephone system.

CompuServe has widespread uses, in that it can be used for business, entertainment, hobbies, shopping, news, advice, etc. Using it, it is possible to download information and programs etc., send and receive FAX, send and receive electronic mail, talk to other members online, and join and associate with groups having similar interests. There is access to financial items, reference data, investment, travel and reservations. In fact it seems to offer all things to all people. There is a price to be paid for use, of course, and this varies according to where you happen to live, and the speed with which your particular installation is able to transfer data via the system. The speed is measured in ‘bauds’ and the charge increases for the higher speeds, from 300 bauds (min) to 9600. The data transfer is slower for the slower speeds, therefore on-line time would be slightly longer and telephone charges a bit higher.

The charges are per hour and are price in dollars (U.S.). The relative hourly charges for someone living in London would be:-

  • $6.30 per 300 baud connection
  • $12.80 per 1200 to 2400 baud connection
  • $22.80 per 9600 baud connection (where available).

Beyond this the pricing is a little more complicated as there is a communications surcharge which varies between London and the rest of U.K. and whether connections are made at peak or off-peak hours. Those wishing to have more detailed information should write to CompuServe Information Services (U.K.) Ltd., 15/16 Lower Park Row, P.O. Box 676, Bristol, BS99 1YN.

Anyone in North America who may be interested should write to CompuServe, 5000 Arlington Road, P.O. Box 20212, Columbus, Ohio, 43220, U.S.A.

______________________________________________________________________________

So there you have it, folks; if you want to take advantage of one of the wonders of this new technological era – at the bargain rate of $22.80 per hour where available – you should write (write!) to one or other of the addresses above. It’s difficult to believe that the world has changed quite so drastically in such a relatively short space of time!

(N.B. Late in his life Alec was known in the family as ‘Gadget Man’ because of his willingness to adopt – albeit without always understanding – new technology!)

Next post will be uploaded on 26 April 2019 at 06.00

Friday 7th April, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Got up at 2.30 p.m. Gave Cedric a ring as I understand he rang last night at 8.0 p.m. Says he will come round about 4.0 p.m. Turned up so we had a bash for a bit on various tunes then he went home. Had my dinner after cooking same, also lighting fire and putting dog out. John looked round at 6.0 p.m. after giving me a tinkle on phone. Cedric turned up again about 6.15 p.m., Mum at 6.30 p.m. Had a good evening’s entertainment till 8.0 p.m. then cycled back to station for 8.22 p.m. thence on as booked. Failed to connect with train to Clevedon in morning so had another cup of tea with Mr Vaughn.

Welcome!

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We’re two boring old farts from the Wirral who are up to our neck in family history archives with nobody to leave them to – so we thought we’d put them online and leave them to everybody instead.  We have a First World War diary which featured on Michael Portillo’s Railways of the Great War, a slightly less exciting Second World War diary, and a massive lump of old family letters, slides, photos, newspapers etc. etc. etc.  There are also a good few mysteries to be investigated, which we’ll be discussing just in case they dovetail with someone else’s research; what may mean absolutely nothing to us may be the solution to the puzzle for someone else, and vice versa.

By our calculations we’ve got enough material for about ten years of blogging.  Whether we’ve got ten years of energy left or not is another matter, however; by that time our combined age will be nearly 150, and we have as little idea of what the future holds as anybody else.  We do, however, have three grandchildren, any of whom might suddenly decide they want to know something about their ancestors.  This is for them, and it’s also for us, and for anyone else who may get entertainment or information out of it; we don’t know who you are, but we’re very glad you’re here.