Tag: DIY

Sunday 19th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for letters and paper, and also of course the remembrance of Carol’s birthday – more of that a non. To begin with then, your letter. Had a chill the previous weekend, that seems to have been the trouble, started off seemingly all right on Saturday morning, but after a couple of visits, began to feel cold then hot in turn, although head and tummy more or less okay. Later felt very tired and could not keep on my feet. Woke more or less normal condition on Sunday and that was that. No repeat thank goodness.

Yes water still on way into the lean-to and we have had ample demonstration of that fact overnight. I think I can see what is the cause, and only wants a dry day and the inspiration to put matter right. Temperature inside remains quite high now and averages in the 50º [F= 10ºC] mark. Cacti and cuttings are all on the move, and the geraniums should be put outside now.

Tent is all the rage now and Carol’s £1 gone towards her share of it so far. Thanks for the offer for same for Susan.

You may remember I brought some records up here from Clevedon some years ago (perhaps you brought them up) but having nothing to play them on I loan them to Doug. He has a large collection of all sorts of records accumulated over a number of years. I told him at the time I would have them back when we got a record player so tackled him this week, and he returned most of them together with a lot more of his which he no longer wanted. I am afraid mine were old wartime ones and the sound bears no comparison with those of the present day. However I have played them over and they do a trick. June and I each bought Carol a record for her birthday and Doug and Ethel gave her a record token which has yet to be changed. Altogether they now have 14 modern records with one to come. There being two sides to each they have plenty to play over. Susan soon mastered the knack of switching on and off and manipulating the record so they can amuse themselves in the front room by the hour. They are there now, and I can hear strains of music coming out. There is no doubt as to the popularity of the move. The only drawback seems to be that they want to dance on the new carpet*.

Hope you have heard a satisfactory report from Lyng by now and perhaps your visit has been arranged. I should think Susan means you to have the sewing to keep, but as I did not see it I cannot say. I should put it with the other stuff in the collection. When the fit takes her she can turn out some surprising results.

No more on the hatch situation but we have to follow that one up. Still time to change your mind about cooker then if delivery has not taken place. Could still go one better than Headstone Lane. Why not have two cookers? I agree about not suspending radio activities indefinitely, but before approaching the G.P.O. it is best to make sure what the trouble is and how it is being caused. Had a test last Monday with neighbours both sides and June watched our screen. Apart from slight patterning which did not detract from enjoyment of picture the results were negative on either side for the lower three out of the six bands I can work on. As the upper six bands are daylight bands and not very suitable for use at night that is no loss. As a result of this I shall carry on, and not bring G.P.O. into it.

Had a couple of chaps call on me unexpectedly yesterday morning, and while trying to make some contacts part of the transmitter packed up. Had to get it all out of the case and found some re-soldering to do. Everything back to normal now and on the air again. Put out a call on the key this morning and back came UW3BK in Moscow.

Very interesting about the birds discovered when cutting back the bushes. Nice of them to oblige so quickly by clearing off. Must have known they were not wanted. What happens to them next year? I suppose they will have to find new bushes.

Have heard no news of Charlie Rust’s successor, but the last I did hear was to the effect that job would probably go to someone off the region.

My trip to Watford came at an awkward time so far as birthday is concerned. The subject of the course was Critical Path Analysis which means nothing to you I suppose, but will explain when you come up. The whole thing is designed for the tight planning of large projects and getting them completed in the quickest possible time. It was invented by the Americans to develop the Polaris missile in the shortest time.

Your progress with the garage noted. Looks like someone going short of some part of their garage all right if you have some of the pieces. Perhaps you will get a call for them.

It seems you have got quite a bit done and in fact nearly finished garage at time of writing. How come the windows need painting? I am surprised you have had difficulty in putting the garage together. We had little trouble with ours but our greatest difficulty was in deciding what had to be done next. All the details were supplied and all the materials as well. Bad luck you missed your tea on the one day. Yes I can see how you will get the old garage out. Have you done anything about offering it for sale?

Nice price to pay for shop in Coldharbour Road. I hope for his sake he sees his money back. No trouble in selling the old house though.

I am not surprised they found rock behind the old church. After all the whole of that stratum is the same as the quarry at the end of Tennyson Avenue, and theoretically they could have extended the quarry right along there if they had wanted more rock. Pity old Cornish is kept out of the way, he might find a quicker way for you to do job.

Very sorry to hear that old Mr Hawkins died suddenly. Seems he was fairly well and it happened suddenly.

Well just a note on gardening. Had a go at the front lawn in the week but the mower was very heavy going, and nearly tore my inside out just doing that. Said to June it is about time we had a new one and she was able to tell me that they were offering 10 shillings [equivalent of £12.50 now] on old mowers at Cato’s so decided to get new one before doing the back lawns. We selected a Qualcast without a roller and the chap actually offered us £1 off old mower (without seeing it) told him he ought to see it first, but on confirming that it was in working order he paid up. The long and short of it is that his boy brought round the new mower and collected the old one and that’s that. New mower for £4 [or £100 in 2024 money] not bad. As Geoff had given us the old one about three or four years ago I do not suppose we can grumble. I told the boy if the boss is not satisfied with the deal to see me, as quite frankly I cannot see anyone buying it for £1. The new one cuts like a Rolls Royce. After years of pushing the old one I did not know what I was missing. The new one is so good that Susan can push it over short grass. In addition the new one is a 12 inch which does job that much quicker. We now have all lawns done and looking very green, and also we had a go at the back hedge which looked like a row of badly-kept teeth in that bushes were of different heights. Now we have levelled off all the bushes at the height of the front edge of the lean-to, and that will let in more light still into lean-to and house. The sides of the hedge were cut back severely so that we can see right through again, but we hope this will quickly fill in.

Have you made any moves with the greenhouse now that you have settled the position of the garage. I suppose the first thing to be done is to put down a base for the greenhouse. As you both say Whitsun will not be long now will it and we shall soon be seeing you.

By the way someone handed me a list of radio amateurs on British Railways the other week and I find there are 36 of them. In the list I discovered the Station Master at Newton Abbot so I dropped John Saunders a line enclosing a copy for his interest. He tells me he got his licence in 1958 when at Westbury having been enthused by a railwayman at Weston. I had a nice letter from him.

Well to the strains of The Beatles coming from the front room I will bring this letter to a close. Love to you both once more from us all. 

*For the life of me I cannot possibly understand what the objection to this might have been.

Tuesday 14th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol,

Many thanks once again for such a newsy letter and quite a budget from the girls. What was the matter over the weekend Alec? – you did not say but sufficiently off-colour for your Saturday programme to be curtailed. Hope all right again now.

Weather since our last letter very good and especially this week during local building operations. The wind however has been strong and keen and my cheeks are burning.

Sorry about the water still coming in your lean-to. Obviously requires further investigation and attention. Noted your plants therein are growing well just now and the water can needed more often. Ours as you may imagine is derelict and waiting final dismantling in preparation for its move to new site.

We sent carols special birthday letter off yesterday in anticipation of the postal strike on Thursday (now called off) and we are very pleased to be in on the tent you have in mind for her and will remember this again next month for Susan unless something else is wanted by the young lady who now says the frying-pan is out. Also noted you’ll have now obtained a record player so that the girls can use their records. Quite a good idea. We liked the one we saw at Geoff’s and Stella put on several records for us. I think it was one called ‘Elizabethan’. I’m sure you will all get many hours of enjoyment from it and it is pretty certain the girls will just love it. Incidentally much better to get a new one – it is an item I would avoid if secondhand but I suppose there are good and bad as with many other things. What a surprise you are going to give them when you produce it for the first time.

No further news from Don so can only assume he is progressing satisfactorily. Probably the next letter we receive will include an invitation to go down there.

I’m afraid I am a bit hazy about the charm chain but evidently Susan knows all about them. What a lovely piece of sewing she sent us this week – magnificent and not a stitch out of place. Does she want it back or can we put it with all the letters and drawings we have collected from them.

Noted you have been in touch with Ruislip Motors for the necessary repairs to car. Is this the firm from whom you purchased car? Hope the job will soon be completed.

Yes the cooker Stella has is one up on the one we are still expecting. It is almost an identical cooker but has one or two extra fittings but nothing of importance. Have not had a chance to get on the phone to the South Western Electric people at Weston this week for reasons explained later but they will get a rocket as soon as I can get down to Mrs Marshalls to use phone. Fortunately we have been very busy and no time to worry about cookers.

So we shall not see the serving hatch on our Whitsun visit then. Never mind perhaps later in the year we can run up again as in 1963. These hatches must be very handy especially when catering for three or four or more people.

You are soon in trouble then with your next door neighbour when you start broadcasting work. Perhaps he will take notice of a G.P.O. official and by a decent set. You cannot suspend operations indefinitely for his benefit. I noticed the test was taking place on Monday so perhaps he has heard the worst by now.

The bushes I am taking out are those on my side of the new boundary and I had reached the pole (carrying electric cable to garage and greenhouse) last Thursday when I suddenly disturbed and nearly upset a thrush’s nest with two young birds in it almost ready to fly. I abandoned work pending their departure and noticed they moved out early on Sunday morning. Monday I started off again and the first root out was the biggest so far. In fact I could not alone lift it and mum had to help ease it out of the hole and it is yet lying alongside said nothing done in that line since because of other work.

Before I posted your last letter I had read about Radio Caroline in the London papers and so now understood what all the fuss is about. What are they trying to put across the English people?

Great joke here about the parcel from Mrs Richings but if contents are still eatable it will be brought up at Whitsun. By the way we have not yet had a further visit from the Richings.

Query any news of Charlie Rust’s successor? Pity about your further trip to Watford. What is it all about this time? Query a continuation of the last visit.

Yes the lad from the quarry house must be regarded as improving but he is far from right and I doubt if the ever will fully recover. He has the utmost difficulty in walking and his legs are spread wide with each movement. His Talk is slurred too but he understands what people say and can discuss (in a way) items of interest. I believe his mother is ill now – and no wonder –

We have been exceptionally fortunate in the weather this week and have made good progress with the erection of garage. The layout for base was finished by Wednesday midday but ready mixed concrete could not be delivered until Thursday morning. In the meantime I kept car in old garage and waited events. Two big loads of ready mix arrived at 9 am and 11:45 a.m. and these were quickly wheelbarrowed into position and levelled out. Bushell came in and took one wheelbarrow and I had another. Stan James pushed the concrete into position and after dinner he and I (Bushell gone to work) kept pulling a long piece of timber backward and forward over the wet mass to get a nice surface. It was then agreed that we would leave it to settle over the weekend. Kept car in old garage all this time and until yesterday morning when I made a ramp up and over the now settled concrete and ran car onto the short bit between side of new garage and the front gate. Stan James arrived later and the work of erecting started in earnest. Mr Heel came in and helped (Bushell at work). No sign of Cornish. During the morning Stan said ‘what are these sloping pieces of precast concrete for’? I could not identify so we checked on the details given on invoice and found we should have 111 (including four spare) standard size slabs and eight smaller slabs. A count revealed that we had a total of 135 slabs so someone is short at Bristol or Bridgwater. Well by the end of Monday we had got the two sides and back end of garage fitted together and I was able to run car in on the concrete slab. This morning I backed car out again onto short piece of drive and operation started once more – Mr Heel coming in again. The roof is now on and window frames in position and most of latter have the glass in them. The doors go in tomorrow and the odds and ends dealt with. Should think Stan James may finish then. Fine weather as mentioned before but the wind!!! We kept our coats on most of the time and Heel wore his overcoat.

Our first impressions of garage as it takes shape of good but it is not nearly the size of the old one. Although it is supposed to be quite easy to put together believe me it is not so easy. In several instances improvisations had to be made but all difficulties were overcome. By the way when the old garage is finally dismantled and moved away in sections these can be carried through the normal path between porch (outside back door) and shed. Both yesterday and today we finished so late that tea was cut out and one meal (combined tea and supper) was taken about 7 pm. Have painted the window frames with white paint left over from previous jobs and for the doors I found a tin of scarlet flat paint which has been on hand many years and promptly used this for the first coat. May cover this with Cardinal Red for gloss coat.

Today I got Stan James to call at Mr Palmer’s on his way back from lunch to pick up a garden seat (4 foot long) Mr Palmer has made for us. Quite a good job and will cost much less than one bought elsewhere. It is now in old garage waiting a coat of paint and the time to put it in garden and use it. I ordered this many months ago and left it to Mr Palmer to make it as and when he had the time.

Understand Ray Mogg has sold his house and got the price asked. People from London apparently who probably thought they had a bargain when comparing the prices in London. The shop in Coldharbour Road we are told has cost him £11,000. No more details of circumstances of change.

Noted you saw Robinson’s advertisement in Mercury. From this it looks as if an early start will be made. The site near the church where five expensive houses are to be put up is causing some difficulty as rock is being encountered in excavations and blasting is necessary.

Now a bit of sad news. Bill Hawkins (St. John Ambulance) died suddenly last evening. He had been on garden most of day. He was retired but had until recently gone back to his firm (Co-op) as a tailor’s cutter two or three days per week. I have not seen him for several weeks.

Since our last letter Cornish has kept out of and I’m sure he would be only too pleased to come over and tell us how to do it.

I think I told you about a man named Pope whom you met in the church last August. Had a heart attack a little while ago. He is much better and came round one day last week for a chat. Has to go along quietly of course but he has certainly improved.

Sorry you had to give up the typewriter to the girls last Sunday but they must have a look in. I’m sure we are going to see a big difference in them both at Whitsun. Feel it in their letters to us.

We are looking forward to coming up – only four weeks this coming weekend.

Bushell had a go at motor mower last Saturday and got it to start first time after the winter. He wanted to use it and so I told him to keep it on his side until I could rehouse it in the new garage. Shall have to have a go at our own before long.

Near bottom of page again so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

Sunday 12th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Yours to hand once more for which the usual many thanks. Note you have had some thick fog, and this is something we have been fortunate enough to do without. However we have had a mist or two but that was some time ago now. I wonder what caused that*. We had not a bad day yesterday for weather, but it has rained in the night and revealed that what I thought was a good job of concreting in the lean-to was no such thing. There is a very large and wide damp smear across the floor again this morning, so it seems that I have not found all the ways the water gets in. I intend to do more on the outside later on so that might do the trick.

About Carol’s present, I agree she has all the dolls she needs and also more or less all the books she can cope with. I think that a bit later on when she really gets going on the reading she will find books interesting, and then perhaps we can get her some more. More than a little truth in what Susan was saying about the tape recorder etc. Someone (I forget who) said they would give her a record of The Beatles for her birthday, but we had to explain that we had nothing to play it on. However this is an object we have had in mind (record player) for a very long time – almost as long as we have been here, so we decided that now is the appropriate time. Unfortunately Carol has got it into her head that it will be her record player and we have to keep reminding her that all she is getting is the record, and the record player will belong to us. It is a nice difference, and I think that to her it is all one and the same. To cut a long story short I had been looking for a second-hand radiogram for some time but could not see value for money but did spot a good looking one in a sale and made a few enquiries. The thing turned out to be not so good on close inspection as someone had been mucking about with it and drilled some holes where no holes should be. Not far from this one was a new one of the same model in perfect condition, and on finding out the price was only about two pounds more decided to have it. It needs some lugging home I might tell you despite the size 17 inches by 14 inches by 12 inches. It works all right, and when the girls were at dancing class yesterday I tried it out. I shall try it again this afternoon when they are at Sunday School so that June can hear it. At the moment it is in the little back bedroom under lock and key.

The girls have decided they would like a tent for their respective birthdays and we have one in mind for them. It is not an expensive one, and will be something for them to crawl in and out of on lawn in the summer (if we get one). Your one pound for Carol she wants to go towards this etc. etc. **

Glad to here that Don much better and allowed up. You did not say he was confined to bed, and I suppose I should have realised that this was so. Glad also to know that Jim is showing signs of recovery. Should not have thoughts his style of life was prone to that affliction.

The gold frying-pan, first I have heard of it, but I know what she means. One can buy little gold or silver charms from jeweller’s to attach to chain bracelets of either metal. June told her some time ago she would start a charm bracelet for her but nothing came of it. One can get all sorts of things for them such as old boots, clocks, engines, signs of the Zodiac etc. June has several on hers which if you remember was made from the old ‘bullock chain’ passed on to me from Granddad Fewings. I think she had about ten on it but has not worn it for a long time, and no new charms went on. A number got lost as the links opened or the solder cracked and the charms must have dropped off.

I have contacted the Ruislip Motors about repairs to my car, and was to have taken it round yesterday morning for inspection, but was a bit off-colour and did not get round.

So no cooker yet then. They are messing you about a bit. No doubt you have blown someone up over the delay. What is this that Geoff has got, is it a bigger or smarter one than Mother’s? You say they have gone one better so I suppose this is so. Next move is to employ a cook. Nothing like keeping up with the Atkins.

We wanted to have serving hatch fitted in time for your visit, but it looks as if we shall not be able to get anyone to do the job in time. We put our feeler for Mr Robinson who did our outside painting, but he is tied up with work for some time and in any case is not self-employed, and only does these jobs in his spare time. When I heard this I said we wanted it done fairly quickly and would ask someone else to do the job, but it seemed I was out of order with…

 [... letter ends here, second page having gone missing.]

*Having had *one* session of ‘A’ level Geography at evening class before the course was cancelled, I want to say ‘dry adiabatic lapse rates‘ because that is the only thing I remember from that hour except a car catching fire in the college’s car park (not mine)!

**I loved this tent dearly, and looked after it religiously. It was an unfortunate casualty of my divorce some 20+ years after the date of this letter, having been inadvertently left behind in the attic of the house former husband (spit!) and I had at the time.

Tuesday 7th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the budget of news received mid-day post today. Thick fog here this morning no doubt responsible for later delivery.

Yes weather on Sunday was very nice and so was it last Friday but Saturday was bad. Again yesterday morning more rain but from noon it was grand and today has been perfect. I think we have fared better than you in the main but the wind has really been bitterly cold.

Before we go any further we have been considering what to send Carol for her birthday. She has had enough books* for time being and surely she would not like another doll. We nearly fainted when we read Susan’s suggestions that Carol would like a tape recorder or a record player. Not bad for an eight-year-old. We hope you will not mind but we are going to send you – for her – an extra pound and would like June to get her what she wants up to a pound in value and put the other pound in bank for her.** We shall not be getting to Weston for a day or two as you will appreciate from later information and as post will be upset by the one-day strike we think it will be better on this occasion for Carol to choose her own present. Hope you will not mind.

Noted greenhouse now much better since the little bit of concreting was finished. Also noted bonfires in evidence at number 84. We too are busy burning up all the rubbish we can find and still it mounts up. No I should not have approached council for a porch or lean-to but the garage is a bit different.

A letter from Don this morning says Dr allowed him to get up last Saturday but he has to go very carefully for a while. Joan’e’s brother also improving and Dr now allows him to shave and wash himself. Yes very young to get thrombosis and usually it is one thing or the other – no half measures. He was one of the fortunate ones being attended to in time.

No more news about Ray Mogg but there is obviously something fishy about it.

Susan’s handwriting is excellent and her spelling very good for one so young. Her letters are very well thought out. Carol improving every letter she sends us and we are always pleased to have them. Incidentally Susan has suggested she would like for her birthday a gold frying-pan to put on her charm bracelet. Whatever is this? Is it something we can get locally?***

So Peter managed to use his car for the South Wales journey – just as well not having to buy a railway ticket.

So Jackson has not been near you for the attention required to your car. If it was me I should go elsewhere without further delay. No good dealing with people like that.

So sorry I tripped up over your dining room – had forgotten the walls were not papered. We have had another delay – to the cooker promised by Easter has not yet turned up and as soon as I can get to a telephone someone is going to know all about it. Am tied up at present but please read on.

By the way a letter from Geoff says they are having a Belling 60 cooker installed – gone one better than us. Perhaps we should have had a Belling 70 (if there is such a thing).

1960s Belling 60 (c) user Steve on on the UK Vintage Radio repair and Restoration Forum https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=157564

Hope your carpet turned up today as anticipated. When do you expect the serving hatch to be fitted? Hope we can see it on our visit.****

So you have been having another long-range go on the radio and improved your aerial facilities to pick up the stations. Most interesting.

Have now completed as much of the dismantling of the greenhouse as possible before taking out the glass and unbolted the sides and roof. This must now wait until garage up and occupied. Since last writing I’ve been hard at it to dig up the roots of the hedge running parallel to lawn with drive. A backbreaking job as huge excavations have to be made before the roots are loosened. In fact when the root is finally withdrawn from the earth the hole looks like a bomb crater. Have now got out about 10 and there are 25 to 30 to come out. Stan James let me a pinch bar (ex-Light Railway) and this helps once I’ve dug down far enough to get under the root. I found out that it is no good cutting the roots off – they will only shoot out again and even push up through concrete.

No further news of building development but I expect you saw in Mercury (specially marked) that Robinsons are advertising for various tradesmen to apply for jobs on the big building site – work to commence shortly. This firm then has its headquarters at Kenton. Am afraid they will hit the local builders for staff while they are in occupation. Looks as if a move will be made in the near future. Meanwhile we must get on with our own domestic rearrangements. Garden not touched yet and this is one item which will be neglected this season apart from putting in cabbage plants later.

What is Radio Caroline? Have not found this one so far. Is it beyond our range?

It is a question of real hard work again here now for the time being. Yesterday morning I went up to the Council Offices and asked them when I could expect a reply to my application for re-siting of garage. Saw the Assistant Surveyor – a very nice person – and he said it had not yet been dealt with by Council. I told him that was a mere formality and the Surveyor was the kingpin in the matter. He again looked at plan I submitted and gave me permission to go ahead. In the afternoon I got on with the uprooting of the hedge and at about 3:10 p.m. had had enough and went indoors where I had to change everything. I came downstairs at about 3:30 p.m. and heard a heavy lorry outside and sure enough it was the garage arrived and I had to then assist the unloading. It was 5:15 p.m. when we finished – had to carry every piece in from the road. One item alone was 111 concrete slabs and I got three in the barrow at any one time. The lorry man carried in as well. When he had gone I then had to find room in the already overcrowded shed for the woodwork – doors etc. – and finally finished up about 6 p.m. Saw Stan James at bellringing practice in the evening and told him I now had Council’s permission to erect and the garage was also on hand in umpteen pieces. He said he might be along today to start the job. However I went into garden at 9:00 a.m. and made another effort on the hedge roots and I had got two out (by10 a.m.) when Stan turned up.

The rest of day and up till 5:30 p.m. we sweating and toiled. First the hedge for about 25 feet had to be dug out and dragged down to field for burning. The loose earth had to be picked up and dumped – this was put on front garden where it is badly needed and Mum came out with rake and spread it around. Then some of my concrete paths outside present garage had to be broken up to provide hardcore for the base of new garage etc. etc. and so on throughout the day. When he went home at 5:30 pm the two long parallel boards were in position leaving me a gap to get car up tomorrow morning so that the two cross pieces can be put into position. Expecting the mixed concrete to arrive in afternoon so another very good day is in front of us. It is a long time since I have worked so hard for any length of time but the sooner it is done the better.

Now a little Interlude. When lorry arrived at  3:30 p.m. yesterday Heel was looking out over his front gate. Cornish was also out but dressed up in his Sunday suit. There was a brand new Austin 1100 with trade plates on outside Cornishes which he was looking at very closely inside and out. He never spoke or looked at me and presently got in passenger seat of car and went off in it. About an hour and a quarter later we were still unloading I spotted Cornish coming up the Avenue and he veered over to our side and came right alongside of lorry. The following conversation took place.

Cornish: Having a house built then?

Me: Yes I’m buying back one of the plots at bottom of field and building there and selling the present house.

Silence for some time. Then just as he was walking away I said ‘You did not break your neck this afternoon then?’

Cornish: No and I’m not likely to.

My guess was that he was out for a driving instruction and about to purchase a new car but Heel said this morning that he did not think this was in mind. In point of fact he said he did not think Cornish would get a license at all as he was over 70. We shall see. Today I saw Mr and Mrs Cornish off out together and Mum says that late this afternoon he was peering through his front garden hedge over here to see what was going on.

First impressions of the parts of garage are good and four spare slabs have been sent to allow for breakages. Some of the concrete posts I could not lift let alone carry but the lorry man soon had them inside garden gate. He had left London in the morning and dropped one garage (bigger than mine) at Whitchurch, Bristol and after leaving me had one for Bridgwater. He is a long distance lorry driver and hired by Thorns for this work. He is not on it always but only if it happens to be his turn. His firm is R. Sinfield of Droylesden. He himself lives at Woolwich.

Incidentally Mum was out while still this was going on and arrived home about 15 minutes after lorry had left. Timed very nicely.

You can imagine from the foregoing that we are up to our necks in it just now but good to think things are moving and we should be more or less normal by the time we come up to you.

Not a lot else to report. I saw the lad who met with the serious accident just before Christmas (lives in one of the quarry houses) on Sunday. He was in front garden watching his father rake over the garden. He can hardly walk and has great difficulty in speaking but the fact that he is home and able to get outdoors is something.

Down to bottom of page again. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.

*’Enough books’? What sort of alien concept is this? How can one ever have enough books? 

**Interestingly this comes to roughly £50 in present-day terms, which is exactly what I send *my* grandchildren for their birthdays.

***I was madly in love with Pauline’s charm bracelet, on which she had a gold frying-pan. (Her friend Audrey had a charm which was a tiny little boxing ring with one fighter in green shorts and one in red, and there was a lever you pushed to make them move.) Anyway, I never *did* have a charm bracelet – I’m pretty sure the response would have been “You’ll only lose it!” – until eventually I inherited Pauline’s, complete with frying-pan!

****On reflection, I can understand why these dropped out of favour: they reinforce the notion that one person (usually the wife/mother) is doing all the preparation and everyone else is just consuming the food. Where food has to be carried from one room to another it’s far more usual for everyone to muck in and take something.

Sunday 5th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once more for weekly paper and letters.  Note you did not expect ours until the Wednesday, and right again.  I suppose books could be written about the weather and particularly about the weather over Easter.  What a shocker, and every succeeding day seemed to be colder than the last. This week has been a knock-out. We have have the lot from sleet, snow rain winds etc to actual sunshine of this morning. I think the latter was the biggest surprise. Well it has been a question of heaters on this end and no mistake all the week. Had taken the newspapers from the windows of the greenhouse, thinking about the temperature was on the rise, but the thermometer has been reading between 30 and 40 [ºF, that is -1ºC to 4.5ºC] for several days now. The amazing thing was the sight of the sun pouring through the window of the greenhouse when I went down this morning. This was unexpected and after a few hours the temperature went up to almost 80 [ºF/26ºC] in there. I left the windows shut as this could not last, and I wanted to keep the heat in for as long as possible. It is now down to about 60 [ºF/15.5ºC] and the sun has gone. However it is quite mild for a change in the garden and not all that bad out. Perhaps we are going to start the Spring now. Of course you have had it slightly better your end I believe. Not surprised you have been unable to do any work on the garden. I did have a quick whip round and pruned a few branches off the shrubs, but soon got inside again. Les next door has mown his lawn, and so have a number of other people around here. I do not think that is such a good idea so early, and with the grass so wet.

Note you have turned to the garage into a barn, and it must look a bit forlorn. Hard luck on getting your application into the Council just one day too late. Perhaps you were unaware of the meeting dates.

We had a bonfire last week and got rid of a lot of paper and stuff the dustman did not collect over Easter. Had the old coal bin full of stuff, paper, boxes, and hedge cuttings etc. set light to it and after fire was going well and working downwards to the bottom of the bin a mouse decided he had had enough and scuttled out of a hole in the bottom.

We have not dealt with the council about our lean-to. Do not consider that to be a big job, and it is not of a permanent nature.

It could well be that no extension to the Avenue will be made. That was only necessary if the original plan was carried out. If they can get into the new road from Old Church Road at both ends, there will be no need for the link with the Avenue, but I can see there being a footpath through though?

Sorry to learn that Don is none to well, and you have had to put off the visit. Just one more consequence of the weather I suppose. Also sorry to learn about Jim. Should not have thought he would be prone to thrombosis, but he was quite a big man and no doubted fed well (feeds). Caple in the wars again. Obviously not his fault this time, but no consolation to him. I would not have said he was the ideal driver, as I remember him as a highly nervous type.

You seem to have had a bout of ringing over the Easter somewhat cut short by the cucumber sandwiches. Glad the christening went off well. Seems the babies were good.

Something fishy about the Avalon crowd, but we may hear the details one day. Some comedown I should think, to turn to a shop*. We saw some of the Avalon furniture in a shop in Ruislip Manor yesterday.

Carol is improving with her writing now, and Susan is helping her. They have put together some letters again this week, and I think they show promise. I think Susan’s handwriting is better now too.

Good idea that to have a nice big window to let the light in the, then have a Venetian blind to keep it out. Very expensive arrangement.

Still no sign of Jackson, you cannot rely on any of his promises. As you say this would not have done years ago. I suppose he has enough trade without mine, and I am inclined to agree with him.

Sorry about wrong information about Peter. I gathered that his car was out of action, and that he was travelling by B.R., but it seems it is a partial re-spray job, and he took car only half-finished. He actually travelled in his car, and I expect the spraying has been completed by now.

Nothing unusual about the colour of the Dulux paint, it was only that it was Eggshell type, and the small men do not stock it but have to order it. It did not take long to get another quart once ordered, but we could have done with it over Easter.

Again an instance of traders letting one down occurs over the carpet**. We were promised to have the carpet delivered on Friday and the man was going to ring in the morning to let us know he was coming. However no phone call, and no carpet, and when contacted on the phone, they said they did not promise it for Friday, but it would come on Tuesday. All my eye of course, and it remains to be seen if it arrives on Tuesday now. Meanwhile the front room remains incomplete. We have put a lot of the furniture back and the underlay for the carpet, but of course cannot overdo it as carpet has to go under some of it.

The little bit of work I did in the lean-to in stopping up the cracks was quite successful and although we had a lot of rain in the week all that happened was the concrete surround got a bit wet in a couple of places inside. We did not get a flood as previously, so obviously most of the cracks are no more. Shall have to do one or two more places later when I find exactly where they are, but the main work is done. I know people who will worry over the design of the carpet, but as far as I am concerned it is quite satisfactory.***

Have not done much more in the loft except make one or two rearrangements of the equipment. Tried to contact a station in Northern Rhodesia (near borders of Tanganyika) yesterday but not lucky. Also yesterday heard very clearly two stations in Uruguay and called one, but not heard. Last two were on during T.V. hours, and did not want to try too long in the circumstances****. Nothing about this morning before T.V. time, and I suppose they will be about in hoards now. Have put another couple of feet on vertical aerial on garage to see if that has any effects.

We have no paper in the dining room on the walls. If you remember we have paint. Full decoration on this room will be done shortly, so the damage done at the fire surround will soon be put right. We have to have serving hatch let into the wall of the kitchen then we can go ahead with the rest.*****

I do not know how many Brownie packs or Guides go to the A.G.M. at Ruislip Manor, but I expect it was a pretty good crowd. I am not sure where the park is where that woman burned herself, but I think it must be south of the Victoria Road somewhere unless I am confusing it with Ruislip Gardens.

A mystery about that parcel of sweets then. All the contents of the bag remained in situ throughout my journey home, and there were no such sweets in it on arrival. I remember Mother saying that she must get them out when I mentioned that the girls had specifically asked me to mention them, and this was on the Friday night when I arrived. I thought no more of it until I got back here, so goodness knows what could have happened. They have forgotten all about it now so not to worry.

You will have a job with the greenhouse then. I had a similar situation here sometime ago. I wanted to take a table apart for subsequent reassembly in the loft, and found that in addition to the glued joints, the cabinet maker who put the table together had screwed in two very long screws as pinions, and had sunk them about half an inch into the wood. No efforts of mine even with the brace-and-bit would shift them and the only consequence would have been to have forced the heads off like you did, so I had to saw through at selected places and when reassembling strapped the sawn parts with a piece of wood of similar size.

Hope Mother has her new cooker now, and his ladling out the goulash in some form. Should think it is quite an acquisition – does it give the Light Programme or Radio Caroline? On the latter, we can just receive it here, but it is very powerful further over towards the South East.

All the painting is finished this end now, and the place does not look all that bad. I expect you have got the hang of your stove at last. They all want getting used to and ours was no exception.

As I said the girls have some letters and drawings for you to put in the Academy.

Well getting on towards 1:00 p.m. social have to clear off and make table available for the grub assuming we have some today. So will close once again we’d love from us all this end. 

*Please note that this snotty comment about a man taking on a tobacconist/sweetshop/newsagent-type establishment is being made by a man whose in-laws only within the last couple of years retired from a very similar business.

**Is this traders letting one down, or one having unreasonable expectations of traders?

***Although he was, of course, red-green colour-blind and would not know a harmonious colour-scheme if it swam up and bit him on the ass.

****Alec’s transmissions were known to disrupt the TV signal both in our house and in those nearby.

*****Serving-hatches had a brief popularity in the 1950s-1970s. The one at Ruislip was similar in size and shape to the one in this article but had sliding reeded glass doors.

Sunday 1st March, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for paper and letter received okay once again this week. Glad to report that health situation doing quite well again. Susan has a bit of catarrh, the hardy annual, but apart from that others are all in order. Now Sunday it was touch and go as to whether we could all go to Headstone Lane. Carol felt and looked rather poorly in the morning, and was drooping around the place. However as soon as we mentioned The Beatles she broke out into the song and dance act so we let her go to Sunday school. When she got back she was much better so off we went. It all turned out well in the end. They did us a nice tea and the girls there had done a lot of the fancy cooking so that went down well.

Glad to hear the baby arrived at last. Note it is a sister for Ruth. Quite a hefty baby for a girl.

So far as the leg is concerned, I went to see the specialist on Friday, and what a game. I was in the porch of the hospital at 10:55 a.m. and eventually got into the waiting room at 12:10 pm. Events moved fairly quickly after that and I was through by about 12:45 p.m.. Doctor had a look at it and did not seem to think it so bad as Dr Lambert had thought. He asked me what I wanted done to it. Said it ached and he said do you want it removed or injected? Told him he knew best, but if there was a chance that injections could do the trick we would lose nothing by trying. He gave me a quick injection on the spot, and I must say since then the aching has considerably reduced. I have to go again on Friday week and I suppose he will give me another one. As you say it is no good beating about the bush, and if no good results from the injection I shall get him to take vein out. I suppose this is the result of the accident some years ago. The left leg has had to take a bit of extra weight due to the right leg being a bit short, and no doubt over the years this has told the tale. Hope by now you have had result of the chest x-ray, and that things are satisfactory. Have got one myself due on 25th March.

Gather you have been splashing out and buying yourself a bottle of brandy to replace the one we gave you. Brandy is a thing I have only tasted twice as far as I recall. Can’t say I recall the taste. Glad it has done the trick so far as you both are concerned anyway.

Bit of a job then to find somewhere to put all the things from the greenhouse and garage. We find that we have to move things from place to place quite often due to lack of room, but you have a mammoth job there with all the stuff you have accumulated over the years in garage and shed. I think it would be a good idea if a bonfire were lit, and one or two surplus pieces disposed of.

Notley’s application went down the drain. The job at Plymouth went to one of the chaps from our office, and the Liverpool Street job went to a chap out of the line managers office of the G.E..

All noted about Bushell. He will have his hands full as he says with three women in the house. I expect it will be the two youngest ones he will get most trouble with the same as here*.

You have got a hope to find room under the stairs. As I recall it there was precious little room even when empty. Our cupboard under the stairs here is at the high end of the stairs where you have your pantry. We have quite a bit of room therein, but it has a mixed bag of junk in it and always difficult to get in or out. Good place for the homemade wine though. On tap so to speak.

Perhaps Roy Hewitt did not feel up to going down to the garage as it is so hard for him to get about.

No difficulty in giving you a hand when we come down, it is surprising how quickly two can get a job done compared with one.

Gave Payne the tip you may want another car from him then. I wonder what you have in mind. Of course one has to keep up with the Cornishes these days. What was the car with the automatic gearbox? I expect they have many new refinements out now, but would be interested to hear about your moves in this direction. By the way I am typing this letter in the loft. I have taken all my gear up here as the girls keep pinching my paper.

About Easter, we have given it a lot of thought, and feel in view of past years (health all round) and the earliness of the date that it would not be wise to exchange visits at this time. However I hope to be down the weekend nearest to your birthday for a quick personal visit, but we think it would be best to defer visits until Whitsun when you might like to come up. We have had a few disappointments at Easter due to one or other of our constitutions not having cleared up of the winter ailments, and however tempting it would be to fix something up I do think it best to leave it the extra six weeks.

So far as the summer holidays are concerned, we have written off to Exmouth, or rather June has, and had a reply that we can have caravan for the week that suits us, and June has again written to confirm. We now await the reply that booking is confirmed. There is the possibility that she may have let the thing in the meanwhile, but the signs are promising. The week we wanted is the week ending 15th August, and we would like to come to you for the following week if that is convenient to you. So far as the Easter is concerned we may well try a bit of decorating, something that has been wanting to be done for a long while.

Okay about windfall etc will keep you posted as to developments this end, but nothing done with it as yet except put in bank. The appropriate investment will be made with the greater part of the loot, and some of the remainder will go to the urgent items that pile up from time to time.

You mentioned early Spring flowers. I have seen tulips out in window boxes, but I think they must have been forced indoors and put out into window boxes. Can’t say I have seen much else out in flower, but we are a bit further East, and that makes a lot of difference.

Susan seems to be settling in quite well with the Brownies at the parish church and it seems that there are a number of girls there who also go to the dancing class. June says that at long last Susan is beginning to get the idea of the dances but Carol is still a bit arms and legs.

We have a rhubarb in the soil at bottom of the garden which has been there since we brought it back from Ealing last year. Have not looked to see if it is doing anything yet. The heater in the lean-to has been turned off for the last day also as the temperature here has been quite high. Friday was a very warm and sunny day and quite enjoyable to be off duty. Not a lot of growth in lean-to, but rose cutting was going on well, and showing a lot of green, fuchsia doing likewise, and the three ice plants you gave us are all shooting out. No activity from the cacti but that is a bit too early to expect. The geraniums are sorting themselves out as to which are living and which are dead. All have had a drop of water, and now wait for more sunshine.

Should not expect you will get any trouble from car under M.O.T. test.

Plumber arranged for new tank to arrive on Thursday which it did, and he came round in the afternoon on Friday to fix it. Left him here when we went to pick up Carol and do some shopping then collect Susan. He stopped about an hour after that, and the job was done. We think we did very well as the tank (C.O.D.) was £6 6s [£157.00 in 2024 money]and he charged us £3 17s 6d [£96.50] for doing job which also included fixing an isolating tap in lead from cold to hot tanks. He has done the occasional job for us before, and is quite a good worker.

Have you seen friend Cornish lately, and has he bought any $50 [sic] suits?

Had the bit of luck with the radio yesterday. I have been using the 10 meter band of late (the lowest wavelength I can get down to) and someone suggested I might do well to put a short vertical area on top of aluminium roofed garage. This I did come, and first contact was with a chap in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia [now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe] some 5,000 miles away**. This is quite a feat on this band, and some of the locals are kicking themselves for not being on at the time, including the man who suggested I put up the aerial. They have all been after the African station today, but nothing doing.

By the way we can discuss this later, but how would you like to be at Exmouth for a couple of days while we are there? There would not be room in caravan of course as this year we can only get a four-berth one, but wonder if you would be interested in trying to get fixed up – on the docks perhaps***. This is just offered as an idea, don’t hesitate to chuck it out if you do not like it.

Susan just reported to me that she has been bad**** in front room, so all is not what it seemed. However she seems cheerful enough.

Nothing to report from the office front. The applications on the closed list are being considered and we think the findings will come out this week. It will be interesting to see how people come off.

Well there it is again. Not much to report I am afraid, but soon will be more active outside I expect, and gardening notes will appear. Hope you are both recovered from colds etc now. Love from us all. 

*Again, why have children in the first place if all you’re going to do is resent them? Get a dog or a cat or a parrot instead: they’re a darn sight easier to re-home if you find you can’t get on with them.

**Pretty close: FreeMapTools reckons about 5150 miles as the crow flies.

***As opposed to driving just under 150 miles there and back in a day.

**** i.e. has been sick/vomited. Nobody ever seemed to consider that we might be having major digestive issues, and that June’s cooking was terrible: it was just that we were a bloody nuisance all the time, and probably did this to upset them.

Tuesday 14th May, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for such a budget of news received this morning including one each – by the look of it – from the girls. Thank you Susan and Carol for them both. As you may guess we have been very busy to day packing up a parcel for someone at number 84. thought it had better be on way today otherwise it might miss the actual birthday. In it there should have been the doll, hair ribbon, two small sticks of Weston Rock (for Susan and Carol), the ‘Mercury’ and a ‘Wonderland’. It was packed up as securely as possible and we do hope it reached you in good condition and that Susan is pleased with the doll. We went into Weston yesterday (Monday) hence the Weston Rock – just something for them to taste. The birthday card will be posted on Wednesday and of course should reach you before Susan goes to school on Thursday.

Now for your letter. We guessed the girls had been busy hence no letters from them but they have made up for it this week. Not surprised you were unable to get out on Sunday for a run round – it was not very nice here again and goodness knows when we shall get some really good weather. This week the cold winds have continued and it is been miserable working outdoors but the time cannot be wasted as such intervals are not long between the showers when we are driven indoors altogether. Slugs seem to teem down here – the hard winter did them no harm. It is really amazing they should come through that particularly bad spell. The birds too are still at the lettuces and peas and I now keep some pea-guards over both crops until they are perhaps a bit too strong for attack. Yes the fruit blossoms still holding up and the cherries are just one mass of flower at the moment – the apples will be in full flower in a week. Sorry about yours – must wait until the trees have grown up out of the girls’ reach or until they get tired of it.

Note your comments re: eye specialist and ear doctor. No doubt you are right and it is a paying proposition for patients to be kept on the books for attention. A good idea really apart from the inconvenience you have of taking Susan (and Carol too I suppose later on) to see these people. Yes I should think she has got used to the glasses now and takes them as a matter of course which is a good thing.

A bit congested on the air then in the evenings but what can you expect when you see the number of people who are authorised to transmit and receive? What is the real answer to this? Query a more powerful set to block out the others or have a good many already thought of this one and acted accordingly? Sorry about the missing tip from Newmarket – might have been a bad one.

Your recollection of the Whittlesea home-made wireless set is more thorough than mine but now you mention various items they come back to me. as far as I can remember you are absolutely right in all your facts. I suppose the set has long since been broken up. John Saunders made the very first set we had and I expect you remember that one too. Your remarks about TV sets being affected by the power cuts back in the winter almost interesting. We are still waiting to hear from Bell as to the charge for putting our set right.

Did you get in the sweet peas Sunday? Ours are up in a box and waiting to be planted out but I shall not do this until the cold winds have ceased. This applies also to our runner beans – the cold will do a lot of damage to all growing crops.

Note you have been moving another lot of earth from West Ealing – every little helps. Yes Miss Sperrings enjoyed herself and I assume she is now on holiday – was due to be away about now. Tomorrow (Wednesday) Mr and Mrs Newman are coming from Bristol – as you know they were due a week or so ago but Mr Newman was taken ill hence the postponement. Hope it is a fine day as I do not think he is very well yet.

Glad to hear you are now forming your ideas for the extra room/conservatory. Did you hear any more from the Eastcote Timber Company? How far out will you have to start with the shuttering? Presumably there is plenty of rubble in the field but takes time to get it in. What about putting up a big Aunt Sally in the garden and inviting the local lads to try and hit it with stones?

You are right about the ground being lower between the new path and the hedge and I’ve not made up my mind yet how I shall deal with this. There is a fair amount of sun on the patch and if I lose some of the garden for building purposes it may come in useful as an additional plot but the level would have to be raised. Query get the earth from the garden which I shall lose before handing it over. Incidentally there has been no further development in regard to the land since I last wrote and it may be a long time now before we hear anything.

We thought you would have a laugh over Jeffries Jones’s car and the dog’s dinner – sorry sponge cake and eggs. Further information is that the dog was later sick but do not know if in house or outside.

I agree that I  did not see quarry being used as a dump after our arrival here but assured it was so used until about 1935. We notice the windows upstairs are now in position so good progress continues to be made.

Noted you have mentioned the proposal re: holidays to Mrs Baker and must leave matter with you now to follow-up as you both think necessary but you know we shall be very pleased for her to come down with you if you can persuade her.

Dandelions did you say. I could have picked enough to make wine but at the moment could not be bothered. The heads had to be picked off though to prevent them going to seed. On the long wide rough path between our garden and Mr Heel’s I put down some sodium chlorate and this has shrivelled everything up. I had another go at the grass late last week and it was really hard work. The grass is now down to a reasonable height and it will not be so tough again this season. It was the first time I had to replenish the tank with fuel to complete all the lawns so that will tell you how the mower was working.

So Susan will be joining the Brownies tomorrow. It will give her another outlook on things and probably get her interested and occupied. Now Daddy must take her photo in the uniform. Wonder how you got on at the Sunday School anniversary and what did Susan have to do? Perhaps she will tell us in her letter next week.

A trip to London Zoo eh? Is it in Regent’s Park? Again we hope the weather keeps fine for you. Assume you will go by coach with the party.

Glad to hear Peter has his car back and that it is in good condition.

Now for June’s letter. Having got so far with the driving lessons June I should make an effort to go on with them. The longer you leave it the less likely you will want to restart. It is better to feel as you do that you are nowhere near ready for the test than to be overconfident. It is the overconfident ones who come unstuck so often. We have one living next door to us here. He for the moment has given up trying and is still riding the motorbike. Anyhow you know best how you feel about it and although you may not do a lot of driving even when you have passed the test it is nice to know you can manage a car if necessary. It is however quite certain that the older you get the less interest you will have in trying to learn.

Regarding holiday abroad next year if (and it must be a big if) we sell part of our land we wonder what you have in mind. Perhaps you have nothing in mind at the moment but just wondering if we would be that interested. Well now Mum and I would not want much running about and would much rather take things quietly. On the other hand yourself and Alec are years younger and would probably wish to get out and about and make the most of the time. Alternately it may be that you would not feel like moving about too much after reaching the destination point but would rather stay put. The girls would not want anything except the sea and sand and plenty to eat. I have often wished to have a cruise in the Mediterranean but I do not think Mum is all that keen for a long sea trip. Anyhow June it is an interesting idea and although it must be a long time to look forward to if you have any particular places in mind please tell us all about them. Having regard to the girls being at school now presumably anything arranged would have to be at the end of August or early September. Our passports would have to be renewed but that is a minor matter.

Very sorry Susan is worrying you June – she is full of energy and must use this up somehow. As mentioned above perhaps the Brownies will give her another outlook on things and keep her busy.

Nearly forgot – thanks for the printed pamphlet enclosed with your letter Alec. Makes nice reading but it looks as though they are only too glad to clutch at a straw like a drowning man. Any aftermath from Butcher’s visit?

Had a card this week from Ted Caple who was on holiday in Malta. He flew out from London Airport and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Also had a card from Mr Palmer this morning – he and Mrs Palmer are gone on holiday with an old age pensioners’ party to Dunoon. I hope it is warmer up there than here. And I hope they get better weather to than we had several years ago.

Also enclosed in parcel this morning a small piece of vinyl–something floor covering which we got at Weston yesterday and laid in position in the afternoon. Similar stuff to that Mrs Baker has in her bathroom. It is only made in four feet widths and our bathroom is four feet four inches so had to join in one place. Look very nice.

No more now. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad

P.S. Sorry Susan’s birthday card was accidentally posted on Tuesday. Mum and Dad. 

Wednesday 1st May, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 30th April, 1963]

What a change in the weather this morning – it started to rain during the night and continued until dinnertime since when it has gradually cleared finishing up with sunshine. Mixed up more compost for the tomatoes this morning in greenhouse and started to string up those already planted out. This afternoon decided I could have another mix up of concrete and was able to put in another stretch right in front of garage door. One more good mix will see me to the end of garage and shall I be glad. Must first get another cwt. of cement as have now finished the two bags on hand.

Roy Hewitt came round just as had started mixing so he had to stand to until I could deal with him. Told him of your trip to Watford and Lyneham and he was very interested. Mum and Mrs Hewitt are running a jumble sale on Saturday (I hope mum gets home again all right) so I have to have car out for conveyance purposes. Mrs Clark (in bungalow out bottom of field) has contributed three cracked egg cups – query how much for them.

I see in this morning’s paper an article by a former headmistress of a school that in her opinion the full school hours are too much for five-year-old children just starting. Rather interesting in view of what you suggested about Carol. Wonder how she is getting on this week? Will try and enclose cutting for you to see – probably not in Telegraph.

Did you see the Wincanton station staff on Panorama Monday evening? They were being interviewed regarding the closing of their station under the Beeching plan. None of them were very bright in their answers. The film was taken at Wincanton and of course showed a train at the platform and an engine shunting the yard. Perhaps they will deal with Clevedon next. Understand the council have already approached British Railways about the station and yard premises – they want it for including other things as a parking site.

What did your colleagues at Liverpool Street have to say about the Watford do or have some of them already been there?

No more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.

Wednesday 17th April, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol,

Well here we are again back home after a very nice holiday with you and we both thank you all very much for giving us such a lovely time, including two little girls who kept us wide awake – I wonder. Had a shocking journey for weather – windscreen wipers working throughout the journey without any exception and in the Bath to Clevedon area there were huge puddles of water about suggesting a cloudburst. We got onto the M4 at its commencement at 9:20 a.m. and off it at 9:35 a.m. and the distance was 11 miles*. Called at Marlborough 10:55 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and arrived home at 1:45 p.m. Had about 10 to 15 minutes hold-up at Pickwick** owing to an accident. I was about the sixth to arrive at the scene and ambulance already there but police did not turn up, from Chippenham, until 5 minutes later. A bus was involved but I do not know what other vehicle but there were injuries if nothing worse. By the time the traffic not moving again there was a good queue on either side.

Had a quick look round garden after putting car and garage before coming indoors and everything appears satisfactory. Mum had dinner ready at 3 p.m. and just afterwards Bushell called in with the greenhouse key. Four of the houses above us had had and still have drain trouble and he asked how the inspection chamber was constructed. They had already been in and worked the drain rods from our main inspection chamber but this was clear. I said well have a look at our domestic inspection chamber and you will see. He did and the pit was full to the brim and smelling very well also. I thought to myself this is a good homecoming as it meant changing into old togs and getting down to the job of clearing. Had to bail out the chamber and found obstruction further along in the pipe but try as we did we could not move it. Eventually it came to taking off one’s coat and rolling up the sleeves and feeling for the blockage. This proved most difficult but gradually I pulled out several pieces of chipped bricks which had collected and set up the obstruction. Finally got it clear so then went out to Bushells to see if same trouble. Unfortunately it was not and although we worked on it until about 6:30 p.m. had to give up. The three houses above him are also affected and I think they will have to call in some professional drain cleaners. The blockage in our case had nothing to do with their trouble. After a bath and another change of clothing it was about 7:30 p.m. when we sat down to supper.

Referring to our trip back this morning I took a slightly wrong turning when approaching the Langley connection with the main Slough road and we found ourselves a little nearer Slough but we took London direction for about a mile and then got onto the M4 at its commencement. At Marlborough we managed to park in the only place left vacant in the middle of the road and it rained very heavily whilst there but Mum got some meat etc. and I bought a billhook to replace the one broken several months ago.

Heel came over to see what was going on with the drains and he told me quietly that the men who had recently seen him regarding the surplus land had called again and wanted to see me but were told I was away for the Easter. Understand they will be around sometime tomorrow. I think they want to work up a scheme which they can go to the Council with and say this is what they could do if given authority for an entrance road between Heels’ and Cornishes’.

I have not yet had time to examine the boot of car to see if the glass travelled safely but we had quite a number of heavy bumps en route potholes full of water.

Well our holiday is over and now we must look forward to your visit to us in August. Meanwhile Alec must talk to Mrs Baker re: mum’s proposition for her to come to Clevedon as well. We thought you were all looking very well and certainly Susan and Carol have grown since October when we last saw them. Susan reads excellently putting such good expression into her reading. Carol must benefit by her copying of Susan and should do well at school. Should like to see them next Monday when they start off.

You surprised me with your radio outfit – had no idea you were following up the Morse code to such an extent.

To crown the day at this end I found my income tax questionnaire on the mat when we got indoors. What a day!

I wonder what you have all been doing since we left – not much chance of getting outdoors and planting the sweet pea seeds.

No Mercury left for us last Saturday so may not get it this time.

No more just now – once again many thanks for such a nice time and all love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.

P.S. glass in boot of car quite alright. Dad

Bushell’s drain trouble now diagnosed as broken interceptor pipe.

Thursday

A glorious day here today – it would be. Dad. 

*Presumably this would be the new section just opened that year commencing at Slough (Junction 5) and continuing along the Maidenhead bypass to Junction 9, which is given as a total of 10 miles on roads.org.uk, and indicates a modest speed of roughly 40mph.

**Apparently, Pickwick was once considered a separate village but has now been incorporated into Corsham.

Wednesday 20th February, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 19th February, 1963]

After yesterday’s slight snow which made a very thin covering on the ground it is bright and sunny today that’s quite warm behind glass but still cold Outdoors. Have had no reply from Ministry of National Health [sic] people in Liverpool suppose it will take them weeks to write. Last night’s paper indicated that the firm of Yeates had been cleared of the charges mentioned earlier in this letter but unfortunately paper has been destroyed but it will be in next week’s local. There was also an announcement from the Weston U.D.C. that parking charges are going up to 2/6d per car [£3.18 in 2023 money] – a rise of 6d. This is getting beyond a joke.

Have not seen Roy Hewitt this week – he has not been able to get up here since before Christmas – but I believe he is now able to get out for short walks where the snow has been cleared.

I have taken down the curtain rail which we had behind the sitting room door. Mum thought it was a bit heavy and wanted a lighter one which we have ready to go up. Personally I think the original one is quite good and before disposing of it wondered whether it would be any good to you. It is in good order as only wants a clean. Don’t hesitate to say if you do not want it as we can soon get rid of it here but would rather you had it if you have any use for it.

The Test Match seems to have fizzled out rather tamely and altogether I think our team put up a poor show in this series. Will have to look for some reliable batsmen when the next series is played in England.

Just looking up the dates and find that if we come up to you on the Thursday before Easter we shall be on the road seven weeks tomorrow the 21st inst – not long now. Just get rid of all the snow etc. and turn on the sunshine by then.

I see I have to get car certified by the end of April – Marples now having all cars over five years old tested.

No more now. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.