A (tenuous) sort of Jack the Ripper connection? Part One

On By Sue JenkinsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s astonishing what a little undirected Googling will turn up! I was actually trying to pin down some further information about Macord’s Rents, which you may remember we talked about in It’s time to talk about the Huguenots Part Two, but instead I stumbled upon a reference to Macord’s Waterproof Isinglass Plaster. This was something I had actually encountered briefly ten years ago, when searching Trove, the invaluable online archive of the National Library of Australia. However this time it took me in an entirely unexpected direction – to probably the most infamous series of murders of all time, and to a young woman who very briefly wandered through the furthest reaches of my family history.

Let’s start with Robert John Macord, born in 1815, who was the third child and second son of John II and Elizabeth Macord of Limehouse Hole. In the 1841 Census he is a ‘chymist and druggist’, operating out of premises at 58 Minories, London. Those familiar with the Jack the Ripper saga will already recognise that this address is pretty much ‘Ripper Central’.

Robert seems to have been the inventor of a very successful new type of medical plaster made out of isinglass* – a natural product which clearly had a bewildering variety of uses at the time. There are a number of instances in online records of this product being advertised: the text below appeared in The Medical Times in 1848-49, for example, and some of the same testimonials also appeared in the Sydney Empire on Saturday 3 January, 1852.

_____

Macord’s Transparent Waterproof Isinglass Plaster, and Isinglass Plasters on all fabrics, are manufactured at 58, Minories, London, and can be obtained of any druggist or surgical instrument-maker.

*

January 31, 1844

After having used in the London Hospital Mr Macord’s Isinglass Pluster, I am enabled to say that it has afforded me much satisfaction. I have found it to adhere well and to be free from any irritating property.

James Luke

*

February 26th, 1844

I have now repeatedly made use of the various forms of Isinglass Adhesive Plaster manufactured by Mr Macord, and am of opinion that they are likely to prove very useful in the treatment of wounds.

William Fergusson

Professor of Surgery in King’s College, Surgeon to King’s College Hospital, etc.

*

March 8th, 1844

I have directed the application of Mr Macords Prepared Isinglass Plaster in cases of ulcer and recent wound, and I think very favorably of the Invention. It is clearly an effective dressing, and easily applied. 

Benjamin Travers Jr.

Resident assistant surgeon.

*

March 27, 1844

The Isinglass plaster as prepared by Mr Macord is superior to any I have had made elsewhere, being both more adhesive, more transparent, and altogether more easily applied.

Robert Liston

See Lancet Jun15, 1844, page 365.

*

May 21 1844

I have made trial of Mr Macords waterproof transparent plaster in the treatment of wounds, and have been quite dissatisfied with its adhesive properties. It is, moreover, an irritating, and in most circumstances must be more advantageous than plasters containing resin.

James M. Arnott

Surgeon to the Middlesex Hospital.

*

May 30, 1844

I have used Mr Macord’s Transparent Plaster for the last three years with much success, and am happy to bear testimony to its great utility, also his Sedative Solution of Opium, which proves most effective.

C.L. Vidal

Surgeon, Royal Ordnance Hospital, Purfleet.

*

October 24th 1844

Sir – having used the different specimens of your Isinglass Plaster, I beg that you will be so good as to send me, for the use of Sligo Infirmary, twenty yards each of the four kinds you sent to me. Your transparent plaster may be considered expensive for hospital use. I consider it otherwise: through it you can see the state of the surface underneath ot, and thereby only have to remove it when it necessary, this measure being economical of your plaster and of the state of the wound to which it may be applied. I look upon your plaster as being cleanly and nice, as well as as being more applicable to most parts than any oily or resinous plasters can possibly be.

Your obedient servant ,

Thomas Little MD, LL.D., F.R.C.S.I

Surgeon to the Sligo Infirmary

*

September 1st 1845

We have employed Macord’s Transparent Sticking Plaster during the last twelve months, and in all cases where sticking plaster is required, except in operations for hare-lip, we prefer it to any other.

William Wright

G.M. White

H.C. Attenbury

Surgeons to the General Hospital Nottingham.

*

November 5th, 1848

I feel great pleasure in testifying to the utility of Mr Macord’s Transparent Isinglass Plasters; in small flesh wounds, they surpass in efficacy  any I have ever used. In haemorrhage, from leech bites, they form a crust with the blood which effectually covers it.

J.J. Rygate, M.B. Lond.

*

November 23, 1848

Sir – I have used the plaster you sent me, and have much pleasure in adding my favouritable testimony to those you have already received. Its transparency permitting without disturbance the satisfactory inspection of the wound. Its adhesiveness superior to that of any other application, and unaffected by washes, which are so frequently necessary to moderate inflammation in wounds. Its complete freedom from any irritating quality; and its cleanliness will render it henceforward and indispensable requisite to every practical surgeon.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Henry Thompson, M.D., F.R.C.S.I.

Surgeon to the Tyrone Infirmary

To Mr Macord, 58, Minories.

_____

Macord’s Isinglass Plaster, 1s 6d per yard: 14 in wide, on white or black calico. Directions – wet the plaster well with a damp sponge, or dip in water.

Macord’s Waterproof Isinglass Plaster, 1s 6d per yard; 14 in wide, on white or black calico. Directions – wet the plaster well with a damp sponge, or dip in water.

Macord’s Transparent Skin, 2s 6d per yard:  5 in wide. Directions – wet well the part, and apply the plaster dry.

Macord’s Waterproof Transparent Plaster, 4s and 6d per yard; 14 in wide. Directions – wet well the part, and apply the plaster dry.

A discount of 15% on purchases to the amount of £2. 

_____

The Medical Times: a Journal of Medical Science, literature, criticism, and news. 1848 – 49, October – June. Retrieved via Google Books on Friday 3rd December 2021 from a volume held in the Bavarian State Library at Munich.

Robert John Macord died in 1863, but his business interests clearly outlived him; after his death the plaster (still bearing his name) continued to be made and packaged at 58 Minories, by a company named Winifred Hora & Co. They employed a number of day-labourers to accommodate fluctuating demand, and one of those day-labourers was Frances Coles, aka Frances Coleman, who at the time lived in Union Street, near Southwark Bridge. More information about Frances will be found in Part Two.

Of the names listed above, J.J. Rygate (who seems to have qualified in 1847) is of particular interest: Robert John Macord’s fourth son, Herbert Rygate Macord, born in 1849, is clearly named after him – and at just the time when the medical plaster business seems to have been flourishing. Herbert Rygate did not go into medicine or any related career; he seems to have been happy enough as a stationer and later a lodging-house keeper.

Robert John Macord’s third son, however, Horace Walford Macord, might fairly be called the ‘black sheep’ of his particular family. He described himself as a ‘druggist’ in the 1871 census, with premises in Kemp Town, Brighton. He married Alice Hurn in 1869 and they rapidly had three children; however the marriage seems to have broken down in 1878 when he alone emigrated to Australia – claiming to be an M.R.C.S. – leaving his wife and three children behind with her parents. Alice subsequently reverted to the use of her maiden surname, although I have been unable to trace a divorce. For the next few decades Horace Walford seems to have lived in New South Wales – where it is quite possible he started a whole new family which has descendants in the area to this day. He did, however, return – and indeed officially immigrated – to England in 1918, possibly reconciling with his wife Alice. He died in 1924, but a shop bearing his name – H.W. Macord, Chemist – was trading at 120 East India Dock Road, London, until at least 1934.

Obviously there are a lot of gaps in this narrative and lot of questions remain to be answered – what, for example, were Robert John and Horace Walford’s qualifications, and did Horace Walford father another dynasty in Australia? Watch this space, or one very much like it, for further details!

*If the word has ear-wormed you, be reassured that it gets a passing mention in the lyrics of ‘Surrey with the Fringe on Top’ from Oklahoma!

Sunday 3rd December, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for another newsy letter. Shall be down next Friday night so shall not read the next one until I get back. By the way I have not looked up train yet as all the times have been changed around, Cannot say offhand what it will be. Shall probably come down on something leaving about 5 p.m. (diesels excepted) or, if I fiddle a few hours off, it may be earlier. 

Glad to report that both of the girls are seemingly normal now, although Susan had a bit of a cough in the night. It did not amount to much. I am keeping the cherry wine for coughs, but letting them have apricot on demand when they think they would fancy a drop of wine. I think it is the sourness of the cherry that does the trick. Apart from a snivel or two, which thank goodness have not developed so far, June and I have both been free from colds etc. I did have one early in October, before the flu injection, but no sign of one since. 

I expect you are glad you finished the papering. Good to get the accolade from Mr Palmer. He should know a thing or two about it. Is this the first time you have tackled the dining room? I do not remember it being done before although I know it was done. 

Shall hope to see your agricultural and horticultural displays when I get down next weekend. Ours are finished now, and probably the first signs we shall get will be small show from the forsythia cuttings (if they flower this year).

I did  see David Dimbleby in the holiday programme some time ago, and think that was the only time I have actually seen him. I agree about the old pals act of T.V. stars. Shocking racket. 

No trouble since with the battery and I think that the topping up did the trick. 

I do not know how Sara came to take the 11-plus as I am under the impression that Middlesex contracted out of that business.

The annual wine list came round to our section and I had a couple of bottles in the order.

Hope you manage to get your TV right for Christmas. It was at this time the first year you had it that it failed. About time they found what the trouble was I think. 

There will be less and less cohesion between the Divisional Offices as time goes on. At the moment everyone is fighting for prestige etc. Orders from the G.M.’s office are being openly disobeyed, and the G.M. seems powerless to stop it. It is a serious state of affairs, as previously, even if the decisions were wrong, all Districts were wrong together. Today you can get five versions of wrongness. By now you will have read the note and closed to us all in our pay packets by Dr Beeching. Can only hope he gets cracking soon. it wants some strong handed person to unravel the present mess. 

Had not heard that Joan was going into hospital, but the operation is a very minor one so she should not have much trouble. Usually they do it with a local anaesthetic. Can’t think what they want her as an inpatient for. 

Mrs Baker is much better now after extractions. Just a little soreness which should soon go. Probably be able to bite a bit for Christmas. Went over there yesterday and they both seemed to be in fine fettle. Also went on to Ealing for June’s new glasses, and dropped in to see Aunt Eda. She was up in an armchair before the fire and seemed also in good shape. She asked after you both. A Mrs Moody is staying with her and looking after her. She herself is bent double with some disease, but gets around quite well. 

Could be that you now have new neighbours at the bottom of the garden. change from fairies. 

I do not suppose you will be hearing anything from Uncle Arthur again after his last visit to you. Should think he has got the message by now. 

Broke a pane of glass in the garage yesterday. Had a brick under the door to stop it from swinging-to, and found it jammed when I tried to close the door in the dark. Had to shift it with the mattock in the end, but before that, had pulled the top half of the door forward (the bottom remaining still), and the resultant twisting effect on the frame, broke the glass. It has only cracked across, and is held in by the putty. Shall I leave it for a while. 

Hard to think of Rebecca as fifteen. Not long now before she will be thinking about school leaving.

It is getting very misty here today, and as I write, the mist seems to thicken. After a fine day yesterday this is a bit of a contrast. 

Went to Reading and Maidenhead on Thursday. No trouble there. At each place we are gradually extending the field with good co-operation from the staff. Have not seen the yard people again yet, too tied up on other things. 

I gather that our old friend Baynton-Hughes is the leading candidate for David Pattison’s old job. That will give him well over 2000 per annum. Not bad when you think that he was a Special A in 1956. The Reading Station staff do not want to set eyes on him again. 

Of all things, I see it is now raining. Hope it keeps off for the afternoon. 

Well that is all the news for now, look forward to seeing you next weekend. Love from us all for now.

Wednesday 29th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for another weekly budget and enclosures from the girls. Thank you very much Susan and Carol – some more drawings for our collection. Nice to hear Susan was able to return to school during the week but oh dear Carol what did you want to get ill for? Hope you are better again now and that the cherry wine is helping to check the coughing. 

This weather is having its effect on old and young alike – fortunately the bitter N.E. wind has abated a little but we had a really sharp white frost Sunday morning and a deal of fog. It was my turn for ringing for 8 a.m. service but it was not very pleasant walking the short distance to church. Incidentally I noticed the flagpole had been fixed in position so somebody has been busy since I last wrote. 

You really surprised me that Carol gets some relief from the cherry wine – it’s a good job you discovered this remedy and that it is doing the  trick and enabling you all to get some sleep. We do hope though Carol will soon be alright again – the continuous coughing must make her chest very sore. Perhaps you can take back another bottle of this wine Alec when you look down next month. I’m certainly glad I made some more this season. Quite a number of people here are suffering from what is described as a 48-hour flu but generally it is in the nose and head. Sounds as if many children in Susan’s class are suffering from something like this. You did not say but we hope June and yourself are managing to keep going.

Finished papering the dining room at about 6:30 p.m. Friday last and Saturday was spent cleaning up and and replacing carpets etc. Must say that it looks very nice and Mr Palmer saw it Sunday dinner time and favorably commented on the effort. (I told him to take off his glasses before he entered the room). After his lifetime of experience in the building trade he knows exactly where to look for the weaknesses. It will be an easier job to do the big bedroom (one facing garden) but this will have to wait until after Christmas. Yes it is the cutting in around the panes of glass that take up so much time when painting. Anyhow enough of that for the present.

Note you left the chrysanths outdoors – expect the recent frosts have about finished the flowers. We have quite a nice show in greenhouse – not by any means prize blooms but nevertheless a good show. The gladioli corms which had been drying off in the frames I’ve now cleaned off and stored in box in greenhouse so they should be alright for next season. The broad beans put in on the 25th and 27th October are coming up and yesterday I put in another row. Also dug first of the two trenches for the runner beans – the other will be dug before week is out all being well. 

Grape wine still working but have not had a chance yet to rack it off and bottle – waiting for a wet day to do this when I cannot get outside. 

Noted your neighbour starting work at Bristol next week – presumably he will travel by road at weekends. 

Where did you see David Dimbleby then? Query when his father was showing films of their holidays sometime ago.* Chataway of course is off TV now because he was elected M.P. at last General Election but it’s about time a lot of so-called T.V. personalities were paid off for good. it is becoming the ‘dear old pals’ brigade – you come on my show and I’ll come on yours. 

Sorry to hear you are having battery trouble – do you keep it topped up with distilled water? The battery was about two years old when you had the car and it is only guaranteed for two years so it may be that it is on the way out. Only a garage can give you the answer. 

Our potatoes did not crop as well as in former years but it is difficult to say why – probably lack of manure. Shall try some late variety next year. They usually crop heavier than the earlies. 

A letter from Geoff last week said Sarah had taken the 11-plus exam but results would not be available until next May. I thought Middlesex was one of the counties that had dispensed with this exam. He also sent copy of the annual wine list and I’ve ordered a few bottles which will reach us via Lyng.

Our T.V. set is giving a bit of trouble again – the sound takes about half an hour to come through after switching on**. This is similar trouble to what we had before and Bell’s people so-called put it right. Told him yesterday to fetch set to works and put it in proper order. Expect it will be away for 2 or 3 days. Noticed Sealeys (the other T.V. people) van outside Cornishes just now so it looks as if they have a bit of trouble too. 

Don has been called out a couple of times since I last wrote – in one case a man was killed on the line between Bridgwater and Durston and he also had to attend inquest. 

Note not much doing then at the office apart from routine matters – the trouble is these must be attended to as they have a nasty habit of accumulating. Perhaps it is as well you are not out and about this weather. The divisional offices seem to be doing well. Geoff that says the return fare Bristol to Cardiff is 12/3d and from Cardiff to Bristol 14/3d*** due apparently to the two Divisional Managers’ difference of opinion. The Chard branch is shortly to be closed for passenger traffic but will remain in use for goods traffic. Any more news of Beeching? Saw him on T.V. the other day catching his train to London. Note the unions are going to rock the boat again they must be utterly mad. 

Did we tell you that Joan (Lyng) is waiting to go into hospital to have some cysts removed from her head – has already been waiting several weeks and no sign of admittance yet.

Expect you have heard – since you wrote – how June’s mother and father are getting along this cold weather. Hope Mrs Baker now fully recovered from the shock of having all her teeth out at one go. 

We are not quite sure whether the new people have moved into Martindale – down by river – but over the weekend we saw lights there in the evening. May have been down doing some decorating (could give them a few hints). 

Have not heard if Tennyson House (thatched roof) yet sold. 

No news of Arthur Fewings since he returned to California at beginning of month. 

Well I think this is a lot once more.  All our love to you both and more kisses for dear Susan and Carol. 

Mum and Dad. 

*According to Wikipedia, “The two younger Dimblebys both made their television débuts in the 1950s in the BBC’s first holiday programme Passport, at a time when the whole family would visit resorts in Switzerland or Brittany.”

**At this time transistors were not yet generally available and TV sets (and radios) operated via glass valves, known elsewhere as vacuum tubes. If these were failing they could take a very long time to warm up, hence the long wait for the sound to be available on Leonard and Eva’s TV set.

***In 2021 money this would be either £14.45 or £16.81. The current return fare would be roughly similar at £15.60 for the cheapest option, or double that depending on the service chosen.

Eva to the family on the remaining three quarters of a sheet of Leonard’s paper

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the masterpieces this week. Can see they will soon be hung. 

Well dad has really finished the painting etc. and everything looks fresh again but for a few days it was chaotic, you couldn’t go anywhere but you had paper sticking to the soles of shoes. I have to get a new shade for the room haven’t made up my mind yet but expect will get a pale one.

It’s been a terrible day today and had to fetch magazines from Works and then deliver my lot. The latest is there is going to be a parish party on Jan 26th at the New Hall, the first party to be held there at the Community Centre when it is finished. The sting in the invitation is the price of the ticket 2/6d. ****

Mrs Cummings has been busy taking mousetraps up to the church. She is indignant that the flowers which she puts there in vases as well as berries gets all eaten up so she has caught one or two.  They don’t set one for Sundays as it would be sure to go off when everything was quiet. 

Hope the children sang nicely at the service. Rebecca’s birthday on Monday she is 15. 

Lots of love from Granfy and Grandma.

**** Roughly equivalent to £2.95 in 2021 currency, which seems a perfectly fair sum.

Eva’s drawing at the bottom: a bunch of holly, a Christmas cake, a rabbit with a tie and sunglasses, what is very possibly a star above a manger, a donkey and a Christmas tree.

Sunday 26th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for letter again this week, arrived just before we went out for the usual shopping expedition. You will be pleased to know that Susan after a bad spell had recovered sufficiently to return to school during the week. Almost to the minute however, Carol decided that it was her turn again and took up the running*. June had to get Ethel to come in to look after her while she went to the school for Susan. Most of the week therefore in the illness stakes has been devoted to Carol. Two visits to the Doctor have failed to produce anything that would stop her hacking cough so after one full night of it we resorted to the old formula – half glass of Granfy’s Cherry Wine. Result sleep for all of us. I think that it is a two-way cure, it cuts the phlegm, and induces sleep all at the same time. Throughout the day at about three hour intervals she gets another small drop, and that defeats the cough.  She woke up coughing and spluttering again this morning, but after the noggin, there has been no sign of a cough. Of course Susan now qualifies. There has been an awful lot of illness in Susan’s class and she tells us that there are now only 16 present. I believe the normal figure is nearer 30. 

Hope you have managed to get some of the property clear of debris etc following your decorating exploit. It does not take long to get in a mess, but rather longer to get it straight. I can picture the difficulty you had with the “windows” – all of them – and I am glad that we have no such problem here. Cutting-in is such a tedious job, and so far we have not shone at that game. I am not surprised it took a whole packet of polyfilla to fill the gap left by the pitch rail. We had a big filling job to do when we took down the pantry, and we overcame the expense of buying several packets of Polyfilla by buying ordinary plaster to fill most of the gap, and then only topping up with Polyfilla. Plaster is a lot cheaper than Polyfilla. Shall expect to see great signs of improvement when I arrive, and hope the visit has not upset your plans in any way.

Regarding gardening, you probably recall that I told you I would not bother any more with the indoor chrysants. Accordingly I left the remaining ones outdoors. Despite heavy white frost they have continued to grow and flower as normal. They are in better shape than the supposedly outdoor chrysants that are in the strip at the end of the lawn. Another white frost out there today so will wander down and see if they have still survived.

Saw Eric Benn yesterday and he said that he had another week to do in London before he goes to Bristol. He says he will travel home at weekends when he can. No talk of where he will live. 

I have seen David Dimbleby and agree with your remarks. Put Chataway with them and you have a handy trio. 

Had Friday off to give June a break with the children. Took Susan to school in the morning, and tried to get the car out to fetch her, but battery well down. Cannot recall that I had done much night driving but it had not been used for a week. Had visions of getting Eric’s charging plant in again, but had another try on Saturday morning. Before switching on the ignition, I turned over the engine many times**, then pumped the float chamber hard. Turned on the starter motor, and it gave a few uncertain turns and stopped. I thought this was the end, but gave a turn of the handle on spec, and it was away first touch. Of course it did not take long to get a charge back into the battery, and things should be O.K. again now. I believe you said that the battery was an old one in any case, so may want renewing soon. 

Note your grape wine still going. After bottling mine (with corks loose just in case) I tested for gas pressure after a week, but none was there. Oddly enough, your cherry has produced enough pressure to force out the cork overnight. The wine may have been encouraged to work again due to being left on top of the T.V. in a warm room. We could not find a cork at all, and was sure we had put it on. By mid-afternoon we found it behind the T.V. set. I put in a bigger cork last night, and rammed it home. To make a comparison the bottle was left on the T.V. set again, and this morning there was a distinct pressure there. Do not worry it will not get a chance to do any damage at the rate it is disappearing. 

I gather you got the point about a second garage. What with firewood, steps, garden implements and toys, not to mention dahlias stored for next year, there is hardly room for the car. 

I seem to remember the flagpole at the church being erected sometime during the early Thirties.  It was put there in replacement of an even older pole.

Surprised to hear that you are buying potatoes already. What went wrong with you this year’s crop?

The scillas should make a good show. We have not potted up anything this year. everything you brought up that had not previously been reported expired is still going strong and we hope to be able to keep them now. The children show no signs of wanting to pull the cacti about but occasionally they get careless.

What is the point of going to the Coal utilisation lectures when you already know that the best fuel is electricity? Some tea by the way. Could almost taste that coffee cream cake. 

Well there is not much news to report from this end again. We have not seen or heard from either side of the family since writing last. At the office nothing much moving, but lots pending if only one could get round to doing the big jobs instead of being tied up with a myriad small pressing items which are almost routine. Lay had a week’s holiday, the first he has had this year apart from the sick leave he had early in January.

Well we are expected to attend a children’s service at the Methodist Church this afternoon so must start to pack up. Love from us all till next week.

*Three years old and already so manipulative, deliberately being ill just to upset her parents!

** Younger readers may not be aware that at this time all cars were supplied with starting handles; see this video for further information.

Wednesday 22nd November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for another long letter to hand as usual on Tuesday but sorry to hear Susan has been poorly again – wonder what can be the matter – query a chill in the tummy. Apparently a lot of children round here are suffering similarly. Must be that cold N.E. wind we had about a fortnight ago. Hope she will soon be alright again.

Thank you Susan and Carol for some more lovely drawings – they will be put with all the others you have previously sent us. Fancy Susan now reading little bit out of the book called ‘Alice in Wonderland’. It was good of Carol too to recognise the drawings made by Grandma.

Well since I last wrote we have been up to our necks in dirt and paint. Started off on the Wednesday by stripping paper from walls and making good broken pieces of plaster etc. Then picture rail above mantelpiece had to come out and I found that originally it had been fixed before the walls had been plastered so a deal of filling had to be done to close gap – took a whole packet of Polyfilla. When it came to putting on first coat of paint I wondered when should finish. Took two days each for undercoat and topcoat. There are 31 panes of glass to ‘cut in’ viz. 15 in French door, 6 over French door, 2 large windows (one on either side of French door) 4 panes of glass each in the two glass cupboards and these latter had to be ‘cut in’ front and back making a total of 39 ‘cuts in’. As there are four sides to each pane of glass this meant 156 ‘cuts in’ for each coat of paint so you can see how tedious it was to get through this lot. Anyhow I finished second coat by 3:15 p.m. today and now waiting for it to dry so can start papering tomorrow. The colours of paint by the way is silver (could not afford gold). I must say it looks alright so far – must now be careful I don’t put paper on back to front. 

No gardening obviously this week but weather quite nice really since that cold wind has dropped. Ground fairly dry too. Don says his broad beans are showing through soil but mine or not up yet. Did I tell you I managed to get a row of peas in early last week? 

Note you have made another visit to Reading Yard and have plenty of the right ammunition for them – must make them think about their own Union leaders. 

The ice plant (sedum) will die back I expect but root growth should ensure a bigger plant next season. One of our neighbours in St Andrews Drive (bordering our section of field) called the other evening to place a vegetable order (sounds like the greengrocer) and said they had a lot of cuttings of a tradescantia. We gave her one of ours (identical but smaller than the one you had) and in return we had one of hers. Quite a different colouring so if we can strike cuttings in due course you must have one. 

Now you mention the old lady who used to live next door to you I have a faint recollection of hearing about her at the time. Has Eric Benn actually moved to Bristol? (Work I mean not his home.) On our local TV news we now get David Dimbleby who apparently is the Outside Broadcast T.V. reporter. Just about as overbearing as his father. 

How have you been rated for garage? 

There is still a lot of water in deep portion of pond but I cannot say if there is any life there – much too cloudy. 

So you have been busy log cutting – we are a bit short of suitable sleeper wood for logs but plenty of short stuff alright for fire lighting. If the frosts persist you will soon have to have your antifreeze put in car. It’s been a bit nippy one or two mornings.

Reverting to decorations again, the brick wall pattern of paper over the fireplace will be much smaller than the pattern in Geoff’s dining room – more in keeping perhaps with the smaller room. Don’t care much for the idea of a five barred gate as after looking at it all the evening might be jumping over it all night. 

My grape wine is still fermenting but I note you have bottled yours now. Shall look forward to tasting your apricot. 

The wall brackets you have detailed are more or less identical to those made and fixed by Mr Palmer in his own house. He drew a sketch for me and put in measurements – must try and remember to show you when you come down. 

The British Legion parades seem to have improved in numbers all over the country – the weather was good and this has a big bearing on attendances especially when the march is a rather long one. 

What is the point about a second garage being required for car? Is the present one being occupied with odds and ends? Even with the big garage I’ve often said to myself ‘if the garage was bigger I could get more stuff in it’. it is surprising how the odds and ends accumulate over the years. 

The old flag pole on church tower broke recently and the new one arrived last week and is at present lying in churchyard. Looks like a ship mast to me. Somebody is going to get a headache lifting it onto tower. I know one who will be missing when the job’s done. 

Yes Mrs Hewitt will now have plenty of scope for her tongue as vice-chairman of T.W.G. – might give Roy a break. 

Have heard nothing more of the broken sewer pipes in Cornishes but I believe someone from Council was having a look round earlier this week. 

Mum had to start buying potatoes today which is an indication of the poorness of our own crop this year. We have a couple of hundredweight on order from Lyng but no arrangements made yet before bringing or fetching. 

No more now.  Hope Susan is better and that you are all in good health once more. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol. 

Mum and Dad

Eva to the family on the remaining two-thirds of a sheet of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the letters and drawings. I hope the children are getting over their little upset. It is common down this way and has lasted about three days. 

It is warmer here today but yesterday and the day before we had a severe frost. It looks as if we are going to be held up for the paper now so we haven’t had it yet and dad is ready to put it on tomorrow. We are in a good old muddle and everything is filthy in the kitchen – got one easy chair there and the other the porch, besides curtains cushions etc. 

Have today planted out two dozen scillas, they are pretty little blue flowers and last a long time in the bulb bowls.

Dad has been very busy this afternoon (Thursday) while I have been in Bristol. He has already finished papering the walls. We went to the Coal Utilisation Council for a lecture and film of different kinds of uses of fuel (solid). The best thing of the afternoon was tea. They gave us walnut and date bread which they had made also a coffee cream cake which just melted in the mouth finished by a hot mince pie straight from the oven – and tea of course. The girl was busy making mince pies as a group of Young Conservatives were usually there in the evening. The shops were looking very nice and hundreds of people about.  Xmas will soon be here and shall soon have to think about the B.R.s’* party. 

Lots of love from Grandfy & Grandma Mum and Dad.

*Bellringers’, of course!

Eva’s illustration includes a Christmas pudding with holly on top, a plate of mince pies, a turkey, a child in trousers and a cardigan, a bunch of balloons labelled ‘pink’, ‘blue’, ‘red’, ‘green’ and ‘yellow’ and what appears to be a lamb with a star above it.  In the bottom corner are two unidentified objects, one of which could be a shoe full of jelly and the other possibly a cabbage. 

Sunday 19 November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for your letter duly received by breakfast time yesterday. glad you like the drawings again and note they have been put in the art gallery. Sorry to report that we have had a lot of trouble with Susan again. Early in the week she was showing signs that she was not exactly herself, and came home from school a couple of days running with evidence of having had accidents. The last time she brought a message for June to see Headmistress next day. I managed to get home fairly early myself that day (Wednesday) and we took her to the doctor. He would not say what it was of course, but said we had to keep her in and warm. The following day she moped about the place and when I got home discovered she had been very sick (chairs, carpets etc). Of course the night had been interrupted and in fact on Friday night June slept in with her and I had Carol. Fortunately on Saturday she showed considerable signs of improvement to such an extent that we were able to get weekly shopping done plus other jobs, and took her with us. Today she seems a lot better, and apart from loose cough and snivel.* Glad to hear you are both free from ills to date.

Should imagine no difficulty in making up your mind to pack up digging etc. when weather turns against you. I cannot say I am very enthusiastic about doing anything in the garden although it looks the usual mess at this time of year. 

We paid a visit to Reading Yard on Wednesday, Lay, Mures and myself. Had another informal chat with the staff side of the L.D.C. and they told us that the men were opposed to more Work Study at Reading as they had not seen the results of the previous investigation but had suffered the staff cuts nevertheless. I pointed out to them that this was entirely due to the N.U.R. at the time refusing to consider the scheme until they had considered another that was still being compiled, and after that had refused to take part in any consultation on any subject (National Ruling) for several months. I think they half believed me, but wanted to see it in writing with Mr (Sid) Greene’s signature on it. Fortunately in my papers I have a copy of Greenes letter on the subject, and we can get access to the original at Unity House so this one will bounce back in their direction very soon. 

The ice plant has already put out several new shoots so hope we can get a decent growth by next year. The tradescantia has put out several more flowers which last only about one day.

Perhaps you cannot remember that when we first came to Number 84 there was an old lady living in Number 82 who had allowed the garden to go to rack and ruin? The grass was long and had not been cut for ages.** She moved very soon after we arrived. Be interested to know what the house will sell for of course, but as you say it will not be much of a clue to the value of one with garage or garage space. Incidentally I had a Schedule A assessment for the garage this week. 

I had a feeling that you would not have been down to the river lately. What about the pond? Is there any water left in it or are there any eels left? If there is water then there is a good chance that there is something alive in it. Fish, especially eels, are very hardy. 

I cut up the remains of a sleeper to use as logs on the fire last weekend, but so far we have not used many. There is still plenty of wood to be cut up. Have so far not had any antifreeze put in our car. Will have to leave that job for a while. 

Good crack about the hat. They do not miss those things even if half blind. This one does not look as if it is in hiding by the way.***

Note from both your comments that the decorating is in full swing. Do not know whether to call you Peter or Adolf.**** So you have gone for the brick wall idea too. Should have thought it more original to disguise the fireplace as a five-barred gate. 

After this week’s episode from Susan, we shall postpone doing anything special in this house. Sympathy would be strained to say the least if they gave new furniture that treatment.

Had a taste of one of the Apple wines I had been keeping. I think it has gone to vinegar. Unless more sugar makes it palatable I shall have to throw it away. Do not know if I told you that I decanted the apricot wine to bottles last week. This is very good. Note your point about the grape wine, but as mine has been in the warm all the time, fermentation may have been faster and may now have been completed. In this case I think I had better put it to bottles.

We have three wall brackets in our dining room as you know, and it was as replacements for these that I mentioned the subject to you earlier. The present ones are fixed to the wall by a flat panel approximately 5 in by 3 in a 6-inch spur jutting out at right angles with a flat top and curving underside. (This just prevents it from looking triangular.) This spur looks to be about 1 inch wide, and support at the end a square block about 1 inch and a quarter size and half in deep. On top of the square the lamp assembly complete with switch rests. I cannot say I like the design but it has the merit of being simple. The thing would be required to be of a dark colour to match the rest of the fittings in the room, but otherwise design is up to you.

Why did the locals turn out in such force to the British Legion parade this time? We had some big parades on the 30th, but thought that sort of thing had declined recently. 

Note your work has involved the moving of chairs at cetera from place to place. We shall soon want a second garage to put the car in. 

The children saw the drawings and Carol it was who guessed what they were first. Susan can now read short sentences from Alice in Wonderland so must be getting on well at school. 

I know Joe Reed. Hope his complaint does not turn out to be bad, but it sounds very suspicious to me. 

Glad you were able to vote for Mrs Hewitt and get a bit of local support on the T.G. She will talk them into anything. 

Well must close now in the hope that next week we can give you a clean bill of health. Love from us all. 

*As we all know, children who are five and three years old respectively spend a lot of their time deliberately becoming ill in order to inconvenience their parents. I have yet to see a single word of sympathy from Alec in any of these letters – our childhood illnesses were of no concern to him except in terms of having to take us to the doctor or having to clean up after us. His utter inability to empathise is even more mysterious when you consider that he spent eight months in an isolation hospital as a child; surely one who had been so ill himself would understand illness in others – but no, clearly he had the monopoly on suffering and nobody else was ever going to be as ill as he.

**He would be horrified to see the back garden of number 84 now; it doesn’t seem to have been touched since we moved out in 1967 and rumour has it that there is a fox den somewhere beneath the brambles.

***Har har, silly women buying silly hats and looking silly in them! This misogynist humour is typical of its time, of course – women drivers, what a scream! – but shows a distinct lack of (a) charity and (b) original thinking. Whyever would one marry a woman – professing to love and honour her in front of all one’s friends and family – and then ridicule her for her choice of hat? Honestly, there are days when I really want to go and dig Alec up and slap him upside the head for his thoughtless and often cruel stereotyping and utterly dismissive words and actions towards women. The fact that he was cremated twenty years ago would, of course, make this difficult, but it doesn’t stop me being angry with him.

****That is, ‘Peter the Painter‘ – i.e. one of the supposed anarchists from the Siege of Sidney Street, or of course Adolf Hitler who had some talent as an artist.

Wednesday 15th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for a budget of news and a lovely drawing from Susan and another from Carol – thank you very much young ladies for sending them on to Grandfy and Grandma – we shall put them with the others in the desk. 

Glad to hear you are all fairly free of coughs and colds at the moment of writing. Mum and I are both keeping free at present but the N.E. wind which has been prevailing for several days keeps us more or less indoors. I did manage to put in a row of peas on Monday but was somewhat sheltered by one of the hedges. Tried to do some digging though yesterday but gave it up after about 15 minutes and crept back into greenhouse. 

So the ‘penny for the guy’ was duly registered by the girls – they do not miss much. Glad they enjoyed themselves although too tired to see the display by next door neighbours. Yes accidents happen every season in spite of warnings and it’s generally a case of ‘who would have thought it’. 

Thanks for information re Reading Yard et cetera and shall be pleased to hear in due course what progress you make with L.D.C. Noted no suitable vacancies about just at the moment.

It is possible the ice plant will not produce any more leaves this year and that what remains will gradually die right back. Keep it in a safe place and it should shoot out afresh next spring. If  it does not we can easily replace as have several rooted cuttings on hand.

Bill Raine did remarkably well considering he was up against such men as Mr Yandell whom you will remember was formerly head gardener to Mrs Burden at Clevedon Hall. Fancy you remembering a walk with him on sea wall to Wick st. Lawrence. Incidentally the body found near the Blackstone Rocks has not yet been identified. 

Did not realise you had already seen one change of occupants in Number 82. Somewhat solves his garage problem now as he will not be further interested in getting a piece of land to erect one. Wonder what the house will sell for? Lack of garage and garage space may cause a bit of difficulty as most people want this facility even if not in possession of car. 

Glad to hear Mrs Baker getting on alright following extraction of teeth – should make a difference to health but a bit awkward without them. Time will come when she will want to take out her dentures to enjoy a good meal, that is unless she has become acclimatised to having false teeth in her mouth. I remember that only too well. 

No I’ve not had any more timber from river – in fact I do not think I’ve been down that far but once since you were last here. The bit you helped to get ashore I cut up only last week and used as logs on fire. Could wish we had a lot more of them as have been cutting up sleeper wood for this purpose. It would be some job to level a strip down to river to enable motor mower to be used – sounds like hard work too. 

Thanks for comments on antifreeze. Actually I never had my radiator flushed out this year so the remains of last winter’s Bluecol is still there but if weather turns in particularly severe shall have to have the job done. 

So you went to West Ealing for June to see an optician and came home with a new hat. The query is did June get the hat before or after visiting optician as it is suggested that if the visit was before perhaps there was then no need to see the optician. Anyhow we hope June was delighted with the hat. 

It was an uncle of Mr Palmers who died at Cannington and and he is having a bit of job settling matters up. Our visit to wallpaper and paint shop took place yesterday and mum was in her element for a few minutes picking out the winners. Shall now have to start stripping the dining room and commence operations. Just as well perhaps to have job indoors for a week or so considering the state of the weather outside. Think of me next week. What is it the old song said?  “When father papered the Parlour” etc. 

Report on the various wines noted. I fully agree about the blackcurrant and rhubarb mixture – much too sharp at the moment. Mrs Marshall gave Mum (for me) a stone jar complete with cork and handle (gal. size) as used for cider in the fields during haymaking time. Quite a nice job and in good condition. Shall use it for storing wine. I noticed today the grape wine is still fermenting fairly fast in spite of fact it is in garage which is on the cool side. Will keep you advised. 

So you have had a couple of power cuts. Now it is reported in the Press there may be a strike over Christmas which will result in a general blackout. 

Yes we know how narrow the road is at Yiewsley – sorry to hear of the accident there but if there is a drunken driver at the wheel of a car anything can happen even if road is very wide one. 

Shall be delighted to see Alec evening of December 7th and we’ll meet him at Yatton when we know time he will arrive – wonder if wallpapering etc will be completed by then? 

Not a lot to report in the way of local news. Have finished digging the plot on which runner beans were grown and and that in the main completes all urgent work in garden until the spring. 

You mentioned something about brackets for wall lamps when we were at Ruislip.  Wondering if I can try my hand at making something as saw Mr Palmer had a couple in his living room which he had made. How many had you in mind?  And have you any particular design in mind? 

British Legion annual church parade last Sunday in common with rest of country. It was the biggest here for many years and they could not get them all in church. A fine day but cold Any wind kept people on the move. 

Cornish came over one day last week – could see me digging from his landing window – said the sewer which runs practically the length of his field was broken in five places and ground on top was sinking. I told him he had better tell Surveyor. Fortunately I have no sewer running through our field but I think Heels have one and they seem to have a lot of trouble. Must wait and see what is going to happen. 

Well this is the lot for another week – hope you are all keeping fit. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad.

Eva to the family on the remaining three quarters of a sheet of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter and drawings by the children. We are well and truly up to our necks in paint and paper etc and don’t know which way to turn. We put one easychair in porch outside kitchen, one in the kitchen and small chairs upstairs which just left table and sideboard sitting in room. Dad spent all yesterday scraping paper off and and it is jolly hard in places although swamped it with water. The room was done back in 1952  as decorator had put date on it we thought it was that year. I have chosen two papers full. One for chimney breast to represent a wall & the rest of paper off-white raised with stripes in places of green, and silver paint for woodwork. I must say it is cold down here and shall be glad when we can get back in dining room. 

Shall be pleased to see Alec down when he can come. It was our T.G. general meeting on Wednesday – the voting for next year’s committee took place and Mrs Hewitt got herself in as the Vice Chairman which she promised herself. 

We went down to Mr Palmers one afternoon this week and to see the wallpaper. The taste some people have. First it was a lilac ceiling in itself was quite good, but the wallpaper (main) was trailing ivy leaves in vivid green while the chimney piece was done representing a wall with bricks big enough for a huge room in heavy black-and-white, the carpet was all colours topped by a circular rug of emerald quite cheerful don’t you think. Joe Reed had to see specialist this week with lump in stomach. He lives opposite Bill Raine in that little cottage belonging to Cox whom he works for. 

Well I think this is all for now so will close with love to all Mum and Dad.

Picture Eva has drawn shows step ladder, bucket, paint brush, two pots of paint marked ‘top silver’ and ‘under silver grey’, a broom, a sponge, a scraper and a wallpapering brush.

The Strand Cinema Fire – Southend, 14 November 1926

On By Sue JenkinsIn Baker, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Strand had originally opened in 1909 as a skating rink and was converted to a cinema in 1911, opening as the Kinemacolour Theatre with seating capacity of 1,000.

The following text is taken from Roy Dilley’s ‘Southend’s Palaces of the Silver Screen’, published in 2011 by Phillimore & Co Ltd., ISBN 978-1-86077-680-9

“On 11 September 1919 the cinema was renamed The Strand, and the ownership changed to Mr Frank Baker*. A magnificent pipe organ was installed at a cost of £4,000. The advertisements proudly proclaimed the Strand as being “The Home Of The Pipe Organ”. This instrument had been supplied by William Hill and Son of London. Solo organist was Florence De Jong (late of the Marble Arch Pavilion). The cinema also hosted a full orchestra (musical director Mr Harry De Jong, former conductor at Sexton’s West End Cinema). The Strand also held first exhibition rights of all the Famous Lasky pictures.

…

On Sunday, 14 November 1926 the Strand was completely destroyed by fire. The blaze was discovered at 5 a.m. and caused £35,000 damage. By 5:30 a.m. the building was a raging furnace, with flames leaping 40 ft high. The roof slates exploded like rockets, and pieces of blazing wood were carried by the high wind onto the roofs of houses in Southchurch Road. Some blazing debris struck a woman standing in a doorway in Warrior Square and burnt her badly. There was no hope of saving the cinema. All the fire brigade could do was try to save adjoining properties, which they were successful in doing. People in their night attire flocked from the surrounding streets to see the spectacle.

The only part of the cinema left standing was the box office and projection room, which were situated at the High Street end of the building. One projector was destroyed; the other was damaged, but was repairable. The film was undamaged, being stored in steel boxes. The roof had caved in and the organ melted. The only part of the organ left was the two pedals. £6,000 would not replace this instrument. 40 people including the orchestra were thrown out of work. The cause of the fire was unknown; a cigarette had been discounted as the fire had started near the roof**. In those days telephones were few, and the owner Mr Frank Baker lived at Leigh***, so friends rushed to his house, to tell him the cinema was destroyed. Mr Baker was then driven to Southend, in dressing gown and pyjamas, to behold the tragic sight.

“Billy”, the mottled cat who slept and lived on the premises, was missed after the fire, and everyone feared the worst, but, to the astonishment of all, the feline was seen prowling around the debris the next day****. 

. . .

A new picture house was built on the site, the general contractor being Arthur J. Arnold. The frontage of the building in Warrior Square was 90 feet wide, the entrance being in modern Renaissance style, with ‘Hathernware’ Faience tiling, to match the adjoining Strand Arcade. The auditorium was 131 ft long and 70 ft wide, with a sloping floor, which had a comfortable rake of seven feet. The proscenium width was 34 ft and the depth of the stage 16 ft. The seating capacity was 1,640, and the walls were finished in cream fibrous plaster, the curtains (by Messrs. Kimballs of Westcliff) and seats were in a restful shade of blue. Heating was achieved by a hot water installation with radiators, while the lighting effects were secured by electricity, with an auxiliary gas lighting plant in case of a breakdown.

The cinema opened on Saturday, 28th January 1928. A distinguished company gathered for the opening, which was performed by the mayor, Councillor A. Bockett.  The guests included many members of the town council, Mrs Eleanor Percy (chairman of directors of the Warrior Square Picture Theatre Ltd) and Mr Frank Baker (managing director). After Mr Harold Judd had sung ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and Mr D H Burles (architect), had briefly described the new building, the Mayor was invited formally to declare it open. 

. . .

A Western Electric sound system was installed for the ‘talkies’, which was changed in April 1934 for Western Electric Wide Range sound equipment.  On 7th March 1937 the cinema was sold by Mr Frank Baker to Messrs. Mistlin Theatres Ltd who were building up a new circuit. The directors of the company were David and Louis Mistlin, the latter becoming manager of the Strand.”

____

*Frank was never the owner of the Strand; he was its manager, installed by his sister Eleanor Percy who had inherited a number of businesses on the death of her husband John Stewart Percy in June 1926.  He was also manager of the Mascot Cinema which itself burned down – but not until many years later, by which time both Frank and Eleanor had also died.

**An entirely uneducated guess might focus on the projector that was destroyed.  At the time the projector’s light source would almost certainly have been a carbon arc, and having witnessed first-hand carbon arc projectors being operated in the late 1960s/early 1970s I can testify that this was a dangerous business and that small fires in projection booths (and the attendant melting of the film) were still a relatively common occurrence.  Back in 1926, also, film stock could be highly flammable, especially if kept in a particularly dry atmosphere and not handled with great care.

***Frank must have moved to Leigh when John Percy died, and may actually have been in lodgings at the time of the fire, as his eldest three children were born sixty-odd miles away in Cambridge – one of them, Pauline, within three days of John Percy’s death.

****This not only explains the old photograph shown above, which has been in the family collection for nearly a century, but also dates it precisely.  (It may have been taken on the same day, and by the same person, as this one:  http://cinematreasures.org/photos/155121)  Billy’s ultimate fate is not recorded, although possibly he hung around long enough to supervise the rebuilding of the cinema and may even have been able to take up residence again in the new building – but sadly this will have to be left to the individual imagination!

Sunday 12th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you once again for weekly letter. Glad to say that the coughs and colds this end seem to have eased. No news from your end on that point so assume you are both O.K. Hope so anyway. Yes the kids enjoyed their small display of fireworks. They were ready for bed at the end. Doug and Ethel put on quite a display, and the girls would have been welcome to see them, but they had had enough by then. Sounds as though young Moore was lucky as he could have had an eye damaged. Every year there are a number of fatal incidents with fireworks. It never seems to do much good as a lesson for the future, as each year brings its own crop. You remembered Wraysbury then. Should think that was a joke that was too practical. 

Had not heard that C.W.P. was about to retire. should think there is not much left in the kitty for him, so best thing he could do. The old order has changed a lot. People like Bryant no longer have much status, and rank as something like a seventh assistant. Poor old Powell seems also to have been squeezed out of his former place in things. 

James is the Yard Master at Reading. He came from Margam where he was assistant Y.M. He is a very good chap and most co-operative. He was there in ‘57 when we were last at Reading. The yard is separate from the station from management point of view and also has a separate L.D.C. The whole cause of the trouble is the constitution of the L.D.C., three guards and a solitary shunter. Should not say that this was a serious hitch, as it has all come about through trying to rush too fast. We have several strings to our bow.

No more vacancies posted recently that could be worth applying for. 

I suppose that we shall have to put up with new neighbours again. We have seen that house change hands already. It could well go to some yanks, and that prospect does not please.

Our Mimosa pudica did not survive at all at Ruislip. We thought it was too sensitive to the change of climate. I am afraid that the day you returned, the leaves fell off, and that was that. All the other plants are doing well. The little ice plant had its leaves stripped by Susan in a fit of pique about 2 weeks ago, and she was smacked for it. It has since flowered, minus leaves, and is presumably still alive although no signs of new growth. June says that the tradescantia had a minute blue flower on it yesterday or though I did not see it myself.

Good for Bill Raine to win the Chrysanths Show. I expect the competition was fierce – especially from retired gardeners. I remember walking along the seawall with him some years ago. We walked as far as Wick St. Lawrence and returned along the light railway lines to Coalhouse Lane. 

No ill-effects from the flu jab. Do not think we shall get one now. Of course it should have been done years ago on B.R. but there is never so much money about for these luxuries as when 90 million in the red. 

Cannot say much about the price of fireworks myself, except that you can only get about one dozen assorted for 5 shillings. I think the bonfire (which is the cheapest part of the proceedings) is the most essential part of a display. Everything falls a little flat without it. Cannot complain of lack of fires here though. 

The episode of the teeth is passing off well enough. June and Carol went over to Yiewsley in the week and found Mrs Baker quite well and not suffering from any after effects. The bruise left by the dentist on cheekbone has subsided, and is losing angry colour. I think the great benefits from having the bad teeth removed en bloc will shortly be taking effect. A bit of a nuisance for a while to be without your own, but I expect that time will pass quickly enough.

Amazing what gets washed up at Blackstone Rock. I think the current is very fierce at the ebb tide and scours the east and north faces of that strip of land. All sorts of things are found there from timber to dead sheep. 

Talking about timber, have you had any more rescues from the river of logs etc. brought in by the tide? I doubt if you go down that far these days. Not a bad idea to level a strip all the way down and keep it cut in the summer with the aid of a motor mower. 

This year Gray used Boots’ antifreeze, but I think he has previously used Bluecol. Boots is cheaper, and from a test made by the Consumer Research Panel (the magazine ‘Which’) it was proved that Boots offered far and away the best value for the money asked. I forget how much it cost, but I believe that I paid about 12 or 15 bob for three pints a couple of years ago. I do not think that Cummings was far wrong about his Meths. Somewhere in the antifreeze mixture is a base of alcohol, but I do not know in what proportions. The idea being that alcohol freezes at much lower temperatures than water. By putting enough of the former with water you lower the temperature at which the whole mixture (solution) will freeze. The danger is the alcohol, and spirits have more penetration than water, and find all the cracks and splits in engine casing and hosing. If the mixture is too to neat, and happens to overspill onto the exhaust pipe or manifold, you may get a fire, and would certainly get noisome smoke.

Sorry to learn that Mr Palmer has suffered a family loss. Hope it was not a near relative. 

I am afraid the driving lessons have not gone at all in the last week. We had a busy weekend last weekend, and driving did not get done. Perhaps we shall today if it gets a bit warmer. Car still going well. We went over to West Ealing yesterday to do a bit of shopping, and let June visit the optician. She came back triumphantly with a new hat which seems complete except for the handle. 

“Tunes” are quite nice. If I remember them, they have a blackberry base. Did not realise they were much good for the throat though. You cannot tell me that there is anything better than our wine for catarrh. 

I do not know if June told you, but after seeing the other, older children with guys in prams etc asking penny for the guy, Carol and Susan took one of their dolls out in the garden and sat him in the dolls’ high chair and started shouting penny for the guy. Nothing like enterprise. We thought the fireworks last week were an excellent series of drawings. Susan knew what they were and she has also told us that this week’s include Peppy and Salty. Do not know what the thing that looks like a meat chopper is though. 

We had a couple of power cuts in the week before last and June had to get candles for lights. 

I have tried all of Dad’s wine and find it all up to standard except the mixture of blackcurrant and rhubarb. It wants to mature a bit I think.  The cherry is very nice and so is the parsnip. Have to be guided by you in regards to the end of fermentation of the grape as I have no lock on mine. I wanted the jar, and so I tried several layers of muslin over the top of one of the earthenware jars into which I had transferred the grape wine. Of course you cannot see when fermentation has ended. The other one is full up with apple wine that I made two years ago. 

After a couple of days of very heavy rain the weather is a lot brighter today. There is quite a cold wind but no rain, and the cloud is high and broken. Yesterday when going to Ealing we passed through puddles that must have washed all the mud off the bottom of the car in view of the force with which we hit them. All the time the rain was torrential. The girls and I stayed in the car in the car park while June wandered* around the shops etc. 

Last week there was an accident just along the High Street in Yiewsley from number 155. Two cars collided and seven people injured. It is said the driver of one of the cars was drunk. You know how narrow the road is there. 

I am thinking of paying a flying visit to Clevedon on weekend 7th December (Friday) at the moment it seems to be the most convenient. How will it suit you? I would travel down on the Friday night (train unknown) and return on the Saturday. 

Well that is all for this week. Look forward to your next. Love from us all. 

*Alec was enormously hands-off when it came to shopping which he considered ‘women’s work’, so June ‘wandering around the shops’ is actually not amusing herself so much as trying to pick up a load of groceries to supply a family of four.

Wednesday 8th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for another long and newsy letter. Not surprised to hear of colds and coughs as we are well and truly into the season of damp and fog. anyhow we hope the tablets will help Carol with the catarrh. Were those prescribed by Doctor? 

Thank you very much Susan for some more lovely drawings – was it a round house with smoke coming out of chimney? Where have you seen one of that sort? 

Expect both Susan and Carol were excited to have a few fireworks and to see the bonfire. It’s quite different round here nowadays. I did hear a few isolated bangs in the distance but no bonfires about. Heard young Moore – about 12 years old – and lives in Avenue next to Bushes lit a banger in a bottle and had bits of broken glass in his face but I see he is out and about as usual so obviously no serious harm. What a lot of really bad causes of injury including some deaths have been noted in the newspapers and strange that we should know where Wraysbury is after our recent visit to you. That was a case of a gay party misfiring.*

Your comments on the various office matters noted with interest also that the reading yard staff are proving a bit obstinate. Who is Y.M. there now? I take it the Yard is separate from the Station. Should have thought a serious hitch like that would have necessitated a visit from McD not Lay. Also interesting to note the position of Gregory who had job Geoff was after. understand from Geoff C.W.P. goes on holiday in January with retirement effective in March but perhaps you know all about this. Any more vacancies posted?

So your neighbour has secured a position at Bristol – he seemed to like the idea of moving to the ‘West Country’ when he was talking to me about the time of his earlier application. He will have to watch where he parks his car down this way the police are not nearly so lenient as they appeared to be up there. Facilities however are I think a bit better generally. In due course you will have new neighbours next door so let’s hope they will be satisfactory from your point of view. 

Cannot remember if Prescott was a particular friend of Les Garland but I think you have identified the individual all right. No further news of the boy and presume back to normal.

Note all your dahlias now inside garage, this should keep them from being frosted. When earth on tubers is dry rub it off and pack tubers in newspapers and store. Unless frosts are very severe they should survive in garage – put a sack or two over them during worst of weather. This last week I’ve pulled up all the runner beans and sticks and started to rough dig the ground. Could not touch it Monday owing to rain but yesterday and today have plodded on quietly. It will be a good job done before ground becomes unworkable.

Fog here recently not clearing until late morning and foghorn in Channel on most of day and night. 

Funny thing you saying must get some sticky paper for labels – in my last letter to Don I asked him to send on a few sticky back blank labels for same purpose.

The grape wine is still fermenting – now over 4 weeks since put under lock.

Yes we thought you would be surprised to hear the number of flowers on African Violet. Mum put two of the leaves in water and roots formed on both. We then transferred them to 3-inch pots containing potting compost but so far can not be sure if they are going to grow; a question of wait and see. 

Expect your Mimosa pudica has passed out by now. Ours seem to have followed same pattern as yours and I’m certain an insect is responsible. Anyhow hope remainder of plants going on alright. Thanks for naming chrysants. I thought it was Westfield Flame** as have a catalogue with a coloured illustration of this sort. 

At last Saturday’s Clevedon Chrysanth show Bill Raine (old choirboy) took the Premier award for the best chrysanth in the show – also took several other high prizes. He told me a long time ago he belongs to the National Chrysanth Society and of course gets all the literature published on the subject. Still it is quite an achievement for him seeing he has little time to look after the plants. 

Any ill-effects from inoculation against flu? I think I forgot to mention it last week but it is a good idea and should have been organised years ago by British Railways. 

Read your comment on price of fireworks. I’m afraid we have no idea of cost now. I do not think we have bought any since you used to like them complete with bonfire down the field. Must be cost of living which has put them up.

We both hope Mrs Baker will continue to make progress following extraction of all her teeth. It must have been a bit of a shock to her system to start with but at least she did not have to go a second time and must feel thankful for that. 

Not much local news I’m afraid. I did hear on Monday night at bell ringing practice the body of a man had been recovered from the sea at Blackstone Rocks on Saturday but have no further details – could have been washed across from Wales. 

So Mr Grey has already put antifreeze in car. What does he use and presumably recommend? The  proprietary brands put in at garages seemed a bit costly to me. Cummings who used to live next door never bought any but put a quantity of methylated spirit in water in radiator, a dangerous practice I think but as far he has escaped from any serious consequences. 

We were going to get some paper and paint this week to do our dining room but Mr Palmer who would have got it at trade price that has been called away to Cannington to arrange funeral details for a relative who has just died so our visit to shop must be postponed until sometime next week. In the meantime must press on with the digging. 

How are driving lessons going, June? Any practice lately? 

No more now but hope you are all keeping well. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad

*Not, of course, the same thing as a ‘gay party’ would be these days. I have been unable to locate any information about a firework-related incident at Wraysbury, presumably in the 1950s.

**Nor have I been able to identity a picture of a ‘Westfield Flame’ chrysanthemum online; there are plenty of pictures of spectacular bronze flower-heads, some of them even real, but they are not given this particular name.

Eva to the family on the remaining two-thirds of a sheet of Leonard’s writing paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letters and drawings. glad the children’s colds are better. I have found those “Tunes” advertised on the TV better than anything I’ve tried for catarrh although they do not have a nice flavour to them. 

I’m very glad June’s mother has now had her teeth out, she will feel a lot better in consequence. 

It is lashing down with rain at the moment but we have had a nice few days. All the children here had four weeks holiday, although I did not see guys in four-wheel buggies going round to get a penny. 

The Social Studies Group (T.G.***) are going to Bristol to the Coal Utilisation Council on the 23rd, it’s in Park Street. Mrs Hewitt can tell the tale at these meetings as she is the chairman. 

Bill Raine’s chrysanths got the blue riband prize, he must have spend hours on the job. We have a nice little lot coming on and I like your bronze one. 

The flu is about here among elderly people, November is a bad month all round. 

You did not comment on my special drawing last week. 

We have had two power cuts here lately. The second lasted one-and-a-half hours, a good job didn’t have a cake in the oven. I had to put kettle on fire for tea time. 

They had a mouse in the choir stalls on Sunday evening – much craning of necks on opposite side and rustle of paper going on. 

No more for the moment.

Lots of love Mum and Dad. 

***T.G. = Townswomen’s Guild, the urban equivalent of the Women’s Institute.

Eva’s drawing this time comprises a chrysanthemum, a singing kettle, something that might be a grill pan with two pork chops on it, a silver cruet, and the two recognisable little figures of ‘Peppy’ and ‘Salty’, a turned wooden cruet set much beloved by us as children.  The original Peppy and Salty vanished over the years, probably when Leonard and Eva downsized to move to Yorkshire in the late 1960s, but in recent years I have been able to import a similar set from the USA.  In fact they were probably made there, which may suggest that they were originally sold in the UK by F.W. Woolworth; certainly they seem very much to fit in with the company’s other usually cheap and cheerful wares.

Peppy and Salty 1961-style, by Eva
Peppy and Salty, 2021-style, by yours truly