Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you once again for the weekly letter. I am sorry that it was delayed this time, but June was unable to post it on Monday as Carol was poorly. What again do you say? Well it was her turn, and I took the letter to Paddington on the Tuesday as you can see from the postmark. Glad you did start writing your reply early, as I am sure that writing a letter over a period of one or two days ensures that all you wish to say gets said, and not overlooked as is the case when you try to do it all at once. Hope you are both well by the way, I see by the latter stages of your letters that you have enjoyed some fine unny weather as we have, and it is a good tonic.

It is a bad thing to lose the use of the windscreen wipers during heavy storm of rain. It happened to me sometime ago when out on a shopping expedition to Eastcote or somewhere else locally. I got as far as the car park, and nipped round to the shops to buy a small screwdriver to tighten up the loose holding screw. It did the trick alright, but the driver was so sharp that it slipped and gouged a deep gash in my finger. One thing after another. Good idea to pinch the wiper from the passenger position provided you have the tools with you to do the job.

With regard to Mr Palmer, I am sorry to hear that the operation has left his heart in poor condition, and there is recurring breathing trouble. It all looks to me as though it is a gamble that is not come off. I suppose he was far too busy working to get the job done before he retired. It would obviously have been better done years ago. Unless he gets too much trouble in the future, I would not be surprised if he did not bother to have the second operation done. My regards to both he and Mrs Palmer when you next see them.

Glad you have finished your work in the back bedroom. It is always a good job done, and improves look no end. It could not have been long since you last had it done as I recall it did not look too bad. Our job of course is taking longer. Apart from the trapdoor itself, which I hope put on hinges, all the painting upstairs is now done. Downstairs we have given one coat to everything except the dining room door, the skirting board, and the surround of the dining room door below about 6 foot mark. This will be done probably tonight when the girls are in bed. Second coats have been put on most of the panelling and stairs. It looks cleaner, but if I see much more of it from close range I shall begin to get fed up with the colour.

So far as the garden is concerned, all the grass is making a move at last. Green shoots about an inch long, hardly enough to give any colour, are sprouting up over the patch we levelled. The rest is very dank and long with the clover coming up well with it. Of course it has not been cut. We are not altogether certain if the beeches are going or not. No leaves have opened up yet but the buds seem larger than when they were planted. I suppose they have been badly checked by the cold weather. Daisies definitely growing, and many rose cuttings all taken. There is even a honeysuckle that I planted straight in the ground that time I potted some cuttings up. This has taken and his growing well.

Note your veg. position. Wish we were closer to take advantage. Note also that you have had little rain and your water storage arrangements in some trouble. We have had no real quantity of rain this end either. Have been out with the watering can to the patch just to help things on. The flowering currant is flowering here, but as we have several cuttings/ bushes, not all of them are at the same stage. It is a bit of a washed-out sort of colour. I prefer the more red varieties.

Good about the Vicar and Curate. The former had to put in an appearance at Easter of course for twofold reasons.

I suppose the closing of the Cattle Market subway can be shown to be a profit, but presumably this is by means of saving of the booking clerk. Should have thought that the subway could have been kept open and other arrangements made if they wanted to close the booking office.

It was in the region of 12:00 and I sat down to type this letter, and at that time are joiner chap had not arrived and we had written him off again for this weekend, but a few minutes ago he turned up and is busy banging away out in the kitchen. When you think of it since last time he came we have decorated the bedroom, most of the hall and landing and yesterday I put another power point in the hall. I hope he does not mind waiting till Christmas for his money.

Back to gardening, the tarpaulin that was on top of my dahlias has since been removed for use again by the children (I am told there is no further risk of frost). I moved the newspaper aside and had a look at the top layer. They seemed unaffected by frost or mildew so may get a chance to put them out next weekend.

I remember H. A. Alexander. He was at Bristol in my time I believe. If I recall he used to live at Yatton, or at least used that station.

Note about the cuckoo’s nest. Have you located any other birds’ nests for the girls yet? Usually there are a number in the hedges around the estate.

Glad you can move it in on the carbon paper stunt. A bit of tit-for-tat about it, but it certainly saves time, and after all it is the same news.

I now turn to your second page, written on Thursday. I have to report that the girls are both in fine fettle again at last. If naughtiness is anything to do with it they are 100%. Usual business. If out they want to be in, and if in they want to be out. If one is out and one in that they wish to reverse the position. Carol is really growing fast, and Susan is like a small elephant*. Let’s hope they stay well for a few days this time.

So far as railway work is concerned, on Friday I met the Slough L.D.C. and as a result we have now got Slough station on our plate. Ken Lay has to go to Watford all this week to attend the annual Work Study conference. They do not like you to stay at home even if you lived in Watford, as it is a solid week’s work including the evenings. He is not looking forward to it as he really is not interested at all. Last year they sent the people from the General Manager’s section, and this year it is the Work Study Assistant.

About the paperhanging, I doubt if we shall bother to do any more ourselves. At the price the chap charges, and the extra benefit of a professional finish coupled with the speed with which it is done, he might as well do them all as we come to them.

No further news about Mrs Baker coming but of course it is now only a question of waiting for the date for her to go into hospital. I shall go to the hospital on Tuesday to see what they have to say, but as the lump is still there undiminished the answer is obvious.

Do not bother to bring up anymore cherry wine just yet. We have supplies this end enough to last three winters but we are hoping that Carol will outgrow the need for such remedies by the end of that time.** Have not touched any myself lately. Might pick up the idea and have some for lunch today. The rice wine still remains unmade and there are two lots in the airing cupboard that want racking badly.

Eric is at the Bristol end this weekend. Yesterday I went into their place to fit see if I could fix their television which had gone wrong. (Physician heal thyself.) There is a chance that it has not broken, but as sound is there but no picture it looks ominous. Could not fix it myself.

Glad Joan has had the cysts removed. Everybody going into hospital these days. Does it mean that everybody now has something wrong with them, or is it that now everybody prefers to have wrongs put right?

Have not thought of any particular items for you to bring up this time. Will give it some thought though.

About the cricket, it was all done in 1940 and 1941, and I well remember a match against Stoke Park Colony of all people.

We knew about Lattimer from the Sc. R. Just another one to put a few noses out of joint. Rightly or wrongly as I have said so many times before, the present powers that be associate the failure of the railways with the people who were involved. The formula for improvement therefore can only be removed the old and in with the new. As you know Penney, Hankins and Co do not fit into the formula therefore somebody has to be brought in who has no continuity, no favorites and no preconceived ideas based on close experience. In other words if you want someone for a job, find someone who does not know the first thing about it.

I do not recall Jim Kelly. The name is familiar, but I think it may be the Worcester Kelly, or the train runner that I am thinking of. Well I am being pushed on now to clear the table for dinner, so will do just that and close for the week. Love from us all once again, and look forward to your next. 

*Thank you, that kind of remark is always so heartwarming even sixty years later.

**Yeah, no. Five years on she was still drinking a glass of wine whenever she had a cough – although IIRC it was dandelion by then – and freely confessed that sometimes she pretended to cough just to get a glass of wine in the middle of the night.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Although no letter from you so far this week I thought I would start writing tonight and if possible finish on Thursday and post early Friday. Hope you are all feeling much better than when you last wrote. It was a glorious weekend for Easter – the weather changing just in time. On Saturday unfortunately when taking Mrs Palmer to Southmead again we had a terrific downpour of rain which started as we were running through Tickenham. By the time we passed the Failand Inn it was teeming down and then I lost the rubber from the windscreen wiper and could not see anything. Managed to pull into the garage at the top of Failand but they had no replacements so moved the one in front of the passenger seat for my use. Incidentally after we got home it stopped raining and we have had none since.

The special tests Mr Palmer underwent all proved negative but early during the week he again had difficulty in breathing and the resident doctor said he must stay at Southmead for treatment so it is now not known when he will be returning to the Clevedon Hospital. The second operation is postponed indefinitely. Personally I think he will have to be very careful in future as his heart appears to be affected.

Since last Wednesday I’ve been busy in the back bedroom and finally finished last night at about 6:30 p.m.. Obviously looks much better for the doing. Mum and I had had enough of it by the time we completed the job. Now perhaps we can concentrate on the garden again and my word how things have moved this week. The broad beans although only about 6 inches tall are in flower but runner beans (put out in garden earlier than this last year) are not yet showing to the ground. The broccoli are all turning in together but ten days ago there were none ready. Today I took the cuttings of the dahlias you gave me last October and then starting them off in three inch pots in greenhouse. Outdoors I planted 34 Brussels sprout plants and 28 cabbage plants. This morning just before dinner I had mower out and cut all the lawns – it was hot work, Mum has been pricking out small seedlings and watering other items. Our bath of rainwater is almost gone since Saturday and either tomorrow or Friday the hose will have to have its first use this season. The flowering currant I brought back from Ruislip two years ago has been in full flower.

The Vicar was forced by circumstances to take some of the services over Easter and was getting about with a stick and carrying a cushion which he used every time he sat down. The Curate too turned out assisting at a couple of services appeared to be very groggy. On Easter Monday Mr and Mrs Newman arrived from Bristol. He is bad on his legs and does not move further than obliged – still waiting for his wheelchair. He had no news of Bristol Temple Meads where apparently according to the local press there is an awful rowl going on about the closing of the Cattle Market subway. Another innovation is that up to sixty cars will be allowed to park on the incline. How times change.

Our neighbours (Heel) returned from the Easter London visit yesterday – said the roads were very congested until they were well out of the London area. their destination in London was Battersea (not the home*). 

Wonder how you are getting on with your alterations and whether the handyman has yet turned up to complete his part. Except for one or two minor items we have finished for a few months. I saw in last week’s paper that H.A. Alexander had died. You you will remember him as the Divisional Engineer some years ago. There is a little account of same in the Mercury.

The cuckoo was first heard here on Easter Sunday morning – a day earlier than last year according to my gardening diary. Wonder he came at all this time but perhaps he brought the better weather. I think we have have have one or two nests about the place for Susan and Carol to see later on but the young birds will long have flown. Do you hear the cuckoo up there? Better make myself clear – it is blackbirds nests around here not cuckoos’. Never found one of those and not likely to.

No news from Geoff lately and I’m waiting his before replying to Don then for the first time I can use the carbon paper and reply to both at once.

I’m going out to get a dozen tomato plants on Thursday morning and to have windscreen wipers renewed. Shall also call at the library – wrong week for calling at the Post Office for more money.

Hope to receive your letter in the morning so will continue this after receiving it not much more local news at the moment.

Thursday 26th April 1962

It is now 5:30 p.m. and I can reply to your letter received this morning. Sorry to hear about Susan and Carol and hope the worst is over now but you did not say much about yourselves although from what you said you have been up to during the Easter assume you are feeling fairly well, but it is obvious you have both been working too hard and you had better ease up. I know you want to get the alterations and decorations finished as quickly as possible but unlike me you have your railway work to keep on top of and June unlike mum has the two children to cope with. You must both have had the proverbial basinful by the time Tuesday came.

Note you will not paper the hall and landing yourselves – just as well that it is a sticky job in more ways than one. Yes doors are numerous but much easier to do than windows of which I told you what I had in the living room last November. Anyhow good luck to you on this work and I’m sure it will look A1 when completed.

Our ceiling was done over with Walpamur, a water paint which is washable. Only has to be mixed with water and stirred and is ready for use. Dries out fairly quickly and a good white colour. A 7lb tin is necessary for one ceiling although not all of it is used.

Noted Carol expected Father Christmas on her birthday but we are glad to hear she was well remembered and had a good time. By the way there is no question of you trying to “inflict the girls” onto us. You know we shall be only too pleased to have them if the position becomes necessary but I’m sure June, in particular, would miss her two little girls even if only for a fortnight. We would look after them at the expense of house and garden for a little while. We are only too sorry though for the reason which prompted the enquiry and hope Mrs Baker gets through satisfactory. (sic) As we have said before it must be a very worrying time for June and her sister.

Mum and I went to Gullifords this morning for tomato plants – one dozen for 8/6d – and we called on Mrs Palmer on the way home to learn that Mr Palmer has now being diagnosed as suffering from leaking kidneys. Is still at Southmead but hopes to get back to Clevedon Hospital shortly. If not at home by Saturday we shall go up again.

Had windscreen wipers put right at Binding and Payne’s.

I’ve started another bottle of blackberry wine – very nice this weather – and having regard to your comment re cherry wine will bring all remaining supplies up to you in June and you can hold on to them for use as required.

Position re house next door noted – expect they will be glad to get matters settled as soon as possible.

Letter from Geoff this morning says almost identical as you re committees on railway subjects – what a terrible mess. I think Don was going to give his gold watch to Joan who by the way has been in Taunton hospital for the removal of cysts on her head.

Had to get the hose out late this afternoon – had used up all the water in the bath and this sunny weather has quickly dried up the ground and all plants are crying out for a drink.

Yes it is good soil at Mrs Marshalls but has weakened through years of use and requires so heavy feeding. Our heavier ground I expect bears better results.

While I think of it have you any other items of various sorts you want us to bring up – shall soon have to commence collecting them.

Did not know you had played cricket at Southmead or any other suburb in Bristol.

The wholemeal bread was very good and there would have been around here if mum had not a second loaf of it home here when she gave away the other at the Guild. I like it very much.

Noticed our first potatoes are showing to this morning now shall have to be careful of frost.

Have you visited the hospital again yet regarding your neck?

Rebecca had apparently had a grand time in Switzerland over the Easter holiday and according to Geoff they are all going to Spain again this year for that annual holiday. He also said a man named Latimer from Scottish Region had been appointed in C.W. Powell’s place at a much lower salary – perhaps you have already heard.

Did you remember Jim Kelly of Bristol Rolling Stock department? I see he has just died aged 76.

Well I’m getting towards the end of the news again but we do hope this lovely weather is doing you all good – it makes such a difference and I expect both Susan and Carol revel in it. About six weeks today we should be be coming up to see you also keep some fine weather handy please.

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

Mum and Dad 

*How many more times do you think we can flog the same tired old joke?

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for very interesting letter duly arrived on Friday. Sorry to delay replying, but much has happened over the weekend. We cannot seem to rely on the children being well for more than an hour or so at a time. This time it is Susan, she woke up yesterday not feeling well and complaining about pain in tummy. Although obviously not herself we allowed her to play in the sunshine as it was so unusual to see it, but about mid-morning it turned into a bilious attack. Could have been sunstroke? She steadily declined until put to an early bed. Carol was ejected into the back room otherwise we started the night of normally. June had to go in with Susan eventually while Carol had me in there about four times during the night for no apparent reason. Today Susan had to be restrained from eating the proverbial horse for breakfast so she is better inside although still running a bit of a temperature. The rest of us are suffering from a bad case of over-decorating and lack of sleep otherwise okay.

Did you say ‘rest at Easter’? Since Thursday we have spent morning and afternoon on the hall and landing, and so far we have finished the landing except for the trapdoor and its surround, and any touching up that may be required. The landing window also has not been done, but the stairs and panelling have had one coat. So far as downstairs is concerned, it has not been touched except for some of the outside panelling on the stairs, and the newel post. We are getting a little fed up with doors, there are eleven counting the trapdoor, that leaves six to go. The colour chosen is Leaf Beige (Ripolin), and has a warm effect in large quantities. So far we have used about two-thirds of a half gallon tin. it looks as though we may need another quart before we have finished.

It is 11:15, or was when I started this letter, and have now packed up for the holiday. Mr and Mrs Baker are coming over this afternoon at 3 p.m. Peter is bringing them over although he is not stopping.

Note your ceiling decorations – was it paint, or whitener? Imagine it must have been paint as I recall the ceiling in your room is papered. Some game with the window. Should have fetched in a dentist for that job. No sign of our joiner bloke since that valiant effort of the Sunday. I think that must have put him in hospital or something. Anyway his tools are still here including a power tool, so goodness knows how he carries on his business.*

The girls did not much like the eye drops, but they had to have them and that was that. Most of the stuff went outside as you may expect. Not much wrong with their eyes now or so it seems, but Carol went for her fourth birthday check-up and the nurse said she still had it and was not well. Carol had some nice little presents and cards, and thank you for sending yours. She will no doubt do a drawing or something – hardly up to the writing standard of Susan yet. We opened her presents on the morning of her birthday, and what with one thing and another it made me late for work – as if it matters these days. She had the idea that when she awoke she would see lots of presents on her bed, and although we tried to disillusion her, the idea persisted. On the morning of the 16th before I went for the tea, there were bumps and bangs from their room. On investigation I found the pair of them dressed only in their pyjamas standing in the middle of the room. They said they had searched all round but could find no presents – Carol was very anxious by this time. They were both stone cold, and it could not have done them much good.

Hope Mr Newman manages to get down to see you on Easter Monday. If yesterday is anything to go by the weather should be kind for him. Mrs Baker will go into Hillingdon Hospital next month – June does not think much of the place having been there twice – Susan and Carol.

No difficulty to get the paper off the hall and landing as we gave it a good wetting – the secret of easy paper stripping. There was only one paper on the war and a poor one at that. We shall not do the papering of the wall or ceiling. The chap who did our bedroom will come and do it as soon as we have finished painting the woodwork.

They do not know where they are going with the cut at the moment. All is confusion. About four or five groups going round also called doing the same things, and all proposing different things, and each cutting right across the other. Now is a good time to leave for anyone thinking of retiring. Glad to hear that Don has his gold watch. What will he do with it?

Thought you would like the story about the sticky labels. Nothing much on the way on the wine front lately. I have collected some rice and some sugar all ready to go, but there has been so much else to do that that job has not got done. Drank some yesterday in the evening, and that reminds me that we had a lot of trouble with Carol earlier in the week – waking up and coughing fit to burst. Tried all the usual remedies – as prescribed by the doctor to no avail. A half glass full of Grandfy’s cherry wine however did the trick very quickly. To parody the Hoover advert, it clears as it eases as it lubricates.

Our neighbours are away to you Yorkshire for the Easter and have left us the key of the house, and the agent has already called twice to let people over the house. The first lot stayed quite a while, but the second lot were in and out in no time. No more news of the proposed move. I suppose much will depend on how the sale goes.

Glad you were able to see Mr Palmer in Southmead. I have played cricket at Southmead, but could not tell you how to get there now. Come to think of it I played cricket in most of the Bristol suburbs, but I’m not very familiar with the layout now.

Interesting about the vicar I suppose he will gradually move about more and more if his recovery continues.

Not all my dahlias survive the winter. I find that I lose about a quarter or thereabouts. So far I have just not looked at mine and I’m a bit anxious as to what I shall find under the tarpaulin. Oddly enough I think the forsythia cuttings I put in last year are okay. As you know yesterday was a terrific day after so much cold and wet. I had a look down the garden about 5 p.m. and it was still hot. When down there I found three short cuttings with many leaves on – they were not there last time I looked around – two are the same and one of a different plant. I think two are forsythia cuttings, and the third may well be the missing buddleia or an offshoot of the spirea. The other (larger) buddleia is doing well in another part of the garden. This morning I had a quick look round before breakfast and found some of the pseudo Esther Reeds are coming up.

Nice about the pergola. Best thing he can build it is a concrete wall. I do not think you told me that Aston had part of Mrs Marshalls garden, but I recall it is good soil. Old Leslie Garland used to do a lot of work on it.

After Saturday’s rain and Sundays sunshine I am expecting my grass to get a move on. So far there is little evidence of the seed coming through, but naturally distributed weeds are now starting to occupy the plot.

The girls had a painting book and a yo-yo each for Easter, apart from the usual eggs, and are now making life difficult for all and sundry.**

To turn to mother’s letter – nicely typed and first time at that. I agree it will be pretty dreary for Mrs Baker on her own in a convalescent home but we have no idea yet even if it will be necessary. I do not suppose we shall have any more information until after the operation when we can see how things are going. The question about the girls was just a tentative enquiry. We do not want them to be away, and we do not want to inflict them on you, but we are in some doubt as to what the situation will be later on. You can say that again about there not being a tidy room in the house. I say ‘snap’!

Sorry about your wholemeal loaf. If you were nearer we could have disposed of it for you. Never mind it not winning a prize, the two old ladies obviously thought highly of it. Did they have their own teeth?

Some quantity of seeds waiting to go out I see. Must take some pictures of them when next at Clevedon. Took a picture on Boxing Day – of the girls indoors – but since then have not taken any. Hope the film is still good after all this time.

I do not know what your reply was about being old. We feel properly ancient at 40. (June thereabouts.)

Well there it is again for another week. Thanks again for Carol’s present and also for the Mercury which is well read. Must send an Ack*** to Don for the proverbial postcard and pair of boots. Love from us all for now.

*In my head-canon this man was actually arrested the day after he started the kitchen and is still behind bars…

**God, what hateful children to interrupt their parents’ lives so thoughtlessly… You would honestly think that at four and almost six they should be self-sufficient and earning their own keep by this time!

***Acknowledgement?