Sunday 3rd November, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Another newsy letter this week for which many thanks. Yes we had the performance from Carol, who is now very much recovered. We thought we should have another spell from Susan towards the end of the week but apart from burning forehead, temperature, and yawning spells, tiredness etc. she did not go beyond that point for which we were very grateful. It is June’s turn this weekend but I am thankful to say yours truly is in no bad condition as at time of writing. Glad to hear that you both are much better now after your flu. it certainly was a sticker [sic] this time and no mistake.

Weather here has been mixed. We had some very nice days early in the week, but in the middle the temperature went down with a bang. and for a couple of days it was dull and very cold. This end of the week was marked by almost continuous rain. This morning everything is sodden, but there is no rain now, and the sun is trying to find a watery way through. Last Sunday Mrs Baker and Pauline came over in Peter’s car, and I drove them home at about 9 p.m. Had a quick flip round the shops at Whitby Road yesterday and a trip to dentist, but other than that have not used to the car. Mr Jackson was supposed to be coming over to see to it yesterday, and I did not want to be too far away when he called. However he did not come near the place, and I suppose he will not arrive today. I know he is busy as he told me so when I rang him up but he is a bit like that and has to be chased.

I am a bit worried about the heat in the lean-to, as I suppose the plants to require a fairly constant cool temperature through the winter. Is it in order to let the temperature rise to the figure you mentioned? I know it is heat apart from other things that makes the plants grow, but I thought that was only in the right season. Obviously you had not used the cone before otherwise you would have known the effect on plant life. Can you use it working through the windows? Presumably it gives off a pungent smoke which kills the insects? No more shelves in the lean-to, but have a couple of brackets ready for the next bit. Must dig up an appropriate bit of wood, and we are off again.

Our thermometer has shown something like 42 degrees [Fahrenheit]* during the middle of the week, but it’s still too high to justify the use of the heater. Have noticed a lot of moss growing on top of pots put in greenhouse. I wonder if you have a simple remedy for this, or if it has to be scraped off, or o.k. to leave.

We had a session over [at] the Eastern Region Work Study School on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Apart from others, Butcher came down and gave us a talk. He says he will be wanting to increase his staff to accomplish the work he has to do, and he thinks he will be in a position to go ahead with these plans about 16th of this month. Took the opportunity to have a ‘chat’ with him. Cannot say if it will do any good, but at least it lets him know we are alive. Quite frankly from the look of coming events in the er, my continued presence in HQ while a couple of the local product (much fancied) are redundant might be a slight embarrassment to Russell, and he could sort this one out by helping me on my way to B.R.B.** It is a move that I would be quite happy to make, but must let them think it is their idea.

I have no doubt that the possible move of the University to Clevedon has a bearing on Titball’s failure to visit the town to talk to the locals. I expect that the whole thing will have to be recalculated on the basis of the extra business that might accrue. Meant to say that I had read the article in the paper, and also spotted that some well-known local personality had passed away, but forget who it was now.

A fine old game with the sewers then at Tennyson House. Considering the length of time involved since those houses were built it is a bit surprising that the run of the sewers has been lost. Where is the run for Aston’s row I wonder?***

Good progress then in Bushell’s lean-to. No doubt about it he needs something substantial there. I think it needs to be very much stronger than mine.

Re: the sale of land, pardon me for saying ‘I told you so’ but in my last letter I said that the next move would be from the prospective buyers saying there was not enough in it for them at the price asked. This version is a little different. However, apart from the upheaval of the garage and greenhouse, former presumably to end of drive and placed endways-on, the latter alongside Heels’ hedge, the amount of ground to be lost additionally is not great. However all prospect of growing veg outdoors would be finished as the amount of plot left would be negligible. Perhaps it would be better to buy a second greenhouse, or extend the other one instead. I cannot but feel that this is the old confidence trick especially as they say they are interested in another property – that clinches it. Apart from this however, I am inclined to agree with Don that you will never have an opportunity like this again if you want to dispose of some land. It is really a question of how much you are prepared to part with, confidence trick or no. This of course depends on how you think living in a reduced garden (of varying sizes) would suit you. I cannot see any prospect of moving west myself before retirement, as one more move would make it almost impossible to get a job at the salary outside London. I mentioned this because I would not like to influence you one way or the other knowing that I personally would not have to live with the results of the decision. You did not mention the difference in value of the two schemes, but assume the new one is likely to be more remunerative than the old as more houses would be involved. That does not necessarily follow however as the rate per house might be reduced in the offer. No doubt more on that in due course.

Glad Don likes his new job. Are there any prospects or does he not want to be involved to that extent?

Okay about the African violet. I tried growing African marigolds with some success, but not the violets.

Some games then at the T.W.G.. The kids here are pestering outside the station for ‘penny for the guy’. Our two are in anticipation of course, and have a few fireworks already.

So you heard about Uncle Will. He was like that for over two years, and had to be helped constantly. It was a terrible thing, but a relief that it is over.

Some of your apples still left, but going fast. We have had quite a lot of them and enjoyed them too.

Nothing much new on radio. Contacted stations in Italy (phone) and Austria (key) and this morning had a go on the key and worked a station in Tebric [Třebíč] Czechoslovakia. Bit of luck really as the aerial so wet that there must be practically a dead short from aerial to ground via post building etc. Got no joy yesterday at all. My radiations on the 20 meter band go West/East, but so far not reached America in the easterly direction. In the west the signals drop down about 1000 miles away in the Verona/Venice/Salzburg area. I should do better than this, in fact on 40 meters I have worked stations further out. Called a Latvian station this morning but no luck.

Well bottom of page again, so cheerio for now and love from us all once more. 

*Roughly 6ºC

**British Railways Board

***Having been employed in Planning briefly at one stage, it turns out that in fact underground plans of this era are very likely *not* to exist. Reorganisation of local government and other relevant authorities (water works, sewage companies etc.) often resulted in the – paper, of course – plans being lost or thrown out as storage was always a problem. With the advent of microfilm/fiche and later electronic storage systems it became easier to retain information, but for earlier generations the potential future value of storing a sheaf of technical drawings was often outweighed by the present cost and/or inconvenience and a decision had to be made as to the best use of resources available.

Wednesday, 30th October [1963]

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 29th October, 1963]

Held letter over to see if anything might transfer with the neighbours about the land but so far not a sound. Saw Heel and Cornish having a natter over the hedge but weather not being very good that did not last long. Had a letter from Mrs Baker this morning acknowledging birthday card and we learned that June’s Uncle Will has now passed away. This was the one who had been ill for some time. Picked a hamper of Lane’s Prince Alberts this morning and stored them in garage.

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

Tuesday 29th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for your letter and enclosures from the girls received this morning usual post. Very sorry to hear Carol is poorly again and hope she will be able to shake it off soon. There is a tremendous lot of sickness about – mostly bronchial flu and it hits everybody for six. Am glad to say that both Mum and I are very much better – the noticeable improvement really started about last Thursday i.e. three weeks after the second dose started with me at 84, but we still have a fit of coughing once or twice a day. We are taking things easy in the garden although mum in her energy last week dug up the front garden when taking out the plants. Looks much better for attention of course but I have not yet done any serious work outdoors. The weather has been grand and it is a pity to waste it but I do not want to run any further risk of picking up another cold. Raining today but I managed to roll up the hosepipe and put same in store for the winter. Have also pulled up all the haricot beans and put pods in greenhouse to ripen off before shelling for eating purposes.

Noted you could not make Ealing last Sunday because of Carol – presumably it is not tonsillitis this time but the common complaint – flu. This stuff seems to choke one up right from the top of head to pit of stomach and you feel like nothing on Earth.

So you are getting some heat in the lean-to. It is surprising how much heat can be trapped with a little glass. My thermometer has shown less than 50º for several nights now but heater not yet used for stock one day I registered over 100º – this was due to closing windows just after midday (it had been a dull morning) after which sun came out and warmed things up.

Yes the cone was most effective in killing off insects and spiders etc. Was a bit dubious of effect on plant life but it was not affected.

I’m glad to hear you have had some adjustments made to steering of car etc. but do not leave the renewal of the rubber seals too long– they are most important and a faulty one could cause trouble.

Can picture the shelving you have put in lean-to and this will help with the stacking of plants in pots. You are going to have a good show there later on. The carnations we brought back from you should grow all right – have them in the frames now still in the pots in which you planted them. If you can get your other cuttings to take in the greenhouse they should give some big blooms but water very sparingly in the winter – just enough to keep them going and only water them when they really require a drink. The same applies to geraniums.

Noted Mrs Baker back from her visit to Westcliff and that she enjoyed herself. Also Peter putting his car to good purpose on the long journey to Cornelly and back.

So the news re: the line offices being made redundant is confirmed and there is a possibility of a new setup from HQ to Divisional. Sure this is a case of the wheel making a full turn once more. R.G. Pole used to say there is nothing new in the railway world – the wheel keeps turning and always gets back to the original position. I take It to the office you are in is regarded as the HQ and that as far as you can see there will be no disturbance there. Quite interesting.

There are several people in Clevedon who advocate disused stations as car parks – very good reason for why here. Clevedon station itself would be an ideal parking place situated as it is in the Triangle where parking difficulties are numerous. Expect you saw that Titball did not come to Clevedon after all to say why the station should be closed. Should think it was a directive from HQ.

You will remember I mentioned that a bungalow was being built next to Tennyson House at (opposite Bill Aston’s place). Well they cannot find the sewer to connect up to. So far they have dug right across the road to a depth of 16 feet without result. A mechanical shovel was used for three days at this  job. (30 shillings [£40] an hour) and another probe has also proved unsuccessful. Now they think the drain terminates opposite Mrs Gardiner’s bungalow and returns to join ours which runs behind our row of houses. The plot of ground in question was sold as being adjacent to all amenities so the purchaser will be after someone to pay*. Apparently the houses in St. Andrews Drive have their own outlet into the sea.

Bushell is making a good job of his lean-to over the French window. He has nearly finished glazing the roof and already they feel that the difference in the living room. The glass however is very thick and more difficult for the light to penetrate than our thin glass.

I went and saw Jack Bishop last Friday re: sale of land but he had very little news for me. Asked if I approved the layout a submitted but unfortunately my copy did not come out clearly and I had to return it for another impression to be taken. He himself had not heard from the prospective purchasers for some time and had been after them for this layout plan. The amended copy was received this morning and I noticed there are now five houses shown on our plot and the garage for the first house on Heels’ plot. This morning however we had a bombshell from the prospective purchasers in which they indicate that with houses on only one side of the road it will not pay them to go on with the scheme. They enclosed a new proposal entirely which so far as we are concerned cuts off the garden from a point a few feet this side of the lawn hedge at bottom of lawn to a point alongside Heels in line with the concrete path which runs parallel with the hedge at bottom of lawn. This of course in order to get houses on either side of proposed new road. They have made a new financial offer altogether on a take it or leave it basis and want a reply by November 5th (appropriate day) at the latest as they have another piece of land in mind for their expansion**.

It is a very strange coincidence that when Don was here last Saturday he said if it was his ground he would get rid of as much as possible – a little gold mine he called it. This latest scheme is somewhat similar to that proposed by the auctioneers who are dealing with Mrs Marshall’s ground and which we turned down at the time because it meant giving up too much land. I should have said the firm are prepared to remove garage to a new site without renovation but they seem to have overlooked the greenhouse and frames. Have not the faintest idea what the others think about it but again strange to say yesterday (before this latest offer arrived) Cornish had the auctioneer on his property going round with a very long tape measure. This we saw from our back bedroom window. it could be that Pearson and Cornish would go in with the Marshall scheme and leave Heel and myself stranded but nobody knows what is going on. The latest offer will bring things to a head once more but late last week Heel mentioned over the fence that he did not think anything would come of the project at all.

Funny thing too this letter from the firm which has been sent to all of us discloses what each householder will receive under the original scheme and under the new scheme – this will annoy both Cornish and Heel who had been keeping this information a close secret.

My problem (if the scheme goes through) will be to find places for the garage, greenhouse, water works, etc etc. My immediate reaction is to go forward with the revised scheme but only after further negotiation regarding removal of buildings and the financial aspect. Cannot accept their offer without argument and counter proposals.

As mentioned above Don and Joan duly arrived here last Saturday about 11 a.m. and departed about 3.15 p.m. Don looking very well and says he is still enjoying his new work. He even brings home work (proofreading) for which he is paid overtime rates. Some people would fall down a drain and come up with a gold watch. Don asked how you were getting on with the radio and I had to tell him that I was too rough to even go into attic to see the apparatus this time. Told him you had contacted a few foreigners. He is now trying his hand at growing African Violets and we told him he has something to get on with. They are most difficult things to grow and we have tried and failed several times. Their poultry are now reduced to about 30 hens and this may be the new limit.

Referring to your letter again dash know there is no trace of any of the broad beans except one which is on the lower crosspiece of one of the double doors of garage and I can only conclude the mice could not get this one under the door to take it to their store. I’ve started to pick in the apples, but there are a lot more to gather. Should have made an inroad into the job today but for the rain.

Mum is going out tonight to a T.W. Guild affair and I have to fetch her from the New Hall at 10 p.m. – drunk I expect. Saw Roy Hewitt last Saturday but he is walking very slowly these days and says each step gives him pain. This sounds very bad as it may lead to being laid up altogether. Bill Aston looked over this morning for an hour which we spent in the greenhouse.

[Letter concludes on Wednesday 30th October, 1963].

*And well they might, except for the principle of ‘caveat emptor‘ which means that the purchaser should have done what is nowadays called ‘due diligence‘ and not relied on anything he was told by another party unless there was documentation to back it up.

**Classic developer tactics and I’m astonished Leonard fell for them. If the landowners had all refused the offer, and been united in it, you can bet your boots that a better offer would have been forthcoming quite soon afterwards. By dividing and conquering and effectively seeding mistrust among the landowners, the developers got the land at the price they wanted to pay and not a penny more.

Sunday 27th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for the weekly. Sorry to learn that you are both still not completely fit after the flu. I think you are right about it being flu. I myself felt it was a bit different from the common cold, and cannot say I have felt so depressed as I was during that bout. However, so far as we are concerned it is old history now, and that has been thrown off and the next lot is upon us. Carol is very poorly now, having been coughing all day yesterday, all night and is still going strong this morning. She went to dancing yesterday morning which was a touch and go affair anyway, and while there June said she complained of pains in the stomach, had to miss out a couple of the dances, and was rather bad after lunch. A projected trip to Ealing was thus hit on the head once more. Bought some jollop at the chemist but it seems to have had no effect, and cannot use Grandfy’s wine this time due to the billious tendency.

However to turn to your letter. Glad you have been able to get out and take what advantage you can of the fine weather we have had. It has been quite good here, and in the early part of the week, the temperature in the greenhouse went up to the 80s. Have stopped that caper by arranging for windows and door to be opened if the going gets a bit hot. I am leaving the greenhouse shut up unless the heat inside rises above 60 when it is opened up.

Note you have been working in yours to some extent, and have declared war on the insects etc. By all accounts the cone you burned off did the trick o.k. Yes I agree it was bad luck on your visit, but who knows how these things are going to work out? It could have been that you stayed home, and feeling as right as ninepence would have regretted not having come up. You can only go on condition at the time, and a reasonable estimate of condition over the next few days. We never know from one week’s end to the next how the girls are going to be as regards health.

Glad you had a letter from Geoff in the week, he said he would write at the time that I phoned him. Yes the sparking plug did the trip okay. I think that perhaps the old one is not too bad, and may only want cleaning and blowing out. Have not got round to that. Had the car back on Friday after steering adjustment. They replaced a couple of parts that had been worn, and re-adjusted the gear throughout. I must say the steering is more positive in control now. Have not had the other seals renewed yet but will get them done soon.

Have not yet got our curtains up in the greenhouse, but last weekend I put up a couple of shelves. One about 42 inches long is over the front window, and another about a foot longer is running along the papered end about 10 inches lower than the eaves. This latter enables me to put quite large pots up there, and takes plants up to about 1 foot tall at the lawn end, and those about three feet tall at the house end. I have got a couple of hefty brackets and hope to put in another shelf about the same size as the staging, and at the same level also at that end. The stuff in the greenhouse seems to be doing fairly well, but the leaves on the geraniums are turning yellow rapidly. Have not used the heater since its trial.

The temperature inside has never dropped below 50º as yet, so it may be a few weeks yet before we have to light it as a precaution. Glad your carnation cuttings are in order after long stay in the boot. I am sure we got them from you in the first place. We had two about the first year we were here, one died and from the other we took many cuttings, and so on. They are a pretty colour, but need staking as they do not stand on their own. I have also taken about half dozen and potted them up. I shall try to bring them on in the greenhouse, and not put them out at all. In this way I may be able to stake them properly, and pinch out small side buds, and perhaps get some decent sized blooms. Don’t know how much one should water them through the winter, and perhaps some comment on that from you next time?

We gather that Grandma Baker enjoyed her stay at Westcliff, but as said before we have not seen her since her return. Understand the more she sees of the place the more reluctant she is to return. Have not seen Peter to discuss the journey to Cornelly, but he said over the phone he had a good trip, and did some fantastic mileage. It appears he will be going again sometime.

The news about the line redundancies is pretty authentic. I gather that the D.D.C.s (Clerical) have agreed with management that no redundancies will be issued until all those who are to be slotted into jobs, or identified with jobs, have been accounted for. This to me seems like playing right into their hands, as they now can do any fiddles they like, and present as a fait accompli. Some people never learn. We also gathered that there will be no redundancies in the General Manager’s office, but there may be an enlargement of that office to cope with the extra work. Another estimate given to the D.D.C.s is that at least 90% of staff affected by the closedown of the lines will be slotted in somewhere, and only 10% will in fact be redundant. They are going in for a direct HQ to Divisional setup as on the Western, and if they think they are going to lose 90% of the staff in that kind of organisation there is bound to be a substantial increase in staff at HQ and divisional level. That seems to be the latest on that front. The best policy undoubtedly is to sit tight for a bit. Read in the national papers that Smith-Cox has been advocating the use of old disused stations as car parks. Fair enough, but someone has to pay.

Your invalid friends going on all right then. Glad Mr Aston has good report. It has been quite some time now. Hope your visitors enjoyed themselves yesterday. It was not a bad day for travel there and by the look of it you should have had it a good day. Makes one think that such a trip was extremely difficult, if not impossible, not so many years ago.

Mice helping themselves to the beans then. Perhaps Mum took them some time ago, and you have eaten them. I still have a couple of beans on the haulm which I hope will ripen off for next year’s seed. Shall only want about half dozen. You should have some evidence of mice having eaten such a quantity of beans in garage.

Someone wants head read about the glazing bars. I expect they misread one for seven, but who orders one bar unless they have broken one?

Independent lot these Bakers I get a lot of trouble from them too!!!*

Jack Bishop asking for another meeting. Perhaps to tell you deal is off or to say buyers cannot go through with it at the price you ask, and to ask if you can come down a bit.

Well there it is again, hope for better news from your end next time so in the meanwhile we’ll sign off here. Love from us all to you both. 

*Dad joke par excellence, and one that went the rounds ad nauseam: of course June’s family surname was ‘Baker’.

Tuesday 22nd October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thanks for letter and enclosure from the girls received this morning but we are sorry you have been off colour since our return. Hope you can report all well again now. Both of us have had a poor week – Mum was very bad for a few days and quite lost her voice but is picking up a bit again today. Neither of us went out on Sunday but stayed indoors and took things easy. I cannot seem to clear the chest but managed to get out this morning (a lovely day) for a walk along the front as far as the Pier stopping at intervals for rests. There were a few people about and the tide was in full the sea being quite calm. One yacht was sailing and there was one man fishing with a rod from the beach which indicates how high the tide was. I went out about 10.15 a.m. and arrived home again about 11.30 a.m..

We have had some really nice weather this past week but have not felt like doing anything on the garden. I did clear all the tomatoes out of greenhouse, restore the staging and put in the chrysanths but that is the extent of  outdoor activities. Last night when closing the greenhouse I put in a cone and lit it to clear the place of flies, insects etc. This had good effect and I shall repeat to the dose tonight.

Yes we were very sorry to leave you so quickly last Sunday week but the fact is – as we now see things – we should never have left here on October 4th but postponed our visit until we were properly fit to travel. We look forward for many months to coming up that we do not like to have to drop out at the last minute but certainly in this instance it would have been the best thing to do. We had a letter from Geoff during the week after he had received one from me telling him why I could not ring up on the Sunday evening as promised. He said he had had a call from you explaining your circumstances.

Yes I know I had not been up aloft this time but I’m afraid I had very little interest in anything after about Wednesday and the children must have wondered what was the matter with me. I only wish we could have seen the holiday through and returned on the Monday as originally planned.

Very  pleased to hear the sparking plug put matters right with the car and glad to know you have had the steering etc. adjusted. Presumably the other three rubber seals on the wheels have also been renewed. This seems to be very important.

So you have tried out the heater. Very little heat will be required to keep the frost out of your lean-to. Yes June told us she would try and get some curtaining to fit over the end glass – in fact I think she priced some when we were out with her on the Friday.

Glad that the chicken went down well. Actually neither of us was very hungry on the Sunday. Thirst was the chief trouble – our throats seemed to be dried up continuously. All part of the complaint I suppose.*

The Tradescantia cuttings appear to be going on all right – we can increase later on from the new growth. Boot of car was not unloaded until Friday and it was only then noticed the carnation cuttings brought back from Ruislip were in pots and nothing required to be done with them. As mentioned in previous letter we were very grateful to Bushell for cutting grass on lawns – maybe it will be the last time this season. Heel (returned from holiday last Thursday) has had some job cutting his lawn as the grass had got very long and thick. Have heard him on it several times and looking out of bedroom window it does not look as if he is making much progress. Bushell on the other hand is making great strides with the lean-to he is putting up outside their French windows. It will be much bigger than ours as it takes up practically the whole of the wall. The little girl (Ruth) was fascinated with the toy mum brought back for her.

Yes we have been thinking of Mrs Baker at Westcliff this past weekend and knew it was her mother’s birthday. It is also Mrs Baker’s birthday and Mum sent her a card which will be waiting for her when she gets back from Westcliff. Noted Peter has returned safely from Cornelly and no doubt you will hear something of the journey when next you see him. Query how many miles there and back**. A much longer journey than ours between Clevedon and Ruislip. Cornelly is further into Wales than I first thought.

If your grapevine information proves correct this will be quite a shock for those affected. Rather indicates the railway board or is it the Eastern Railway management are going to stand no nonsense regarding redundancies and that staff must go where they are allocated. Seems a bit harsh to me to only have one offer of an alternative job. Shall be interested to hear how the plan proceeds. After the publicity given to Titballs proposed visit to Clevedon to explain why the station must be closed the meeting has been cancelled at Titball’s request because the question of Clevedon station is still under consideration. Understand the work study section has been at Temple Meads station looking into things.

Yes if the proposed new University is based at Clevedon it should be the making of the place in more ways than one but it is very much in the air at the moment. I think the council will do everything too foster the scheme.

We have heard no more re: sale of land but I feel if the project was dead we should have heard from Jack Bishop to this effect. You ask after Mr Palmer, Roy Hewitt and Bill Aston. Strange to say all three have called during the past week at different times. Mr Palmer seems to be going on all right but Roy still has difficulty in getting about. Bill Aston has seen the specialist again and latter is pleased with his progress.

A letter from Don and Joan yesterday says they will be coming up next Saturday – we had asked them to give us a date convenient to them and I rather guessed it might be the 26th as it is the last day of summer time. Hope we shall be feeling better by then. Don the still enjoys his work at the printers’ in Taunton.

Yes I noticed the progress of work with the new Methodist Church in Queens Walk when I went for the short stroll on Saturday morning hoping to meet June, mum and the children on way home from dancing class.

Not a lot of vegetables available here at present – a few cabbages and onions and parsnips latter not yet dug. I looked round garage one morning for the broad bean seed I had got ready for planting but could find no trace at all. The only conclusion is that during our absence mice had cleared the lot – about five pounds. Must have a good clear out of garage when may find signs of intruders but what they can have done with the beans is a mystery. They must have worked hard to shift so many. Actually I was unaware of any mice in garage but at this time of year a few fieldmice generally find their way inside until I clear them out again.

Your neighbour getting down to the hard work of getting his garden into shape then, I noticed him on it once or twice.

The pond is still holding the water all right so may assume by this time that it is properly sealed. Don’t know when I shall be able to do anything else to it or to the surrounds of the flower plots, or to the rockery. These really are spare time jobs. I want to clean up the garden first – there are plenty of weeds to be dealt with. By the way I think the apple [tree] we brought back from you is a Newton Wonderf. This is quite a good sort and a fine keeper.

I see you fetched Susan and Carol from school on Friday dinner time. I used to look forward to popping around there to bring them home. One day (Carol was home sick) I got back with Susan just as a clock was striking 12. she must have been out a few minutes before noon that day.

Noted you have not been over to number 17 lately. Presumably Pauline was there for the weekend with Peter. If the weather at Westcliff is as nice as it has been here Mrs Baker will enjoy her visit all the more.

Bushel had a bit of trouble with Staddens (timber people) over the glazing bars. He ordered seven and last Saturday they delivered one. He said where are the others and the chat looked astonished and said that was all he had on lorry. Told to go back and get the remainder it was found they had not been made and Bushell had to wait until Monday for the rest.

Mum gave the baker his marching orders to on Thursday. Asked why he did not call as requested on the Tuesday he said he had not remembered. Mum said but the milkman remembered to call and baker said he could not help that so was told to finish calling altogether. They are about the limit these days. He has since not forgotten not to call. Now we have to fetch bread from shop again but as we do not eat very much nowadays this will not be a hardship.

Well I think this is about all for this week so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls and we hope your next letter will tell us that you are all in good health once more.

Mum and Dad.

PS: letter from Jack Bishop Thursday morning asking me to go to see him again re: land. 

*In a triumph of synchronicity, the better half and I are just emerging from what sounds like the identical malaise.

**Rome2Rio, my go-to source for this sort of information, ball-parks the distances at 164 miles West Ealing to Cornelly and 124 miles South Ruislip to Clevedon, so Leonard’s absolutely right. Of course these figures relate to the 2023 roads, and I’m quite prepared to imagine that both journeys were a good bit longer in 1963.

Friday 18th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you very much for your letters and the Mercurys received today. Glad to know you got home okay and that as a result of being home you are now feeling a little better. I hope this has been maintained and that you are now well on the way to recovery.

Well for speed of dispatch of a holiday I think that one takes the biscuit. In fact you can say “That Was The Week That Was”. Probably due to the fact that I was working in the week it seemed all that much shorter. However although I was not able to have as much time with you as I would have liked I am glad that you are now feeling better. You certainly loaded us with things this time and no mistake, what with fruit and veg, plants, books and toys for the children, shirt, thermometer, heater and not forgetting the sparking plug. I must say they were all very acceptable, and mostly what we should not have got around to buying for ourselves for some time. I am sorry you were not well enough to get up into loft to see the present state of things there, but must look forward to showing you another time. 

Your trip home was a good one then, which is just as well in the circumstances. Some lunch then on that day with a pasty and shandy each. I must say we enjoyed the chicken, you made a poor exchange there. Glad you were able to smell it cooking anyway.

Susan has had a cold which is now on the wane and Carol has had very sore throat and complained that her neck was painful to the touch on either side. June thought it was swollen, but she is now all right and is back to school. I am afraid I have got your cold. It started in a mild way around Tuesday or Wednesday, and yesterday in the office it really got me down so have taken off today to clear it up. The lack of air in the City is really depressing at times. I had a short walk this morning and as a result I feel a lot better already.

By the way the new sparking plug did the trick all right. I have put the car in for steering adjustments now. Yes I thought you must have the wrong idea about the Vanguard at least before you saw ours.

Those Tradescantia cuttings would have made several plants. I thought you might be able to split them up into at least two each. Hope that by this time you have unloaded the boot of the car and sorted yourself out. Glad Mr Bushell has been able to cut your lawns for you. That is a great help I wish he could come and do mine.

Have heard a bit of news on the grapevine which is a bit of a shaker for those concerned. It seems that the staff in the two Line Managers’ Offices from the Line Manager downward will be handed their redundancy notices on January 29th next, and the two Offices will cease to exist from July 29th 1964. There is also a strong rumour that from 29th January onwards, there will be no advertising or vacancies for management staff (Out Of Categories). Persons will be called up or interviewed for jobs for which it is deemed they are suitable, and the selection then made. It seems that the arrangements for the redundant staff are that each will be offered one job on their own or next lower level, and will be expected to accept or leave the service. If they accept they will continue to receive the salary and increments they were getting at the time of the redundancy.

As I say this is all “leaked” information. There has been nothing more said about the Avalon*, and I gather that the course at Watford will not be for a little while yet. One cannot grumble about being moved about I suppose especially as you do not lose any pay as a result. It could be that you could be sent to some point that you do not like, but on the other hand you could be lucky.

During the morning we got the heater out and filled up with paraffin**. I have lit it up for a short while to see what sort of show it makes. With the wick turned down very low it puts out quite an appreciable heat, and I am keeping an eye on the thermometer to see what effect it has. After about two hours I intend to turn it off, but that period should be enough to see how warm it can make the greenhouse.

It is Great Grandma Baker’s 90th birthday today and Grandma Baker has gone down to Westcliff to spend a few days there***.

Have not seen or heard from Peter since his trip to Cornelly last weekend, but we know he got back safely****. I fetched Susan and Carol from school at lunchtime and they have just gone back a few minutes ago.

I telephoned Geoff shortly after you left on Sunday to tell Amy you would not be able to ring him as promised and he said he would be writing you. No doubt you will have heard from him by now.

I see several references to the proposed new University of Technology at Clevedon in the Mercurys, and see that the Council are all for it. I wonder what the golfing fraternity have to say though*****.

Heels are just about halfway through their holiday now then by the sound of it. It will be almost a holiday to get home to them. How about all the invalids your end, Messrs Palmer, Hewitt and Aston? Are they making any progress? What is the state of the veg-cum-fruit situation at Devonia? Note you are having trouble with your chrysanths and will put a bomb behind the mites causing it. I have had a half promise of some cuttings of pom-pom chrysanths but so far they have not turned up. The little ice plants you brought up some time ago are in flower and as a result of being in the greenhouse they are also putting out a lot of new shoots.

It has not been a bad day here so far. The sun has been trying to come out and it has been balmy and warm out. This is by way of a change from the earlier days of the week when we had a lot of rain, and umbrella well in evidence.

One of the things you notice about being home during the week is how quiet it is compared with the weekend. A few cars pass down the road, but apart from that hardly a noise is heard.

As you know our efforts to paper one end of the greenhouse did not completely cut out the view from either side so June is going to get some lace curtaining and put up in addition. Les has been very busy in his garden and has dug practically all of it except the lawns. He has cut a lot of the bushes from the bottom and certainly thinned them out a bit. It looks as though he means to do things there. This will be the first time for over 10 years that anyone has done any real gardening there. Hope he keeps the slugs out.

Quite a lot of work so far has been done on the new Methodist Church. I gather that there is to be a built-in car park. This will be beneficial as the number of cars that line up on Sundays to deliver and pick up Sunday School children pretty well congests that road.

Have not been over to number 17 since you went there, and not likely to for another week of course.

Well I think June wants to go out and do some shopping so had better close now and get ready. I must say I feel a lot better of day off, and wish I had had it a few days earlier. Love from  us all once again. 

*No idea what this refers to. Nowadays it could be a dining pub in London or a hotel at Tintagel, according to Wikipedia, but I suspect it may have been the name of either a building or a club somewhere in London or Bristol (I know, vague, sorry!) which was so familiar to both that no further information was needed.

**If all you’re familiar with is the modern (safe) type of electric or gas heater, you may have no conception of just how terrifying it was to share your space with a paraffin stove. I think the one referred to here is probably the one we had for use in the bathroom – very few people had central heating at that time – which would otherwise have been icy, especially as we had to ‘take turns’ in the water. Paraffin stoves were smoky and smelly, and the notion that they could be knocked over and spill burning fuel all over the floor was ever-present. There were also complications with being able to get the ‘right’ paraffin – both blue (Esso) and pink (Aladdin) varieties were delivered door to door, but they had different qualities and people had their preferences: I believe we always had pink. Then there was the fun business of trimming the wick and cleaning out the soot deposits which built up if the flame wasn’t adjusted exactly right. Sometimes, in retrospect, the 1960s seem very much like the Dark Ages!

***This is an error on Alec’s part: 18 October 1963 was in fact the 90th birthday of Sara Mullinger, nee Beech, who was Edith Baker’s mother (and therefore technically Great Grandma Mullinger). Sara died in 1967 and is clearly the origin of the ‘gene for longevity’ which certainly transmitted itself to June. Great Grandma Baker, nee Alice Daniel, died in 1928 – when Alec would only have been three years old!

****This is the first substantive mention of Peter visiting Bridgend, where he lived for many years and where he eventually died in 2021. He had a job there in the Council Transport Depot, which he ended up managing, and also married a woman from Bridgend. Which came first, though – the job or the relationship – is unclear, although it would make sense that it was the relationship. Peter was originally a lovely man, although a bit of a ‘lad’, until a nasty head injury from a parachuting accident seemed to change his personality completely. After that he became unpleasant and defensive, and was cut out of my life after he threatened me with violence. The young, fun Peter would never have done that. Peter after his accident was a very different person, and gradually he became impossible to be around.

*****Presumably ‘no’, as it seems to have gone no further than the ‘speculation’ stage and the golf course is still in existence.

Monday 14th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Just to let you know we arrived back home safely yesterday at 1:40 p.m. after the easiest journey we have ever had, but more about that later.

I am very sorry to have been such a misery to myself and to you all during the last few days at Ruislip but I seem to be full right up with catarrh from the head to the stomach and was not taking much interest in anything and the obvious thing was to get home quickly. You must please forgive me but I feel we did the right thing by leaving you 24 hours earlier than anticipated. I had another disturbed night through the coughing but feel a lot better this morning and perhaps in a day or two can properly shake the illness off completely – anyhow I hope so. Thank you all for a very nice time with you and for all you did for us and we hope there will be no reaction from my indisposition on any of you. Very strange this should happen for the second time except in this instance I was not too well when we started off on the 4th inst.

We made good running yesterday and leaving you at 9:45 a.m. we took correct road this time through Langley and reached the M4 at 10:10 a.m. and left it at 10:22 a.m. Just after entering the M4 we came upon an accident between two cars and the police in attendance. I should guess it was a collision between cars coming from the London and Windsor directions respectively. We had to circle to get round the damaged cars. We reached Marlborough at 11:35 a.m. and only stopped for 8 minutes. Then on through Calne and next stopped at a wayside house called the Soho Inn* about a mile beyond Calne. It was then 12:20 p.m. Had a shandy each and a homemade pasty and were on the road again within fifteen minutes. Next stop Tennyson Avenue at 1:40 p.m..

The only difficulty on the road was a number of caravans being towed by other vans. I should think we passed about a dozen of these at various places sometimes there were two and one occasion three in close sequence**. Our first stop after leaving you was that traffic signals at Reading so you can see we had a good run. Just as well considering how I felt. We had a cup of tea here as soon as possible but no more food until about 5 p.m.. We could smell the chicken cooking at 1 p.m. and thought it was very nice. Hope it was***.

Wonder if the girls are at school this morning? Hope they will soon be completely restored to good health and be able to keep going. The weather not too bad – dull today and a little cold but quite nice for getting about. Wonder if you went out in car yesterday afternoon? And did the sparking plug put car right Alec? We both like the car very much and it is a different model to what I had in mind when you first said that you had bought one. I was thinking of the original Vanguard which came on the market almost as soon as the war was over. This was a big cumbersome thing as I expect you know. We hope you get many pleasurable hours of motoring in it.

Your lean-to greenhouse is quite an asset to the house and is the making of your dining room. I think you made a very good job of fixing it and I’m sure you will both have many happy hours ‘pottering’ about in it. By the way Mum put in the Tradescantia cuttings on Sunday afternoon just after we arrived so we hope they will take. I have not yet unloaded the boot of car but may have a go at it later today. At first glance around the place everything seems to be in order and Mr Bushell has been over and cut all the lawns which is a big relief to me at the moment. He is on nights this week and at the moment in bed but I shall probably see him later.

Our chrysanths are in flower but something (probably chrysanth midge) is eating the petals. Mum is going into town this afternoon and will get a cone for burning in the greenhouse to rid of all livestock.

Thank you very much for the carnation etc. cuttings – these will be put in later but I shall go a bit easy this week and try and get clear of the catarrh first. This with the dieting takes all the energy out of one.

Heels are still away – now five weeks yesterday since they went. Some holiday!

No paper today as cancelled everything until Tuesday. The two Mercurys also will turn up tomorrow and I will post these on later in week. Mum has been busy with the washing this morning and is now using the vacuum cleaner in all the rooms – getting back to normal routine apparently.

Well I think this is all for the moment. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

*Apparently this establishment has been renamed as the ‘Black Dog‘ and now serves Indian/Nepali food.

**A clear sign of ‘travellers‘ or ‘fair folk’, those who move around the country with fairs, circuses or other forms of entertainment. These days a similar set-up is often adopted by contractors, too, who will set up on a site for months on end … as we have discovered on our many motor-caravanning adventures.

***Presumably this was a reference to the special lunch June had been preparing for what was intended to be the last day of their visit!

Tuesday 1st October, 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 this morning usual post. Will not reply at length this time as shall be seeing you all soon after this letter reaches you. Very interested in your work with the greenhouse and hope you will eventually get it waterproof. Quite a bit to be learned about the erection of such buildings and its a case of every man to his trade as I have found out on many occasions here.

Sorry to hear you have been suffering from colds and hope the second spell over the weekend has gone by now. Mum and I are still trying to get rid of ours and they are certainly a little better this morning but it  has been a long job this time – over a fortnight. Susan said in her letter that she too was ‘home with a cold’.

Cannot say whether it was a four or six cylinder Vanguard we saw in Weston – it was only a quick look as we passed it. Glad you all like the new car and that it appears more roadworthy than the Austin. Cannot quite understand this however as we never had any trouble with it in the manner you indicate. With the A55 I still have the difficulty in judging distances from the kerb and usually end up by scraping the wheels along the kerb.

Noted you have been having a few fires to clear out the rubbish – now is the time of year to dispose of it. Mum has been having a go here but there is still a lot to be dealt with and I’m afraid some of it will be here when we get back from our ten days’ absence. Also noted staging now in position if only temporary and that the shelves need filling. Saw mum looking out one or two items just now and assume these are to bring up.

It is raining quite hard here at the moment and work outdoors suspended again. Want to give the grass one more cutting and pick in more apples. Managed to get in a few this morning before rain stopped play but it is hopeless now. Potatoes are very bad this season but we will bring up a few to help. Shall be buying before the winter gets very far. Am throwing out a lot every week because of disease.

We took Mrs Cornish to station this morning – she has gone to Taunton for a couple of days and will be back Thursday to look after the few things in our greenhouse.

Have not done a lot since last letter – have not felt much like work at all with this cold – but have finished the big rectangular plot on lawn and almost completed the smaller one near the garage. It will be a big improvement when all three plots have been dealt with.

I really do not know why Jeff is not getting a car after thinking about it at Whitsun but should imagine he finds some other use for the cash. In any case as you know he already gets 12/6d [roughly £16 in 2023 currency: current costs would be similar] weekly for letting his garage and I do not suppose this is shown up on Income Tax return*. May hear more about it this weekend.

Pity about the radio affecting your neighbours’ TV. No doubt you will be able to do something to remedy the fault when you can locate the trouble. Nice going though to get hold of the foreigners. Is there any trouble with the language?

Our Harvest Festival last Sunday and mum was busy the previous day with the decorations etc. Looked very nice.

A good one about the shopping basket on wheels. What about the woman carrying her parcels and pushing the dog in the basket? **

So far as Sandford or rather Banwell Caves are concerned I have to admit that I never heard of them until now and wondered if you had and that was the reason of sending on cutting from paper.

A letter from Geoff yesterday confirming our arrival time there at about 7 pm Friday – after calling on you and waiting until you get home – also told us that C.W. Powell has taken on the sub-Post Office at Haytor because nobody else was available. Expect under these circumstances he took it on on his own terms. Well it is not far from there to the prison itself.

Shall bring Mercury up with us – save postage this time.

The rockery stone arrived from Cranes on Saturday afternoon and is now in a heap near garage door waiting its final placing in proposed rockery. Cannot see much more work being done outdoors this side of the spring which is a pity because there is so much to do one way and another.

No more news of land and apparently Cornish thinks we shall hear no more from the people concerned that he has given them up as a bad job. I take the view we shall hear from Solicitor one way or the other once a decision has been reached and I’m leaving it at that. You will see in this week’s Mercury that Mrs Marshall’s piece for sale is to be auctioned in November.

Heels are still away and they may now be in the Midlands or in London. A letter arrived from Tiverton this morning inviting us down to Exmouth this weekend or next weekend. This is the first we have heard from them for a long time. Told us the business in Bampton Street has been sold to a Barnstaple firm and Arthur*** has to move into Mum’s old house at 63 Bampton Street and presumably leave the firm altogether.

No more now – hope colds better. See you Friday and will not forget to call for Carol at school. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

*The equivalent of a decent £800+ per annum passive income, not bad!

**Imagine this must have been a cartoon or something, but it just shows that a novelty the humble ‘shopping trolley’ was considered in those days!

***This would be Arthur Fewings, Eva’s cousin, and ‘Mum’would therefore presumably be Eva’s mother/his aunt.

Sunday 22nd September, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Sorry about the red to start with. I understand that Carol has been at the machine, and of course fiddled with the controls. I must say I had not noticed it myself until my attention was drawn to it.

Well many thanks once again for letter, which arrived first post this week. Although I said it was on time last week, I gather since that I was in error, as it did not arrive until second post. Did not see the girls’ contributions last week, but assume it to have been adequate from the remarks. Sorry to hear of Dad’s cold and hope it is gone by now. We are not too bad here this week, have a bit of catarrh myself, but nothing to speak of.

Yes the car is a bit bigger than we have experienced before, but the room inside is just the job. It requires a bit of getting used to as regards width, but I have had no difficulty with length. Getting in and out of garage is a more precise job than with the Austin, but with practice it gets easier. We have done about 25 miles in it so far and have used up about one gallon. The additional petrol consumption on a weekly basis therefore will not be appreciably up on the old car. I used to put in two gallons about every fortnight. Mileage is 14,000 plus??? Your guess is as good as mine. At that rate car would have been used at the rate of something less than 3000 per annum which I think is rather doubtful.

I should imagine that the flu injections will be on offer against soon so will certainly have one if possible.

Well funny thing but our Indian Summer came about one week later than yours. You say you had yours when Mrs Baker was with you, but here the following week was very fine indeed. In fact we have had no real rain for some time. We have had a very moist wind which has damped off the roads etc., and there was another in the night which has covered the top glass of the greenhouse with moisture.

We have heard from Mrs Baker of the fine time she had with you and gather you have heard from her yourself. I expect you can tell us a bit more on your arrival. Referring to the fine weather, it started on the day I went to Watford. A very thick mist kept with us all the way there, and on arrival the sun burst through and gave us a beautiful day. The following several days where the same.

I should think the changeover of coaches at Bristol would be a simple matter of getting out of one coach and almost falling into another. I appreciate that cases etc. have to be handled, but should have thought the direct journey in a reduced time would compensate for that.

Yes we are certainly glad the greenhouse has arrived and agree about the extra layer of bricks. This is a good thing of course, but it does mean that when getting out of the greenhouse one has to step up over the bricks, and then down over the bricks and depth of concrete to  ground level. Of course we can and will eventually put a step on the outside, but I think a step on the inside too might prove a hazard. You remark on the difficulty of sealing the structure to the house. I am hoping that we have done enough in that respect. You may recall that there is a slate-like layer about one and a half inches deep and projecting out about the same distance over the French windows. We have the main supporting bar of the greenhouse rawl-plugged to the house about three inches below this projection. Nothing else has been done as a seal, but we do not expect much water down inside from the top. Of course if the wind is driving rain straight up the gap between the top of the greenhouse and the projection we might get some inside. The vertical members either side are just rawl-plugged into the wall. If we do get any wet penetrating it will probably not come that way. However the thing to do is wait and watch, and find out if any creeps in, and then to apply some Sylglas from the Inside. I have a role of Sylglas ready for that job. So far we have fixed the side and front glass and part of the roof. Peter is coming over this afternoon to help again, but by then I hope to have most of the job done.

Gear change on the new car is column change and it is three speed only. I find it very easy now, but at first it is spring-loaded, and occasionally drops into top when I should be in first. This is my fault of course and nothing the matter with the car. Cannot say about June’s learning the car as it is a bit on the hefty side for her.

While I was doing some glazing about 4:30 p.m. yesterday, heard a bang and a tinkle, and looking through the gap in hedge could see one of the driving school ‘L’ cars halfway up a concrete lamp-post in East Mead.* The post itself was over at an angle of about 30 degrees. I saw the instructor get out on his side, shaking his hands as if they had been knocked a bit. Did not see the other chap get out. I cannot think what they must have been trying to do as the post was not immediately near a corner. I doubt if we shall get much light shed on the subject.

When was Virgin a Yard Inspector at East Depot? I may have met him when there unless it was more recent than 1950, Butcher’s talk was a mixture of both pep and plan. All these chaps talk the same these days. Either way I hear that Fiennes is the new General Manager of Western, Raymond and Ibbotson are both going to the B.R.B. What their new jobs are I do not know, but I suppose Ibbotson is taking Fiennes’ old job.

No more news of the land then. I guess Cornish is in his element. What does he think he is, a Cotton or a Clore?

Good news about your weight then. Of course it is the thing to continue with the method that does you good, so not surprised Dr says carry on. Hope your journey up is not fraught with fog. You can cope with anything but that.

You could have done with a barrel with all that fruit about. Can imagine it would have given you a supply of wine for the next five years or so. Thanks for remembering the heuchera.

Note your work on the concrete edging continues, and that you have now started on the lawn. By the time it’s all finished it should look fine. Note also about the tomatoes. Perhaps next year I might put one or two under glass myself. Depends on how much room I have left.

By the way, a question was asked about a shirt. Very kind of you to suggest it, can always do with one, buthat you are welcome here even without bringing presents.

Well must make a start on the greenhouse for today so will close once more wishing you all the best. Love from us all. 

*’The field’ had not been built on at this stage: that happened a few years later, but at this time presumably there was a clear line of sight. The distance would have been about sixty metres.

Tuesday 17th September, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Here we are again with many thanks for your letter and enclosures from the girls received usual post this morning. Glad to hear the colds are better at your end but sorry to say I have had a good one these last few days – a proper sneezer. It has not however interfered with the usual routine but has made me feel a bit mussy [sic]. Seems there is a lot of similar colds about in the locality. Expecting Mum to burst out with it before long.

So you have got another car. Some car. A Vanguard is on the big side and will use up a lot of petrol but apparently you are aware of this. Anyhow we hope you have got ‘a good buy’ as the saying goes. Must inspect it in due course. What mileage has it done?

Talking about flu injections I assume you will be getting another one shortly for the coming winter.

We were surprised to hear last Sunday week was not all that good at Ruislip. As mentioned previously and no doubt confirmed by Mrs Baker we had a very good one in the West Country. For nearly a week now we have had a sort of Indian Summer with the foghorn in the Channel going most of the day indicating foggy conditions in the sea areas. Inland it has been glorious but this evening a change seems to be coming up and we may get rain before morning. If not I shall have to fill up rainwater baths with the hose pipe as am almost out of water supply.

Yes we took Mrs Baker around as much as possible and for her first visit to this part of the country we covered a lot of ground*. The route by coach was somewhat tedious but to answer your point re: direct services, these are run between Bristol and London with connections from Weston-super-Mare but June’s mother obviously did not want to contend with the changeover at Bristol and the service she used in both directions is the only one running through between Weston and London.

Sorry to hear your parcel from the Hebdon Cord people arrived in a disordered state. I should certainly have a go at them. On the previous occasion when I also had an old suit returned with a new one the parcel arrived in very good order so it would seem that at some point on route your parcel had some rough handling – query British Railways again. I’ve seen some of the parcel post handled at Temple Meads and stopped some of the capers carried on.

Yes before giving Mrs Baker a heavy parcel of vegetables etc. to take home we made sure she would not have to carry same from the coach at Ealing and have since heard from her that Peter was duly in attendance on her arrival. Hope they enjoyed the contents.

Glad your greenhouse has turned up at last and that you have already been busy with it. Good job you put it on another layer of bricks. You would have been  everlastingly bumping your head going in and out of it. Nothing more annoying – or hurtful. You are doing well to tackle the fixing on your own. I suppose the most difficult part is to make it waterproof where it joins the wall of house. I know you will want to finish it as soon as possible but do not work like mad on it to get it ready for us to see.

Pity about Susan and the lump of iron but no doubt it was a lesson learned. (At least until next time) You must have had a lot of rain after delivery of the greenhouse for all that water to collect. Have not priced bricks down here for very many years so cannot comment on the price you paid for 30 – sounds reasonable enough. Did Peter giving you a hand with the erection of framework – one person cannot handle this job himself and it is bad enough for two.

Noted June has not yet purchased her ‘mobile’ shopping basket so whilst out this morning called in at Neales – only to find they had sold out. However one was ordered and paid for and delivery is expected later this week. Quite a number of these articles seem to be in use and they most certainly take the sting out of carrying the shopping. Will June now proceed with lessons on the new car? Query gear change – on floor or steering wheel?

Yes Don looks and seems much better these days and no doubt the new job has a lot to do with it. I asked him what was going on at the station (Durston) and he said the relief Clark was on leave and the station was being covered by the man at Langport West and the place was upside down.

Noted Mr Gray now resumed part-time work. Obviously he has to take things easy and it would appear his operation was not an easy one. Bill Aston managed to get around here last week for a few minutes and Roy Hewitt has made the journey twice but has to sit down whilst here. He is making only a slow recovery. The Virgins have lived in Bristol for many years. He was yard inspector at East Depot for a long time and retired from that post several years ago. They were on a Railwaymen’s (Old Age Pensioners’) outing when they called on us.

What was the talk by Butcher? Query a pep talk? Or was it to outline future plans for Work Study?

The party who moved into one of the new houses at top of Tennyson Avenue last week has already made great strides with the available garden space. He is the one who has the house next to Mogg’s and of course has some of the bank bordering the allotments included in his piece. Now the builders are busy on one of the plots belonging to Tennyson House (thatched) which borders on the ground owned by the occupier of number 12 Tennyson Avenue. The concrete mixer has been going on all day so presumably they are laying in the foundations for another house.

No more news regarding our bit of land but Cornish took another man over Heels’ garden last Saturday (Heels are still away). I heard someone moving about over there and went to side of hedge and asked who was about; Cornish replying that he was there with another man looking round. Without doubt it was another prospector for the land but although I have since seen Cornish he never mentioned to the subject. He has got it on the brain morning moon and night and I expect he dreams about it.

Since last writing I have been digging through between the raspberry canes – one row enough daily – then putting in the concrete blocks around the rectangular flower border on lawn. So far I have got halfway around. It is a long job but already it improves the look of same so I’ll carry on quietly with this work as long as weather is suitable.

This morning I went to see Dr again re: diet. It is six weeks since I first went to him and he put me on the diet. On his weighing machine I weighed 15 stone 8 pounds so in the period mentioned I lost one stone and four pounds. Dr was more than pleased but did not ease the diet very much. This does not worry me as I do not consider the diet very restrictive. I told him I did not restrict my consumption of beer and cider and he just laughed. Anyhow if the weight is down without restricting the liquid nourishment why trouble to restrict it? He told me I could have a potato for dinner as I had mentioned I had cut those right out since I saw him. He said I should probably want to eat more in the winter (he must know something) but to keep an eye on the weight. He would like to see me again in two months’ time.

Noted you will make alternate arrangements for fetching Carol from school on the 4th prox. should we fail to turn up in time. I anticipate we shall be there but it is just as well to cover possible emergency. When I next write Jeff will tell them not to expect us until sometime after tea. Yes only just over a fortnight and we shall be on our way. It’s nice to look forward to. Hope we do not get a lot of fog. Pretty thick some mornings recently.

How have the children taken to school since the holiday?

We still have a few more plums to pick off a late-fruiting tree and to date have picked 214lbs pounds so another 10 will put up the 2cwt mark. Mum has had to buy three separate lots of Kilner jars this time to cope with the quantity available. I’ve taken a root of heuchera and potted same to bring up.

Had a card from Heels from the Lake District saying they were having a good time and weather fine. Should think so too just at present. They seem to have picked the right time to get away. Cummings said they also had a good time there the previous week but it must have been showery.

We may pop up to Weston on Thursday for a couple of hours. Incidentally we showed Mrs Baker exactly where you park the car on the beach at the Uphill end**. Unfortunately the hovercraft had been removed for the winter so could not see that. After our day in Weston Mrs Baker had a good deal of colour but lost it again before returning to Ealing.

Looking at Susan’s drawing again we like her sketch of teacher and pupil together with question and answer. Glad she got a good mark for her team with her essay on her holiday.

Have had no further trouble with car and Bushell has promised to look it over before we start the London journey and oil as necessary. Tomatoes still ripening and good sales for them but I must take some of the plants out before the end of the month in order to put some of the chrysanths in out of possible frosts. Even now some of the nights are very cold and one or two mornings have been near misses for frosts.

No letter from Tiverton this time inviting us down for the final weekend at Exmouth but in any case we were not going down this year.

This seems to be the lot for another week so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses from the girls. Hope they were happy with the rings and books. Mum and Dad.

P.S. hope new suit satisfactory 

*Ironically, through a twist of events nobody could have foreseen at this stage of the proceedings, Edith Baker actually spent the last years of her life in Teignmouth, Devon, where she died in 1987.

**How exciting for her!