Tag: Peter

Tuesday 29th September, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Just a quick line to thank you very much for your letter received this morning and to confirm our journey to Ruislip on Thursday the 1st prox. to arrive during the early afternoon. You evidently had a busy weekend with the fencing and this will be one item to inspect when we arrive. Have not done anything to the main fence here to date and shall start next week weather permitting. The detached house is being completed and it will be necessary to have fence in position as quickly as possible although I am not aware if the place has been sold.

Noted you were off duty yesterday in order to take Susan out to Mount Vernon and good to know she will not be wanted there again for a twelvemonth. Does she have to continue to wear glasses?

By this time you will have heard from Mrs Baker of her holiday here. We hope she reached home safely and not too tired after such a long journey. I was going to get a couple of records for the girls this morning but as they did not let us know this item must be dealt with after our arrival that possibly on Friday or Saturday. If it is your night for Radio Club on Friday Alec please do not put it off because we are coming up. Have only just thought about this.

Have been busy here yesterday and today in trying to set out the shape of proposed rockery. Looks a bit flat but when soil put in the spaces the picture improves a little. Paving slabs all down now and I must say it looks a nice job and will ensure a clean walk to garage and greenhouse. Have cleaned car this afternoon but not polished it.

Peter’s car still out of commission then apparently. Mrs Baker tells us he uses a bicycle in these circumstances to get to and from work. Bad luck you could not have his assistance on the holes again.

No more just now. Looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.

Mum and Dad.

P.S. Have it in mind to return to Clevedon on Monday 5th October. 

Sunday 26th July, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

[N.B.: a letter from Leonard, presumably dated Wednesday 22nd July 1964, is missing from the collection.]

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Once more I have to report we have had no letter yet this week, but can of course reply to your last which was received here last Monday. With luck we shall receive your latest tomorrow. Also with luck things will be back to normal for next and subsequent weeks. As you remark in your letter, there is always something to delay post these days, and the service is not what it was. Unions to these days have little compunction in upsetting the general public to get what they want, in fact upsetting the public by withholding their normal services seems to be the main method of attack. They always try to hold their strikes when they will do most damage – for instance the railwaymen (N.U.R.) at or about bank holiday times or Christmas.*

We are all keeping fairly well here with the minimum of aches and pains. We hope you are both okay too. You remark that the West Country have their usual traffic holdups, and we saw on the TV last night that the big holdups have started for the period just prior, during and after the Bank Holiday. You also say about rain. We have not had any of that for quite some time now, and in fact the weather here has been really glorious. In the city of course it becomes like a grease spot, and it is most unpleasantly humid, but here it has been very nice, and I am glad to say the weather this weekend so far has been extremely good. A bit too good yesterday as during the afternoon I got down to doing that bit of concreting in the front garden. Admittedly it was not a big job come up but unfortunately Peter still had the barrow and, until he turned up when the job was almost complete, I had to cart everything about in buckets and bowls. I have had a look at it this morning, and it looks as if it will be alright. Unfortunately the stuff dried as soon as it laid, and I had to ask the girls to stand in front of it to shade it from the sun.**

Not a bad deal with the foreman to get that lot of already mixed cement. Could have done with that here and would have saved a lot of time and effort. Nice of Hewitt and Aston to come down and watch you at work. Must have been a temptation to offer them a spade or trowel, but might not have gone down well. Perhaps it is the homemade wine they like.

Note the rearrangement of the staging in the greenhouse, and that you now have the light fixed. Gradually getting things done, and by the sound of it the bulk of the work is finished. Of course the garden needs to be dealt with, but I expect you will be doing something towards that in the Spring. Your polythene sheeting sounds okay as a base for the gravel, but is there not a risk of the lower sections of the gravel getting sour? In most gardening books they stress that good drainage must be provided, and were this not so you would have concreted the base in any case, and not need polythene at all.

Cornish still up to his tricks then. Pity he has nothing to do to occupy his time, then he would not be able to get in people’s hair.

Very sorry to hear that Don was so rough and that you had paid a visit under these circumstances. I hope the news is a bit better now, but unless something is done very quickly I cannot see any change for the better is likely. If the summer weather as well as the winter weather upset him then a drastic remedy has to be found or he will not maintain the strength or the will to fight it. I wonder if the asthma is really hay fever or another allergy? If the former then trips out in the country in the car can do more harm than good. Let us know how matters now stand.

I was very pleased to learn that Bushell had passed his test. Many would have given up after so many failures. Perhaps these failures were due to overconfidence – who knows? Anyway he has his license now, and can do his driving openly. Interesting to learn that he has in mind an old type A40. Pretty cheap these days but so are cars of much later vintage. However he knows his pocket best. Had the clutch done on ours this week, and the exhaust secured, and the steering tightened up. The damage created a bit of a draft***, but it was a good job done, and the car feels much better to handle.

Not an awful lot of activity on the building site this end this week although the end house down the hill is growing up fairly rapidly. The drains have been put in and this involved digging a long trench level with the front of our houses. This was very deep and to my mind very dangerous for the children who would not keep off it. A poor attempt was made to shield it at night, but that would never have stopped me let alone a local herbs.

The zinnias in the lean-to are now opening into flower and are magnificent plants, but those in the garden have hardly moved since planted out, and are in fact still only about three or four inches high. Everything else growing quite well both inside and out in the garden.

Went over to the school on Tuesday piloted by Susan to see an exhibition of the work. There were very many miniature gardens in trays, bowls etc. made by the children and lots of cakes, pies, sandwiches, cheese straws etc. Drawings and paintings by the score, and essays and books all over the place. I could not hope to see in detail all there was to see, but it seems a far better display of work than I ever remember seeing at Weston. Paid a call in the science room where a few children were deputed to explain certain experiments with optics, and electricity. One group of girls had Bunsen burners and were showing expansion of metals, while another was showing refraction of light through a prism. Another boy demonstrated to me the conductivity of metal by operating an electric bell from a battery. When he put a piece of metal in circuit the bell rang but when he put a piece of wood or plastic in the bell did not ring. Thanked him for the information.

All the gardens made by the pupils were judged in respect to each year and out of something like 60 of her year Susan got third prize****. She is quite pleased and has written to say so in her letter. The garden was the little one I think she started when you were here by putting a couple of small cacti and some mind-your-own-business in a bowl. Together with a couple of small primulas it has grown quite nicely.

Got a couple of bags of cement for 5/- [roughly £6.25 in 2024 money] a bag last week and together with half a yard of sand at 30/- shillings [£37.50] completed the path in front garden. Had the sand dumped on the grass out the front as could not let it block the driveway. Peter had promised to come over in the afternoon and ring the barrow. Without the barrow I had to move the sand into the garden or the kids would have made sure work of it. This meant putting it into June’s wash boiler***** and carting it in manually. June helped with bucket-loads. No sign of Peter just after lunch so started on the job. Mixed all the stuff in the garage and when ready carted it out in an old washing-up bowl. All the time I had the hose in front garden going full blast to keep stones and rubble moist. As fast as hose was moved stones dried out. I was on the last mix when Peter arrived with the barrow, so let him mix the last one up and took it a bit easier from then on. Feeling a bit stiff this morning, but job now done and out of the way so worth it on balance.

Well that is about all for this week. As I say I hope you are both well and hope that the news from Lyng improves. Love to you both once again. Alec 

*Well, yes, the point being to remind the general public that their services are not only useful but also necessary, and that life would so much more difficult if those services were withdrawn completely. Alec lived a very privileged life and it never seems to have occurred to him that some people had to fight for things he enjoyed as a matter of course – for example safe working conditions, reasonable hours, appropriate pay, pension provision, holidays, etc. etc. etc. None of these would have been available had not some union activist somewhere demanded them, and been prepared to withdraw labour until the matter could at least be discussed.

**If this is true, rather than one of Alec’s silly jokes, it just goes to show what a model father he wasn’t.

***He means it was expensive.

****I won a pen exactly like one of these, which I was immensely proud of. I was recently given another one just like it, but in the intervening sixty years hadn’t seen a similar one anywhere at all!

*****Note that this is specifically *hers* and not a joint possession, or one belonging to the household. Ingrained casual sexism, a real artefact of its time.

Sunday 5th April, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday 29th March, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Once more back to the routine letter after a very short but pleasant weekend with you. Thanks very much, and also for letter received on Saturday. Not too worried about non-delivery on the Friday. We had a delivery that day, but your letter although posted in time did not make it. Glad you like the shirt, and hope it fits okay.

Yes I got back safely all right, but after some trip. They said at Bristol that owing to engineering work in Box Tunnel we would be 15 minutes late arriving at Paddington. This of course involved us in going round by Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, and Thingely Junction, a section of line I have not been over for many years. We arrived at Swindon about the time we should have arrived at Reading. At Wantage after two stops, the second rather a long one, we were shunted onto the Down line, and went over the wrong line right into Foxhall Junction. The engineers had a trench-digging machine at work on the Up Main, and it had dug a trench about a foot wide and two feet deep all the way from Didcot to Wantage. This was the last of the tangible delays and we seemed to be running very much out of course, but surprisingly enough we were only about 20 minutes late at Paddington, this no doubt due to recovery time. Found Eileen still here when I arrived very tired at number 84, and she left shortly afterwards. It seems she enjoyed herself, but I do not know what she did whilst here.

Yes the girls certainly liked their books, and Susan has read a great deal of hers and some of Carol’s for her. The dictionary in particular was very well received, and already put to good use.

I think this is the first and last Annual General Meeting for Susan for the time being. After all the palaver, getting there and getting her collected, she said for about three-quarters of the time they were making speeches which she did not understand, and only at the end did they show a film or something. However she was in the mood to say she had missed something if we had not let her go so now she knows.

We went to the school on the Monday evening, and arrived there at about 7:15 p.m. before the 7.20 p.m. allocation. There were two or three people already in the room, and the teacher was attending to one couple. We signed in on the blackboard, and were taken in turn, and in the meanwhile wandered round and looked at all the work on boards and in desks. Susan’s desk was a proper muddle. We had a short talk about ten minutes or so with Susan’s teacher who appeared to be quite pleasant and capable. She told us nothing we did not already know about Susan, but it is reassuring to hear our own opinions voiced by the only other person who has as much contact with her as we have. It seems she is very good at reading, writing and composition, but not so good at arithmetic. Her behaviour seems to have improved a little, but she still tends to want to discuss matters with the teacher on an adult/equal basis, rather than the true position. (The teacher’s words, and a fair summing up.)

Glad you liked the girls’ letters this week. Carol is now making an impression on the reading, although she cheats a lot by memorising passages, and tries to kid you that she is reading them.

Returning to your improvements, I must say they make a vast to difference to the old place, and I am sure the kitchen when completed and the new cooker installed will be fine. I gather the work by Mr James is finished, but what about the cooker, is that in position yet? Our efforts here not going too satisfactorily. We spent Friday and Saturday putting on the gloss paint on the woodwork, and that is in not in too bad a shape. Yesterday also we started to put the paint on the ceiling and walls, but ran out of paint in the afternoon, and we cannot get further supplies without ordering. We tried five shops that sell Dulux paint, but none of them stock the particular type we want so we have to leave the job unfinished with two days of the holiday left going begging. All of the ceiling has been done, and the wall and the drop all the way down from the door, round via the fireplace as far as the window, but the stretch under the window, and the wall next to the hall remains to be done. The whole room looks a lot cleaner, but will have to be repainted before long. We have ordered a new carpet for the room, but the only design in the quality of carpet we wanted which was acceptable still does not match up with the colour content of the furniture etc. However can always sit down with our eyes closed I suppose. We have returned the cotton carpet back to the girls’ room and that was done this morning. June now busy straightening that room out.

We took the girls to Ealing yesterday to spend a couple of days with Grandma. Uncle Pete has gone to Bridgend to see his girlfriend for the Easter holiday. His car is out of action as he is having some work done so he had to go by train. We gather he was up at 6 a.m. Saturday. Our car is still untouched by Jackson. He has not been near the place since he said he would call. I can manage to do short trips but shall not attempt anything other than local runs until the accelerator is fixed. Hope your car proving what you wanted. I must say it is a nice looking car, and obviously in very good condition. For the price I am sure you have a bargain.

Note you have moved the bench from the garage. That must have taken some doing. Have had a clear out of the lean-to this morning as painting came to a full stop. While at it I made up some cement, and went round inside and outside with it, filling in the gaps and in between the bricks and the bottom woodwork of the lean-to. I rather fancy it is a little warmer in there already, but it could be imagination. Thinned out the accumulated pots and tins, and have put outside the pots for cleaning. It is to be hoped that the girls leave them alone.

I hope you find Don and Joan in good order when you make your visit next month, and hope you will give them our kind regards.

Heel having fun and games with his roof then. Frank James is doing fine with the work from Tennyson Avenue.

I hope you can get an earlier reply from Town Clerk about your plans. I believe the maximum normal length of time involved is about (just under) two months. Plans are usually submitted at the next Council Meeting following receipt by the Clerk, and if a meeting has just been held, the next available date is in about one month’s time, and then you have to wait for a reply. I was lucky with mine, as by chance, my application was received about one day before a Council Meeting, with the result that I heard fairly quickly.

By the way we were lucky on Thursday with the weather as it was a beautiful sunny and warm day here for the first day of our holiday, but every day since has been cold with a piercing wind. There are frequent short showers of rain, but no sun. I had it in mind to do a spot of outdoor work in the garden, but will have another think tomorrow. Les next door busy putting his place to rights, and a nice job he seems to be making of it.

No activity in the loft for a while, but as I now have the old carpet from the girls’ room shall have to see about putting it down. Next to come are the armchairs, cocktail cabinet etc.

Can never seem to get authentic news of Ray Mogg. Most rumours have to be sifted for the truth. Some house by the sound of it. I shall be interested to hear more.

So there is to be a Launderette in the town. I suppose Mum now wants to sell the bath as much easier to hire a machine.

Glad to be able to report that all healthy here once again. Our new fire in the dining room is quite adequate for the job, and much more heat available than the last one. Jack Stevens fitted it on the Friday I was with you, and we have since settled his bill for the lot. Quite reasonable. Reverting to dining room fire, the fitting of it made quite a mess in the dining room wall, with the result that the dining room now wants to redecorating. And on ad infinitum.

Well not much more to pass on this week as you had most of the news when I was down. By the way I suppose you realise that after mentioning about Mrs Richings’ present for the girls we came away without it. I clean forgot about it, but the girls did not, but fortunately they soon got diverted by the books and that was the last we heard of it. So will close once more with love from us all.

Sunday 23rd February, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for paper, weekly letters and windfall, more on the latter later on, but first to your letters.

Weather here this morning is rain after several very cold days. Had thought that last night was going to be particularly cold but it turned out very warm during the night and this morning it is a bit on the grey side and everything is dripping.

Your next item, re: health needs a bit of writing up. First I well recall the Trowbridge winter and the visitors looking through the window, but of course cannot remember looking through the hospital window at Keynsham. I cannot recall anything at all of Keynsham, but quite a deal about Westbury. Glad you have been able to report a great improvement in your own state of health, and hope that soon you will reach the level that satisfies you.

Good news about the blood pressure, and the doctors forecast that you will soon be well, but what is the idea of the chest x-ray? Very pleased indeed to hear that you have been tucking into the brandy with some effect, and shall have to see what can be done about that. Hope it was a drop of good stuff.

No news of Mother’s state of health this week, and assume that she is now recovered from her colds. Here we have had Carol rough again. On Friday she was mopey all day, and in the evening she kept cough cough cough and eventually it became bilious. Every 10 minutes or so in the night she kept crying out and disturbing Susan so by the time I got to bed, June had decided to take her in with her, and I went into the back room. June was more or less kicked to death in the night by Carol who twisted and turned and altogether not much sleep was got. Next morning however she seemed as right as ninepence, apart from runny nose, and was yeah-yeahing all over the place. She was not particularly popular for a while.

Have had a deal of trouble with left (good?) leg, varicose vein which started about two years ago now aching furiously and deadening thigh so much that it is almost always cold. This is particularly noticeable after sitting for a while. Saw Doctor about it on Friday, and he said it was a bad one, and gave me a letter for specialist over at Uxbridge (where June went). Have to go over to see him on Friday, but Doctor here said it would probably mean an operation to have it removed.

Both June and I have slight colds, probably got from Carol, but Susan seems alright for a while.

Saw Tony Notley during the week, and he said likely Western Region contenders for S.M. at Bristol would be Saunders and Snow, but he thought that the job might well go to someone off the region. I think both Snow and Saunders are sufficiently ambitious for the job, but have a feeling that Snow has probably made himself a nice niche at Reading and might be content to stop there. No further news about the other jobs that Liverpool Street. We had our letters of confirmation from Pearson Armstrong on Wednesday.

We hear that one of the unlucky contenders for the job has changed his line of attack, and now has applied for the Doncaster job as his No. 1 priority on the closed list. I am sure he does not want to go there, but cannot afford to get left behind. It is most unfortunate for him.

You have got a hope that our immediate boss will give us any information on the subject. It was because of a lack of informed guidance on the situation and procedures that we had such a near thing. I should say that the unlucky chap who now aims at Doncaster is the protégé of our immediate boss, and it might be said in some quarters that it was in both their interests for us to miss the boat. It was only by rumour that we knew a situation existed, and all enquiries fail to ascertain the correct procedure to deal with it. However if these circumstances arise again we shall know how to deal with them.

Do not know what course of action Geoff is planning these days. He has not mentioned his hopes for a long time. Maybe he has none, or perhaps it is because we have not seen or heard from him for some time.

Glad Bushell has been able to help you with move. You did not answer when I asked if there was any help I could give, or if job is in small lots (accept moving garage and greenhouse). It is possible the help may be of more use later on when you are reconstructing. I believe I am right that garage and greenhouse are being moved by builders men. What else have you to get behind the Iron Curtain?

By the way Mr Gray now fit and well again. Sorry about Mr Pope. It looks worse than at first thought.

A bit more trouble between Americans and locals at West Ruislip Station reported in the weekly paper. Looks as if this is the battleground. Should think it is only on a small scale though.

I do not like the idea of a rail journey for Easter, but in view of amount of possible road traffic and stabling accommodation at your end, it looks as if that will be the method if we come down. I must say I could do with the spell, but pity to take leave if whether or not yet sufficiently warm. We shall see however, and will give you a bit of notice. It is one thing that if I were down there I could give you a hand. Expect you are sorry at the breakup of the estate, and so are we, but if the offer were made a thousand times, the correct decision would be the one you have made. The money and what it can give you is worth more to you than the land at the present time. Gather the deal went off without a hitch, and that you now have the £sd in the bank.

With regards to your cheque, we are very pleased to be able to share in your good fortune. We would not have been human if we had overlooked the possibility that you might think of us, and you have done, but it still comes as a pleasant and welcome surprise. The amount is most generous, and without quoting Micawber, it will help to remove some of anxiety of living straight from the salaried check. We hope to invest £200*, and catch up on ourselves a bit so to speak with the balance including the holiday as you mentioned. We are in for a bit of expense straight away as hot water tank has started to leak. Never out of the wood it seems. Well as I say very grateful thanks for the finance, and hope you are able to get the things you want to.

Not surprised you keep clear of Cornish. I shall be interested to learn how he blues his share.

I did not see Ray Mogg. I should imagine Mrs Mogg thinks that London is about as far across as Clevedon**. Thought he would find enough to get on with without coming over to see me. He would have been welcome had he arrived at time no meetings were on, but unlucky if not.

Mrs Baker is with us this weekend. You will recall the sad events of a year ago, and we thought it would be a good idea for her to come to us. Peter is away at camp with the Territorials (now going as paratrooper***) so no one to stop for. Mrs Baker will come with us to Headstone Lane. She has not met Geoff or Stella yet.

Nothing much to report on the local news front this week. Susan went down to dancing on her own this week as we stayed in with Carol. She wanted to go and return on her own so we let her. She has changed her Brownie pack – with some fuss and bother – to the one at the Parish Church, and now has not so far to go. I was a little fed up with taking car over every Wednesday and they expected her to go to Church Parade over there too often for my liking. Here everything is much more handy, and can go under own steam.

You mentioned snowdrops and crocus out at Devonia. We have nothing in flower here but things in lean-to are doing quite well. Fuchsia is alive and sprouting out with green and there are a number of geraniums that escaped the frost. Have not got round to putting any seeds in the boxes yet, but will have a go at that soon. Temperature stays up quite well now, and think that lean-to is proof against all but the most severe frosts. Still have paper up in front of the glass and that will have to stop for a while.

Well must leave a line or so for June so will close and look forward with interest to next from your end. Once again many thanks for all, and love from us all this end. 

*Equivalent of £5,000 in 2024 money, suggesting that the total sum may have been £500/£12,500 or thereabouts.

**Because of course all women are stupid.

***Which was what did for him in the end: later in life he suffered a brain injury as a result of a parachuting accident and refused appropriate hospital treatment afterwards. His personality completely disintegrated from this time on, eventually leading to a complete break between him and certain other members of the family. Peter died during (but not, I think, *from*) the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sunday 12th January, 1964

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1964 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday 23rd July, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol,

The postman duly brought the weekly budget from you all for which many thanks, and we are very glad to hear that both Susan and Carol are all right again and hope they will keep going now for the rest of the summer. So Susan has now qualified to be a ‘Brownie’ and we think she must be very thrilled. No doubt she will tell us all about it went down here next month. In the meantime you will probably hear snatches of conversations with Carol telling her the details of their evenings out. It will surely get Carol interested in the movement.

Your remarks noted re: typewriter ribbon – probably correct – but I have never come across a ribbon quite as heavy with ink as the one you are using appears to be.

The weather over the weekend was great and again yesterday and to a lesser degree today the real summery weather has continued. It was much too hot both yesterday and today in the afternoons to do very much work outdoors but this morning I did manage to mow all lawns again and my word they wanted to doing. It is only about a week since I last went over them but the grass was certainly long today and in spite of the heat was a little moist.

Glad to hear your neighbour going on all right but he must have had a rough time in the operating theatre. Please give him our kind regards when next you see him and wish him a speedy recovery to normal health. One thing about it when he does get going again he will feel remarkably well and fit.

Glad to hear that Carol seems to be overcoming her car sickness – she should of course grow out of it as Susan did but it must be a bit disturbing to you all when you have this trouble en route anywhere by car. Obviously she did not like being left in the corridor when you visited the school. It would have been alright if Susan had been with her but she had more important things to do that night. We are looking forward to them coming down with you both in just over three weeks from now. I suppose we must now hope that this good weather will not be all used up by then. Certainly those people now away are having some of the best of it.

Very pleased to hear of the agapanthus in flower but we did not have any flowers halfway up the stem, only at the top.

Sorry I mentioned Cook’s work – it seems to have been in the abstract. No doubt things will sort themselves out in due course.

Your gardening report noted and we do hope you will be able to have a feed of broad beans of your own picking. Your colleague Unwin evidently grows his own vegetables – where does he live? Have an idea you told me once but I have forgotten. Very kind of him to bring in a little surplus.

Yes I am glad I was able to get some blackcurrant wine going for there will be no cherry wine this season by the look of it. The birds have stripped all three trees and every time I go down the garden I throw a lump of earth into the first of the trees and about forty birds rise at once only to wait for me to leave the vicinity to return to their activities. There is a possibility I may be able to make some loganberry wine. Mum says the bush is absolutely crowded with them and she is having some for bottling and for stewing (they are lovely stewed with sugar and cream) and I shall probably get enough for at least a gallon of liquid. Have never heard of elderberry pie and do not think I should like to tackle it as it must be very bitter. This is a bit early for the berries yet but may have some for a brew later.

Noted you will not be bringing down any wine. We can have some of the stuff I have been hoarding. I still have that elderflower wine made several years ago – perhaps we could try it again? Yes you must bring camera with you for some snapshots. Could wish we had a coloured film at this moment for our carnations in the oblong on the lawn are just one mass of colour. Mum counted, I think, twelve different colours and they are all out in full flower. Really a picture.

Noted you have a party on Saturday for the girls. Hope they have a good time and that the weather is kind. Makes all the difference if they can play outdoors.

I think you can delete any idea of having a Bakewell tart whilst you are down. Mum made two or three experimentally for the T.G. but did not enter for the competition. Apparently there were only six entries so Mrs Hewitt did not have a very big job.

Our soft fruit is nearing the end of the season and I think Mum is ready to sing the doxology. Next will be the plums but these as with apples are bigger to handle and a less number are required to weigh 1lb. The first of the tomatoes is turning colour so this means that the others are not far behind. It was the 13th July when I first picked last year so you can see we are behind this time.

We went down to Lyng last Thursday and it was a very good day – lovely and sunny. Left here 12:45 p.m. and arrived home 6.45 p.m. Don had finished up that day at Durston by taking his half day. He started with the new firm of printers the following morning and we had his first report yesterday morning. I give below an extract from his letter so you can see what he is doing in his own language: –

About 60 people in the Works and another 20 in the office. I am not on proof-reading except for very small stuff but I’m part of the production team to keep the machines going. My part roughly is as follows: – a firm sends say an order for 50,000 labels the same as last time with alterations enclosed. I have to run the previous order to earth, stick an old label on a piece of paper, make the necessary corrections and then start making out a sort of questionnaire which covers the whole progress of the order through the Works, the final entry being how much the firm has to pay. Before this form comes to me someone has registered it and attached a card estimating the hours that works staff will take and what machine is to be used for the printing and also decide how many runs for the machine e.g. for 50,000 labels the setup might be for four labels so that the machine only runs 12,000 times. Everything goes on this form – I have to show the sort of paper to be used, how many inks and the colours and how the printed labels shall be bundled up for dispatch!

Don says all the staff are most helpful stop they have thousands of orders and their filing system is marvellous. Incidentally they are looking forward to our visiting them some time when you are here and unless you have any other idea I suggest we go down on the Wednesday afternoon and leave after Don gets home at about 5:30 p.m.. He leaves work at 5 pm and takes about 15 minutes to reach Lyng.

I’m afraid there is very little to report from the home front again this week. I did notice the runner beans are forming and one is at least 10 inches long and several 6 and under. Shall soon be able to pick. The broad beans are nearly over but we have had a good crop.

I emptied the pond as just mentioned last week and then partly refilled with the hose. After a couple of days I filled up to the level it normally stood when it last was last in use with fish etc. and so far is his holding and we are keeping our fingers crossed. The birds are dusting themselves in the flower border next the water and scattering the earth into the water which is not good. Have had to use some of the wire pea guards to protect the earth but even so they seem to find their way in. It is really my fault. I wanted to have some good soil in there so put it through a sieve. It would have been better if I had left the soil lumpy. The next problem is how to arrange the surround to the best advantage but shall leave that until after you have been down when perhaps you can make a few suggestions to go with the others.

I don’t know about water lilies but yesterday I wrote to the editor of the ‘Field’ for certain information particularly for information about any publications there may be regarding the stocking of ornamental ponds with fish, and plants also water snails etc.

Referring to Don’s new job again he says it is pretty certain he will get a rise after he has been there for a few weeks. Incidentally the reply from Exeter to his retirement notice was received by him in an unsealed envelope so you can guess he gave them a good ticking off to finish up with.

Now let’s get on to June’s letter. Sorry Peter has no spare days owing to him so that he could have brought Mrs Baker down and stopped a couple of days himself. I’m afraid it was our suggestion re: the Bank Holiday weekend*, this being the only available time before you come down on the 15th August but we do agree it is the worst time for road to travelling. Anyhow it will be much better later on in September and we shall be very pleased to meet Mrs Baker at Weston if she decides to travel that way.

What is this mention of Holland? Something up Alec’s sleeve for later dissemination? Wrong time of year for the bulbs.

Sorry to hear Mrs Baker still busy clearing up behind decorators – what a job. Presumably the girls will still be on holiday until the middle of September so that you can go over and stay at Ealing? Any news of your lean-to yet? And how will they deliver? Query by road**. As you did not mention it assume you have not done anymore to the base for lean-to. Good job to get Mr Gray onto when he comes out of hospital.

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

*At the time, the first Monday in August would have been the Bank Holiday – in this case, it would have been Monday 5th. The move to change it to the last Monday in August did not occur until a couple of years later, and in some places there were actually two Bank Holidays in August for a while. The move was probably intended to spread the days out a bit more, as otherwise there was a long winter gap from early August to late May/early June (Whitsun) with no Bank Holidays. Making May Day a public holiday and moving the August Bank Holiday to the end of the month did reduce the gap a bit, but probably not enough! N.B. there is a lot of confusion between ‘Bank Holidays’ and ‘Public Holidays’ which are more or less the same thing, but not identical. Christmas – which is of course always on the same date – and Easter, which moves about – are not technically Bank Holidays although there may be Bank Holidays attached to them. Confused? You will be!

**It’s difficult to imagine what alternative Leonard had in mind, maybe a helicopter?  But it’s possible he thought the thing would arrive by rail and have to be collected from the nearest depot, which even in 1963 was beginning to be a very outdated procedure.

Sunday 17th March, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for the letter once more. It duly arrived on Friday. I have a magazine for you at the office and will try to send it off soon. Since last writing to you, we have been over to Ealing a time or two, and June has been over in the week. Mrs Baker seems to be bearing up very well. Affairs are it still in a bit of a mess, and no funds other than the pension coming in. However the prospect is promising. Mrs Baker has decided to stay on at number 17 and see what can be made of the place.

Peter has had a crash in his car, and fortunately the other car came off worst. Peter’s brakes failed and he ran into the back of the car in front. His car has been repaired but the other one (which contained an expectant mother) has had to have complete rear remodelled. There were no casualties but some apprehension was felt for the woman. It seems that Peter has to pay the first £25 [equivalent of £635 in 2023] on his policy so that is a cloud for a start. To follow is a worse one, as sometime last month his lights failed at Iver and he had to leave car to get a torch. Whilst he was away the police dropped anchor on the car and knocked him for parking without lights. When he reported to the police station next day to explain the situation it was ascertained that he should have had the car tested the week previously, so they nabbed him for that as well. As a result he has a summons to appear before the Slough magistrates. Of course this is all of great help to the financial situation.*

The girls have not been too bad this week, but Carol is in the wars now. Yesterday she was really suffering from the effects of her booster injection from Dr Lambert on Friday. When I got home on Friday she was complaining very tearfully he that her arm hurt. She went to bed but was kept awake crying with the pain. All day yesterday she was walking around bent down with her chin on her boots and one arm clutched up to her side. I must say she looked very poorly indeed. She was not to be left however when we went out to the shops or when June went over to Ealing on the train. She didn’t sleep too badly last night and today that are signs of the pain having abated although she does not move her arm at all.

The marble clock has stopped a couple of times in the week but it is going again now and seems o.k.

Thanks for sending the pattern of your wallpaper for us to see. It seems quite nice. From its appearance I can imagine the difficulty you have been getting the match from sheet to sheet. It must be a good deal of waste as you say.

I think the double glazing idea is a good one, but should imagine it is rather expensive. Best way of double glazing I know is to have another set of windows outside like a porch or conservatory. With luck we will get ours this year.

Have you had any rain your end? We have had a lot here. I do not see it when in the office as I have an outside wall. My window opens (if it ever does) on the station. I have only had a couple of wet trips to the station and on one of them I took the car so cannot grumble.

So far we have not allocated any ground for the girls to plant their seeds in. We plan to take down the wire fencing we had at the bottom of the garden as being unsightly and redundant. This will give access to three sides of the square plot for planting purposes, and as we cannot do much with it they might as well have a part of that. I suppose you would like it all dug and ready for planting by the time you arrive. Only three weeks next Thursday. How the time flies. I have not heard what we shall have for Easter, but I expect it will be the Friday to the Tuesday. I shall have to have a day or two to go with it.

I see from your letter that today is the day you have fixed for the visit to Lyng. By the time you get this the visit will be over so hope you had a good journey.

The sky here overcast and signs are that it will rain soon. I must say things are a lot warmer and welcome. The chap down the bottom is pottering around his plot. I do not know what he is supposed to be doing, but he will be driven in by rain soon.

Last Sunday we visited June’s friends in West Drayton and all passed off without a hitch. Their kids are still short on manners, but our two are no angels when out.

I am very sorry to hear about Jessie’s husband’s brother. I do not think I met him although he must have been at the wedding. I am afraid I did not rate a recollection of many of the people who were there.

What is wanted for your new glasses? Do you want them for outdoors or indoors? Nice to have a trip to Lewis’s. The trouble with these big stores is that they make you envious for the things on offer which you know you cannot afford.

I hope your back payment of the tax will not cause a hole in the pocket. Some game to do that to you.

I do not know what closures are involved on the E.R. The main point of interest is what happens to Stratford Works (the Swindon on the E.R.). It seems there is a plan to close it down altogether which would cause great redundancy. So far as my job is concerned it is largely what I make it. there is not a lot of variety and is mainly confined to one room with few other contacts. The plain truth is that the E.R. H.Q. Work Study section has had its functions transferred to the line managers (who are jealously protecting them) and has not been told, or worked out what its new function in life ought to be. In short they have no work. Russell and Cook cannot touch on any subject under the jurisdiction of the line managers (in the traffic field) or the functional offices in the other fields and as the input of staff through the Work Study School is tailing off there is no scope there either. If they do not find a job to undertake soon I can see the staff being taken away either permanently or by secondment to other departments. As far as I am concerned they can do as they please. Having got on the bottom rung of the new scale, I am set for the next nine years with 5% increases per year if I keep out of trouble. Any move would be to my advantage as I am sure they would not ask me to move without a slight rise within my own scale.

I must remember to tell Geoff about the runner beans. Have not seen or spoken to him since before you came up.

A bit rough on the poor old horse to be still on hay. I suppose it will be a week or so before he gets any grass to eat, and then I expect he will keep it cropped short.

A good racket this of Mother’s, going to all these places and coming back with samples. When does she go to Littlewoods or William Hill?

Note you have finished at the papering and I’ll bet you’re glad. I must say that is a job I do not enjoy it all. Painting is o.k., but give the papering the professionals.

You hit on the main snag with fitted carpets that they wear all in one place. Unless you get a really good quality one you get the wear and the carpet is finished. The thoughts of these pale green cabbages. Could not fancy any of them they always put me off. We had some tinned runner beans in the week and they were not bad. June got a tin for me for Friday (as she could not think of anything else) and we had what was left over yesterday – cold**.

I expect the visitors who stop the work in the redecorating business are always welcome. Does the wine bottle come out too?

Well I see there is another good drawing from Susan to enclosed with this letter. She says it is a wedding. On the left is a nun, then a church, then the bride and groom. I do not know who the party is on the right – Susan says it is not the bride’s mother. Note horseshoes and such a in the foreground. It’s all there – just sufficient line to give the complete picture.

Well I have had a cup of coffee planked in front of me so will close and deal with it***. So for the time being, love from us all. 

*The tone of sympathy towards Peter in this paragraph is bewildering. He failed to maintain his vehicle in safe condition and drove it knowing it was not fit to drive, causing a potentially devastating accident to an expectant mother, and the police very rightly ‘nabbed’ him for disregarding the safety of other road users. In later life he ended up as the manager of a council vehicle depot, in charge of their maintenance facility, so it would be nice to see this as a ‘wake-up call’ which alerted him to his responsibilities – but Peter was always an arrogant swine and for a long time seemed to teeter on the brink of a potential criminal career.

**Ugh. Have I mentioned that June was an awful cook? Not to mention that she was obsessively parsimonious, despite there really being no need for it, for the rest of her life. She bought what was cheap and was desperate not to waste it – which, with food, is not always the safest option.

***It’s so tiring to see how ungracious and grudging he always is. He has kindly been brought a cup of tea, but says it is ‘planked in front of him’. Work colleagues are useless, other people’s children are rude, systems are set up to fail, those who want to be paid for their services are greedy, children are ill deliberately to upset their parents etc. etc. etc. I never remember him saying a spontaneous or generous thing in his life; he was always involved in some kind of perpetual battle, Alec v The World. The World was always going to get him in the end, so he set out to get it first. IMHO it’s far better to assume the best in people unless they show you otherwise, but what would I know? I’m only a child, after all…

Wednesday 18th October, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Just a few more lines to follow short note on Monday to say we had reached home safely. It was a lovely journey and we were able to enjoy the various landscapes enroute. Stayed at Andover for 35 minutes where we had a look around the shops and Mum made a few purchases including some sausages which proved to be some of the best I’ve ever tasted – made apparently by a local butcher. We spotted Stonehenge this time much better view being obtained on the homeward journey than coming up and apart from Andover we did not get out of car en route. 

Well now thank you all once again for a most enjoyable break from our normal routine. It was nice to be with you just for the long weekend and to hear Susan and Carol enjoying themselves – they are growing up fast. Now we have been over to the school entrance we can picture Susan leaving Mummy at the gate and trotting off inside and being met again at 3:30 p.m. 

Needless to repeat really, but we did enjoy the views taken on your holiday this year. What a wonderful thing to be able to look back on them in the years to come – the colours were grand. Expect you have since heard from your Mum and Dad June that they duly reached home alright last Saturday. It was very kind of them to come and spend the evening whilst we were with you and we were pleased to see them once more, also for Peter and Pauline to come along too*. A pity your sister could not manage it but I’m sure if you get the opportunity to show her she will be delighted with those holiday pictures especially the ones of the children. 

You are getting on with various improvements in house and garden – little by little does it and there is always something else to be done – we have not finished yet and I do not suppose we ever shall. The dahlias look nice and those you gave me are now in greenhouse drying off. 

We had heavy rain here Monday night and  this continued in storms on Tuesday with half a gale blowing as well. Yesterday (Tuesday) I pulled up the tomato plants in the bay just inside the greenhouse on the right hand side and brought in and planted there eleven more indoor chrysanths. Had to put boards on the garden to dig them out as ground was very wet.

Monday afternoon I was able to pick 4 or more pounds of tomatoes and Bill Aston came over yesterday for 3 lbs – Mum had the other pound for the house so we are waiting for more to ripen off. Apart from Aston have seen no one since we got home but Mum has seen Mrs Cornish. Understand it was very foggy here all day on Sunday visibility at times been poor.

The grass on lawns has grown a lot and needs cutting at first opportunity.

Have sampled one of the bottles of your wine – you can guess which? All mine were satisfactory on return, the grape wine still fermenting strongly. Some of the others I must rack off and store for future consumption – can get on with this when nothing at all can be done outdoors. Found a mouse in trap in garage when we got back but no further success this week so far. 

How did you get on at Reading on Monday? Mum has been busy on one or two jobs since Monday but she must tell you about them herself.  Shall soon be starting fires – had to have electric heater on these last couple of evenings. Weather has deteriorated rather suddenly and we can consider ourselves extremely fortunate in having such sunny days whilst with you. 

Hope the girls liked Wonderland. I looked for it at Ruislip (Forbuoys and Prangleys) without success but spotted it in Andover. It is evidently issued on Wednesdays. 

Well I think this is the lot for the present, hope you don’t feel too tired after our visit. Once again many thanks for a lovely time. with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for two very lovely little girls. Mum and Dad 

P.S. Your chrysanths (? Westfield Flame) in full flower – very nice.

*NB how carefully Leonard distinguishes here between Pauline-the-girlfriend and the other Pauline who is of course June and Peter’s sister. Pauline-the-girlfriend presumably didn’t last long as I have no recollection of her, but thought the world of Brenda Hawkeswood; the next girlfriend I remembered seeing was the one Peter ended up married to, but that wasn’t until 1967. I can only imagine that (a) five in a car would have been a squeeze back then or (b) the two Paulines didn’t get on, and Peter – being in possession of a penis – decided his needs took precedence over those of either of his sisters. It was ever thus.

Eva to the family on two thirds of Leonard’s third sheet of paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thank you very much for the nice holiday we had with you. The time passed all too soon and we are here with nose to grindstone once more. We had lovely weather didn’t we, they say here that the fog on the Sunday cleared about 5. We had one of the best drives home it was very nice country and I like Andover for shopping. The sausages (chipolata pork) were super. it was a small butchers halfway up the hill. We had a nerve to go into the station but nobody challenged us, expect they thought we were the superintendent and his wife!!!

Norman Bakers mother died suddenly while we were away or rather the day before and was buried on the Saturday only 63.

Dad has been busy getting in the chrysanths into the greenhouse, they are just coming into flower some in the ground and some in flower pots on the gravel. 

I have re-covered three pillowcases and one to go with the tick cut from featherbed,

 that makes my pillows decent looking. Also cut in half one of the curtains I used to put on the door and hung up in dining room at each end makes it a bit fuller. Can’t afford new ones yet. Also put the other door curtain in stairs window as there is a terrific draught in the winter.

Been busy gardening this afternoon nipping off the daisies. 

No more now lots of love again thank you for a nice time. From Mum and Dad.

At the bottom of this sheet a small drawing of two people in a very overgrown garden titled ‘Guess where BB’ on the back of the remaining sheet is a village with a tractor in the foreground and what may possibly be Stonehenge in the background…

Sunday 5th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for your last letter, on time as usual. Another enclosure from the girls this time but I do not know what is in the envelope. We too look forward to the post, and the girls are pleased to be allowed to leave the table to go and get the “Gardeners Gazette” as it is sometimes called.

The route you have received from the A.A. seems to be very much the same as the one that I followed on the way down only instead of passing through Maidenhead we went through Henley, Hope your visit to Heavitree goes off satisfactorily. Note you are having the car given a short servicing before you come up here, Had mine tested last Wednesday, and guess what – it failed. They refused a certificate on the grounds that the reflectors were the wrong colour (Orange ) and therefore illegal, and there was said to be insufficient reserve of travel in the handbrake. The reflectors have been attended to, but the brake will-be done this weak when I hope to have car tested again.

I had heard you tell the story about the walk at Martock many years ago, probably when I first joined the rail. Not very good old days as you say.

Acton Yard L.D.C. not much worse than any other I suppose, but the same principle applies – it’s the noise that is heard. Have got four of them taking an appreciation course of three days starting next Tuesday when they can let off steam in private.

Geoff mentioned something to me about all going over on Easter Sunday but we have not yet decided what we are doing on that day so have not made any promises yet. Glad you are able to look out a couple of bottles of wine for us. I found the bottle of plum you brought up last time ( 2nd grade ) and found it still a bit sharp. Added some sugar to the bottle and put it back for a bit. We drank the ( 1st grade ) bottle some time ago.

No I do not think that I can do with any more chrysants, shall have nowhere to put them. Thank you for offering though.

We had not flown the kite until this week as you know we do not get a lot of gales here and even a strong wind is unusual. This week-end it has been glorious without a trace of wind to spoil it. As a result of the heat, the soil is beginning to dry out at long last. Still too tacky to get on but if this keeps up it will not be long before it is workable. Sounds as if our garden is a small edition of Cornishes, I suppose he does do something to it occasionally.

Bad luck about Mr Heal’s mother. When things move suddenly like that though people even a short distance away often fail to make it in time. It must have been a most unhappy day for them.

I am not sure that Mrs Salway knew Carol, but she certainly saw Susan a time or two. Sorry to hear that Aston seems to have some internal trouble, probably due to too many sandwich lunches in the past. Nice to know that mother helps in the garden, I thought she occupied the deckchair and gave advice.

I am glad that the Clevedon cricket ground is not to be used for building, I do not think It was much of a prospect as a building site.

Was interested to learn of the opinion expressed about Susan’s drawings. She really does seem forward for her age in most things, and her little drawings do have more than a little talent.*

I agree this is lovely weather. Three days in a row and the week-end to boot. Hope we have not had it all by the time you arrive – not long now. I can- see I shall have to arrange for a coin operated parking meter to be fixed outside our place when you are here, may be able to make a bit.

Glad to hear your new shops are having such a good effect on the other traders. Good job they are not too near Elford, it might make him wake up.

Made a gallon of “Braverys Extra Special Jungle Juice” yesterday with slight variation. In addition to the four pounds of potatoes I added about one pound of very old and stale parsnips, ( my own that had lain in the soil since last year ) and used Sultanas instead of raisins which were not obtainable. Threw in a whole oz. packet of powdered yeast and the whole lot is in a state of vigorous ferment now.

We had a visit from Peter and Brenda this afternoon and they brought with them Brenda’s two little cousins aged four and two. The girl is very shy and hardly speaks at all but the boy who can toddle steadily round with the minimum of help joined in the fun. Heard a squeal from the front room at one stage and walked in to find he had pushed Carol over and she was lying all arms and legs and voice between the armchair and the wall, They did not leave until well after eight ( nearer nine ) and both children had been well off to sleep long before then. It was a pity to wake them, but I believe they are quite used to it. Gave Peter plenty of wine while he was here and a couple of bottles to go home with.**

Managed to tip over a cup of coffee with the carriage of this machine a few minutes ago, and that brought the pangs on for a bit. Panic over now but lost the drink. I am afraid I shall have to draw the line here this time, it is now 10-30pm much later than the time I usually do this letter – for reasons already explained.

More next time, love from us all.

[*So why refer to them as having been ‘committed’ or ‘perpetrated’ then? It seems especially ungenerous, but is all of a piece with the remarks about Mr Aston – and his own mother – in this letter.]

[**’Plenty of wine’ does not sound like such a great idea considering that Peter was driving with his fiancee and two young children in the car – and there were no seatbelts in those days.]