Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for all your letters including one from Susan and a drawing from Carol. Very glad to hear that so far June’s mother is going on alright. They did not keep her long before operating and we hope you will be able to give us good news next letter. There is bound to be a little anxiety immediately following the operation but by the time you write again Mrs Baker should be feeling much better. Thanks too for information re Sharon and we hope she too is going on satisfactory now.

Last Sunday’s weather here was dull to rain during morning and afternoon but about 6 p.m. the heavens opened up with heavy rain, thunder and lightning which continued for about half an hour. Today it has been a soaker – started raining about 8 a.m. and kept on continuously until about 3 p.m. Consequently I was not able to continue putting out vegetable plants which I managed practically all day Monday. Anyhow the slugs are busy and I’ve had to get some more Slug-It.

Not very long now before we shall be on our way. having mind to travel via Chippenham Marlborough to beginning of Slough where I see I can turn left and go through Farnham Royal, thence Stoke Poges and across to junction of A40 and Western Avenue. Have asked AA to give me detailed routing. Incidentally please do not get dinner for us June – Mum says we will stop en route at some suitable place and call in for a lunch so I should imagine we might be arriving 84 either just before or after 2.00 p.m. If June is out (query driving lesson) we will wait until her return.

Glad to hear she has had four lessons already but it certainly is unfortunate your car is off the road just at the moment when the little additional driving practise would help. Assume you were not able to do anything to car over the weekend due to visit of June’s Aunt and Uncle from Westcliffe. Hope they had a good journey and enjoyed their visit and were able to return home satisfied that Mrs Baker was going alright. You have told me before what the distance is from Westcliffe but I have forgotten*.

Glad to hear also that you have been able to get some sleep again – a few broken nights soon upset the system and make life miserable. Mr Palmer seems to be getting on well – was at church morning and evening on Sunday but the Curate it is still very ill and I see his resignation is referred to in this next month’s magazine.

Your details of car dismantling amazes me. I should never get it back again in position. Still I expect Peter knows a bit about cars and as you mention can get further advice locally. Can keep cost of running repairs down – like anyone doing their own house decorations. Note you have been collecting more rubble from field and that the raising of the lawn is nearing completion. Is it any good bringing up a bit of rubble? By the way so far as plants etc. for your neighbour is concerned it occurs to me the better arrangement would be for you to take anything down from here when you visit them whilst on holiday. The stuff would be fresher, would not be subject to a second moving and would obviate the transit between here and Ruislip and thence to Weston. Let me know next letter as there will still be time to bring it up if that is considered the best arrangement.

Noted the Esther Reeds are growing – they will give you a good show later. Also note your comments re dahlias. Have not put them out yet – still a risk of frost. Actually 4 degrees were registered in Clevedon last Wednesday but we escaped. A letter from Don yesterday said they had two white frosts last week but his garden (walled in as you know) escaped. It would be very serious now if frost came but I think we are turning into the warmer weather at last. Today’s rain is from the southwest and temperature much higher.

So far as pond is concerned I’ve not been able to do anything yet as the concrete keeps wet. I saw Joe Reed last week near the church and he has a pond with fish so asked him if ever he had a leak there and he said yes he had and a friend had advised him to use Snow Foam to seal it. This he did and never had any more trouble. I think I shall try this before using the bitumen. At the moment we are using the water in the deep part for water and garden plants when necessary – not just at the moment though with this rain.

The horse has not arrived back yet and I’ve told Norman Baker to hold off now until after Whitsun because there will be no one here to look after it. The Caples started off for Norway today and Roy and Mrs Hewitt go on Friday. We travel on Thursday the 7th prox. Had a knock on the door about 7 p.m. Friday and that was the Hewitts. It was going on for 9 p.m. when they left with our blessing. Aston came round this morning. Said he knew he would find me in greenhouse as it was raining. Had a natter for an hour and he departed with about 25 Primo cabbage plants which he said would go in today rain or no rain.

Don also said in his letter that he had heard recently that parcels traffic had been piled verandah high at Temple Meads** owing to some new working being introduced which the staff did not like. Passenger guards passing through had told him but understand all in order now. Have you heard anything of this? Also had letter from Jeff in which he told us to Sarah has not been successful in the 11-plus exam but perhaps you have already heard this. Frankly I thought this exam had been dispensed with in Middlesex. Perhaps it has and the place is awarded by the general class work.

Mum’s birthday passed off alright – we had a drop of Graves wine for dinner and a sherry in the evening (after the thunder). So far as homemade wine concerned the grape is a bit thin but quite tasty. I’m not bringing any of that up so you must pass opinion later when you are here. Have put aside to bring three bottles of blackberry, two of elderberry (1961) and one of blackcurrant/rhubarb. Latter very sharp and will require sugar. At the moment I am using a bottle of cherry and that is a bit sharp.

It was bitterly cold here last Saturday – north east wind – but I dug quite a lot of ground – had to keep my coat on all day. So far have put in 88 Primo’s and 33 Brussels sprouts in addition to about two dozen put in a month ago. May be able to bring up a few lettuces to eat next week. I’m bringing them on in greenhouse. We shall of course leave the kitchen sink here.

There has been no more work on the house opposite (Miss Weekes’ old) this week and our neighbour (Bushell) was unable to start the wall over the weekend having to wait his turn to get the concrete blocks. Quite a call for them so in effect he has to queue up.

We looked in to the Coventry Cathedral service and it was certainly impressive. Have no idea how far Coventry is from here*** but we should both like to see the cathedral sometime but think the best way would be to go with a coach party when run is advertised. Expect the coach people will be alive to this before long. Must ask Heel, our other neighbour, he used to live in that area before coming to Clevedon.

Have not seen Cornish this week – must be still taking his bath. Since the seawall has been widened the motorbike lads have been having a grand time at weekends riding along the top full out. Some of the bikes are not licensed and they bring them along on lorries and unload at site. The noise has been fairly bad but now some of the people living in st. Andrews Drive have put the police on their track and all is quiet once more.

Mum is out this evening delivering the June church magazine in the Westbourne Avenue and Knowles Road areas. The rain fortunately has almost stopped so she will get round in the dry. (Just looked out and it is raining again.) We went up to printer’s this afternoon to fetch magazines and saw there were three or four coaches in the parks. What a day for visitors especially in this place. Last Saturday it was so cold at 7 p.m. that it was a case of lighting a fire or going to bed. We little fire and we’re glad of the warmth. Good job you are not at Exmouth now – much worse than last year. Had a card from the Staceys who are in Jersey on annual holiday where I believe the weather is just as bad. Must be the spacemen upsetting the atmospherics.****

You have not mentioned your neck recently so presumably it is about the same and will eventually mean having the necessary attention. A bit of a nuisance but much the best to have it dealt with.

If your neighbours’ new place is on the Weston side of Sand Bay I assume you would get to it by taking the Sand Bay Road this side of Worle as we did when we went to Sand Bay.

Wednesday 30th of May

It was a frost this morning but our garden escaped. Another, harder one, forecast for tonight so hope we escape again. It has been a glorious day – sunny and very hot – and we have been out in the garden all the time. Put framework up to carry netting over strawberries during the morning and put out 33 early broccoli plants. Roy and Mrs Hewitt called round about 6 p.m. for a few minutes and I gave them some Primo plants to get in before they start their journey abroad on Friday. If only this weather will keep up now for a few weeks we shall have a fine holiday. The ground dried out very quickly after yesterday’s rain and was really hard on top when I got at it this afternoon.

Well I seem to have run out of news at the moment but unless you hear to the contrary we shall be on the move next Thursday the 7th of June en route for yours and we are both looking forward very much to seeing you all and enjoying a few days at Ruislip .

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad. 

*Rome2Rio makes it about 60 miles with the present-day road layout.

**I must admit this puzzles me a bit as a verandah should be on the ground, so let’s assume he means a balcony. That being the case, he may be referring to what later became a pub (or licensed tea room) on the main platform, which at one point had a mezzanine level. I’ll make some further enquiries and see if I can fathom this out.

***Rome2Rio suggests just over 100 miles with the 2022 road layout.

****This would be a reference to Scott Carpenter’s flight in Aurora-7 on 24 May 1962.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

I have enclosed a letter for Mum to supplement the card which should have arrived before the 27th. We will keep the present for her until your visit. Thank you both for this week’s letter – very full and newsy. We have as yet heard nothing more about Sharon and I enquired of Delph yesterday and she had no more news either. Although the weather was bad last Monday with copious quantities of rain we managed to keep fairly dry at the cemetery as we had a dry spell at that time. As you say the expected happened with Aunt Eda, but as always most of us were unprepared for it. I feel rather sorry for the poor old lady of 81 who had only recently taken up residence with her, having giving up her job in Eastbourne. It appeared she wished to live near her daughter. Now I suppose she will have to make other arrangements.

Sharon is a very highly strung child, very intelligent, with an active brain, and for some time she had been having medical attention for insomnia. It was the practise for Iris to keep both children up very late, and I do not know if this was cause or effect. The latest business however is obviously not connected.

Glad you liked the letter from Susan. She dished a few out this time, saves Dad from having to do the thank you letters. I expect you will find them larger and more mischievous, but I think they have remained very much the same in appearance since last year. Perhaps I cannot see the difference.

As you say there is always something more to be done with property. If it is all attempted at once, however, it becomes a financial drain. I suppose the next stage after getting the place the way it Is wanted is to have the same thing only different, or somewhere else.

We have had some good nights recently so have been able to recharge the batteries so to speak. Had a go at your grape wine and found it a bit thin. I do not know if it tastes any different from your own brewed and bottled variety. It looked a faint pink in the glass, and gave off a number of minute bubbles.

As I write the skies are opening and the rain lashing down. It wants a windscreen wiper on the French windows so that we can see out into the garden.

Not much change out of your trip to Weston then – too cold for sunbathing. Glad Mr Palmer has been able to get round although you had to give him a lift home. Also he manages to get to church which is good progress.

So far as the car is concerned, it is still under repair. It is at 155 with the cylinder head off and the sump off and one piston out. So far we have found no bad trouble. The bearings are a bit loose but as yet I do not know if that is significant or if it is due to wear of the bearings or of the linings. As far as my unprofessional eye can see there is no wear in either. The piston rings also seemed in good nick. There is no sign of uneven wear, and they looked to be as new. Peter is getting some professional advice about them from the garage there today, but my guess is that we shall put it all back together again as it is. Not be sorry as I have had enough for one.

June has had four lessons now, and feels a lot more confident about driving. The teacher says she should be getting lots of practise on our car. Just right is it not that it should be out of commission.

I have had another go at collecting rubble from the field and we now have a few feet to do do now. Should have asked you to bring a trailer load of pebbles back from the beach to finish off. You might as well plant out your dahlias and increased them. When we get round to it we will get some new varieties. The Esther Reeds are growing well so no fear on that score.

Last I heard of our neighbours they had in mind a bungalow on the Weston side of Sand Bay. What the latest position is now I would not know. I gather they will take anything in the way of shrubs, perennials etc. etc I expect it is just a question of getting something in the ground to stop it looking bare.

We well recall this date last year. I can see the picture of our arrival at Wincanton in my mind easily. Weather about the same, with frost at night (Saturday) and rain today.

Crane is still at Southall and a proper washout. He is always grumbling. I have not seen him for some time but I gather he has little enthusiasm.

Your neighbours’ wall will be a great improvement on the old as I recall it it was leaning badly. It was built over the line of an old gully or stream as I remember. Some activity opposite obviously. As few of the houses in the Avenue were built with garages or even garage space this is no doubt a handicap when selling. Newcomers have to build their own if they want them.

Some progress with the pond then. It looks as though you are determined to get the leak stopped for good and all this time. Will the bitumen harm the fish? Gardening news very interesting too. All you want now is some good sunshine in the day with a modicum of rain at night.

Well I must curtail this letter as we are expecting our guests any minute now. They will have started off from Westcliff at their usual early hour no doubt and as it is turned 11 a.m. and knock at anytime would not surprise me.

So there it is again. We may squeeze another letter in before your arrival, but your next will be the last before you come up so perhaps you will give estimated time of arrival here and details of the route.

Love from us all for now.

Alec to his mother:

Dear Mum

A special letter for you today to follow the card in aid of your birthday. Hope you are not feeling too young and giddy so that you reduce dad’s stocks of wine. We will keep your present to hand to you when you come up next week. For some reason both June and I have been missing a week out – we thought Whitsun was this coming week, and had been talking in those terms for some time. In fact our efforts to get straight one week in advance as it were has given us a week to spare. Good job too, as with the car out of action and visits to the hospital etc. to be fixed we can do with a spare day or two.

We are certainly all looking forward to your visit and hope the weather bucks up a bit. The only thing that can be said for it at the moment is that it is making the grass grow. I do not mind that just now with a lawn in the making. So far as the rest is concerned, one mow per week easily keeps it in check.

You will be pleased to know that the girls are both well at the moment although the way they behave – taking their coats off etc. when in the garden – will lead to more colds soon I have no doubt.

We are expecting Aunt Bessie (Mrs Baker’s sister) and Uncle Jim for dinner. They are coming over from Westcliffe and after dinner will go to visit Mrs Baker at Hillingdon. The operation was on Friday at 8:40 a.m. of all times, and she was back in the ward by 1.00 p.m. although how much before we do not know. There were about 9 down for operation that morning, and she was the first to go in. We have Saturday’s report that she was as well as may be expected, and later when Granddad Baker and Pauline went over they said she was a bit weak and not fully over the immediate effects of the operation. We have not yet heard the results of yesterday’s visit.

It has been pelting with rain here all night and everything outside is stopping wet. We think that Eric and Dorothy are down your end this weekend as the car has gone and only the old lady left next door. They may however have gone to Coventry as Eric was there in the week to do the TV coverage.* He travelled to and from Coventry every day so it cannot be all that far by road.** I expect he used the M1 for part of the way. June wants to see the new cathedral. Cannot say it looks much like one though. Nobody came to see my garage when I put it up.

Well I will put the rest of the news in the main letter and will close this one wishing you happy returns of another birthday.

Love.

*This was of course the new Coventry Cathedral, built to replace the one destroyed by bombing during World War II.

**Consulting Rome2Rio suggests that this would nowadays be a journey of 95 miles/an hour and a half each way, although given the differences in both cars and the road network in the intevening sixty years maybe two hours each way would be more realistic. If the choice is between that and staying in a hotel – which no doubt would all have been booked solid at the time anyway – it’s hard to fault Eric’s decision. He may also have been giving a lift to a colleague and sharing the driving, which would make excellent sense.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol, 

Many thanks again for your long and newsy letter but we were both very sorry to hear of the death of Miss Baker. Will you please convey our sincere sympathy to Mr Baker in the loss of his sister. Your previous information in regards to Miss Baker’s health led us to think the end was not far away but it is always a shock when the inevitable happens. Iris too seems to get more than her share of trouble but we hope Sharon will soon be out and about again. She has youth on her side which makes all the difference. You will let us know how she progresses I’m sure. 

Now we did have a surprise on Monday morning when the postman called with a letter from Susan and needless to say we were delighted. We will thank her in our little letter to Susan and Carol. Where did Carol pick up that cold I wonder? What with Susan getting over a party and Carol having the cough you both must have been having a roaring time. Did you have to let Carol see doctor? Or did the cough eventually disappear? 

Susan up to her tricks again. My word what a girl but the invitations to her party must have been all make believe and she herself did not take them seriously but it was certainly a bit upsetting to some of the other little girls. Never mind she will grow older all too soon. Reading between the lines I think we are going to see a very big difference in both girls when we come up. Won’t be long now – a fortnight tomorrow (Thursday). 

Glad Susan had a good birthday in spite of the restrictions imposed because of previous misbehaviour. After all a birthday only comes once a year. 

Note the workmen have finished at 84 but that the foreman not yet satisfied. Sounds a bit like Oliver Twist. It is a fact though that you can always find something else that wants doing, especially when the property is your own. If it is somebody else’s then it does not matter so much. it’s just the same here although we have been here all but 34 years.

So the cherry and elderberry wines were not successful this time – Carol must be getting immune to them – have to try whisky next time. Some sleeping draught for Susan, poor child. Can understand neither of you up to the mark with so many disturbed nights but hope all’s well now. 

We have had some very nice days down here mixed unfortunately with some very cold ones which seemed to curl us up again. The winds have been most chilling but only on about two occasions have we had to put on the electric fire of an evening. Hot water bottle in bed – yes certainly on several nights and very much appreciated too. 

Yes I think you got away very well with your wallpapering charges and having regard to the fact you are away all day it was much better to get someone to do the job. 

We went to Weston last Thursday but the cold wind was blowing in from the sea and an overcoat was really necessary. We got in there about 9:40 a.m. but were home again by 11:20 a.m. It was much warmer here and I was able to work in garden for rest of day. Mr Palmer called here last Friday afternoon – said it was first time out – stopped for a couple of hours and then I drove him home. He’s obviously still very weak but strange to say he turned up at church on Sunday evening – somebody brought him and took him home by car. The other two, Mr Aston and Roy, were here together one morning but it was not far off dinner time so was able to dispose of them fairly soon. Roy and his wife now ready to start off for Norway on June 1st. 

Your detailed account of examination and work performed on car most interesting but rockers and rocker cover are all Dutch to me. If you can manage to do these jobs it will be well worthwhile but I do not know the first thing about repairs et cetera. Presumably car still at 155 waiting completion of work started last week. The charges made by garage people nowadays is fantastic. I told you I had to have a new rubber for one of the windscreen wipers on my car, the charge was 8/- and I reckon this was at least 5/- profit.*

So June has had two lessons up to time of writing. It is good to know she feels confident in traffic for as you say there is plenty of it your way. Thanks for information re turning off the A4 before passing through the thickest part of Slough – must try and work the root out or get the AA to provide. 

Yes well we were glad Moule got in for the West Ward – both the other contenders had only been associated with Clevedon for four years. Can’t learn much about a place in that time. At least knows where he is and what has passed in bygone years. 

Rockery plants, yes June we will have something to bring up and our list gets longer every day now. After receipt of your letter this morning mum got busy with pencil and paper and made out another list. By the way did the Esther Reeds pick up or is another root required? There are plenty here if you want another. Noted you do not require dahlias. I have managed to save about six cuttings of one but only two of the other sort. Will look round and see if can find anything suitable for your neighbours new garden. Assume they have decided on Weston but what part of Weston is the bungalow in? Have they had any luck in disposing of their house in Queens Walk? 

So Acton has simmered down a bit. Southall and Newbury next then. Is Crane still at Southall or has he finished? Understood he was going at sixty. Newbury of course is one of the London Divisions outposts.

The gale force wind played havoc with the apple blossom and thinned it out badly but we must hope for the best. There is always something to spoil things. Now we are on tenterhooks for frosts. Still time for them. Do you remember the frost on Saturday 27th May last year the day you made the journey from Ruislip to Exmouth? Our potatoes and runner beans are vulnerable as well as marrow plants etc. I noticed today the broad beans are beginning to form. Tomatoes too are forming on the plants I bought from Galliford in April.

Our new neighbour has dismantled his front wall ready for the erection of one to be built with concrete blocks which will be started this coming weekend. Incidentally work has been going on apace at Miss Weekes’ old house. A double entrance has been made and an asphalt drive in laid down leading to a concrete base for apparently a garage to be erected. No less than three big lorries have been in the Avenue all the week and piles of sand and chippings and a concrete mixer all dumped in the Avenue. Good job no one else wanted to do any work in this Avenue at the same time. 

Note no Sunday work unless authorised by McDonald. This used to be the rule many years ago but fell into disuse during the war when any and everybody worked as required by Head of Section. 

Just reaching your PS. It was very kind of Miss Baker to remember Susan and Carol who must I guess have been her two youngest relatives. 

Grapes did you say? From my gardening books I learn that the first picking should be about the third or fourth year after planting. The vine was a cutting given me by Mrs Cornish last year and is now growing fast. The Peach Tree I brought back from Headstone Lane last April twelvemonths is also growing but it will be a long time before any fruit comes on that one.

This week in garden has been interrupted by heavy rain but have managed to earth up the two lots of early potatoes and clean a lot of the ground of weeds – they seem to grow no matter what the weather. Have planted out some carnation plants (raised from seed – and we have some for you) in the oblong and round plots on the lawn and mum has also put in the same plots some stocks given me by a friend here. These borders are now tidy and planted for another season. I’m still dealing with the pond. Started on it the other day but down came the rain and I had to suspend operations as want the base perfectly dry before treating it with bitumen. There is water in the deep part but I’ve seen no sign of life all the winter. Should very much like to get the pond back into use again and will make an all [out] effort to do this as soon as concrete is dry. 

So Geoff getting fed up with the railway then. I expect his prospects are being shaken by the economy drive – so many highly graded men being made redundant and after all he has not all that long to go. Understand Bastin at Bristol has more or less been told he is redundant and I expect a number of others have heard similarly with the amalgamation of the Divisional and District Offices. Another rumour down here is that all members of staff will be asked to retire at sixty to help with the present position. 

I saw in the Bristol Evening paper a British Railways ‘working’ dinner had been held where key members of the local staff were told of further plans and their cooperation enlisted. Those present included Hanks, Raymond, Hart, C. Rust, the Parcels Agent, the Goods Agent and one of the Yard Masters. I suppose a good time was had by all.

Can easily manage ten tomato plants and it will be time for them to be put in around early June. If there is anything else you want us to bring up your next letter must let us know otherwise it will be too late. 

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

Mum and Dad

*In terms of 2022 currency this would be £9.50 with £6 profit.