Tag: DIY

Thursday 24th November, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you very much for another long letter with plenty of news received on Tuesday together with the latest effort from Susan. Quite good Susan – keep it up. Who was the little girl? Carol? Have you read the book you received as a prize from Sunday School? and what it its title?

Sorry you have no more information regarding the housing position. Their troubles seem to be increasing and must indeed be very worrying. it is the kind of worry one does not expect at their age and we can only hope – as we have said before – that a final settlement will soon be reached.

The details of the interview were very interesting. I thought Philips would be there for that one. It may have been ‘politic’ on his part to say he had not met you before although I cannot quite see the point*. Anyhow he knows you now. Nice of him to ask after me.

Shall be interested in result of the interview in due course. How come Mann had a rough passage? Had he not anticipated some of the questions?

I take it the lunch was quite good when the man from Derby was at Paddington.

Quite a tour of the West of England but without result apparently. I know Squires and Ackford of course very well but thought the second had retired. Hartnell is a former military officer and presumably like Hart this distinction (?) got him the job.

Incidentally where do you have lunch at Swindon now Refreshment or rather dining room is closed? Query Great Western Hotel just outside station? Whilst talking about Swindon are there any developments regarding rebuilding of station? A few years ago there was a big scheme prepared for rebuilding it on the London side of the present station taking in the Cocklebury Sidings and the Down Side Carriage Sidings. Wonder if you are away from London this week. Query Cardiff.

We had surprise visitors on Saturday and on Sunday. At 1.30 p.m. Saturday Insp. Stacey phoned from Bristol to say he and Mrs Stacey were visiting an aunt at Ham Green Hospital and as we had not seen Mrs Stacey since her own illness and operation could they come and visit us. They arrived at 4.30 p.m. and left at 9.30 p.m. On Sunday at about 3.30 p.m. there was a knock on the front door – Mr & Mrs Griffiths from Bristol called with the rose trees we had ordered a couple of months ago. (Had arranged for them to be delivered to Griffiths’ house where we would pick them up.) They were out for a while testing car after a little trouble and thought they would call in with trees. They did not stop only for a cup of tea as they had to be back in Bristol for tea with their son and his wife.

Incidentally on the Saturday Stacey had a good look at car (he is an expert on this subject) and pronounced ir ‘real good’. We have not been out for a run ourselves lately – apart from local trips to library & shops – because of the weather. It has been shocking again here and nothing whatever can be done outdoors. I’ve even ‘heeled in’ the new rose trees until the ground has dried out a bit.

Have been pottering about in garage cutting up wood and sorting things out to make more room. Found a nice piece of 2″ x 2″ oak about 41/2 ft long which should make a good uprights for a standard lamp – may have a go at this when I’ve asked one or two people a few questions, the chief one of course ‘How to get the hole down through the wood’.**

Note you have been busy making a few shelves and a bench – expect you had some help from two little girls. How they must be growing now – we shall see such a difference in them.

Yes I have a six inch drill but as you say this will only allow for a twelve inch hole working from one end. This I’ve already done with one table lamp and although the boring was not quite true the flex passed through all right which was all that mattered.

So you saw John Saunders at Newton Abbot – the same as ever by the sound of it. Colin Lovemore is quite a good railwayman and does considerable relief work in the Bristol East Box. He should have made a good recruit to Work Study – his one failing – talks too much. His father was Stacey’s predecessor as Yard Insp. – I expect you can remember him.

Yes I think £1900 for Mrs Drewett’s house was a good price considering its condition – smallness of garden – and the fact that it carries a perpetual ground rent.

Hope Pauline enjoyed weekend with you. I’m sure Susan & Carol were delighted and gave her little rest.

Parsnip wine? How was it? You said it was strong but what about the taste. I don’t think I have any two years old but I’m soon going to try this year’s Elderberry – the colour is lovely and I must report taste another time.

I told Geoff when I replied to his letter to keep a saucerful of water by the side of the typewriter when using latter – no comment so far.

Yes Mum has had a cold but nearly through with it now but I’ve got a bit of one at the moment so we are keeping in the fashion with you.

I see according to papers there have been suggestions that American families of servicemen might be sent home to America for economy purposes – this would cause a lot of heart burning around Ruislip surely.

I think your shoots on Chrysanths are a bit too early to take. Check it up if you can but I should be inclined to break them off and destroy and wait for the next lot of shoots to take as cuttings. Query any useful hints in your local gardening publication.

You asked in previous letter if we still look out for the necklace when we go round the hill. Yes we do – the matter is always in mind when we go round the hill but also without any result. Now and again we see similar adverts in the local paper for various things lost around the hill or along the front – somebody must find them.

I see in last week’s Mercury that Saunders who recently moved from Yatton to Bridgwater has been given an electric razor by the staff as a leaving present. The new man at Yatton is Cook from Brixham who Don knows well.

Now I must close once more – hope you are all feeling better.

All our love to you both and kisses for dear little Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad

*I can. The *other* interviewers presumably did not know Alec, and Philips wanted to avoid the appearance of favouritism.

**FFS, this again. It seems straightforward enough even to a non-woodworker like me; split the wood, carve out a channel with a chisel, then rejoin the two halves. Requires care and decent sharp tools, that’s all.

Eva to the children, on the last half-sheet of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Susan & Carol

Thank you for the nice letter and drawing from Susan. What a nice garden and path, is it like your real one? I expect there were a lot of little girls at Sunday School last week when so many books were given out; you will have read it by now. I used to have one every year when I went to Sunday School.

Have you worn your ballet skirt yet? I have planted a lot of bulbs so that they will flower in the spring indoors. I have scillas, hyacinths & daffodils.

I expect you & Carol are looking forward to hanging your stocking up on Christmas Eve.

Lots of love Grandma & Grf.

[Pen illustration of Christmas stocking squeezed into the margin.]

Sunday 20th November, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you both for letters to us and children. Glad you liked Susan’s drawing, they show a little promise we think.* Both girls seem well enough now except that runny noses are well in evidence.

Still no news on the housing front. The facilities in the building are beginning to fail one by one to add to the troubles. This week the fridge went wrong also fire in shop. The latter the only thing that prevented them from becoming icicles. We have not been over this week but it is known that they are not too well and no wonder.

I used to sing the girls an old song about the “Oujah tree “, could only remember one verse but they seemed to like it. I suppose Carol connected the suspended dahlias ( something she had not seen before ) with the song. Now you remind me, I call to mind the occasion of the ‘Camp coffee’ but very dimly.

The interview last Monday was taken by Philips with McDonald and a staff rep. When I was ushered in he (Philips) said ‘good morning Mr Atkins, we have not met before’. I thought he might as well have it that way as any other so did not pass any comment. At the end of the interview when shaking hands he asked how you were keeping. I went in at 11-30 a.m. and had a very good interview. They fired a few questions but having thought out the possible answers the previous night, most of them dropped into my lap. As far as such events go, I would say it was one of the best I have ever had. This may or may not be significant, but Mann who followed had a rough passage. So far there has been no announcement, and I rate my chances no more or no less than at the beginning that is fifty-fifty.

I did not have a terrible lot to say to the man from Derby. The inventor of the system – Norman Shelley – was present and he gave him most of the griff. Went to Exeter on Tuesday as arranged and met Squires, Hartnell and a chap named Courtney. Also Stan Reed and a young rolling stock man named Court. Hartnell was as nervy as anything about his District being used as a guinea pig. He has trouble already in introducing his Taunton Concentration Scheme. We agreed to suspend operations for the time being until he could have further evidence now being prepared by the B.T.C. He won’t understand it when he gets it and so his reply will almost certainly be ‘no’.

Norman and I went on to Plymouth and presented ourselves at Millbay just before 11—00 a.m. and asked to see Dean. He had had the good sense to go to Cornwall a few minutes earlier so had a preliminary chat with Beer then went down to see Jack Ackford. ( Incidentally both he and Squires asked after you.) After examining the evidence offered by the Plymouth people we think it unlikely that we shall conduct the experiment there as the results will not be of such an extent to make a song about. They will have to come in line eventually, but it will cost too much for no local result. All the benefits will be national. We may yet have to “fire off ” Hollinsworth after all.

The meeting at Swindon is a waste of time. This could all have been cleared up by phone, but the accountant wants to know more than is good for him. All that is involved is a request for the services of one of the Regional Accountants Tabulators to process some punched cards. This would involve about forty hours in total. We have seen the man who will do the job, and there is no trouble there. All we want is a yes or no from his boss. I expect he wants to talk about C.P.C., and the merits or demerits of the system, but if so its not coming off because that is not the point at issue.

So Geoff has got himself a typewriter at last has he? They are very useful, but it is not necessary to get a new one as there are usually some good second-hand ones knocking about. Yes I am afraid that writing is getting a little out of date, Quality is not the thing now, but after all the end product was neatness, and this can be achieved with almost the same amount of difficulty with a typewriter. The thing to do is not to be the slave to the machine. If I make any mistakes, I either leave the nor type over them. No point in wasting paper, and in any case there is rarely any doubt as to the sense intended.

I bought some wood on Saturday to make my bench at end of garage. I got four pieces of 8x6xl flooring, lopped two inches off the long side and laid them on the angle iron support of the garage that runs lengthways down the sides at a height of 35″ from the floor. As it stands it it strong enough for shelving, but not sufficiently firm enough for a bench. I am making a frame 35″x25″ to support the middle out of some four by two that I bought for the old wooden shed. By sheer chance the mower fits Just under this bench and I have stowed away all the boxes and large bits and pieces that have been cluttering up the place. At the moment what is left of the Chrysants has found its way on to the bench but they will soon be over now and out of the way. I am afraid they did not get the best of chances as they had to be moved about from place to place rather a lot and they grew very straggly and unwieldy due to the rain and being in a shady corner. However I must look in the gardening book and see what I have to do to the shoots that are present at the base of each of the plants in order to get some more next year.

Don’t go to too much trouble with the standard lamp if the idea is a bit much. Can only think of one way to get wire down the middle, and that is to construct it of a number of short sections to be fitted together. My longest drill is about six inches so I suppose the longest section that it would be possible to bore would be about 12 inches by conven­tional methods. Of course a thin red hot poker would bore through equal to about twice its own length if you bore from both ends in turn.

I was able to see for myself the residue of the floods in the West. There is still a lot of it lying alongside the line air Athelney. Saw John Saunders at Newton Abbot. He asked after you, and said he had not seen you since you retired. He is complaining that the Work Study people have been to Newton Abbot and told his men that they are the best cleaners on the Western. He thinks we are likely to recommend that the standard of cleaning there should be reduced. Colin Lovemore has been on a Work Study course and showed a lot of promise but he has decided not to proceed in this line. Afraid of comment I suppose.

I read Mum’s letter to the girls and was instructed to tell you that we have some birds here too. Susan says that she helps Grandfy open the gate. To-day the prizes were dished out at the Sunday School and we were invited to attend. All the children who turned up fairly regularly had books, and Susan had one of course. Carol who had not been attending for very long did not qualify and wanted to know where her book was. Managed to stave that one off. Pauline came to stay with us for the week­end so we all went by car. It poured of course so had to wipe off the wet in semi-darkness after return. I must say the presence of the silicone polish I put on helped a lot as the water gathered in large drops and did not cling to the car. Everything clean, dry and polished again now.

Susan was a bit naughty at Sunday School, and I saw the teacher talk to her once or twice but Carol was as good as gold. (Perhaps she was still waiting for her book). Susan kept waving and calling from the other side of the room.

Had a letter from Budworth** who is now the Work Study Assistant to the Divisional Traffic Manager at Leeds. He covers the whole of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Have not been in London long enough to find out how Manning is getting on yet.

I am afraid the garden is not getting a look in these days. There is very little spoiling however as only the Westfield Flame Chrysants to attend to. Last year I left them in but this year I think I will try to find time to sort them out.

Had a drop of one of my Parsnip Wines to-day, I suppose it must be well over two years old by now. Quite strong. Maybe when I have had time to get some substantial shelves in the garage I may find time to tackle some more and let it mature out there. So far no mice in ours, but then they would have very little to eat if they came this way.

Would you say that Mrs Drewett got a reasonable price in the circumstances or not? There are two houses higher up this road with boards outside, I do not know if they are ‘To sell’ or ‘Sold’. I heard that one of the families living round there had moved to Pinner.

Well there it is for this week, Hope you are both keeping well although according to Mum’s note to the children I gather she has a cold, Hope that by now it has departed. Love from us all.

*Again, four and a half years old; what a patronising thing to say about a child’s drawing. As if it mattered whether a kid’s art showed promise or not; what’s important is that it’s done with love and enjoyed by all, not whether or not your child is a budding Michelangelo!

**Presumably this will be the letter Alec is responding to in the stray ‘Dear Bud‘ letter that turned up randomly in the file.

Thursday 17th November, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you very much for another long letter duly received and for the lovely colour drawing from Susan – expect Grandma will have something to say about that when she writes in a few minutes. Sorry to hear both the girls have had colds again but the weather is enough to upset a lot of people – typical English climate. Anyhow we hope they are improving and that you both have escaped its effects.

No further news about the housing problem so presumably no development since your last comment.

Wherever did Carol get the idea of an ‘Oujah tree’*? Susan’s remark re Tide quite good and funny. There’s an idea for an advert here if could only think of a suitable one but the ‘Tide’ people perhaps would not agree.

Re: your school recollections Mum says you came home one day and announced that ‘Camp coffee is the best’ and when asked from where you got that idea replied ‘It is on the board down the road’. Obviously the billposters had been busy.

You seem to be fully occupied in railway matters now-a-days with meetings in South Wales and West of England but it all gives experience and builds up a good background for future applications for promotion. Even if you do not get the job for which you had an interview on Monday at least it is nice to be ‘in the frame’ as some folk put it.** Shall be very interested to know how you got on as I expect Philips himself would probably be present. Shall also be pleased to hear how you got on with the man from Derby and of your visit to Exeter where I expect you would meet Squires. It is about time he retired – cannot think what keeps him in office as he cannot expect any more promotion at his age.

What is meeting at Swindon all about? You are doing far more travelling than I ever did but as mentioned above it’s bound to be useful one day.

There is one controller at Cardiff I know name of Jenkins – he used to be in Swindon Control but moved to Cardiff two or three years ago.

What a pity about the Catherine wheel – we used to get a bit of trouble with them here although you preferred squibs – crackers – rockets and ‘bangers’. Coloured matches. Sparklers of course were in evidence but it was all soon over.

Note Peter and Brenda made a visit on Friday and that they are now officially engaged to be married – our very best wishes to them both.

Had a letter from Geoff on Monday – typewritten this time – says he has acquired a typewriter at last, so what with yours and the one Don uses at Lyng I’m now the only one left still driving a Biro across the writing paper – very much out of date.

Position with Iris and her mother & brother noted. It is very sad for them and requires a bit of working out for the arrangement to be achieved.

Have extended bench to make that side of garage more tidy. The motor mower fits underneath the extension lovely and of course there is more bench room. The opposite corner of garage i.e. behind wine cabinet (sic)*** can still be used for stacking long timbers etc. This week I’ve put up three shelves (wide ones) in the corner – where bench extended – and filled them up already. It’s surprising how stuff accumulates. Incidentally all the brackets for holding the shelves – eleven in all – I made out of odd pieces of wood. In fact I had all the wood on hand that was required for the complete job and only had to buy nails.

So you would like me to try and make a standard lamp. Have not aspired to anything so big so far but must think that one out before spoiling a lot of wood. Quite an idea though.

We found with car radio that when we came to Ruislip the West of England programme was too weak to be heard and I’m not surprised you have made some alterations. Down here we could more or less get some response from all six positions. You seem to have tuned in the more important ones and I hope they are clear enough for your purpose. It’s strange but we have not missed the radio in the new car.

We walked on sea wall for a short distance beyond the new river but not into Kingston Seymour. It was a glorious morning and quite different to what we have been having lately. The gardens are literally saturated and apart from picking some sprouts or other greens cannot get on it – hence the work being carried on in garage. Can always find something to do. The daglias are still in the ground and the beetroot, but it is hopeless to try and get them out yet. I did manage to pick remainder of runner beans which I have shelled for seed and these are in greenhouse drying off – plenty available if you want some.

I think Bill Raine would want a lot of salt to catch the pole cats – a gun is the only thing that will stop them. Have not seen squirrel this way since I last mentioned its presence in field.

Glad the paper reached you and that it was interesting. I hear the S/M at Brixham has got Yatton. Don knows him well and when he (Don) was on relief at Torquay he lodged at this man’s home.

We hear Mrs Drewett’s house sold for £19000 [£44,600 in 2020 money, probably about a tenth of its present-day value]. There is a ground rent on the place and as you know only a small garden. It will take £500 [nearly £12,000] to put the place in good condition and some real hard work to get garden productive again.

Going back to car radio again – position 2 was one of our best and gave the West of England programme if I remember rightly. I think the radio book (inside car manual) gives instructions for adjustments and the key to do this was in pocket under dashboard but I never interfered with it.

Am still catching the odd mouse in garage but the place is pretty clear again now. Fortunately they are not there long enough to do any damage to apples or potatoes.

Well I think this is the lot for this week. Hope you soon get rid of the catarrh and we shall look forward to your next budget of news.

All our love to you both and kisses for dear little Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad

*After Googling, I suspect this is the one Alec was referring to. (Hear it sung by George Formby here.) It seems to have been recorded in 1938, which would make it absolutely the sort of thing Alec and his musical friends would have been sharing – and possibly also trying to play – during the war.

**I’ve heard an anecdotal origin story for this expression but can’t track down anything more definitive. Apparently in the early days of the CID (which was formed in 1878) there was a wooden frame which held name boards showing which senior officer/s was/were eligible to take the next major murder case, and this would be updated according to leave, seniority, workload etc. The idea was that when information came in about a new murder it could be referred immediately to the right man – they were all men in those days, of course – and that would save valuable time. Anyway ‘in the frame’ gradually expanded from there to mean ‘eligible’, or something very similar, in a wider context. /etymology geek

***Rather than ruining the text by adding another “(sic)” I’ll just point out that this is in Leonard’s original.

From Eva, on the remaining half-sheet of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Susan & carol

Thank you very much for Susan’s nice painting this week. The colours go very well together don’t they. I don’t expect you have been able to go out very much this week as it has been raining a lot. When I went out this morning in the rain, the water was running down the gutters & down the hills, when is it going to stop?

I hope your colds are better by now. I have got one and I keep losing my handkerchief.

Grandfy has been busy in the garage as he cannot do any gardening.

The birds are busy flying about, I caught one the other day in the porch & took it outside & it soon flew away.

Guess what this is supposed to be:

Love from Grandma & Granfy.****

****Eva is consistently inconsistent about spelling this word.

Sunday 13th November, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for letter, arrived just after breakfast on Saturday as usual. Herewith this week also latest effort from Susan. This one is in technicolour. Yes I agree it is a messy arrangement about the house at West Drayton. Unfortunately it is so involved that it is difficult to see what can be done.

Sorry to say we can not claim to be even reasonably healthy this week. Returned from Cardiff on Friday to find that Carol had been giving trouble* with a head cold and to-day Susan has got it. They both had fairly good nights last night but June has been sleeping in with Carol in the small back room far the last three nights. Of course there was no Sunday School to-day for either although Susan announced that she was quite recovered. The worst is over for Carol to all appearances but it will be a day or two I suppose before they are back to normal. June and I are free so far.

While on the subject of the girls, I washed the dahlia tubers to-day and to dry out I have tied string round the stems and hung them in a bunch from the centre girder of the garage. When Carol saw this she said “thats the oujah tree Daddy”. Another one, – Susan this time – when June had bathed her she said to Susan gracious look at that tide mark round the bath. Susan said “of course it isn’t we do not use ‘Tide’ in our bath”.

Do not know what Carol will do at first when Susan goes to school. It will be a bit of a shock I expect but after mooning around for a day or two she will probably get used to it. I remember going to the Infant School for the first time at Clevedon very well. I also remember many incidents of school days at Westbury including catching the bus home (when I remembered it).

Bristol getting quite posh with the new shops. Hope Mum and Aunt Joan had a good day – not too expensive.

The rain came back with a vengeance this week end and has filled me up with catarrah again. I have noticed that particularly heavy and prolonged rainfall soon produces that effect. Must look forward to some dry cold days to put matter right. Do not think the frost we had has done any damage this end. Not much about to damage now except the dahlias and I have forked them all up now. When they are really dry I shall bring them indoors and put away somewhere without heat or extreme cold.

Have a very full Diary these days but last week I only got out of London for one full day. Stayed in the first part of the week to ensure there were no last minute surprises from Pickford for his meeting on the Thursday. Went to Cardiff on the 3-55pm (stayed the night in Bridgend) and had meeting with Bluff and Bryer the following morning which lasted till five minutes to 4-0 pm (inc lunch). Just managed to scramble on to the 4-0pm to Paddington and arrived home at 8-30pm. Monday I had free but I am told I have an interview that day for job of Work Study Assistant to Mr Philips so that day has gone now. Tuesday we meet the Vice Principal Of the Derby Railway College, Wednesday to Exeter to see Hartnell (that answers your query) and Thursday and Friday in the Exeter and Plymouth Districts to get some general impressions make contacts etc. Monday 21st I have meeting at Swindon with Accountants (in morning) and the rest of the week looks like being in the Cardiff Area as I have a full list of Goods Agents and Stationmasters to see. Have a team at Cardiff Control next week to measure the use made of two Control Circuits. (The two most heavily used in the Control) to find out what we have to do to avoid delay and congestion if the train loading messages were increased by two and a half times. Things are certainly warming up and I could use a couple of good Class One assistants. Trouble is you just can’t be in two places at once. I rang McDonald up on Friday and asked him if he wanted to see me whether it would be convenient that day. He arranged to see me at 11-0am but sent a subsequent message to say he had been called away but would see me next week. Passed a message back to say I was only available on the Monday so the ball is now in his court. Of course fit he may have heard about the interview before me and that may have changed his mind for him. Feel I only hold an evens chance for this one. I only applied for the London job although all four were offered. It seems there are two highly paid Commercial Work Study men to be found homes and as McDonald was from that office the chances are not good. There is no reason for the Bristol Divisional Manager to be represented at the Exeter Meeting, but he will be given the opportunity of attending if he likes. We did agree that an informal approach would be made with Hartnell and Dean after the initial meeting.

Susan’s reactions to the fireworks were healthy enough. We did not have many apart from the sparklers. Susan wanted a Catherine wheel so June bought a large one and I poked a hole through it and worked the needle in it so that it turned freely. Unfortunately the needle must have expanded with the heat as after the first few seconds the wheel stuck and could not be persuaded to revolve. She was not disappointed and later saw some of Janet’s out of the window.

Peter and Brenda were here on Friday when I got home. The ring was in evidence so that is established. I do not know when they will be married but I think not for some time yet.**

We have been lead to believe that with that verdict on Uncle Cyril there can be no question of compensation. This sounds only too logical. We hear that Iris has returned to her own home, and Aunt Beryl is keeping the other one going as a home for herself and Clive who is as yet unmarried.

Yes I thought it odd that Charlie Rust did not see the London train off. I made no real attempt to go to see him as I assumed he would be certain to see train out.

I wonder why you decided to extend the bench to the end of garage. It seemed to me that you had a long enough bench and the bit at the bottom was most suitable for stacking long poles and laths vertically.

While on the subject, June and I had the idea that you might care to try your hand at making us a Standard lamp. We realise that a tall lamp might present some transport problems but it might be possible to make the lamp in two or more sections which could be reassembled. We have always wanted a standard lamp and one with rectangular section would be just as good as a round one.

You seem to be having similar trouble to mine in getting car in and out. Must say that particular problem is simple compared with that of walking round garage (inside) with car in position.

To-day I took lid off radio and retuned all the six settings. What was in tune at Clevedon was a little out this end. Have now fixed positions 1, 4, 5, and 6 with “Light” “Home” “Hilversum” and “Paris”. The stations on 2 and 3 are not very powerful and I can hardly hear them, I can not seem to get anything else on those settings.

I expect you were able to find a good use for the flower pots, or will do when potting time comes round again. See you had a walk on the sea wall. How far exactly did you go. June and I had a short walk on the wall one evening when we were last at Clevedon but we did not go further, than the new river. Incidentally we met Aston coming off the wall as we went on. Had a look for the missing Jewels lately? There is always a small cluster of people working at the Pill. During the Winter when the boats are out of the water, there is a lot of caulking and tarring to be done and new coats of paint to be applied. At one time Captain Rowles had a yard down there where he kept all sorts of masts, spars, sails and gear, I think it has gone now though.

So you have some big game in the neighbourhood? I suppose Bill Raine popped out and put some salt on their tails.

Thanks for the B’water paper. Some good pictures in it especially Lyng Halt. The children appreciated the letter from Grandma and had it read specially for them. Will close now and try to think up what questions likely to come up tomorrow (and answers). All the best to you both for now. Love from us all.

*’giving trouble’ pretty much sums up the attitude; naturally if a child was ill they were doing so *at* Alec and June, deliberately. There is never a word of how unhappy the children themselves must be.

**Spoiler alert; the wedding never did take place, and Peter later married someone else. It will be interesting to see whether or not anything emerges in subsequent correspondence as to the reason for this. I remember Brenda as a very friendly blonde lady, although we only met a couple of times.

Thursday 10th November, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for the budget of news received on Tuesday and another nice letter and drawing from Susan. Very sorry to hear the position regarding the property at West Drayton. Until the Council and Petrol people agree presumably no move can be made but the latter should accept liability for any further deterioration consequent on demolition of adjacent house as you suggest. The whole problem must be very worrying to both Mr & Mrs Baker and we do hope an early settlement may be effected. Just as well to acquaint Solicitor with details for future reference.

Glad to hear you are all ‘reasonably healthy’ (as you put it) again and by this time perhaps June has recovered from her teeth trouble.

So the girls went to school again on Sunday – assume they both look forward to this little diversion from normal routine every week. It will not be so long now before Susan will be starting day school and then what will Carol do? I can well remember taking Uncle Don to school for his first day – to Gorse Hill School, Swindon. Incidentally Aunt Joan and Mum had a day together at Bristol on Monday going through the new store shops including Jones – Lewis – C & A Modes & not least Woolworths.*

It was a grand day for weather following a good Sunday but on Tuesday morning we had a very sharp frost. Had not at that time switched heat on in greenhouse and temperature inside went down to 28 degrees. A couple of the cinerarias were slightly affected but will I think recover. We soon had rain again on the Wednesday.

Note you have not been out of London since your meeting at Bristol the other week. From what you say it certainly does look as if things are hotting up and if Manning has been put on the Reading check up it means Birmingham have to do without him for him being. This move however should keep Philips and McDonald quiet and Pattison retains you for C.P.C. Should be quite an interesting meeting with the people from the Railway College at Derby. Hollingworth’s reactions to Hallett are typical the former being in the same category as Edwards – i.e. inclined to bullying. Where will you be having meeting with Hartnell – query Exeter? It is such a mix-up now that some of us cannot follow all the arrangements. In this case I suppose the Bristol Divisional Manager has to be represented? Anyhow it is going to keep some people busy for a very long time.

Not surprised Carol a little nervous of the fireworks but she will soon get over that and enjoy them as much as other children (and adults). How did Susan react? You must have seen quite a lot. Do you remember the year we had bonfire in the field and a lot of the neighbours children coming in? This year we only saw one bonfire – it was in garden of Tennyson House where there are one or two children. Could hear ‘bangs’ in the distance but we were indoors enjoying the warmth from fire.

If the news is confirmed – best wishes to Peter and Brenda on their engagement. Shall look forward to seeing them in due course. Note verdict on Uncle Cyril was “Accidental death” but what happens now? Is there any question of compensation? It was a terrible tragedy and whatever monetary compensation is forthcoming it cannot unfortunately bring him back.

So you did not see Charlie Rust – thought he might have been on platform to see your train depart as presumably it went from No. 9.

Since my last letter I’ve been busy in garage where I’ve already extended bench to full length of garage. You will recall there was a space of about 3ft at corner of garage nearest Wains Hill. The shelves in this corner have nee taken down and I’m lining the two sides with odd pieces of timber. Not quite finished this yet but when it is I have to replace shelves and generally tidy up. At the moment the place is a shambles and I can only just get car in and out.

It was such a lovely day on Tuesday I put in a row of broad beans in the afternoon using boards on ground to keep earth from caking under feet. Apart from this very little has been done outdoors this week but Mum has been busy at times hoeing weeds on the hard paths etc.

Heard over the weekend that Mrs Drewett’s house had been sold privately before auction – have no idea who bought it or figure obtained. George Poulton (Iris husband) called me over Monday and offered me a lot of flowerpots of varying sizes. I found there were about 130 altogether and although he did not want anything for them I gave him 5/- [roughly £6 in 2020 money] for Mrs Drewett. All the pots want a good clean as they had been lying in a heap unused for years.

Last Sunday morning with Mr Ashton I went out on the sea wall for some distance. The men are still working on it but I should think they must be getting towards the end of the job. It was surprising to see a number of people at the Pill attending to their boats – probably putting them away for the winter. Over at the church workmen are not putting in a stained glass window in memory of Mr Marshall and the scaffolding is now being taken down following work on the roof.

Understand there are a couple of pole cats at large on the hill and in the churchyard and recently one of them had had a fight with some other animal on the lawn in the Church Cottage garden. Bill Raine told me about it. He lives in the cottage as I expect you know.

Joan brought up to Bristol a Bridgwater paper showing some of the flooded areas. It includes a picture of Lyng Halt with water running through between the platforms. Will try and post it on to you. They had it pretty bad at Burrowbridge and on the road between Lyng and Athelney**.

Well I think this concludes the epistle for another week – shall look forward to yours early next week.

All our love to you both and again lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad

*All of these have now gone from Bristol city centre; two of the buildings still exist, however.

**The whole of this area of course is low-lying (the ‘Somerset levels’) and well into recorded history was in fact a series of islands and waterways which have since been drained to create fertile farmland. It was at Athelney that Alfred the Great hid out before the Battle of Edington, and it is in this area that the famous cake-burning incident is supposed to have taken place.

Eva to the children, on the remaining half-side of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Susan & Carol

I hope you are both well and able to go out this nice sunny weather. I went for a ride on a bus on Monday to meet Auntie Joan in Bristol. It was a lovely day but I like riding in the car best.

Fancy Susan having a ballet skirt, is she learning the ballet now?

Grandfie has been busy putting up shelves in the garage. I had to fetch some nails from the shop this morning.

That was a lovely drawing of a Christmas tree, is that yours. The children will soon be singins carols now that the penny for the guy is over and the bonfires. I heard you had a big one in the field. We did not see many fireworks here.

Lots of love from

Grandma and Granfie xxxxxxxx

Sunday 16th October, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for your three letters this week, I glad to be able to say they all arrived together. Susan thanks you for hers and encloses one again this week. As I write she is hanging over the typewriter trying to see what makes it tick. She is also hanging on over her time for bed which has been extended just a few minutes for this operation. Of course we have to tell Susan what letters to write but it is amazing how many of them she knows.

Hare not yet taken any steps to get car certified. Will .probably do so in a few weeks but really as it is an annual thing the later the better it seems. No further real news of progress at Yiewsley but a house was seen to-day which was the right price and in fairly good condition. The house is available if the right offer is made and It will be seen whether this one too will slip away.

Thanks once again for the produce brought back with car. We have scoffed most of it already and very good it was. We liked the yellow tomatoes but to be honest did not find them superior to the red, and the naturally suspicious approach that we made to the colour rather took the novelty away. I think we preferred the reds although there could not have been much to choose.

One visit from Peter and Pauline and the bulk of the cider was disposed of. Peter had not previously tasted cider quite like it and I think the initial impact was adverse. It did not seem to disappear at the same rate as the wine and the empty did not reappear for refilling. There is no doubt that you must have a taste for it.

Very sorry I did not mention the cream last time particularly as I had it in mind to do so. It may amuse you to know that the cream arrived a few hours after I did with the car on the Friday, What they had done till then, goodness knows. Of course the cream was in very good condition and was promptly put in the fridge. We all had lots of it and it lasted several days. You can not get cream round these parts. They call cream the stuff you buy from the U.D. but it is all runny just like milk.

Glad you mentioned an annex for the garage. At the moment X have no bench or shelves and all the junk imaginable has got stacked around on the floor. If you want to walk round the car you have to restow as you go. The biggest offenders are the indoor Chrysants at the moment as they have grown so tall they almost reach the roof. Somehow I have managed to knock the only head off the Beacon again so we shall not see what that is like this year.

Decorating going in spasms. Completed so far are ceiling and two walls. A third wall has had one coat and the fourth wall has not yet been started. I think we may be able to use the room by the end of November. Note your round about trip via Marlborough and Swindon. It turned out for the best and I bet it was not one of the several alternative arrangements you had planned.

I remember Insp. Mann, Nice to have heard of him again. I knew he was at Swindon. I am not sure that the alternative route I took via Henley is the best proposition during the day. At night or during the early hours of the morning it is ideal as there is no traffic on the road at all but the road is too narrow and twisty for comfort while other vehicles are about. At least the main road reveals all its snags in advance and you rarely get surprises. Actually the road from Reading to Maidenhead is not too bad and it might be a good idea to cut off it just before you get to Slough.

Susan has moved up to-the primary class in the Sunday school and Carol is in the beginners. We asked Carol what she did but it seems she spent most of the time at the Dolls House. Susan’s singing has improved a lot. She can memorise several songs and can sing them to piano accompanyment.

You said the Cardiff trips are coming to an end. If so not lust yet. I cannot tell when the new jobs will commence operation. Some say October 31st but that is only a rumour. My C.P.C. activities far from being reduced are hotting up and the week after next shall be involved in a visit to Plymouth for the inaugural meeting for C.P.C. in that District, It is hoped that we shall be able to do a crash programme to start C.P.C. on a permanent basis in that District as from February. The new Job is Divisional, and presumably shall be allocated space in the D.T.M.O. in due course.

We had a severe frost one day last week and I got out early next morning and cut of[f] the pumpkin. Hope it is O.K. It feels firm enough but the dahlias are all black and finished and I see that the leaves of the pumpkin have all turned black now. We are getting some of the outdoor Chrysants now and they smell super. Some of the indoor ones are on the point of opening. I gave them all some water to-day.

The inside of the garage warms up well now I have the glass in. What was the matter with Weston that you had to return so quickly? Should have popped in to see Ritchens and sampled some of his wine. Any spare energy? Have several flower beds that look like lawns and a couple of lawns that look like cornfields. I suppose we shall get shipshape one day. I suppose we ought to pick off our apples such as they are before they drop off and get lost in the undergrowth. I wonder what went wrong with the woodwork next door? As far as I recollect successive owners plastered lots of paint on the house. I expect it is the paint that has rotted the woodwork.

Yes the garage is finished so far as the essentials are concerned. They promised the glass last Thursday but of course it did not arrive. June phoned them on Friday and they said that it would be in that day but could not deliver before Monday. We were thus blackmailed into picking it up in car. It took 15 pounds of putty and I have about one pound left. I do not think that any water will get in over the top or under the edges now. We want a good Storm or two to test it now.

I found the odd couple of tools you mention by accident a few days ago. There was also a plastic roll for tools left in the glove compartment. Did you know that was there? Glad Mother was able to get to B[ris]tol for the fashion show. Did they give any samples? It sounds a good idea to assist with the prams. We do know they want them and they are a little bit pricy. If you would rather join with us we should be grateful. Have no doubt your playgoers club can beat the telvision [sic]. Do you look into Candid Camera on Saturdays at 10~0 pm I think it is one of the funniest shows going now.

What about the prospective central meeting? If we are to arrange it we should do so quickly before the weather changes. As suggestions how do you react to Bournemouth, Salisbury, Winchester, Andover or Marlborough. We only know Marlborough and that not very well apart from Bournemouth. Will leave it to you as you will be able to say if you feel it can be done and which of the places are best or even if there is any point which is preferable. I hare been to Salisbury but not to Winchester of Andover. The midway point on the coast seems rather a long way for the double trip so it may be the best thing to avoid, There seems to be no focal point north of Marlborough which is of any particular interest.

Well will leave it with you for the time being and look forward to your next. Love from us all.

Thursday 13th October, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family, on normal foolscap paper:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Three letters this week. Thank you very much Alec June & Susan. It was good to see Alec for a few hours on Wednesday & Thursday last week and to be with him part of the journey home on Friday also to receive phone call that he had reached Ruislip safely.* Now we hope you will all enjoy the use of car – you will have no difficulty in getting a road safety certificate.

Note you have since been to Eastcote and West Drayton but sorry to hear no further news of a new home for June’s Mother & Father. Can appreciate how worried you all are as time goes on. We do hope you will find something suitable soon.

Thought you would like some of the produce from Clevedon – wish could get more of it to you – how did you like the yellow tomatoes? Assume cider was soon sunk. By the way did the cream reach you alright from Exmouth – should have arrived on the morning of the 5th inst. I think last week’s flooding down there was worse than what we saw but we hope to get a line from Tiverton on this as they were going down again then.

Can see Susan & Carol are going to be very lucky girls at Christmas – will require an annexe for garage to park their prams. Note you are both decorating – it is dirty work but the result is worth while.

When I left you at Savernake Hospital after asking which direction for station found I had been directed to Marlborough and that Savernake Station was some distance on in the direction you had taken. Tried at least half a dozen passing motorists for a lift but nothing doing so walked across road to a bus stop where several people were waiting. In a few minutes bus arrived and its destination Swindon. This proved to be a better proposition than train from Savernake as I arrived Swindon Town Hall at 10.0 a.m. and had plenty of time to look round and catch 10.47 a.m. thence to Bristol thence Clevedon where I arrived 12.25 p.m.** Saw Insp. Mann at Swindon in Bridge Street (he is at Loco Yard now) and he asked after you. Saw no one at Swindon or Bristol Stations and changed at latter without a word to anyone – time marches on.

So you decided to go via Henley on Thames etc. and presumably via the A40 at Beaconsfield. A better route even if a bit further I should imagine than via Maidenhead & Slough.

So West Drayton district also had some flooding – the storm we ran through on Friday morning did not touch the Swindon area – quite dry when I got there.

We thought of Carol on Sunday afternoon going to Sunday School for first time and are not surprised the teacher may separate them next time. Expect Susan had a lot to explain to Carol.

Sounds as if your Cardiff trips are coming to an end. Does the new job come under the heading of Work Study? And will you have to move offices i.e. leave OO and transfer to Divl.?

Since Sunday we have had a dry spell and some very warm sunshine. On Monday I pulled up all the tomato plants from greenhouse and after picking off the tomatoes put them in tissue paper and packed them away in trays to ripen. The I flooded ground with Jeyes Fluid and burnt two smoke comes in green house to kill all insects etc. On Tuesday morning we ran into Weston for a bit of shopping but were home again by midday after which I dug a bit more ground and Mum cleared out old borders. Mum also lit a bonfire which I’ve managed to keep going since. Yesterday Mum took up geraniums from front garden and I took several cuttings of them. Today I’ve dug over front garden and Mum has gone off with T.W.G. to a Fashion Show at Bristol.

Shall soon have to start picking the apples although as I think I’ve mentioned before it is not such a good crop this year. Our next door neighbour (Heel) had had to have the whole of the woodwork on his windows at back of house renewed – Stan James has been doing it for him. Cannot quite understand this as regular painting should keep woodwork good. On our other side the honeymooners arrived back on Saturday last and are now in residence. They seem very nice people and in conversation with them over the weekend said they had been in Bournemouth for a week. Both are working and away morning and afternoon.

Had a letter from Geoff on Thursday last but I now remember you read it that evening. Have not heard any more from Norman Allen so expect he is busy getting down to his new job at Transom House.

It was a sharp frost here this morning and in greenhouse temperatures were right down to 32 deg. Have now brought in half a dozen chrysanths but unfortunately they are not so good as least season probably due to the prolonged spells of wet weather.

So you have not quite finished your garage but if windows there hope to complete this weekend. Shall see a big difference when we come up next.

This appears to be all for now. Hope you are all keeping well.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad

P.S. Mum has written fourth page this week. Incidentally I forgot to mention you will find wheelbrace & jack (for lifting car to change wheels) also grease gun under the two front passenger seats.

*All this no doubt accounts for the absence of a letter in the previous week.

**Despite being born in Exeter and baptised at Weston-super-Mare, Leonard spent much of his childhood in Swindon and in fact went to school there, so no doubt he knew his way around.

Eva to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for both letters also Susan’s. She is quite coming along with her writing.

We are having lovely weather now & can get about a bit more. Today I have been to Bristol Colston Hall & it was a fashion parade with David Jacobs as compere also Marguerite Patten on the cookery & Bruce Trent singing also an orchestra. They were advertising Tricel and Courtelle fabrics.*** I suppose there were over 1,000 women there & it was a crush.

The girls will be lucky with a nice big pram each, they cost something these days and you can’t give one without the other. If you like we will both give money for Xmas instead of buying individual presents; let us know.

I wish your Mum & Dad could find a place soon, now the cold weather will be here it will not be very nice chasing around looking at houses.

I, like you, think that T.V. on both channels have been lousy lately, just as well to be doing something else & I don’t think it’s going to be any better especially if people like Bill Maynard can come back to it.****

Our Playgoers Club starts in a fortnight & I bet they will put on a play to equal anything on TV.

Well I must write a line to Susan & Carol so will close with love to all from

Mum & Dad

***’Tricel’ is difficult to search online now because the name has been repurposed by an engineering concern, and ‘Courtelle’ is similarly elusive. The best I have been able to come up with is this Wikipedia entry on acrylic fibres.

****I have no idea what Eva’s gripe with Bill Maynard was; he was probably doing guest slots in variety shows at this time, and wasn’t a TV regular until later in the 1960s, but to judge by some of the stuff he did in later life she probably found him a bit on the crude (albeit clean) side. ‘Unsophisticated’ might be a better word. On the other hand I do sympathise with her dissatisfaction with the programmes available; it would probably be of no surprise to her to learn that the same problem still exists at a time when we have infinite TV stations available – and her elder grand-daughter has yet again had to dig out the trusty ‘West Wing’ boxed set.

Thursday 15th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for the big budget of news received on Tuesday and the drawing of motor car from Susan – never mind if it did only have three wheels she has a pretty good idea of the shape and knows where to put windows. You are quite right regarding use of this paper at times – the other sort (printed one side) weighs heavier and more sheets of it have to be used.

Glad to hear the week’s leave was not a ‘washout’ at least not in one sense of the word. Actually I think you all did remarkably well under most difficult circumstances. Let’s hope conditions will improve for you the next two or three weekends to enable you to finish the job satisfactorily.

Noted the route taken by you to get to Westcliff – sounds as if you had some busy roads to pass along – all completely foreign to me. Have never even been to Southend by rail. Anyhow it gave Mr & Mrs Baker an opportunity to look at the bungalow – have they had any luck elsewhere yet? query the place at Hillingdon which of course is not very far from their present home.

We are very pleased you have at least an interview for another job on Monday next and wish you all the best for a successful result – presumably it is for the jobs each at Paddington – Bristol – Birmingham & Cardiff. Who is on the panel? Any idea beforehand?

A letter from Geoff since his return from holiday says he did not get either of the posts for which he had interviews about three weeks ago. Now he has another interview on Friday this week for something else. Have not yet heard if Norman Allen was successful for one of two jobs at Transom House for which he had interview on the 7th inst. Incidentally Hallett & Arthur Price were two of the three on the panel – how exciting!

We shall be very pleased to hear how you get on and if there were any ‘catch’ questions some of the panels appear to be fond of asking. Re: Saunders – he got his Class 1 on assimilation whilst at Temple Meads and moved to Yatton on same grade. Now he gets Spl. A at Bridgwater.

Note June busy stripping paper in Dining Room – surely this would have been an ideal job for Susan & Carol? I’m sure they would have been delighted to do it. We have not had account yet but anticipate the total cost including paper for papering and painting the Hall & Staircase will be £30 [£700 in 2020 money] and it really is a splendid job – made such a difference as you will see next visit. In my opinion the Hall & Staircase are the two worst sections of any house for redecoration etc. and whilst it is being done practically the whole house is affected in one way or another.

So you have had a go at the grass and the girls have been haymaking – not surprised you could not keep box on. I could not risk the motor mower and had the job of raking grass up afterwards. It’s been a most disastrous period for any outdoor activities and I pity the people who still have to dig their potatoes – cannot tell potatoes from clods of sticky earth.

We went to Bristol yesterday afternoon to see the Newmans and rain lashed down – some cars even had lights on it was so dark. It was our first trip apart from local runs to the village in the new car but we reached there and got home safely at 10.15 p.m.*

Heels (next door neighbours) went off to Croyde near Woolacombe last saturday – weather then good and continued so on Sunday and Monday but since then back to the water cart again – have been able to roll up the hosepipe and put it in shed for the winter. One thing about it – I know I shall not be carrying water to bottom of garden next season.

Houses seem to have risen in value in your location since you bought in 1954 – fancy nothing available under £3000. The garage on your place will make a big difference if & when you want to sell – much more than the actual cost of and erecting the same.

What an outing in the Cardiff area and good entertainment too by the sound of it. I like the idea of visiting the various places – it is the only way to get a real insight into the layouts and working. Godfrey was very fond of doing this whenever he was in new territory. You can get it in the mind’s eye and retain it better. The session with Pattisson presumably was to report on the position. Noted you were not visiting the Cardiff area this week – just as well perhaps having regard to weather.

Have not told Don & Joan we have changed cars so when they come on Sunday in the Countryman** they will have something to see.

Glad to hear your tomatoes are reddening up a bit – have to watch out for frosts soon and then must pick them quick and let ripen indoors. Shall have to pick all mine later this month and let green ones ripen in trays as I want greenhouse for bringing on the Chrysanths and Cinerarias, geraniums etc. The totasl weight of tomatoes picked is now 130.5 lbs [nearly 60kg]. At the moment I am suffering from hedgitis as cannot do anything on garden – too wet. Most of the hedges have been attended to and am now tackling the bushes alongside the concrete path adjacent to big lawn. these had reached a great height and I’m now bringing them back to about 7 ft. The growth is so thick have had to use saw many times. It will give more room on lawn and allow sun to get at a bigger area of grass therefore it will be drier for cutting.

I still have a bottle or two of greengage wine on hand & several of plum all last year’s. This year’s Orange & Elderberry still in their respective fermentation jars & working. Nothing much else about at the moment.

When we got back from Church last Sunday evening found two young girls on front door step trying to sell a basket of blackberries they had picked on the hill during the afternoon – we did not want them. Could pick our own if needs be by going on hills or in fields towards Kingston Seymour as you well know.

After cutting strawberry plants down to earth level so that you could not see any leaves at all they have shot up again – flowered and Mum picked two or three ripe berries yesterday – this is second crop. Shall have to cut them all down again now as soon as can get on ground.

Well no more now – hope you are all keeping fit – best of luck on Monday.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.

Mum & Dad

*With all due respect to Leonard’s spirit of adventure, this is a mere 20 miles in each direction.

**This is of course not a Mini Countryman, which would have been a pretty new innovation in those days. It’s far more likely to have been something like this.

Sunday 11th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad ,

Thank you for your letter, for a change it arrived while we were having breakfast instead of some time after. Reason was not due to early post let me say. *

Well glad to see the premier writing paper reappear, assume the anticipated content liable to surcharge if written on the heavyweight stuff. Glad you liked Susan’s effort, she is supposed to be writing another for this week but so far all that has been produced is some paper with wriggly lines on – possibly a collection of surrealist snakes. As it is getting near bed time doubt if we shall got a magnum opus this week.

Cannot agree that our weeks leave was a washout. It certainly contained more than its share of rain, but so much was endeavoured that even though only partly completed it is a definite step forward, I thought to finish the connection to the sideway this week end but ran short of ballast when within a few barrowloads of domino so shall have to get another half yard. I have still one bag of cement left for the odds and ends.

The area of the garage is finished and it is feasible to run the old car up on to it. We got it up by means of planks last week but now the step is less pronounced and in fact the near side wheels can run on at a level. As you may guess have not had any enquiry as yet. (How can you sell with no buyer?) I vaguely remember the rain on the Sunday of the commencement of the Clevedon Shed project. Certainly I remember the work in the front room and if I am not mistaken also frequent protests from the distaff side.

Westcliff-on-Sea ( without an ‘e’ to end with – my original mistake ) is really an adjunct of Southend. People will say that it is much superior etc. etc. To get there we proceeded along the Western Avenue to Hangar Lane then turned left (North) along the North Circular Rd, This road runs through Hendon, Finchley, Edmonton and New Southgate and joins the Eastern Avenue somewhere near Gants Hill after passing around North London as it were by a loop. Shortly after this the road splits into route for Chelmsford Colchester and Clacton on the one hand, and Southend on the other. There are two main roads to Southend, the original main London Road and a newer road probably built just before the war known as the Southend Arterial Rd. All of the roads named along the line of route have considerable stretches of dual carriage­way so much so that it is exceptional to find stretches without it.

So far no further moves in the house hunt but we know of one or two possibilities that will be investigated early next week. One place at Hillingdon sounds reasonable.

I know what you mean by going back to office for a rest. Felt my wrists very loose in their sockets as though one good pull would have fetched them out. Having heard of tennis elbow I think I must have had Cement Shovellers Shanks. Well the grape vine has certainly worked this time and no mistake. You will remember the forecast of 19th or 20th Sept for the interviews, I hare mine on 19th at 10-50 a.m. and Stevens and Mann have theirs at 10-40 and 11-00 a.m. respectively on the 20th. It seems the panel or panels (as it involves two days) are taking interviews for all the 12 out of category jobs (four each for Optg. Comm. and Running & M.) There were some interviews for ‘A’s in our own Section last Friday. Notley who has been in hospital with “Atheletes Foot” had an interview and also Hall Williams and Bowden. Doubt whether you know the last few. Were it my choice I would not give any of them the job. Note Saunders has got a leg up, it was not ago long ago that he moved to Yatton was it?

Note also the work under way in both the Church and at Devonia. Nice to be able to got it done. June has already stripped the paper of the walls in the Dining Room and waiting for someone to do the ceiling. Understand paint will be ordered shortly so expect to find alterations when next this end. Frank James and his assistant are not coming this way for their holidays I suppose. Incidentally we hare not tackled the Hall and Stairway as yet. Can’t say I am looking forward to that job. Good job your work is being done in fine weather as you say.

Yes I have duly completed the minutes of the Cardiff Meeting and when last seen were being typed. Shall send them out on Monday. For Cardiff activities see later paragraphs. Have not heard from Geoff and Co. since they have returned from Italy but that is not surprising as we have no regular contact. We owe them an invitation to tea out can not see that coming off until the Dining Boom is finished, and that is conditioned by outdoor work. The garage should arrive next week-end or the one after and although not difficult to erect will probably account for the week-end’s work.

Note Mrs Elston passed away, she was indeed a good friend of Grandma’s and I remember her well. So you and Don will be swanking about your new cars next week-end. Can not compete as yet but in a few weeks time shall be able to show you a thing or two in garages.

I forgot to tell you that last week when Peter and Doug were helping to do cementing we polished off the Greengage wine. I had some of the best Plum yesterday but it is still a little young. Tried a couple of glassfuls of my 1958 Parsnip to-day and find that it has mellowed a lot since last tasting. Shall have to take floor boards up and see what is happening to the store. I am not a bit surprised you find the Orange a hit sharp, my early efforts were just the same, I think it is mainly the fruit and is a feature of citrus wines.

I see you have cut your lawns. Due to the hiatus with the ballast, I had a chance to have a go at mine to-day and what a game that was. Set the mower as high as it would go and still cut and started off. Grass was so wet I almost set up a bow wave as I cut through it. Managed to get lower lawn at back done and then went over again with blades set lower. Result was not too bad. The top lawn was if anything longer and I only managed to get as far as the swing and gave it best. Of course the kids have revelled in the mown grass, scattering it all over the place and playing such harmless games as making pastry with, wearing it in the hair, filling the pram with it and walking it indoors. I tried to use grass box but it filled up to overflowing after two feet progress so had to abandon that method.

It is incredible to think of 1 cwt of tomatoes but that must be a very good output per plant to achieve such a high figure. At long last my tomatoes are beginning to turn. They are the strangest golden rust colour at the moment with several blotches. The skins look thick but press in fairly well. We await the first red fruit.

Your neighbours are certainly attempting to improve the place to all accounts, Agreed it was not too difficult a job to do just that but they must have put many hours in by now. The equipment going in is a good pointer. While on the subject of houses, June applied at Browns (the Agent from whom we got ours) to see if there was anything suitable on their books that would suit Mr and Mrs Baker, They said they had no property for sale under £3000 [£75,000 in 2020 money] and seldom do got any in the mid-two thousands these day. From all pointers our place should be worth at least £3500 [£82,000 in 2020 money] by the time the garage is up**.

You ask how the children got on when we were doing the concreting last week-end. While June was assisting by getting the hard core with Christine, they were in the house on their own and from time to time came to the window to shout insults or instructions or something at us through the window. At other times they wandered to and fro across the working area much to the irritation of the navigators. As expected despite several warnings to keep away from the wet cement before it had hardened, one or two smacks had to reinforce the points.

Susan has managed to produce a drawing this week after all. It is supposed to be the car. The blank bit near the top are the windows and the dust bin like thing at the back is reported to be the boot. I have counted the wheels several times but can only make it three.***

I am not going to Cardiff this week so do not expect to see me. Well I went to Cardiff on Tuesday as planned. Rang up Alwyn Jones on arrival as he wanted to see me but he could not as was tied up with a meeting. He offered lunch but I had already arranged to meet the B.T.C. chaps off their trains at 1-30pm so turned that down. As had arranged to meet Huff in the afternoon that put paid to that for the day. Had a long session with Huff and Bryer until after five then made our way to Bridgend where we had booked up hotel accomodation. (Cardiff full up owing to meeting of the British Association.) Had a meal at local Cafe then went to Tondu to see the evidence, that had been kept there of the tests carried out at that place in March and May. Back to Bridgend by bus thence to bed.

Caught 6-20 am Bridgend next morning to Cardiff, 9-0 am to Queens St. 9-35 am to Pontypridd. Connection thence to Abercynon, and connection thence to Aberdare. We crossed over to the High Level station and walked the line back to Mountain Ash then back to Cardiff where we arrived about 4-0 pm. On Thursday we rang up Alwyn Jones again and fixed an appointment for 12-00 noon. (Dangerous time.) Caught the 9-15 am Queen St to Caerphilly than walked in the direction of Penrhos Jcn turned off round the triangle at Aber Jcn, called at Aber Jcn Yard then returned on the diesel to Cardiff. When we got back we saw Jones, who took us on a tour of Marland House (Equivalent to Transom House) showed us all the offices which as yet are mostly uninhabited. At 1-00 p.m. he proposed lunch and took us to the Park Hotel where L.C. Barron was waiting. Barron is Staff Assistant to Stevens. They stood us a rather slap up lunch and insisted on giving 100% entertainment, Jones took the opportunity to say how badly they wanted people from London with Headquarters experience to come to the Divisional Office, The event finished by Barron driving us back to Queen St to pick up our bags and thence to Cardiff General for the 4-00 pm. As usual the main object of the meeting was lost. We shall have to see him again (say about 8~0am). Friday I had a session with Pattisson, and that completed an eventfull week. Well there it is again for the time being. Hope you are both in good trim. Love from us all.

*”Breakfast was late, waaa waaa!”

**Similar properties with the identical footprint in the same road are now going for over £500,000.

***One can only hope that mocking the efforts of a four year old gave him some kind of satisfaction, otherwise there seems little reason for doing it.

Thursday 8th September, 1960

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1960 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

[Alec’s letter, presumably of Sunday 4th September, has not survived. NB: for a change, Leonard is writing on plain white foolscap.]

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for June’s letter received on Friday last and Alec’s on Tuesday this week and not forgetting Susan’s splendid effort at drawing. Your week’s leave was a proper ‘washout’ and all of you must have had a terrible time coping with the many preparations for base of garage. Reminds me of time Don & Geoff came to Clevedon to build shed. They had a week’s leave and every minute had to be used or the job could not have been completed. The first day (Sunday) it poured so everything was turned out of front room and the sizing and cutting of timber was done there. We hope none of you had any after effects consequent on working in such weather.

Note from June’s letter you had a trip to wembley on the Monday and did a bit of shopping also a trip to Richings Park then later in week a long run to Westcliffe on Sea with June’s Father & Mother – how nice for them to be able to get away together for once – expect they enjoyed the day out even if not suited regarding bungalow. The map I have of the area shows Hadleigh but not Westcliffe. Which way did you go? Query north of London then South East. We hope they can get fixed up soon as that will be one worry off their minds and what a relief it will be to get away from the shop* and district.

Turning to Alec’s letter again I imagine he was glad to get back to work this week for a rest. I used to feel like that after a good week on the garden in the old days. Note position re: vacancy applications but no doubt you will keep us advised of any developments. Heard this week that Saunders of Yatton is going to Bridgwater (Spl. A) and that Norman Allen had an interview for two jobs at Transom House yesterday – had to see Hallen and Arthur Price.

Yes the bellringing is quite good fun and last Saturday at Portishead we had 10/- each for our trouble. Only two of the regular Portishead ringers were available and they were most glad of outside assistance. Our next one here at the Old Church is on Monday Oct. 3rd – wedding at St. Peters and bells at Old Church. The Old Church at the moment is upside-down, roof off (temporary galvanised sheeting to keep rain out) part of inside sealed off and piano being used in place of organ. All this due to renovations being carried out consequent on work of death watch beetle. Now feared that damage worse than first anticipated and estimated for.

Our house too is upside-down this week as we have Frank James and his assistant in repapering and repainting Hall & staircase. Fortunately since Monday weather has been grand & we can keep doors open & let paint dry quicker and incidentally to let some of the smell out.**

Assume by now you have completed minutes of meeting and had another trip to Cardiff. Presumably progress being made with the scheme in hand for Cardiff area.

Have you heard from Geoff and family since they returned from Italy? Should have been home again sometime yesterday.

Had a line from Don yesterday to say that Mrs Elston (Exeter) died on Sept 1st and that Joan and he went to funeral on Monday. Mrs Elston was a very great friend of Grandma Atkins as I expect you may remember.

Don & Joan are coming up to dinner on Sunday 18th inst. – in style presumably in the new Countryman. Have not told him yet that we have changed cars.*** Your LTA 259 now safely garaged in St Andrew’s Drive and cannot be moved again until it is covered by your Insurance. Quite safe where it is and in the dry. Radio Licences are not transferable hence the desire to renew in your name. We seldom used it when out in car and shall not miss it in the future. Must admit though that if anyone out for a picnic like you were at Richings Park it could be very enjoyable. Query any moves regarding your present car GJO 120?

Shall have about ten pints of elderberry wine in due course and you must have a bottle or two later on. An afraid it is too late now for you to think of getting any berries. The orange wine seems to be maturing all right but a little on the ‘sharp’ side at the moment – more sugar in due course – hope to bottle about nine pints.

Managed to cut grass on Monday but it was hard work even for the motor mower.

Bad luck on football pool effort – obviously wrong week to get an all correct line as you say – still the permutation is good.

Have now passed the 1 cwt mark with tomatoes and quite a number still on the plants to ripen. Runner beans practically finished except for a few odd pounds but I shall have several hundred for seed. Broccoli now turning in and even a few savoys are formed in the seed bed. There has been an unmistakeable sign of Autumn in the mornings down here this week and some fog but yesterday and again today we have had glorious sunshine all day and I’ve been able to get on with hedge cutting – the ground is still much too wet to get on.

A lot of work going on next door now-a-days – somebody there most of the time painting or hammering until 10.0 p.m. nightly. Today an electric cooker was taken in and fixed by Electricity Coy.

Susan made a very good drawing on her own – how did they react to the work being done in the rain last week? Or were they otherwise occupied? Note Pauline was with you part of the time so no doubt Aunty Pauly had a rough time.****

Have asked Don if any more cider available. How did your neighbours like the lot you took back?

Note you may be going Cardiff again next week and if possible will make Clevedon for a short visit. Of course we shall be delighted but, if you can, let us know in good time so I can meet you at station.

Mother has just picked up June’s letter and said she is going to reply later to look out June.*****

Not much more to tell you this time – hope you are all keeping well and that this break in the weather will enable Susan & Carol to get outdoors again.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.

Mum & Dad

*There do not appear to be any photos of the shop – at least, I haven’t found any. I remember it as being narrow and dark, with an odd little triangular garden filled with nettles. I was told as a child that it was being bulldozed ‘to make way for an extension to the runway at Heathrow’, although a quick look at the map shows this to be patently ridiculous. It was clearly bulldozed at some point in the 1960s-1980s, though, as the address is now a branch of Aldi.

**Anyone familiar only with modern paint can have no real idea of how much paint – even emulsion – used to stink in the 1960s. It was foul, and it took a very long time to go away!

***This one-upmanship over cars is a seriously unattractive trait IMHO, but mercifully not genetic; as long as a car does what you need it to do, who cares what bells and whistles it’s got? (Although I must admit heated seats sound more attractive as one gets older.)

****Because looking after children is such an imposition. Good job there are women about to do it.

*****And yet more disrespect towards women; clearly a letter from Eva couldn’t have any value whatsoever and is something to be avoided if possible. The self-importance and belittling comments about other people get very old very quickly, don’t they?