Tag: Alec

Monday 29th June 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

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

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

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

Friday 26th June 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

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

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

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

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

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.

Sunday 14 June 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents

Dear Mum and Dad

Herewith letter in answer to both of yours and items in June’s Birthday letter. We are all well and hope you are. It has been very fine here these last few days and have made the most of the sunshine. Looking forward to our visit, please say if all arrangements now confirmed.

Office Barnes now on leave will return on 29th June, shall not have very much of him before go on leave myself. More than a strong rumour that L.W.I. has got Hammond’s job no doubt Geoff has same info. Yes I know all about new S.M. Clevedon. If you remember, I told you. Re L.W.I., a probable candidate for his job is G.E.R.P. Quite a number of high powered vacancies brewing up so await the future with interest (not personal).

Children Had some trouble with Carol yesterday, she has cut another tooth and she let the road know about it. The pantomime started at about 6.0 p.m. and she was still howling at 11.30 at which time I nursed her off to sleep. She was awake at 2.30 again and June had her in with her while I went in Susan’s room. All was then quiet until 5.45 a.m. To-day she has not been herself but this evening seemed much more normal although we did have about twenty minutes of ructions before she dropped off. At the moment all is quiet. Susan has been the same as usual, very good and very naughty. She pulled all the blossom off the Double Orange you brought up some time ago, and she persists in digging in the wrong places. I took her for a walk this afternoon soon after dinner and we went to the park. She tried all the swings, roundabouts and see-saw and was quite tired when we got home.

Garden Since you were up have completed the path to the bottom of the garden. I dug out all the loose top soil from the part to be cemented and transferred it elsewhere, the filled in the vacant space with all the old rubble and brickbats I could find. When this was completed, I took all the best of the broken paving stones and used them for the two outside edges of the path and put cement down the middle. (Carol now awake and bawling.) After two days this had hardened into quite a good path. Have taken out all the Spring stuff from the front and removed all the London Pride. This has left a big hole as you may imagine but I transferred about eight barrows of top soil from the back levelled the bed up and planted Scabious down the middle. So far have not put anything else in. Have had to carry bags of water all over the place as still no rain. Your Dahlias making good progress but those from Geoff that we planted have not yet hit the surface. (Four weeks) The pinks have been quite a good show but they are a bit thin on the ground. The rose hedge is magnificent but all petals dropping now. Carol tried to eat one for her elevenses. Geoff’s mesembryanthemums are now sturdy plants and we await the first flowers. My third lot seem to be more of a success than the first two tries but still only about 1/2 inch tall in the box. Cut all the lawns to-day but the earth is badly cracked. (Carol quiet again.) Susan rolled the top lawn this morning. Rolling pin tied on behind tricycle. Planted out a number of asters outside dining room and a couple of Perennial Daisies the rest are in pots waiting to go out in the front. Note you have been busy shall expect to see results when we arrive.

Wine Note the Elderflower and hope it is a success. I have not made any for some time but have been watching the price of fruit. All the items seem to be listed at 1/6, Gooseberries, Apples, Strawberries, although doubt whether the latter are at the pound rate. Some of the Grapes too are at 1/6. Have finished your Elderberry and have some in more bottles. I shall have to have a sort out before long.

General Very sorry to hear that Mother had fallen down, it is usually quite a shake up when you don’t expect it. Hope all effects now over. You have probably heard from June that Susan has damaged our T.V. She amused herself by banging rolling pin along the top. The woodwork is quite dented on the top forward edge and will take a French Polisher to put right. It is not too terrible in appearance if you do not know it is there but will not have it done yet awhile in case we get further trouble. June liked her new blouse and looks quite smart in it. Have not seen our Vicar about Christening and have no intention of making any sort of contact with him over our arrangements. Have you heard from Don and Joan in this connection. They mentioned that they would be willing to come and stand as Godparents but pointed out that they were getting on a little and the job was that for a young person. Have not replied to this as take it as acceptance. Donald Campbell and Bluebird at the Lido yesterday. Some crowd there by all accounts. Clock still gaining as a result of my alterations but have again lengthened the pendulum a shade and hope for improved timekeeping. Well that is all for the present except to wish you all the best until next time.

Love, Alec

NB: Posting dates got away from me briefly due to a holiday and an unexpectedly heavy workload, plus having the PC completely decoked and having to find everything again afterwards. Normal service has now been resumed!

Sunday 31st May, 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad.

Just a letter to tell you arrived back safely and Mum’s letter since received. We agree that the best date to come down will be on Thursday July 9th for the ceremony to be performed on Sunday July 12th, Perhaps you will be good enough to fix it up with the Vicar. We have asked Don and Joan but as yet have not heard from them. I expect they are waiting to hear the date. This week-end, I have fitted glass to the frame brought from Clevedon and have built staging immediately below the windows to hold seed boxes and pots. This will now hold eight seed boxes in a row and with the other shelf on the other side of the shed I can now house about sixteen boxes at once. Have patched the roof by inserting below the tarred felt the old lino we took up from our bedroom. A couple of roses have come out but the others are not far behind now. One of the Pinks is out, it is a pink one, and Allwoodi. with a ringed centre. No sign of any of the Dahlias Geoff gave me but I expect they will be through any day now. The Spirea you brought up and the two we transplanted are all alive but the latter suffered a severe check. Mother’s Dahlias are healthy but not growing very fast I expect they need some genuine rain. We have Eileen with us for this week-end and Susan of course has been quite excited. I am afraid Carol played up a bit to-day but as she did not get a sleep this morning I expect that was the cause. Grandma’s clock gaining now since I shortened the swing of the pendulum. If I release it a half turn I shall be about right. Carol not walking or even standing on her own yet apart from holding on to a chair or something. She is now walking along by hoisting herself onto hands and feet and going along with arched back. Have not replied to Don yet but must do so to-day or he will be wondering what has happened. There does not seem to be anything to beat the National Savings Certs for simplicity so will plump for that although I see today’s paper warns of a possible reduction in the rate of interest. It seems that Pauline* quite likes the idea of coming down to Clevedon for the week-end that the Christening is held and returning on the Monday morning. Have nearly drunk all the Elderberry Wine. You will have to make some more when the elderberries are next available, I don’t suppose there will be any about at this end. I have not made any more since I saw you last but have been accumulating empty bottles, I have so many now that I shall have to take the board up again and put some out of sight under the floor. Our neighbours just returned from a week’s holiday at the Isle of Wight. They say it is very nice there and nearly all of them are very sunburned. Well hope you are still as well as when I saw you last and not overdoing the gardening. Will close for now.

Alec

*June’s younger sister, at this time working in the shoe department of Peter Jones in Sloane Square and living in Battersea.

Dear Don and Joan

Thanks for circular letter of 25th May. Having ascertained that GWR Savings Bank however attractive is a “no go”, we are faced with the problem of finding an investment that is reasonably safe, reasonably simple in its operation ( from the point of view of the person making the investment,- presumably the Trustee) and having a reasonable rate of interest. The National Savings Certificates would seem to meet these requirements except in regard to simplicity of operation as when the period of the issue expires it will then be necessary to reinvest in the next or subsequent issues. From my point of view this method of investment is satisfactory but I am prepared to accept the decision of the Trustee as he has to carry the can back if things go awry. Nothing much to report from gardening front this end. Everything retarded by lack of rain. Grass which was in good condition early in year has withered already and there are many bare patches and cracks about 2 inches across. Have done a number of “Hatchet Carpentry” jobs lately and you may be interested to know that the spare window frame left over after Clevedon shed was built has this week been incorporated in the South Ruislip shed and glass fitted**. I have practically completely rebuilt shed since arriving here. No new timber has been used. There was quite a lot of poor quality second hand wood on hand when we got here but most of it was only suitable for the fire. However I was able to sort out enough to use. Apart from raising the level of one lawn about 9 inches to the level of the path thereby making the whole garden level, I have no major works to carry out now.

Susan and Carol still thriving, latter almost at walking stage. We have heard from Clevedon that Vicar is prepared to perform ceremony at Parish Church and we are going to ask him for Sunday 12th July.

Perhaps you will let us know if this date is convenient please. Grandma’s clock working well but gaining slightly, I hope to make the necessary adjustment this week-end when winding. Well hope you are both keeping as well as may be expected.

Alec

**One may ask how a window-frame (with or without glass) was transported from Clevedon to Ruislip. Two options occur: 1) it went by train as with all other parcels – entrusted to someone who passed it on to someone else etc. etc. etc. and then presumably brought home by Alec on the Tube, but I think this is unlikely. 2) Geoff – or someone else with a car – was able to deliver it. Other candidates are a) Peter, June’s brother – he was at the time working for a removal firm and may have been in the West Country on business; b) Doug Gray and c) Eric Benn, the other neighbour, who was employed by the BBC and ended up moving to Weston-super-Mare. This is the sort of extremely trivial question to which I would very much like to have an answer.

Sunday 24th May, 1959

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1959 lettersLeave a comment

And here we go with the major part of the archive – ten years’ worth of letters, written sixty years ago!

So, when we last saw Alec he was nearly 21 and living in lodgings with a Mrs Stone in Hanwell. Fifteen years have passed since then, at some point during which he moved from Hanwell to Ealing to lodge with a Miss Eda Baker. (Mrs Stone may have ceased having lodgers when her husband came home after the war.) Miss Baker started life with seven brothers; one of them died in the Great War and one of them – Frank – had lost an eye in a childhood accident and was ineligible for military service. It also ruled him out of employment with the GWR, which was the course his five surviving brothers took.

Alec married Frank Baker’s elder daughter, June (Eda’s niece), in December 1954, and they bought a house in Ruislip and had two children. Now read on!

Ruislip

Sunday 24th May, 1959

Dear Don and Joan

Just a letter to thank you very much for Susan’s present duly received and appreciated. As you may know Dad and Mum came down for the week and they were present for her Birthday. We invited the two little girls from either side and of course Carol was there. She had a very good time as the weather was fine and they were all able to go out on the lawn. I am afraid that when bedtime came she was reluctant to go but as she was very tired the ructions did not last long. The following day ( Sunday ) we all went to Headstone Lane and she had a fine game with the girls there. I asked Sara if she would like to have Carol to live with them. She did not think much of the idea but said she would like to have Susan. On Tuesday we went to West Drayton to see the other Grandma and Grandad so have had quite a number of outings as a result of car and driver being available.* To-day I removed the whole of one side of shed and rebuilt to accommodate two windows. Had the assistance of next door neighbour this morning and this afternoon he took June and the girls out to a picnic tea in Kenton Park in his car. It was very hot work as sun shining strongly and the bitter wind of yesterday has gone. I hope Don’s Bronchitis is easier and that he is better condition than when we last met. We have asked Dad to contact Vicar of Clevedon with a view to getting Carol Baptised at Parish Church there when we are down there early in July. If Vicar agrees to do the job ( which is by no means certain apparently) we shall go down that week-end that he nominates. You were unable to come to Susan’s Christening because of the distance but if you can, we would like you both to come to Carol’s and stand as God-Parents. Well back to work to-morrow, got to do enough to keep the Governor’s pension going I suppose. Hope to hear from you through Clevedon that subject to date etc., being convenient, that we shall all see you in July.

Alec

*The car belonged to our very accommodating neighbour, Doug Gray, who seems to have chauffeured us around a considerable amount at this time.

CompuServe

On By Sue JenkinsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

In an effort to be helpful to the members of his small family history group, Alec published the following in the ‘Fewings Newsletter’ in 1993. How times have changed!

CompuServe

I obtained a brochure from the CompuServe office at Bristol. The service is strictly for those into computers and equipped with a modem for connection to the telephone system.

CompuServe has widespread uses, in that it can be used for business, entertainment, hobbies, shopping, news, advice, etc. Using it, it is possible to download information and programs etc., send and receive FAX, send and receive electronic mail, talk to other members online, and join and associate with groups having similar interests. There is access to financial items, reference data, investment, travel and reservations. In fact it seems to offer all things to all people. There is a price to be paid for use, of course, and this varies according to where you happen to live, and the speed with which your particular installation is able to transfer data via the system. The speed is measured in ‘bauds’ and the charge increases for the higher speeds, from 300 bauds (min) to 9600. The data transfer is slower for the slower speeds, therefore on-line time would be slightly longer and telephone charges a bit higher.

The charges are per hour and are price in dollars (U.S.). The relative hourly charges for someone living in London would be:-

  • $6.30 per 300 baud connection
  • $12.80 per 1200 to 2400 baud connection
  • $22.80 per 9600 baud connection (where available).

Beyond this the pricing is a little more complicated as there is a communications surcharge which varies between London and the rest of U.K. and whether connections are made at peak or off-peak hours. Those wishing to have more detailed information should write to CompuServe Information Services (U.K.) Ltd., 15/16 Lower Park Row, P.O. Box 676, Bristol, BS99 1YN.

Anyone in North America who may be interested should write to CompuServe, 5000 Arlington Road, P.O. Box 20212, Columbus, Ohio, 43220, U.S.A.

______________________________________________________________________________

So there you have it, folks; if you want to take advantage of one of the wonders of this new technological era – at the bargain rate of $22.80 per hour where available – you should write (write!) to one or other of the addresses above. It’s difficult to believe that the world has changed quite so drastically in such a relatively short space of time!

(N.B. Late in his life Alec was known in the family as ‘Gadget Man’ because of his willingness to adopt – albeit without always understanding – new technology!)

Next post will be uploaded on 26 April 2019 at 06.00

Dramatis Personae

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1944 DiaryLeave a comment

Here are the characters who move in and out of Alec’s 1944 diary entries:

Alec second left.

Alec fourth left.

I like to think that the chap with the raffish moustache (above) and the pipe (below) may be Chas, but I have no information either way.

I’ve pondered over whether or not the older man with the glasses, far left in the top picture and centre in the lower one, might be Alec’s father Leonard. There is a distinct resemblance, but these pictures were taken at Paddington and there’s no real reason for Leonard to have been included as he worked out of Bristol Temple Meads. I also don’t think this man is tall enough to be Leonard, so on balance I suspect it isn’t him.

I’m also rather hoping the carriage in the background may be the famed ‘Adelina Patti’s Railway Carriage‘ in which Alec worked at about this time, and it certainly has a resemblance to it, but there isn’t enough information to be certain. At any rate there were a great many old railway carriages repurposed as office space at Paddington, and the one in the picture is certainly one of that number rather than a passenger carriage in current use.

The next post will upload on Wednesday 24 April 2019 at 06.00.