Thursday, 23 July 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family: written on the reverse of timetable 179 – Wellington, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Bewdley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction, Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa.

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for both letters received earlier this week. Very glad to hear you reached home safely last Thursday – a week ago today. How time flies. It was very quiet here for a couple of days until we got used to being on our own again and we missed you all. It was a grand week together and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. The Sunday was a ‘red letter’ day and it was good of Pauline to make the long journey for so short a visit – had a nice letter from her same day as yours.

It rained heavily here on the day you went back from about 10. 30 a.m. until well into the afternoon – there would have been no games on the lawn afterwards for a couple of days. Since then however it has been dry and very hot again.

Note you found a difference in your garden especially after such a deluge which apparently covered your area.

June was soon busy washing after arriving home – it is inevitable with two small children to keep clean. Hope the swing is satisfactory and being enjoyed by Susan. It won’t be long before Carol will want to share it. Is there any extra charge for erecting it? If so you must please let me know. You had a good load for the Park Alec – Susan & Carol plus push chair – horse and bike but no doubt they enjoyed the outing. One or two of the neighbours have remarked “what nice children they are”.

Apart from going up to library on Wednesday (yesterday) we have not been out since you returned home. The Newmans came down from Bristol yesterday for the afternoon and evening and we were able to spend most of the time on the lawn which incidentally I cut during the morning although very little growth since previous mowing a fortnight ago.

Note your wine improving by keeping I racked off the cherry wine afternoon of July 16th and put it under fermentation lock – a nice pinky colour thanks to using the must of the blackcurrant wine – tastes very nice too.

So Susan saw a ‘snakelider’ did she at the Zoo. That’s a new one but it shows she was interested and remembers the visit. Quite a good day as also was the trip to Sand bay. This week I’ve been busy on garden – weeding and hoeing and today I put in the concrete mixture for the frame sections to rest on. When this has hardened I can build up the frames in situ – would be much too heavy if I made them up elsewhere and tried to move them into position.

Have also had another go at pond. The filling put in before you came down dried off just like powder and could be cleaned right out with a sharp stick so I made up a stronger solution and this appears to be hardening nicely. Mother has been busy this week indoors and on the garden – chief job outdoors is the daily watering of the choicest plants. Our sweet peas are practically gone now but there should be many seed pods.

Runner beans now more plentiful but beetroot badly needs rain and I’m afraid carrots must be written off for this season.

Well I think this is most of it for the present – hope you are all keeping well and Susan & Carol both enjoying themselves outdoors – lots of kisses for them – we do miss them about the place. Mother will include a letter for Susan.

Cheerio for now.

Friday 17th July 1959

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Just the expected letter to let you know that we arrived home safely after a very good trip. I suppose we got indoors about 12-30 p.m. We were delayed a while getting one of the bags into the Left Luggage Office due to a queue. Unfortunately the automatic machine was full. We travelled back to Paddington with Ernie Iles. He says that his eldest is now 21 and youngest is 13 and doing very well at swimming. Carol went to sleep for about 50 minutes so that helped to pass the time of the journey very well. Susan was quite good which was not surprising as I read the whole of one Noddy book to her on the way up. I am afraid that she was very naughty after we got back and continually got herself into trouble. I expect that it was reaction after the long journey. They are all talking about the storm last Friday. It appears that it was extremely severe lasting for about eight hours. All the earth has been pressed flat where the raindrops fell. Most of my stuff seems to be still alive although slugs have had more than half of the young French Marigolds that I planted out in the front. Oddly enough they have left those at the back alone. Three of the Dahlias are out in flower and the rest are well budded. All the flowers so far are red. Three of the Mesembryanthemums are out, one is pink while the other two are a salmon colour. As a result of the heavy rain one more of Geoff’s missing Dahlias has come up, this time one of those I planted out the front. That makes 100% of those put in front garden and 0% of those planted in the rockery at the back. Have cut the lawns which are looking quite green. I expect that It is due to the spread of clover which certainly seems to cover a larger area than hitherto. The new people moved into Whites house to-day. They appear to have two children a couple of years older than Susan. I took them ( Ours ) down to the park this afternoon while June was shopping. We took the horse for Carol and the Bike for Susan and of course the Push Chair. Carol was pushed, all the way to the park by Susan. When we got there I gave Carol the horse and pointed her in the general direction of Ruislip Manor and let her loose. She scampered over the grass and had a whale of a time. After about five minutes of this, she dropped down on the grass then picked herself up and tried to walk on her own. She took about three half steps then fell on her face. This was repeated about four times and again on the way back. It will not be long before she can stay up for a step or two. Susan had a go on the swings and on the big horse. When we were down in the garden to-day Susan called me over saying “whats this Daddy?” When I arrived I found it was a large white caterpillar which was towards moving her. I told her what it was and said “did you see one of those at the Zoo “ to which she replied “No, but I saw a Snakelider ” What that might be Ileave to you. Have planted out some Petunias and some Gailardias to-day. Found a Petunia about to flower in the middle of the lawn. Of course I transplanted it as it was far more advanced than any of the ones that I brought on from seed. Had a taste of the Blackcurrant wine I made in 1958 ( May ) If you remember, I gave you some when you came up last ‘Summer and again when you came up this Spring, The taste has changed again and is even more palatable than before. I am also getting through the Rhubarb wine that was made last June. I think you have finished up the lot that I gave you. I have another quart bottle of it under the floor boards. Well I cannot say much more now as have not had time to do much since returning. Must of course thank you once again for the most enjoyable holiday and for fixing up the Parson and for putting up Pauline. The next visit unless anything untoward occurs will be you to us, and will leave you to decide when that will be. Apart from the assumption that you will not want to travel in dead of Winter due to possible weather conditions, the choice is open to you. If you feel It too early to be definite you may like to hint at a possible month when you would like to come up. Will close now with love from us all.

Alec – ‘the early years’

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This picture is labelled ‘Clevedon Infants School 1928’. Alec is the child with the model boat, standing at the left-hand side; he would be five years old here, so perhaps this is his class’s ‘intake’ picture when they started school in September of that year. The only other people named are Harold Dax and M Ellis-Barret (both on the back row), Frank Brooks, Roy Binding and Barbara Shopland on the middle row, and Gordon Stone and Harold Marshall at the front. I also love the lady in the cloche hat peering over the wall; I wonder if she was one of the mothers?

‘St. Andrews Clevedon Parish Church Choir, outing to Weymouth c 1934’ Alec is the child in the school cap, second from left on the front row and being affectionately strangled by a pal. He would be roughly eleven years old here. The vicar (far right) also turns up in the next picture without his dog collar, which caused some confusion for many years because he has a distinct resemblance to Leonard. I could imagine, though, that the Home Guard did not appeal to Leonard; his work was too demanding, and he had of course ‘done his bit in the last lot’ and was probably only too happy to stay out of it.
The label on the back of this one tells us everything we need to know: ‘Clevedon West End Platoon Home Guard, 7th Somerset Light Infantry, c 1941. ADWA [Alec] 2nd row 1st inside from right’. [i.e. next to the chap with the Indian-looking appearance.]
I’d be interested to know when Alec began wearing his glasses full-time as he is definitely ordering a pair in London in 1944; his diary records as much.
The only other thing to be said about this particular picture is that here Alec looks far more like his second daughter than his first … but since we were both more than fifteen years in the future at this point there is no great significance to this observation.
The vicar, of course, is in the back right hand corner next to the eaves of the building, and there is a very good chance that this was actually taken in or adjacent to the churchyard.

Sunday 5th July 1959

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Alec to his parents

Dear Mum & Dad

Well it’s almost a week since I last wrote so herewith a few more taps on the machine. Duly received cheques from G.H. Kite & Sons, and returned the receipts, I paid mine in to G.W.R. Savings Bank on Thursday, the day after receipt. The clerk at the Finance Office Paddington where I paid the cheque in drew my attention to two entries of the previous day under the same surname and enquired from a point of interest if they were my parents. The cheques of course came from G. H. Kite & Sons and were made out to Geoff and Stella. I have of course said nothing to them.

As per P.S. on outside of envelope of last letter, we are catching the 10-05 a.m. from Paddington on the 9th which is a through train to Yatton due 1-08 p.m. I expect we shall endeavour to work towards the rear but not quite so far as last time. Can of course do with some prompt assistance from train.

We have to-day visited Yiewsley, transit arranged by kind permission of the Grays. I am afraid that it has been very hot and children found it very trying. Generally they were quite good but inclined to be a bit crotchety. They have been running round in nothing but a pair of pants and looked a darn sight cooler than I felt. Carol walks round the furniture very well now and has had the confidence to stand on her own just a couple of times. She twice climbed the stairs from the “Dug-out” to the Shop over at Grandma’s today. She has quite a lot of words now some distinct and some less so. We had our breakfast out in the garden again to-day as it was so warm. It is a bit tricky as table space not so great as indoors.

Fetched out some of my Beetroot Wine yesterday, and found it has a taste similar to your Elderberry although not quite so pronounced. Gave Gray a bottle and put the rest back for further maturing. At the time I saw the bottles of Clevedon Apple Wine and although the bulk of the wine is clear, there appears to be a certain amount of flotsam in the bottles. Will leave a little longer then strain. Dug up the Nasturiums yesterday, they were covered with Black Fly and infecting everything else including the Montbretia. I have transplanted the Chrysanthemums in their place, which was behind the Dahlias you bought. The latter have again had their black fly scraped off and are not looking too bad. No sign of flower from the Mesembryanthemums although they have made terrific growth since planting. We have a strange a range plant, tall, red daisy1ike flowers with yellow edges. Can this be the Agrostemma you gave us last year. I suppose the flower heads must be about three feet from the ground. The carnations are just coming into flower and I have staked them as they are a bit sloppy. Have also transplanted Double Orange or Mock Orange that you brought up. This time it is at the bottom of the garden so when large will make a good screen. The effect of last week’s rain soon wore off and soil is as bad as it ever was. It takes a very long time evenings to carry all the water. Have now got most of the Cactus plants in the shed where the watering gets proper supervision. All the plants therein are still doing quite well but seem to be suffering from heat exhaustion. I can sympathise. No more office news since the last. We shall of course bring the minimum of luggage but I suppose it will contain everything including the kitchen sink as usual. Have not been able to contact Pauline re visit but hope to do so soon. I am uncertain which train she will catch but it will be after noon on Saturday. Well other than to say we are well and hope you are, had better save the rest until Thursday. Looking forward to coming down and hoping for decent weather but not too hot.

Love June Susan, Carol and Alec

Monday 29th June 1959

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Alec to his parents

Dear Mum and Dad

Just a brief note to thank Dad very much for the brace and bits, it is a first class implement and much superior to others I have seen. The parcel duly arrived on the 9-0 a.m. Bristol and I had the train met. Thank Mother for letter dated 27th which arrived to-day. Susan was pleased with her letter, but I am afraid she has been a naughty girl again to-day. She was taken out for a walk despite the fact that she had been naughty and when she came home apparently she played up again and was sent to bed at 4.10 p.m. Of course she promptly went to sleep and has been awake most of the evening so far. Good idea to fix hair appointments early, the kids should be less trouble that way. You don’t want to overdo the path making or by time we get down you will not have any energy left and by gum you will need some. We had lots of rain in the night and again to-day so garden is very wet. Grass and weeds again shooting up. Note operations on the cake taking place but don’t slip up and think you are still path making. I am not surprised the house next door is in a poor condition, Mrs C did not look particularly bright to me. I know a Spencer in Knowles Rd, if it is the same one he is fellow I used to Home Guard with at the West End Post. Note also that Mother has been doing a little Duck shooting, you should save these Bonfire Night tricks until the 5th. Well that’s all for now, no further office news.

Alec

Sunday 28th June 1959

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Alec to his parents

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you very much Mother for the Shirt and enclosed letter. Also thank Dad in advance for mysterious parcel to come. I am afraid that I no longer have any blue shirts or suits and have been collecting white ones so that they go with anything. It may be possible to change the colour at the shop where it was bought so I will bring it down with me. If they will not do it, it will not matter as can wear it with my sports coat. Susan presented me with a box of chocs from herself and Carol and I have received a few cards. Thanks also for Dads long letter and Birthday wishes. Latest about the children – I took Carol down garden path a couple of times to-day holding one hand only. She was keen to hold two hands at first, but would not let her so she is putting up with it and making the best of one. She walks quite nicely this way but have to watch and move quickly in the event of capsize. There are ten days to go before we come down so should hardly think she will be walking freely by then. Anyway it will be touch and go. Susan has had a few smacks to-day for disobedience. There have been too many incidents to relate them but they all add up to the fact that she has a will of her own. The Grays returned from Broadstairs yesterday after a good holiday and brought Carol a pink squeaky dog and Susan a cloth doll in Hungarian Costume. We were given a 10” vase in two shades of grey, just right for a few red roses with which in fact it is now filled. This afternoon took Susan for ride on her tricycle. Intended to take her down to swings in park, but weather put that out of question. She rode down Queens Walk in direction of Whitby Rd, turned right by Doctors house into Mount Pleasant which veers right again at 90 degrees and joins East Mead almost out by Field End Rd. She rode all the way except for crossing other roads. June will no doubt write in due course, but confirm that she has been feeling better at least as regards pain in back. Although it has occurred before it seems to be temporary and is probably due to picking up the children who are no light weights. Sorry to say that garden is not looking very nice. It is the same old story that there is plenty in it but when you look out of window you can’t see any flowers. They are always about to come out or have just finished. The nasturtiums are badly affected by black fly. This has passed onto Dahlias and they are really covered with them. I poured plenty of cold water on them on Friday in the hopes that it would aggravate the fly but to little effect. To-day I scraped the plants with a twig and removed most of the fly but expect them to be back by morning. The correct treatment is to mix soft soap and water with “Quassia Solution” whatever that might be. This should be syringed on but am afraid the Dahlias will have to make there own arrangements. I asked Geoff if his Dahlias were Australian ones but he thinks I should give them more water. They have had about six buckets full at a sitting so it can’t be that. Out of some fourteen or fifteen tubers, three have actually come up. I have not disturbed the others so perhaps they may yet come through as rain has been quite heavy although still insufficient. The five remaining Mesembryanthemums down in the bottom plot have become quite large ( say four inches across ) but as yet there is no sign of flower. The others in the bed outside the French windows are not nearly so large ( say average 1.25 inches across ) Clematis is in flower if you can call it that. The blooms ? are about [half an inch] across and are blue and bell shaped. There are going to be a lot of them but they seem washed out somehow. The pinks are over of course but the carnations will be out shortly. I pricked out some of the Petunias from the seedling box to two others about thirty-six plants and there are quite a number left in box to sort out. Apart from two other boxes, have reduced the activities in shed to pots only. Note Sweet Peas and Sweet Williams doing well. Have none this year. Do not forget that Cherries make a very excellent wine. If your variety are no good for table try them in the cellar. I am surprised the Elderflower ceased to ferment after so short a period. Perhaps it is an idiosyncrasy of the type. One stock reason for so short a fermentation period is low sugar content. How many pounds per Gall. did you put? If you have not had the full staff changes from Geoff I set out below the latest that I am aware of at time of going to press.

1. The new organisation provides for Divisional Traffic Managers at Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. Under these men will be their own personal staffs, (Assistants etc.) also District Traffic Managers at Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth — Newport , Cardiff and Swansea — Birmingham, Gloucester and Shrewsbury.

2. The London Divisional man, combines the function of Divisional and District, and will have a larger staff than the others but no Districts under his control.

3. London Appointments

Divl. Traffic Manager – Paddy Phillips

Asst. Divl. Tfc. Manager – C.P.E. Harvey

Goods Commercial Asst – ? Seymour

Passr. Commercial Asst. – R.J. Hill

Running & Maintenance – W. Sidwell

Staff. Asst. – H.S. Atkins*

Operating Officer – N.H. Briant

(No other appointments known in this area)

4. Bristol Appointments

Divl. Traffic Manager – Leslie Edwards

Development Asst. – Gerry Burt

Staff Asst. – C.L. Newbury ????

Operating Officer – Grannie Hallett

Running & Maintenance Officer – ? Reynolds

District Traffic Manager (Bristol) – ? Bastin

District Traffic Manager (Exeter) – ? Hartnell

District Traffic Manager (Plymouth) – ? Dean

(No other appointments known in this area)

((Re.: Bristol. Understand John Allen formerly of the Paddington D.O.S.O. Staff section has got Staff Asst. to Bastin.))

5. Birmingham Appointments

Divl. Traffic Manager – ? Hilton

Development Asst. – H.L. Wilkinson

Staff Asst. – Jack Donovan

Operating Asst. (? Officer) – C. Galley

Running & Maintenance – A.N. Other

Commercial – A.N. Other

District Traffic Manager (Gloucester) – J. Powell

District Traffic Manager (Salop.) – O. Veltom

District Traffic Manager (Birmingham) – A.N. Other

(Staff. Asst. Geiger)

6. Cardiff Appointments

Divisional Traffic Manager – ? Stevens

Development Assistant – A.N. Other

Operating Officer – L. Morgan

Staff Assistant. – L.C. Barron

Commercial Officer – ? Jenkins

Running & Maintenance – A.N. Other

District Traffic Manager (Newport) – W.J. Morris

(Operating Assistant or Officer J. Pallett)

District traffic Manager (Cardiff) – ? Page

(Staff Asst. C.L. Moore our Head of Section)

District Traffic Manager Swansea – ? Taylor

Staff Asst. – Geo. Nicholas

Dist. Commercial – W. Griffiths

Well that is all I know at present. The list is out and it has been seen. I have it on very good authority that Bill Bryer has not got anything out of it. As you see I am quite a bit short on info re the Assistants to assistants but no doubt will get them in due course. I suppose Gerry Burt’s appointment has caused a bit of heart burn. At this point your call came through. Yes I had a copy of the Lyng letter. I expect I precipitated it as I wrote confirming that I wanted them to be Godparents, they were somewhat doubtful of the office due to advancing years. I am not surprised that you have large cracks in pond as I do not suppose it has been full since the war. The work done on It will be all to the good however. Clock gained eight minutes this week so shall have to let out pendulum a bit more. I can hear Susan talking to herself upstairs, shall have to go up if this continues.

Well sorry to fill up letter with staff matters but it is a bit longer to compensate. Carol now tuning in so June to rescue. Will write again after Mother’s letter to hand.

Alec

*no relation

Saturday 27th June, 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

Eva to Alec and family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the letters sorry about Susan’s letter last time. I won’t forget this one.

Hope June’s backache better. I expect you try to do too much in one day & especially being up with Carol too, anyhow you will get a change if not all rest down here.

I booked your haircuts right away & it’s Friday at 9.30 a.m. We thought that would be the best time, the children are fresh then.

We have been very busy on preparing for another cement path. I have carried loads of stone to be cracked up & dad’s done the cracking. It is trying work but we had plenty of the stone about so we had to use it up. We have two paths done, don’t know if this third one will be completed before you come.

It has actually rained at last. Yesterday in Bristol they had violent thunderstorms but we didn’t have any. It was sweltering here. The lawn is going a nice shade of browny yellow.

I am going to get cracking on the cake this week end.

Cummings went out on Tuesday & we hear the house will be up for sale. Mr C. told us that a party were interested in it who are now living in a caravan. They lived in Yorkshire till recently when the husband got a job at Caperns Seed place. I think the girl worked in the booking office during the war, her father is Spencer in Knowles Road, however they may not have it, it is in a shocking condition inside & out. Alice Horsey’s old cottage has be[en] resold & we hear it is an elderly couple called Warwick are there parents of the girl Spencer’s husband. Moses have gone out of their bungalow they lived opposite Gardeners, well almost, they have gone back to Westward Ho.

I made a big bonfire yesterday morning and got it going nicely when there was a terrific bang from it which shot a big bird in the air. Turned out that I must have let one of my batteries fall in it and it burst.

Fancy Carol cutting four teeth at one go, she is trying to catch up. You may not want many times like that.

Well I think this is the lot now as I have to do Susan’s.

Love from Mum and Dad

Friday 26th June 1959

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Leonard to Alec and family:

[On the reverse of timetable paper, table 61 – London, Reading, Didcot, Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, Bristol and Taunton, and table 62 – London, Reading, Newbury, Westbury, Frome, Yeovil, Dorchester West, Weymouth and Taunton.]

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

First of all Very Many Happy Returns of the Day on Sunday Alec and best wishes for another successful year ahead. Mother has sent off her parcel but am afraid to send mine through post for fear of damage or even breakage. Am waiting a reply from Norman as to whether Aubrey Mably [?] is going to Paddington on Monday for the bid meeting [?] and if so will try and get him to bring it. Both parcels (Mum’s and mine) are sent with best wishes and we hope the articles will prove useful.

Now to your letters. It is nice to hear from both of you and you give us all the news especially about the children and their little ways. Needless to say we are looking forward to July 9th. Very glad to hear Carol much better after her teething troubles. We both had a good laugh over Susan’s request at tea party & of incidents en route to Chessington last Sunday. Hope you are feeling better too June – your last letter said you had been having trouble with backache.

Your garden must be looking quite nice now with so many plants making headway. Have had to syringe the runner beans here owing to black fly which of course is directly due to the long spell of dry weather. Anyhow I think I can keep in reasonable condition. Broad beans are over now but in addition to what we had ourselves managed to sell 21lbs. Also doing well with sweet peas and Sweet Williams at 1/6 a bunch. The cherries are just ripening – not a good variety though unfortunately – so if we had some brandy we could make Cherry Brandy. The elderflower practically ceased fermentation after nine days and started to clear. It tastes ghastly at the moment but am hoping it will improve. Have sealed it off in two of the sweet jars June’s father let me have. Next brew will I expect be blackcurrant – ours ripening fast at present.

Staff changes noted Alec but I do not know Cecil Moore or John Allen. You will have to push your colleagues into something later on but I’m thinking there will be a lot of economising taking place with the Railways in such a bad financial position.

Mother says she will write separately in reply to June’s letter. And a letter from Lyng this morning in reply to one I wrote Monday (22nd) having had no reply to my previous effort written three weeks ago. I see you had a copy so you know position for Sunday July 12th. Incidentally we hope Pauline can make it and also get Monday morning off for return journey.

Concrete paths have dried out nicely and I’ve now prepared site for the second one to run parallel to greenhouse. This afternoon have had a go at pond as am trying to stop the leak. Found one crack right across it including the two sides measuring up to ½” wide – this I blocked up with cement and Compo Seal then brushed over the whole of the base of the shallow part with the same mixture. I wonder if it will put matters right.

Cummings moved out yesterday to house on end of Avenue where Croft the schoolmaster once lived. Am thinking the house vacant will remain so for some little time.

Our potatoes are not turning out quite so prolific as last year – dry weather somewhat responsible – but are just as nice. It is the same kind as those we brought up last September.

Well I think I’ve just about finished once more so will conclude with best wishes to you and all and lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

Dad

PS. Up to time of posting this have not heard from Norman but if he can get parcel up by Aubrey Mably on Monday will phone you. Dad.

Thursday 25th June 1959

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Eva to Alec:

[On the reverse of half a sheet of timetable paper advertising THE MERCHANT VENTURER Restaurant Car Service: London, Bath Spa, Bristol and Weston-super-Mare]

My Dear Alec

Just to wish you all the best for your birthday. We are sending a couple of days early as don’t know how post is on Saturday mornings. You will get dad’s on Monday as someone is bringing it up as rather awkward to send. Will answer June’s letter and yours anon.

Love from Mum

If you don’t like the colour it will come [in?] for the holidays but it’s a good quality one.

Sunday 21 June, 1959

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Alec to his uncle and aunt

Dear Don and Joan

Regret your last inadvertently destroyed since reading but will endeavour to answer the main points. Yes definitely we would like you to stand as God parents in spite of advancing years, It was always our intention to ask you in view of the fact that you were geographically barred from Susan’s. We have moved the mountain to Mahomet and are also arranging for Pauline to come down for the week end to act as a Godmother. June of course will make the third. The difficulty of providing young Godparents from my side of the family is that there are no young people who would be qualified for the job. I should not worry two hoots about it if I were you because we would like you to attend (if convenient of course) whether as a participant or as a spectator.

Again yes, the typewriter is my own, purchased second hand a few weeks ago. It is a portable. Olivetti ( Lettera 22 ) I confirm that July 12th at 3-30pm., is the date and time of Christening service. Sorry to sound a bit disjointed but am putting these things down as I think of them.

I hope that you have been having this good weather your end. It has been really enjoyable and the only time I have regretted it was when carrying cans of water for the garden. My gosh does it need rain. Apart from a few spindly weeds nothing appears to have moved in the last month. I understand that most of the farmers round the outskirts of London have got all their hay in already. I expect it is the same your way.

The roads are pretty well jammed with cars at week ends. It is quite some way to the coast from here and I should not like to do much driving under those conditions. Next door neighbour has gone off to Broadstairs in Kent for weeks holiday. He motored down but does it in easy stages.

Both children doing well. We all went to Chessington to day to see June’s cousin and small son (8 months). Journey took from 9-30am to 11-45am and had to start back at 3-30pm. Two changes and about four escalators to negotiate. Not a trip to be taken regularly. Shall have to pack up now or shall need cats eyes, hope to see you with more news soon.

Alec to his parents

Dear Mum and Dad

Just the usual line to let you know the events of the past week. Still no rain and continuing sunshine. Doug and family to Broadstairs yesterday for one week. From the look of it the weather will continue fine for them for a while yet. I hope we don’t use up all the good weather before we get down to Clevedon. Glad to hear that paths as good as completed but sorry to learn that you found it very tiring, I expect the ready mix took the worst out of it though. Susan was invited out to tea by a neighbour last Friday and gave away all our secrets as usual, and asked for a boiled egg for her tea. Carol got four teeth all at once, no wonder she complained about it. We all went over to cousin Joan’s at Chessington to-day (what a jaunt) – left here 9.30 a.m., arrived South Ruislip station 9.45 a.m. Susan to Ladies – missed a Central Line train and had to wait for the next – arrived about 9.55 a.m. Arrived Waterloo via Tottenham Crt Rd, at 10.50 a.m. and caught the 11.5 a.m. arrived Chessington at 11.35. At the house at 11.50 a.m. Of course we had to start back at 3.30 p.m. and repeat the dose. Oh for a car, could have been there and back in an hour. The girls were quite good on the trains. On the Southern we travelled 2nd, on privs but had compartment to ourselves each way. Good thing too Susan used her pot at Vauxhall, did not fancy carrying loaded pot out of train at Chessington so slung contents out of window. (Non corridor stock). Two of Geoff’s Dahlias have now come up making four in all including the two which already had shoots on them. No sign of the rest but have watered them well and not given up hope. Have planted out French Marigolds, seed of which I bought when you were up. The seedlings were about 1.25 inches long. They flopped at first but soon recovered and about 95% have taken and grown on well. Clematis now on the point of flowering and there are a great number of flower buds. Am going to bud a few roses next month. The briar stock I have will be just the thing to provide a vigorous base and I must select a good bud from one of the better roses. The big rose which we all thought was dead was severely pruned about a week ago and I see that there are quite a few leaf buds forming so all is not yet lost. The apples are getting bigger and now are attracting the attention of Madam who keeps on saying that she must not touch them but I see one or two about on the ground where they could not have fallen. Must give her the benefit of the doubt though as they do fall at this time of year. Third lot of Mesembry, doing well. They are about in fourth leaf and very sturdy, I think the first two lots must have been killed by leaving them out in the rain. Still one or two buds on the Syringa. Quiet last week with Barnes away but very busy, did not get as much done as intended. Wilkinson has been appointed Development Assistant to Divisional Traffic Manager B’gham and Cecil Moore has got Staff Assistant to Ditto at Cardiff. It is rumoured that John Allen (Chief Clerk Paddington D.O.S.O.) has got Staff Assistant to District Traffic Manager Bristol. It is also stated on good authority that neither Baynton-Hughes nor Barnes have got anything. Shall have to persuade them to apply for other jobs. Wilkinson job may not be advertised if it disappears under the new set up. Shall await events with renewed interest. Must point out that although we looked could not find a letter for Susan with your last, Thank you both for your letters, Dad need not worry if he cannot compete with typewriter, it does not have to run into several chapters. Clock gained about 10 minutes last week, shall make a small adjustment when winding. Well shall close now and until next week.

Alec

P.S. Thank you for making the arrangements with the Vicar, and note that all as planned. At the moment of going to press, Pauline will be coming down for the week end. Probably having Monday morning off to travel back.