Sunday 8th May, 1960

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for Dad’s letter which duly hit the mat just after breakfast on Saturday. Glad you liked the photo. We thought it was not too bad. Herewith is the other one of the group which was outstanding. This we think has also come out very well.

No falling downstairs to report this week thank goodness. Don’t worry about the Birthday card from the Church. I should imagine it is on the anniversary of the Baptism but we shall not be surprised if it fails to turn up.

Glad that Dad is making obvious progress and has been able to spare some energy for the bells. It has been a busy period in that line for you.

Yes Susan’s Birthday is almost upon us. It does not seem four years in some respects, but more like forty in others. She is quite a handful and I do not think Carol will be quite so bad. It is difficult to get through to Susan sometimes, and she has always been the same. It is rather different with Carol who responds more to us. I expect these things will sort themselves out eventually. When you come to think of it Susan will be due for school in a years time, and by that time Carol will probably be going to Sunday School.

It was the anniversary of the founding or building of the present Sunday School and parents were invited to attend. June and I went and took Carol with us, I enclose the form of the service. We all went in together and thought Susan would be sitting with us so overlooked to give her any collection. When the plate went round we saw a rather red-faced Susan standing up on the far side of the room saying “I have not got any, I shall have to ask my Daddy.” The last Hymn was accompanied by bells and klaxons etc etc.

We heard to-day that Iris’s Father returned home last Tuesday, Apparently they managed to dispose of the trouble without any operation. We do not know how he is but should imagine O.K.

Re golf: we had no intention of spending so long queueing but presumably neither did all the others who were there. It is a dead loss for a Sunday morning. We tried again to-day at a different course but was so bad that we had to revert to the former. It looks very much as if we shall have to scrub Sunday Golf and try to get a mid-week evening round in.

Some of your Chrysants are about a foot long now, I have pit them out of doors in their pots in a line across the garden, supported with strings. They cannot blow over and I shall repot as it becomes necessary. The plants tend to droop in the day and have to be watered every evening because of the very hot weather. Have also a pumpkin in bottom corner plot. Peas are growing, but somewhat sparse. No sign of the dwarf beans yet.

Hope Soole’s wedding went off according to plan. The other was quite a spectacle. The children saw it as it actually happened and were interested for a time but soon tired. June and I saw it at night, Eric next door was in the Abbey in Morning dress, (With television team).

Have not got round to my runner beans yet. In fact I forget where I put them. You seem to have quite a few in.

I have tried all you wine except the 2nd Plum. It is all very nice and I quite liked the Greengage but it is hard to say whether it is better than the Cherry which was very tasty. It is a good selection generally. I have all the ingredients for half gallon of apricot but have not got round to making it yet. There seems to be so much to do these days. Watering takes a deal of time each evening but I get a little assistance from Susan who waters the lettuce. I cut the two back lawns yesterday and would have done the front one but Carol was asleep and did not want to disturb her.

We went to Pinner yesterday to have a look round the shops. Was very dis­appointed with the town. We found our way into Pinner Park and it was delightful. They have a pond with Ducks on and Large Golden Carp swimming about. There is plenty of grass to play on and some cage birds in one corner. We were rather struck with the place and intend to go again. Today we went to West Drayton after the Service but did not stay very long as Carol was a bit tired. The traffic on the Western Avenue at about 3-30pm was tremendous. There were two lines going West and the cars were bumper to bumper as far as the eye could see. We crossed it from Swakeley’s Avenue and it took a minute or two to get over. When we returned the numbers had thinned out a bit. I expect the return about eight or nine o’clock will be just as bad. Can’t see the pleasure in motoring in those conditions.

Had not heard about the Match result on Easter Monday – you did not tell me. Am disgusted with the final result however. Talking about football I saw the end of the Cup Final (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_FA_Cup_Final) and thought it a very poor match. Have not looked at the Amateur Gardeners yet but we have almost got through the Country Lifes.

Well that is all for this time. Hope you both continue to improve. A few weeks of this sunshine should do the trick ( with plenty of rain at night) Love for now from June, Susan, Carol and Alec

Thursday 5th May, 1960

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Leonard to the family – on the reverse of Table 50 – READING, MAIDENHEAD, SLOUGH, EALING and LONDON and Table 51 – WEST DRAYTON & YIEWSLEY and STAINES WEST (Second class only)

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter duly received on Tuesday and we were so pleased to hear that both Susan & Carol had got rid of their colds. The photograph is lovely and we are delighted to have it – thanks very much.

So Carol takes a tumble down the stairs – she was lucky to get off so lightly. It will make her more careful in future but in any case she will soon be more sure of herself. As we have said before she has made wonderful progress since last July.

That reminds me I have not had a chance to speak to anyone yet re: birthday card from the Church but last Saturday I looked at the big notice near the Font containing the names of those christened in these last couple of years (since present vicar arrived) and Carol’s name is there alright and I should imagine the card is sent on anniversary of Christening – will try and confirm in due course. Now we have another young lady’s birthday very near – fancy four years old.

Am glad you managed to get polio injection Alec – what about June? Have you also been able to get round to it yet? It is a horrible scourge and something we heard nothing of – or very little – in our younger days.*

Note you have no further news of Iris’ father and assume therefore position going on satisfactorily.

You must take your pleasure very seriously to have to turn out so early for a game of golf and then have to wait your chance to start. Sounds a bit crowded to me.

So car has had some elbow grease and a spot of good luck from a bird but rain is something we have not had lately here and ground is like concrete. The chrysanths should break naturally and throw up a couple of shoots from the break – later when these secondary shoots get about 4 or 5 inches long they should break again – if not pinch them out and allow two shoots from each of these breaks to grow and bear flowers. When in bud there will be a lot of disbudding to do or you will have numerous small flowers instead of a few large sized ones. Can tell you more about this when you come down.

Got a bit of ringing to do this week – tonight at 7.0 p.m. a half muffled peal in memory of the Bishop of Bath and Wells who died suddenly last Sunday.** Tomorrow (Friday) at 11.30 a.m. for Soole’s wedding to Marjorie Richards and at 7.0 p.m. for the Royal Wedding. From this you will gather that I’m feeling much better than when I wrote last week but the cough is still a bit troublesome intermittently. This I hope will disappear sometime. Can do without that kind of flu in the future.

So far as garden concerned as mentioned above ground is still very dry and like concrete but I’ve put out – so far – 97 runner bean plants and something like 150 beans have been sown in boxes and in the garden for putting against the sticks of the second row. Had to go out late on Saturday evening last and cover up all the potatoes owing to frost warning given out on TV. The previous night I had two or three potatoes slightly frosted and was afraid of a more severe visitation. We did have another frost but no damage done.

Have found one blackbird’s nest in the hedge running across bottom of garden immediately behind runner beans.

Note Susan & Carol have heard the cuckoo (clock). I saw one a couple of days ago flying away from an attack by other birds.

Incidentally have you tried the greengage wine yet? I like it but Mum prefers the cherry because there is more bite in it.

Not much more to tell you this time – managed to cut all lawns again over the weekend but grass had got so long again that I had to keep box off. The flower borders on lawn are full of wallflowers at the moment but in any case I could not dig them over until we’ve had rain.

One more item – Clevedon lost replay in Somerset Amateur Cup Final to Radstock 1-0. Perhaps you had already heard. On Easter Monday it was a 1-1 draw.

All our love to you and we hope you are both feeling very much better now. Lots of kisses for our two little darlings.

Mum and Dad

*In this time of coronavirus it’s fascinating to hear of an earlier generation’s justifiable concern with polio, although it would be useful to know where they had to go for the vaccine and whether or not they had to pay. At any rate they would have been among the first wave of people able to take advantage of the Salk vaccine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Salk#Polio_research), the game-changer in polio research.

** This would have been Harold Bradfield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Bradfield

Sunday 1st May, 1960

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you both for your letters. Hope by now you have both got rid of the colds and are again in the pink. I do not know about Susan and Carol picking up your cold, they had bad catarrah for several days but they are both as fit as fleas now.

Carol has had quite a week-end of it. Yesterday she fell half way down the stairs on to her head and got jammed under the wooden gate. Her head was one side and her tail the other. It raised a bruise on her left temple and for a while she gave us several verses of the song the donkey died of*. It sobered her up for a bit but she shook off the effects fairly quickly and became her usual self again before evening. To-day she fell down three times, once off a chair and once in the garden which took some skin off her nose, I am afraid she has a tendency to cut the corners just like Susan.

We gave up the attempt of getting polio injection on that day as you know but I went down the following Friday evening. Had to wait three quarters of an hour before attention. No joke if you happen to feel off colour.

Have had two rounds of golf this year so far. The object of starting at 7-45 a.m. was to get round or at least get started before the crowd. It did not work however as on both occasions many were before us and on the last visit had to wait from 8-0 a.m. to 9-15 a.m. before could start. I wanted to get home by noon but as it takes three to three and half hours to go round that was doomed to failure. Almost as bad as waiting in the Doctors.

It could have been the Sloe Wine that upset me of course but I doubt it. It also could have been the exertion cleaning the car which is far more likely. Gave it another good clean yesterday and of course it rained during the night which just about put paid to it. I sponged off as much of the water as I could this morning but it had already done the damage. I saw to-night that a bird has left his card as well, so cleaning cars kept outdoors is a dead loss.

Have no news of Iris’s Father but the feeling is that it is nothing to get alarmed about.

I enclose one of the snaps promised. They did not print the good one of the group and they are arranging to do it specially this week. The others are well worth keeping as records, but as camera compositions they are none too special. Will try to remember to bring them when I come down.

The chrysanths you brought up have made terrific progress and I have already re­potted two to larger pots. Please advise re pinching out as I do not wish to lose the opportunity of getting good size blooms.

The children have put paid to the greengage tree that was in the middle of the lawn. I have since sawn off the stump to below ground level. Susan and Carol heard the cuckoo (in the clock at No. 17) some time ago so they beat you this year.

I take it you have no bananas from Avonmouth.

Have done quite a bit in the garden to-day. At least we have some variety now even if the layout leaves much to be desired. I expect you are now in full swing with yours. Well that’s all for now, see you soon. Love from June, Susan, Carol and Alec

*I’ve been unable to track down ‘the song the donkey died of’ although there seem to be a surprising number of songs about dead and/or dying donkeys. I suspect this may actually have been a line from a comedy routine, and as such could date back fifty years or more from the time Alec is writing. We only have to compare it to the Monty Python dead parrot sketch to realise how a few random words may be completely understood by one generation but mean nothing whatever to those who come after them.

Sunday 28th April, 1960

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Leonard to the family [on the reverse of Table 52, WEST DRAYTON AND YIEWSLEY and UXBRIDGE (Second class only, except where otherwise shown); Table 54 – continued, HIGH WYCOMBE, MARLOW and MAIDENHEAD; Table 55, TWYFORD and HENLEY-ON-THAMES (Second class only, except where otherwise shown); and Table 56, PADDINGTON, EALING (Broadway), WEST EALING and GREENFORD (Second class only)]

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for both your letters and to which Mum has already replied. We are so sorry to hear that Susan & carol have picked up my cold and hope it was not too severe a dose. as I said before it was a great pity we made the journey under such circumstances but we had no idea of course it was going to turn out so disastrously. Am feeling a lot better myself but still far from normal and at this rate it will be another week or ten days before I shall finally get shot of it.

Glad to hear that you were able to get out a bit on the Wednesday and that Susan & Carol now each have another nice frock also please to note June able to replace butter dish.

Evidently a lot of people with the same idea as yourselves regarding polio injections – just as well not to waste the afternoon.

Note Alec still doing a round of golf – must be enthusiastic to start off at 7.45 a.m. It’s a game I’ve never tried and do not seem to care for. Must be something in it I suppose.

Turning to your letter Alec am sorry to read you were off colour after we left but I’m not surprised and can only hope you have got rid of all the germs by now. Don’t suppose it was the sloe wine upsetting you by any chance? or the elbow grease spent on cleaning the car?

Hope the news is satisfactory of Iris’s father – one thing on top of another for them at the moment and it must be very distressing to them all.

Thanks for information re: snap shots – I hope my eyes were open when they were taken. Anyhow whilst on the subject don’t forget to bring camera with you when on holiday.

It was kind of Stella and Mrs Baker to call up on the Tuesday – have since had a line from Geoff and replied to him.

Yes the chrysanths will droop a lot if kept in a sunny confined position but I hope you will be able to bring them on to the flowering stage – they make a nice show towards the end of the year. have not done very much gardening here yet – no energy – but I keep having short spells in the greenhouse repotting one thing and another. Mum and I did run out to Tickenham on Monday afternoon (warmest day of week so far) to get 1 [and a half] dozen tomato plants and these I placed into their growing positions on Tuesday. Now when I feel like it I must repot the chrysanths into the big pots to stand outdoors all summer before bringing them inside to flower. The second row of vegetable peas is showing through and I managed yesterday to get in another. Soil is bone dry and just like concrete – badly needs rain. Most of potatoes are up and we have to beware of frosts. There was one last night but only very slight. We are just reaching the end of last season’s crop and Mum will have to start buying next week.

Heard the cuckoo this morning for first time – very late this year exactly 14 days later than in 1959 although I’m told it was heard here on Easter Monday. I think the continuous cold spell of weather has affected his arrival. There are lots of blackbirds and thrushes about but so far I’ve not found any nests. Must have a good look round when it’s warmer as I want to find one or two for Susan & Carol to see.

Mum has gone to Avonmouth Docks this week with Townswomen’s Guild – don’t suppose she will bring a boat home.

Have no local news as neither of us went out on Sunday but understand everything now set for Soole’s wedding on May 6th at 11.00 a.m.

Well I think this is all once more but we shall look forward to your next letter with better news – we hope – of Susan and Carol.

All our love from Mum & Dad and lots of kisses for our two little darlings.

Monday 25th April, 1960

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Alec to his uncle and aunt:

Dear Don and Joan,

Just a line to thank you very much for the card and enclosure sent in aid of Carol’s second Birthday. She was a very lucky girl as she had 14 Birthday Cards and we lined them all up for her on the piano. Of course she is still much too young to appreciate what i.t is all in aid of but she enjoyed herself all the same. June stuck a couple of coloured candles on a rock cake and she and Susan blew them out, I think most of the puff came from Susan.

As you know Grandad and Grandma came up to see them for Easter but I am afraid they were most unlucky as they both had wretched colds and there was no doubt it spoiled the holiday for them. I gather they are on the mend now though.

I understand you have a new car, will this mean that you may one day come as far as Ruislip? G.Y.C. 100 certainly served you well over the twenty years that you had it. As a matter of interest my registration is G.J.O. 120 something similar.

We have had the first rain to-day since well before Easter and the garden needed it very badly. From what I could see of it when I planted out some lettuces it could do with plenty more as this lot has not penetrated very far. It has only been enough to lay the dust and fetch out a few thirsty slugs.

I am afraid the children have both caught the colds. For the last three or four days Carol has been coughing fit to bust and unable to sleep for catarrah and now Susan has got it and retired to bed early to-day with the same trouble. I suppose this Winter will eventually end and we shall get some germ-free days of sunshine.

They are both growing up very fast and I bet you would not recognise Carol now for the baby who was christened at Clevedon. She is a real imp of mischief and is another little Susan with a mind of her own. She walks up and down stairs unaided and talks quite well. Susan of course is now well advanced and helps around the house in all sorts of ways. She will be thinking about school in a years time? It seems unbeleivable.

Well there it is for the time being. We hope you are both enjoying better health now, Hope to see you some time in the Summer when on visit to Clevedon.

Love for now from June, Susan, Carol and Alec

Sunday 24th April, 1960

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for your letter received the tail end of last week. [Missing.]

Glad to hear you got home safely and that Dad’s cold at any rate seems to be easier or did at the time of writing. We hope you both are recovered now and have that unpleasant experience behind you. I felt very queer on the afternoon of the day you wnet back, splitting headache and nausea but after a sit down in the garden managed to shake it off again. Several times have had the feeling that I am about to have a cold but fortunately it has passed off with a sneeze or two. We thought at first that the children were going to escape this time but I am afraid that Carol is having a very rough time of it at the moment. She has been coughing for three days now and to-day seems to be the worst so far. Susan is also coughing but not so bad as Carol and does not seem greatly troubled by it. We have been giving Carol Wineglassfuls of Cough Mixture and kidding her that it is ” Daddy’s Wine ” It is the only way to get her to take it. Up to the moment the trick seems to work which does not say much for the taste of my wine.

Gave the car a good clean and polish last Wednesday and believe me it does not seem the same car. It has made a world of difference to the appearance. Have my row of peas through, they came through on Wednesday last. That is all to report through to date. We eventually got round to planting Mum’s seeds in the front garden or rather I did. The next night I found that June in a burst of enthusiasm was busily digging holes were I had sown the seed*. The plants will probably grow at different levels now.

The photo’s were not a howling success. Only one of the groups came out with all the peoples heads and feet visible and this we have ordered copies for distribution. One of the shots of the children was also similarly dealt with but I have had to instruct the shop to extract the children from the remainder of the groups and enlarge them on their own. These latter I have only one copy on order to find out what the effect will be. There are two single shots of Susan and Carol respectively which I have asked the shop to enlarge and tidy up.

Eric and family returned a few minutes ago from their shortened holiday in Yorkshire. He came over the M1 and says it is pretty good. Uncle Cyril has been rushed off to Hospital (Iris ‘s Father). He has had or is about to have an operation for the removal of gall stones. I hear that they are trying to disperse them chemically.

Both Stella and Mrs Baker telephoned to ask after Dad’s health on the Tuesday morning after you had left here. Chrysanths look a wee bit droopy although I have removed them from the direct sunshine and supplied all the water required. Hope you found your garden in fair condition and that you are both now able to get on it again.

We have just got both children to bed and are running a little behind the clock so will close now till next time. (Am again a fully paid up member of the Eastcote Horticulture Socty. so bulletins to follow )

Love from all of us here, June, Susan, Carol and Alec

*Probably didn’t bother to tell her, just expected her to guess what he’d been doing. He loved coming up with ways to make her look stupid.

Sunday 10th April, 1960

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Dad’s letter to hand for which many thanks. We have almost begun to accept the fact that the children have catarrah as a permanent evil. Normally it does not distress them very much but occasionally when the weather is a bit changeable it upsets them. They have been outdoors quite a lot despite the weather and it does not take them long to get covered in mud. I have to dig garden every week-end as during the week it gets flattened out again.

Sorry your day with Richings came to nothing. I expect you will be able to arrange a date under better weather conditions. Note you have honeysuckle for us. While on subject don’t forget the dibber and the buddleia. We shall be very pleased to have any greenstuff you can spare bearing in mind that it does not keep too long. I have some runner bean seeds which I am sure will be enough. The job is to find enough room. Of course we could do with planting about six rows of them but I just have not the room.

I meant to ask you about the flowering currant as ours are flowering. I am afraid they make a poor show as yet as the cuttings have made very little growth since they were taken.

I am afraid that the collection last Sunday week proved to be a frost so far as we are concerned and we will not get very fat on the proceeds. We went to Yiewsley to-day and the girls came back with their pockets Jingling so we may be in funds after all.

Ted Caple was lucky to get away with so low a charge for his car. Have not heard Powells name mentioned in connection with Edwards job. It is possible of course. I think there are enough now to start a very good book on the sweepstake.

Yes the children are getting older very rapidly and so for that matter are we. Carol looks quite grown up now and you would never think that she was still under two? They will tire you out quickly if you let them pall you about as they are both hefty chunks.

I managed to cut the one lawn roughly yesterday before the rain became too much to put up with. The others have had to wait over for a bit. This week end has been very showery with heavy rain interspersed with hot sunshine. Good growing weather as the ground almost dries out on top between the storms. The lower lawn at the back is still soggy though and not workable so far as the mower is concerned. Glad to have the route map of London it will come in handy.

You seem to be having the same trouble with wine that I get. Mann tells me that he never goes by the book so far as sugar is concerned. He puts in a couple of pounds to start with and after first fortnight he tastes the wine regularly and if in his opinion it wants more sweetening he pops in some more sugar until eventually it is to his taste. This process goes on for quite a while and I gather it is quite an enjoyable method.

Well I do not propose to exhaust all the news before you arrive so will close with these few odd notes. I will leave car outside house so that you can back down into sideway when you arrive for easier discharge of yourselves and cases. It is possible that I may not be on hand when you arrive as I intend to go to Paddington during the morning and we finish at twelve.

Had a trip to Ealing yesterday and over to Yiewsley to-day as stated. Carol O.K. but showing signs of impending trouble. Managed to cover journeys without mishap however.

The wind is blowing very hard at the moment and has been gusty all day. Planted out the Gladioli this morning – all in one spot but do not expect much as they had long growths already through being in the airing cupboard. No movement from the Dahlias and looks as though we have had them as well. Well that’s all for the time being. Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday and hope you have a good Journey up.

Love from June, Susan, Carol and Alec

Thursday 7th April, 1960

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Leonard to the family – on the reverse of Table 179, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, Bewdley, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Wellington; Table 60, Raunton, Bristol, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Oxford, Didcot, Reading and London; and Table 184, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Welshpool and Aberystwyth.

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Many thanks for your letter received on Tuesday as usual but sorry the girls have another dose of catarrh and hope it will soon clear up. They will feel better when they can get outdoors to play and weather is now gradually improving. Yes it was a pity the Newmans had such a poor day here last week but these things happen unfortunately. Incidentally you said it was ‘not bad’ at Ruislip last Saturday – we assumed that from T.V. pictures of the Boat Race but it was a shocking day here – rain and more rain.

Richings cried off a couple of days beforehand as they had a French boy arrive unexpectedly for a short period – the old school exchange arrangement – so we shall not see them now until after we get back from Ruislip.

Note your up to date plantings and seed sowing. Have pulled off a rooted piece of honeysuckle and put it in a flower pot – have also taken three slips and am hoping they will root. They all look satisfactory to date. Our broccoli are [illegible] in nicely and we hope to bring up a few so June will not need to get a load of greenstuff – at least before the Holiday. Can also bring some Purple Sprouting Broccoli if you would like some. Do you want any Runner Bean seeds? or is there anything else you can think of when you write next. I asked Cornish if he had a sucker plum tree in his jungle but he said he had no plums at all. I went over there last Friday in the late afternoon and although – give him his due – he has made some improvements it is really in a very bad state. Whilst I think of it I must tell you the flowering currant we brought back from your garden last may is in flower and looking fine – meant to have mentioned it last week.

That was a good explanation of Susan’s that she could not sing the hymns except where she could not remember the bit that came next. That is the usual explanation of everybody. Incidentally as Susan took up the collection last Sunday assume you will be in funds over the holiday.

Ted Caple’s old car was quite a respectable affair – the original to which you refer went long ago. He has had the side of new car attended to and it cost him £4.10.0* which was not unreasonable.

Yes it would have been nice at Rimini but I estimated it would have cost us at least £80** for 14 days at Rimini – the period the Richings are having – and we considered we could not afford that much on superannuation. As for the office outing I think it is a poor choice but that’s their business.

Norman Allen tells me that C. W. Powell is being spoken of at Bristol as possible successor to Edwards – surely this cannot be right? By the way Mrs Edwards had a daughter on Monday last the 4th inst. and we hear she has given up her home in West Town Lane [Backwell] and gone back to her father and mother’s home in Bloomfield Rd. Brislington.

You have been having some more disturbed nights apparently – never mind they are gradually getting older and both should improve in due course. It is very wearying though when you lose your sleep and have to keep going during the day. I expect they will tire us out quicker than we shall tire them but we are looking forward to being with you all for a few days. The garden here can have a rest but I do want to cut the grass once during the next week – it has been too wet to even walk on to date.

Mr Palmer told me on Sunday he is retiring from his firm – Hawkins – in August when he will be 70 years of age. For some time now he has been easing up and several years ago Dr told him he must not ride a bicycle presumably because of his heart. The firm will miss him as I believe he was the brains of the organisation.

Have been in touch with A.A. for an alternative route Clevedon to Ruislip and included in reply was a big route map for London which I think may be more useful to you so am bringing it along.

I see Mr Aston most Sundays after ringing and we go round hill and along the front to Pier for a walk and home about 12.30 p.m. Roy Hewett calls round about once per week for a chat whilst I’m in garden. He is terribly handicapped but is always cheerful.

Just read last part of your letter and hope Carol will leave some beer for grandfather. Am afraid they will not like the wine I’m bringing up – much too tart – cannot understand it as the sugar content is that shewn in the recipes. Maybe keeping it a year or two is the answer.

No more now – fondest love from Dad & Mum and lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

*About £90

**About £1800 – quite reasonable for 14 days in Rimini IMHO; I’m having difficulty (due to coronavirus and a lot of travel sites being down) working out what it would cost today, but I’m pretty sure it would be more.

Sunday 3rd April, 1960

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Both your letters duly to hand for which many thanks. Will take them in order of arrival. It was a pity that the weather was so awful for the Newmans visit. It is so dis­appointing when rare visits are accompanied by bad weather but there is not much you can do about it, I suppose his arthritis is affected by rainy conditions too.

Glad you will be O.K. for April 14th. I thought we had agreed that date some time ago but it is as well to confirm. We hope it will be fine and if not fine at least dry as you say but it will not hinder us a lot if it pours. As you might expect the children being so young tire very easily and require frequent attention so to speak that we shall not wander too far away from the home base.

Thank you for the Red Flax it will come in for brightening up an odd spot or two. Hope the visit of the Ritchings was a success. It was not a bad day here on Saturday so if you had the same you were probably able to show them over the estate. To-day was much wetter and we had a certain amount of rain in the night. I have some more Dwarf French beans to put in of another kind and will keep them for a bit later but tried the first lot to see what luck I get. Found half a packet of pea seeds in shed also some Beetroot. Planted them out on Saturday and may have some luck there. The seed is at least one year old and has been in shed all Summer and Winter. We have not yet bought any bulbs for this place. The ones that were in the ground when we took over are still thriving. There seem to be less Daffs but the Narcissi and Jonquils are increasing. In the back garden nothing increases as you might expect under the stamping of little feet.

To refer to Dad’s letter – Yes it will not be long now before the much awaited and long anticipated visit. One more letter from this end and you are here (or almost). Note the planting of potatoes. Good job done when they are all in, then just run over with the hoe and keep the weeds down until they require banking up.

Wine not the cause of Grays difficulty in getting the car in. He does it much better now and anyway I have not given him any for some time. Bought two pounds of dried apricots last Saturday week but as yet have not got round to starting them off. Will now wait until after your visit as they incline to smell a bit in house when brewing. Note your selection of wine to bring up. Very good too, I shall be pleased to try same and you must sample what I have got. I have not done any methodical tasting for some considerable time and the stuff really wants to be graded and sorted out.

Pity about the plum tree but no matter. I have not used lawn mower yet. It almost wants a surgical operation to get it out of shed. The grass is too damp in any case.

We do not know exactly how Susan got on the previous Sunday at the service, I expect some one kept an eye on her. I asked her how she got on today and she said she could sing the Hymns all right except where she could not remember the bit that came next. She also took up the collection.

Note re Trimmer; he was worse than I imagined apparently. Sorry about Ted Caple’s car. What did he do with his old one? It would have made a good window box for some one.

Note also that you are not going to London or Rimini. It might have been nice at Rimini but too much pie jaw I expect. It is always difficult to make a well balanced party, usually one is out of step.

I had not thought of Hamblin in connection with Edwards old job until you mentioned it in your previous letter. A good outside shot I suppose but possession being nine points of the law I rather fancy Bastin.

I am afraid the children are heavy with catarrah again after being free for a little while. We had Carol awake (dreaming) about 12-00 night and Susan coughing her head off at three o’clock. Latter came in with me while June retired to Susan’s bed. They have been fairly lively to-day but with runny noses. Susan has put paid to nearly all the white notes on the piano. She has knocked off the lips of all the notes except a few, June caught her at it during the week. She had previously knocked some of them off, Carol can walk up and down stairs unaided. We do not let her go on her own just yet. She is rather partial to Beer but Susan is not so keen. They both clamour for the wine and the Mobo toys. We had another session of the latter this afternoon, Carol nagged me into opening the Bureau to show her the pictures of the toys and within ten minutes she wanted to see them again.

Well there it is for now. Hope you are both fit and well and ready to cope with your active Grand children.

Love from June, Susan, Carol and

Thursday 31st March, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Eva to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for my nice card last Sunday. I noticed Sudan & Carol had put their mark on the envelope.

Newmans came down yesterday & it was a putrid day as regards weather drizzling all the time. His arthritis is very bad can’t walk very much.

Thursday the 14 April will be lovely for us & hope the weather will be at least dry.

I am enclosing a pkt Red Flax which you liked one year when we grew it & it is the sort you can plant straight in the ground where you need a bit of colour, not very deeply though.

Richings are coming u on Saturday he is on a weeks leave also Michael is home on vacation from the university. We shall have tongue pie all right that day.

You are early with your beans planted. We have eschalots peas & some small seeds planted & have a lovely lot of narcissi out which we planted in the Autumn. Norman got us the bulbs.

Hope Mrs Grey’s son is better & able to go home soon.

Too bad you forgetting Mothering Sunday. There was a family service up here & one or two Christenings which interest the children. Mrs Palmer’s great niece was christened & probably one or two more, they make a proper do of it that’s in church, I don’t know if they do it in chapels.

Richings are going to Italy (Rimini) on the Adriatic coast & wanted us to go but we are not going; it’s too expensive their way. They are going in September.

Note that we are going over to Headstone Lane on Easter Sunday expect the girls will be excited.

Well I think this is the lot now so will close with love to you all hoping you are all well.

Mum & Dad

Leonard to the family on the reverse of Timetable 179: Wellington, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Bewdley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa and 62: London, Reading, Newbury, Westbury, Frome, Yeovil, Dorchester West, Weymouth and Taunton.

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter received on Tuesday with another budget of news. Mum has forestalled me this week by putting a letter in the post today. A fortnight today and we shall be with you again all being well on the journey but I hope the weather improves. It was alright on Monday and I put in 14lbs Ulster Chieftain and 14lb Craigs Royal potatoes and was hoping to get in remaining 14lbs Dr McIntosh on Tuesday but – Oh no – it rained Monday night and practically continuous on Tuesday and very nearly as bad yesterday. Now the ground is soaked again so the balance of the potatoes remain in the tray. Sun came out for two or three hours this afternoon but we want a big improvement before Easter because generally speaking it keeps so cold. No doubt the whole of the country is experiencing the same?

Noted your neighbour has his new car and finding difficulty in getting into garage – is this after tasting your wine? Which reminds me I’ve sorted out six bottles to bring up my greengage – Plum (good) – Plum (not so good) – Cherry – Blackcurrant and sloe. Have poured latter into a bottle which formerly contained gin – am hoping for the best although I can assure you it was only the smell of gin left in the bottle. Am afraid we do not have a plum tree suitable to bring up. When I first retired the field was full of them – suckers from main trees – but I cut them all down and have kept them cut down since. This can be put right however by leaving one or two suckers to develope. Incidentally it does not look very promising for plums this season. It is a bit early but the signs are that there will be very little blossom. I’ll see if I can tear off a piece of rooted honeysuckle and bring along to replace the one you’ve lost. Note you have been busy in garden. I do not bother with the Dwarf French Beans but shall be putting in runner beans (in boxes) tomorrow April 1st. If they come up during frosty weather can move boxes into greenhouse overnight. In any case they should not be pushing through soil until after we get back from Ruislip. The peas I put in on March 1st are now breaking through so must get in another row soon. Lawnmower not yet used this year but would have been but for the rain on Tuesday.

Mr & Mrs Newman came down from Bristol yesterday but in spite of some special treatment he has been having he still has difficulty in getting about.

How did Susan manage then for Sunday School on Mothering Sunday? Query have to sit with the older children.

No luck on Pools in fact I’ve not sent any in for several weeks now. When gardening in full swing I seem to lose interest in football. Clevedon I understand have only lost one game since the Hayes cup tie.

By the way we saw in last week’s Mercury that Mr Trimmer had died on the 12th March – will bring paper up with us. Had not heard until we read announcement. Roy Hewitt said he was very sorry to hear about Graham. Both he and his wife knew him in the Westbury Control days.

Sent for my Post War credits on March 21st and cheque arrived this morning.

I do not think I shall do any more extension of garden. It’s quite enough now to keep me busy together with greenhouses and frames not to mention hedge cutting in due season – always plenty to do.

Carol likes to help clear the table then – any competition from Susan? Or has the latter another job to do for Mummie?

Ted Caple left his new car in station yard (1/- fee paid) one day last week and when he picked it up in the evening someone had grazed the whole of one side with another car – Mr Nobody. he has to have both front and rear wings recellulosed and it will cost about £10*. Naturally he is not very pleased. He had gone to London for the meeting of the staff of the Prudential Insurance Coy at which they petitioned for more money. He will want it now to put car right.

Had invitation to office outing last week – to London on May 14th and a coach tour finishing up at London Airport. Have turned it down with thanks. Should think it would be a poor sort of an outing and not a long train journey either which to my mind is the best part of the day. Any news of a successor to Edwards? Geoff when he last wrote said Hamblin’s name was being mentioned. Could be a likely candidate I suppose.

Am afraid this is about the lot once more. Hope you are all keeping well.

Love from Mum & Dad and lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

*Roughly £250 these days