Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

The postman certainly called on Monday the 27th inst. and what a budget he brought. Thank you all very much for same and I see both Susan and Carol were allowed to use the typewriter this week. Also Susan trying out her longhand – very good indeed for a start.

What a change in the weather over the weekend. Pity to complain about it but it was so sudden that it took all the energy out of one. The sun was so scalding when I was working in garden on Saturday and I had to turn my cap round to protect my neck. Expect you thoroughly enjoyed your trip out in car on Saturday. A good day for the cup final for once too. How did June find her mother? Going on all right we hope. Nice to have Eileen with you again for a weekend and no doubt two young ladies kept her very busy. What a load up for the car for Chorleywood!

Am sorry you imagine flower garden pretty shipshape. I honestly think it is the worst effort we have made for years. It is due however to bad autumn when we could not square up for the winter following the severe winter and wet spring. However we must make the best of it this time and see if things can be improved as we go along. We shall have some flowers of course and the beds will be tidy (I hope).

Yes all arrangements well in hand for Geoff and family who arrive at 12:53 p.m. Sunday. Evidently Stella and Rebecca going to work on the Saturday.

That chap at the bottom of your garden with the lawn mower (motored) does not intend to push around an ordinary mower. Perhaps he picked it up cheap.*

Yes sugar well in the news but prices seem to be steadying again. Quite a shock to find that commodity going up – what about our winemaking? Noted Pauline and Norman visiting Roy and Delphine last Sunday and your comment re: former. What surprised you about the gas bill? Presumably it covered the worst period of the winter. Have the charges been increased?

Spearmint eh? Years since I had to go at this stuff. Hope the girls do not take it to school with them or the teacher will be after them.

You clean your car far more often than I clean ours** but I suppose in point of fact you use it far more often and in all kinds of weather whereas if possible (Ruislip trips excepted) we try and get out in the nice weather.

Noted you have picked up other contacts with the transmitter – Cheltenham and Hall Green. Geoff said he had recently spoken to you but not on the radio. I do not think there is any part of our old wireless sets laying around in the shed nowadays. We have to have a clear out every so often otherwise we would never get into the shed.

Sorry no seeds have come up. Great pity but I think it proves that the soil is infested with insects who destroy the seeds. just as well you have the sweet peas in pots. Any sign of them?

Hope Susan has not to wait too long before she can really join the Brownies. Last Sunday afternoon there was the usual Commonwealth Youth Service at the church and all the Guides, Brownies, Scouts including Sea Scouts, the St. John Ambulance cadets etc. etc. paraded with their banners and it was a very good turnout. No doubt the same kind of service was held at Ruislip and other places. The new headmaster of the school at the bottom of Holly Lane gave the address and he opened up by saying “I hope those of my pupils who are present will not think it is a bit thick to have to put up with me today as well as on weekdays”. He gave a wonderful address however and it was noticed that he is a Cambridge M.A..

Yes Roy and Mrs Hewitt are now well on their holiday. Apparently they went to Paddington last Friday evening and stopped the night at a hotel and proceeded to Liverpool Street to catch the 10.05 a.m thence to Harwich to be on board for sailing at midday to Amsterdam. Change there into a Dutch boat and cruise up the river. Cannot say if they are gone for 10 days or a fortnight but we shall get a card in due course. If they had been travelling from Liverpool Street on a day other than a Saturday you could have wished them ‘bon voyage’.

No further trip to Retford then so far. Does it really take you an hour to get from Liverpool Street to King’s Cross?

So you remember Donald Fortune then. Is he not in the photo taken at the infant school?

If they are not in the way please keep old London Division News until we next come up to Ruislip – they are always interesting even if stale news to a lot of people.

Have since heard that Rodney Meadows was one of the band of ringers who rang at Westminster Abbey for Princess Alexandra’s wedding last month. He must be quite an expert ringer to be included in such a team.

No more news of proposed land sale – no news is good news – so they say.

It was only the old chrysanthemums we lost by slugs. I have a lot of new rooted cuttings in pots in one of the frames and they should give us some good flowers later on.

Evidently you did not go on the annual outing to the Isle of Wight.

Clevedon Goods closes on the 10th prox. after which date all traffic will be dealt with at Yatton including coal. Deliveries of latter to be effected from Yatton. This will increase the cost of coal per ton to everybody in Clevedon.

Last week I noticed starlings going in and out of the next doors vent shaft near guttering of house and suggested to Bushell he should borrow our ladder and investigate as he had no wire basket on top. He did so and found young dead starlings in the bend of the pipe. Apparently when they were ready to fly they could not get up the shaft to get out and eventually the old birds abandoned them. He has now put some wire gauze over the top to keep out future nest builders.

Mum just told you last week we had Stan James here doing something to our pipe. About two years ago we noticed a small damp patch on wall at bottom of stairs and this had gradually increased in size so we had to investigate. My first thought was that the asphalt on path had ridden above damp course but this proved not to be the case. The downpipe from roof guttering at this point we knew only drained into a soakaway and over the years this pipe had become choked with soil and muck washed down off the roof. Consequently the water was finding its way back into the wall of house above the damp course and causing the patch inside on the wallpaper. The remedy was to put underground pipes to take water direct to the inspection chamber near the small triangular piece of garden at back of house. So while Stan James went to Yatton to get about fifteen 3 ft pipes I dug out the trench. Fortunately it was dry for the two days the job took and all in order again now except that we have a rough surface to walk over for the length of the trench. I lost two days on the garden because of this and I’m now trying to catch up before the weekend.

Mr Aston brought me around two bundles of bean sticks and together with those I had left over after putting in one row enabled me to make a second row. This was completed on Saturday and I put beans (seed) in on Monday. Altogether I have 218 bean sticks and the equivalent number of beans sown. Mum has been busy cutting grass around the trees etc. on the lawn and planting out flower seedlings. I’m still at a loss to know what to try next to seal pond and I think I may try Sylglas before embarking on anything more costly. I would like to get the thing put right.

Had a walk down the field the other day and can only confirm what has already been stated that the apple trees are one mass of bloom. The cherry blossom is over now but this too has been a picture.

Had not realised until you mentioned it that you have been at Liverpool Street for eight months now. How time flies.

Assume you have not done any more decorating June lately – nothing mentioned of it in letter this time.

Yes Alec your photos have been most favourably commented upon by all who have seen them. Did you have your picture show on Sunday evening? How far out is it to Chorleywood?*** and what teams were playing cricket there? Presumably only local sides but I expect it was interesting. As you can see in mercury there is cricket most Sundays on Dial Hill.

Saw Elford the other night and he said the police still have no clue as to who broke into their shop.

Was very pleased to see the Ford management were sticking to their decision not to reinstate the seventeen men who were the chief agitators in their works. Something like this should have happened years ago when perhaps a lot of the trouble in recent years might have been avoided.

Have had to use hose to fill up the baths twice this week and at the same time have also taken opportunity of watering the garden. The winds had hardened the top crust of soil which had to be broken. We are cutting lettuces now and mum says they are priced at about 1/3d[£1.60 in 2023 money – a little cheaper, in fact, than they are at present] in shops. This is a bit surprising as there should be plenty of them about now. Other green stuff is still very scarce and Mum continues to buy frozen peas and broad beans. Incidentally my broad beans I see are just beginning to form but will not be ready for this coming weekend unfortunately. The first row of peas not yet in flower but second is already showing through ground. Have earthed-up a few rows of potatoes. According to my gardening diary the tomatoes were forming this time last year but it will be a few days yet before this year’s fruit will begin to show. Just shows the state of the gardening world for 1963.

A little rain is falling at the moment (6:45 p.m.) but it does not look like continuing very long. I wish it would rain most of nigh.

Think I must close now. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. I’ve got a postcard of Walton Castle to enclose for Susan this time and not to leave Carol out of it have one of the Old Church for her. Mum and Dad. 

*Or perhaps he had a bad back/leg/heart and just needed a bit of extra power. Let’s just try to think of a charitable explanation for once, shall we, rather than assuming the guy is lazy or has more money than sense?

**Only when there’s something he wants to get out of doing…

***I make it roughly fourteen miles, mostly along the valley of the River Colne.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for the usual budget received first post this morning – more interesting than normally by reason of the fact you have given a lot of details re: the Watford week. A typewritten note from Susan too – must have been a very special favour, perhaps she had been a ‘useful girl’ while daddy was away.

Yes we also have had some very nice days although cold early morning and again in the evening. The cuckoo arrived in this vicinity on the 24th instant has been heard several times since. Mutt and Jeff have been at it again but none of us has heard from the people concerned yet but I feel sure there will be at least one more visit even if only to say proposed deal is off. My opinion is that one of the partners is still indisposed and that they will turn up one day. The money aspect will undoubtedly persuade both of my neighbours to bite.

So you cannot get much out of Carol after one week at school. Is she still as eager to start off in the morning? This might give you a clue. I expect she will settle down soon – always a bit of a novelty to begin with.

Instead of the heater you now require a fan in the attic. The heat must be pretty strong to penetrate the tiles.

Sorry no visit from the Eastcote Timber people so far and hope by this time they have paid you a call.

Yes Don and Joan arrived duly on Sunday but it was a funny sort of day here. The mist hung about the tops of the hills (Church and Wains) all day and the sun did not come through. It was very cold too and Don was glad to get in front of fire where he had his usual nap after dinner. He was most interested about your radio transmitter etc and said if he could have afforded it when he was younger he might have taken it up. He knew someone who – in those days – had a set fitted up.

So you took purse to Watford and watch. Mum noted the point made. Also noted June has been busy in your absence and got on with the painting and papering. Expect she finds time going very quickly and by the time she has had a quick look around it is time to go to the school again for the girls. Was it not a bit strange June the first day or two with both Susan and Carol away? We thought of them several times. In fact we think of you all quite a number of times during the weeks.

You had so much to tell this week Alec that you missed any mention of Susan’s visit to the eye specialist and to the other one for her ears. Hope the report from Susan’s headmistress was satisfactory too. No more hat trouble presumably since Carol has the new beret?

Have you been over to see Mrs Baker lately – if so we hope you put the holiday proposition to her and we shall be very pleased to hear that she can make the journey. Has Peter heard any more from the Police? And what about his car? Hope he has got it going again.

You had a lovely time at Watford etc. by your account. Fancy it being mooted you should do the journey to Lyneham by air at 100 gallons of petrol per minute. I thought you would be going down by train from Paddington to Dauntsey thence by R.A.F. tender to the Air Force station. Your journey by road (somebody else driving) must have been very interesting to you especially the M4 section. You properly had the V.I.P. treatment both at Watford during the week and at Lyneham on the day’s visit. Plenty of brass about both at Watford and at Lyneham and some of these gentry no how to sink a drink or two especially when somebody else is paying for it. The hospitality at Watford was excellent. I remember when I used to stay in London for the compilation of the winter or/and summer train services most of the timebill clerks stopped at the Albert Hotel and it was 2 a.m. before anyone thought of retiring. It was a case of occupying the hotel lounge and drinking and talking all night. Your stay at Watford however was not in the same street as the Albert by the sound of it. You were well cared for there (Watford) as if you had been at the Great Western Hotel. I should think now it is over you are glad to have had the opportunity of experiencing a course there. Good job you took your purse!

Yes I did mention to Don the remote possibility of parting with some of the land here but he did not comment much. Incidentally I told you in a previous letter of the scarcity of plum blossom once again. Now I have to correct this statement. I have never seen so much plum blossom on our trees since they were first planted. It has come out in a matter of days and if only the frost will keep away we should have a bumper crop. Unfortunately there have been slight frosts this week and we are not out of the wood from them for another three weeks.

So the N.U.R. have called a three-day strike for this coming month. How silly and how futile it all is. Now they are at it hammer and tongs in Parliament – best place for any argument but I do not think the government will be deflected from the implementation of the Beeching Report. Looks as if your department will be busy before long then if what Butcher says becomes effective.

The Newmans were to have come down for lunch tomorrow from Bristol but a card received today says Mr Newman is ill in bed again and visit must be postponed. Miss Sperrings (my private secretary at Temple Meads*) however is coming down to tea on Thursday – have not seen her for nearly two years. May get some station news.

Since writing last week I have been making great strides in the garden. Have now finished the plot beyond the hedge and it is practically full of potatoes. Have dug a large piece of the main garden and weeded the ground between the current bushes. Have also put in some beetroot seed. The first row of peas is well through the ground now and a second row should go in soon. The runner beans sown in boxes on the 1st April are now showing through the soil. The grass has been cut twice and on each occasion I have had to raise the rollers because the grass was so long. And more important of all just at the moment I have started to put concrete in the path running along in front of greenhouse and extending to garage. This, as you know, has been in the rough for a couple of years. I’m doing about five to six feet in length per day as it is such hard work. Another two layers will see the completion of the job.

We have had a slight further difficulty with the drains but this was more or less the backwash of the previous clearance – the clay which had got into the pipes had not been completely washed away.

Bushell, next door, has made a sandpit for his little girl and it won’t be long before she is playing about in it.

I have taken all the staging down in greenhouse and started to plant out the tomatoes. The ones I raised from seed are making good growth and ready for putting into their final places.

Our new chairs have arrived from Lewis’s of Bristol and for the time being the old armchairs we had in the dining room are in the shed. The refrigerator is now in service and we are now able to have bread and ice cubes for dinner. Makes a change I suppose.

Had a communication from tax people yesterday to say I had overpaid just under £2 [the equivalent of £50 in 2023] for this year ending 1962 and asking for a rebate form to be filled out. this was done at once and returned before they changed their minds.

*Miss Sperrings was clearly very loyal, as she – together with a couple of male colleagues – was present at Leonard’s funeral in 1986.

[Continues Wednesday 1st May, 1963]

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks very much once again for weekly letter. Also for newspapers duly received. Weather this end this week has not been too bad. Watford as you know is not far away from here so for all practical purposes can say we had the same weather. It was a beautiful day on Monday and a real touch of Spring on Tuesday. On Wednesday however, although the forecast was good, it remained cold all day. Back to a warm one on Wednesday and Thursday while Friday and Saturday were really heatwave conditions. Today looks to be starting out for a repetition of Wednesday.

Note your points about the M4 and confirm them as I travelled over it on Thursday in both directions when we went to Lyneham. Note also the cuttings you sent and the details of the Pickwick accident and business at Failand.

Glad you have finished with the drains episode. You do not want to have drain trouble it always kicks up a bit of a stink. Mutt and Jeff in a bit of a dither over their land. That all comes of being a bit secretive about their affairs – always causes suspicion in the end. I am sure that if the price is right they will both find they are in agreement.

Carol had her first week at school this week, but we cannot get much out of her. She is just the same as Susan – either she will not or cannot remember what has happened during the day, and tells us very little. Perhaps after a few more weeks she will have something to say. One result any way is a very noticeable cantankerousness on her part. I do not know if the mental strain is a bit much on the first week, but she cannot get out of trouble at home.

Mr Palmer gave me more than a box of bits as I recall. I think there were at least three three-gang condensers, many fixed, a few coils, and a box of nuts bolts and screws which would come in very valuable if I had them now. Have not been operating this week as you may expect. Went up there just before lunch yesterday and found it like a furnace. Quite a change from a couple of weeks ago.

No luck with the Eastcote Timber Supplies. They said they would send a man around on Monday last, but he did not come, and nothing has been seen or heard of them since. If they do not bother, we shall go somewhere else.

Glad to know that you are having visitors from Lyng today. I hope the weather your end will be up to the mark. I expect Don will have something to say about your prospective business deal, and no doubt will have some helpful hints to pass on.

Yes I took purse to Watford all right – and the watch…..* We were to have flown from Bovington Aerodrome to Lyneham in a Britannia (R.A.F. Transport Command) but the arrangements were stopped by the Air Council who were unable to justify the expense in the end. These aircraft use about 100 gallons of fuel per minute etc.** We traveled by coach leaving Watford at 9:00 a.m. and went via Denham Bypass to Iver Heath and Langley where we joined the M4 thence to Marlborough where some of us had coffee. After that we went via Calne to Lyneham and arrived at 12:30 p.m.. Drinks in the Officers’ Mess and general chat with the R.A.F. work study officers until 1:30 pm when we went into the V.I.P. lounge for lunch. After a good lunch we were taken to the Outward Bound Lounge (where intending passengers await their planes) and had an address by the Station Commander on his station, and their setup. He was followed by the Director of Work Study of the RAF (an Air Marshal who had come down especially to talk to us) and then by a Wing Commander who talked to us about one of his schemes for increasing the availability of aircraft by speeding up the maintenance arrangements. The station has two squadrons of Britannias and one of Comet IVs. After the talks we were taken in turn to see the huge inspection tower (part of the scheme as described) which by means of several platforms one can get to the top of the tail fin. We went from there to the Operations Room where we were shown maps etc which depicted the current position. Rather like an illuminated control diagram. From there we went to the Engine Maintenance Bay. Here they do not attempt to deal with the mechanical parts of the engine, but separate them from the electrical parts, and send them back to Bristol’s. The assembling and electrical arrangements they do themselves. Next move was to the Officers’ Mess for tea, and exchange of mutual congratulations and away again in the coaches. We got back about 8p.m.

With regard to the rest of the week, we were addressed by Lord Netherthorpe (Chairman of National Productivity Year); Sir Steuart Mitchell (Beeching’s assistant); Larkin Deputy General Manager Workshops Division; Philip Butcher Director of Work Study B.R.; Mr A. Dean General Manager North-east Region; F.C. Margetts, Member of B.R.B. and Scott Russell, Member of B.R.B. We also had various others – consultants etc. We were also formed into syndicates of six each and had to prepare a considered report on our findings on a particular policy problem.

During the time we were there we were looked after to a high standard. The sleeping accommodation (one to a room) was up to first class hotel***, and the food even better. The Grove is situated in its own grounds (about one mile to gate) and quite high up. Morning walk before breakfast at 8:30 a.m. the regular practice and most enjoyable. Lectures and meals were complete by 8 p.m., but syndicate work required to be done as necessary thereafter according to the state of work. One free night only was listed and that was Wednesday. There was a well-equipped bar on the premises, large Lounge, Billiard Room (1 table) Table Tennis Hall (2 tables and one dartboard), a putting rink – 9 holes. Also cards to taste. Needless to say the average retirement time for most was about 1 a.m., and the brighter sparks nearer 3. I have no idea why it should be, but everyone felt fit and well there despite all this. No-one overslept, and there were no sore heads to be seen on any day. It must have been the combination of good food, pure air and exercise plus change of beer. I find that the grass has grown a lot since I went to Watford so I shall be able to use some of the energy in cutting it I suppose. We managed to get a pretty clear idea that Butcher (a new man from I.C.I.) intends to get cracking very quickly so there may well be some work around before long.

June has been decorating the bedroom at the back and so far has done very well. Most of the painting is done, and a start made on the wallpaper.

Well now at the bottom of the page so love from us all for now. 

*I have no idea what this refers to unless it was some previous occasion when someone had managed to go away without either their purse or their watch – presumably Eva?

**Looking at the distance involved, the journey would probably have taken about half an hour and cost (by Alec’s reckoning) maybe £3,000 – plus everyone would have had to get from Liverpool Street to Bovington in the first place, roughly a two hour journey in completely the wrong direction. So the coach was undoubtedly cheaper unless there was an operational need to move the aircraft anyway – which is perhaps the reason the idea was considered in the first place. Otherwise it just seems pretty stupid – and, for people supposedly interested in efficiency and cost-saving, a bit of an own goal to say the least!

***Which it now, apparently, is!

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter duly received this morning usual post. Yes we had a very good holiday with you and the weather although not too fine did not make all that much difference to any of us. Noted Sunday not a bad day with you but here at about 10.15 a.m. a violent thunderstorm broke – lightning and heavy hail. This lasted for a few minutes but afterwards for the remainder of the day it rained frequently and very heavy at that. As with you Saturday was bad again and weekend gardeners had a poor time of it.

We left you last Wednesday at 8:45 am so took 35 minutes to reach the M4 – it was a little easier to negotiate the roundabout at West End Road than at Swakeleys Avenue but at that time of the morning there are hundreds of cars about. Have since heard that the accident at Pickwick was due to a car running into a bus. The latter tried to swerve to avoid a collision but only partly succeeded and the driver of the car had a broken leg and several passengers in the bus had minor injuries necessitating hospital treatment. Am enclosing extract from last night’s evening paper wherein you will read of another accident on the Failand Road at a spot you will recognise. A woman was killed and up to the time of going to press had not been identified.

As stated in the P.S. last week Bushell’s trouble with drains was a broken interceptor pipe and since that has been renewed everything is working satisfactorily.

No further news re: land. One of the two parties concerned did call one morning but only to say his partner was ill in bed and they would both come along as soon as possible. Cornish is still out measuring his piece (gets a different one each measure I think). Heel says that Cornish is likely to be the stumbling block and Cornish says the same of Heel. I wonder what they both say of me?

Sorry to hear June was a bit off-colour on Saturday but hope all right for your proposed visit to West Ealing Sunday. Mum has been rough these last few days and has had to keep near toilet. Her stomach must be upset going back to bread and scrape after the rich living at Ruislip. Expect she will tell you more about it in her letter.

Noted the Sunday School people paid for another hat for Carol and that she was ready for school at 8 a.m. Monday. We thought of you trudging off with the two of them and coming back alone. Was it a bit uncanny?

Yes Alec I was very interested in your attic arrangement and so was Mr Palmer when I told him all about it. He can remember the box of bits he gave you years ago. Getting South Shields was good work and one to be chalked up on the board until you can get one further away.

Have not put glass to any use yet but may try and cut to size for frame lights and so avoid buying. We are both very pleased you have a approached the Eastcote Timber Supplies for an estimate for your porch. It will cost a bit more but you will have a much better job – moreover they may be sufficiently interested to keep you advised. I take it the specifications will include Western red timber in the construction. Please do not think we take as hints the information you give us regarding your plans and desires for the present and for the future. We like to hear about them and are just as interested as if we were so planning. So continue to tell us anything about ideas for the future please.

By the way you did not tell us anything about the radio job until it was well in hand and we could actually see the result of your work. This was a pleasant surprise though and Don is going to be very interested when we tell him on Sunday next when he and Joan come up for dinner. It was last October when they last came up and we have been down there just once since that time.

Note you are at Watford this week – minus pyjamas according to June’s letter. Have you got your purse? Nice trip to Lyneham on Wednesday then. How will you go down? Query by train from Paddington. I guess you call June up on the phone when you can from Watford.

Should just like to have seen Carol in school on Monday. Expect she had a lot to tell Mummy when she got home. Very strange that Mrs Benn should get in touch with you so soon after we had gone when we had been inquiring about them. Expect you had all the news of their troubles, if any, during the winter. Also now they have settled in how they like the surroundings and the town of Weston.

So you had the ‘Any Old Iron’ man around your area the other morning. Mr Gray having a good clear out.

Hope you were able to plant sweet peas on Monday. Mum is going to put in the Viscaria the girls gave me in the little border just outside the back door where we had some last year. Must tell Susan and Carol what is being done with them. Note your pot plants also forging ahead now after having tasted a drop of rain.

June evidently busy with some decorations in Alec’s absence. Hope the dinner party went off all right on Monday June. Christopher not back at school that day? Mum missed a bottle of aspirins after we got home and we had visions of Susan and/or Carol getting hold of them before you found them but they were later found wrapped up carefully with some of our things. Wonder what Miss Dix has to tell you about Susan – if it is to do with her reading then it must be an excellent report. She is really remarkable at this for her age. Are you sure June the biros did not go into the girls satchels?

Yes the breakdown of our local drain service was not appreciated after the journey from Ruislip but all’s well that ends well and we are back to normal. When Don wrote and said they would be up next Sunday he said they were having trouble with their drains and concluded it was due to the bad weather during the winter. He has not heard about ours yet.

Well you can guess we have got back into our stride again and now trying to catch up on the gardening etc. Have now finished digging and planting (potatoes) the plot in the field beyond the main garden and it was a filthy patch owing to being infested with withy vine, nettles and dandelions etc. Every spadeful had to be passed through the hands to ensure every bit of weed being taken out. The first sowing of peas is showing through soil and also the third row of broad beans – the first two recovering from the effects of the winter. In the greenhouse I have put out a dozen tomato plants – bought at the Corn Stores for 8/6d [roughly £10.75 in 2023 money] and hope these will give us the first pickings. Have another 30 odd (grown from seed) about three inches high coming on for planting out later. Sweet Peas in the greenhouse are through the soil but will not be ready for putting out for several weeks. Made the first cutting of the lawns last Friday and had to adjust rollers to fullest extent as grass was – in places – 6 inches thick. Could only make a very rough cutting and shall have to have another go soon.

Bushell had mended the feed pipe of mower and I fitted it on Friday morning. He is making a sand pit for his little girl – it won’t be long now before she will walk. Heels had friends here for the Easter and they went back to the Midlands on Sunday afternoon during a break in the thunderstorms. Took with them some of our Lonicera Nitida hedge cuttings to plant at their home. The Newmans are coming down to lunch next Wednesday first prox. Both of them have been very poorly during the winter and only just beginning to get about again.

I’m going to try and get two Mercurys in this week. You will see the Council are getting a bit bothered about losing the station and doing ‘everything in their power’ to keep the place open. Some power!

In the field one of the plum trees (the one nearest the greenhouse) is full of blossom and if only the frost does not spoil it we should get a good crop. There is a bit of bloom on some of the others but nothing to speak of. Apple buds are forming and there should be a good supply of apples in due course. Mum says some of the damson bushes are also in flower. The recent heavy rains however have made the field a swamp once more and this does not do the roots of the fruit trees any good.

Aston called round with some more beet on Saturday and I thanked him for what we brought up to you. He was also pleased to hear of your radio effort – he of course had to use the single needle in his time on the railway. Bushell was very pleased with the trowel I brought back for him and I saw him today planting potatoes with it – the easy way.

Workman are digging out the foundations for the two houses in the quarry at the bottom of our Avenue so they evidently mean business.

Just gone back on June’s letter. How did you get on with Susan at Mount Vernon the other day? And have you to take her there again? Presumably no trouble when you took her for ear examination? Where was it – ? at the clinic.

Think this must be the lot for another week. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad.

PS: two papers by separate wrapper – same post.