Tag: Wine

Tuesday 25th April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 letters, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for your combined letter received this morning – have started to reply tonight as we hope to be in Bristol on Wednesday evening (more of this later) and I do not like leaving the whole letter to Thursday.

Fancy Susan going to & from school on her own – how long does it take? query ten minutes.* Expect it is a job to get much out of her at present but various bits and pieces will come out when you least anticipate it. She must be a very proud young lady going off on her own. The weather has not been too good either, even for such a short journey.

Very sorry to hear you have had a bad cold June and we hope you have shaken it off by now. We have kept fairly free recently but with such changeable weather anything can happen.

Note you have been having visitors and looking forward to another evening out – makes a nice change from routine. If Peter and Brenda find themselves in this area when out on their travels we should be very pleased to see them. As you know we shall be at Exmouth during the first weekend in May but after that should be here on Sundays until further notice. They must pick a fine day though – Clevedon not much of an attraction for visitors in wet weather but really delightful on warm & sunny days.

Glad Carol had her birthday present safely and we note it has gone to her credit in Post Office – very nice too. She does not mind now at being on her own all day – can quite appreciate she wants to help Mummie. Is she interested in what Susan has to say about school?

It was no fault of yours that we did not go to Eastcote whilst we were at Ruislip – the weather was such that we were better off indoors except when we went over to Wembley on the Thursday and that to us was new ground and quite interesting. Shall hope to visit Eastcote on another occasion.

Mum must draw a little sketch for you shewing route to your holiday accommodation – presumably you will be entering Exmouth from the Budleigh Salterton direction. Note you will try and get some good holiday snaps this time. We have only seen the one snap taken by Joe or Lydia which as already mentioned is very good but I think they took one or two more which we shall probably see when we go down again.

Don and Joan duly arrived on Sunday but it was a miserable day, only clearing up in the late afternoon. Still we were pleased to see them and had a good natter. Don brought up 12 flagons cider which are now in store in garage – the previous consignment being still in use. They asked about you all and if they would be seeing you sometime during the time you are on holiday here.

Tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) we shall be going to Bristol to see Mr & Mrs Newman and shall not be home until about 10.0 p.m. – hope weather improves. It has been raining continuously since 9.30 a.m. after a glorious day yesterday (Monday).

Stacey called up later today and wanted us to go to their place (near Zoo) on Saturday but Mum has one of her nights out then attending the Clevedon Playgoers last show of the season so another visit to Bristol is off until after Whitsun.

Had a letter from John Wills (Secretary of Office Outing Committee) yesterday with an invitation to the Bristol D. T. M. staff outing to Paignton on Saturday 13th May but am doubtful if shall accept. Incidentally the invitation for the first time includes wives. Expect Bill Aston has had a letter too but I’ve not seen him since last Friday. He was then going to be busy on his allotment (behind Mogg’s house). Did not see him on Sunday for our usual walk round the hill because I had to hurry home to be here for the arrival of the visitors from Lyng.

The railway gazette you gave me was read by Bill Aston & Roy Hewitt and Don took it back with him and also the books for mechanics you let me have – all very interesting.

This week I took down remainder of staging in greenhouse and now have planted out a total of 44 tomato plants – ten each in nos 1 & 2 bays and 12 each in nos 3 & 4 bays. Outside I’ve put in the sticks for runner beans – 201 altogether – and set beans in against 104 of them. Against the other 106 I shall transplant from boxes at end of month – these are already about 2″ high but if frost anticipated at night I can put boxes inside. The row of garden peas was a failure – the sparrows pecked out the shoots as soon as they came through soil. The remedy – black cotton along the next lot which will go in as soon as can walk on garden again. Of the 50 or so lettuce plants I’ve been protecting nightly I’ve lost a couple but have plenty from which I can replace. The gale force wind today has blown the broad beans about and blown over part of the hedge between us and new neighbours – had to cut it away as it was blocking drive to garage. Looks a bit ragged for a few feet but it will recover by the end of the summer.

The electricians arrived on Monday and they have been busy rewiring from the attic downwards. This means the bathroom being done out when they have finished and the biggest bedroom repapered. Still it had to be done.

The horse still behaving himself and having his fill of grass with the odd lump of sugar. Yes I’m sure Susan & Carol will be pleased to see him – at a distance. Mother always carries a stick when she goes down the field to inspect the fruit trees but it is the horse that does the disappearing trick.

Parsnip wine still under fermentation lock but working much more slowly now. You are fortunate to get old of those nice gallon jars. Is your last lot of wine still working?

Thursday 27th April

Now continuing letter after our visit to Bristol yesterday – a really fine sunny afternoon and moonlit evening for the run home at 9.15 p.m. Today I put in another row of Peas & carrots. Found the carrot fly had had first outside sowing of carrots but those in frame looking fine. This afternoon started on bathroom – cleaning off ceiling – sandpapering woodwork and walls and filling in cracks etc. Another busy day tomorrow obviously.

Now must close or mum will not get much of a look in this time.

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

Mum and Dad

*Yes, just fancy – not even five years old at this point and walking to school and back unaccompanied twice a day, a distance of a good half a mile each time (checked on GoogleEarth), crossing a couple of roads, because Mum can’t be arsed to sling baby sister into the pushchair and go along. The fact that nothing untoward happened can only be attributed to a miracle. June really did like her kids to be ‘out of sight, out of mind’ so that she could ‘get on with the housework’, 90% of which she made for herself. It was her way of feeling validated, which is really pretty sad. And Google Earth says 10 minutes for an adult, so maybe 20 for anyone with five-year-old legs?

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

We are up to our eyes in decorating at the moment. Problem is whether to have pink walls & blue doors or vice versa. The electricians made a has of everything leaving their mark & am afraid it will have to stay until we decorate the rooms in turn.

It is very foggy here now & I expect another fine day.

Yesterday afternoon while Leon was busy stopping up I did some grubbing out grass by the shed which was about a foot long & wringing wet.

Glad Susan is going on at school alright. I thought she would soon want to go it alone because she knew the way the Sunday morning she showed us. What is the score (handicap) round in Alec’s golf, one in three? I wouldn’t know. Do you have to caddy for yourself?

Mrs Cummings in Southmead hospital for an operation expects to be in there three weeks & yours truly is delivering the church magazines for her.

The ‘do it yourself’ shop is open in Alexandra Road where the fish shop was & seems a good place. Name of Hollyman.

Well I think this is the lot now lots of love from us all & kisses for Susan & Carol.

From Mum & Dad.

[Sketch at the bottom of the sheet that looks like a set of lockpicks or crochet hooks marked ‘What is this?’ Almost certainly intended to be a set of five (!) golf clubs in a bag without a handle … ]

Sunday 23rd April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for the letter again this week. For once we received it after we had been to Eastcote and returned with the weeks shopping. We had an early start to the Saturday as we were giving a dinner party for Delph, Roy, Pauline and Norman. It went very well. June of course prepared the meal and made all the arrange­ments, and a good time was had by all.

To refer to your letter, there is not a lot we can tell you about Susan’s schooling. She goes to and fro on her own now and seems to make a good job of it. She does no more than play with the Wendy house, paint, crayon, draw and play with water or so she says. She has learned to play a game in the play­ground.- Cowboys and Indians. – “you make your hands like a gun, and run round saying bang, bang”. The boy two doors up the road keeps pestering her and taking her hat away. She has a nice hat now, red with F.E.S. on it for Field End School. She knows the names of all the boys and girls in her class and some others in other classes. There are fours boys named Paul and three named Susan. No doubt we shall hear some more details later on.

Carols birthday festivities we went off very well, and thank you for the card and present sent. As I think I told you we did not go to a party for her as she is a bit young. Frankly two of them is a permanent party and quite enough to handle. We are sorry you missed going to Eastcote when you were here as I know you like the place. We must make sure to go there next time. No more shoes tied to the lamp so far but I did see them tied to something else yesterday. No trouble with the children over the beds now. They have taken to the situation and do not cause much of a rumpus.

Note you will be going to Tiverton on 5th May. Hope your visit is enjoyable and that you have good weather. We have arranged to go to Norman’s flat for a meal that day. Hope we can get a Baby sitter. Forgot to get Mum to tell us how to get to the road in Exmouth that we shall visit on our holiday, perhaps she can think to let us know some time. Glad your snap came out good. I am determined to get a decent camera before the holiday so that perhaps we can take some coloured snaps ourselves. There is not much difficulty in taking them provided you have the proper facilities.

You will have to arrange with Don for him to bring up his consignments of cider in a sizeable cask so that you can do a bit of home brewing in it. I tried to get another of the gallon jars on Saturday but was a day too late as the shop had cleared their empties the previous day. They will keep one back for me to call for in a week or so.

[Unfortunately this letter ends here, at least 4.5 cm from the foot of the page – and Alec was a demon for using every morsel of the paper he could. If there was a second page, it seems no longer to be in the collection; the random second page floating around unattached – mentioned previously – clearly isn’t part of this letter either. Possibly something unexpected occurred to halt Alec’s progress and he ended up putting the typewriter away and finishing this particular letter by hand; it seems the only logical explanation.]

Wednesday 19th April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter duly to hand on Tuesday and we were both very eager to see how Susan got on during her first days at school. Apparently she did not mind but Carol did – for a minute or two at least – but now she has got used to being on her own. Susan was soon in the wars then by falling down and skinning her knees. Glad Carol enjoyed her birthday festivities now it will soon be Susan’s turn. Looks as if she has a pal already at school – makes all the difference even to small children to have a special friend.

Glad to hear you have now got a shade and the lamp is complete. Strange you should get it at Eastcote – this was the first time we missed going there when on holiday with you. We like the shopping area there very much and with a car it is practically on your doorstep. Note Susan tied her shoes on to wire support of lamp – presumably for good luck but I don’t suppose she thought so when you had dealt with her.* We imagined they would try and celebrate the rearrangement of the beds in their room but Father & Mother apparently took a dim view of the idea.

Fancy mothers having to listen to the headmistress for half an hour when their children go to school for the first time. Quyite a good idea no doubt to get all the gen but this is the first time I’ve known anything like this to happen. Hope June did not think she herself was starting school again. Anyhow they were happy days when you look back upon them.**

We had another letter from Uncle Joe at Tiverton this morning asking us to go down early in May for a long weekend as we cannot manage Whitsun so have decided to go to Tiverton on Friday 5th prox. and on to Exmouth the following day for a weekend at the bungalow.*** Last October they took a coloured snap-shot of Mum and I standing either side of the car and sent us a copy this morning. It is a lovely shot, one of the best we have seen for a long time. Must remember to show it to you in due course. We have asked Don & Joan to come up next Sunday the 23rd inst. and they have replied accepting so let’s hope it will be fine & warm. I understand he is bringing up another consignment of cider. Sorry about that last bottle of yours. Query was cork loose.

You are quite right about the donkeys. Apart from Salthouse Fields the paths around Wains Hill have to be negotiated very carefully now-a-days. I see there are also about half a dozen ponies and one carriage – something like the 6.5 p.m. Special but called the ‘Spaceship’. Nothing like being up to date.****

The horse in our field is getting along alright and what grass he does not eat is trodden down so same effect – for me – is attained. Have been round with the wheelbarrow a couple of times and it reminds me of years ago when I used to go out on the road – with others – with a Tates sugar box on wheels and pick up for your Grandad’s allotment. No motor cars in those days but plenty of horse carriages.

Chettiscombe and Chevithorne are two little hamlets with rather long names but both are somewhat picturesque and are only a few miles out of Tiverton. Halberton is a village roughly halfway between Tiverton Jun. and Tiverton.

We think Joe & Lydia do fairly well in letting the bungalow but if you own one of these it is much more convenient to be living somewhere near so that you can pop down occasionally – particularly at changing out weekends – to see how things are going on otherwise damage and breakages cannot be debited to any specific boarder. In Joe’s case there is someone they know well in residence on the Dock throughout the year and he does what is necessary.

I managed to get grass cut last Saturday afternoon. The garden soil is still like concrete and most difficult to work. Incidentally I unrolled the hose just after dinner today and about an hour later it started to rain and continued raining remainder of day. I bought 10 tomato plants yesterday & put them in the ring culture bay of greenhouse. These will provide the early tomatoes and my own plants the sequence. Runner Beans (in boxes) are coming up and I’m trying to get the ground ready for transplanting. The first row of peas is a failure – seems to be an annual event – something eating them as soon as they come up. Now trying some in a box for planting out later.

Going back to your letter again what a nice lot of presents Carol had for her birthday. I’m sure she had a wonderful time and what a novel idea to have a ‘birthday’ chair at Sunday School.

Our new neighbours – in Cummings house – were busy during the weekend putting a cement wash on the walls and it looks very nice. The people next door again – Mrs Drewett’s – are also there daily painting and papering but they have not moved in yet.

Thanks for the promise of more plum wine – it’s excellent. Have you tried the cherry I brought up – quite a pleasant taste to it. Cornish looked over yesterday afternoon & I gave him a drop of the orange which he admitted was good. The parsnip is still working under fermentation lock and I shall let it continue indefinitely.

On TV the other night we saw a primary school in which children were assembled for their first day and it was very amusing. One thing we saw was the issue of a beaker of milk complete with straw. Does Susan get any milk at midmorning? Rather looks as if she does as I notice the milkman who delivers it is named Baker.

Has Peter has his car put right yet? Hope no ill effects to Mr & Mrs Baker consequent on their unpleasant journey on Easter Monday.

Well I think this is the lot once more. Hope you are all keeping well.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for our big school girl Susan and our three years old Carol.

Mum & Dad

*Leonard is clearly expecting the result of this innocuous-sounding prank to have been a ‘smacked bottom’, which was no doubt the case. I leave it to you whether the punishment was appropriate to the ‘crime’.

**It’s nice to know that for some people school is a pleasant experience and not an unmitigated hell of bullying during which the best a parent can come up with is ‘I expect you started it’.

***A bit of unravelling to do here. Firstly, business custom used to be to use ‘inst.’ for the present month, ‘ult.’ for the previous month and ‘prox.’ for the coming month. Since Leonard learned his business habits before and during the First World War it is really no surprised that he was still using them forty years later. (In the same way the present writer simply cannot use a single space after a full stop; having been taught to use two, it’s quite immaterial that the convention has changed; it’s as ingrained as breathing and could only be altered by a global search-replace.) Secondly, the early May Bank Holiday (often described as May Day but only occasionally falling on 1 May itself) did not exist until 1978. What Leonard refers to as ‘Whitsun’ is the holiday surrounding the religious festival of Whit Sunday which tended to float about in the calendar between late May and early June, depending on the date of Easter. Secularising the public holiday means that it became pinned to the last Monday in May – as the early Bank Holiday is pinned to the first Monday – which makes planning a lot easier for people who are not otherwise tied to a religious calendar. Proposals to move the early May Bank Holiday to October and celebrate Trafalgar Day instead have so far been unsuccessful; adding Trafalgar Day as an extra Bank Holiday would probably be more successful!

****Ooooh, boy, here we go down the rabbit hole! Trapnells of Weston-super-Mare (now Weston Donkeys) have run donkeys on the beach at Weston for generations. Clearly at this time they had also expanded their activities to Clevedon, although the two resorts are very different in character and it has to be doubted whether it was really worth doing. Apart from putting individual children on individual donkeys, they also ran carts or carriages with seats for the very young or those unable – or too nervous – to sit astride a donkey, and the carriages were always themed around whatever children were interested in at the time. Leonard’s observation of a “6.5 Special” ride no doubt ties in with the BBC TV series Six-Five Special which ran from 1957 to 1958 but which may possibly have been recorded and repeated in subsequent years. The Spaceship was no doubt the one in the photo below, taken at Weston-super-Mare the following year, named after ‘Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future‘ (which future was apparently the 1990s!) who was very popular in the ‘Eagle’ comic at the time and is still enjoying a protracted afterlife amongst his devoted fans.

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter. I expect the girls have been much occupied to do any drawings this week so much excitement about. We are now going to Exmouth May 6th for week end will be spending the Friday night at Tiverton then go down with Joe Sat. morning & expect Lydia will come in afternoon unless she gets time off. Her boss is negotiating the purchase of another shop as all those in Bridge Street are scheduled to come down to widen the road soon.

May is a busy month for me. On 15th we go to Glastonbury to look over Moorlands Factory where they make the sheepskin rugs & slippers etc. Whit Monday the Headstones***** will be down for day. June the first we go to Cannington Farm Institute & afterwards they will dump us either to Bridgwater or Taunton for tea. Mr Horton Coleridge Vale Road’s son is engaged I don’t know if you know the girl Janet Hart of Kenton Road Harrow.

It’s been drizzle on & off all day, I haven’t got any gardening done but Dad has been busy all the day. I wish it would get a bit warmer so that we can leave off jumpers.

Well I think this is all for now, hoping to soon hear the next school budget.

Bye bye for now.

Love from Mum & Dad

*****Presumably Geoff, Stella, and their daughters, who all lived in a house at Headstone Lane! I’ve never heard this expression used before – it will be interesting to see if it turns up again.

Sunday 16th April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for your letters, must give you all the latest news on school and Birthday but first to reply to your long letter. I agree that in some senses it does not seem so very long since you were here – time went in a flash and has done ever since, so not know if there is anything from Susan and Carol this week, they have been very active but in other directions this week.

We had one very bad day this end for weather but I fancy it was not the Monday. It poured all day and was certainly a day to forget. Bad luck you were unable to find the grass sufficiently dry to cut but no doubt by now it has been cut.

Front room does look better now we have given it a face lift. The large armchair went conveniently to a jumble sale on Saturday, and its replacement will be taken in hand. We bought a very nice pink lampshade on Saturday in Eastcote. It is a circular shade made of pleated linen, the circular wire support at the top is slightly smaller than that at the bottom. It goes well with the stand and also with the wallpaper. Ten minutes after installing it Susan tied her shoes to the wire supports by the laces and could not get them off. – What will she think of next. The children were joyfully pleased with their altered bedroom and tended to high Jinks the first day but that inclination was squashed. Have practically no trouble with then at nights going to bed but Susan had a restless night the first day after going to school – dreams we think.

Glad you liked the plum wine and sorry supplies dwindling. Will try to member to put one in when I come down. There is nothing to pay for the sweet jars – did not intend that there should be anyway. Yes there are no now apparent effects of the injection hanging around far as Susan is concerned. She has not mentioned it since going to School. We have had reports from Susan re School but as you will learn when reading on, its a bit like the curates egg.

The children are interested in the report of the horse and will look forward to seeing him when they come down. Hope he does what is required of him in all senses. I do not suppose the “donkey” arrangement is going to be all that popular with holiday makers or Clevedonians either. They are O.K. on sand as they can run along sea washed sand which is smooth and also the sea obligingly cleans up after them which it cannot do if the performance takes place in Salthouse Fields.

You will have to have a louder bell fitted to telephone apparently so that Richings can be sure of a reply.

Note the colour of your parsnip wine. My earliest finished up by being a sort of off-white cloudy liquid but the second effort finished up a light gold colour. The taste of the latter however is too strong. Have almost finished the cider now. The last half pint is left. Did not like this bottle quite so much through leaving it a day or two it developes an oily film on the surface which I am sure is bacteria. Moral do not leave it long enough for bacteria to form. If you want to sell tomatoes in any quantity at a time when the price is worth it, I suggest you put in some plants to augment your own sowing.

June and I saw the Hales van in the same place again on Saturday. I expect he has a regular run.

Sounds as though the bungalow at Exmouth is going to pay for itself. Be interesting to know more about the economics of that sort of business. Sorry I do not know Chettiscombe or Chevithorne other than that they must be small towns or hamlets outside Tiverton. I did not go out into the surrounding country on any occasion other than one trip to Bampton and another to Molland with Grandad. I remember going through Halberton on a bus from Tiverton Jcn and looking in the shops there, but did not get around to the more distant places.

Have to change young Richins name to Michaelangelo Richins if his future wife is going to gad about on trips to Italy.

Quick work with the skirt Mum made. Our front room was easy this time as we had only to paint it, and that can’t take too long.

Gather the horse is supposed to be in the garden to eat grass not sugar. If you take away his appetite for grass you might as well send him back to Norman Baker.

Well lets get round to Susan’s school capers. She was duly taken round by June and escorted by Carol. The Mothers had to listen to a half hour delivery by the headmistress welcoming them and giving out the rules. When Carol saw Susan disappear she burst into tears but was soon quite happy singing to herself in the garden at home. Susan was fetched at midday and everything seemed in order – she had played with a Wendy House and had been given paints to play with. In the afternoon she managed to disgrace herself, and also to fall down ( she said she was pushed ) in the playground and scrape the skin off both her knees – one so bad the teacher had to put plaster on it. The next day there were no tears from Carol and again Susan played with the Wendy House and sand and water and paints. She was kept home in the afternoon for not doing what she was told to do, and that was the second day. On the Thursday she had a day off for the elections and back to normal on Friday. She seems to like it. Her friend Gillian from the Sunday School is in her class and there is another Susan sitting next to her. She has already picked up some school phraseology such as ‘giving out’ for issuing. Her teacher’s name is Miss Smith – hope no one lisps. The milkman who brings round the milk every day is called Mr Baker. It seems they have stories read to them by the teacher and paint and play with the Wendy House in varying order each day.

We had Chris, over from Greenford for tea with Carol on the occasion of her Birthday and we have had a right good lot of goings on. After tea it has been a job to calm them all down and it was a relief when they went home. Carol appreciated her presents and cards and thanks you for yours. She has been singing “Happy birthday to me Happy Birthday dear Carol happy birthday to me.” She has two dollies almost identical which we call the twins – lots of money – a bell for her bicycle – some little Noddy books – a Noddy eggcup shaped like Noddy and a Noddy hat with a bell on it for an egg warmer. We did not hold a party as such – what we had was quite enough thank you, but there was trifle, jelly, ice cream and and a cake with three candles on it for her to blow out. At Sunday School she sat in the Birthday chair and blew out three candles, so she has had quite a day.

Your mint not showing through yet but should not be long now. Some of the roses have had their leaves eaten off by the slugs and only the stalks remain but most of the others look healthy enough. The clover is growing so we shall soon have a decent lawn again.

Well there it is for the time being – more of the school saga next week no doubt. Love from us all.

Thursday 13th April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

As previously mentioned, there should be a letter from Alec to his parents for Sunday 9th April 1961 but it seems to have vanished – and, although I have an undated partial letter floating around loose in the box, it is very unlikely to be from this particular date due to its contents.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter received on Tuesday with all the latest news. It does not seem a week ago yesterday that we left Ruislip after our holiday – time just flies. Thank you Susan & Carol for your very nice drawings – we have been thinking of you this week going to and from school – Susan to stop and Carol to come home again. How do you like it Susan?

Weather here typically April although Monday was as bad as Easter Monday – kept raining continuously until 4.0 p.m. All outdoor work at a standstill for days including grass cutting. The lawn has not been touched since the day before we came up to you.

Note you were soon busy on the decorations after our departure and I expect the front room now looks very nice after your efforts. Can quite picture the rearrangement of the twin beds in the girls’ room – are the young ladies pleased with it? No crayons taken to bed presumably. We are still waiting for the electrician to come and rewire the house then have a spot of painting and papering to do here.

Am enjoying your plum wine – a wineglass full dinnertimes but it’s nearly gone now. Some of the best home brew I’ve ever tasted. By the way I did not think to pay you for the sweet jars when you handed them to me so will put right in due course.

Note Susan had a booster injection last week – expect she has fully recovered by now. What a wonderful thing these injections are – never heard of them in our time and we caught one illness after another until we were almost immune from the rest. Let’s hope they work on Susan. Should just like to peep in on her in the classroom – have you had a full report from her of her doings?

Had a call from Norman Baker last Saturday morning “Could he come down & put up fence & bring horse along?” Replied Yes and he duly arrived with posts & cross pieces and barb wire. The horse (Joey) is 26 years old and quite docile. Norman still uses it at horse shows for playing Musical Chairs on horse back. So far he has not made much impression on the field but his appetite is good and he eats quite a lot of grass. Am hoping it will save nme some of the work with the scythe later on. Will report progress in future letters.

I see in last week’s Mercury the Council have agreed to donkeys on the Front this summer for the children. In fact the animals are already here and foraging on Wain’s Hill – something else for Susan & Carol to see at Clevedon. I think I read they are to be used on part of Salthouse Fields.

Last Sunday morning just as I was about to go over to the Church for ringing the telephone bell rang – Mrs Richings Weston – said she had phoned four times over Easter. Told her we did not hear as far away as Ruislip. They wanted su to go and see them again so we went down yesterday afternoon and after about two hours prowling around the shops – Woolworths etc. – we called on them at 4.0 p.m. Left again about 9.15 p.m. and home just before 10.0 p.m. Mr Richings I gather is now learning to drive a car and is he passes test proposes to buy one. Also heard that Michael had taken a test at Reading & failed. He was home for the Easter holiday & returns to Reading on the 29th inst.

You mentioned the Peach cutting in your letter. I’ve not put it in garden yet – have however repotted it as it needed a larger pot. Not made up my mind so far as to most suitable site.

The Parsnip wine is still working under fermentation lock but it is getting clearer – a lovely golden brown colour. Richings says he is going to make some as he has a lot of old parsnips lying about which otherwise would be dug back into the ground. Note your cider getting low – am sorry cannot replace just now. I still have a crop on hand and have a glass most nights at suppertime.

Have started to get greenhouse ready for tomato plants & am still in doubt whether to buy a few or not. Mine are coming along nicely but may be about three weeks behind the time I usually start picking so may buy 8 or 10 just to give that earlier picking and make up complement with own plants – the next fortnight will decide.

Hales have delivery vans over the South of England. They leave the bakery with fully loaded vans and are away for two or more days. I’ve seen them at a number of places distant from Clevedon. Still it must have been a bit of a surprise to see one of the vans so close to Queen’s Walk.

The chrysants I brought back are still looking nice & fresh and I’m more likely to get them to take than you will the rose cuttings which are most difficult to strike. Still you must let us know what happens. The tendency apparently is for the cuttings – if they are not going to take – to turn brown from the top.

It was a nice compliment to get a copy of the report on C.P.C. sent to you by the B.J.C. – something to look at when the children are in bed?

Carol’s birthday on Sunday – three years old – as I said before How time flies. How does she get on without Susan to play with? Query keeps closer to Mummie.

Had a letter from Tiverton yesterday asking us to go there at Whitsun and on to the bungalow at Exmouth for a few days but as Geoff & family are coming down here on Whit Monday we had to decline the invitation but we may be able to go down at the close of the Season. We understand they are fully booked up at the bungalow from the beginning of June – nice work. John & family have now moved from sharing a house at Chettiscombe to the school house at Chevithorne – the school now being closed. It is a mile or so further away from Tiverton but he has a little car to get to & fro.

Between somewhat heavy storms today managed to put in remainder of potatoes but soil was like a wet cake mixture. Have quite a lot of plants of one sort and another waiting to be put in but ground is so wet that very small seedlings would be swamped so they must wait for drier weather. Got 50 lettuce plants out last weekend – working from concrete path – and am protecting them nightly from slugs by putting flower pots over them – so far with success.

Well I think this is the lot for another week. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you for the nice drawing you sent. I am putting them with the others. We have been pretty busy since coming home. I tore strips off the milk people & the next time they forget me will change, but they simply pass the buck from one to the other.

Had a good chin wag at Weston for a few hours. Michael was there but his fiancee had just gone to London en route for Italy with the school. She is at a boarding one & getting £7.5.0 [roughly £168.50 in 2021 money] plus food not bad at 24, she is two years older than Michael. They are thinking of marrying Mr R says but he won’t be able to earn for a year if he passes his finals in July. Mrs R was interested in news of the children.

I bought some small check material & made a skirt on Monday & Tues to wear it to Weston on Wednesday. Wish we could work as quickly as you in the decorating business, it takes up time when you have to stop & get a meal.

I get on with the horse alright, take him some sugar lumps & he tries to see into my pocket. He is being made a fuss of by the neighbours so hope he won’t go overeating.

Wonder how Susan got on with her first day at school. I bet June missed her the first time. You will be having plenty of ‘school’ in future. I must leave a space for a drawing.

[Biro sketch of the school (front elevation with clock tower) and a little girl with hair ribbon, pleated skirt, cardigan and odd shoes, and randomly a flying book.]

Love from Mum & Dad

Wednesday 5th April, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Just to let you know we arrived home safely at 1.40 p.m. and to thank you again for giving us such a nice time. The weather could not be helped but we made the most of the time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The week went all too quickly but like all good things must come to an end. You have made great progress with your home in more ways than one and the children are lovely and in really good condition. A big day for Susan next Tuesday and we shall be thinking of her quite a lot that day – she should do well at school once she has got into the rhythm of school life. Carol will miss her but should reap an advantage by having an elder sister to show her things.

It was a nice break for us and as I said above it was soon over. Hope you were not too exhausted by having two more in family for a week.

Now for some news of our trip home. It came on to rain at Beaconsfield and continued until we arrived Chipping Sodbury when sun came out and quickly dried things up. Earlier we had arrived at Cirencester at 11.15 a.m. (mileage recorded 77) and whilst we were having coffee the skies literally opened up and it poured down for twenty minutes – people could not leave the Restaurant. It eased a little and we slipped into Woolworths where other people had had the same idea. We left Cirencester at 12 noon and at Yate turned right onto the Aust Ferry road and at Rudgeway connected with the main Gloster [sic] to Bristol road thence via Filton – the Zoo and Suspension Bridge. Then after getting on to Beggar Bush Lane it became so hot I stopped car and took off mac. It had been a glorious afternoon here and my goodness how things have moved in the garden – quite a transformation since our departure a week ago.

There were no incidents en route this time and everything in good order as we unloaded it from the car including the Plum Wine. The ‘sprinkler’ (for which again many thanks) is now on a shelf in the garage waiting suitable opportunity for use together with the two sweet jars you gave me this morning. The Chrysanths clump and the peach cutting (latter ex Geoff) in greenhouse for attention tomorrow. The two lots of Parsnip wine – under fermentation – are working well and already the colour is excellent. The car was absolutely dry when I ran it into garage so did not have to wipe it down. Needs a clean of course which it will get as soon as possible.

Found a letter from Don here to say he had had to make another journey for cider and asking if we had used all ours yet. The Rate demand was also on the mat waiting for us – £19 10s 6d [in the region of £455 in 2021 money] for half year – gone up again. Have not seen anyone yet since we arrived ( now 4.0 p.m.) but I notice bath (for rain water off garage) empty when we went away is now completely full but there are many other signs too that plenty of rain has fallen here over the Easter. The grass on lawn needs cutting again so it looks as if there is plenty of work in garden now for next week or two. The milkman did not leave milk this morning as requested so it was just as well mum brought back a bottle or we should have had to drink wine instead of tea.

Mum picked the remainder of the daffodils this afternoon but apparently there were not many left – a number having finished flowering in our absence. The wallflowers in front garden are now coming out nicely – rather late for us I’m afraid and I cannot account for it as they were planted out last October. Can only put it down to the very wet winter.

I wonder what those two little girls have been up to today? Query fine enough later in afternoon for them to get outdoors – perhaps you were able to go out in car. It was nice to see Mr & Mrs Baker – Peter & Pauline again but we both feel very sorry for Mr & Mrs Baker with the problem that must be uppermost in their minds all the time. Can only hope that something will turn up to ease the position.

Now I must close as should like this to catch early post this evening.

All our love to you both – it was so nice to see and be with you again – and lots of kisses for our two lovely grandchildren.

Mum & Dad

Eva to the family on the remaining one-third sheet of Leonard’s writing paper:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Just to say we have arrived here. Thank you very much for a lovely rest & holiday now have to keep my nose to the grindstone for a bit.

It is hot here quite different to what it was before Easter have to put away the winter woollys at last.

Good job I brought home some milk that’s the second time they have served me that trick, they will get only one more chance.

No more now lots of love to all & again many thanks.

Mum

On the remaining blank side of writing paper – since these are shorter letters than usual for obvious reasons – Eva has drawn (1) a skipping rope, (2) a rather demonic-looking horse with cloven hooves, snaggle teeth and what appears to be a Batman cowl, pulling an apparent Conestoga wagon with a chimney at one end, and (3) an enigmatic object that could be a tea-cup from the top, a padlock, or a toilet seat. The caption is ‘Can you guess what these are?’. The answer, from the distance of sixty years, must inevitably be ‘no’.

Sunday 26th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for your latest letter. By the time you get this you will have one day to go before departure. Glad you had plenty of letters and cards for your Birthday, and could celebrate with Aston.

I agree that the weather has been far too cold to have for Easter, but it has Improved-a little over this week-end. Had the first experience of the clock going on this morning but unlike the popular programme, the clock did not beat us this time.

Sorry to hear that Don and Joan have not been too good. Not surprising that Don feels the effect of the colder weather, but they must both find it trying being both out of sorts. Note Don was well enough to go for sustinance [sic] in the afternoon so recovery cannot be long delayed.

I remember now that you visited Torquay soon after you bought the car just at the time of the first floods Also I recall how you found water lying inside.

I was not aware that Mr Hessel had married again but expect you told me and I have forgotten. Did not know that he was living opposite the station, had not seen him for many years.

Note you have some cuttings for us, we can do with some alternative colours to those we have already.

Should have thought that Don could have arranged a run-round in his place so that he could run head-on out of the gate instead of backing out every time. A periscope suitably sited would assist I should think.

Don’t know whether there is a drawing from Susan this week or no, but have seen one or two good ones on white cardboard floating around.

Don’t go scorching along to get here by l.30pm on Wednesday, but grub will await you on arrival. By the way should you find it necessary to phone, don’t forget the number is now Viking 2808.

Should imagine that following the visit to Caperns you can now claim to have heard the first Cuckoo.

Have no blossom on my plum yet but as it is a very young tree do not expect we shall see any for a-year or two.

See you have got some of the spuds in and have had a frost or two. We have been having regular white frosts mornings but I have nothing to damage except the Dahlia tubers in the shed and the indoor chrysants.

Note the fermentation lock will secure your latest brew when you are here. I put a whole oz. packet of dried yeast in the last brew, and it went into an immediate furious ferment to such purpose that at the end of one fortnight I looked at it and found that fermentation was complete. This rather put me out as I wanted to put under fermentation lock and add nutrient. I strained off the must, added a spoonful or two of sugar and put in a few drops of specially prepared wine yeast. As this will stand a higher proportion of alchohol [sic] than ordinary yeast, this started things going again. That seems to be a good way of speeding up the process.

Saw old Beeching on T.V. and thought how old and florid he looked for a mere 47 years. Hope he can mow his lawn too but no doubt there will be a queue form to help him with it now.

Sounds as though you will be getting a good crop of sunflowers this year. Bad luck about the geraniums but they are surprisingly hardy and you may save them yet.

Well will not give all the news now, will save some for Wednesday. Love from us all until then.

Wednesday 22nd March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter and card received on Tuesday together with greetings and best wishes for the 21st. Also noted ‘something’ waiting at Ruislip for which, in anticipation, thank you very much. Had a letter from Geoff and card from Rebecca & Sara also card from Don. Am glad it is not Easter this week as it has been so cold – feel it all the more after the nice spell of warm weather. Let’s hope it will improve a little bit next week – not forgetting the clock goes on an hour on Sunday.

It was dry but rather cold for our trip to Lyng last Sunday. Don & Joan made us very welcome of course but it was obvious both were not 100%. Joan was recovering from a dose of the flu and the colder weather was affecting Don with his breathing. Anyhow Don & I went in car during afternoon out to the cider maker and returned with several bottles some of which we brought back to Clevedon including two or three to come to Ruislip. Joan also gave Mum a dozen new-laid eggs for the children – shall soon want a trailer. Incidentally it was not first long trip in the car – we went to Exmouth through the floods in it last October if you remember – the weekend before you came over for the Austin A40. Still it was nice to get out and have a good run on Sunday even if it was a bit cold.

Now you have said where Richings Park is can recollect you have told me before but when I mentioned it last letter had completely forgotten.

There was no mention of Mr Hessel’s funeral in Mercury and not even an announcement and Mum recalls now that it was the same when Mrs Hessel died several years ago. Expect you knew he married again and was living in Kenn Rd. opposite the station in the house formerly occupied by Cuff.

Have taken two cuttings each of three rose bushes growing in plot between house and golden privet hedge and specially marked those we think are from the bush you have in mind.

We saw the Lambretta at Don’s, he uses it for getting to & fro [sic] Durston. Can understand it in one sense for it is a most difficult job to get out of his yard – somebody must stand in road every time because of the heavy occupation of same and of course because one has to back out blindly.

Sorry to hear you have all been a little out of sorts recently – query due to the sudden changes in temperature. Hope all back to normal by now. Yes Mum is keeping the drawings the girls send along and as we have said before some are really good. This week’s effort very good indeed. It won’t be long now before we see you all again. We shall do our best to come before 1.0 p.m. but don’t wait any longer than 1.15 p.m. should we not be along by then. If any big delay likely will get on to telephone. Note you will be having some leave as from Wednesday evening – this will be very nice but please order some warm weather.*

Mum gone out to Caperns this afternoon with T. W. G. party – may come back in a cage twittering! Understand Mr & Mrs Palmer gone to London by coach today to visit Ideal Homes Exhibition – may be alright going up but expect it will be cold on the homeward run tonight.

We had a white frost this morning – many more of these and it will be goodbye to the bit of plum blossom we have on the trees in field. Have put in all the Ulster Chieftain early potatoes [ref ?] 28lbs and now have a similar quantity of second earlies to go in but by the look of things this will be after we return from you. Managed to put out a row of sweet pea plants and another of gladioli corms but since last writing this is about the extent of the new plantings. Mum weeded the two rounds on lawn and I’ve since dug them – terrible stuff. Now sprinkled lime on them to help break up clods. Strange to say the new rose trees in the rectangular plot seem to be coming on nicely.

Note your remarks about the fennel on Church Hill – must look out for it one day. Glad you found the parsnip wine recipe interesting – my brew seems to be developing alright – shall put it under fermentation lock this coming weekend. It will be safe then whilst we are away.

Did you see the TV reports on Beeching in ‘Tonight’ and ‘Panorama’ on Monday evening? A lot of people appear to be very sore over the appointment. I notice in Sunday’s paper he knows the way to use a lawnmower.

Saunders (Yatton) moved his home to Bridgwater today where he has had a bungalow built on the Westonzoyland road. We passed that way on Sunday and looked out for it but failed to identify.

Have not seen Payne this week so cannot comment further on the car hand brake question.

Mum just arrived home with everything except the bird but she must tell you about it later.

Not much more to say now except that we are both looking forward to being with you next week – shall be quite ready for a crust of bread & cheese by the time we arrive June.

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

Mum & Dad

[*According to online sources, the weather in London over Easter 1961 was ‘mostly mild and sunny’, with the cold weather and rain returning on Easter Monday, April 3rd.]

From Eva to the family on the (whole!) reverse side of Leonard’s second sheet:**

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you for nice letter & drawings by the artist. They are very good.

Well here I am back from the Trill factory complete with Budgie grit & seed plus booklets plus papers for bottom of cage. Only needs the bird & cage. It was a good outing – the factory is oil fired. We went round in batches of seven: the noise was terrific but everywhere was very clean. At 3.40 we were conducted to the canteen & regaled with sandwiches (lettuce & tomato) tea cakes & jam & iced cakes & tarts. The grounds outside are nicely arranged, quite a change from Lewin’s Mead Bristol.*** It is the only factory in England of Caperns.

It’s been too cold for gardening these last few days so have been doing a spot of spring cleaning instead. Dad is going ringing at St. John’s tonight Mr Bees who was a ringer was buried today.

Dad & Mr Aston were each wishing each other a happy birthday yesterday (Tues). Mr Aston is 67. Fancy June’s dad 70. How the time flies.

Oh we had some sunflower seeds given us as well, they are also ground down for food.

I put out a few geraniums last week thinking they would be alright but I believe they have had it.

The people in the next house to the newly marrieds are in the garden & I believe they are trying to cut the grass with scissors. They must be moving in for Easter I should think as the Electricity Co. have been busy there.

Well I think this is the lot just for now, won’t be long now.

Lots of love from

Mum & Dad.

[**Eva’s handwriting here is something like 7 mm tall whilst Leonard’s is much neater and only 3mm – taking totally unscientific random samples from this letter.]

[*** Despite being very familiar with Bristol we can’t quite puzzle out the reason for a direct comparison between Caperns’ grounds and Lewin’s Mead at this time, unless perhaps there was some municipal flower-bed or other in the vicinity of Lewin’s Mead that wasn’t being maintained to the same standard, and which had become Eva’s personal standard for poor garden maintenance.]

Sunday 19th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

The usual weekly letter herewith also Birthday Greetings to Dad in aid of the 21st. We will hand over the present when you arrive. It only wanted Easter to be one week earlier and you would have been here to celebrate your Birthday. Well it will not be long now, must keep fingers crossed for illnesses etc. This last week end we had a spot of trouble with the girls and felt a little out of sorts ourselves, but apart from the usual minor accidents that lot has passed off now.

Glad you like the drawings, and have kept them. We shall be interested to see them as we have no continuous record of progress such as that. I have seen this week’s and it it looks a good one to me.

Hope your visit to Lyng to-day was a success. I suppose this is the first time you have made a long trip in your new car.* Should think you have got it well under control by now.

Very sorry to learn of Mr Hessel. It was obviously quick especially as you had seen him out and about the very same day. I did not know that Frank had moved to Clifton to work. Saw Doug Hand at the Walton match and he told me that he was working opposite to Frank but I thought he meant at Portishead. Sounds as though he is doing rather well.

Glad you will be able to take a couple of rose cuttings. We have had a bit of a clear up in the garden to-day, but it still looks very bare.

Could not tell you what prices are like at the ‘Aerial’, had the good sense to suggest we move on to the Towers before it became necessary to find out. Richings Park is between Ivor and Langley, but the Tower Arms is only a little way up the road from Iver Station (on the Down Side).

I see the cutting of P.G. you sent me, and very interesting it is. I have had in mind for some time using Lemon Balm, but have never had enough to use. Lemon certainly has a beneficial effect on most wines, You will be able to look out for the fennel on Church Hill. It grows high and is sprouting like cow parsley.

As you know we have lunch around the 1.0 pm mark but it will be held up till l.30 pm should you be late. I shall not be home until evening when I start my leave, but June and the children will be looking forward-to having you to lunch.

Have not cut any lawns yet – am still waiting for some of the bare patches to cover over. Took the lawn mower to pieces to-day cleaned and painted some of the parts. It will take another Sunday morning to get it back together again.

Can’t think what Don wants to have Lambretta and a car for. I know it is cheaper to run a scooter than a car but should not have thought that would make much difference to him, and a car is more comfortable. (Perhaps Joan uses it?)

I am sure Our section will get only benefit from the appointment of ‘Beeching’ to succeed Sir Brian. You may not know that I.C.I. where Beeching comes from were the pioneers in Work Study in this country and are the leading exponents by far. I saw the letter in the Telegraph from the ex Swindon Driver, but am afraid he is like so many others, prepared to condemn without a hearing.

Note Mothers competition problem, why not fill-it up with “Flowers of Sulphur“?** get more than anyone at least. Alternatively fill it up with Flowers Keg Bitter.

Well short and sweet this week, once again best wishes for 21st, and love from us all.

*[The distance according to Google Earth is roughly 37 miles each way, but the M5 hadn’t been built at this stage; let’s say it’s a 90-mile round trip, about three hours of driving … It’s no use, I still can’t make that feel like a ‘long’ journey.]

[**Once again, Alec demonstrates his propensity for being a smart-arse. It’s so tiring to have to live with over many decades; eventually the desire for straightforward communication becomes almost overwhelming. Not everything is a joke, FFS.]

Wednesday 15th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol,

Many thanks for another budget of news and drawings received on Tuesday – thank you very much Susan & Carol for the drawings and for the one in the special envelope with the stamp on it. The postman knew we were waiting for it. Can quite understand the rush on paper envelopes & stamps this will last until something new turns up to attract their notice.

Glad to hear car now alright and that you have the necessary certificate. Now I see the authorities propose to bring cars less than ten years old in[to] the scheme. Suppose its as good a way as any to get more money out of us.* Note cost of certificates – I had no idea what the procedure was. Have not seen Payne to have a talk with him about the handbrake.

Had a letter from Lyng Saturday asking us to go down on Saturday 19th inst – this will be out first visit since you were with us and we all called in there on Monday 27th June. They last came to Clevedon on Sunday 18th Sept. when of course they saw the A55.

Last Monday the 13th Roy Hewett looked in during the morning and in course of conversation asked if we were going to Mr Hessel’s funeral that afternoon. This was a shock as on the previous Friday Mum and I had seen and spoken to him on Hill Road and later in the Library. He must have died the same day and apparently had a heart attack after he got home. Would have been 68 in July. Will try and remember to bring Mercury up if account of funeral printed. Understand that some time ago he had a serious heart illness and had never fully recovered. On the Friday morning he told Mum that Frank was doing very well and was now in the Clifton office of the Portishead Power Station but what actual work he is doing we do not know. Last we hear was that he was the Welfare representative for the firm.

Yes Heels car is in good condition but as I think I said last week we do not know price he paid for it.

Had forgotten all about the rose cuttings but I will put a couple in a flowerpot and bring them along. Let’s hope they take root alright.

I see Moore (No. 12 this Avenue) has now changed his very old car for one not quite as old but still very much over ten years of age. He uses it to carry his ladders about in connection with his job as a window cleaner.

Saw Mr Aston on Sunday last and he feels a lot better so much so that Dr says an X-ray not now necessary.

We went for our usual walk round the hill but it was a bit colder than what we had been having previously. It’s grand again this week so far.

Note you had an evening out on Friday last. Have read and seen on TV pictures of the hotel ‘Aerial’ – how were prices there? I see you did not stop long but went on to Mr Baker’s former place. You must please congratulate him for us on reaching his seventieth birthday – hope he and Mrs Baker are keeping in good health. Whereabouts is Richings Park?

Re: Parsnip wine I am enclosing the recipe which I cut out of Popular Gardening a long time ago and am making the wine to these instructions except that as the lemon balm was growing in the garden was rather young at this time of year and did not appear to have much strength I put in the juice of a lemon extra. You can let me have cutting back when I see you. At the moment the ‘must’ is in a polythene bowl in greenhouse.

Have never heard of the fennel growing on Church Hill. The Elderflower wine still in cupboard but am afraid it will have to go down the drain. I really think it must be worse than Epsom Salts.

Yes we will bring up the Christmas cards for Susan & Carol – we just wondered whether you would like the girls to have them to write on before destroying them ourselves. Keep them amused for a few minutes I expect.

May get some Somerset Jungle Juice at Lyng this weekend – if so will bring a drop along.

Just remembered that in your last letter you mentioned the possibility of installing a parking meter outside 84 Queens Walk – am keeping all bad coins for use therein. Thank you very much for your invitation to arrive in time for lunch on the 29th. Will you please say latest time of arrival and incidentally if we don’t make it by then don’t wait lunch. We shall be there alright if no trouble with car.

Now for a continuation of Gardener’s Gazette. Managed to cut grass on all lawns on Saturday for the first time this season but it was very hard even with motor mower – the grass in places, particularly under the trees, being six inches or more long. Looks a bit rough now but the work is over for another year as it will be easier to cut from now on. Put in quite a lot of seeds earlier this week and one row of potatoes. This morning I cut a lot of sticks from hedge (adjacent to Heels in the field) for beans. By the way all the grass mowings went into runner bean trench.

Did I tell you Don has got rid of his motor bike and bought a new Labretta. He had a lot of trouble with his motor bike and eventually got rid of it cheaply.

What about the new railway appointment announced this morning – Beeching. Am afraid this is going to cause a flutter in the camp again and I should think the Union would object too. The whole concern may be reorganised again now and put progress back for some time. Did you see the letter in the ‘Telegraph’ recently from a retired engine driver? Evidently does not like Work Study. Roy Hewett brought the extract from paper for me to see.

Mum gone to Townswomen’s Guild this afternoon and going out to Caperns the seed people at Yatton next Wednesday.

Not much more to say this time – if there is anything else you can think of that you would like us to bring up you must tell us next letter – am already sorting out one or two items to make sure we don’t leave them behind. Must put one more coat of polish on lamp and work out best way of putting it in car.

Hope you are all keeping well.

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

Mum & Dad

*Because it’s definitely not to remove a lot of mobile deathtraps from the road and bring the number of deaths and serious injuries from car accidents into more manageable proportions, of course.

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for my very pretty Mothers’ Day Card. I also had a nice bunch of daffodils from Mr Aston. Plenty of them about this year as the weather has been much warmer. Not very long to Easter now so hope some of this weather will be saved for then. We have been slogging away at the weeds this week & its very hard work.

We had our T.G. on Wednesday & it was a packed room. On June 1st we are going to Cannington Farm Institute. Some of them are also going to Trowbridge egg packing station in April but I jibbed at that not interesting enough. We have for next time a posy in a thimble I ask you what flowers can you get in there?

Spencers haven’t sold their house yet, have had some offers though the latest £2,250 [£52,300 in 2021 money]. I reckon we could get a good price for ours if we wanted to sell it.

Those two grocers at the top of Hill Rd have amalgamated now known as Wilkins & Bull [? or Butt ?].

I don’t think we shall have a great number of plums this year but certainly more than last year.

Nearly all the oil has been cleaned from the beach. At one time the sea reached as far as the houses opposite the Pier and they were streaked with black oil. They have been bulldozing the oiled pebbles & sea weed from the beach. Hope it doesn’t return. Some ship must have thrown it out.**

No more now lots of love

Mum & Dad

[**I have been unable to locate a specific incident that might have led to this remark, but I did find a reference in Hansard to the ongoing problem of merchant vessels discharging oil at sea and the fact that this was an increasing concern at the time.]