Sunday 2nd December, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for another weekly letter each. This week for some reason it did not arrive until Saturday morning, perhaps the pre-Christmas post is on the increase. Glad you got the magazine O.K. The Binding at the end held all right then. The mag was a little larger than the envelope.

Yes I am afraid I succumbed to flu or what-have-you, and I am afraid it is now down on the chest. It is many years since I recall having a cough, although colds have been frequent. Again it seems to be the fashion round here. Roy – Delph’s husband – has been pretty rough, and I gather it has been through the same cause.

You refer to the weather. Last night there was a severe white frost and this morning it is extremely cold. The sun is trying to come up and the frost is going. I would say it is a very fine morning if you can keep moving. Otherwise it is a good morning to spend indoors.

I think we were rather lucky to be watching the TV on the day the elephants went to the zoo as it was a most unusual thing to do and the children were very interested. Good thing to spot that torn roll of wallpaper. No point in having and paying for dud stuff. I imagine there are not many people floating around the Weston shops now. It was was a bit hectic in the summer when we were there. Will the people let you know when the balance of the wallpaper has arrived, or will you have to go there on spec?

Very interesting to hear about the Advanced Motoring course that Richings is undergoing. Shall be glad to have more details of the instruction given. What made him go for that?

I understand that you still cannot have a coal fire in your front room. You will bless us if you do not get that firebrick, as the really cold weather is about now. Your electric heater is a good one though and perhaps you are warm enough with it.

No Baynton-Hughes has a job with the B.T.C., he has had no connection with Birmingham since he was the Timebill Clerk Special B. This post he did not occupy effectively as he was away with us at Reading at the time. In fact he never took up his duties. This phenomenon has followed him around in most of his posts. While holding one post (for salary purposes) he has in fact been doing something else. Rumour has it that although he has the job at the B.T.C. he is in fact without specific work, and thus becomes ideal for one of the productivity posts. Why we think he may elect for Bristol is the fact that his home District (Worcester) is now incorporated in the Bristol Division. We gather that from 1st of January the Development Assistants (to be renamed Productivity Assistants) will take over Work Study Research and Traffic Costing. McDonald has informed Notley that he will therefore be working for him again as from January. The latter is not very pleased. There were about fifty officers’ jobs on the W.R. Officers’ list this week. Again this is largely a question of men having to apply for the jobs they are already holding. I can imagine some of them are going to be disappointed as Soole was last time. This is a move to get placed some of the men from the disbanded B.T.C. I am sure.

June declined to do any driving last Sunday, and we have not had much opportunity since to do any. I am still having trouble starting the car, and it needs to be taken in for attention. I am afraid it will have to wait till after Christmas. The result of course is that the car needs a little coaxing until it warms up.

Sorry to hear mum had to leave church. Should have told the Curate she did not like his sermon. Very interesting digs the Curate has got. Hope he has a sense of humour.

I understand that the builders have been working hard in number 17. They say the ceiling in the kitchen is unsafe and will have to be attended to – this after the electricians has said it was in order, and fixed strip lighting to it. It seems that, when wainscoting was taken down, fungus was found growing behind, and when floorboards were looked at they were found to be soggy with moisture. What the eventual bill will be for this one I dare not think. They still hope to go in on the agreed date.

It is very nice to have wines and spirits for Christmas, especially at reduced prices. However up to date we have not been in a position to spare much for that side of Christmas fare. There have always seemed to be more important things requiring the £.s.d. and as you know Christmas is a shockingly expensive time.

There is not a lot wrong with the type from your machine. Last week I switched over to the bottom half of the ribbon you gave me although I think there is a lot more in the top part.

Sorry to hear that Bray has died. He was a comical chap. I knew him first as head messenger at Bristol D.S.O. he preceded Hallard. During the war Sid Guy, who had previously been a messenger in the D.S.O., returned (I think from Steventon) to take over for a short time from Hallard.

Just want to give myself a bit of elbow room in the loft. Every time I go up there it is a messy business getting ladder up and groping about in the dark. In addition there is a lot of useful room there for storing various things, and even getting a workbench fixed out of the way of small meddlers. Perhaps there will even be more room for the car in the garage when some of the stuff has been moved out. The main joists in the loft are level, but where the support beams from the roof are brought down at an angle to thrust on the joints, additional pieces of four-by-two have been tacked onto the joists so that these downward-sloping beams can thrust against one another to give added support. If I were to take away these added pieces, all the joints would be level but it would weaken the main supports of the roof. What I have to do therefore is to make all joists up to the level of the highest. This is an easier job than it sounds, as the usable area in the loft is not as vast as all that, and I do not propose to floor in any part where I cannot stand almost upright.

No comment on the geraniums etc from Mum, but nothing to reply to in my case.

I am quite happy to stay where I am for the time being thank you. While the W.R. is in a state of turmoil it is more than ever a rat race. I had another session over at the Work Study School on Friday and among the staff who came for a rating check were a number from Sheffield. One of these had had contact with Budworth who used to work with me at Paddington and who has gone to the North Eastern region at York. I think I told you that John Belcher who worked with me at Reading had been caught on some large-scale fiddle with passing fake cheques in banks. He had been doing this for some time apparently and he was well and truly caught. We gather that he has had the sack from the railway and has returned to the Cardiff area, but what he is doing now we do not know.*

I get a call from Notley and others occasionally at Paddington. June and I hope to go to the Christmas party on 14th December. It is the counterpart to the one I helped to organise last year.

Note with interest the detail of the proposed lake. I expect they will build it eventually as there is no doubt the Portishead Pool has put the council’s nose out of joint.

I did not see the wine-making on T.V. but would have been very interested. Have not made any as you know for some time. Peter was round last night to act as babysitter with Brenda while June and I went to Delph’s for a meal. She threw a party and we had an enjoyable time. When I got back I gave Peter a drink of fig and tangerine (generally accepted as being a good wine) and he quite enjoyed it. He asked when I was going to make some more sloe gin. Had to remind him that it was your brew. He was very impressed with it and keeps talking about it. You will have to make some more.

Have been instructed by Susan to clear the table for lunch, so will have to pack this in it now, and comply. Anything I have missed will have to keep for next week now, so will say cheerio for now and love from us all once again. 

*This John Belcher is almost certainly the same man as the ex-M.P., formerly ‘a railway clerk’, who resigned from Parliament in 1949 after some undesirable connections were exposed. Wikipedia says that he ‘returned to his clerical job with the railways’ after this.

Wednesday 28th November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 27th November, 1962]

Still dry dull and cold here today. Did you see on TV last night just for a couple of minutes between 8:23 p.m. and 8:25 p.m. a demonstration on how to make wine? The individual concerned had a good earthenware jug (holding about 3 gallons) and put into same 3lbs chopped raisins. 1lb wheat, 4 grated potatoes, 3lbs demerara sugar and 1 gallon hot water. Then 1 oz dried yeast and mixed the whole lot together and said it would remain covered up for a month after which it would be strained and the juice put under fermentation lock for 3 or 4 months. Called it Christmas wine – whiskey type.

I thought I would try my elderberry brandy this morning and was not at all bad. Mum liked it so that speaks for itself. This was the concoction in which I put 12 Shredded Wheats.

In last night’s Bristol paper was a photograph of the two elephants so have cut it out for Susan and Carol – may be interested.

Brought in another hamper of Bramleys today and there are at least two more hamperfulls on the tree to come in. We have had a thrush singing away on the top of one of our fir trees on the lawn for several days now – surely he is not mistaking the time of year? It is most unusual because the birds are very quiet along now although there are plentiful enough when any food is thrown out to them.

Well I think this is about the lot for another week – have pretty well exhausted all available news although now Mum will find something to write about in a minute or two I expect.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

Tuesday 27th November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter received this morning together with magazine and letter from Susan and drawing from Carol. What a budget!

Very sorry to hear you have had a couple of days off but we were not surprised following June’s note that you had gone to work on the Monday with a cold coming on. Hope you are all much better now. There is a lot of sickness around here at the moment – flu, gastric and otherwise and no wonder with the weather prevailing. The conditions must be worse in the London area especially the fog. Unfortunately it is the time of year when we must expect a continuation of bad weather.

We were pleased to hear the girls saw the Johnny Morris programme with the elephants at Bristol Zoo – believe it or not we also looked into it and thought it quite good. We said at the time that we hope Susan and Carol were looking at it. Some of the children’s programmes between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. are very good.

Well we had our second visit to Weston last Thursday and before calling on the Richings had another look round the shops and I managed to get a haircut while mum toured Woolworths. Picked up the wallpaper ordered the previous but would you believe it one roll was damaged for about 12 feet of its length so I refused it and told firm to get another. At 14 shillings per roll* I did not want to waste paper. This means another trip to Weston later but this can be at our convenience as it is not proposed to start work until the New Year.

Had lunch with the Richings and afterwards he had an appointment at police station where he is taking an Advanced Driving course. The police at Weston apparently instituted this course which is free. There is no test afterwards but it is to give members of the public the benefit of the training given to the mobile police. We left them about 3:45 p.m. and were home again by 4:30 p.m. It was then just getting misty.

Yes it was a Work Study chap visiting Weston who told Richings of your move. He told me about Burt going to Euston.

We did not call at Hillmans’ this time as they told us it will take at least 10 to 14 days to get the fitting for the fire grate and in any case they would advise us when it arrived. No news to date.

I take it Baynton-Hughes is fancied for Burt’s job because he is being displaced at Birmingham?

Hope June managed to get in a bit of driving on Sunday even if only as far as the Sunday school. It was inclined to be foggy here but turned to a misty rain in the late afternoon and evening. We went to church and what do you think mum had to come out just after the sermon started because she could not stop a cough. Incidentally the Curate (who took service) called Monday afternoon when we told him mum had gone out to avoid the collection. He (the Curate) is moving into Miss Emly’s old bungalow in St Andrews Drive on the 13th of December – moving his mother and sister together with furniture etc. from Paisley Scotland by road. At the moment he is lodging at the Girls‘ Friendly Society hostel in Madeira Road off Sunnyside. What next.

Noted you had a bit of a scare at Ruislip Manor on Saturday but only from the spectators point of view. These occurrences can be very disturbing though and it makes one think. I’m sure speed is the root of most of the trouble – going too fast to pull up quickly enough. Bushell is still going out in his car without an experienced driver with him. Have not seen him lately to talk to.

Sounds as if the demolition squad is in number 17 Eccleston Road. Who is going to pay for that mishap? Cannot say I remember very clearly the layout of the premises. Hope the matter in connection with the disposal of number 155 proceeds satisfactorily to Mr and Mrs Baker. They surely must be looking forward to getting out as soon as possible.

So there is a possibility of getting some wines and spirits from E.R. Vaults at this time of year. Just as well to know. Have ordered a few bottles from Geoff.

Your visitors duly turned up then on Sunday at it worked out fairly well. Wonder Susan and Carol did not rebel at going to bed with the others still in the house. Perhaps they were tired. June would have been disappointed if they had not arrived with all the eats available. Your picture gallery will never get stale Alec and I expect you all enjoyed seeing it again. I noticed Geoff was very interested in the projector when they came over.

Yes June you must check on the Blenheim Orange apples now and see if any are gone or going bad. I think they should be alright but have a look in case.

Can see I shall soon have to go over to the red section of the typewriter ribbon or you will be complaining of poor type. Have not used the red at all so far so it should give good service for a while.

Had a letter from Griffiths (chief controller) this morning and he said that Albert Bray (Basher) died suddenly last Sunday and funeral is at Stapleton church next Friday. You remember him of course as being the Rolling Stock Inspector at Bristol for many years before going to London as Travelling Cleaning Inspector with home remaining at Bristol. I knew him when he first joined the service at Westbury Wilts as messenger boy in the D.B.O. that must have been in 1919 or 1920. I should say he was about 56/57 years of age.

What are you trying to do in the loft? Put another floor down for storage purposes? Surprised to know the joists are uneven though. Ours are level right across and will take flooring without any trouble. Not necessary here as we have such a lot of storage space in shed and garage. You will have to have a light ladder with just the right number of rungs to get you to the opening of loft. Unless of course you can afford one of those disappearing jobs advertised in magazines etc i.e. where the ladder itself can be pulled down from roof and returned to there too after use. Godfrey had one in his house at Maidenhead. Bit expensive and I expect you can do with lots of other things first.

The various queries you have raised about the geranium and succulents I will leave Mum to comment upon in her letter.

Have not read mag yet but will have a go this evening. All who have seen previous copy say it is more presentable than the W.R. mag. There are certainly some nice articles in it. The ones about the various stations I find most interesting.

I take it you would rather have your present job than be an applicant for one of the three you say Mann is after. Personally I think a change of venue will work out much better in the long run.

Not much doing in the garden etc. since I last wrote. Have picked up two or three hampers of ‘fall-downs’ in the field – mostly Bramleys – and stored them in the garage. Broccoli and cabbages seem to be very very small this season and it takes two to make a meal. Cannot quite account for this unless it was due to the ‘soppy’ weather in the autumn.

You are still in touch with Notley then although you do not come in contact at work. Expect he had a chat with old colleagues at Bristol.

The horse has not arrived yet. Norman Baker must put fence right first. I do not want the animal in the garden again although at this time of year I only have broad beans and onions planted apart from the fruit trees – currants etc. It will do the field good for the grass to be eaten off.

You will be interested in the Mercury this week with the scheme for making another lake at Clevedon. Somebody will have to pay for it unfortunately. Cannot see it being made for many years.

Now I see the Press are crying out about the railways being closed down on Christmas day. About time too they were closed. There was never much doing at Temple Meads that day and it was always a job to get people to work. Even those who were booked on duty did not all turn up – some of them suffering from a hangover from the previous night.

[Continued on Wednesday 28th November, 1962]

*This equates to about £16.65 in 2022 currency and the damaged portion would be maybe 40% of a roll or the equivalent of about £6.65 so I really don”t blame him for not accepting the roll.

Sunday 25th November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for weekly letter and paper. Sorry about non-enclosure of E.R. mag, but more about that later. Well you started by mentioning colds, catarrh etc. and I  regret to have to report yours truly had to have a couple of days in bed early in the week. Cannot say exactly what it was (medically) but usual alternating temperature and shivering and complete lack of energy. Got up for lunch on the second day, then for an outing took Susan back to school and had a short walk. The air was cold and dry with no wind, and helped to bring back some semblance of appetite and with it some energy. Returned to work on Thursday pretty well 100% again.

Regarding the geraniums, we brought in the large one and stood it on the spare T.V. set in the dining room. Since its arrival practically all of its leaves have turned up at the corners and gone black. It is probably too warm in here for it. It looks rather sorry for itself at the moment but there are still a couple of green shoots so it may not be completely lost. One of our indoor chrysanths, a white one, is beginning to come out in the garage. It unfolds a petal at a time and looks very straggly.

It looks as though you will be getting your firebricks soon. Perhaps these people (Hillmans) can also get you the proper handle for altering the draught setting. This gadget has a short U piece at the other end for lifting the front up for night burning. It fits into the central horizontal hole in the front.

I gather the Richings had heard of my recent transfer from the Bristol Work Study crowd. Notley was at Bristol last week and gathered a bit of information. It seems that Burt has gone to Euston. His post is being advertised (or redesignated) Productivity Assistant, and as the Bristol Division now takes in Worcester, Baynton-Hughes is fancied for the job. Mann – Work Study Section Leader Bristol – does not like the look of the way things are going and has applied for one of the O&M jobs at Paddington General Manager’s office. Three were advertised at at the same level as my present job. He may be lucky as the sitting tenants are far too junior. Highest rating among the ranks there at the moment I think is “B”.

Amusing about the perks being stopped officially. I did not think much of the practise, and had a do with Woodward on one occasion about it. However, I feel the gifts, despite the obvious intention behind them sometimes, are personal ones, and nothing to do with the Bristol management. If I were in Richings’ place I would take no notice.

June has not been out in the car yet but as we are all going to Sunday School this afternoon, she may elect to drive there.

By the way re: the mag, I must take it back to the office for dispatch from there as we have no large envelopes this end. Shall have to lay in a stock. I was going to do so last week, but was off for a couple of days – at letter dispatch time – and it did not get done.

We heard the screech of brakes when in Ruislip Manor yesterday and saw a Triumph Herald just managed to avoid running into the back of a learner who had stopped suddenly at zebra crossing by the Car Park. We were just walking down from the car park and it was quite a sickening noise. I blame the man in the back car A) for not expecting that sort of thing from a learner, and B) for going too fast anyway. I am surprised that Bushell goes out so often alone in his car. He must be fed up with it by now. The sooner he passes his test the better.

We understand the builders have started on number 17 already. It seems that as soon as they started hammering, part of the wall between the kitchen and the scullery fell down. I expect you know which rooms I mean. Nothing further about number 155, but presumably everything still all right as the date for removal has been fixed for some time.

Made some enquiries as to wines on the Eastern Region and at first was told that no special arrangements operated. Later I found that one of the lecturers in the Work Study School gets some. Shall probably make use of this facility another year.

There have been no further losses in the succulent field. No sign of budding from the Christmas cactus but I think it is too small.

We did not do too badly with our visitors last Sunday afternoon. We had given them up when they arrived at 4:30 p.m. I was thinking that it was only an evil postponed for another time when a knock came at the door. By this time of course June had the dining room all laid out with the food etc. The children were a little better behaved than last time but ours needed a prod or two to to keep them in order. June put the girls to bed about 7-00p.m. but our guests and their children stayed for much longer. I forget what time they eventually did go, but it was in the region of 9-00p.m.. We had showing the pictures on the wall of course. This is now a staple diet of entertainment. Have not taken any more pictures of course.

We are feeling the benefit of the new fire all right. So far we have not had it on full despite the very cold weather last week. When things are a bit chilly we put the gas up to three quarters, and it is surprising what a difference it quickly makes.

Note you have been able to get out and about on the garden. It must have rained here in the night as there are pools of water on the concrete outside the window. June has the apples stored somewhere and I must enquire as to their state. Note the horse will be back shortly. He will clip the grass and hedges down a bit for you. It is certainly early for such cold weather as we had last week, there is every the indication of more to come. The sun to belie my words is trying to shine now. This can only mean fog.

Did not notice there was a football match on last Wednesday, but when we put the T.V. on to get the children’s programme we noticed the change of programme. I did not switch off!!!

Hope mum managed to bring home some soup from the T.G. this week – more appropriate than ice cream.

Well our little armchairs arrived first thing yesterday – before breakfast things cleared away. Did not have an awful long time trying them out as other things on the go but they feel very comfortable, and I’m sure they will get good use. It being wet and miserable after we got back from early shopping yesterday I got June to give me a hand, and we got most of my spare timber up into the loft where we started to lay a floor. The trouble in the loft is is that the joists are all at different levels, and the support beams keep getting in the way of your head. Did not make an awful lot of progress at first as had to get a piece of 4 x 2 to make up joist level for the main flooring. This was obtained in the afternoon plus a supply of two inch nails so as we get more boards we can drop them in position. Our greatest need at the moment is an easy means of access to the loft without bringing in the big ladder. Our steps are too low for regular use although I have done a trapeze act on them before now to get into the loft. I have some wood from a former fence that is quite strong enough to stand walking upon and this is being cut into length of approximately 2 ft to cross to neighbouring joists. The main floor will be 1 inch flooring.

The succulent was not over-watered. The reverse is more likely to be the fact. As I am only giving them water at the rate of a few spoons for each week over-watering definitely is out.

The children have been in here with me writing and doing their letters so it looks as if you will get a good mail this week.

Well I will close now and pop up into loft to do a bit more. Hope you did not pick up any flu etc. from that cold spell. Hope also Mum’s cough has gone. I have one too – very irritating. I think I will give it a dose of wine.

Love from us all for now. 

Wednesday 21st November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 20th November, 1962]

Nothing much to report since yesterday except that the weather is colder in one sense, being raw and damp. Heels started to cut hedge alongside ours but soon gave up. He is very much in arrears owing to being away about six weeks in September and October.

Wonder how all your colds are today. Should take first opportunity Alec of having injection against flu. This early start to winter does not look very promising – may be wrong of course and hope I am but it certainly is early for such bad conditions.

Have just noticed there is a football match on T.V. this evening so you can guess where I shall be. Mum has gone to T.W.G. (No ice cream today.) Could hope it might be something hot.

Well no more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Hope colds will be gone by the time you write next.

Mum and Dad. 

Tuesday 20th November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for your letters and drawings from the girls received this morning usual post. Very sorry to hear you are suffering from colds and catarrh – hope they will soon clear up but the weather at the moment is not very helpful. It has been bitterly cold here for several days with the keen north-east wind coming in from the Bristol Channel accompanied at times with rain and sleet. We have not actually had snow but on Sunday we could see some had fallen on the Mendips. According to TV London had its coldest night on Saturday in November for ten years. The cold snap has come in too suddenly for people to get acclimatised to it. Mum and I keep in out of it as much as possible but have to get out most days for something or other.

You had rain on Sunday by your letter. We had rain and sleet early but this tailed off and we had to put up with the cold wind rest of day. Good job it was not the Parade Sunday – would have made a difference to the attendance. Anyhow we do hope you will be able to shake off those colds soon.

Regarding increases in salary as I understand the position you will receive a total increase of 9% over the salary operating prior to April 1st last which includes the 3% already being enjoyed.

Noted some of your geraniums have had a touch of frost – these plants take it quicker than anything else. Mum has already put ours away in greenhouse where I now have the heater on again. The outdoor chrysanths are over of course and dahlias. Gardens generally looking a bit of a mess now. Yes we are on the track of ‘Mr Chevins’ now. As stated previous latter we went into Weston last Thursday and called at a couple of places. Neither had the article on hand but Hillmans (who have showrooms just outside the railway goods yard) said they could get what we wanted within about a fortnight. They asked to hold the pamphlet for reference and would return it when they have the firebrick. These people were most obliging about the matter. Will report result in due course. We  did not do much running about in Weston but bought paper, paint etc. for sitting room. The paper had to be ordered so we shall pick it up later.

Got home about 12:45 p.m. when Mum prepared dinner and we settled down for the afternoon. At 4:15 p.m. ratatat at the door. Mr and Mrs Richings had arrived from Weston unexpectedly. Fortunately mum had bought a cake at Weston which could be put on the table but we did not tell them that we had been to Weston that morning or that the cake was bought there. They stopped until about 7:30 p.m. First time we had seen them since August. Now we have to go down there this coming Thursday when incidentally we can pick up the paper ordered last week. One of the Bristol Work Study staff had told him of your move to Liverpool Street and they were of course interested in all the news of all of you. Michael and his wife have a flat at Reading and he drives an old van to his school at a village outside Reading. Apparently he has learnt to drive and passed test first time otherwise his wife would have had to drive him there daily before starting her work at the University library and of course fetching him in the late afternoon.

Richings tells me they have received a circular from Bristol telling them they must not in future accept gifts from traders at Christmas or at any other time and where they have been in the habit of receiving such gifts they must contact the firm or firms and discreetly inform them of the ruling. Moreover no Christmas cards will be issued by the various departments as hitherto. It is also now Western Railway and not Western Region. Wonder if there has been any such direction from the E.R. management?

Yes that was a lovely incident of Susan and her school teacher. Not many of the latter would have played ball with her like that. Carol too had a lovely time and looking forward to her own schooldays. Better this way than some I can remember when mothers had to drag crying children to school. Can remember this from my own schooldays seeing other boys and girls being dragged along and getting a hiding along with it en route.

Glad to hear June has renewed driving licence – keep off icy roads June. The trouble comes when you put brakes on too quickly. Have had some of this myself on the top of Failand early mornings when en route to Bristol. Fortunately for me there has been no other traffic about. I’m sure though you want to get on with it so that you can get around the local district for shopping and the school. Our neighbour (Bushell) is still risking his neck by going out on his own quite often. The police will I’m afraid catch up with him one day.

Noted no more news of number 17 Eccleston Road but that the auditor has called at number 155 High Street.

Expect you would have heard by now if the E.R. sell off their spirits and wine at Christmas. Incidentally I wonder if the W.R. have not stopped this along with the other  recent restrictions. Nice for Pauline to be able to get a bottle at reduced cost. Makes a difference sometimes whether you have one or two bottles.

Yes I too could see Ted Caple stuttering et cetera when tackling the offending motorist. It is an offence to cross the double white line under any circumstances and the police will prosecute anyone caught doing so. I have seen reports of such cases in papers from time to time. A couple of years ago when coming back from Ruislip via the A40 a motorist passed two or three cars (by crossing the double white line) on the Oxford bypass but at this point there is a mobile police cabin and the policeman on duty spotted him and immediately rushed out of his cabin and stopped him. Two or three cars following (including us) then pulled up because we could not pass the individual being questioned without crossing the double white line. Another policeman then came out and waved us by. We never saw the other motorist again.

Sorry to hear you have lost one of your succulents. Must see if can replace later. Mrs Richings brought Mum up one or two on Thursday including another bridal-wreath the original of which we lost by the frost last winter.

Decorating after New Year’s Eve certainly – could not tackle that before. Hope it is warmer then than now. Mum’s Christmas cacti are beginning to show signs of flowering – a very small red tip at the end of the leaves.

Buses still run from the Old Church but all run direct to The Triangle so if we want to go to Hill Road it means walking to Wilcox’s Garage. It is a silly arrangement and I hear it may be altered. Certain of the Bristol double-deckers now run  right through to the Old Church and thence back to Bristol.

Thank you in anticipation of the E.R. magazine and reasons noted for non-receipt this week. I let Pope (St Andrews Drive) see the October one because he has met Vincent who was mentioned in the mag as having been transferred from the E.R. to Bristol W.R. Accountancy Dept. Pope is the man finishing up on December 1st. The latest increase would not affect his superannuation because the average would not be affected in a period of 40 years.

Yes the plots of land around this district are for houses only and the two for the quarry site will I think be looking straight down Tennyson Avenue – some outlook!

Wonder how you got on on Sunday afternoon with your visitors? Expect you would rather have been on your own with the colds you all had. It generally happens that way though. Hope the children were on their best behaviour. With this weather you are having the benefit of your new gas fireplace. I take it first impressions have been confirmed. It was certainly doing its job when we were there.

Well I seem to have exhausted most of the news again. We had a couple of nice days here last week that I pulled up all the runner beans sticks and stripped off the haulms. Since then I have sown three boxes of sweet pea seed in greenhouse and I noticed a box of lettuce sown several weeks ago is now showing through. Have picked up two or three more hampers of Bramley Seedling apples and stored them in garage. Incidentally have you examined the Blenheim Orange apple since we left? We are eating some of ours and they are lovely. Should  however keep until Christmas if you prefer them then.

Norman Baker is coming along this week to put fence right for the horse to come back. Will do good if he will eat out the thickest part of grass for a week or two.

[Continued on Wednesday 21st November, 1962]

Sunday 18th November 1962 to

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

[Incomplete letter, first page missing] Alec to his parents:

Good for old Ted Caple. I can imagine him tackling the chap in the restaurant spitting and sputtering, and generally tearing off a strip. I am sure the culprit now wishes he had accepted the rebuke and let Caple go on his way. There are a number of motorists who overtake on the double white lines. As far as I can see most of them in the faster cars do it. They expect their superior speed to get them out of trouble. I do not know if the police have made any prosecutions for that particular offence.

I think you are wise not to do your decorating until after Christmas. I take it this will mean after New Year’s Eve as well.

I lost one of my succulents last weekend. It is one like I gave you in the big pot. It is a very watery type of plant and I think that it got very dry up on the pelmet. It eventually heeled over and flopped down the side of the pot. I give all the cacti about a teaspoonful of water each week, but the succulents a lot more. The Xmas cactus also gets a good drop.

Is there a bus which now runs to the West End. I note you cannot get to the Six Ways by direct bus. Quite like the old times when the nearest was at Wilcox Garage. Whatever do double deckers want to get out your way for. Presumably if there are two passengers and one is a non-smoker all tastes are catered for.

I suppose the plots of land in the quarry and by the church are all private houses. It would be bad luck if someone stuck a factory down at the end of the Avenue. That would make old Mogg sit up.

I am afraid there is not a lot of original news from this end either this week. We are expecting some friends of June to call this afternoon to see us, but with the colds about they will be a bit of a strain. Two children are involved, and they are not particularly well behaved. Hope as they grow older they will be a little less exuberant.

We only nipped out to the shops yesterday for half an hour or so and were back inside in the warm.

Well there it is for now. Hope you are both now fit and keeping in the warm. Love from us all.

Wednesday 14th of November

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Leonard to the family (continued from Tuesday 13th November):

Continuing from yesterday have now finished off the runner bean sticks off the second row and leave them up against the hedge to dry off. Not such a nice day – no sun – but very warm around midday. Have now decided to go to Weston Thursday when shall try and get fire brick. Also have to get paper, paint etc. for sitting room although operations have been postponed until after Christmas.

A letter from Geoff this morning says the 6% increase is to be based on salaries and wages that were in operation before the last 3% rise. The B.T.C.C. save a few pounds by this arrangement. It seems that the 9% rise from the two Awards is calculated from the previous rates of pay. Anyhow I do not suppose anybody is going to make a fuss about that. Very pleased to see the Fords management are sticking to their guns and will not re-employ the 70 troublemakers.

Any further progress at number 17 Eccleston Road yet? Hope both Mr and Mrs Baker are keeping alright these days also Peter* and Pauline – sorry we did not see any of them on our last visit but time was rather short. Perhaps next visit we may see them at Eccleston Road.

Geoff sent on the usual wine list for us to have a go at for Christmas. Does E.R. do the same as W.R. in this respect? Quite a saving by getting a few bottles from that source.

Ted Caple told me the other day he had had a bit of fun with another motorist in the Stroud area. Apparently this other individual passed Caple by crossing a double white line on a bend and later on the journey he caught up with him at some restaurant and tackled him about it. The man whose wife was with him poo-pooed the incident so Caple said he would report him. He did so and after some weeks had a reply from the police thanking him for his public spirited action and saying they had interviewed the man traced by the car number who had denied the occurrence and was supported by his wife in the denial.  Police said they felt the man was in the wrong by the way his wife gave her information but it was not considered desirable to prosecute. The police finished up by saying that they thought the action taken would prevent another case arising by this individual. As a matter of fact some individual passed us over the double white line on our way back from Ruislip a fortnight ago but he was going so fast did not even get his number. He was lucky as there was nothing coming in the opposite direction at the time but there well could have been.

Well I think this is about the lot once more. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for our two dear little girls.

Mum and Dad. 

*In the course of preparing this blog post we learned of the death of Peter Baker on 1 March 2021 – yes, it took eighteen months to get this information. Peter was the last family member of his generation.

Tuesday 13th November, 1962

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Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Well here we are again with another week gone and your letter duly received this morning – many thanks for same and a budget of news. Weather not bad here Saturday and Sunday – sunny at times but inclined to be raw and cold. It was fine for the annual 11th November Parade and you will remember many in the past have been very wet.

Noted you had a shopping expedition to Harrow – not spending the 6% already I should hope. By the way I hear that the three months’ arrears on the last increase has now been agreed for the ‘Out of Categories’. Of the latest Awards someone living in St Andrews Drive and in the first stage of Out of Category at Bristol District Office is very fortunate as he retires on December 1st. Will get the extra on his gratuity but no help for superannuation. If negotiations had been a long-drawn-out and a decision not reached for a month or two and then the award only agreed say as from the 1st of January he would have been right out of it.

Your remarks noted re: your old neighbour you are probably correct in regard to his movements but it gives him an opportunity to look into see you all now and again.

Yes the raising of your grass levels must make a big difference to the drainage of rainwater and also keep your plot fairly dry underfoot. Ours seems to soak away all right except during continuous spells of rain when as you know there is an accumulation in the gullies in the field. The pond has a drop of water in it still but this will disappear unless we get more rain soon. These last two days have been lovely. A sharp white frost Monday morning and a lesser one this morning with two sunny and warm days helping the autumn along as you say. I agree this is the really dreary time of year but once get past the shortest day everybody looks forward to the spring although it is still then some way off. Glad you are keeping free of some of the fog – this is the worst condition of the lot.

Fancy the girls not liking Mummy having an evening out without them. Interesting to read your version of the firework display. We are glad they enjoyed themselves. We had some good times here back along down in the field with a big bonfire as well and all the children – or most of them – from the Avenue in to share the fun.

The trouble on the promenade on the Fifth resulted in £70 worth of damage as you will see on front page of ‘Mercury’ this week. Nobody actually caught at it consequently the cost will go go on the rates. The Teddy Boys have caused trouble in Clevedon before. They come from Bristol but since the Saturday night dances have been cancelled it has kept some of the rough element away.

Thanks for leaflet re: Chevin fire grate. We have tried two other places or rather visited two of the previous places again but still without result and must try in Weston when we go in. Did not go there yesterday as anticipated but went round the town again. Thank you for rescuing the broken pieces of the firebrick June. We may be glad of them yet. Pity to light fire without the protection of firebrick. We have a loose lever we think will do for the handling of the various pieces when hot – proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Thought you would be interested in the cutting from paper re: screens for use in connection with projectors. Your pictures were quite satisfactory on the light-coloured wall but whether there would be an improvement with the screen could only be proved by using one. The cutting may however be useful for reference.

What a disgraceful affair on the 9.05 a.m. Paddington. As you say it would never have happened years ago* but nowadays anything can happen at any time anywhere. Such things take weeks of planning by the men concerned but in this case they had overlooked the ganger walking the line. Other arrangements will now be made for paying out wages etc. but whatever they are the clever ones will get round it somehow.

Quite understand you may not be able to come down on a Friday next month but Saturday the 15th prox. allright so far as we are concerned. Let us know in due course time of arrival Yatton and I will meet train. Your E.R. magazine for October quite good and is now going around down here before letting Don have it later.

Yes our T.V. set give us a number of minor troubles but we use it very extensively – most nights from about 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. continuously and sometimes in the afternoon as well so I think we get our money’s worth out of it. The egg-shaped picture we were getting after the visit last Monday I put right myself by opening up the back and trying a knob or two. Fortunately it worked and we are back to normal again.

Mum did very well at Wall’s ice cream depot in Gloucester and I had more ice cream and I should have had at one sitting – couldn’t waste it. (No fridge at ‘Devonia’).

What a delightful story of Susan and her teacher. I am sure the latter had as much a kick out of it as did Susan and Carol. No wonder Carol wanted to stop with all those nice things to see and play with. Should like to have seen Susan’s face when she read the reply from teacher. What will she think of next? Her brain is very active.

As you know apart from odd jobs in the garage and greenhouse I have not done much here for several weeks but the weather these last couple of days has helped me to get outdoors and today I pulled up the first row of runner bean haulms and stored sticks, what remained of them. After dinner I started on the second row but sun weakened and a bit of a northeast wind arose so I cleared off into greenhouse until about 3 p.m. when I packed up for the day. A few days of this will soon see a difference. A letter from Don says he put in his broad beans on the 21st ulto. but they are not up yet. From what I can hear both Heel and Cornish have got theirs in also.

Re: grate again I have not fixed it to half and do not intend to do so as I think it will be quite alright as it is – must wait and see.

Our next door neighbour (Bushell) still busy on his verandah etc. but I suspect he goes out occasionally in his car on his own without L plates attached. He will do it once too often I’m afraid. Have not heard when he takes next test. Have you had any more driving June? Not very nice weather for it really at this time of year.

[Letter continues Wednesday 14th November, 1962.]

*Leonard is completely wrong here. Not only would it have happened years ago, but it also did. In fact – although Leonard’s details are rather sketchy – from what we know there are distinct similarities to the very first such murder on the railways in England almost a hundred years before. The notion that people were nicer to each other in the past is a completely false one usually arising in people who have had relatively privileged upbringings – which Leonard, despite his father’s disadvantaged start in life, did have.

Sunday 11th November, 1962

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1962 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for your letters duly received Friday. Sorry you had a late letter last week. Must ask the postwoman this end what happened.

You talk about rain, but we have had our share of it this weekend. Yesterday it was very overcast all day, and when not actually raining there seems to be rain in the wind. We went to Harrow on a shopping spree. It was very wet over there all the time and we were glad to get back home. Glad you have been able to do a little work in the garage. I assume that you are both pretty well recovered from your cold/flu.

I do not know what Eric Benn has to come to London for. I think that generally they work in their own regions, but when there is a lot of work about they probably ensure that the biggest and most important jobs are covered by the senior men, and step up the junior men in the regions to take charge (temporarily) of the lesser work.

As you say I imagine that all your tanks have had a filling or two during the last week or so. Pity you have no vast storage area, as all this water which goes to waste in the winter could well be required in the summer. In a garden the size of ours we are well rid of it. In fact now, the water does not lie about at all. With the elevation sometime previously of the left-hand lawn, and the recent elevation of the right hand lawn (bracket in the back garden), anything that falls goes straight through. There is only one patch where water tends to collect, and that is under the swing where the girls have scraped the turf away and compressed the earth beneath. As I look out of the window into the garden it is a miserable outlook this morning. The wind is blowing the leaves about all over the lawns, the grass of which is now very long. If unchecked it will hide an elephant by the spring. All the plants seem to be growing fairly well though.

Talking about whether I suppose we have nothing really to complain about as the days are ticking away and we have had no bad weather to speak of. Even fog has left us alone for awhile. I suppose if you look at it this way there are only six weeks to the shortest day. This to me is always a depressing time of the year, but this year by virtue of the better weather is less depressing than most.

When June has an evening out (which is seldom) I always get ructions from the girls. They are so used to being taken out with Mummy every time Mummy goes out that they cannot understand it when she wants to go out on her own. I can usually sort them out however.

It is certainly amazing how Susan took to her glasses. I am afraid she has now got to the stage of putting them down anywhere, and is too lazy to go and find them before she starts to read again.

We had the usual firework display this end. Auntie Pauline was here on the Monday and when I came up the road they were all watching the fire on the field which had been lit sometime earlier. While I was having my tea they let a few of their fireworks off in the field, but it got a bit congested and the fire died down early so we finished off in our own garden. One thing about letting them off in the field is that the usual after Firework Night debris is missing from the garden.* The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and Carol was quite excited.

Bad about the Teddy Boys on the prom. Do you get much trouble with them? Yes I thought the wine good. Will have to try some again later on. I may go to local doctor for flu injection but the E.R. do not give injections. I have dropped a hint or two but nothing so far done.

Sorry you are having trouble with the fire brick. If you cannot get one let us know and we will see what can be done this end. In any case June has collected up the three pieces of the old fire brick which you can have (at a convenient time) either as a pattern, or for use. I am enclosing the makers’ pamphlet which you should keep. We did not have the little lever for lifting the ash pit front as shown in the instructions. It was not left to us by the previous owner. You may have one or may like to get one to save fingers getting burnt. We should have got one, as using the fingers one has to be a bit slippy, and in so doing, we often knocked the front off. As you might expect it is then out of the frying pan into the fire as the whole of the front gets very hot, and replacing is a longer job than adjusting. Incidentally I do not think that the exact size of the fire brick is critical. If you have one which is the approximate size it would probably do. Bit of luck it was an exact fit to the grate (fireplace). Mum used a bit of elbow grease then. I am glad it is going to be of some use. Have you fixed it in, or only placed in position?

Thank you for the cutting by the way. I wonder if this is all manufacturers’ propaganda? I would certainly like to try a screen to see if there is in fact any difference. We were advised by some friends to hang up a white sheet, but it was difficult to keep folds from appearing in it which distorted the picture. On the whole a slightly off-white/pink wall does very well.

What a game gardening in the bad weather. I can imagine you putting in the beans standing on a piece of board. What a difference from the conditions when normally lifting potatoes.

Shall have to fix up with you a date for me to come down just before Christmas. I am afraid it will not be a Friday this time, but probably a Saturday. At first thoughts, Saturday December 15th might be the best from my point of view, but will confirm. How does that date suit you?

Bill Raine can hardly be called a novice now that he has won the prize for two years running. He has obviously found the right stuff to feed his plants on. Why not try some for your tomatoes and beans?

Note the news regarding your neighbours and their activities. Your set seems to be giving you an awful lot of minor troubles. Does Bell still do any servicing, or does he send one of the men round? I believe a chap by the name of Fortune came once.

Good news of the 6% rise. We may even get it ourselves although my immediate chief, Cook, said he would believe it when he saw it. It appears they were most reluctant to give us the last one.

Hi-jinks on the 9:05 a.m. Paddington in the week then. You never know these days where you are going to be coshed and in what walk of life. I do not expect the guard thought that was how his day would end. It seems the thieves are getting bolder than ever. A raid of that nature would have been unthinkable twenty or thirty years ago. The thieves were obviously well informed and equipped with working timetables (hinted at in the Press) but as so often happens the unexpected put paid to their chances.**

So Dad has had his ice cream then. I have seen Walls factory in Acton. In fact there are two some distance apart. One deals with the meat side, bacon, sausages etc., and the other the ice cream. They are both at North Acton, and only a stone’s throw from Old Oak Common Yard.

But referring again to Mom’s letter, I am glad the fireplace looks good in your front room. Bronze does not always go with any colour scheme. You will find if you set it for all night burning that it will keep going all night, but of course little heat is given out under those conditions and do not expect to find the room warm when you get down.

By the way, another Susanism. The week she wrote a letter to her school teacher Miss Smith. She asked her sister Carol could come to school. We did not see the letter, but we did see the reply she got (all very correct and formal) to the effect that if she brought her around at 1:30 p.m. on Friday she could stop until 1:45 p.m. provided Mummy collected her then. When June went and at 1:45 p.m. she did not want to come away, and kept going back. It seems she covered a lot of ground in that 15 minutes. She saw Miss Dix the headmistress, and the Wendy House, and the Sweet Shop, and all the things that Susan had told her about. She was also allowed to sit with the class for a short while before coming home. She has an invitation to come again and stop a bit longer. The teacher told June that she had been very good, and they seemed pleased with her. Of course it will not be long now before she will be going anyway.

Well there it is for the time being. I have no further news of any note so will close. Hope you are both well as we are this end. Love from us all.

*And he has the brass neck to call me lazy! What an imposition, to have to clear up after something which only happens once a year and makes your children happy! Good job he didn’t have to do the washing-up after Christmas lunch or we’d never have heard the last of it!

**Unfortunately I’ve been unable to pin this reference down as it happened so close to the date of the ‘Great Train Robbery’ in 1963 that all search results are completely swamped by that. I would have to make an individual search of newspaper archives by date, and unfortunately I haven’t got either the time or the energy to do that at the moment.