Tag: Car

Sunday 19th January, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Many thanks for letters duly received Friday also paper arrived earlier in the week. Your first remarks are about weather so will give you the picture here for the week. I had half made up by mind to take car to Watford on Monday as direct distance is less than 10 miles but Monday morning dawned snowy and frosty. There was a fall of some 1-2 inches and where beaten flat by vehicles it was very slippery. I elected to travel by train and was glad to do so in view of the walking conditions I found when I set out. I must say I was not feeling too well when I set off, having a bit of a temperature and headache, but by the time I had walked to Eastcote the latter had gone, and former was easier for stock. At Watford The Grove was covered in snow, and look very pretty. No further falls occurred in the week but the second and third days were accompanied by fog and heavy skies. These conditions were most oppressive, but the snow gradually melted away and the skies cleared and the sun came out. The last two days were fine sunny and springlike and very pleasant. Thursday night produced a frost and was only partially cleared by the morning’s sun and by the time I got back to Ruislip the temperature was down a bit and it was obvious there were many pockets of frost that the sun had not reached. Again on Friday night we had a hard white frost and the windows bore evidence next morning. Tried to start the car, but more anon. Today is much milder with promise of like conditions for a while.

Most interesting about the Hewitts’ visit. You can bet if they will have their money’s worth*. After all that should have thought Mrs H would have looked with more favour on Mum’s competition cake. Perhaps she had had enough already on the visit.

Time certainly is running out for your land. As you say on the 15th prox. it will have been passed over to new owners so you will have to get all you want to retain well clear by then. Yes I am sure your best bet is to get the builders to do the job they are contracted to do on the old garage. You will not lose except in terms of time, if you do not like the result as you can still have a new one if the altered arrangement does not suit you. Frankly I should have thought the old garage was a bit hefty for your requirements and could have been reduced a little in size at the time of the move. I seem to remember that it was Hobson’s Choice at the time you bought it through Drewett, it being the best available at the time and the size was accepted.

Meant to comment about the cutting you sent, and thought I had, but duly noted. I am sure there are a number of such crossings that need a bit of attention to make more safe.

The Christmas cactus may well be getting too much water as I have not given it any since writing last and the earth is still sodden. This despite the fact that the pot is on top of the TV now a la Devonia.

I’ve not heard since if Notley got one of those jobs, but he did promise to let me know at Watford if he got one, but time is short yet. I do not know if I told you last week, but the line (G.E.) Work Study Assistant – Joe Lane – has been detached on a special job viz. same as McDonald’s in conjunction with B.R.B. on a semi-razor gang lark**. He has been led to believe that he will get a consideration at the end of the job. (Something like Geoff.) There is expectancy that the Motive Power side of the traffic will go over to the C.M.E.E.*** and this will account for the other line work study assistant at the G.N. who is mechanically trained. This reduces the field of our particular grading by taking off the top two. Number three is a lecturer at the E.R.W.S. school and as it seems the school will continue for some long time it more or less appears as if he will be committed there for some time. This leaves Unwin and myself who are hoping to remain in situ. When it comes to reorganisation, the old laws of supply and demand operate and one hopes to be part of a limited supply to meet a great demand. All depends on the status and grading of the rearranged posts of course, otherwise one can be left high and not so dry.

I think Geoff’s £100 was to stop him applying for jobs out of the section until his current task was over. The impression going around as a result of interviews etc. and other hints, is that there is a feeling in certain circles that some jobs are far too highly paid, and that in these same quarters only exceptional ability will take the occupants any higher in the same field . This exceptional ability is only likely to be possessed by University types with degrees who have spent some time in outside industry. Mathematical degrees are particularly sought. Let’s face it the salaries are now sufficiently high to attract these people from outside – witness Lang from the I.C.I.

Bit of bad luck for the man in the Avenue having to do all the drain work at his own expense and not getting any help from those either side. Is there a history of trouble there, and how much £.s.d. is involved? Should think all that is needed is a set of rods and the periodical examination should be sufficient to see the job clear. I wonder if the local Health Officer shares the view of the Council that the man must deal with the problem himself.

Our typist at Liverpool Street was not on that train although I believe it was her usual train. I suppose you read what the cause was – a broken axle on the leading bogie of the last coach. It had not been subjected to all the tests it should have had, and it was the last of the particular issue still working on the electric stock, the others have been withdrawn.

No news of your fire raiser. I thought it a bit of a stretch to link that fire with those further West. Anyway you had a visit from the police I wonder what was said.

School dinners do not loom so largely in the conversations now. An occasional dig is made but I think they are both resigned to them now. Susan has written to ‘Junior Points of View’, but I see the letter is still lying around here in its addressed envelope****.

Your little plan noted, and more or less the impression I gained from your previous letters. I do not know if you can improve much on that. I knew the garage would not be near to the house, as it was close to the shed and the shed was close to the house I wondered if you might not be in a bit of trouble if the whole lot was deemed to be too close.

June just a bit tired and has a bit of pick-me-up from doctor. The children have been a big trial lately and have required a lot of looking after, and with the worry of constant misbehaviour the outcome is not surprising.

The work at Watford went quite well last week. Mostly theory for the first week which involves packing a lot of new symbols, meanings and values into one’s head. The last couple of sessions were on practical work in the Laboratory, and this week we are almost entirely on practical work. I think we start a bit more theory on Thursday with a short practical follow-up, and on the last week we have a further subject to tackle both on theory and practical. Food and conditions were well up to standard except that the overall temperature of the place was far too high.

Have not heard from Peter since he took the car away so imagine he has had no trouble. My car stood in the garage for a week and of course would not respond to the starter. There was just enough life in the battery to have started the car if it had been warm, but as engine was cold the battery just died on me. Tried to start by the handle, but as the latter is worn it would not get any purchase on the engine. Borrowed Doug’s charger and he had to unfix it from the wall of his garage before he could hand it over. I switched it on and something went ‘snick’ inside, so had to dismantle the charger before I could find the fault and repair it. As Doug had painted the things some time previously the screw heads were all filled-in and I had to use hacksaw to provide a slot for the screwdriver. Managed to get the whole ensemble working again by about 2 p.m., but by 3 p.m. the charge in the battery was insufficient to start the car. That meant a walk with the washing to the launderette and battery put back on charge. It has had many hours of charge now so will try it later. Trying to open the back door from outside. It had swollen and jammed badly, when the knob came off in my hand so new handle set to purchase. Finally to give the chapter of woe, the declining picture on the T.V. finally and suddenly disappeared in the middle of the children’s programme, so we are without T.V. Man from ‘Morris of the Manor’ is coming on Monday morning.

Some  activity again then in the land Stakes. I think that Bushell is in a good position. What thoughts of all the previous occupants of his house. Pity as you say about lack of exit to Old Church Road, but some time in the future it will come.*****

Well we have a couple of letters from the girls for you this week. I believe that you said Mrs Richings had left something for the girls again at Christmas and Susan’s letter to her is just the thanks. If I was mistaken you had better not give her the letter.

Well that’s it again for another week so will close with love from us all.

*So grudging: everyone has an ulterior motive!

**Not a common expression but clearly (despite Wikipedia’s insistence that this was specifically an Australian phenomenon) the ‘razor gang’ had become a metaphor for any organisation with the intention of ‘making cuts’ or ‘slashing its budget’, probably with added emphasis on a cruel and unexpected assault.

***I’m having trouble parsing this acronym, but no doubt it has something to do with ‘Mechanical and Electrical Engineering’.

****Probably because I did not have any opportunity, or even money, to buy a stamp for it – 3d would have been half of my week’s pocket money, and a long walk to the Post Office would also have been involved.

*****Not yet it hasn’t…

Tuesday 14th January, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letters received this morning first post which was a bit surprising bearing in mind the weather – thought it would be midday at the earliest when it would arrive.

After last week’s report of good weather we  now I have to change our opinion as we are now getting back to the snow frost and ice we had last winter. Not so bad yet fortunately and we hope it will not get any worse. Plenty of colds and sniffs as you say and we know you were trying to get rid of one when Jackson called on phone last Saturday. Hope you have been able to shake it off before going to Watford yesterday. I had the starting of another cold when the Hewitts came last Wednesday and have since had to keep indoors throughout the weekend. Not so bad as in October and it is actually on the way out now for which many thanks. So far mum has escaped it but has had a sneeze or two.

Our little store of logs (from Blenheim Orange tree) are lasting out very well and we have enjoyed them on the fire. Seem to last a good time too presumably because they are ‘green’. Have not however been able to cut any more this week and time is going on now – the 15th of February will see the last of our occupation of the bottom portion of ground.

Mr Palmer called in on Saturday morning for a few minutes and I had another chat with him regarding removal of garage. He said could try the idea of bringing up the existing one to a new position especially as it is the builders’ responsibility to move it. He (Mr Palmer) has to go into Southmead Hospital again for observation under the same surgeon as on the previous occasion. Does not sound at all good.

Yes we had cutting from ‘Telegraph’ Alec thank you – thought you would guess that from one of the P.S.es on last letter. You did not however comment on the cutting of the Failand crossroads we included in ours – just as well to know this for future information, as you will probably pass over the crossing sometime later this year. I have not seen the alteration myself yet as have not been to Bristol via Failand for many months.

Re: your Christmas cactus I wonder if it is getting too much water? Anyhow do not destroy it but see if it improves as time goes on. Ours are going over now but have made quite a nice show.

The news of your colleagues very interesting and as you say Notley may get one of the jobs now vacant. So Geoff was not surprised to hear of your rise. Do you think he may have had the gen from another source? Seems to me they gave him the extra £100 to avoid giving him another lift in the categories. A subtle move on the part of the management?

Glad to hear no more trouble with drains. The local Council apparatus was in the Avenue end of last week in connection with the complaint the man opposite had made but after dealing with the trouble he was told in future he must deal with it himself. None of his immediate neighbours are prepared to share the expense.

Am surprised to hear advances in salary can be withheld at the discretion of the authorities – thought these were automatic once you were in a certain scale until you reached the maximum of that scale. Could understand the amount being variable according to merit etc etc.

Whilst I think of it how did your typist fare on the train for Gidea Park on the evening of Friday the 13th December? You said you thought she may have been travelling on it.

Yes we understand the police visited all houses in Clevedon searching for clues to the fire raiser but all is quiet again now. A special notice was given out on TV the other night to viewers in Somerset to be sure and lock all doors before starting the evening’s programmes as there were numerous burglaries in the area.

So the girls have had their party at Sunday School at last and we hope they enjoyed it. A pity about the weekday school dinners though. They must get used to them and I expect they will when they find it is that or nothing. Fancy Susan writing to ‘Junior Points of View‘. Whatever did she say to them? We generally look in to the children’s programs – most interesting at times.

Runner beans did you say Alec? Must see if can find a little room for at least one row but until the garden rearrangement has been effective there will not be a lot of gardening done. Incidentally the garage if moved will not be near the house. It will have to be sited about three feet clear of the shed on the lawn side which will enable a path to be made parallel with the shed to get to garage. In fact the opening of the garage will be in line with Bushell’s garage.

Noted June has seen the doctor but you did not say with what results. Wonder what treatment he has prescribed? Perhaps you can get a little rest during the day with the girls away at school June. Noted too Alec commenced his three weeks at Watford. Not a nice time of year to be away from home. Presumably you go home on Friday afternoon and back again on Monday morning.

What a strange coincidence meeting with someone who knows Clevedon. And he has to reach you via the I.C.I. and Scotland. Well you were on common ground for a chat and this quickly throws out any strangeness which would otherwise be noticeable.

Peter seems to be getting a lot of trouble with his car again but hope with Jackson’s attention things will be better. What a game getting it on the move to Jackson’s place and for latter to run it to Maida Vale on the handbrake. Must be a good driver and have fair knowledge of all makes of car. Glad to hear your car now in order and hope it will keep so. I have not had ours out for a week for reason given earlier in letter and went down to garage this morning and started it up for 10 minutes. No trouble fortunately. I like to start her up for a few minutes alternate days if we are not using car much – saves a lot of trouble in the long run.

The curate returned the crocks last Saturday afternoon.

Last Friday afternoon we saw Hawkins (builder who has taken over land from Plumley and Weston) in the Avenue and later on Bushell came in and said Hawkins had been to see him asking if he would be interested in selling him 160 feet of his ground measured from the bottom end and offered him £550 [£13,700 in 2024 money]for it. Bushell said he would think about it and let him know. Hawkins said well don’t be long or shall not be interested further.  Hawkins then went to the other three houses above Bushell with the same tale. Bushell’s trouble is that he has the place on a ground rent so could not immediately reply to Hawkins. Moreover he was not altogether in favour of selling. However he saw his solicitor yesterday (Monday) and latter told him the ground rent business could be got over but said that £550 was not enough and he should ask for double that amount. I think Bushell will now sell if he can and he certainly holds the whip hand so far as the other three householders are concerned. If Hawkins will not pay him £1000 [£25,000 in 2024 money] for his piece of land then he will not sell and the three other plots are no good without his because Hawkins could not get at them. What a turn up for the book!! Only last week Bushell was taking trees from our field and planting them on his side. Now it is possible he will have to dig them up again and cut them up for logs. We understand the other three householders are all agreeable to sell their land and have told him so of course. This will mean that the road coming along at the back of our place will now be extended as far as Moores. A great pity now that there is no possible exit into Old Church Road near Mrs Gardener’s bungalow. I should have mentioned that the other three houses have the land freehold and only Bushell is on the ground rent.

Well the Hewitts duly arrived at 4 p.m. (instead of 4:30 p.m. as requested) last Wednesday and departed at 11:10 p.m. A wrestling match was being shown on TV at about 10:30 p.m. and I thought this would get rid of them but oh no they stopped and thoroughly enjoyed the programme. Fortunately it was a lovely night and I did not have to get car out to take them home as I did last year. have not seen them since of course but the week is young yet.

[Letter continues Wednesday 15th January, 1964]

Sunday 12th January, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for a weekly letter. Sorry ours was a bit late getting to you, but post still obviously adrift. However wi’ll first reply to the part of your letter written before you received ours.

Note you say the weather was grand for the first part of the week down your end, but I do not recall that it was all that good here. It has been mild and cold in turns at this end and very treacherous. One morning I went out of the house and found it quite warm and balmy, but by the time I got to the office it was very cold again and later became very raw. Not surprising that there are a few colds and sniffs about.

Gather that you have been having a busy time in the orchard sawing up the trees or transplanting them. I should imagine that the removal of so many must make quite a difference to the look of things down there. I can imagine you have quite a store of logs but I am afraid they go all too quickly when you start on them.

We did have a little fog as you say but it was mostly confined to Kent and the extreme south-east. We did have the beginning of foggy conditions early in the week, but it never came to anything.

Hard luck on the Heels then travelling on their Christmas holiday. Over long distances you cannot depend on the conditions being the same throughout. I noticed it took him half as long again to do the journey as usual. I do not suppose it will stop him doing it again though.

Note your idea of possible rearrangement of the garage, but hope you have ascertained the local terms for putting such buildings near to dwelling places. Here we have to ensure that the nearest point of such a structure is at least twelve feet away from the house. Your local conditions may be the same, but your shed is a bit nearer than that I think, and in any case the regulations may have altered since your shed was put up. As I said in my last letter, I think it might be as well to allow the builders to move the old garage to the site you suggest and after it has been moved you can then see if you like it that way. It might also be a good card to play to contact the builder at the appropriate time, point out what he is involved in doing, and see if he has a useful alternative to suggest. It might well be that rather than move the existing garage which could involve him in time and expense he might prefer to put you up a smaller one made out of the old materials.

I too cannot make out what is so special about getting a contract for moving coal for the electricity people. We have been doing that ever since there was electricity. I suppose it is all publicity.

You ask about our Christmas cactus. Well sad to relate it is just the same as when you brought it up about two years ago. It has not grown at all and certainly there have been no buds and no sign of flowers. I have had it indoors for some time now and have been watering it regularly but it does not respond. I can only think that it must be making root growth as no surface growth is apparent.

Very sorry to learn that Mr Palmer is a bit rough again. Unfortunately he does not get any younger, and that last op did him no good at all.

Not surprised they are at low ebb at Transom House. They are all the same these days. I gather Bill Bryer who is the Productivity Assistant at Plymouth is Acting Sales and Marketing Manager and that my old colleague Sid Manning is now Acting Productivity Assistant. Notley and a chap from the E.R. have to go down there for interview for Assistant Traffic Costing Officer on Monday. Notley had a good interview at King’s Cross for the same on Thursday of last week when four such posts on the E.R. were involved and should think he ought to get one of the five.

I thought you would appreciate the story about the drains especially as you have to deal with same from time to time. All O.K. now though. You did not say if you had seen the cutting from the Telegraph. No more news since though. Very thorough the police coming round for clues. I suppose they called that all the houses.

Geoff did not appear surprised about the rise in fact he told me the amount before I mentioned it. On the E.R. you get a merit advance each year (if you deserve it) of 5% of your salary. This was the practice, but I have since learned that one or two only get rises of £25 and some have been told that although they have not reached the maximum for the grade that they will get no more rises while they’re in that particular job. This of course is quite a blow, but well within the prerogative of management I suppose.

We have had quite a to-do about the school dinners. Monday it was wonderful, they had beef and apple tart. Tuesday it was bad – they had mutton and Wednesday Susan said she was sick, they had minced mutton. They seemed to finish up on a fair note as on Friday they had sausage toad. They have struggled against it, but they are going to have them for at least six months.

Yes bad luck about the party but they had it yesterday after all. I inquired if the date was right and was not very popular for a while. Carol repeated the enquiry later on so June has got to live it down.

Greenhouse still just about holding its own against the cold, but some of the plants look a bit washed out. The tradescantia can be written off I think. Fancy you having to buy apples that really brings it home. No doubt as you say you can get a tree or two in the garden somehow. Runner beans will also have to be catered for as they are a ‘Devonia’ speciality.

June has seen doctor and I will leave her to make any comments. Your remarks noted of course.

Have not seen any more activity on the land next to us, but as you say it can be long-winded so do not expect them to start building overnight.

Peter had been “done” over his car some time ago, having spent quite a bit of money on it in various places and had nothing but trouble. He showed me a bill itemising a number of things charged for, but subsequently found not to have been done. In addition the local garage put the wrong brake fluid in his brakes with the result that the seals rotted and his pressure went. However this was a little while ago and since he has tried to do his own stuff however he has not all the tools and now and then finds some jobs beyond him. After his experience he was reluctant to go to anyone else and asked me about Jackson. I told him he was a bit of a job to tie down, and a bit pricey but he did a good job which stayed done. In view of all the circumstances he decided to get his brakes put right by Jackson. Only the handbrake was working when Peter brought the car over last Sunday and I told Jackson the car would be outside our house for the taking when he could do it. I was a bit worried that he might leave it a long time as I did not want to have to hike it off the road onto the grass verge in the event of fog. We had a few fog alarms, but fortunately it did not come down.

Of course Jackson never came near the place until Saturday morning when I was still in bed (trying to sweat out a cold) and asked for the car to be outside his place by 9:45 a.m.. Of course it would not start, there was no life in the battery after all this time and the engine too heavy to swing with the handle. The simple thing was to release the brake and coast down the hill to Jackson’s, but Les had his car so close in front that he had to move it. I tapped on his door at 9:30 a.m. and that got him out of bed too so he dressed and came down to give me a hand. We tried to start car by running down the hill with gear in second, but no joy by the time we got level with Jackson’s so left him the problem. By a bit of know-how and joint operations he soon had it going and was away. He drove that car (handbrake only) up to Maida Vale on a Saturday morning. What a game with a strange car. The gear lever is on the right hand side of the driver and the handbrake is forward centre left of the driver. However he returned to the car at lunchtime duly in order and Peter picked it up in the afternoon. He had a chat with Jackson and I think he was suitably impressed.

By the way I think I told you that I was expecting a chap from the Scottish Region by name of Lang. He turned up last Tuesday and we made quite a bit of progress. He has only been on British Railways for about eight weeks, having been working for I.C.I. before that. At lunch we were talking about the old Scottish custom of being a bonafide traveller on Sundays if you want to drink, and I mentioned a situation of a certain pier before the war when Irishmen came over on the boat on Sundays and straight into the pub etc. He said oh that must be the Pier hotel, he said I know Clevedon very well, I was Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Naval Medical School there during the war. His basic job is Research Chemist, and had transferred to Work Study while with I.C.I.

Car here going quite well. I have had nothing more done since last report. Nothing much done on the radio lately and cannot expect to do much now until after Watford which starts tomorrow. Your curate wants to get with it I should think, he will be absent all together one day again.

Well near bottom of page again so will close until next week. Love from us all. 

Sunday 5th January, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Two letters to hand for which many thanks. Please find enclosed cutting from national papers which no doubt you know all about.

Well to start to answer both letters in sequence. Letter of 27th December: some postal delay as you say. I would have thought they could have done better than that despite the proximity of Christmas. However we have got it at last. As you supposed it arrived on the Monday. Yes okay about the rise in salary. some more to come we hope from the wage award so for a while things will seem better. As you once said though there is never enough and still glad to see some more. Geoff told me he had had a bonus of £100 [£2,500 in 2024 money] in addition to rise of £100 at the end of year. Former I gathered was for piloting in the new timetable.

Yes the girls certainly went to town with their Christmas presents, and Susan is writing a thank you letter as I type. Of course being children they would much rather play with the toys than write to say thank you for them, but we have met that one before.

Glad you managed to dodge the cold I brought down. We are more or less in good order once more. Carol has had a cough for several days now but it is declining a little. All due to catarrh of course and it seems there is nothing we can do about it. Susan returned to us on Wednesday and we swapped her for Carol who stayed until Saturday. Susan was the only one to be invited to the hospital party and this on the grounds of her having been an outpatient (eyes) during the year. They had a good time of it by all accounts.

Glad you were able to get over to and exchange visits with the Astons. Makes a change from the normal and presumably you can take it fairly easy. I agree about the lad at the bottom of the road, it’s spoiled their Christmas all right and I hope that now he is more recovered. It remains to be seen if he is going to be all right in the head even if body returned to fitness.

Of course there is wild speculation about the future at the office at the present time. It is rumoured that the Motive Power side of the traffic organisation is going to be placed under the C.M. and E.E. and in fact this is rather more likely to be fact than rumour. The wheel again turns.

The position re: greenhouse is a lot better. Since last writing we have had no losses and no frost to speak of. The plant you brought up last time which looked like a lot of grass is a goner but everything else seems okay. I have moved the thermometer to a more central spot which gives a reading at the point (or near to it) where the plants are, and since moving it the readings have been above 30º [F, equivalent of -1ºC]. Pity about Frank James and his test. Should imagine the examiner was feeling a bit piqued at having to take tests on that day and vented his spite on James.*

Gather you have spoken about the starting handle so will get it perhaps at Easter. Nice of Bushell to give you the sherry, was it some from Elfords??? Very kind of Heel to say I could put car in garage – it would have been quite useful especially if weather have been cold etc. but the occasion did not arise of course. Do not quite follow what you meant about your plan being the only one to be passed by the Council at that meeting. Were you aware of any others that were to be submitted at that particular meeting?

I have no doubt that a fly old chap like Elford has spotted the fact that you do not bring in any bottles with false bottoms. He will pass a remark on it one day.

Drains you say. Well we have had a basinfull of that game this week. Coming home from work on Thursday I thought I could smell drains as I came up the field, but when I got to the house there was no trace so took more action. After I had had my tea, next door neighbour (Les) brought in a parcel that had been delivered by post for us and mentioned that he had some water laying about in his garden by the drains which did not run away, and said he was going to look at the drains. I remembered the smell I had noticed and offered to help him. We found he had no less than four inspection covers, two of which we could not account for but identified the other two after a while. We opened the one nearest to the gate (No. 1) and found it almost empty, but the channel inlet blocked. The next one in (No. 2) was obviously a junction of sorts and was running smoothly with no congestion. The next one in (No. 3) was full to the brim and until emptied could not be identified but obviously the cause of the trouble. The last – right alongside the house (No. 4) – we did not open at first and assumed I think rightly that it was his. No-one had any drain rods of course so we got a couple of long rods, one wood and the other gas piping. I bent the gas piping and probed with it and found a blocked outlet in the full chamber. Les bailed into the chamber bracket (No. 2) and got level down so that we could push rods from chamber 3 and from chamber 1 which appeared to be linked. To cut a long story short, by this means we were able to free the blockage and found that No. 1 was the T junction with the main drain in the road. No. 2 we could not identify as it came from up the hill and also had an…

[From here to the end of the page the carbon has become folded and a big section of text is missing in one corner.  The gist of the information obtained from what remains is as follows:

  1. The pipes under Les’s garden formed an S-bend which was no doubt the source of the problem.
  2. The fog had been patchy locally, with the worst affected area being Greenford.
  3. Alec repeated that he was glad his parents had been socialising with the Astons over Christmas.
  4. He was also glad to hear that the Bellringers’ Supper had gone well, but thought the curate’s late arrival both there and again at Church was a poor show.

Text continues on the following sheet…]

…Bristol Chief Constable was a radio amateur and has the call sign G3WLH probably had it for about four years.

So Cornish had to put his spoke in. I bet he was snooping as something was happening to the land involved in “his” deal and he wanted to know how you were twisting him. Certainly a lot of work in the orchard then cutting up or transplanting trees. A pity they have to go, but some of them were nearly played out I expect.

Re: garage, you will obviously be better off with a new one, but I doubt if you could sell the old one which would then have to be sawn up and otherwise disposed of. Your agreement says that the buyers must move the garage. I would be inclined to let them do it and then you can see how you like it once they have finished with it. There is still the opportunity to knock it down and have another built if you do not like the results.

Hope you will like the arrangement in loft although there is still a lot to be done.

Glad to hear about Ching. He must not be all that short of retiring age by now.

No news about interviews for McDonald’s successor. I would put my money on Bill Bryer if he has applied. Alterations apply only to the Eastern Regions set-up as each of the regions are at different stages of evolution. The aim is to standardise on the Western Region set up of H.Q. and Divisions. the L.M.R. already have a Divisional organisation but have Lines as well. In due course they will have to lose their lines and go directly from H.Q. to Divisions.

Yes I agree with Mother that the days seem lighter already although this is hardly so by the calendar. Plenty of sales going on at this end too, but same lack of cash. Hope your anticipated swag does not lie too heavily on your minds.

Sorry the Curate’s potatoes were cold but seems to have been his own fault. Fine thing to go home carrying Christmas pudding and trifle.

No sign of the girls contribution so shall have to chase them up.

Well there it is again. Not much news here this time. Peter has had trouble with the brakes of his car and he is going to bring it over so that Jackson can have a look at it. He is losing his brake fluid due to its coming back past the seal in the main cylinder. This results in it coming out of the air-hole and the reservoir and thereby losing pressure. When we got to Ealing yesterday he was under the car and the surrounding air was blue.

I suppose dancing lessons and Brownies start again this week so back to normal once more.

Well I will close now till next time, so love to you both once again from us all.

*Why ascribe to malice what can readily be explained by incompetence? It shows a very skewed view of the world not to accept that maybe the candidate just had a bad day, or simply wasn’t fully prepared for the test.

Sunday 8th December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for the letter and paper duly to hand. You will be interested to know that as a result of the experiment in separate dispatches from your end that the paper arrived at 8:30 a.m. and the letter arrived at 11:30 a.m.. What next?* Gather the letter sent off from here a bit late last week.

Not an awful lot to report from this end this week. Had another bit of fun with the car on Wednesday. When getting it out of garage got a bit too close to one side, and got the upright of the door support caught in between the front and rear nearside doors. The upright of the garage is about one inch wide and 3/16 thick and dropped in the gap so nicely that it could not go forward or back. In fact the action of letting in the clutch resulted in forcing the car against the upright even more. Had to ask Les to give me a hand and we had to lift the back clear of the garage upright. Results not too bad on the car as no effect on the metal of the doors and only a very thin section of paint removed down the  edge of both the doors. The garage however had the worst of it as cannot now close the doors properly. The upright has been bent about 1 foot up from the bottom (outwards) and although you cannot see it with the eye, the whole front must list a bit to the left now as left-hand door scrapes on the transom and right hand door scrapes on the ground. I may take the doors off and give upright a good bash with heavy rammer [sic] this morning, but meanwhile have secured the doors as best I could.

Note the weather has enabled you to get cracking on garden adjustments. You should get some specimen loganberries next year with something to drive them. Amazing how a garage like the Lex one in Bristol should be full up so often just shows how many people are about in cars now. One good thing about the department store lark, you only need to go to one and you have got all you set out to get.

I thought the price Mrs Marshall got for her land was just amazing. I suppose if one wanted to get the best out of one’s property by sale the best way to do it is by auction with a reserve price as a safeguard. However I do not think you can grumble about the figure offered to you for your land. Couple this with the timing of the deal it is an amazing bit of luck for you. Had this come earlier, you might not have been inclined to sell and in any case price would certainly have been much lower.

Had seen the building in Elford’s yard but not of course from the inside. Had an idea that it was only an old barn and never gave it a thought as a residence. Hope it can be made into something good for them. I suppose the shop is his to sell.

The local traders seem to be doing this Triangle lark every Christmas now and not a bad thing at that. Of course it is all good for trade, but nice to see someone doing something special.

Have not heard of ‘Robinsons of Middlesex’. This county is quite large as you know, but I will see if I can find out anything about them. Gather Mr Clore**, sorry Cornish, has been missing since his last big deal. Perhaps the strain was too great or he has gone to the Mediterranean on the expectations? By the way what about your cruise now?

Sorry to hear about Mr Aston’s mishap. Hope he is getting on all right now. He did not follow the saying of ‘not running for buses’ etc. I would rather miss one the run for it.

I remember having heard something about Ching having had a daughter sometime or other, but have no real recollections. Good luck to them of course – must want their heads read.***

Susan and Carol both pretty fit now, although not too certain about Susan. She is acting up a bit as if something wrong, but nothing obvious. The leg healed up very well and let’s hope she has learned a lesson. We all went up to see the lights last Sunday. Left here after Sunday School**** and took car to Eastcote Station. Left there by train at 4 p.m. and got up to Piccadilly Circus about 35 minutes later. Walked to Regent Street and Oxford Street and along to Marble Arch where we entrained once more. The lights and shops were not too bad, but I think it was still a bit early to get the best effect. I forget what time we got back but it was not too late.

Greenhouse had a temperature drop last night. It was a white frost and when I looked at thermometer this morning (from inside the dining room) the minimum looked like about 31º[F] [about -.5ºC]. Must get out there later and see what it really was. All around was as white as snow, and there is no doubt that we had a hard one. The plants look O.K. from here, but they won’t stand too much of that.

You may find breaking up the old concrete path a bit of a problem and not an easy job. Remember what got buried underneath – old razor blades etc.

No doubt that Jackson had car working O.K. when he returned it and we were just unlucky with a chapter of accidents. Everything okay now of course?

I will have a look for Stinchcombe’s name in the call book. There are about 10,000 names therein and if I had the call sign it would be easier as they are in call order and not alphabetical. However as he was licensed before the war that may reduce the extent of the search.

Will be coming down on Saturday, but as yet have not looked up the trains. Will take this letter to office on Monday and insert the details. Got caught last time as they had changed all the train departure times.

Well we did our shopping by car yesterday, then went over to Ealing in the car again in the afternoon. Brought Grandma Baker back to babysit for us, and we went to Roy and Delph’s***** for the evening. After getting back from them at about 10:45 p.m. drove Grandma back to Ealing and home once more. The cold was intense and all the cars were covered with frost. I must say the heating arrangements in the new car are far superior to those of the old. The heater acts much more quickly and really is hot.

Looking back through your letter, I note you are clearing up the weeds. I wonder if you’re going to rescue the bonfire ash from the field side of garden. There must be 30 years of good stuff there.

We are in the throes of decoration preparations here. The school has asked for decorations to be made by the children, and both Carol and Susan are hard at it. I believe there is a competition involved. We have glue, glitter and crepe paper plus glue etc. [sic] all over the table and floor, and I have to keep on breaking off this letter to sort things out. They have got June at it now so it is something of a Combined Op.

Well will close down now and look forward to seeing you at the weekend. Love from us all once again. 

*What’s next is the abolition of the second post, which actually lasted a surprisingly long time. As for the time of its arrival, Alec would be spinning in his grave if he knew ours could turn up any time between about 10.00 and 14.00!

**Alec’s expression for ‘Mr Moneybags’, i.e. anybody he believed to be wealthier than him.

***Presumably intended as an insult to anyone who chose to work with children, and reflecting his dislike of children as a species. Spoiler alert: he never wanted any of his own.

****This is interesting as I remember Sunday School as always being in the morning: we were sent there so as ‘not to get in the way while mother was preparing dinner’. However as it was Advent perhaps there was a special service.

*****Delphine Steinke, nee Baker, was June’s first cousin, their fathers having been brothers.

Tuesday 3rd December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

No letter from you today so I suppose we must assume the Christmas postal rush has begun. Anyhow I can start off by giving you all the local news although that is not very much this week. Plenty of rain during the week but also some very nice spells which enabled me to do a bit outdoors. Have now removed all the timber edging to the paths of that part of the garden which we lose in February – most of it was rotten and only fit for firelighting. Yesterday I got out the loganberry and split the root into two giving Bushell one part and putting the other half-way across the garden just on the garden side of the Golden Privet hedge. Later on shall put up the wire to carry the runners and keep them off the earth. I think I have previously mentioned that Norman Baker had brought me a load of manure and now I have commenced to cart this from a point near the garage to that part of the garden which we retain. Incidentally when planting the loganberry I put nearly half a barrow load in the hole before filling up. This should have good results in due course.

Bought 3 pints of antifreeze from Boots yesterday and Bushell came over the morning and put same in radiator. The valve at the bottom broke off (due to action of antifreeze) and he had to pop down to Willcocks garage for a replacement – cost 3/- [roughly £3.75 in 2023 money].

Am still picking in apples especially Jersey Beauties and these will have to be kept for several months before they are eatable, then they are lovely.

Bushel told me he and his wife together with other friends went to Bristol last Friday and they could not put car in the Lex Garage – it was full up. Today Mum and I went into Bristol after dinner by bus and when we passed the Lex Garage noticed the ‘car park full’ sign showing. The place was absolutely full with people and vehicles – trying to compete with London I suppose. We only went into Lewis’s and were back home again by 4:30 p.m.. A nice afternoon but a very cold east wind.

Heel has been busy taking down his poultry houses and stacking the wood for possible future use. I have done nothing further yet regarding proposed new garage etc. except note various prices in advertisements.

Wonder what you thought of the price Mrs Marshall got for her ground. Quite a bit of comment around here. The cost of the houses and or bungalows will be that much more for purchasers to pay. Do you remember the old outbuilding standing in Elford’s yard? It is now being converted into a house for Mr and Mrs Elford to retire to. It will be quite a small affair but good enough for them. No idea of date they will retire from business but it looks as if they are getting ready for it.

Understand there was a big event in The Triangle last night when the streets were lit up for the Christmas – carols being sung outside the railway station. Somebody must have seen the Lights of London on TV during the weekend. It is an effort by the traders in the area to stimulate trade for Christmas.

By the way do you know the firm who bought Mrs Marshall’s land? They have only been recorded as ‘Robinsons of Middlesex’. Never heard of them before.

Still no contact with Cornish – he appears to have gone to earth. He has a big advantage now inasmuch as his ground is so devoid of anything useful either growing or non-growing that he has no need to clear any of it.

Mrs Aston called round last Friday and said Mr Aston was confined to house with a sprained ankle. Apparently he was trying to catch a bus at corner of Westbourne and around the last few yards and then stepped on edge of curb and turned his ankle over. I went over in the afternoon for a couple of hours but he had much improved (the incident happened on the Tuesday) and was able to hobble about with the aid of a stick. Have not seen him since but shall try and get over later in week. Roy Hewitt still walking badly but and it takes him a very long time to walk from his home in Westbourne Avenue to Tennyson Avenue.

Arthur Ching’s daughter Heather is getting married sometime during the Christmas holidays. The young man, also a teacher, is the son of the landlord of the Failand Inn and we understand they will make their home at Chippenham where they both continue teaching. Heather must be about 22 years old now. You will remember her of course. On second thoughts though perhaps you will not remember her as she could only have been about a year old when you went to London. Arthur Ching and wife are now living in a flat in Melbourne Terrace close to the station.

Tomorrow is your ninth anniversary – heartiest congratulations and all the very best to you both for the future. Nearly halfway through with the house too and the value has gone up a lot since you bought it. A most valuable asset to have at the back of you.

[Letter continues on Wednesday 4th December, 1963]

Sunday 1st December, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks very much for letter and paper arrived together note same price postage, so no advantage this week. However in view of delay to other than regular sized envelopes no doubt we shall reap the benefit later on. I have not sent you any of the Eastern Region Rail News lately as gathered you were not impressed. If you would like them I can send them on, but none of us think much of them especially after the magazine it superseded.

Well what can we report on the health stakes this time? Well Carol was quite off-colour early in the week. She said she felt a lot better one morning when I enquired, but when I got home she was in bed having had a bad spell. Susan did not get it although she showed all the signs of getting it. However she made up for it in two ways. Firstly she has been very naughty and there was talk of stopping her from going to Brownies for the second successive week, but in the event she was unable to go as June could not take Carol with her. They both saw Dr instead and had the usual jollop. On top of this Susan has fallen down again* but this time the damage was quite extensive, and she would not leave the scabs alone – result she has a poisoned leg. This has caused her a lot of pain and is as sensitive and red as can be. She was almost unable to walk about the house yesterday, but after a bath last night and a general cleaning out of the wound she is a lot better today. She was able to get out into the sideway and walk a little way down the road with me. June and I both have our heads just above water so to speak – nothing to shout about or complain.

Your report of damage indicates that the effect of the storm was more extensive your end than ours. We do not know of any such damage round this way. I think possibly that the houses are in a better state of repair generally this end as the main construction here is fairly modern. However I will certainly agree that there are buildings that have been neglected badly and in need of paint etc. Yes Norman Baker certainly had a near one, and the damage is enough to bring the pangs on.

Nothing further to report from the greenhouse front. The heater has been on almost continuously since the last letter, and the temperature has remained above zero. Nothing moving there of course but I did take some more buddleia cuttings and stick them in pots last week and and they are all doing very well. I broke off a large branch at the same time and stuck it in the soil out of doors just on the off chance and find that it is growing, and new leaves have formed already.

Note you cannot remember the way Richings took you on your trip? Shall have to try and work it out.

Pity about the heavy construction having to be done at wrong time of year as you say. I read in the gardening books that March is the appropriate time for that sort of work, but the weather generally is not much better then. The idea I think is that the new growth of grass etc. in the spring will cover up the effects of carving into the soil fairly quickly.

Lucky old Nancy Marshall. I wonder what she’s going to do now. She has lived in that old barn of a place for so long she must be attached to it, but with that capital she could buy herself a palace almost anywhere she wanted. It is certain that West End is going to change in character before very long. One can only hope that the type of property to be put up will not further detract from the standard. I should imagine the houses will be of good style otherwise those gents are not going to get their money back.

Thought you would cough when saw you saw the price of the garages. We would have loved a brick or concrete one, but price far too high for our pockets. You could of course have a slightly [ … missing text here … ] take down the existing one. This would give you a considerable area of new ground you could use. The old shed has seen its best days, and its present function as far as I can see is a kind of lesser Steptoe and Sons. Alternatively if you cleared the old one out, had it repaired and possibly refelted, you could do without having a workshop added to the garage. The garage could then go alongside the old shed with a connecting door between the two. A moment’s reflection I am sure will indicate that to use the present shed as a dump is an awful waste of a useful facility, and you would not need another one if you made the best use of the one you have. Sick gloria in transit work study.

Re: coats etc., well of course any part of the coast is a long way from London and it is out of the question except in extreme case to think of working in London and living on the coast. If a suitable job turned up somewhere where living on the coast was feasible then of course we might be able to do something, but for the time being it is out.

Will let you know the train in due course, but I am the same as you, I have no timetable. Our man at Paddington** has not looked after us very well. We have however got one in the office.

Great pity to break up the concrete paths, but some of them should have been broken up almost as soon as they were made. We did not make a very good job of all of them. Particularly the wash outside the garage was a poor effort. Why do you have to break them up? Are they on your side of the fence?

Some game with Martindale then. Nice thing for the wife to have to attend too while husband away.

Do I understand the booster pole will be on your acre? Not that it matters, but just wondered if you were speaking collectively or individually when you said ‘our land’.

Well I must tell you about the capers with the car. Put it outside Jackson’s on Tuesday by arrangement, and when I got home in the evening it had been returned. I got in and just drove it into garage. Of course had no time to test brakes and in any case I thought I might be going out the following day to fetch Susan from Brownies so did not go around the block. I did notice that when I released the clutch that the car stopped rolling although I had not touched the brake, so I had to start again to bring the car to rest at proper place in garage. I assume he had tightened the brakes just a little too much and that it was intentional and would wear off with use. However I did not go out on the Wednesday as I said earlier, neither did I go out on the Friday to the club. This meant that several days had elapsed since car had been used or engine started up. First thing I found out was that battery was low, but just able to turn the engine. It did not respond and battery eventually died. Tried to move car to get [starting] handle in but it was rock fast and I could not move it. Got the help of the milkman and his mate to give me a push outside garage and then got to work. Found the handle dogs had worn and was almost useless. Spent a lot of time and sweat, but no go. Doug came out and linked his battery up with wire but that only produced a sound like a machine gun. Gave it up and just wandered out to the front and spotted Les***. Told him the tale and he (another embryo Bushell) promptly stopped gardening and came over. I should have said ‘took over’. Before you could say knife we had all the plugs out and reset, all all the leads and distributor to head off and dried out and the petrol pump and float chamber off and cleaned. All three filters were cleaned, and the pump tested (when open) to see if it was working. After all this we put it back together again and it did not work. That was the morning that was.

Immediately after lunch popped around to Jackson and he had just arrived home. He came after grub and had a go. Found that only air was getting to carb[urettor] and tightened the feed leads we had disconnected. This produced results (on his battery) and car run a couple of hundred yards. As I was stationary outside number 84 with engine ticking over it stalled and would not restart. He said there was [ … missing text here … ] Well he put some more in and primed the chamber vigorously and away we went. He changed over the batteries while engine was going, advised me not to use car until my own battery was fully recharged, and I drove home. He arranged that I should take the car around to his place this morning and have the brake adjusted. Tried to start this morning after putting battery on charge all night and although battery okay a short burst from the engine and silence. I primed but to know avail so popped around to him again. After much speculation he found that although the juice was getting to the petrol pump it was not going beyond. Result – petrol pump taken down again and we found that the diaphragm was not connected to the cam. This must have happened when Les and I cleaned it. By a bit of luck he was able to reconnect it without removing the whole assembly (no tools here for that job) and all o.k. once more. A real chapter of coincidence and one thing leading to another****. For all of these events you can say that if such and such had not happened the events that followed would not have happened. Brakes now in first class condition and so is the engine after the plug cleaning etc.

Well enough of the car. With luck we may go – by train – up to see the lights this evening. It is a fine day but a little cold so hope to take children up before the crowds get too thick.

Little news on the air. Worked a German station in Frankfurt this morning on the phone but not very promising otherwise.

Forgot to tell you that last Sunday Susan and another girl had to read the 120th psalm***** between them during the service at the church. I think there are five verses without turning it up and Susan read the last two. They were both very good and I heard someone behind me say it was very good for someone so young. There was a very good attendance at the church about 100 I should say. They both got prizes (Carol and Susan) and with some pangs gave up a couple of old toys for the mentally handicapped children.

Well I must close now and sign off as it were, and hope you are both okay now. from us all stop 

*I still have one piece of stone in my left hand and one in my left knee from this encounter!

**This refers to Geoff, who was involved in timetable preparation.

***Robinson, at number 82.

****A real chapter of two men taking a car apart when they didn’t really know what they were doing…

*****A bizarre choice for small children, and I have no recollection of this whatever.

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.

1 I call on the Lord in my distress,
    and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips
    and from deceitful tongues.

3 What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
    that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived
    among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
    but when I speak, they are for war.

Sunday 10th November, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for weekly letter and Mercury. Glad to say a more or less clean bill of health this end once again. Had my anti-flu jab on Friday so suppose some immunity for a while? They do not give you any advance notice of date of these things, but just say do you want one, and in a couple of days suddenly they say the Doctor is waiting down the corridor to give it. Not that it matters, but there is always a danger of missing out if not in the office at the right time etc.

Very glad to hear that you are both much improved now, and more or less back to normal. Note you are beginning to take a more active part in the garden, but from your latest news it must be a bit of a problem knowing what is likely to be a profitable job and what is likely to be undone by the later alterations. A very good time for ‘making haste slowly’ I should think.

So sorry to hear that Bushell was rough after his flu injection. Have had no such trouble with any of mine since that lot that McLeod gave us back in the 1930s. This time the doctor said it would be a bit more painful, and a bit more red about the arm, but I do not know why, and in any case although he was right, it is negligible anyway.

You mentioned rain. Well we have had a night of it. It was clear in the evening when we went over to number 17 for Bonfire and the remainder of the sparklers etc. During the night however it has rained pretty steadily, and still at it now. The inside of the greenhouse is very wet indeed after this lot. it appears that the rain has come from a different direction, and has driven in under the bricks. This is the first lot we have had from the direction of the field.

We were not in very much last Saturday but in any case Jackson did not come over to do the car. He has not been anywhere near us since either. He is a proper dead loss. I would not have got mixed up with him again but for the fact that I borrowed a jack from him at short notice for Peter to do a job for me. It is much easier to drop car into garage with instructions as to what needs doing and pick it up when they are ready. This way we are not likely to lose the use of car when just about to go out etc.

Must make a break here as have to take Susan to church parade with the Brownies at the Baptist Church Ruislip Manor. Have just run Susan to the Manor, and left her with a couple of her friends. I suppose I shall have to go again about 12 o’clock to pick them up.

Thanks for the tip about heating the greenhouse, I wondered if it was safe to let temperature rise due to the effect of the sun, but apparently all in order. The most we have to report this week is a max of 68F [20ºC] and the min of about 42F [6ºC]. All still well above the level necessary to bring heater into action. Your cone almost a firework then, ‘light blue touch paper and stand well back’. Still not put up the extra shelf in the greenhouse, but that will have to wait a while.

Re: Liverpool Street – three of our chaps, two from the Lines and one from the School. all senior in the grade, had an interview with Butcher in the week for vacant job at B.R.B. They are in the process of licking their wounds at the moment. It seems they were told that A) they were a doing a good job, and B) getting quite a satisfactory salary, and C) had they thought of getting promotion elsewhere? The job has not been filled yet and although I suppose it is still an outside chance that one of them might get it, I have my grave doubts. I think the trouble with that lot is that they want go up too quickly, and they have a false impression of their own importance. They apply for anything and everything with the result that no one knows how sincere they are when they apply for any specific job. However we shall be a bit wiser a little later on no doubt.

Interesting about Pattisson. He is not a bad chap, public school and all that, but seems to have his head screwed on. He was Assistant to Hamblin when latter was last at Paddington. Since then of course he has been Assistant to General Manager and Assistant Divisional Manager at Birmingham.

Note you have started on the apple picking then. Some game that each year, but maybe last time on those trees.

Funny Don not knowing what to do with the money. Guess it must be an act, as cannot envisage any situation here that would not require £.s.d. Perhaps he has got so used to saving for his old age that he cannot break the habit.

Fireworks went off fairly well after somewhat damp start. It rained pretty heavily in the day, and when I came home it was still raining. By the time I had had my tea it had stopped and the girls and I went out into the garden and let them off. You do not get many for your money these days. The day of the ha’penny banger has gone, and at 6d a time, you can get 20 for 10/-. [Roughly £12.75 in 2023 parlance.] We had a couple which cost more than 6d so that reduced the number. However the three rockets went up, and the Golden and Silver Rains poured, and the volcanoes erupted so all ended well. Dancing went a bit better on Saturday so June says and they are beginning to get the idea now. Brownies still going strong, and as stated there is a Church Parade today. Bit of a jaunt to go to the Manor each time, but there is nowhere nearer that has a Brownie pack.

Your report on the land situation is pretty comprehensive, and that leaves little for me to say. Can only hope that it will work out as you want it to, and that if you feel disposed to remain there that the amount of land and surroundings will be to your liking. I expect Heel could write a book about Cornish but wonder myself if he himself is not a bit too smart sometimes. I would not be a bit surprised if Cornish had not spent a bit of time over at ‘Devonia’ when you were away either. Good crack about buses, but they have come about 35 years too late to do us any good.

Sorry about the gap in line above, have just knocked over cup of tea with the carriage as it moved along.

Interesting about the lie of the roads that are planned. We think that you mean that the extension of the Avenue will come out on the village side of West End House, but there is just a possibility that you mean opposite the present post office (which used to be Cox’s shop) on your end of West End House. The natural lie of the road would be the former of course, and if a new road it would probably be used as the main road in preference to Old Church Road. I can visualise that with a little re-adjustment you may well have quite an amount of land left after all is settled.

You ask for suggestions re: Heel. Doubt if he would want to live amongst the ‘Cornish’ so better keep him away from the southwest. You may be thinking of buying his place if he clears out – perhaps this is what you meant, or had you in mind doing the same? Anyhow you will have a lot to think about and plenty to plan. By the way my garage measures 16 feet by 8 feet 1 inch. [4.8 x 2.4 metres approx.] 

[Letter ends here abruptly: presumably there was a third page, but it has become detached at some point and is no longer in the file.]

Monday 14th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Just to let you know we arrived back home safely yesterday at 1:40 p.m. after the easiest journey we have ever had, but more about that later.

I am very sorry to have been such a misery to myself and to you all during the last few days at Ruislip but I seem to be full right up with catarrh from the head to the stomach and was not taking much interest in anything and the obvious thing was to get home quickly. You must please forgive me but I feel we did the right thing by leaving you 24 hours earlier than anticipated. I had another disturbed night through the coughing but feel a lot better this morning and perhaps in a day or two can properly shake the illness off completely – anyhow I hope so. Thank you all for a very nice time with you and for all you did for us and we hope there will be no reaction from my indisposition on any of you. Very strange this should happen for the second time except in this instance I was not too well when we started off on the 4th inst.

We made good running yesterday and leaving you at 9:45 a.m. we took correct road this time through Langley and reached the M4 at 10:10 a.m. and left it at 10:22 a.m. Just after entering the M4 we came upon an accident between two cars and the police in attendance. I should guess it was a collision between cars coming from the London and Windsor directions respectively. We had to circle to get round the damaged cars. We reached Marlborough at 11:35 a.m. and only stopped for 8 minutes. Then on through Calne and next stopped at a wayside house called the Soho Inn* about a mile beyond Calne. It was then 12:20 p.m. Had a shandy each and a homemade pasty and were on the road again within fifteen minutes. Next stop Tennyson Avenue at 1:40 p.m..

The only difficulty on the road was a number of caravans being towed by other vans. I should think we passed about a dozen of these at various places sometimes there were two and one occasion three in close sequence**. Our first stop after leaving you was that traffic signals at Reading so you can see we had a good run. Just as well considering how I felt. We had a cup of tea here as soon as possible but no more food until about 5 p.m.. We could smell the chicken cooking at 1 p.m. and thought it was very nice. Hope it was***.

Wonder if the girls are at school this morning? Hope they will soon be completely restored to good health and be able to keep going. The weather not too bad – dull today and a little cold but quite nice for getting about. Wonder if you went out in car yesterday afternoon? And did the sparking plug put car right Alec? We both like the car very much and it is a different model to what I had in mind when you first said that you had bought one. I was thinking of the original Vanguard which came on the market almost as soon as the war was over. This was a big cumbersome thing as I expect you know. We hope you get many pleasurable hours of motoring in it.

Your lean-to greenhouse is quite an asset to the house and is the making of your dining room. I think you made a very good job of fixing it and I’m sure you will both have many happy hours ‘pottering’ about in it. By the way Mum put in the Tradescantia cuttings on Sunday afternoon just after we arrived so we hope they will take. I have not yet unloaded the boot of car but may have a go at it later today. At first glance around the place everything seems to be in order and Mr Bushell has been over and cut all the lawns which is a big relief to me at the moment. He is on nights this week and at the moment in bed but I shall probably see him later.

Our chrysanths are in flower but something (probably chrysanth midge) is eating the petals. Mum is going into town this afternoon and will get a cone for burning in the greenhouse to rid of all livestock.

Thank you very much for the carnation etc. cuttings – these will be put in later but I shall go a bit easy this week and try and get clear of the catarrh first. This with the dieting takes all the energy out of one.

Heels are still away – now five weeks yesterday since they went. Some holiday!

No paper today as cancelled everything until Tuesday. The two Mercurys also will turn up tomorrow and I will post these on later in week. Mum has been busy with the washing this morning and is now using the vacuum cleaner in all the rooms – getting back to normal routine apparently.

Well I think this is all for the moment. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

*Apparently this establishment has been renamed as the ‘Black Dog‘ and now serves Indian/Nepali food.

**A clear sign of ‘travellers‘ or ‘fair folk’, those who move around the country with fairs, circuses or other forms of entertainment. These days a similar set-up is often adopted by contractors, too, who will set up on a site for months on end … as we have discovered on our many motor-caravanning adventures.

***Presumably this was a reference to the special lunch June had been preparing for what was intended to be the last day of their visit!

Tuesday 1st October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter and enclosures received this morning usual post. Will not reply at length this time as shall be seeing you all soon after this letter reaches you. Very interested in your work with the greenhouse and hope you will eventually get it waterproof. Quite a bit to be learned about the erection of such buildings and its a case of every man to his trade as I have found out on many occasions here.

Sorry to hear you have been suffering from colds and hope the second spell over the weekend has gone by now. Mum and I are still trying to get rid of ours and they are certainly a little better this morning but it  has been a long job this time – over a fortnight. Susan said in her letter that she too was ‘home with a cold’.

Cannot say whether it was a four or six cylinder Vanguard we saw in Weston – it was only a quick look as we passed it. Glad you all like the new car and that it appears more roadworthy than the Austin. Cannot quite understand this however as we never had any trouble with it in the manner you indicate. With the A55 I still have the difficulty in judging distances from the kerb and usually end up by scraping the wheels along the kerb.

Noted you have been having a few fires to clear out the rubbish – now is the time of year to dispose of it. Mum has been having a go here but there is still a lot to be dealt with and I’m afraid some of it will be here when we get back from our ten days’ absence. Also noted staging now in position if only temporary and that the shelves need filling. Saw mum looking out one or two items just now and assume these are to bring up.

It is raining quite hard here at the moment and work outdoors suspended again. Want to give the grass one more cutting and pick in more apples. Managed to get in a few this morning before rain stopped play but it is hopeless now. Potatoes are very bad this season but we will bring up a few to help. Shall be buying before the winter gets very far. Am throwing out a lot every week because of disease.

We took Mrs Cornish to station this morning – she has gone to Taunton for a couple of days and will be back Thursday to look after the few things in our greenhouse.

Have not done a lot since last letter – have not felt much like work at all with this cold – but have finished the big rectangular plot on lawn and almost completed the smaller one near the garage. It will be a big improvement when all three plots have been dealt with.

I really do not know why Jeff is not getting a car after thinking about it at Whitsun but should imagine he finds some other use for the cash. In any case as you know he already gets 12/6d [roughly £16 in 2023 currency: current costs would be similar] weekly for letting his garage and I do not suppose this is shown up on Income Tax return*. May hear more about it this weekend.

Pity about the radio affecting your neighbours’ TV. No doubt you will be able to do something to remedy the fault when you can locate the trouble. Nice going though to get hold of the foreigners. Is there any trouble with the language?

Our Harvest Festival last Sunday and mum was busy the previous day with the decorations etc. Looked very nice.

A good one about the shopping basket on wheels. What about the woman carrying her parcels and pushing the dog in the basket? **

So far as Sandford or rather Banwell Caves are concerned I have to admit that I never heard of them until now and wondered if you had and that was the reason of sending on cutting from paper.

A letter from Geoff yesterday confirming our arrival time there at about 7 pm Friday – after calling on you and waiting until you get home – also told us that C.W. Powell has taken on the sub-Post Office at Haytor because nobody else was available. Expect under these circumstances he took it on on his own terms. Well it is not far from there to the prison itself.

Shall bring Mercury up with us – save postage this time.

The rockery stone arrived from Cranes on Saturday afternoon and is now in a heap near garage door waiting its final placing in proposed rockery. Cannot see much more work being done outdoors this side of the spring which is a pity because there is so much to do one way and another.

No more news of land and apparently Cornish thinks we shall hear no more from the people concerned that he has given them up as a bad job. I take the view we shall hear from Solicitor one way or the other once a decision has been reached and I’m leaving it at that. You will see in this week’s Mercury that Mrs Marshall’s piece for sale is to be auctioned in November.

Heels are still away and they may now be in the Midlands or in London. A letter arrived from Tiverton this morning inviting us down to Exmouth this weekend or next weekend. This is the first we have heard from them for a long time. Told us the business in Bampton Street has been sold to a Barnstaple firm and Arthur*** has to move into Mum’s old house at 63 Bampton Street and presumably leave the firm altogether.

No more now – hope colds better. See you Friday and will not forget to call for Carol at school. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

*The equivalent of a decent £800+ per annum passive income, not bad!

**Imagine this must have been a cartoon or something, but it just shows that a novelty the humble ‘shopping trolley’ was considered in those days!

***This would be Arthur Fewings, Eva’s cousin, and ‘Mum’would therefore presumably be Eva’s mother/his aunt.