Tag: Wine

Wednesday 8th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for another long and newsy letter. Not surprised to hear of colds and coughs as we are well and truly into the season of damp and fog. anyhow we hope the tablets will help Carol with the catarrh. Were those prescribed by Doctor? 

Thank you very much Susan for some more lovely drawings – was it a round house with smoke coming out of chimney? Where have you seen one of that sort? 

Expect both Susan and Carol were excited to have a few fireworks and to see the bonfire. It’s quite different round here nowadays. I did hear a few isolated bangs in the distance but no bonfires about. Heard young Moore – about 12 years old – and lives in Avenue next to Bushes lit a banger in a bottle and had bits of broken glass in his face but I see he is out and about as usual so obviously no serious harm. What a lot of really bad causes of injury including some deaths have been noted in the newspapers and strange that we should know where Wraysbury is after our recent visit to you. That was a case of a gay party misfiring.*

Your comments on the various office matters noted with interest also that the reading yard staff are proving a bit obstinate. Who is Y.M. there now? I take it the Yard is separate from the Station. Should have thought a serious hitch like that would have necessitated a visit from McD not Lay. Also interesting to note the position of Gregory who had job Geoff was after. understand from Geoff C.W.P. goes on holiday in January with retirement effective in March but perhaps you know all about this. Any more vacancies posted?

So your neighbour has secured a position at Bristol – he seemed to like the idea of moving to the ‘West Country’ when he was talking to me about the time of his earlier application. He will have to watch where he parks his car down this way the police are not nearly so lenient as they appeared to be up there. Facilities however are I think a bit better generally. In due course you will have new neighbours next door so let’s hope they will be satisfactory from your point of view. 

Cannot remember if Prescott was a particular friend of Les Garland but I think you have identified the individual all right. No further news of the boy and presume back to normal.

Note all your dahlias now inside garage, this should keep them from being frosted. When earth on tubers is dry rub it off and pack tubers in newspapers and store. Unless frosts are very severe they should survive in garage – put a sack or two over them during worst of weather. This last week I’ve pulled up all the runner beans and sticks and started to rough dig the ground. Could not touch it Monday owing to rain but yesterday and today have plodded on quietly. It will be a good job done before ground becomes unworkable.

Fog here recently not clearing until late morning and foghorn in Channel on most of day and night. 

Funny thing you saying must get some sticky paper for labels – in my last letter to Don I asked him to send on a few sticky back blank labels for same purpose.

The grape wine is still fermenting – now over 4 weeks since put under lock.

Yes we thought you would be surprised to hear the number of flowers on African Violet. Mum put two of the leaves in water and roots formed on both. We then transferred them to 3-inch pots containing potting compost but so far can not be sure if they are going to grow; a question of wait and see. 

Expect your Mimosa pudica has passed out by now. Ours seem to have followed same pattern as yours and I’m certain an insect is responsible. Anyhow hope remainder of plants going on alright. Thanks for naming chrysants. I thought it was Westfield Flame** as have a catalogue with a coloured illustration of this sort. 

At last Saturday’s Clevedon Chrysanth show Bill Raine (old choirboy) took the Premier award for the best chrysanth in the show – also took several other high prizes. He told me a long time ago he belongs to the National Chrysanth Society and of course gets all the literature published on the subject. Still it is quite an achievement for him seeing he has little time to look after the plants. 

Any ill-effects from inoculation against flu? I think I forgot to mention it last week but it is a good idea and should have been organised years ago by British Railways. 

Read your comment on price of fireworks. I’m afraid we have no idea of cost now. I do not think we have bought any since you used to like them complete with bonfire down the field. Must be cost of living which has put them up.

We both hope Mrs Baker will continue to make progress following extraction of all her teeth. It must have been a bit of a shock to her system to start with but at least she did not have to go a second time and must feel thankful for that. 

Not much local news I’m afraid. I did hear on Monday night at bell ringing practice the body of a man had been recovered from the sea at Blackstone Rocks on Saturday but have no further details – could have been washed across from Wales. 

So Mr Grey has already put antifreeze in car. What does he use and presumably recommend? The  proprietary brands put in at garages seemed a bit costly to me. Cummings who used to live next door never bought any but put a quantity of methylated spirit in water in radiator, a dangerous practice I think but as far he has escaped from any serious consequences. 

We were going to get some paper and paint this week to do our dining room but Mr Palmer who would have got it at trade price that has been called away to Cannington to arrange funeral details for a relative who has just died so our visit to shop must be postponed until sometime next week. In the meantime must press on with the digging. 

How are driving lessons going, June? Any practice lately? 

No more now but hope you are all keeping well. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad

*Not, of course, the same thing as a ‘gay party’ would be these days. I have been unable to locate any information about a firework-related incident at Wraysbury, presumably in the 1950s.

**Nor have I been able to identity a picture of a ‘Westfield Flame’ chrysanthemum online; there are plenty of pictures of spectacular bronze flower-heads, some of them even real, but they are not given this particular name.

Eva to the family on the remaining two-thirds of a sheet of Leonard’s writing paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letters and drawings. glad the children’s colds are better. I have found those “Tunes” advertised on the TV better than anything I’ve tried for catarrh although they do not have a nice flavour to them. 

I’m very glad June’s mother has now had her teeth out, she will feel a lot better in consequence. 

It is lashing down with rain at the moment but we have had a nice few days. All the children here had four weeks holiday, although I did not see guys in four-wheel buggies going round to get a penny. 

The Social Studies Group (T.G.***) are going to Bristol to the Coal Utilisation Council on the 23rd, it’s in Park Street. Mrs Hewitt can tell the tale at these meetings as she is the chairman. 

Bill Raine’s chrysanths got the blue riband prize, he must have spend hours on the job. We have a nice little lot coming on and I like your bronze one. 

The flu is about here among elderly people, November is a bad month all round. 

You did not comment on my special drawing last week. 

We have had two power cuts here lately. The second lasted one-and-a-half hours, a good job didn’t have a cake in the oven. I had to put kettle on fire for tea time. 

They had a mouse in the choir stalls on Sunday evening – much craning of necks on opposite side and rustle of paper going on. 

No more for the moment.

Lots of love Mum and Dad. 

***T.G. = Townswomen’s Guild, the urban equivalent of the Women’s Institute.

Eva’s drawing this time comprises a chrysanthemum, a singing kettle, something that might be a grill pan with two pork chops on it, a silver cruet, and the two recognisable little figures of ‘Peppy’ and ‘Salty’, a turned wooden cruet set much beloved by us as children.  The original Peppy and Salty vanished over the years, probably when Leonard and Eva downsized to move to Yorkshire in the late 1960s, but in recent years I have been able to import a similar set from the USA.  In fact they were probably made there, which may suggest that they were originally sold in the UK by F.W. Woolworth; certainly they seem very much to fit in with the company’s other usually cheap and cheerful wares.

Peppy and Salty 1961-style, by Eva
Peppy and Salty, 2021-style, by yours truly

Sunday 5th November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once again for weekly letter. Glad you like Susan’s drawings, I am afraid I do not see them as they go into the envelope sometime after I have prepared the main letter. If they are up to the standard of some of the drawings I have seen about here then they are not too bad. 

Both girls are much better than at the last time of writing. They are not 100% as both have  lurking colds. Carol has been started on adrenaline tablets to remove the catarrh and they make her very tired and crotchety. The trend is to get her to bed a little earlier. Susan starts school again on Monday and from all appearances she should be alright by then. 

I agree that it is strange that they should have picked another “Engineer” for the lecturing job, but there may have been a little “cancelling-out” of the other candidates. I note your suggestion about applying for any job fancied. Of course there are fewer and fewer such jobs going nowadays. McDonald asked me what I thought of the lecturing job, he said was that what I really wanted. I told him that the money was more than useful, and that the job was much like any other. They don’t think he thought much of that. I guessed Geoff would not get the job he was after. The post went to Vic Gregory who used to be with me on Work Study. The latter was a 3 in HQ Control Rolling-Stock section when I was a 2. C.W.P. took a fancy to him and all sorts of queer things then started to happen. Personally he is quite a likeable chap, ex-Bomber pilot with decoration, not over brilliant, but solid. I doubt if he could have made that level without a good push from behind, but stranger things have happened.

Reading Marshalling Yard has gone down the drain. the L.D.C. reported that the staff have declined to have Work Study there. Of course McD. is furious, and is seeking an explanation in the shortcomings of his staff. Mr Lay now has to go to Reading yard and find out from the Yardmaster why they have refused. I think it a foolish move, as by putting in an appearance on the ground so soon, the staff will think we are pushing it, and will be even more inclined to refuse. In any case he cannot tell them any more than we have and it will be useless to reiterate the bare facts to the men’s reps. I would rather work out a “demonstration scheme” which would show them exactly what they would get in terms of £.s.d. for the work performed. 

At the moment things are going well with the Old Oak Common Carriage Cleaners and we are progressing towards a stage of mutual confidence. Snow is still Snow. He gives little credit to others, and is saying that it was his efforts that got us back into Reading station. I do not mind in the least, it pays at this stage to get his co-operation but we shall tie him up pretty tightly in due course. 

I remember Prescott, he is the man I have in mind from your description. Was he not living with or friendly with Les Garland? 

By the time last Sunday’s frost came, the dahlias this end had been removed from the ground and transferred to the garage where they are at the moment inside the large basket you brought up. I hope they are alright there for the time being. 

Have not got the old wireless working yet, but only had one session on it for the time being. Will have another go soon. 

Note your remarks about the wines. I shall have to have a tasting session soon on all brews, both yours and mine. I must get some more sticky paper to make into labels for the bottles. At the moment I have half dozen bottles of apricot without labels, and it is a fact that the identity of wines can be forgotten much quicker than one would suppose, so I must get cracking. Glad to hear your blackberry is going to be good. Shall look forward to trying that. My Apple etc wine has now been transferred to top shelf of the airing cupboard. The fermentation slows up a lot overnight in the kitchen here with the drop in temperature. I do not think that can do it much good. With the addition of the requisite amount of sugar the liquid content is now just under 2 gallons, and I suppose I shall lose a little in the sediment etc. Think I will just call it the “Omnibus Edition”.

Hope Don was primed with sufficient Jungle Juice to last him until 2:45 a.m. Who would be a stationmaster? 

Quite incredible to learn that there are 25 flowers on the one plant. What has happened to the leaves that were being used as propagation? Have they turned into strong plants yet.

Sorry to learn that you have finally been cut off from the telephone. It must be a loss after so long, but if you did not use it much there was no point in having it. We are now back on the air as you know and we’ll make a note of the phone numbers you gave us. 

Sorry to hear that someone is sufficiently hard up to tamper with the money boxes in the church. So much for welfare state. 

The name of the Chrysanthemum is Westfield Flame. Perhaps we forgot to tell you. 

Well Guy Fawkes day has come and gone again. We only had a few interspersed with plenty of sparklers. To large bonfires that survived the vandals were lit, and we took the girls down to see them. Of course they were jumping up and down with excitement. The Catherine Wheel went much better this year. Last year it got stuck after two revolutions. The price of fireworks has leapt by leaps and bounds since I was a boy. A rocket stick landed in our front garden and this morning I went out to clear it. It was about the size we used to pay 2d for and when I looked on the cover it was marked one shilling. 

I cannot remember seeing any Gay in the post. Perhaps ours is still to come. 

Yesterday we went over to Yiewsley to take June’s mother to the dentist. She was to have had the first of two sessions to remove her remaining teeth, a prospect that none of us relished. As it turned out she was there for nearly 1 hour and had the lot out. We shall telephone shortly to find out how she is, but when we left yesterday she was standing up to it very well. The girls are down the road with their prams giving them an airing. The cat has come out to greet them and they were playing with him when last seen.* June has just telephoned and discovered that Mrs Baker is feeling quite well today. 

Eric has landed a job in Bristol, and no doubt he will soon be making his way there. I gather that he will move first (lodge) and the others will move after Janet has passed the 11-plus, an event which is some time away yet. It could be that he might show up one day, I do not think they know anybody in Bristol. Doug in the sideway at the moment putting antifreeze into his car. Of course Susan and Carol have got their noses into it. 

Well that’s the lot for now, hope you are both well. Love from us all. 

*This must have been a neighbour’s cat, and I have very vague recollections of a narrow ginger-striped creature visiting us.  We didn’t get our own first cat until 1965 (and have never been without one since), although we did briefly have a tortoise at one point.

Wednesday 1 November, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for another long and interesting letter and this time “cut out” from Susan.  Very good Susan and thank you for sending it on. Glad you liked the drawing Grandma made on our last letter to you. 

Pleased to hear the girls are better but that a visit to doctor was necessary with Carol – hope the medicine helped her. Let’s hope she will improve a lot by the time she starts school.

Regarding your query time taken to make journey Ruislip to Clevedon I should think it was practically the same actual running time but the route via Andover enables one to avoid the cities of Bath and Bristol, two very awkward places to negotiate unless well acquainted with the districts. We shall do the Andover route again. 

Surprised to hear lecturing job went to an applicant from Engineering Department after what you said in previous letter – but there you never know who it is going to be until appointment actually made. Anyhow as I said before you will land one of the better jobs one of these days. Keep applying for everything you fancy. 

Geoff did not get the job for which he had recent interview. In his last letter to us he said it was given to the “sitting bird” so he could not really complain.  Apparently other moves are in the offing for which he will be an applicant. Note he is now putting in an earlier appearance at the office mornings. Is this the result of Work Study efforts? Also noted your effort at Reading seem to be bearing fruit. What does John Snow say about it? Have an idea he might be indifferent to any such schemes. 

Prescott came from Liverpool and he has a cast in one eye. He went back to Liverpool for a few years and has again been resident in Clevedon for the past two. Understand the vicar has been very interested in the case and taken quite a lot of pains to get the boy settled again – even getting him to join the St Peter’s Church Choir of which his younger brother is a member. I think I mentioned that this brother was in Wells Cathedral Choir; this is wrong, the vicar tried to get him in but at twelve years of age Cathedral authorities said he was too old although his voice was ideal. It has been proved that Prescott’s second wife – stepmother of boy who ran away – has been a real mother to him and that it was the trouble at school which started the bother. I think Prescott did in fact play darts in Salthouse Hotel years ago and you are probably thinking of the right individual. 

Chimney sweep duly left the soot (from two fireplaces) on the garden in a heap where I shall let it stop until the spring. Expect last Sunday’s frost made your dahlias wilt a bit – soon be all over for another season. It was foggy here to until well into the morning. 

Yes I shall take a few cuttings later of your chrysants and bring them on for next year. At the moment we have quite a nice show of flowers in greenhouse – a bit early I must admit but sun has been very warm at times and brought the flowers out. 

Caught another mouse in garage – seems to be the odd one getting in there now and again.

Don’t suppose you have got the old wireless set working again yet? 

Yes the rhubarb wine is very nice (nearly all gone now) the Parsnip immature just yet but should be alright later. I have an idea the Blackberry I made is going to be very nice when fully matured and you must have some of this in due course. Have not done any sampling recently. The grape wine is still fermenting satisfactorily and so far I’m pretty sure the liquid yeast is still active. I empty out about half the water once a week and replace with cold boiled water and add a little sugar. 

That wine you are now fermenting sounds as if it might blow roof of house off. What are you calling it “Queens Walk Special” or “84 Varieties”?

Had a letter from Lyng last week. Don was out one evening having his usual quantity of Jungle Juice when publican had a phone call for him – diesel car en route Castle Cary to Taunton had mistaken signal at Durston and run into buffer stops carrying them forward about 30 feet. He was in attendance until 2:45 am.*

Must mention the African violet you gave us when last at Clevedon. The other day I counted 25 flowers on it and several buds to follow on. It has developed into a very nice plant. 

There are a few apples on the Jersey beauty to pick yet and I’ve got the extended ladder in use to get them. Even so I’m afraid some of the apples will have to stop until they fall. Sorry some of yours going bad, it is due to the poor season for such fruitf. I see in today’s paper price of apples is likely to “rocket” because of the general shortage. 

Managed to get two rows of broad beans planted last week and strange to say we had a mixture of fresh runner and fresh broad beans for dinner last Sunday. Have now picked the ripest of the runner beans for seed and should be able to to get more in a week or two. 

Yes we saw the Charlie Drake “knockout” but like everyone else did not realise it was a knockout until reading about it in newspaper next morning. 

Noted June having another run with car – it will be nice to get her full licence to enable her to “run around the block” as it were taking and fetching Susan from school. Not very far it is true but not nice in wet weather to have to walk the distance. Have given our car one good clean since we came back from Ruislip and so far have only used it locally for shopping and library. Our telephone was disconnected yesterday. I’m glad you are keeping yours. After all you will certainly be able to make more use of it than we should ours. It is a luxury we can can now do without. Mrs Marshall and Mrs Cummings have both said they will take emergency calls for us if necessary. Their numbers are – Mrs SA Marshall – Clevedon 3037 Mrs SJ Cummings – Clevedon 2497. 

Well I think this is the lot for another week. Hope you are all keeping well now. All our love to you both with kisses for our two little girls Susan and Carol. Mum and Dad.

*Could find no reference to this incident online so it must have been relatively minor.

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

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letting and cut out from Susan. I expect she is having a week’s holiday now, the children are here. Dad made a mistake about Mrs Cummings as I have not told her yet but know she would take any message during the day as would Mrs Marshall. 

It has been very rough here.  Went up yesterday with Mrs Palmer to the church, she to do some mending of hassocks and I the brass. While there old Mr Horton called in to take any money in boxes. He does this about three times a week. Somebody had been tampering again with the box by the visitors’ booth, that is three times but they haven’t got it open yet. Somebody else had wrenched off an umbrella bracket. Down at St. Peter’s they have what they call a flower fund box and this has been rifled twice. It’s getting a bit hot here.

Mrs Bushell next door tells me she has finished working at the dentist as expecting in February. I was surprised. Miss Weeks have a young couple in who were married last week the other lot found an unfurnished flat. 

Those bronze chrysants of Alec are a nice shape and if we trim them down to one or two on a stalk they would be lovely. Pity you don’t know the name of it. 

The postman dumped a sample of pink dish wash called ‘Gay’ have you had any it is too scenty for my liking.** 

I suppose the bonfire has grown huge since we saw it, soon be Guy Fawkes Day. Lots of love from Mum and Dad.

**It’s been impossible to track this down any further than the picture linked here.

Letter illustrated by Eva with a drawing of various fireworks – Catherine wheels, several sparklers, some Roman candles and a rocket; also someone who could potentially be Guy Fawkes who has rather a lot of teeth, an amorphous shape in the corner is probably a bonfire.  Higher up the page two wildly distorted figures are playing with an over-large ball. 

Sunday 29 October, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Letter in red this week, the black type now definitely wearing thin. Thanks for the usual weekly letter from you both also drawing duly seen and approved of by the girls. Both are better now thank you very much, but have the aftermath of cough etc particularly in the case of Carol. June had to take her to the doctor on Thursday morning after she had had difficulty in breathing on Wednesday evening. Usual jollop prescribed which fortunately she does not mind taking. They are both so full of life that not long after a bout of illness they are soon bouncing about again. 

Note your run home a little up so far as mileage is concerned. I was aware of the extra distance, approximately 6 miles I think. Having regard to the time spent in Andover, could you say the route is any quicker?

I do not understand Geoff’s fixation about retirement, some time ago I remember he was saying only ten years to do, and that means only ten more possible continental holidays. I could well say that if I last till sixty I have only another twenty years to do myself. This of course means well over the halfway mark for the recognised 45 years (wristlet or pocket – or can I have the money?)

I gathered that the lecturing job went to a chap from the Engineers Department.  They have now got three out of three lecturers from that department. Sounds a bit fishy to me. I knew I had an (illegible) recommendation for the last one. They would have had a difficult job not to give one as they had declined my services as Work Study Assistant when I applied last January. 

Have not heard the result of Geoff’s interview. I saw him twice last week when arriving at Paddington in the morning. Take it he has started getting up earlier as he used not to roll before about 9:15 a.m. We have got the evidence as he was checked in when we did a Passenger census. 

I do not know what the outcome of the Reading Yard meetings will be yet as today the L.D.C. (staff side) have called a mass meeting of the shunters and guards to inform them of what they have learnt from us at the appreciation course and the meetings, and to ask for their support in taking the matter a stage further. If they want a closer look, we can knock up a provisional scheme based on the old figures (1957) – let them see what they have to do to earn their bonus, and calculate the average weekly take-home before and after. If they like the look of that they can have it on trial for six weeks with the option of rejecting it after that time if they are not satisfied. I can’t think what more we could offer to demonstrate there is no catch in it. 

I did not see the article about young Prescott – pretty bad business. Was his father the North Country man (or Midlander) who used to frequent the Salthouse (? dart player ) towards the end of the war? 

Very good arrangement of yours when chimney sweep called.  Do not blame you unless it is necessary to stop him taking the soot away. Should think it some use for the garden although at the rate of one chimney per year would not be enough to do much good. 

Note your gardening efforts – have in mind taking out the dahlias in a minute or two. Not much more to be expected from them. Very cold last night with the hint of both fog and frost. This morning, looking out of the bedroom window, could only see clearly to the middle of Melthorne Avenue although the houses at the end were not completely obscured. Was out in the car last night, hurried home to beat any fog, and found the worst patch across the road at the junction of Queens Walk and Torcross Road. Had to slow the car almost to a stand for about 10 yards. 

Glad you like the chrysanths, perhaps you will know what to do to get large blooms with them. I just let them grow as they will, but I expected that by pinching out to the buds at the appropriate time you might get some beauties.

I have little doubt that your mice did inhabit the old wireless at some time. All the evidence was there, and I must say that with the small slits in the bottom of the casing, and the complete cover of the chassis above, it was a very good choice of nesting place. 

I am afraid the wine you say you like is definitely Rhubarb. I had only one bottle of Jungle Juice apart from that which is maturing in the large jar, and we drank that when you were here. Glad you like the rhubarb although I have not tasted other than about half a glass. Please comment about the Parsnip. What is the verdict? 

Had to move the still maturing fermenting grape juice into a half-gallon stone jar as I wanted the large jars for apple wine. The apples you brought up were going bad as they were not being used fast enough. I found a receipt [sic]* involving 8 pounds of apples and made up the brew in two buckets. Finished up with one-and-a-half gallons of strained must but so far have only put 2 lb of sugar in. I feel that at least 4 more pounds of sugar are needed to the total, so that would be equivalent to another two pints of liquid. In the mixture is 1 Shredded Wheat, one grapefruit, one eighth of a pound of sultanas, one cup of pineapple juice, 1 and a half lemons, and 4 sticks of celery. Your guess is as good as mine. 

Do not let the liquid yeast get cold will you? Keep it in a warm but not hot place. If you do not use any by the end of the week, pour half away and fill up with cold boiled water and half spoon of sugar. An occasional dessert spoonful of any must you have available helps to ginger it up a bit. 

No more driving lessons yet, but may have a go this afternoon. Did not hear the comment about Stonehenge that was promised – perhaps not very important. 

We both saw Charlie Drake knock himself out. I thought the tall thin chap** was too weak to throw Drake through the window and had to be helped by the other chap, but did not think it was due to Drake being unconscious. 

Not much other news this end just now. Will try and get out while not actually raining. Love from us all for now and hope you are both keeping well. 

By the way I had a flu injection on Monday. a number of us had them with varying reactions. All set now for the winter? 

*Online sources seem to suggest that this was already an archaic expression by the time Alec chose to employ it, but the chances are it’s a usage inherited from one or other of his grandmothers.

**Henry McGee

Wednesday 25 October, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for your long and newsy letter duly received yesterday morning – also thank you Susan and Carol for your lovely drawings and Susan’s little letter about the comic. Grandma and Grandfy thought you would both find something to interest you in it. Hope you are feeling better now Susan and able to go to school again this week. 

Yes we had a nice run home on the 16th but with the mileage up a little it takes a drop more petrol. No doubt about it we had the best weekend for weather in spite of fog on the Sunday. It has been rather poor since our return – gale force winds and frequent heavy rain storms but there it is – we were fortunate for our stay with you. 

Sorry Susan a bit off colour but presumably alright again on the Sunday. We thought they were both looking and feeling very fit – they improve every time we see them and my word we can see a difference – they are both growing up fast.  

Glad to hear Mr and Mrs Baker with Peter and Pauline reached home safely on the Saturday and that you were able to make the journey to West Drayton for June’s mother’s birthday. It was Geoff’s on the 23rd and we dropped him the usual – he was 53 this time. Says he –”another 7 years to do”. Sounds like a sentence for some crime. 

It was excellent news that you had had an interview for the lecturing job but I quite agree with your comments. On a job like that you are not getting any practical experience, which experience must count for very many higher positions. One thing about this incident however indicates that you were recommended by your own department otherwise I do not think you would have got as far as an interview. Keep it up, you will get something one of these days which will be worth having. Do you know if Jeff has heard any more about his recent interview for another job? 

Noted also you have had some interesting meetings at Reading – query with what results – also when do you find time to write up the minutes or is this a job for others to do? 

Grandad Atkins was born at Beckington Somerset, a little village that is at the crossroads made by the Warminster-Bath and Frome-Trowbridge roads*. When visiting Salisbury regularly during the war with Mr Pole for meetings with the Southern Region we used to always pass through Beckington. 

Did you see in London papers last week a Clevedon boy named Prescott aged 14 was missing from home? Disappeared on the Wednesday because of some alleged trouble at school but was found at Tickenham on Sunday in a pretty pretty distressed condition because of the rough and wet weather. His father is in Parish Church choir, he was actually a member in my time but left the town and recently returned. He has a younger son aged 12 who is in Wells Cathedral Choir. Quite a rumpus here for a few days. Now we hear on wireless there is a 13-year old girl missing at Glastonbury. 

The chimney sweep arrived at 6 a.m. on Monday – raining in torrents – but mum must tell you more about this. I stopped in bed out of the way. 

No work on garden this week so far – the ground is soaked and more rain coming down. Last weekend managed to lift all the gladioli corms and put them in the frames to dry. Also made the first picking of runner bean seeds (the ripest) but there are plenty more to come. Now is the time for broad bean seed to go in but ground conditions just hopeless at the moment. 

Have put the 35 chrysanths in greenhouse after taking out all the tomato plants – the fruit is ripening off in drawers in garage – as mentioned in last letter your chrysanths are in full flower quite a nice reddish bronze colour. 

We are still picking runner beans to eat and I think they will continue wearing until frosts finish off the plants. Will let you know no final total weight for tomatoes and runner beans in due course. 

No more mice about in garage and for time being think we are free of them! It is quite possible some of them made a nest in the old wireless set – strange to say it was one place I did not investigate when trying to trace them. 

The wine I have tried was the one other than the parsnip – a cloudy wine which I thought was the Jungle Juice but which you suggest is Rhubarb. It was not labelled but tastes very nice. The grape wine continues fermentation but not quite so vigorously as when we came up to Ruislip. Have racked off all the others into sweet jars for storage purposes – the best tasting at the moment being the Blackberry. The liquid yeast you gave me seems to be working very well but I have have no further winemaking prospect at present. 

Have not used any of the leaf mould yet but have tipped it into a box to keep. It is most valuable stuff being mould from beech leaves which – with oak leaf mould – is the best you can possibly get. When in the vicinity at any time you should get some to dig into your soil – bound to improve it. 

Last Friday after a dry night – about the only one for a week – I managed to cut all the grass with the motor mower. It had got very long since previous cutting but it came off very easily. May have to have one or two more cuttings before closing down – as it were – for the season. 

The clock goes back next Sunday so it will be pretty well dark by the time Susan comes home from school. Any more driving lessons yet June? Or is weather getting too bad for this year? Since our return from you we have only been out twice – shopping and library. May pop into Weston one day next week – weather permitting. 

You will hear about Stonehenge from Mum in a minute or two. By the way it was not by side of road we took but well over to the right on a branch road in the direction from Ruislip to Clevedon. It was certainly adjacent to the branch road one I think leading to Devizes**. Do you remember this? 

No more now dash all our love to you both and more kisses for two little girls from Mum and Dad.

*As formerly mentioned, Tom was born in the Workhouse at Westbury, Wiltshire, and raised by a couple at Rode/Rode in Somerset, although Road and Beckington are pretty much side-by-side and there must be some doubt as to where one starts and the other ends.  Either Tom and/or Leonard were deliberately not told the whole story, or the story had become garbled over the years.  On reflection it is quite possible that Tom grew up having no idea who his mother actually was, only that he had a sister named Mary.  His marriage to the fiercely moral Emily may have ensured that this particular aspect of family history was ruthlessly suppressed thereafter and never mentioned again.

**A quick look at the map suggests that Leonard and Eva were travelling west along the A303; the ‘branch road’ described no longer exists – it would have run past Stonehenge to join up with the A360, but now seems to be solely an access/service road for the ancient monument itself and its visitor centre.  The A360 does indeed – eventually – find its way to Devizes.

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

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letting us and drawings which were very good. We looked into Charlie Drake’s Bingo tonight, and Michael Aspel mentioned there was goings-on at Ruislip and they were supposed to be going down there, he was a scream. 

The sweep came 5 minutes early had gone at 7. He said he had to go to Mrs Cummings next but didn’t think she would be up because he believed his wife had mixed the dates. Anyway I saw her today and he had only come a fortnight too soon, still she had it done – she has the old people from Cornwall there too. 

I should think we have had enough rain since coming back everywhere is soaking so gardening is out for the time being. 

Lots of love from (Grandma and Grandfy) Mum and Dad

[NB: there was of course no reference to Stonehenge but Eva did contribute a drawing which I was going to attempt to describe but to be perfectly honest my powers of description failed me.  It is attached below, together with a photograph of what probably inspired it.]

Wednesday 27th September, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for your long and interesting letters and drawings from Susan. Thank you Susan they were very nice drawings – wonder if Carol helped? 

Sorry to hear Susan has been poorly and has had to miss school occasionally – hope she will soon be alright again. Expect she was surprised to see a policeman at school but I expect the children were all ears when he spoke to them about the use of the roads. Learning to write words too – how nice. Something to get their attention and start them off on their careers. Tell her I will give her an examination on the spelling of words when we come to Ruislip next. 

Well Arthur has come and gone and so far as we are concerned he will not come again. We put him on a train at Weston for Dawlish and that was that. Can tell you all about it when we meet. Said that when he returned to Twickenham he would like to call on you but we told him you were out of London quite a lot and did not give him your address. Apparently he will eventually return to Twickenham for a few nights prior to going to London airport for journey home – this will be sometime in early November. When talking about cars one day I asked him what horsepower his was and he said 120hp and when I said this was ridiculous he replied oh no my son-in-law has one 350hp. Pointing to the roof of the house he said they would go up slopes like that in top gear so I told him that if I had a car like that I should want it to go up the side of house in top gear – end of discussion.* 

The 1961 cherry wine is very immature as yet but will certainly bring along a supply. Have not been out gathering blackberries since I last wrote – think we have enough for this season. Quite a cheap wine as you remark seeing the berries can be had for the picking – some of them were almost the size of the cultivated variety. Susan had the right idea of growing some in garden to save walking so far to gather them, but you are also right inasmuch as it took years to destroy one in garden. There is a thornless variety available now and I may get one of these sometime and plant it alongside fence in field. Could be a profitable item. 

Well we have not yet heard from Tiverton re: proposed visit there and to Exmouth so Mum and I think we had better agree a weekend to come up and see you and the Exmouth trip must take second place or not at all. We are wondering if Thursday 12th October would be alright for you, to return on the following Monday the 16th October. The next weekend is out because mum has the most important engagement – the chimney sweep is coming on the 23rd. You must let us know if suggested date is satisfactory to you all and if not perhaps a later date can be arranged. 

You mentioned blackberry and apple wine but I am afraid this possibility is out for 1961. Have never had so few apples since our trees first started to bear, it has been a disastrous year in that respect. Could be a good wine though so perhaps another year etc. 

The point about turning the polythene bags occasionally is to avoid seedlings damping off. Note good growth being shown by yours. Mum put two leaves of the South African violet in water and both have roots forming from the stem – these must be potted up now. We shall be picking broad beans again in a few days. Several beans from crop in May fell to ground and these took root and have now matured. Total runner beans now 285lbs and tomatoes 205lbs. Latter still turning in fast. 

The proposed new motorway will cross the main Clevedon to Tickenham Road about three quarters of a mile from the East Clevedon triangle which point is near what is known as the Waterworks House. Incidentally I don’t think we have mentioned the project before as until we read about it in Mercury recently had no idea it would be so close to Clevedon. Will be a few years yet before road is available. 

Sorry my mistake about Pauline and Spain must have latter on brain following Geoff’s description of his holiday there. I told him in my last letter you are now off phone. 

Yes the millionaire ancestor was the husband of your Great-grandmother Fewings’ sister – surname Madge. 

Very interested in your account of meeting with Bryant et cetera. This individual at one time was assistant Goods Agent at Bristol and later agent at Brentford. Pity about the chief inspector retiring 2 months early – what a sacrifice. Anyhow it looks as if you had your way with meeting for the proposals to be passed on to next stage. Did I hear somewhere that Beeching had been prowling around Paddington Station? 

Thanks for information re road route. It will be a good thing when the bypass roads skirt Slough as well as Maidenhead – I saw some weeks ago latter had been opened. 

Will leave Mum to reply about edible hats and boots etc., she started that one. 

Was it a slip of the typewriter when you said Peter was bringing his new girlfriend? Or did Peter and Brenda call followed by Mrs Hawkeswood and daughter.** Is this Hawkeswood of Exeter formerly of Chief Goods Managers Office? I knew him well at Freight Train meetings.

Note battery down flat – why was this? Query a leakage in circuit somewhere. 

Not much local news this week but notice painters and carpenters are busy on numbers 1 and 2 Tennyson Avenue this week. Ted Caple has to appear in court as a witness against the motorcyclist who ran into his car. Cut grass on all lawns last Friday but I’m afraid it is growing fast nowadays and will want one or two more trims before closing down for the winter. Note your dahlias getting fewer now – the first frost will finish them unfortunately. They are very tender plants. Cannot get my chrysants in greenhouse because of occupation by tomato plants and it’s a pity to take those out as long as they are fruiting. We have had a few early morning fog and some days the old foghorn in the Channel has been sounding for hours during the day as well as the night but as you say we should not expect anything serious for a week or two yet.

Slugs – yes we have some and I generally catch one or two  when going down to greenhouse before breakfast.

Tennyson House – thatched roof – now up for sale at £5,500 [£130,000 in 2021 money] but cannot see anyone paying that price for it. Arthur took a photograph of Moggs thatched house said he thought it was very picturesque and his grandchildren would be most interested in it. Fortunately Moggs were not aware of photograph being taken or might have wanted to cash in on it. 

This is about the lot for another week – hope the girls are better again now and that you are both fit and well. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol. Mum and Dad 

*Well, according to something I found online, Arthur’s expectations were not entirely ridiculous:  “… with mainstream American cars, the average vehicle can usually be expected to be 180-200 horsepower. Large SUVs often have engines that exceed 300 horsepower, while small car engines can only have about 100 horsepower. Full-size pickup trucks often have 300-400 horsepower, and luxury SUVs and large luxury sedans also have 300-400 horsepower.”  Given that ratings apparently differ from country to country, and that technology has improved considerably in the past sixty years, Leonard’s reaction to Arthur’s claims may have been somewhat exaggerated.  Nonetheless Arthur seems to have made a bit of a nuisance of himself, so his irritation is no doubt justified.  Guests and fish begin to stink after three days, after all…

**Peter and Brenda did indeed break up, which was a shame as we all liked Brenda. Whether the ‘new girlfriend’ is the one he married a few years later, though, is impossible to tell from this letter. Hopefully more information will gradually become available.

Eva to the family on the remaining half-sheet of Leonard’s paper:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letting and drawings from the children. I liked the high hats I suppose they are still the latest fashion for the winter.  Will have to see about one. 

We are looking forward to coming up for a few days’ change. We don’t hear from Tiverton so have written that one off. 

Harvest Festival on Sunday but no apples from us this year, the first ever. We have a couple of trees ripening but no good standbys. I expect the children will have their Harvest at the Sunday school soon. The kids here bring whopping great marrows enough to last anyone a year. 

The newlyweds celebrate their first anniversary on Saturday, have invited thirteen, but we go in one night next week to see the projector on the wedding etc. Lots of love from Mum and Dad. 

Drawings at the bottom labelled ‘in the garage now’: grapes, tomatoes, pumpkin, parsnip, cat with donkey’s ears, a rat, a bird and a sunflower.  The bird has four legs .

Sunday 24th September, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you once again for a very interesting letter. No hold up with post this week. I must say we were looking forward to hearing of the doings of Uncle Arthur plus your reactions etc. 

I did not think you would have been able to save much of 1960 cherry wine for long. Of course the 1961 lot is fairly new, and it would be a pity to use it up before it has had time to mature. Nevertheless we are quite prepared for some of it to mature at this end if you have any to spare. 

Pity you have not heard from Tiverton about the proposed visit to Exmouth, but shall I expect you to make up your mind about us at short notice anyway so don’t worry about it. There are a few mists about early these days but they do not develop into much, and clear well before midday. I think it is still a bit too early to start thinking about fogs. The weather will have to be much colder for the really bad fogs to form. I think you are fairly safe to travel up till about mid-November and would be extremely unlucky to come unstuck. 

Glad you were able to write to Mrs Godfrey, I thought you would want to do that. 

So you had another trip to Kingston on the blackberry lark. I thought that Friday was the day you had to pick up Arthur at Weston, did he not want to come with you. I am not a bit surprised that there are thousands of berries to be taken. It will probably be the cheapest way you can make even including the elderberry. At this time of year too, apples should be plentiful, particularly the windfalls, and imperfect ones. I believe you had a go at some on a previous occasion, but you may think to try some more. As an idea, blackberry and apple, as in the pie, might make a good combination. 

Yes still slugs and more slugs. I saw the paper-boy put his heel on one about 6 inches long on the front path this morning. It is quite risky walking down the hill some mornings as they come out of the grass and cross the path (for some reason query same as the chickens) to the hazard of all passers by. 

I do not think that Susan has seen the comic Wonderland yet. She was off-colour last Wednesday and stayed home from school. I brought a couple of comics home in addition to the two they normally have, but did not see the one you mentioned. There are lots of comics for all ages these days and it is a job to get the right age group now. 

So far, although I was aware that the polythene bags should be turned every couple of days, I have not done so.  The bags are in position as I placed them over a week ago. I see there is moisture on the inside and in all three pots the plant is throwing out leaf buds. I cut one right back if you remember and took off all the green leaf but the other two retained varying amounts of leaf.  It seems to make no difference as all the old leaves are still full of life, and the cutting without leaves is also throwing leaf buds. The pots are out in the garage right up to the glass level at the bench end. I expect it is a bit early to hope that they have rooted?

Sorry to say I was not aware that there would be any motorway anywhere near Clevedon. Something must have been said at some time or other, but I cannot recollect it. I cannot picture the Water Station at Twickenham or the football ground. Is it at the bottom by the star or even back in the direction where we saw the dahlias, or is it further on where the road divides for Failand and Nailsea. Perhaps it is a little way along either of the last named roads. Fancy it going through Kingston Seymour. It looks as if this road will provide the route that has been wanted for so long, one direct from Clevedon to Weston along the coast. 

The trouble with motorways is that they limit the number of access roads, and you may find that although it passes through Kingston, there may not be a roundabout or slip road which will enable you to get on it. However it is bound to cut the running time and possibly petrol consumption if you can get on one as near as Congresbury. Shall be interested to learn more of this project. 

Pauline went to Italy not Spain. Language, climate and food very similar, but not the direction. 

Not surprised that Geoff has not been lucky in contacting us by phone are you? 

You should remember that in America everything is done on the “grand scale” and a mere weekend assumes the proportions of a week. Nice to hear that some distant connection of ours strike it rich, but it won’t do him much good now poor chap. Presumably the party mentioned must have been an elder sister to Great-grandmother Fewings unless her son came to an untimely end in 1912. The sons and daughters of Grandmother Fewings mostly lived another thirty years, and several are still alive. 

Re: Paddington Yard report, had a meeting with Bryant on Friday (Goods Agent).  He had some of his inspectors present and NH. Bryant sent his District inspector. It was very fiery for about two hours, they called it all things under the sun, including murder, – and said it could not be done, – the drivers would not have it, the shunters would not have it, – the L.D.C. would not have it, etc. The chief inspector with two months to go offered to resign on the spot etc etc. Told him I could not comment on that one as it was a matter between him and Mr Bryant. Once we had sorted out all the issues raised that were the prerogative of other people to raise, they were left with the straight issue, – could all the work be done with one engine? They agreed, but said that insufficient staff had been provided to do the work. That of course is a matter for the L.D.C. staff side to comment on, so in the end subject to one minor provision, Bryant will recommend the report is passed onto the next stage. 

Regarding your query about the route, I believe the route you describe is the right one, but I cannot remember how we came back. I think we got a little lost in that area, and we wandered about in the outskirts of Windsor before getting back on the trail. I think that when you travel the layout of the roads will be a little different from those which we travelled on, as the M4 motorway has since been opened. This road bypasses Maidenhead, and will eventually pass Slough, but at the moment it stops short on the west side of Slough and you have to go on the A4 to proceed. Coming from the A303 through Englefield Green you will have to cross the A4 to get on the Iver Heath side and I am pretty certain you do it at the lights you suggest, also crossing the railway line by Dolphin Junction signal box. 

Susan suggested that perhaps Grandfy might like to grow a few blackberry bushes in his garden, but I told her you had spent the last thirty years trying to keep them out. I do not think my reply was understood or appreciated.*

You query what happened on the day of the school strike – Susan was sick as I said earlier but there was no strike at her school although some of the others in the area did close. I gathered that the parents had received letters informing them of the intention to strike. 

So sales have increased since dad join the choir. all good for trade apparently. 

Nice to know that Michael Richings has passed his B.A. At one time it looked as if he would not I think. 

Should have thought you could have made an edible hat, but after all you have prepared a few edible boots in the past. (reply awaited). 

So Arthur has gone on his way rejoicing by now. Hope the visit was a success for all concerned. After all they do live and act differently in America, and I suppose we should not judge them by our standards, or by any other for that matter. It is just a question of finding out how much one has in common apart from the language. 

Have not cut grass and may now leave it for the winter. We go out to tea this afternoon so it will be all rush and tear soon. Last Sunday we went over to West Drayton, Peter dropped the first bomb by bringing in his new girlfriend, and soon after the second one exploded when Mrs Hawkeswood and daughter walked in.

Tried to start the car yesterday to go shopping in the morning only to find that the battery was down flat. Borrowed Eric’s charger and in about half an hour had it on the road again. Doug was in bed with a heavy cold otherwise we could have pushed it into the road and tried coasting down the hill to start. Could not manage it on my own. Getting fewer and fewer dahlias now which is a pity as I had hoped you might be here to see them. We may have one or two left if your visit is not long delayed. Well there it is for this week once again, no doubt the girls will contribute a drawing or two. Love from us all for now. 

*Ya think?  After all, by the age of five a child really ought to be able to identify an invasive species.  /sarcasm.

Sunday 17th September, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you once again for weekly letter, arrived this time after some delay. Instead of arriving at 8 a.m. or thereabouts it did not turn up until about 9:30 a.m., well after breakfast was over. Cannot think what caused the delay as I do not think there is a normal post at that time. Perhaps it went into someone else’s box, or maybe the post itself was late.*

The children do not seem too bad at the moment, Carol is getting over her cold and Susan has not had it so far. Yesterday Carol dropped off in the afternoon, obviously flaked out, and although she woke some half hour later went back to sleep again and much resented the final coming round. Must admit I could have done with a sleep at the time what with a good dinner in the recent past, and Carol’s cold which she has kindly passed on. By the way I find your cherry wine excellent for it. If it does not do you any good, at least it makes you feel better, and I am afraid the cherry wine has had a bit of a bashing over the last few days, and I see there is only about one-third of a pint left. If you have any going begging, will gladly accept some more when you come up. It is very good stuff. 

I told Susan that has all the boys and girls had gone back to school, the donkeys had no one to ride them so she said she would write a letter to Punch. Have not seen it yet. Susan has had the best part of a week back at school and so far no incidents. She seems to like school dinners and tells us she eats them all up. No second helpings of pudding apparently. 

Glad you were able to get a good supply of blackberries. I have no idea what blackberry wine tastes like, but I should be very surprised if it was not a good one. One thing about it, the fruit comes free, and the cost per bottle is that much reduced. Note the weather was fine for that jaunt, but at the moment it is pouring here. I am afraid we have had a lot of rain over the last week or so, and the slugs are here again in force. They are playing havoc with my dahlias. A small plant with about eight heads in bloom is now just a mass of slime and broken stems. The same applies to most of the others, but as I have so many this year, we are still able to get all the blooms we want. 

Susan just arrived in shorts, coloured top, and small bow and arrow and announces she is Robin Hood. 

I do not think I told you but last week I took several cuttings of the honeysuckle, potted three in those fibre pots you gave me, watered them, and placed them in the polythene bags you brought the rose cuttings up in. The rest of the cuttings, of somewhat lesser standard, June planted in the ground outdoors. I am not able to see any apparent progress in the outdoor cuttings, although they still remain green, but the ones put in the pots are throwing out young buds. I shall keep them there for a little while, then if they are still satisfactory I shall put them along the wire where the other honeysuckle used to be before it died. 

Glad the ivy is growing. Should think most things ought to in this sort of weather. I should add that it has been very warm and far too muggy both yesterday and today. Yesterday fortunately was dry and sunny with it. 

Your figures for the beans and tomatoes are truly astronomical. Have you yet worked out the relative cost per pound and receipts per pound to show you which is the more profitable to grow? 

Still nothing on the Pools. As far as I can see there were few draws this week but I did manage to get one. Not nearly enough I fancy. 

Westgate is near Margate and the whole of the Kent area (Isle of Thanet) is very pretty country. Unfortunately it is very overcrowded and it is a somewhat long-range dormitory for London. I do not know the distance from London to Westgate, but I would say that it is very considerably further than Ruislip. I doubt whether anyone would want to travel from Westgate to London to work for more than a few months. 

I note your route as supplied from the AA but I would avoid Staines like the plague if I were you. There is a turning off the A30 to the north before you get to Staines (left-hand fork) which takes you through a village called Englefield Green. If I recollect this should take you into Datchet, and you should also be able to avoid most of Slough, and run out via Iver Heath. Have not looked at the chimney since writing, hope it is alright as plenty of rain to test it now. 

I did not know what Bert Pearce was getting and I am rather surprised they are paying him so highly. I suppose he is getting more now than before he retired. Which brings me to the question of Godfrey. I had not heard that he had died, until last week. The following day John Lewin brought up the cutting. I suppose if he did not live at Maidenhead, and had not known him, I should not have heard by now. It is a funny thing, he used to be such a known person only a few years ago, but I find now that there are few in the D.T.M.O. who have ever heard of him. I gather you had not heard otherwise you would have mentioned it in your letter of 13th which presumably was despatched before you got my extra one.

Note Uncle Arthur spending this weekend with you. I hope your weather better than ours, otherwise you will have had difficulty in entertaining. By the way, I think you meant a ten-gallon hat. No doubt you will have more to say about his visit next time. I expect he will have been asked to try the wine. 

Glad you have been able to consider going back into the choir. I expect it was all very familiar, but several faces missing. I believe old Les Garland still takes part. Who are the others? 

I thought you would be interested in the Wootton Bassett episode. No doubt there are more like that waiting to happen these days. 

No more news about applications. The Paddington Freight Shunters Report was circulated to the offices on Thursday. Bryant has already said that it can’t be done, while Phillips wants it introduced immediately. I gather that it caused a bit of a hubbub down at the morning conference – a sort of verbal free-for-all. 

Susan was able to sort out the drawings that Mum put in her section of the letter. I had to explain what Grandfy had been up to though.

Pauline back from her holiday in Italy. She went to Sorrento but said it was a bit disappointing. The sand was black – volcanic ash. Not much to do there apparently and her friend was taken ill and had to stay in bed for several days. The flights were uneventful in either direction. 

Well that is the budget of news for this week hope you are both keeping well. 

Love from us all…

*”First World Problems”!  In hindsight this looks like over-privileged carping at a time when there were two post deliveries on most days and still IIRC one on Sundays.  Imagine a letter actually arriving a whole hour-and-a-half late!

Sunday 27th August, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Just a line to let you know that we arrived home safely after our several very enjoyable stays at Clevedon. We have left Susan’s effort until tomorrow when the excitement of Auntie Eileen’s visit will have subsided, and when she will be able to concentrate?? on writing to you. June has already penned a few words and these are enclosed herewith. 

So far as the trip back is concerned, there was no difficulty. We were off the end of the platform at Bristol so had to walk through the train, but John Allen caught us up, and walked with us. He said he had spotted you on Yatton station but had not seen me. Susan apparently very sleepy but said she did not want to sleep. She had several very long rests on my lap but did not drop off. At Chippenham where the train was very full, a couple got in and paid the excess up to first class fare. The woman gave Susan a chocolate which sounded good. We arrived at Paddington about 5 or 6 minutes late, and I walked her down to Lancaster Gate where we picked up a direct train for South Ruislip. Carting all the luggage et cetera, was a bit of a bind especially the umbrella which did not seem to match in with the other stuff. Finished up by giving it to Susan to carry, and she bore it like a lance all the way home. After a hectic running greeting from Carol, Carol let her get on with it and minded her own business for a bit. It did not take long for the squawks to start after which everything was normal again. Susan handed out the present to Carol making quite sure that Carol knew which was Susan’s but had to be prompted into remembering she had something for Mum. There is no doubt that she thoroughly enjoyed her stay with you, and from time to time we hear about it. The donkey, and walking in the wind both seem to have made a hit. We do hope she was not too much of a nuisance to you, but for her part she has said she would like to repeat the dose.

Felt very tired myself on Saturday afternoon, although could not offer a very good reason why. Anyway I managed to have forty winks in the armchair thanks to others doing the washing up. We got the car out and did some shopping in the afternoon and by evening I managed to summon enough energy to mow two lawns. The one in the front garden I did this morning. The grass looks beautiful, much greener than usual for this time of year.

Today the weather’s been really grand. A spot of tidying up in the garden and garage this morning was followed by a car trip out to Burnham Beeches this afternoon. Of course all of the world and his brother decided to go out today. most of them along the Western Avenue, and crowds actually at Burnham. We managed to find a reasonably quiet spot and had tea then wandered in the trees eating blackberries, picking heather etc. We brought back two rooted cuttings of heather, and two rooted beech trees (small size)*. At the moment I can see June and Eileen planting them at the end of the lawn.

My dahlias are flowering well now. Should have counted the blooms, about fifty out there now even after picking yesterday.

Broached my last bottle of plum wine 1959 yesterday. It is really very good. I still have one of yours. Had a bit of a clear out of bottles today, and put out for disposal a number of stoppered bottles of the fizzy lemonade type. I know that Bravery says they are the best, but they do not look very posh, and in any case my bottles are not in the habit of exploding (touch wood etc etc). Another time we go to Burnham we must take some receptacle and collect some blackberries for wine. I should like to try it.

The bud on the rose you gave us (the surviving one,) is in full bloom now, a lovely red colour. Of course the plant is only 6 inches high as yet but should do well next year. I believe that June has planted the snowdrops in the rockery although I did not actually see it done. The love-in-the-mist seeds are being held pending the planting date.

As I believe we told you once before, there is a deal of leaf mould in Burnham Woods, enough to stock even your patch to overflowing. Today the girls collected a lot of kindling of which there is an abundance and we brought it back in the boot. This is supposed to be kept for Xmas fire (Yule log).

Well I must bring this letter to a close, and thank you once again for having Susan. We look forward to your visit, and will be glad to know in due course the actual day on which you will arrive. I know this is dependent on other things, and will therefore leave it in your hands. All send their love, and I am sure there will be some xxxxxs from Susan.

P.s. football a washout, what happened to the draws? 

*In hindsight, I am appalled by this behaviour. The notion that they would randomly drive out and help themselves to heather and beech trees, not to mention leaf mould, is horrendous when you learn that Burnham Beeches is now an SSSI – but, even if it wasn’t, it was always someone else’s property, and they were no more entitled to steal the vegetation than they would have been to, say, take away picnic benches or dump old mattresses there. Alec and June were always terrified that someone would put something over on them or take away something they were entitled to, but it never seemed to occur to them *not* to take away or damage someone else’s property; an interesting double standard.

Sunday 13th August, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for your letter, received as booked. Sorry you did not think much of Susan’s drawing, at least Mum thought it good. I must say she shows talent if not exactly artistic. 

We have had some mixed weather again this week. I took the old umbrella three days when it looks threatening, but did not have to use it, but left it home on one morning that promised fine. Of course it rained. I have not had to water the garden here for some long time now, as rain has fallen at frequent intervals making it unnecessary. The effect of course is that the plants are making quite a lot of growth, but very sparse in the matter of flowers. That dahlias continue to do well, and although the flowers do not seem to last long in the vase, there are plenty of others coming along to keep a decent show indoors. Find we have managed to keep one of the yellow ones. From the appearance of the leaves and stalk I had thought this particular plant to be one of the large pink cactus type flowers, but was pleased to find I was wrong. 

Have not ordered the passes yet for our journey, but will have to do so early on Monday morning as Mr. Lay and myself go to Reading on the 9-30 a.m. The Yard Staff have now asked for Work Study Bonus Scheme so we shall have an informal talk with the L.D.C. reps and tell them the tale. Had a meeting with the Old Oak Common Signalman’s L.D.C. on Thursday, they are a bit militant, as their chairman is the Secretary or Chairman of the Signalman’s Union (U.B.S.)I believe it is called. We start on Monday of this week by taking studies of Ladbroke Junction signal box. 

Susan’s pals have now had their marching orders for good. Details when we arrive. 

Put car in for repairs last Tuesday, and asked for it back for Saturday (yesterday) but although I had it back he has not finished it, and will take it again tomorrow morning and says he will return it on Thursday. I shall have to get him to return it on Wednesday or leave him the key of the garage as we shall be on our way to Clevedon on Thursday evening. At the moment, the front bumper is off, and the headlamp out, but the wing has been reshaped (good workmanship) but the paste wants sanding down, the whole of the alterations sprayed (several coats), and the piping etc. around the edges requires to be renewed. Jackson will also utilise any paint over to spray over one of the rear wings which for some reason is a slightly different colour from the rest of the car, and he will rehang the bonnet so that it fits properly. You may recall that there was a slight overlap or overhang when you passed car over to us. 

I see from the Sunday papers that Beeching is not to be allowed to have his expensive assistants from outside industry, so that may give some of us a chance. Any advantage here is bound to filter down through the ranks as there are still comparatively few trained and experienced “productivity hounds”. Not an impossible position for Norman to fill. Strange things happen these days. It has been found that what were once thought to be specialist jobs, jealously guarded by staff in the appropriate sections, can be done by reasonably bright people after quite short periods of training. There is after all nothing very difficult about marshalling that he should not be able to grasp after a few weeks. 

I saw the bit in the newspapers about Tossa, some do.

Note you have picked a large quantity of runner beans and tomatoes, suppose you will exceed the hundredweight in tomatoes this year. Good spare time indoor job this winemaking, enables some interesting activity when the weather is too bad for outdoor work. We shall not be able to transport any wine this time as we shall be without the car, but I hope we shall have the chance of tasting some when with you. Have nearly finished your cherry now and ready to broach the next variety. Thanks for the tip about elderberries, we have no bushes near us so cannot tell the progress of the ripening. If you are interested, you may be able to gather some blackberries over the next couple of months and try a new flavoured wine with them. 

I do not think I knew or knew of Anthony D**** but it is always a tragic business. I think I heard somewhere that the old chap had died. So if so it is just as well in the circumstances.

It sounds as though you had a very severe gale your end. We had it bad but no real damage to report – nothing to damage much. There was a tree blown down in The Fairway but I did not see it. 

We had our office car rally yesterday. June and I went over to meet the rest of them at Burnham station (8 cars all told) and we all all went to Burnham Beeches for a picnic tea, (take your own picnic), from that point we set off one at a time to conform to the printed instructions handed to us. A sort of mystery tour, with an adult form of Treasure Hunt included. Some of the places we passed through were Beaconsfield, Forty Green, Penn, Saunderton, and Henley-on-Thames*. We finished up at the latter, and after one drink in the hotel opposite the station June and I left for home. The rest remained for a buffet supper and convivial evening. McDonald and his wife attended and took part in the rally. He was highly delighted and wants the next one as soon as possible. 

Well we will look out for you at Yatton station off the 5-5 p.m. Paddington on Thursday. In the meantime will say love from us all.

*Google Earth suggests this is roughly a 40 mile loop with an additional 40+ miles of travelling to and from South Ruilsip at either end, therefore roughly 85 miles of driving plus a picnic tea and a drink in the pub afterwards. It’s difficult to see this all taking much less than four hours and possibly a lot more, depending on the speeds possible on the roads that day.