Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for weekly letter, duly received on Saturday morning. Glad to say we are all now over the worst as regards health. We all have the residue of colds, namely catarrh. This of course will pass in due time. 

Glad to hear that the batteries from Fortiphones have arrived at last, although you had to write them a snorter. As it so happened your letters crossed in the post. I shall be interested to learn what actually went wrong. 

We thought of you last Sunday going to Lyng, and as I recall I commented in my last letter on it being a fine day. You had a dull day apparently, which is a surprise to us considering the weather we had that day. 

Hope budget will stretch to the 6d stamp each week, as it is interesting to get the Mercuries reasonably up-to-date.  I would have liked to have had them before, but never mentioned it.

Incidentally I was glad to hear that Don is better, or appears so. Going in for poultry in a big way by the sound of it. 

I could not say if the Benns are interested in the local news or not. I have pushed the paper through the door after I finished with it, but so far there has been no comment. On Friday Mr and Mrs Benn and Janet went to Southampton where they spent the night, and were motoring to Clevedon on Saturday afternoon. This is to decide if Mrs B likes the site and is willing to live there. I am sure I do not know what the reaction will be, but little Michael missed his mum. We heard him in there late on Friday saying ‘Mummy gone away’ etc etc. We saw Mrs Benn (Grandma) down at the shops on Saturday morning, and invited them in for the afternoon. He played with the girls and did not seem very put out. He did not want to go home of course, and raised the roof for a bit. Grandma Benn was saying that it all depended on Dorothy as to approval or not of the site, but she said they were quite used to moving about and it did not worry them. 

Regarding our helpers – washing up et cetera – we had a continuation of the same this morning. Susan washed up, and Carol wiped the breakfast things, but they got a bit out of phase so had to step in and clear it all up. 

I saw some pencil or biro marks on the last paper you sent and wondered if you had marked it specially, that is why I asked for identification. It may be that the children had got to work with their crayons etc. 

So poor old Arthur has died. Nice to be able to think you were able to entertain him even for a short while before he went. 

We did not ask for an estimate for sliding doors, and will not now vary the conditions otherwise he may put up the estimate. Note the position on the typewriter. 

Should have thought that your greenhouse could have provided the regular warm temperature that you require for your lettuce plants, or is it a higher temperature than you normally have in there. Al three of our pot honeysuckle plants are growing well. I have them now on top of the coal bunker – still in their pots and they have had the benefit of regular rain. 

Nice to have company come round even if no assistance offered when digging trench. At least your assistants do not undo what you have already done. 

Have done nothing further about the lawn, but put in another electric point yesterday. This time it was on the landing, and involved much more fiddling about with floorboards than I have had hitherto. 

June and Carol have just come in with some tea for me, and Carol says that we are having tortoise for  dinner. Hope I don’t get the shell. 

Later on I hope to put a point in our bedroom, and possibly one in the small bedroom. After that at some time I must fit one in the hall, and perhaps some more in the dining and front rooms. 

Re: wine, it is surprising how much wine you can stow away in a small space – like the airing cupboard – if you have it stored in gallon jars or sweet jars. I have one gallon of fig and tangerine fermenting under lock in the top of our cupboard, and a further gallon jar and a sweet jar full of apple that has recently stopped fermenting. There is also a bottle of yeast and a spare one, and still room for more. 

I agree with you that Jungle Juice (Lyng version) is not very acceptable this time of year.

Taking a bit of a chance were you not in taking him down some grape wine? Pity to waste good wine if he does not drink it – better to have disposed of some of the elderflower. So far as the cherry wine is concerned we now have plenty, thanks to bringing  two bottles back from you, and finding some that had been overlooked. it is being reserved for medicinal purposes, but the last time it was used it had no apparent effect. Perhaps the virus is now immune? 

So far as last Monday’s strike is concerned, I was little affected as I had a meeting arranged for Maidenhead at 10 a.m.. Did this by going down by car. All right by going in the opposite direction to the flow of traffic. 

You may be interested to learn that the fellow who was prepared to be Work Studied at Morris Cowley was started on last week. The senior investigator is a clerical representative on Sectional Council and asked to have two days off to attend to such matters. In his absence I sent one of the Old Oak Common team to keep the pot boiling – as it were – but he telephoned on arrival to say that the individual to be studied had died the night before. You cannot win can you? 

Glad to hear that it is your turn this week to win the £5,000 on the Premium Bonds. Let me know when to call round. 

Sorry to hear that the T&G party is off. it would have been better if they had canvassed the members in advance before issuing invitations. Can Mrs H talk herself out of this one? 

The trouble with the Maidenhead scheme is not cleared up yet, and I had to leave it to others to sort out on Friday as I had other meetings to attend. We have started the Acton station negotiations and so far they are going well. On informal level we have cleared up all but four points, none of which is difficult so next meeting should produce the acceptance. 

Well have nothing more of interest to report this week, thanks for the paper etc. Hope you are both keeping well, and will comment on the holiday aspect next week. 

Love from us all. 

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for the weekly letter, arrived on Saturday this time (with 19th Jan postmark). Thanks also for the paper and the enclosed cutting of the high tide. Do not understand why my envelope should have had Paddington 1:45 p.m. postmark on it. It was posted by June on the Tuesday at Ruislip.

We had no outward sign of damage to the house as a result of the gales last week. It was very severe at times, and to hear it rattle you would think that the roof would come off at anytime. The severity this end made me sure that you would be getting it even worse as generally there is no comparison so far as gales are concerned. There are a few trees reported down, but I did not see any. A fence or two looked rather sick though. I gather from the Mercury that some of the outlying farms had some bad flooding.

Susan thanks you for the letters, and no doubt you will find something from her enclosed. She was recounting about her holiday at Clevedon this morning. All about Punch etc and where you had taken her for walks. Carol did all the washing up yesterday after dinner. She insisted. I told her she could dry up but no, she wanted to wash up. She did it rather well including the pots and pans. Only the minimum of assistance was given on a couple of dirty saucepans. She kept me supplied with crocks etc. as fast as I could dry them. If this keeps up, I can see Woman’s Hour being extended.*

I will see if I can get up to Fortiphones in the week. We seem all to be fairly well again this week. no serious complaints to report. I dropped in to see the doctor on Wednesday, and while their saw that he was dishing out smallpox doses so I had one. So far no effect, and this is the fourth day.

Poor old Ted Caple, he does seem to attract trouble with that car of his.

I do not know if I shall be able to get enough hardcore from the field, but I have not yet exhausted that supply. I gather that it is pretty near never-ending as for years people have combed it for hardcore, and there is still plenty. Glad to know the Burnham loam is now in use. What have you started off in it?

There is practically no value in second-hand wireless sets these days. Everything is now transistorised, and only sure way to get rid of an unwanted set is to put it in dustbin. Ours is as you know in quite good condition. If you want it for the bedroom, well enough, it works well with the minimum of aerial.

Glad to hear you are well on with the typewriter hunt. Doubt if a can of water would do the trick, why not a can of beer?*

The plan for the kitchen is to extend  downwards the cupboard over the dresser. As you know on the right hand side (when entering from the hall), there is a cupboard up by the ceiling for storage etc., and about 2′ 6″ below is the dresser top. By extending the top cupboard downwards we hope to be able to enclose a couple of shelves, obtain more room, and hide away all the cups, plates etc. On the other side, we hope to have a level surface running from the gas stove to the end wall taking in the sink unit. In the gap between sink unit and wall on the one side, we shall have a new cupboard to take the washing machine. A swing door will be fitted, and the top will have Formica. We shall have the cupboard under the sink rebuilt and extended right back to the gas stove**. The gap between the stove and the sink will be bridged with Formica. Also we shall have the pipes behind the sink boxed in. We have been quoted £16 for the lot which seems reasonable enough to me.

I agree that your parsnip wine has not got much of an earthy taste. I noticed it particularly with mine, especially the lot made to Bravery’s formula. My latest mixture is going like a bomb now. I think the yeast must be very superior to the dried variety. The bubbles are so small that you cannot see them even when looking closely until they reach the top where they build up about half to 1-inch of froth. The wine below is as clear as a bell until you reach the grey yeast deposit at the bottom. Proof of the brewing will be in the drinking no doubt, but I am favorably impressed at the moment. I shall have to start giving some of my wine away, as the supplies are now mounting rapidly, and I shall have to find somewhere else to store it.

Eric Benn came in last night and told us that he has almost made up his mind to have a house built in Clevedon. It all depends on Dorothy now. She was to have gone down on Friday – I looked up a train for her – but Michael was poorly with suspected measles. Eric says he has chance of a plot on the Strawberry Hill part of Dial Hill. We looked on the street plan, and it seems to be accessible from Dial Hill Road, but the opposite way from the Cricket Field direction. Somewhere near where Bell lives it seems. He tells me the plot is 200 ft long on the longest side, and the end is bounded by a steep drop (direction of All Saints Church in the Swiss Valley) and the other side is bounded by an old quarry upon which they will be building later on. He says he can be in the BBC at Bristol (Clifton) within 20 minutes of leaving the house by going via the bridge. £8 – 10 – 0 per annum season ticket. I gather the house can be built within four months, but he did not say who were the builders. Left Clevedon at 3 p.m. yesterday and got here at 6:30 p.m..???. I am putting the Mercury through his door as soon as read.

Sorry to hear about Mr Palmer, but I should say that from your own experience, he should benefit.

Pity about the Violet, but there is no knowing with flowers. We have the worst possible luck with ours. Probably the lack of the proper attention. No work this week on the lawn?

As I look out of the window, I can see the rain pelting down. Your snowdrops (sorry Susan’s) out in flower, but I forgot to tell you that one of them had the cheek to flower in the first week in December. These seem strong and quite large for snowdrops.

See Welton Rovers caught a cold yesterday***. The locals must be really bad this year.

Susan going to and from school quite well now, but we do not hear much about what goes on there.

Not much from the work front, except that I have permission to go to reading as soon as possible to try to sell them my yard scheme. May go on Tuesday if I can fix it up. there is a special be going for assistant section leader and choice is not Lee or Bowden I think. I want Notley and have made it clear, but I think McDonald prefers Bowden. The new GM has cut all entertainment. No taking the L.D.C. for a pint, you won’t get your money back. I suppose he had to start somewhere. (What about Geoff’s circus)? They will feel the draught.

Car still in a dirty state. Hoping for better weather so that it can get cleaned. Nearing the three thousand mile mark since we had it.

What about coming up this way at Whitsun? Are you involved at that time or could you get away? Will leave the thought with you for the time being. Love from us all.

*Both these remarks are clearly intended to be humorous – or at least witty – but land like a lead balloon these days. “Arf arf women washing up” and “arf arf men drinking beer” are no longer funny in any context and just seem extremely sad indicators of a limited mindset.

**There were no such things as flatpack kitchen units then, of course, and in fact it was far more normal to have freestanding kitchen items – the stove/cooker would be in a corner on its own, the sink elsewhere, and the washing machine or fridge (if present at all) would just be shoved wherever there was a power point available to plug them into. Kitchen counters were also a bit hit and miss – Formica was the latest thing, no more scrubbing pine boards! – and a separate table was the usual work surface. Alec and June took out the built-in (brick) pantry and moved the cooker into its space, but even so the kitchen was still very small,

***A Somerset-based football team, Welton Rovers were not exactly local to Clevedon and there is no obvious connection; nor have I been able to trace what this refers to. However it is quite possible they’d made decent progress in the F.A. Amateur Cup that year, only to be soundly beaten by higher-rated opposition.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter received this morning first post and enclosures from the girls – will see if I can write to them in capital letters. I’m glad our last letter reached you in good time as had visions of it turning up on the Monday. Seems as if correspondence to and from Ruislip misses the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office. Mum however is still waiting for her hearing set batteries to arrive from Formphones – should have been here beginning of month. Meanwhile she has to make do with some bought locally at Dunscombes and these are in short supply.

The cold spell is over for the present but on Wednesday of last week when it rain on top of frozen ice the road here were worse than ever and I had to fetch Mr and Mrs Hewitt at 4 p.m. and take them home at 10:15 p.m. I did not drive with higher than second gear and just crawled round the houses. Not much good cleaning car now – ours is pretty dirty but for time being I’m not bothering except for the glass. I called in Binding and Paynes for petrol yesterday and the place is full of cars requiring attention after accidents during the past fortnight – one or two complete “write-offs” and waiting insurance companies inspector. Failand was one very bad area and Kenn Moor another – on the latter one car turned over completely and landed (query right word) upside down in the ‘rhine‘. One car came into Tennyson Avenue and tried to turn outside our house. He drove towards our gate but after reversing gear car would not even rise to middle of road and help – by pushing – had to be given him. Even then it was several minutes before any movement took place. Today I see the water main has burst outside the house next beyond where Mrs Drewett used to live and water is running down the side of road to drain.

Yes we did feel sorry for Carol when you told us about her Christmas card but unfortunately these things will happen. Hope they enjoyed their Christmas party at the Sunday school that sounds as if they did. I’m sure they must have looked forward to it for days beforehand.

There was not a lot to tell you about the bellringers’ supper. The usual spread was available and four bottles of sherry disposed of (more bottles for homemade wine). No rough cider this time and I did not like to suggest parsnip wine. By the way I have tasted one of the bottles of blackberry wine and it is lovely – very sweet. Have plenty so there will be some for Ruislip. None of my wine here was affected by the frost and and fortunately both of the fermentation locks thawed out in greenhouse without breaking.

Noted Eric Benn now in possession of another car. Mum and I are not surprised they are inspecting a house at Backwell after his recent visit to Nailsea. Quite a lot of new places gone up there in recent years and the most modern Secondary School in Somerset was opened there last year. Did he tell you he had called on us?

Glad you were able to have Monday off before Susan started school again today job the weather is better or or however would June have got on? Stopped home I guess. incidentally the letter you had a fortnight ago was posted by our paper girl. She arrived with paper about 12 and was having an awful job to keep her feet. Mum and I had not been out and did not relish the idea so I gave the girl 6d [2022 equivalent = 55p] and she said she would put it in pillar box near Elfords on her way home.

We went out yesterday afternoon to library and do a bit of shopping and I called in Bell’s and paid an account (which only arrived that morning bracket) for T.V. repairs just before Christmas and after we got home switched on TV for 5:55 p.m. news. Nothing happened – no sound, no picture – so got Bell’s man up again this morning and he diagnosed a faulty “Mains dropper” whatever that is and had to take chassis back to to works for repair. We are hoping he will be here with the part earlier this evening to get things going again.

Today I’ve made my first effort on garden since Christmas. Tidied up greenhouse and preparing to disinfect the soil ready for this season’s crops. The broad beans are blackened a little with the frost but will recover. Some of the cabbages were frozen stiff and moisture inside had rotted some of the hearts, but taking things generally we have not done so badly so far.

Note your proposed activities re: Work Study at Morris Cowley and Acton Station.

Heels came home yesterday from their Christmas holiday in the Midlands – had very severe weather but having chains on two rear wheels of car enabled him to cover all the points programmed Including Coventry, Rugby and Derby.

Nothing further to report yet re: typewriter but I am in touch now with Tommy Houghton (Clevedon Football Club) who is in charge of a typewriter depot in Bristol – this should prove interesting.

Have you heard anything of the railway timetable changes which may come into operation some time in March?

So you hope to do some decorating later on in the year – well the best of luck to you. It’s a job I shall never like but the results are pleasing and of course last longer than the time it takes to complete if that is any consolation. I still have a bedroom to tackle but not for a week or two – plenty to do outside now I’ve got started.

Had one or two fellows with guns out on the flats behind us this last week after wild geese which have landed here owing to the adverse weather conditions at their usual winter quarters. I expect they would make a good meal for those lucky enough to get them.

No more this time – all our love to you both and lots of kisses for a little school girl and a little girl who will be  going to school soon.

Mum and Dad

Eva to the family on the remaining three quarters of a sheet of Leonard’s writing paper:

Dear Alec June Susan Carrol,

Many thanks for letter of this week. Well we have just about thawed out again, but it was nippy while it lasted, hope there won’t be any more.

As Dad has said our T.V. is all in the air again. Bell said he would be up in the afternoon yesterday in fact he came just about 10 minutes after I got home in the morning, took the works away haven’t seen him yet. So another night without that or radio as that one has gone too.

You won’t need to book anywhere for your holiday you are always welcome here for as long as you want to stay. We shall not be expecting Arthur this year. Have heard no further.

Dad started with a flourish yesterday the only snag was that just as he got going Roy Hewett turned up and that was that. They both came indoors and as I had no fire lighted had to stop for that and then the T.V. man arrived. We are going to Mrs Marshall’s to tea today hope she puts on a good one.

Heels are back. Mrs brought a good cold with her.

You did not say if Susan liked her book or was it too old for her. The present Mrs R. left looks to be milk chocolate in a game similar I expect to what you have had before – a bit heavy.

Well no more now lots of love from Mum and Dad.

(P.S. Letter to Susan and Carol on back of Dad’s to them.)

Eva’s illustration: a string of sausages marked ‘pork 2/10d a pound*’, a piece of meat marked ‘Prime’, nine pork pies 8d* each, an oblong shape marked ‘Best Beef’ and two strange elongated fish and a cylinder marked ‘Best Salmon’.

*This translates to £3.23 in present-day parlance, whereas Sainsbury’s Butcher’s Choice Pork Sausages are £1.70 for the same weight, i.e. a fraction over half the cost. (See https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/meatandfish-essentials/sainsburys-butchers-choice-pork-sausages–large-x8-454g)

**This would translate to 76p per pie, whereas the nearest Sainsbury’s equivalent works out at roughly 46.5p per pie or a fraction over 60% of the 1962 cost. (See https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-crusty-bake-snack-pork-pie-x4-260g) Of course there may be a number of variants in each case, but as a rule of thumb it would seem that the cost of pork and prepared pork products is objectively smaller in 2022 than it was in 1962.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thank you very much for another long and newsy letter to hand on Tuesday. You must be having some late nights to be so late rising on Saturdays. So far as we are concerned we are only too glad to get out – it is so hot nowadays. even a storm or two of rain is not sufficient to cool the atmosphere and surely it must be worse in your area. What about Susan and Carol aren’t they awake?

Note you have been getting out of Paddington quite a lot and more journeys in the offing. You will certainly have to watch John Snow – somewhat similar to John Saunders both out for number 1.

Yes pond still leaking and these last couple of days a big drop in level has been observed in spite of the fact fresh water has been put in with hose. A bit of a problem still. I’m told by building experts here the stuff Don gave me will be of no use until any cracks in the surface are filled in. There is no sign of any life in the pond at the moment but it could be that the minnows etc are out of sight under the weed or at the bottom of deep portion which the eye cannot penetrate now.

Your neighbour has evidently set you a standard to maintain in fixing their fence and gate. It will be worth it in the long run. Sorry to hear about the projector I had no idea what was involved and from particulars given should think they are somewhat expensive.

Yes the Clarkes were some of our customers Mrs Clarke was the lady who saw Susan and Carol in the field when Carol lost her tongue but wanted her biscuit from Susan when we got back into garden. We think Mrs Clarke will be stopping in bungalow at any rate for time being.

The Hewitts and Richings were not actually here together, we had about three hours to recover from the first visit before the second lot arrived. Richings’ car is a light blue, he wanted maroon but none available in that colour. Starts his holiday this coming weekend and going motoring.

Rita Garland was last home when she was wired for because her mother was seriously ill that was over Christmas 1959. Prior to that however both Mrs and Sheila had been over to America to see her – no free passes either.

Could give Susan and Carol a good job if they were here now bird scaring. Just up and down the path would do the trick. I went down to bottom of garden last night to potato patch and threw a lump of earth into nearest cherry tree and upwards of eighteen birds flew out and others just moved to another branch. They have been a bigger nuisance this season than any I can remember. Incidentally I picked remainder of blackcurrants Monday but as it was only one-and-a-half pounds I pulled the same weight of rhubarb and put the lot down for a wine brew – working quite satisfactorily at the moment. Have finished off your apple and plum wines and have about three parts of the carrot left. Have you tried the elderflower you took back? Should like your comments on same.

Sorry to hear June was under the weather again but glad to know she was alright for her visitors last Sunday. Carol too we hope all right again now. Noted sand still in evidence but not all in the washbowl.

We found your Exmouth Guidebook in sideboard drawer and will put it aside for you.  Expect you wondered what had happened to it. Sorry to know all the “Ivys” died off I will certainly try and get a few going for you here – perhaps it was too dry a time to take such cuttings during early part of June. The cacti then are managing to survive. A flowering bud thrown up by the lily in porch outside back door has reached the glass of the roof and is not open yet. Looks as if we shall have to stand it on the floor and support shoot with a bamboo cane. 

We understand the Ford – whose in-laws are said to have bought house at bottom of field – lives in Stroud Road. I remember a watch and clock repairer in Old Church Road but it was not Ford.

Your dahlias doing very nicely then we have not had any of this year.

Baynton Hughes gets B.E.M. well well what next?

We went up to library on Tuesday – only gone an hour – returning found a ton of coal dumped just outside shed so had to pick it all up and store in shed.  The men would have tipped in direct had we been there to ask them – just our luck.

Understand Mrs Drewett is back in Clevedon. The Swindon side of family (Margaret) brought her down on Sunday without notice to Iris’s home but her husband refused to have her there again so Margaret had to find lodgings for her mother in the vicinity. There was a pretty good row between Margaret’s and Iris’s husbands by all accounts. It is obvious Iris can do no more she has three children of her own – all very young.

Did Jeff tell you about the trip to Dawlish on Sunday the 18th? When owing to two engine failures on return journey they got home on Monday morning about 12:30 a.m. Who says it’s quicker by rail?

So you all had a good time with your visitors last Sunday and nice sunny weather – a day for the lawn. It was too hot to move here but front room cool.

Nothing much else to report from garden.  Pulled all shallots up last Friday and they are now nicely dried off. By well watering ground beforehand have managed to get out more cabbage and lettuce plants and of course I’m continuing to dig potatoes. Mother had the sprinkler going last Saturday morning on flower borders. The maidenhair fern June will do alright if you keep it in a shady place it does not like the sun or too much heat.

Well this must be the lot for this week. Once again all our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

• Hope your birthday letters arrived safely.

Mum and Dad

Eva to the family,.on the remaining half-sheet of Leonard’s writing paper.

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for both letters. Hope June is feeling more fit it’s this heat. They have just said thunderstorms tomorrow and I don’t mind if it pours. 

We had Mr and Mrs Newman yesterday to teai in the evening. She brought me a dozen Ruby carnations they were lovely. Mr Newman is not too good with his leg.

I have been chasing the loganberries today not a bad lot the birds leave them alone as they are too sour.  We only picked one pound of raspberries where we should have had pounds.

Next door have had some more bedroom furniture so their house will soon be fully furnished.

Enquired when I paid my electricity bill yesterday about Electrolux fridges so bought home some literature they are £49 or £59 electric or gas quite good value for money.

I expect the girls are too busy to draw.  How do they like the heat. 

I’ve got a cough too in the mornings. They say it’s the warm weather and the dust causing dryness of throat. No more now lots of love from Mum and Dad.