Why Broadchurch is – and isn’t – Clevedon

On By Sue JenkinsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Like a large number of UK viewers*, and later on a considerable faction of the world’s population, we sat down one day in March 2013 to watch the first episode of ‘Broadchurch‘, which is a murder mystery set in a seaside town and centres on the death of 11 year old Danny Latimer. Like 99.9% of those viewers we had absolutely no idea what to expect, except that it looked like a genuine and effective British attempt at Scandi-noir. Unlike a lot of those people, however, we jumped out of our seats during the first establishing shot – a street at night – and yelped “Bloody hell, that’s Clevedon!” And so it was.

Or, rather, part of Clevedon was part of Broadchurch. IMDB, rather insultingly, says it’s Portishead, and there may indeed have been some scenes shot there – but Portishead and Clevedon are two distinct entities. The spectacular cliffs and the beaches are very definitely at West Bay in Dorset. The church, however, and the street with the hotel and the newspaper office, and the field which backs on to the Latimers’ house, are all in Clevedon – together with other incidental locations. The Latimer and Miller houses, too, are both in Clevedon. This trend continued with Broadchurch 2 and 3, but the first series is the only one we happen to have on DVD; we bought it solely for the location shots – because one day we may not be able to get to Clevedon, and this is as good a way as any to remember it.

The street in the opening sequence, down which Danny Latimer skateboards to his fate, is Hill Road in Clevedon. Detective Ellie Miller refers to it as ‘the high street’ so presumably it’s actually called ‘High Street’ for Broadchurch purposes. It features several notable businesses, the most prominent of which is The Traders Hotel B&B, in the building which was (in 2019 at any rate) occupied by J. Edward Sellars Financial Planning. The little street market which turns up in episode 1 is, as far as I can discover, an invention of the series, presumably to indicate the passing of time. The newspaper offices are also in Hill Road, Clevedon, but the newsagent’s shop run by the character Jack Marshall – although supposedly in the same road – is actually located at West Bay.

The Latimers and the Millers, as well as other characters (Nige, Rev. Coates etc.) all seem to live on streets that give easy access to a large field with a sea wall behind it and a good view of a church on a hill. This field is easily identifiable as Marshalls Field in Clevedon, and some scenes actually take place on the sea wall. Beth Latimer meets her stalker there, for example, in episode 3, although it’s difficult to imagine where she thought she was going as there is nothing whatsoever along the path but a couple of isolated farms and – eventually – Weston-super-Mare.

This view, across Marshalls Field to St Andrew’s Church, was taken from the sea wall in July 2014, and corresponds closely to camera angles seen in ‘Broadchurch’. Leonard and Eva’s house – as well as those inhabited by the fiction Miller and Latimer families – would be either in the picture or just off it to the right hand side.

The church itself, however, is the most important individual location from this blog’s point of view. St Andrew’s, Clevedon, makes its first appearance in episode 2, where it’s seen in the background for the first time at time reference 12:36, on the left hand side of the picture – and then in an establishing shot at 33:14. The angle there is not quite wide enough to show the family grave, where Leonard is buried and Eva and Alec are both commemorated on the stone**; that’s just off the right-hand side of the image, on a gentle rise close to the gate which leads out onto Poets’ Walk, the footpath around the headland. The hill from which this image was taken is called Church Hill and is in itself the subject of an interesting story which we’ll no doubt get to in a later post.

The family grave also has ‘narrow escapes’ at time reference 18:55 in episode 4 and 10.59 in episode 8; the bench which clearly features in both these scenes is the landmark by which the grave can most easily be located.

The interior of the church as shown is indeed the interior of St Andrew’s Church, and the font which can be seen behind Pauline Quirke at 33:36 in episode 2 is the font where Carol was baptised. Her name used to be on the Cradle Roll, which was up on the wall near the font, but doubtless this has been superseded by now. We have not been inside the church since Leonard’s funeral as it is generally kept locked these days.

The skate/BMX park where Joe Miller takes his son, Tom, in episode 3, is on the sea front at Clevedon, next to the northernmost corner of Salthouse Fields – the green area in front of the pub frequented by Alec in his World War 2 diary fragment, which can be found elsewhere on this blog.

If we hadn’t already been sure, after that establishing shot of Hill Road at night, that we were in Clevedon, the identification would have been confirmed for us by the distinctive sight at 28:23 in episode 1 of the two masts and the line of the sea wall. This is part of a scene which begins at 28:10 and takes place on the path which leads from the end of Old Church Road (St Andrew’s being the ‘old church’ of the name) down to a tiny ramp and boat yard***. From here there is a path to the right which runs up around Wains Hill and joins up with Poets’ Walk, and one to the left which – being part of the Somerset Coastal Path – eventually finds its way to Weston. Alec always said that the two masts were Clevedon’s defining characteristic (remember, he was a radio ham), but if he gave any further explanation I was unable to understand it then and certainly wouldn’t be able to do so now. Therefore I have located this comment by a user named Simon on a forum called UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration which may help:

These two masts are the aerial for the 50kw BBC R5L AM transmitter serving most of the West Country and South Wales. The radiating mast is the one nearest the coast the other mast is an earthed reflector to reduce co channel interference with Brookmans Park, near London, along the M4 corridor.

The Clevedon signal on 909Khz is very strong and clear at my address near Bristol which I use for my mid band test when checking the alignment of any medium wave radio. It’s also a good test of selectivity as nearby is a very strong signal from BBC R Wales on 882Khz from the Washford transmitter, just down the coast from Clevedon near Watchet, which some of the older and smaller transistor radios have problems separating.

Any other Clevedon locations which appear – and there are one or two – are usually the product of either turning the camera around and using the same place from a different angle, or simply following a character with a Steadicam. By cross referencing the DVD with Google Earth it’s relatively straightforward to work out where both the Millers and the Latimers live – and even to come up with a fairly good idea as to where the crew parked their vehicles while they were filming. I won’t give the exact addresses of the houses used for filming; it’s easy enough to do what I did and identify the locations, particularly as they don’t seem to have changed too much in the interim. It seems likely that the interiors as well as the exteriors were used, too; since there wasn’t going to be a lot of damage (nothing got blown up, for example), it was just a case of selecting a house with the right vibe to begin with.

Clevedon doesn’t get a lot of publicity on the whole, it’s a quintessentially genteel Edwardian seaside resort where band concerts and flower shows have always been more popular than ice cream and kiss-me-quick hats. The few ‘attractions’ are clustered around the Marine Lake and Salthouse Fields, with several excellent restaurants – and Hill Road – up at the further (northern) end of town near the pier. There are still occasional sailings-from and arrivals-to the pier in summer, and Alec and his parents are commemorated on a brass plaque there – although we couldn’t find it last time we looked. (We think they remove them after a certain period and re-sell the space.) At any rate it’s a quiet spot and has remained relatively unchanged.

We noticed an autographed photo of David Bradley in a shop window in Hill Road back in 2014, but that seems to be pretty much all the impact the place suffered for having three seasons of a popular crime drama filmed in and around it – and if that’s the case we can’t pretend we’re terribly unhappy with the result.

*Apparently 9.07 million viewers watched the first episode, either live or on time-delay. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadchurch_(series_1)#Reception

**Eva died in York, and due to a misunderstanding her ashes were scattered and no marker was ordered for her. Leonard died in Clevedon and his ashes are interred under the stone in St Andrew’s churchyard, to which Eva’s name was also added. Alec died in Exmouth; his ashes were interred at Exeter along with June’s and those of her sister, Pauline, and there is presumably a marker of some sort to commemorate them all. However his name has also been added to his parents’ gravestone at Clevedon. At the moment we manage to visit at least once a year to tidy the grave and leave flowers, but this is becoming increasingly difficult and we may need to pay someone to maintain it for us in future.

***This is also where a suspect is apprehended in episode 8 at time reference 04.48.

Thursday 29th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family [still using the plain foolscap paper]:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

After the good news received from you yesterday can now reply to your letter to hand on Tuesday as usual.*

Note you are in Cardiff area again this week and presumably will not be home until Thursday (today) evening. Your trip last week gave you a wonderful idea of the South Wales network of railways but weather could have been kinder as it certainly could have been yesterday. It was absolutely shocking and it was the turn of Mr & Mrs Newman to visit us – could not even go down the garden.

All the individuals on your interview panel are unknown to me although I think Wilkinson did a short spell in Bristol DSO some years ago. By this time you will have heard who were appointed to Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham. Did your colleagues get these posts or were there any outsiders about?

We had a brief note from Geoff on Friday last confirming the information you had already given us but did not seem all that pleased about it reading between the lines. Anyhow it is a move up and can pave the way for something else perhaps later.

Have not heard what Norman Allen is actually doing – he was interviewed for two posts reg. coach working and guards working but when I last saw him he had no idea which one he was taking up. There were quite a lot of them to go over to Transom House** last Tuesday that they were told their names would be put at the desks which they would occupy so that they could go straight in when they arrived – sounds like in army organisation.

Am not seeing Norman this week as any tomatoes we have spare will be taken to Tiverton – incidentally they are not ripening very fast this weather.

From the little I know of Eccleston Road I’m sure Mr & Mrs Baker would not have been comfortable there – it appeared to us to be a somewhat dreary road but of course this might have been our imagination of it. We do hope though they will soon find a home to suit them in all respects – time getting a bit short it will soon be October.

Had a visit from the representative of the Insurance Coy. turn up at 4.0 p.m. on Tuesday regarding claim for repair to the burst water pipe. I had been quite honest with them over general condition of the pipe but emphasised that the actual cause of the burst was due to loads of ready mixed concrete passing over one section of it. I left my actual claim open and asked if under the circumstances they would refund part of the total cost of £17.9.2 [£410 in 2020 money] To our agreeable surprise they settled for £12 [£280 in 2020 money] whereas we thought they would either repudiate the claim altogether or offer £5 without prejudice. [£117 in 2020 money.]

So far as Baynton-Hughes is concerned I’m afraid I assumed with a name like that he must have been a trainee – my mistake.

Have not seen the squirrel since and do not think he is a resident of our little orchard. Just on the prowl probably and a little further away from his own place. He has been seen once or twice in St Andrews Drive and beyond. Anyhow if he comes back here he will get a rough reception.***

During the recent dry spell have managed to dig over some ground and on Monday was able to cut all lawns once more. The ‘going’ was very bad owing to the sodden state of lawns and it may be the last time this season it gets a really good trim. Took me 1.5 hours to get the motor mower working – could not understand what was wrong with it. I dismantled carburettor and rebuilt it etc. but no it just wouldn’t go. Then – almost accidentally – I released the pin a little controlling the jet and machine tried to fire. I then released pin a bit more and it got started immediately. Another lesson learned but had never had this particular trouble before. Of course after I got it started somebody called collecting for a flag day and Mum having gone shopping the person came on to lawn. I told her I could not stop engine to deal with her or might not get it started again and that was that.

The two 1960 wines – elderberry & orange are still not under fermentation locks but working very slowly owing to cooler conditions. The 1959 Elderflower has long since stopped working and I may later do what you suggest i.e. start fermentation again with apple.

So you have got rid of car at last – not a very good price but lucky in a way I should think as you may have been left with it on your hands. I’m sure you all miss it now and will be glad to have LTA 259 as soon as possible. Have today advised the Somerset Taxation Office at Taunton that the car has been transferred to you. Will keep your cover note for the time being as it should enable me to bring car round here, when you area ready, and get tyres pumped up etc. Have you anything in mind yet for getting car to Ruislip? We have cut out some loose mats from an old stair carpet to go in ours as additional mats to those already there and they will take the wear and dust to keep the proper ones nice and clean.

As you know we are going to Tiverton tomorrow and on to Exmouth the next day returning here on Tuesday. Naturally we hope the weather will improve but I’m afraid the best of the summer for 1960 has gone and the best we can expect now is a few dry intervals.

You have done right in putting tomatoes in a warm cupboard – they should gradually ripen. I’ve taken out the tomatoes and the ‘ring’ culture side of greenhouse and the green tomatoes placed in boxes in greenhouse to ripen. What have you been using on the pumpkin? A bicycle pump?

We are glad to see from Alec’s short note that Susan & Carol are much better. Not much opportunity for them to get outdoors just now so they will be sure to get up to their tricks indoors.

Our neighbours are still working in Cummings old house. The wedding takes place on Saturday but we have not heard when and where. Heels came back from Croyde last Saturday and I should think they had better weather than we had during the fortnight. Have not seen Roy Hewett since they returned from Worthing last Thursday but understand he is back alright and in fairly good health. Had the bill for our ton of coal this morning – £7.2.11 plus 12/- cartage. [£167.78 plus £14.09 = £181.87 in 2020 money; equivalent imperial ton of household coal would cost about £285 today.]

Well this is about all once more – will drop you a card from Exmouth.

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

Mum & Dad

P.S. Log book for LTA 259 enclosed. The first change was to a personal director of the original owning firm and the second change individual (Yeatman) only had car for a few weeks & never used it. Dad.

*Presumably this was that Alec had got one of the jobs he was interviewed for the previous week, but no more information is given at this stage and there is a large gap in the correspondence after the end of September. By a process of elimination it seems likely he got the ‘out of cat.’ job for the London area, which would be work study/research but is not described in the letters. It may have been the occasion when Alec’s base of operations transferred from Paddington to Liverpool Street, however.

**Transom House, by the way, is now student accommodation. It’s in Victoria Street in Bristol, a short walk up from Temple Meads station, and would have been pretty new at the time.

***This illustrates how attitudes have changed. A squirrel in those days was a rare and unwelcome sight, whereas we sometimes have a squirrel in our garden that we’re always pleased to see. We’ll have to protect some of our food plants against it when the time comes, but we have mice as well and it’s no great hardship to keep them out of places – whereas I suspect Leonard would be putting down poison and setting out traps.

Sunday 25th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for letter of 22nd. No letter from Susan this week, must remember to get her to do one next time.

Well the interview went off very well. There were no questions of significance asked. Each candidate had 10 minutes and the first two of mine was taken up by the introduction by the Chairman to the other members of the panel all of whom I knew personally. Jefferies of the GM’s Work Study Section was in the chair as was also Wilkinson, McDonald and Roy Benns (formerly of the Running and Maintenance W/S Section at Bristol). You would not have known the latter. It appears that all of our four candidates had the same type of interview in that no awkward questions were asked.

Glad Isles has his Special A, but I think he has had the grade on a temporary basis for some time. About time Norman got something. What section is he now gracing? I have heard nothing from Geoff or any further news about his job, I expect we shall hear in due course.

There has been no further activity in the search for a house for June’s parents, A house in Eccleston Rd West Ealing a couple of doors from Miss Baker was examined and found wanting but I can not think that that was a serious proposition.

Glad Don and Joan were able to make their proposed visit and that you found Don in improved health. He certainly likes his afternoon sleep. Wish I could get one occasionally. I gather they liked the car. The contribution of one gallon to the sinking fund also assisted no doubt.

So your second visit to Torquay has come round so soon. If you are lucky you may get a couple of good days. Every now and then we seem to get a good day out of the blue. To-day is an example. First thing there was quite a thick mist cutting visibility down to about 30 yards but it gave way to a sunny and hot morning with fading cloud. I note you have had to start fires. We have the heaters as you know so the problem has not hit us yet. Up until a few days ago we had not had to put heaters on and I for one had not felt cold but I see that it has been switched on a couple of times to take the chill off the air.

Your gardening activities seem to be at a low ebb for the time being due to inclement weather. No point in flogging yourself into digging waterlogged soil and there are always lots of things to attend to in greenhouse or garage.

Most unlikely that you will see Hewett sunburned, more likely he will be browned off.

Cardiff jaunt went off all right again – details later. My further applications will be unaltered by my possible promotion. If I get one of the first group of jobs the apps, will stand as the second group are a category higher, I do not think that Baynton-Hughes was a trainee. If so it must have been Departmental. Not surprising is it to learn that Bob Taylor has done so well. The wheels were truly enmeshed where he was concerned.

So the bomb scare has been settled. I wonder you did not find it was a squib left over from 5th Nov. (of Brocks origin).

Re garden produce, I have brought in all the remaining tomatoes and put in room near airing cupboard. The last of the beans has been picked and eaten, and the haulms fetched up. All that remains of the vegetable patch is the Pumpkin ( now about 10 inches across ) and a good row of dahlias. We have not tried to take off any apples from the trees yet as they do not seem to be quite ready. Few have fallen off so far.

You may find the squirrel has come to stay. It may be that he has made his nest in one of your tall trees down the bottom of the garden. I suppose if it is not rabbits it has to be something else.

Rotten luck on Mrs Stacey to have to undergo such an operation. As you say it is quite serious but there have been several successful jobs done and reported on in the press, Hope she is able to withstand it satisfactorily.

If your Elderflower wine is still working you need have no worries about its sweetness. After a while it will sort itself out. If fermentation has stopped the only way you can get rid of the sweetness is to mix a quantity of new must with it but make sure that you add no more sugar. Of course this means that you will have to ferment the whole all over again and this means an extra long wait before you can taste it. As you have plenty of apples, I suggest they might make the extra must you need especially if you have some sour ones.

Well to tell you of the Cardiff trip. Went down on the 8-5 a.m. Paddington on Tuesday and had lunch in the Great Western outside Cardiff General. Caught a train from Riverside at about 1.30 p.m. for Barry via Sully. From there went to Bridgend round the coast. Dumped bags at Bridgend and then went to Maesteg to view the layout but this was not successful. Returned to Hotel. Wednesday caught the 8-50 a.m. to Cymmer thence to Treherbert via Blaengwynfi. From Treherbert we went down the Rhondda Valley to Pontypridd from there we went to Merthyr High St via Quakers Yard and Merthyr Vale Bus to Dowlais Top and by train to Pant. Caught the Colliers Train back to Bargoed then walked to New Tredegar. On arrival walked across the valley to Tirphil and caught train to Rhymney. From Rhymney we returned to Cardiff and thence to Bridgend. On Thursday we again caught the 8-50am but this time only went to Maesteg to have a look at the junctions we missed on the Tuesday. Hitched a lift on a passing freight to Tondu South Yard then walked to Coity Yard and back to Bridgend along the road. The Mac. came in very useful not so much to keep rain out but as a badge of authority. Strange as it may seem the freight we caught reached Tondu about one hour earlier than it usually does. ( Broomstick with Bowler Hat on Etc ).

Well the Garage arrives on Tuesday and I hope we shall be able to get it up the following week-end. I hawked the car round to dealers on Saturday morning but the best offer I got was £7-10-0. As we had to get rid of it and to avoid paying to do so as we might well have had to do in a few weeks time I took it back in the afternoon and got my £7-10-0. As I walked back instead of getting bus that put the value up to £7-10-6*. I have as yet not seen Mr Gray since but will do so as early as possible to get insurance changed. Will let you know more on the point in due course.

I am afraid the children have both got colds they picked up from Christopher last week. Not very bad but they are having difficulty in breathing. They are past the worst now.

Well that is all from this end again for one more week. Hope you are both keeping well and that you enjoy your short holiday. Love from us all.

*Faulty logic IMHO; walking back actually kept the value of the sale at £7-10 instead of reducing it to £7-9-6!

Thursday 22nd September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family – not, for once, on timetable paper!

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for another nice long letter and the drawing from Susan. Thank you very much Susan.

Naturally we are wondering how you got on at the interview on Monday and hope you will soon have some good news for us. Things seem to be looking up at Bristol. I hear Ernie Iles has a Spl A at Transom House and Norman Allen (at last) a Class 3 also at Transom House. Several other appointments but nobody else of note. No further news from Geoff yet – expect he is waiting for confirmation.

Note Mr & Mrs Baker not yet fixed up. That house you described in Hillingdon sounds awful. However anybody has the cheek to offer it for sale in that condition I just cannot imagine. Hope the house problem will soon be solved – it will be a big load off their minds once a decision has been made.

Don & Joan duly arrived just after 11.0 a.m. on Sunday and departed at 4.10 p.m. – weather was really lovely whilst they were here although actually raining when they left Lyng. Mum & Joan had a walk along the front in the afternoon whilst Don had a short sleep. He is looking remarkably well & says he feels fit. A big difference to twelve months ago. We did not say anything about the changing of the car until we were all walking down the garden to have a look round. They were very impressed and thought we had got hold of a good one. Both Don & Joan sat in the front to get the measure of it. Incidentally Don brought up four flagons of cider which I’m enjoying.

Had a call from Uncle Joe at Tiverton on Tuesday evening. They want us to go to Tiverton on Friday 30th inst then on to Exmouth following day and stop there until the Tuesday i.e. 4th October and this we have arranged to do. Will give us another short break before settling in for the winter.

Talking about winter we have had to start fires as it has been so cold – nearly a frost yesterday morning and now it’s raining again as bad as ever. Managed to dig a small piece of a large plot yesterday but this latest downpour will stop operations for a day or two. Pity our neighbours at Croyde, their fortnight is up on Saturday and I’m sure they will be glad to get home.

Mrs Marshall – with others – went on a coach tour to Scotland last week and arrived home Sunday. Had three wet days but all on the coach apparently thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Roy Hewett and his wife are returning from Worthing today after a visit of nine days – don;t expect to see him sunburnt when he next calls round here.

No I did not shed any tears over the shallots Alec. I skinned them outdoors and positioned myself so that the prevailing wind took the odour of them away from me. No trouble at all.

Note you are at Cardiff again some time this week and that additional staff should be available from Tuesday – query at London or Cardiff. Also that you have made further applications for vacancies in Research Section. What happens if you get one of the posts for which you had interview Monday?

So Barnes and Baynton-Hughes have moved on – both trainees I believe. Don had a letter from Geoff saying that Bob Taylor had got Hart’s old job at Birmingham. He has done very well if this is true.

You are still busy at weekends on garage preparations – hope you will have a fine day when you come to erect the building.

The bombs at Pill turned out to be three mortars ? and they were exploded last week. Apparently they were of British origin and it is assumed they were part of a lot used by troops billeted in the neighbourhood during the war.

Ian Spencer is better again but has given the complaint to his baby sister and a young girl in her early teens who goes in to play with them.*

Notice in the press parents at Derby in a hurry to get their children immunised against Diphtheria following death of one child in the area. No such thing in my day and I had six weeks in an Isolation Hospital with it.

Not much to report from the garden this week. Tomatoes still plentiful but much slower in ripening due to lack of sun and consequent warmth. A lot of apples are falling from the trees. Yesterday just before 2.0 p.m. I was walking down garden path and just as I turned to go along path to greenhouse a grey squirrel jumped onto the garden frames and scurried over the tops of all of them towards field and disappeared in direction of bungalow at the bottom. Must have been one roaming from the grounds of Clevedon Hall where I think they are fairly plentiful.** Anyhow I hope he does not come back here.

We heard yesterday that Mrs Stacey, (wife of Bristol TM Yard Insp.) with whom we exchange visits occasionally, who has been in Southmead Hospital for observation, now has to go to Frenchay Hospital for an operation for a growth on the brain. This sounds a pretty bad job but cases are on record of full recovery being made.

Mrs Cornish came over this morning and said her elder flower wine made last year is very good. I put sugar in the lot I made after your visit here in June and it is now very sweet – too much so I think but it’s very strong stuff. This year’s orange and elderberry wines are still in fermentation jars but working very slowly due to the continuous cold weather.

I put in a claim for partial refund of cost of renewing water pipes following burst but have heard nothing so far from Insurance people.

Our ton of coal came last Friday and I had it dumped outside shed so that I could sort it out and stack in shed. Coal arrived at about 11.30 a.m. so decided to have dinner first. Started on coal about 1.30 p.m. and soon after down came the rain. Persevered until about 3.30 p.m. and was then wet through so have up for the day having moved about 17 cwt. Finished the job off before breakfast next morning. All under cover now except for the 1 cwt slack which is lying in V corner outside shed.

Well I think this is the lot once more – hope you are all keeping fit.

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

Mum & Dad.

*Ian Spencer’s latest indisposition must have been described in a letter from Eva which has since been lost. Very few of Eva’s have survived, and as they were addressed to June my assumption is that they were either used to light the boiler or torn up into shopping lists. Late in June’s life she had to be relieved of several reams of paper she was intending to use for shopping lists – never realising that it would take her a thousand years to use it all up. The habit of thrift has stuck, though. I’m *still* working my way through stationery supplies bought by Alec before his death in 2001.

**Except that Clevedon Hall is a long way away on the other side of town and there is woodland much closer. An odd conclusion to draw.

Sunday 19th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you both for your letters. I am sure you are right in regard to June’s Mum’s health. She has had no opportunity for relaxation or rest over the last few years and she badly needs a good holiday right away from the shop. I am afraid that she will be very busy when they eventually do get fixed up with a house but at least it will be a bit of a change.

The bungalow at Hadleigh was snapped up fairly quickly and by the time they got round to making an offer it had gone. Another house in Hillingdon was a disgrace. They asked 2700 [roughly £63,500 in 2020 money] for it but June saw it and said that water had been running down the walls for two years prior to its becoming unoccupied and then for two years before again put up for sale. It smelled of must and was in a filthy condition. Needless to say that one was not followed up. Another which was apparently right in price and condition apart from outside amenities, was sold by the time they inspected it. I do not know of any further inspections due.

I think you must be that there is little new building these days. There is a colossal shortage of bricks and you have to wait a long time for delivery. Even builders are using second hand bricks to put up new houses. I think it is because of the increase in government buildings like Atomic stations and ancillary buildings.

Yes the weather certainly took a turn for the better but we have had a lot of rain during the latter half of the week. I was glad of the black mac on Friday, the first time that one has come out since last Winter.

Glad your interior decorating now over, I expect it was quite an upheaval until they got out. It is better when you know the men though, you can go out if you want and feel confident that things will be all right.

So Dad has wept a tear or two over the onions has he. Hope he remembered the right formula and did not put in any yeast.

Rotten luck about the Spencers, Young lan seems to be getting everything that is going including one or two that are not.

You do not seem thrilled with the idea of picking the beans tomatoes and then the apples. I must admit it comes round regularly but it must help out quite a bit. Hedge cutting is an awful bind, you will have to buy some of that growth inhibitor which is advertised. It slows down the growth to such an extent that cutting is reduced.

I intend to go to Cardiff this coming week but am a little indefinite about my plans so will not arrange to see you. It looks as though I shall get additions to the staff possibly on Tuesday, which may tie me down a little.

I was on duty at the Home Guard post on the hill when the bombs came down in the Pill area. We found three craters in the fields over towards Kingston Seymour but I was always convinced that more than three came down because I heard the whistles. Of course anything hitting mud would stand a chance of remaining unexploded. It was not the night of the Weston raid. Much earlier, in fact I think Autumn 1940.*

Glad you liked Susan’s drawing. She has prepared an enclosure for this week but it looks as though it will please the G.P.O.

Yes the route to Westcliff is pretty busy but the worst part is the North Circular Rd as it crosses all the outgoing roads from London from West to East.

Yes the interview is as you say for the four out of cat Jobs in the Divisions. Have to-day made out applications for the Head of Research Section jobs in all Divns at next grade higher. I thought they would be coming up shortly. If anything they will be a better bet apart from the L.S.D. No idea who will be on the panel tomorrow but I have an idea that G.A.V. Phillips may be one and probably Wilkinson another, I hope Gerry Burt stops at home. Hear unoffic. that Barnes has become Dieselisation Assistant ( New Job ) and Baynton-Hughes Freight and Parcels Assistant (New Job ) both in the Assistant General Managers Office. Geoff who had his interview on Friday is reported to have got the Timetable Job (against Skinner) and Tovey has got Head of Passenger Train Section ( over Jones ). This is also unofficial but came from a source much higher than Geoff. Should think Hallett would make a good interviewer. By the time he had thought of a question to ask, the interview would have been over.

Cardiff may seem like an outing but at the same time as seeing these places it is a question-of trying to commit them to memory which is no easy matter when you consider all the Abers and Llans and Tres. My instructions re C.P.O. came originally from Pattisson and I have reported all progress back direct to him thereby cutting out the middle man, Moore would let a letter lie on his table for a week or more without qualm unsigned or altered, I can frighten him into action but it is a waste of time as can get things done quicker by going direct to F.D.P.

By this time the A55 will have been inspected by the Lyng contingent. Glad to hear the remarks. GJO still here no response to any adverts. Garage did not come this week so shall ring them up on Monday if I can find the time and find out when it will be delivered. Got five bushel bags of sand from Peter and all but finished the approach from the sideway. Can get car in and out easily now. I shall need another bag to finish off but will get so that I can patch up all the little holes and gaps round the edges where the shuttering was.

Several tomatoes turned in last week and a lot more are changing colour. I picked a green one a week or so ago and put it in the airing cupboard. It has turned just as quickly as the others. There are still some more beans to be had but frost is expected to-night, Doubt whether it will do much damage so early though.

Helped Eric to build a rough ramp to run his car onto off the road this afternoon. He now has it in front garden nearside wheels on the path and offside wheels on ramp. He is decarbonising engine. This was prompted by a knocking noise after engine got overheated. When he took cylinder head off I noticed scoring on inside of first cylinder and on investigation Doug found a metal washer had worked its way into manifold assembly. With electric drill apparatus they are quickly doing the job. Well not much to say this week in the way of news.

More next week after Cardiff. Love from us all.

*According to an online source there was a decoy (‘Starfish’) fire set at Kingston Seymour in November/December 1940 and this bombing may have been as a result of that. See http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/ww2/2_4.htm for further details.

Thursday 15th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for the big budget of news received on Tuesday and the drawing of motor car from Susan – never mind if it did only have three wheels she has a pretty good idea of the shape and knows where to put windows. You are quite right regarding use of this paper at times – the other sort (printed one side) weighs heavier and more sheets of it have to be used.

Glad to hear the week’s leave was not a ‘washout’ at least not in one sense of the word. Actually I think you all did remarkably well under most difficult circumstances. Let’s hope conditions will improve for you the next two or three weekends to enable you to finish the job satisfactorily.

Noted the route taken by you to get to Westcliff – sounds as if you had some busy roads to pass along – all completely foreign to me. Have never even been to Southend by rail. Anyhow it gave Mr & Mrs Baker an opportunity to look at the bungalow – have they had any luck elsewhere yet? query the place at Hillingdon which of course is not very far from their present home.

We are very pleased you have at least an interview for another job on Monday next and wish you all the best for a successful result – presumably it is for the jobs each at Paddington – Bristol – Birmingham & Cardiff. Who is on the panel? Any idea beforehand?

A letter from Geoff since his return from holiday says he did not get either of the posts for which he had interviews about three weeks ago. Now he has another interview on Friday this week for something else. Have not yet heard if Norman Allen was successful for one of two jobs at Transom House for which he had interview on the 7th inst. Incidentally Hallett & Arthur Price were two of the three on the panel – how exciting!

We shall be very pleased to hear how you get on and if there were any ‘catch’ questions some of the panels appear to be fond of asking. Re: Saunders – he got his Class 1 on assimilation whilst at Temple Meads and moved to Yatton on same grade. Now he gets Spl. A at Bridgwater.

Note June busy stripping paper in Dining Room – surely this would have been an ideal job for Susan & Carol? I’m sure they would have been delighted to do it. We have not had account yet but anticipate the total cost including paper for papering and painting the Hall & Staircase will be £30 [£700 in 2020 money] and it really is a splendid job – made such a difference as you will see next visit. In my opinion the Hall & Staircase are the two worst sections of any house for redecoration etc. and whilst it is being done practically the whole house is affected in one way or another.

So you have had a go at the grass and the girls have been haymaking – not surprised you could not keep box on. I could not risk the motor mower and had the job of raking grass up afterwards. It’s been a most disastrous period for any outdoor activities and I pity the people who still have to dig their potatoes – cannot tell potatoes from clods of sticky earth.

We went to Bristol yesterday afternoon to see the Newmans and rain lashed down – some cars even had lights on it was so dark. It was our first trip apart from local runs to the village in the new car but we reached there and got home safely at 10.15 p.m.*

Heels (next door neighbours) went off to Croyde near Woolacombe last saturday – weather then good and continued so on Sunday and Monday but since then back to the water cart again – have been able to roll up the hosepipe and put it in shed for the winter. One thing about it – I know I shall not be carrying water to bottom of garden next season.

Houses seem to have risen in value in your location since you bought in 1954 – fancy nothing available under £3000. The garage on your place will make a big difference if & when you want to sell – much more than the actual cost of and erecting the same.

What an outing in the Cardiff area and good entertainment too by the sound of it. I like the idea of visiting the various places – it is the only way to get a real insight into the layouts and working. Godfrey was very fond of doing this whenever he was in new territory. You can get it in the mind’s eye and retain it better. The session with Pattisson presumably was to report on the position. Noted you were not visiting the Cardiff area this week – just as well perhaps having regard to weather.

Have not told Don & Joan we have changed cars so when they come on Sunday in the Countryman** they will have something to see.

Glad to hear your tomatoes are reddening up a bit – have to watch out for frosts soon and then must pick them quick and let ripen indoors. Shall have to pick all mine later this month and let green ones ripen in trays as I want greenhouse for bringing on the Chrysanths and Cinerarias, geraniums etc. The totasl weight of tomatoes picked is now 130.5 lbs [nearly 60kg]. At the moment I am suffering from hedgitis as cannot do anything on garden – too wet. Most of the hedges have been attended to and am now tackling the bushes alongside the concrete path adjacent to big lawn. these had reached a great height and I’m now bringing them back to about 7 ft. The growth is so thick have had to use saw many times. It will give more room on lawn and allow sun to get at a bigger area of grass therefore it will be drier for cutting.

I still have a bottle or two of greengage wine on hand & several of plum all last year’s. This year’s Orange & Elderberry still in their respective fermentation jars & working. Nothing much else about at the moment.

When we got back from Church last Sunday evening found two young girls on front door step trying to sell a basket of blackberries they had picked on the hill during the afternoon – we did not want them. Could pick our own if needs be by going on hills or in fields towards Kingston Seymour as you well know.

After cutting strawberry plants down to earth level so that you could not see any leaves at all they have shot up again – flowered and Mum picked two or three ripe berries yesterday – this is second crop. Shall have to cut them all down again now as soon as can get on ground.

Well no more now – hope you are all keeping fit – best of luck on Monday.

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

Mum & Dad

*With all due respect to Leonard’s spirit of adventure, this is a mere 20 miles in each direction.

**This is of course not a Mini Countryman, which would have been a pretty new innovation in those days. It’s far more likely to have been something like this.

Sunday 11th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad ,

Thank you for your letter, for a change it arrived while we were having breakfast instead of some time after. Reason was not due to early post let me say. *

Well glad to see the premier writing paper reappear, assume the anticipated content liable to surcharge if written on the heavyweight stuff. Glad you liked Susan’s effort, she is supposed to be writing another for this week but so far all that has been produced is some paper with wriggly lines on – possibly a collection of surrealist snakes. As it is getting near bed time doubt if we shall got a magnum opus this week.

Cannot agree that our weeks leave was a washout. It certainly contained more than its share of rain, but so much was endeavoured that even though only partly completed it is a definite step forward, I thought to finish the connection to the sideway this week end but ran short of ballast when within a few barrowloads of domino so shall have to get another half yard. I have still one bag of cement left for the odds and ends.

The area of the garage is finished and it is feasible to run the old car up on to it. We got it up by means of planks last week but now the step is less pronounced and in fact the near side wheels can run on at a level. As you may guess have not had any enquiry as yet. (How can you sell with no buyer?) I vaguely remember the rain on the Sunday of the commencement of the Clevedon Shed project. Certainly I remember the work in the front room and if I am not mistaken also frequent protests from the distaff side.

Westcliff-on-Sea ( without an ‘e’ to end with – my original mistake ) is really an adjunct of Southend. People will say that it is much superior etc. etc. To get there we proceeded along the Western Avenue to Hangar Lane then turned left (North) along the North Circular Rd, This road runs through Hendon, Finchley, Edmonton and New Southgate and joins the Eastern Avenue somewhere near Gants Hill after passing around North London as it were by a loop. Shortly after this the road splits into route for Chelmsford Colchester and Clacton on the one hand, and Southend on the other. There are two main roads to Southend, the original main London Road and a newer road probably built just before the war known as the Southend Arterial Rd. All of the roads named along the line of route have considerable stretches of dual carriage­way so much so that it is exceptional to find stretches without it.

So far no further moves in the house hunt but we know of one or two possibilities that will be investigated early next week. One place at Hillingdon sounds reasonable.

I know what you mean by going back to office for a rest. Felt my wrists very loose in their sockets as though one good pull would have fetched them out. Having heard of tennis elbow I think I must have had Cement Shovellers Shanks. Well the grape vine has certainly worked this time and no mistake. You will remember the forecast of 19th or 20th Sept for the interviews, I hare mine on 19th at 10-50 a.m. and Stevens and Mann have theirs at 10-40 and 11-00 a.m. respectively on the 20th. It seems the panel or panels (as it involves two days) are taking interviews for all the 12 out of category jobs (four each for Optg. Comm. and Running & M.) There were some interviews for ‘A’s in our own Section last Friday. Notley who has been in hospital with “Atheletes Foot” had an interview and also Hall Williams and Bowden. Doubt whether you know the last few. Were it my choice I would not give any of them the job. Note Saunders has got a leg up, it was not ago long ago that he moved to Yatton was it?

Note also the work under way in both the Church and at Devonia. Nice to be able to got it done. June has already stripped the paper of the walls in the Dining Room and waiting for someone to do the ceiling. Understand paint will be ordered shortly so expect to find alterations when next this end. Frank James and his assistant are not coming this way for their holidays I suppose. Incidentally we hare not tackled the Hall and Stairway as yet. Can’t say I am looking forward to that job. Good job your work is being done in fine weather as you say.

Yes I have duly completed the minutes of the Cardiff Meeting and when last seen were being typed. Shall send them out on Monday. For Cardiff activities see later paragraphs. Have not heard from Geoff and Co. since they have returned from Italy but that is not surprising as we have no regular contact. We owe them an invitation to tea out can not see that coming off until the Dining Boom is finished, and that is conditioned by outdoor work. The garage should arrive next week-end or the one after and although not difficult to erect will probably account for the week-end’s work.

Note Mrs Elston passed away, she was indeed a good friend of Grandma’s and I remember her well. So you and Don will be swanking about your new cars next week-end. Can not compete as yet but in a few weeks time shall be able to show you a thing or two in garages.

I forgot to tell you that last week when Peter and Doug were helping to do cementing we polished off the Greengage wine. I had some of the best Plum yesterday but it is still a little young. Tried a couple of glassfuls of my 1958 Parsnip to-day and find that it has mellowed a lot since last tasting. Shall have to take floor boards up and see what is happening to the store. I am not a bit surprised you find the Orange a hit sharp, my early efforts were just the same, I think it is mainly the fruit and is a feature of citrus wines.

I see you have cut your lawns. Due to the hiatus with the ballast, I had a chance to have a go at mine to-day and what a game that was. Set the mower as high as it would go and still cut and started off. Grass was so wet I almost set up a bow wave as I cut through it. Managed to get lower lawn at back done and then went over again with blades set lower. Result was not too bad. The top lawn was if anything longer and I only managed to get as far as the swing and gave it best. Of course the kids have revelled in the mown grass, scattering it all over the place and playing such harmless games as making pastry with, wearing it in the hair, filling the pram with it and walking it indoors. I tried to use grass box but it filled up to overflowing after two feet progress so had to abandon that method.

It is incredible to think of 1 cwt of tomatoes but that must be a very good output per plant to achieve such a high figure. At long last my tomatoes are beginning to turn. They are the strangest golden rust colour at the moment with several blotches. The skins look thick but press in fairly well. We await the first red fruit.

Your neighbours are certainly attempting to improve the place to all accounts, Agreed it was not too difficult a job to do just that but they must have put many hours in by now. The equipment going in is a good pointer. While on the subject of houses, June applied at Browns (the Agent from whom we got ours) to see if there was anything suitable on their books that would suit Mr and Mrs Baker, They said they had no property for sale under £3000 [£75,000 in 2020 money] and seldom do got any in the mid-two thousands these day. From all pointers our place should be worth at least £3500 [£82,000 in 2020 money] by the time the garage is up**.

You ask how the children got on when we were doing the concreting last week-end. While June was assisting by getting the hard core with Christine, they were in the house on their own and from time to time came to the window to shout insults or instructions or something at us through the window. At other times they wandered to and fro across the working area much to the irritation of the navigators. As expected despite several warnings to keep away from the wet cement before it had hardened, one or two smacks had to reinforce the points.

Susan has managed to produce a drawing this week after all. It is supposed to be the car. The blank bit near the top are the windows and the dust bin like thing at the back is reported to be the boot. I have counted the wheels several times but can only make it three.***

I am not going to Cardiff this week so do not expect to see me. Well I went to Cardiff on Tuesday as planned. Rang up Alwyn Jones on arrival as he wanted to see me but he could not as was tied up with a meeting. He offered lunch but I had already arranged to meet the B.T.C. chaps off their trains at 1-30pm so turned that down. As had arranged to meet Huff in the afternoon that put paid to that for the day. Had a long session with Huff and Bryer until after five then made our way to Bridgend where we had booked up hotel accomodation. (Cardiff full up owing to meeting of the British Association.) Had a meal at local Cafe then went to Tondu to see the evidence, that had been kept there of the tests carried out at that place in March and May. Back to Bridgend by bus thence to bed.

Caught 6-20 am Bridgend next morning to Cardiff, 9-0 am to Queens St. 9-35 am to Pontypridd. Connection thence to Abercynon, and connection thence to Aberdare. We crossed over to the High Level station and walked the line back to Mountain Ash then back to Cardiff where we arrived about 4-0 pm. On Thursday we rang up Alwyn Jones again and fixed an appointment for 12-00 noon. (Dangerous time.) Caught the 9-15 am Queen St to Caerphilly than walked in the direction of Penrhos Jcn turned off round the triangle at Aber Jcn, called at Aber Jcn Yard then returned on the diesel to Cardiff. When we got back we saw Jones, who took us on a tour of Marland House (Equivalent to Transom House) showed us all the offices which as yet are mostly uninhabited. At 1-00 p.m. he proposed lunch and took us to the Park Hotel where L.C. Barron was waiting. Barron is Staff Assistant to Stevens. They stood us a rather slap up lunch and insisted on giving 100% entertainment, Jones took the opportunity to say how badly they wanted people from London with Headquarters experience to come to the Divisional Office, The event finished by Barron driving us back to Queen St to pick up our bags and thence to Cardiff General for the 4-00 pm. As usual the main object of the meeting was lost. We shall have to see him again (say about 8~0am). Friday I had a session with Pattisson, and that completed an eventfull week. Well there it is again for the time being. Hope you are both in good trim. Love from us all.

*”Breakfast was late, waaa waaa!”

**Similar properties with the identical footprint in the same road are now going for over £500,000.

***One can only hope that mocking the efforts of a four year old gave him some kind of satisfaction, otherwise there seems little reason for doing it.

Thursday 8th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

[Alec’s letter, presumably of Sunday 4th September, has not survived. NB: for a change, Leonard is writing on plain white foolscap.]

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for June’s letter received on Friday last and Alec’s on Tuesday this week and not forgetting Susan’s splendid effort at drawing. Your week’s leave was a proper ‘washout’ and all of you must have had a terrible time coping with the many preparations for base of garage. Reminds me of time Don & Geoff came to Clevedon to build shed. They had a week’s leave and every minute had to be used or the job could not have been completed. The first day (Sunday) it poured so everything was turned out of front room and the sizing and cutting of timber was done there. We hope none of you had any after effects consequent on working in such weather.

Note from June’s letter you had a trip to wembley on the Monday and did a bit of shopping also a trip to Richings Park then later in week a long run to Westcliffe on Sea with June’s Father & Mother – how nice for them to be able to get away together for once – expect they enjoyed the day out even if not suited regarding bungalow. The map I have of the area shows Hadleigh but not Westcliffe. Which way did you go? Query north of London then South East. We hope they can get fixed up soon as that will be one worry off their minds and what a relief it will be to get away from the shop* and district.

Turning to Alec’s letter again I imagine he was glad to get back to work this week for a rest. I used to feel like that after a good week on the garden in the old days. Note position re: vacancy applications but no doubt you will keep us advised of any developments. Heard this week that Saunders of Yatton is going to Bridgwater (Spl. A) and that Norman Allen had an interview for two jobs at Transom House yesterday – had to see Hallen and Arthur Price.

Yes the bellringing is quite good fun and last Saturday at Portishead we had 10/- each for our trouble. Only two of the regular Portishead ringers were available and they were most glad of outside assistance. Our next one here at the Old Church is on Monday Oct. 3rd – wedding at St. Peters and bells at Old Church. The Old Church at the moment is upside-down, roof off (temporary galvanised sheeting to keep rain out) part of inside sealed off and piano being used in place of organ. All this due to renovations being carried out consequent on work of death watch beetle. Now feared that damage worse than first anticipated and estimated for.

Our house too is upside-down this week as we have Frank James and his assistant in repapering and repainting Hall & staircase. Fortunately since Monday weather has been grand & we can keep doors open & let paint dry quicker and incidentally to let some of the smell out.**

Assume by now you have completed minutes of meeting and had another trip to Cardiff. Presumably progress being made with the scheme in hand for Cardiff area.

Have you heard from Geoff and family since they returned from Italy? Should have been home again sometime yesterday.

Had a line from Don yesterday to say that Mrs Elston (Exeter) died on Sept 1st and that Joan and he went to funeral on Monday. Mrs Elston was a very great friend of Grandma Atkins as I expect you may remember.

Don & Joan are coming up to dinner on Sunday 18th inst. – in style presumably in the new Countryman. Have not told him yet that we have changed cars.*** Your LTA 259 now safely garaged in St Andrew’s Drive and cannot be moved again until it is covered by your Insurance. Quite safe where it is and in the dry. Radio Licences are not transferable hence the desire to renew in your name. We seldom used it when out in car and shall not miss it in the future. Must admit though that if anyone out for a picnic like you were at Richings Park it could be very enjoyable. Query any moves regarding your present car GJO 120?

Shall have about ten pints of elderberry wine in due course and you must have a bottle or two later on. An afraid it is too late now for you to think of getting any berries. The orange wine seems to be maturing all right but a little on the ‘sharp’ side at the moment – more sugar in due course – hope to bottle about nine pints.

Managed to cut grass on Monday but it was hard work even for the motor mower.

Bad luck on football pool effort – obviously wrong week to get an all correct line as you say – still the permutation is good.

Have now passed the 1 cwt mark with tomatoes and quite a number still on the plants to ripen. Runner beans practically finished except for a few odd pounds but I shall have several hundred for seed. Broccoli now turning in and even a few savoys are formed in the seed bed. There has been an unmistakeable sign of Autumn in the mornings down here this week and some fog but yesterday and again today we have had glorious sunshine all day and I’ve been able to get on with hedge cutting – the ground is still much too wet to get on.

A lot of work going on next door now-a-days – somebody there most of the time painting or hammering until 10.0 p.m. nightly. Today an electric cooker was taken in and fixed by Electricity Coy.

Susan made a very good drawing on her own – how did they react to the work being done in the rain last week? Or were they otherwise occupied? Note Pauline was with you part of the time so no doubt Aunty Pauly had a rough time.****

Have asked Don if any more cider available. How did your neighbours like the lot you took back?

Note you may be going Cardiff again next week and if possible will make Clevedon for a short visit. Of course we shall be delighted but, if you can, let us know in good time so I can meet you at station.

Mother has just picked up June’s letter and said she is going to reply later to look out June.*****

Not much more to tell you this time – hope you are all keeping well and that this break in the weather will enable Susan & Carol to get outdoors again.

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

Mum & Dad

*There do not appear to be any photos of the shop – at least, I haven’t found any. I remember it as being narrow and dark, with an odd little triangular garden filled with nettles. I was told as a child that it was being bulldozed ‘to make way for an extension to the runway at Heathrow’, although a quick look at the map shows this to be patently ridiculous. It was clearly bulldozed at some point in the 1960s-1980s, though, as the address is now a branch of Aldi.

**Anyone familiar only with modern paint can have no real idea of how much paint – even emulsion – used to stink in the 1960s. It was foul, and it took a very long time to go away!

***This one-upmanship over cars is a seriously unattractive trait IMHO, but mercifully not genetic; as long as a car does what you need it to do, who cares what bells and whistles it’s got? (Although I must admit heated seats sound more attractive as one gets older.)

****Because looking after children is such an imposition. Good job there are women about to do it.

*****And yet more disrespect towards women; clearly a letter from Eva couldn’t have any value whatsoever and is something to be avoided if possible. The self-importance and belittling comments about other people get very old very quickly, don’t they?

The mystery of the missing brother

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Teddy in approx. 1924 and 1944

Now we come to one of the sadder chapters of our family history, the story of June’s missing brother. That is to say, he wasn’t literally ‘missing’ – he didn’t go off hiking one day and never come back, or anything like that – but he was deliberately expelled from the family for conduct that has never been specified, and there was no remotest possibility of forgiveness or reconciliation for the rest of his life.

William Edward Frank Baker (Teddy) was born at 112 Tenison Road, Cambridge, on 26 March 1922, the first child of Frank – then a cinema manager – and Edith (nee Mullinger). There is a photo of him as a small child, certainly less than two years old, and then a gap in the record until he joins Lindisfarne College, Westcliff-on-Sea, in January 1934 at the age of 11.

I have a full set of school reports, which seem to suggest that he was ill during his first summer term and missed quite a lot of school, after which he struggled to catch up. His strengths were maths, ‘handwork’ (presumably carpentry) and, unexpectedly, French – although he clearly enjoyed larking about and was not particularly serious about his work. As far as his conduct goes, his headmaster – one Edward Daws – repeatedly refers to him as a pleasant and good-natured boy; not academic, perhaps, but practical and straightforward, and one who should do well in later life.

Of course, you have all worked out already what’s coming young Teddy’s way; he was born in 1922, and would therefore have been 17 at the start of the Second World War. In 1939 he was living with his parents at the Victoria Hotel in Wolverton (‘The New Queen Victoria’), and was described as an ‘Assistant Hotel Manager’. His father was the manager. Teddy’s parents, two sisters and his baby brother (June, Pauline and Peter) all lived there as well; so did his maternal grandfather William and his mother’s sister Nell – plus a barmaid, the barmaid’s child, and another couple who were probably lodgers. This is a household of ten people, and although the building is quite large it was operating as a hotel and may also have had letting bedrooms – which would have been more than enough to keep the family busy cooking, cleaning and otherwise catering for themselves and their guests.

Details of Teddy’s wartime career are not available at the moment; the MoD will not release them without the consent of the next of kin until 25 years after the individual’s death. He was in the RAF, he was not a pilot, and he served in the Far East; that’s all I know.

In 1943, Frank and Edith inserted a notice in one of the Southend newspapers (not yet identified):

BAKER: Of age on March 26th 1943, William Edward Frank (RAF) eldest son of Mr and Mrs Frank Baker, late of Strand Cinema and Mascot Cinema. Now of Tower Arms Hotel, Iver, Bucks. [2739A]

And then there is silence. We have Teddy’s own word (in a letter to Alec Atkins after Edith had died) that he ‘lost contact with his family in the 1950s’. June’s only comments about this ever were ‘he was a tyrant’ and ‘he broke his mother’s heart’. Alec went to considerable lengths to track him down via the secretary of the RAFA at Uxbridge in 1987, because Teddy had been left a small legacy in Edith’s will. Teddy decline to benefit, and asked that the money should be sent to the World Wildlife Fund instead. Alec was quite brusque, saying that he didn’t know why Teddy had remained apart from his family and he didn’t want to know, and there the correspondence ended.

In late 2003, June was contacted by an heir hunter in connection with Teddy’s own estate; Teddy had apparently died in early 2001 – about six months before Alec, as it happens – and there was a small sum of money to be distributed between his heirs. As Pauline had also died by then, and had no children, June and Peter shared the legacy between them; June was reluctant to accept the money, but recognised that it would enable her to help her grandson, Robin, so put most of it into an account for him.

And now there’s nobody left to explain how and why a family member was so effectively shut out that his death wasn’t known about until more than two years after the event. Nothing about Teddy’s school reports indicates a ‘tyrant’ in his youth; he was never in trouble with the police as far as I know, but until I can access his service record it’s impossible to know what may have happened to him during the war. My best guess at the moment is PTSD, which changed his behaviour, or possibly some involvement in the infamous RAF mutiny of 1946. Or, indeed, both.

Teddy never married, nor had children, and the rest of his life is a mystery. He may have worked for the RAF in a civilian capacity, as I received the garbled impression that he was a steward in the Mess at RAF Hendon, but unless I can make contact with someone who knew him towards the end of his life this is unlikely ever to be resolved.

I’ve applied for Teddy’s death certificate in case it sheds any more light on the subject, but at the time of posting this it still hasn’t arrived. I’ll update if there is anything of interest to report when it does get here.

Anyway, Teddy was a perfect example of the way the family as a whole tended to deal with problems – i.e. ignore them, and the people who create them, and simply make them go away. There was a similar case in the 1980s when they tried to magic away someone who did not fit their template for an ideal human being – but somehow or another, and to their eternal chagrin, I’m still here, and I’m the one who gets to tell the story.

I’m really sorry, Teddy, I wish I’d known you; I think we’d have had quite a lot in common!

Thursday 1st September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family [on the reverse of Table 168: SCOTLAND AND NORTH OF ENGLAND TO SOUTH WALES AND WEST OF ENGTLAND (via Hereford) Mondays to Fridays continued, Saturdays continued, and Sundays]:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

After Mother’s effort yesterday I’m afraid this letter will be more or less a rehash of stale news. Start off with the weather – really shocking. We had a taste of the heavy thunderstorm that hit the West Country last Saturday and at about 3.30 p.m. that afternoon it was raining to such an extent could only make out the outline of houses opposite. This week has not shown a lot of improvement and I’m afraid you must have had a bad spell at Ruislip for your leave.

Glad to hear Carol alright again now – let’s hope she will grow out of it as Susan apparently has done.

As Mum has mentioned we were delighted to hear that Mr & Mrs Baker may now be disposing of their business and we hope they will be settled in a new home before the worst of the winter commences. I’m sure they must both be looking forward to a rest when they can actually sit back and take things easy. Please give them our very kind regards and best wishes for the success of their venture.

Noted conversation with Welchman and that a halt has been called to the backward & forward transfer moves – this is one of the snags of ‘all line’ posting of vacancies. I never thought it a satisfactory arrangement and when it was first introduced it was general feeling that people in the Midlands & North would gradually work south.

A nice day out at Cardiff then with the ‘high ups’ – presume the ‘shorts’ were in evidence before lunch. I had several similar meetings during the War in Great Western Hotel at Paddington. I agree it was a meeting not to be missed even if it occurred on your week’s leave.

There was nothing really wrong with car but Payne noticed a ‘bit of play’ in steering wheel and suggested it be put right here. Frankly I’d not noticed it and doubt if you did when you took car to fill up before we came home at Easter so that will give you an idea how closely Payne looks into things.*

I renewed car radio licence this morning and had it made out in your name so enclose same herewith. I always kept it inside Driving License cover for ready reference. Note you will let us know when to forward log book.

Mum has given you further details of our car – colour etc. Apart from a couple of trips to Six Ways and the village we have not yet been out for a long ride – weather really against it. Wonder how Geoff and family are getting on in Italy? If it’s anything like the weather they are getting at the Olympics they won’t be very cold.**

I used the other paper a fortnight ago as thought with so much to tell you (about car) I should be overweight with this paper (one side usable only) for a 3d stamp – this was the only reason.

The Orange and Elderberry brews are going on nicely – the latter a lovely rich plum colour. Did you get your supply from West Drayton alright? Note your tip re: sugar for orange wine – will add later if required.

Heard yesterday that the proprietor of the New Cafe on the beach – where Susan saw the kitten – a man of about 40 has died suddenly. No other details at present – must wait for local rag.

Reading your letter again I see one place June’s Mum & Dad have in mind is Westcliff on Sea. Have never been there and cannot imagine what it’s like. How many miles from Ruislip?

Sorry to hear about accident to Roy’s car but it should come out of repair looking like new again. It’s surprising how well these jobs can be done now-a-days. On the question of Insurance the two Companies involved will sort that out but it should not affect Roy’s ‘no claim’ bonus because he was not responsible for accident.

Don’t worry about your grass – I cannot get at ours and it’s pretty long already. Much too wet to get out on it at the moment.

Any more news of applications? Or must you return to work before hearing anything?

No more now – hope you are all keeping well.

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

Mum & Dad

*Or just possibly makes them up out of thin air?

**I have been unable to trace weather records for the 1960 Rome Olympics but the pictures I’ve seen show glorious sunshine. I wonder why Geoff and family chose that particular time to go to Italy?