Tag: Wine

Sunday 12th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you once again for letter received in time for breakfast Saturday. The drawings sent last week were put in small envelope and stamped with small stamp bought as a set in shop. They each had different coloured stationery comprising several sheets of notepaper, envelopes and a supply of stamps. Of course there was immediately an outburst of letter writing consisting mainly of two or three words on paper rapidly stuck down in envelopes and stamped-up. Managed to hide the stuff for a short while to preserve an envelope or two but they soon used up the lot.

I thought you would be surprised that car failed the test. It is apparently illegal to have other than red as colour for the reflectors but I have since seen many cars about with orange coloured ones. I cannot see the logic of the short pull for the handbrake. It appears that if brake goes over five notches the car is failed. Jackson took up the linkage so that brake is applied when only two notches are “clicked”. There was nothing wrong with the brake shoes or the apparatus at the wheel, The car was taken in again on Wednesday last and I now have a certificate. The fee for the first test was 14/- as no ‘pass’ certificate was given, The second test cost 8/- although I do not see why it should have been so as understand that where lighting is not concerned, and there are only two faults, provided they are put right and the car is submitted for a second test within fourteen days of the first one, the additional charge (to the 14/- ) should be 1/-.

Bit of luck for Heel if his new car is a good one. I take it he knew the people he bought it from otherwise it might be a bit of a sell in more ways than one.

Glad you found things in good condition at Exeter. You certainly had a variety of flowers to take. Our garden sports two measly daffodils at the moment. By the way talking of flowers, June reminds me that you were going to take a cutting or two of the red or scarlet rose you have in plot immediately behind the house. If you can do so in time to bring it up with you should be obliged.

Exeter seems very much like all parts of Ruislip at the moment in that we also have roads up all over the place. There is one road which has been under repair almost all the time since you were here last and as it happens to be a conveni­ent route for me it is a bit of a nuisance.

Glad you saw Sam Squires, I saw him about the G.P.C. job but of course it did not come to anything so far as his patch is concerned. I think it to be a waste of time putting yardmasters and the like on to Work Study courses unless they have many years to go. The best policy will be to push out as many trained work study men into all sections of the departments that when eventually the best of them reach the top jobs they will know what is expected of them. At the moment attempts to get the subject over to some of these old diehards is like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs. The drawback is that they all think they know best, and resent being told how to do their own job etc. etc. *

Feel sure Mrs Salway saw Susan, but June thinks as you do that she did not. We are not confusing the two people, but I am pretty sure we saw Mrs Salway one day when we were down with Susan, and she gave us some money for her.

Hope Mr Aston got on O.K. with Dr, and that you will have good news next time.

Sorry if my remarks about the deck chair caused a bit of concern. I must be confusing her with someone else. How I come to think of it, it was not a deck chair after all – it was a basket chair. Yes I agree it was really late for those kids to be out and about, but it appears that they have been used to it, and I suppose their parents were having an evening out and Peter and Brenda were combining looking after them with a visit to us. Incidentally they came in here on Friday evening and looked after our two while June and I went out. It was intended originally to go to Theatre with Roy, Delph, Norman and Pauline, but Roy who was to have got the tickets was unable to do so so we went to the new hotel called the “Aerial” just opened a few weeks ago by London Airport. I expect you read about it in the paper, it is sound­proofed and you cannot hear the planes overhead. It was all very posh but we did not stay there very long before going over to Richings Park to the Tower Arms where Mr Baker used to live. It made a change.

Would like to know what you have got in with the Parsnip, and what method you adopted. A thought occurs to me that for a vedgetable [sic] wine you could try some of the ” fennel ” that grows wild on Church Hill between the quarry and the footpath. There used to be a very large patch just at the highest point of the quarry and it grew right up to the footpath. I believe that it is a cooking herb that has run wild. Again you might try to collect some dog-rose “hips ” enough to try a small quantity.

It was Mr Bakers 70th birthday on Saturday so we went over and took the children over to see him in the afternoon. I gather that Peter and Brenda were taking him and Mrs Baker over to the Tower Arms in the evening.

Your gardening beginning to get under way by the sound of it. Gardening on the grand scale. I dug my plot on Saturday morning, it took about twenty minutes. As a matter of fact it was a bit patchy, but mostly the soil was just right. It powdered to the texture you get after digging potatoes. It was a bit sticky by the path which is shaded by a large privet bush. Doug cut his grass yesterday but it was very wet.

It is a pity that you will not be able to taste the Jungle Juice, but expect we can manage with some of the other stuff. The J.J, is still bashing away in the polythene pail but it will be a couple of weeks before I put it under fermentation lock. What became of the Elder Flower? did you drink it or throw it away?

Your mower seems to give you a lot of trouble. You will have to put it in for regular servicing like the car.

Poor Ching. Should think he is in not too bad a position really, I gather Gallacher is all right, and Burt is not much to worry about . I know Soole is Soole, but his wings are clipped now surely?

Note you are still adding to your picture collection. They are still being churned out daily at this end so you may well get another this week,

Note also your unusual weed, could it be grass? A very clever stunt with the flowers, but first catch your-flowers.

We would like the Xmas cards for the children if you care to bring them up. By the way when you come on the Wednesday, please come for lunch.

Well there it is again for another week looking forward to seeing you soon. Love from us all.

[*The point of this adage of course is that the new suggestion is redundant because the grandmother knows perfectly well how to suck eggs and can do so better than the ‘teacher’, whereas Alec just means that the yardmasters are resistant to learning anything new.]

Wednesday 8th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you very much for another budget received on Tuesday just as we were about to leave the house for the station – I read it in the train after leaving Yatton. What lovely drawings from Susan & Carol and one of them in a separate envelope with a stamp on it. Thank you both for sending them to us. This time I see you drew a little girl appearing on T.V. or was it Andy Pandy?

Now to your letter – it was a surprise to hear car had failed test. The orange coloured reflectors were on car when I first had it but with the use of that particular shade for the ‘winking’ indicator lights I suppose it is only right that they should be changed for red reflectors. The other fault is a new one to me and I must speak to Payne about it first opportunity. At the moment I cannot see the logic of it. However I hope it is alright now but will it cost you two fees of 15/- in addition to charges for the alterations?

Whilst on subject of cars Heel called to me over the garden fence today (this is unusual to start with) and asked me round to see his new car he had had delivered Monday night. Apparently he had just taken his other in for servicing (to a garage on Bristol Road) and the Hillman arrived whilst he was there. Jokingly the proprietor asked Heel if he wanted to exchange his car for another and after some haggling a deal was effected, although when he left home he had no idea of changing.

Well we had a pretty good day yesterday – trains late in the morning because of fog. Saw Don at Durston for about a minute. Arrived Exeter 12.30 p.m. (20 late) and went straight out to Heavitree where we found everything in order*. Mum picked from our garden and took down Daffodils – Narcissi and Anemones which quite filled the vase. We had a snack lunch in Cross Park and then back to the City to look round the shops. The road in the main shopping centre is torn up for half its width and for about half a mile in length making transport a bit chaotic. Caught the 3.35 p.m. Exeter and 4.35 p.m. Taunton and indoors by 6.30 p.m.

At Taunton on the way down I saw Sam Squire who was en route to Bridgwater. Said he saw you a little while ago. He is retiring in June having reached 65.

Note your method with the L.D.C. representatives what about the Yard Master? Does he not get a dose also?

The route to Ruislip – we do not go through Maidenhead – Godfrey’s house is very much this side of the town and our journey thence via Bisham cuts Maidenhead right out. Things should be different of course when Maidenhead’s bypass is available.

Mum and I think you must be mistaking Miss Weeks for Mrs Salway. The latter moved from the Avenue before Susan was born and has only been back on odd occasions for an hour or so.

Have not seen Aston since he was due to see his Dr again early this week so do not know how he got on.

Mum very annoyed with the deckchair suggestion & will probably comment on this later in bulletin.

Note your visitors last Sunday included two young children who could keep the girls busy – a bit late for them to be going home surely?

Peter evidently likes your wine. I have started the parsnip going this end and shall put yeast in tomorrow – Mum will bring some back from the baker’s.

Sorry you upset the coffee when typing letter. Could make one or two suggestions to avoid this but no doubt they have already been made.

Noted you will not require any more Chrysanth cuttiings. We shall pick out the best of the Jersey Beauty apples & bring along and they are lovely for eating just now. Can of course be used for cooking but I think you may prefer them for eating purposes.

Am afraid I must now continue the Gardener’s Gazette as other news now pretty well exhausted. After the rain at the weekend it has been lovely again with sharp frosts and fogs early morning but hot & sunny from about 11.0 a.m. Have managed to get a row of peas in but ground was very rough. Also have put in onion sets. Tomatoes sown in greenhouse still now showing but about 20 seeds put into a pot and brought indoors and stood on water heater are all up lovely. Must try and get some potatoes in this week. Our last season’s supply now running out and we shall be buying for the weekend. Have a hundredweight on order from Durston but do not know when we shall receive them. Have dug the two long trenches for runner beans and now putting all waste vegetable matter into them to make compost. The garden generally is looking fairly tidy again now if can only manage to keep weeds down. Should think your soil has had a chance to drain if not dry out by now.

Yours gallon of Bravery’s Jungle Juice will not be ready in time for me to taste it but I hope it turns out alright. I think the two bottles of plum I’m bringing up are of the first grade – the labels have disappeared so cannot be absolutely definite. The orange in my opinion is really good and the Elderberry up to the standard you had before.

Tried to start the motor mower on Monday without success so when I left car at the garage yesterday morning took sparking plug of motor mower down and asked them to clean it out as I could get no spark**. Grass too wet this afternoon after a very wet fog early this morning so have not yet made a second attempt.

Am still waiting for Norman Baker to bring pony along to cut/eat grass in field. I saw him the other day and he said he would bring it along shortly but I hope it won’t be before Easter now.

Saw Ching last night on train from Yatton to Clevedon and he said he is under Soole on research work and that Soole is under Gallacher(?) & Burt. Not a very healthy atmosphere by the sound of it.

Well I think this is the lot once more – hope you are continuing to keep fit.

Al, our love to you both and lots of kisses for our dear little Susan & Carol.

Mum & Dad.

[*Although Leonard isn’t clear here, this is certainly a visit to his parents’ grave(s); they had both died in Exeter, Emily only two years previously and Thomas in 1941.]

[**This is Leonard all over, expecting other people to sort out his problems for him – especially ‘tradesmen’. It was an attitude that prevailed in the family well into succeeding generations and speaks to a class-consciousness that has still not completely disappeared from the world.]

Letter from Eva to the family on the remaining three quarters of Leonard’s sheet of paper:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for your letter & contribution towards the picture gallery. There is quite an expression on the big girl’s face looks as if she had been up to something.

I like the idea of me directing operations from the deck chair. My manual labours would be missed if they discontinued believe me. There seems to be an unusual weed this year & plenty of it, expect the exceptional rain has brought that one out. The flowers I took down to Exeter were really nice. None of them had come out four days ago but I picked them & brought them in the kitchen where they all opened. I did that before Xmas with the chrysanths (outdoor) & had flowers for weeks.

The shops looked nice at Exeter only needed the L.S.D. I bought Dad a 5/6 wove tie dorn to 4/1 at Horne’s. I see they have a Barnett-Hutton shop there* didn’t know they were down further than Bristol.

I was going to throw away the Xmas cards but Dad says perhaps the children would like them if so we cabn bring them plenty of scribbling space on them.

Mr Heel’s car is not so long or wide as ours & he has no wireless in it either so he is claiming rebate on his £1 licence.

They are renovating the promenade wall where the people sit so I expect they have had a few heavy weights on it at times.

No more now will close with love to all from

Dad & Mum

[*Apparently this was a chain of ladieswear shops owned by Hide & Co which in 1965 was taken over by Tootal but was not part of the deal when Tootal sold Hide & Co to House of Fraser in 1988. Hide & Co was put into liquidation in 1988 and the inference from this must be that Tootal still owns the Barnett-Hutton brand.]

Sunday 5th March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More next time, love from us all.

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

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

Wednesday 1st March, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for another newsy letter received this morning together with a nice drawing each from Susan & Carol. We do look forward to the postman every week. Glad to hear that you are all still keeping fairly well and we hope you will continue so now.

We are alright again and looking forward to our visit to you four weeks today. Have already been in touch with the A. A. for an alternative route from Maidenhead to avoid passing through the shopping centre of Maidenhead and Slough. Have had a route map back giving an excellent run from the Bristol side of Maidenhead (after calling on Godfrey) via Bisham Marlow Wooburn Green & Beaconsfield practically joining up with the route we used last year when we travelled via Abingdon*. Next Tuesday the 7th Mum and I will probably go to Exeter (by train) to visit Heavitree leaving the car at Binding & Payne’s for short servicing ready for the longer journey later in the month. Hope to arrive back at Clevedon by the connection off the 4.35 Taunton. Not much of a service in either direction.

Will leave Mum to reply to your remarks re: typewriter ribbon. I found no difficulty with the black one although rather faint. It’s much better to read than my writing and one day must treat myself to a machine.**

Sorry if I repeated myself on my Martock experiences – cannot remember relating them to you before but having regard to the progress since those days it makes one think back to the ‘good old days’.

So you did not get much if any co-operation from the Acton L.D.C. I don’t suppose you really expected any from that area. What happens now if it is in the hands of Assistant Operating Officer? Is this at District or Divisional level?

Yes I could have mentioned to Geoff that I now get three Saturdays off out of three – must remember this for some future occasion.*** He mentioned something about all going over to Headstone Lane on Easter Sunday afternoon. Have you heard anything of this? Query your wishes on this matter.

Your comment re: Clevedon Station platform noted. Expect you are aware no Goods work now done at Clevedon – all deliveries (except coal and other bulk traffic) now effected direct from Bristol and Goods accountancy done by Yatton clerical staff. Owing to poor quality of personnel however in Booking & Parcels Offices I believe the Clevedon Spr [?] has to prepare the accounts for these two sections. I think the Goods accounts for Durston are prepared by Taunton too.

You were fortunate to get hold of such a nice jar for fermenting purposes from Stowells – quite an improvement on the normal jars in use. That two gallon cask too sounds a good proposition. I’ve been sorting out a few bottles from my cupboard – ground too wet to get on – and have earmarked 2 bottles of 1960 Elderberry – 2 of 1960 Orange – 2 of 1959 Plum (no plums in 1960 and therefore no wine for that year) and 1 of 1959 and 1 of 1960 Cherry – eight bottles in all. Hope the corks do not pop out en route. What about some chrysanthemum cuttings – will you want any or have you taken enough of your own? So far I’ve taken about 80 but they may not all develope – they are in various stages of growth at the moment.

Am glad you mentioned the kite. I’ve been going to ask several times if you had had any opportunity to fly it up there. Susan remembers its origin then and no doubt they both remember paddling at Burnham.

Am not surprised to hear your soil has deteriorated since last report. We had terrific storms here last Friday continuing over the weekend with gale force winds for many hours. Consequently outdoor work is at or practically at a standstill again but I shall never complain about being behind after seeing Cornish’s garden for ten minutes this afternoon. It looks a wreck – weeds growing up between the Black Currants and Raspberries just like a jungle. Am glad it’s not my plot.

You were very busy then with your transference of books from downstairs to upstairs and evidently had some good help from a couple of young ladies. I’m sure they were delighted to be in the picture – they will have such a lot to tell us.

Our neighbours (Heels) rushed off to Rugby this morning to see Mrs Heel’s mother (91) who had been taken ill but they were too late to see her alive. We had a call for them about 1.20 p.m. to give them the news but could only inform caller that the Heels should be with them soon as they left here just before 10.0 a.m.****

Incidentally we hear Mrs Salway was 88. I did not know she knew Susan let alone Carol – she has been gone from Tennyson Avenue for several years. Mogg dismantled that portion of his old greenhouse which was standing at right angles to Old Church Road & erected a new one on the same site. Apparently the old portion had had its day. Should not have been surprised if he had given up greenhouse work as he has not been at all well for some time. Roy Hewett paid his usual weekly visit on Tuesday and Aston looked in on Saturday last – am afraid latter will have to have an Xray for stomach trouble – suspected ulcer.

We cut the first of our late Broccoli today and if possible will bring one or two along as last year – it all depends how they turn in. You mention use of rotavator for digging in weeds but those with long tap roots (like parsnips) and daisies etc. are better out altogether and I seem to get more than a fair share of these (birds responsible I think) and feel they must be dealt with. Had another got this afternoon weeding and forking through some young black currant bushes but for the reason mentioned earlier it was ‘sticky’ work. Mum came out and had a go at some flower borders – it was really a delightful afternoon overhead.

Not much local news this week – I do not think there has been any progress in connection with the Triangle Post Office robbery. The Clevedon Cricket ground is not to be used for building purposes and – for the time being – is to remain in use for sport. This is the ruling of the Ministry Inspector after holding a public enquiry on the ground.

Now I think this is the lot once more. All our love to you both and once more lots of kisses for dear little Susan & Carol and thank you both very much for your lovely drawings.

Mum & Dad

[*These were properly called ‘itineraries’ and listed the distances between important points on the route, the number of the road, and the direction to look out for on any signpost. They might also include information about gradients and any important landmarks along the way. The family’s love-affair with them ended on the day many years later when Alec decided he knew better than the AA and insisted on taking the wrong turning, at which point I tore up the route and threw the pieces out of the window. He could do his own navigating from that point on.]

[**Yes, please. Scanning is so much easier than transcribing.]

[***Geoff was eleven years younger than Leonard and would have been about fifty-three at this time, so was still several years away from retirement.]

[****Even nowadays this journey would be a good two and a half hours.]

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for letter (much improved type) & Susan & Carol’s drawings. I told you I kept them & yesterday when Mr & Mrs Clarke were here to tea they thought some of them were remarkable. They were headmaster & headmistress in their younger days. They finished up at Weston although they originated from Sheffield & Northampton.

Both Dad & I have been busy on garden again today although it’s back breaking work. What lovely weather it is now hope it will be like this for Easter.

For one of our T.G. competitions we have to get a block of salt & carve something from it. Any suggestions? I hope I shan’t ruin myself buying blocks of salt.

I see Ian Spencer is still running to school so don’t think they will be moving yet. The house down at the bottom of field has not been sold yet it as [unintelligible] now £4,850 O.N.O. [£112,750 in 2021 money.]

The new shops haven’t half made the rest of Clevedon sit up. They have had to bring their prices to the level of the new shops & are falling over themselves to serve people. They are getting on with the new police station in Sunnyside but I think there is some doubt what to be done with the old one. Some people suggest pulling it down, not a bad idea, it’s ugly enough.

Well I think this is all news now so will close with love from Mum & Dad.

Sunday 26th February, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for your long letters. You do not have to worry about filling up pages. If there is little news, or if you get no chance to get out and about, that is always understood. By the way following upon the last crack about typing being indistinct I am now using the upper-part of the ribbon which is red. If-there are any objections, or if the colour is not politically acceptable, perhaps you will let me know.

Yes so far touch wood, we are still all well. Have felt the approach or the presence of colds etc, but so far thank goodness they have been false-alarms. Glad also to learn that you are both almost back to normal. I have noticed the incidence of diphtheria particularly in the London Area. Hope it keeps its distance, but at least the children have had all their infections. Good thing times have changed according to your experience of it.

We have not had a lot of fog. A couple of days it was thick, but did not last-very long. I had-forgotten all about it.

Not much can be done about our staff position in a hurry, but what will be done will be the borrowing of the Research Staff, who McDonald insists have a Work Study course. This will give us a half dozen trained men to fill the gap-on a temporary basis.

The Yardmaster at Acton now is a man named Hammond who came from the Eastern Region. He was formerly a Signalman who graduated through their Control organisation. ( This is the way the B.R. works. ) Not a very helpful man, he has lined himself up with his own L. D. C. We got no support from him on Friday, in fact the reverse was the case, although he was warned beforehand. Matter is being dealt with through the Assistant Operating Officer.

I note with interest your Saturday walks when at Martock. You have mentioned these previously, but it certainly shews the advance of progress. (Carol now arrived ex bath to inspect the typing.)

Things must be looking up for Geoff for him to have two Saturdays in three off. I wonder you did not reply to say you have three in three.

Interesting to hear about the Coal Heaver Booking Clerk you have there. The staff in some places are so bad that if they stopped-away altogether no one would notice. They could make considerable savings at Clevedon if they provided a short platform adjacent to the Goods Office, and combined the Goods and Parcels Offices and Staff. Passengers could then leave or arrive via Queens Rd (Lower) in-addition to the present route and all Parcels and Goods could use the Lower Queens Rd. route.

I have samples of both my Parsnip Wines available for tasting when you come up. One bottle I am using at the moment was made up ( at the time of brewing ) of half bottle of Apple and half bottle Parsnip, and although dry or fairly dry when tasted recently, the addition of some sugar has transformed it into high class stuff. Have treated my 1958 Beetroot with a little sugar addition, and that is now good also. When shopping at Whitby Rd on Saturday, and while waiting for June and Susan to return to car*, thought I would drop into Stowells the wine shop and see if they had any empty cider jars available and if they would sell them. At first he thought I wanted one of the wooden two gallon casks fitted with it a tap priced £1. Told him I wanted a glass jar holding on gallon. He had one which he let me have for 2/6d which formerly held Bulmers Cider and is provided with a screw plastic cap which is perforated centrally by a small breather hole, and is fitted with a rubber washer (also slit) which seals the jar but opens under pressure from inside to let the gas out. The jar is almost identical to the ones we bought. The two-gallon cask sounds a good prospect. If you make your Parsnip wine, I strongly recommend the addition of two juicy oranges to the gallon. Too much peel is not good, but the chopped peel of one orange strengthens the taste without doing any noticeable’ harm. My impression of Parsnip as a wine is that it is a little strong in the taste, and needs to toned down by the presence of another strongly tasting ingredient with a sweetening effect.

Children go to school more willingly to-day because-they are not frightened off it. The old game of putting the: wind up people unnecessarily seems to have died out. There are plenty of real dangers about without inventing them.

Carol quite nippy on [her] pins as you say. To-day I took the remaining Bookrack down in the front room, and the children helped. Had Carol taking the Books to the stairs, while Susan brought them upstairs to me to put in the Bookcase we hare just acquired. ( I found it very exhausting.) This morning there was a strong wind so got the kite out and put it up in the field. It did not go so badly, but Carol soon got tired and tended to wander off. Susan rushed about telling everyone that the kite was bought in Burnham.

I have not got the certificate for the car yet, because I have not seen anything of Jackson. Went over to see him this morning and he says he has tentatively fixed up for it to be done on Wednesday but will let me know tomorrow for certain.

If anything the soil this end is worse now than when I last reported. We had a deluge on Thursday night and since dinner time to-day the skies have opened. Brought the car in yesterday soaking wet but only cleaned off the chrome. The last drops were just drying off the bodywork when I went down for the children from Sunday School. (Wot a life.)

I have not heard anything recently about the Wolverhampton engine incident, but think l heard at the time that they caught a cleaner.

I think it might pay you to hire one of those Rotavators or mechanical plough or hoe. I am sure that by constant removal of growing-matter from the soil, even though they may be weeds, you gradually reduce the quality of it. I know the difficulty is that if you leave the weeds in, they all grow and choke the plant, but these new gadgets turn the soil upside down and place the weeds deep down where they do less harm. Shall not grow any veg. this year.

Very sorry to hear about Mrs Salway – she was always very interested in the children, but I had not seen her for quite some time. Should have thought she would have lived to 100.

Hope you got something other than seed cake for tea at Caperns. Your flowers must be very nice. Our hyacinth has survived – surprisingly – and is now full size.

Where has Mogg put his new Greenhouse. Should have thought he had little room for more such places unless he takes an old one down.

Well must close here, so love from us all once again.

[*Alec did not go into shops unless it was for something he himself wanted. He refused to concern himself with such female-oriented tasks as food shopping, and nor would he – for example – wait outside to carry or help carry anything. To the end of his days he provided transport and that was that.]

Thursday 23rd February, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Another nice long newsy letter on hand on Tuesday for which many thanks. Also thank you Susan for the lovely drawing you sent us. Glad to hear you are all keeping well – we are both feeling very much better and practically back to normal now. The weather seems to be improving – no rain for a week – and that helps considerably. Quite a lot of illness of one sort or another still about in the district and I see in parts of the country including London diphtheria is on the increase again. I had this when about eight or ten years of age and had six weeks in an Isolation Hospital at Swindon and at that time no visitors were allowed on the premises. Not a nice thing to get hold of and in those days there were no such things as injections for immunisation.

Note you have had some fog up there – we have had just a taste but nothing to worry about. Last Sunday it was lovely here but when going over the hill in the morning with Aston could see fog in the Channel coming shorewards and before long the whole of the hill and along the Front was enveloped in fog. This lasted for upwards of an hour then sun broke through and it was really lovely.

Yes I remember you visiting Hinksey & Yarnton years ago but did not know you used to meet the Birmingham & Worcester people at Oxford for checking the service books – nice day out.

You are really up against it with your staff problem – presumably the ‘powers that be’ are aware of the position and are doing what they can to expedite matters. Note your meetings with the Kensington and Acton Yard L.D.C. – who is Yardmaster at Acton now? I take it Snow is still in Reading?

Geoff wrote the other day and said he was now getting two Saturdays off in three so when I replied I told him of my experience at Martock. Twelve hour days to start with and no half day. On Saturdays we were always cleared up in the Goods Yard by 2.0 p.m. but the S/M would not allow us to leave the premises until our booked time of 5.30 p.m. so on fine Saturdays two or three of us would walk the line to Montacute (2½ miles) and have a chat with S/M there getting back to Martock in time to go home at 5.30 p.m. Then I had to cycle 5½ miles to Long Sutton. Some difference now-a-days. Salary incidentally in those days was £20 per annum.*

I went down to the station here on Tuesday to pay for some coal and the booking clerk was wearing what could better be described as a coal heaver’s jacket and it was about as dirty. Years ago he would have been sent home. He was a scruffy looking individual altogether. They are still a clerk short of establishment and have been continuously for several years – the S/M doing the overtime because the above mentioned individual won’t stop.

Have not done anything about the parsnip wine yet but it seems you had varied results by your efforts – assume none on hand now. The Bravery recipes provide for additional fruits to be mixed with the brew. Note you may try to get some cider jars. The one I got from Elford was a vinegar container – glass with two handles – hold about one gallon & very similar in shape and appearance to the one we bought at Loftus a couple of years ago. Will see if I can get another.

Yes by the sound of it Susan is ready for school and apparently looking forward to it. Here again it is different to years ago when quite a lot of children had to be dragged there.

Carol quite nippy on her feet then – pity she still gets a bit sick in the car.

The only thing I’m doing regarding petrol is to call at the garage occasionally and have a couple of gallons put in whether I actually want it or not.** Formerly I only called when I actually needed it and as mentioned previously we have not been out recently except for local trips to library & shops. By this time I expect you have got certificates for your car.

Yes Hamblins were next to Miss Ackerman’s shop and they have been there since the premises were built.

Already there is quite a bit of activity going on in Roselands redecorating etc.

Can understand your ground being soaking wet and unworkable at the moment – mine is bad enough but it is in better condition than yours.

You had a surprise then when you arrived at West Drayton to find other visitors there. Not surprised to hear roads busy – am told Clevedon was as full of cars as on a Bank Holiday and TV and Press commented on the jam of cars on the Mendips in the evening all heading for Bristol.***

Have read some of the evidence at the inquiry into the Baschurch incident which shows up one or two of those concerned in a very bad light. Have they found out yet who ran away with the engine from Wolverhampton Loco?****

Am pressing on with the garden and to date have weeded and dug over about half of the plot of ground next to Heels. It is a most tedious job as the weeds have such long and bushy roots in soil that is something like a wet pudding mixture. However little by little does it and when I’ve had enough of that for one day can always start on something else. In the frames I’ve sown Carrots Beetroot Lettuce Leeks Cauliflower etc. and in greenhouse Brussel Sprouts. [sic] Also taken more Chrysanth cuttings and Mum has put the begonia tubers in peat to get them started. The shallots put in on Feby 7th are not showing any green yet but am expecting to see it any day now. Today I cut off a lot of runners (rooted) from the new strawberry plants and made another row of them (about 25).

Roy Hewett looks in about once per week – (am evidently one of those to get a regular visit) for a chat on this and that. He cannot do much himself but likes to go round & see what is being done elsewhere. The Astons have not got over the flu and back to normal again. Bells people not yet arrived to do the rewiring but we are not worrying about that. Will leave mum to comment on your remarks re pantomime.

No further news of the Triangle Post Office robbery. Am told Rees Barrett is working as a labourer on the sea wall at the back of our place. I don’t think I would know him now if I saw him.

You ask about the front gates. Frankly I don’t quite know what happened as the upright wooden posts (on which gates swing) are secured to the brick work by an iron rod running right through them and yet the time came when the gates would not close properly. I took gates off and unscrewed the lugs from the wooden posts and chiselled out some of the wood – reset lugs and rehung gates. Much better again now – at least they can be closed & fastened properly.

Just been back through your letter again to make sure I’ve missed nothing. Am afraid my efforts do not reach your standard now-a-days as you have so much to tell us which is interesting whereas the home and garden is our main concern here. Anyhow I think this is all once more.

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

Mum & Dad

[*Leonard started with the GWR in about 1912, and £20 in those days would be round about £2,375 in 2021.]

[**I must admit this has me baffled as Leonard & Eva were not hurting for money, but this seems like a means of spreading the cost of the petrol. It’s a bit odd, though; the petrol would presumably cost the same whenever they bought it, and they could just as easily have set the money aside in advance and then bought everything they needed at the same time.]

[***This was of course before the advent of the M5, which may have been planned and possibly even started at this stage, but the first sections of which were not opened until the following year.]

[****I have been unable to trace any further information on this incident, but some more information appears in Alec’s reply on 26th February 1961.]

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Many thanks for the letter & Susan’s drawing. A study in Black & White this time. I couldn’t make out what the drawing above the girls was. We think it must be a room in a house as there are steps up to it. I see checks are being worn this Spring.

You need a new ribbon for your typewriter can hardly read some words.

Mrs Salway who lived with Miss Weeks for a number of years was buried last Saturday at Chew Stoke.

Dad & I have made a start on the garden but the ground is still like pudding.

Yes it is Trill we are going to see & Caperns keep a number of budgerigars out there. Perhaps we shall be given a packet of bird seed & tea besides I hope.

It has been a lot colder here the last few days hope it will soon pass.

The picnickers started last weekend to fill up the Quarry at bottom of Avenue, it was almost like a bank holiday here.

To date I have Cinerarias, Cyclamen, Hyacinth, Primulas & Scillas flowering indoors.

Mogg has got a new greenhouse one with slanting sides for ring culture tomatoes.

Spencer’s house is being painted white with a blue front door & gates, quite a new style for the Avenue. He hasn’t sold it yet.

No more now lots of love from Mum & Dad.

Sunday 19th February, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Your newsy letter to hand for which many thanks. Did not see Susan’s effort last week as it was committed or perpetrated after I had written mine – still glad you liked it.*

Very pleased to hear that you are both on the mend. It must be that stuff you got from the chemist with the kick in it. Note that exertion takes it out of you, but you hare all the facilities, and all the time you want to sleep it off. They tell me that the after effects of this flu include tiredness and that washed out feeling. I agree that it is a good idea to have the injections. I am glad I had mine. Have felt all the week as if I had a slight cold but it has not come to anything. We had a bit of fog on a couple of days and it always gives me a head ache. June and the children are both well so 100% again this week. I remember the injections we had from Mcleod, in fact I have related the occurrence including the heavy cold which immediately followed my final injection.

I am surprised you had not been to Oxford by rail. I have been there many times including lodging there. When in the D.O.S.O. Freight Train Section I used to have two meetings per year there with Sandlands and Walter Taylor to check No 13 and No 15 with No 1. I spent some time there during and after the war at Hinksey and Yarnton Yards.

We will certainly have to get more staff quickly, but you can imagine that there will be a terrific time lag before they become effective. If I got some more tomorrow, the first course I could get them on would be some time in March (if not already overbooked) they would then be two weeks in the school, five weeks out on assignment, and a further three weeks back at the school before I would have the use of them. Say sometime in June. At that stage they would still be very green and would take at least another six months before any comprehensive grasp of the subject could be obtained. If there were enough competent in the lower grades they could be pushed up and given more responsibility and so on, but as it is I have only two twos ( until recently paid up threes), and provided they do nothing daft there is nothing to stop them shooting up to Special A in the course of a few months. My only Class One Clerk wants to get out of Work Study and is not an applicant for any of the jobs.

I had one instalment of a chat with McDonald but he is quite determined not to have timekeeping considered as a factor in Station Bonus Schemes. There is a great pit yawning under him on this one but he wants it excluded so that’s that. Have another meeting with Kensington L.D.C. on Monday, and the Acton Yard L.D.C. on Friday.

Note you will be having a go at the Parsnip wine. I have made two brews in the past. The first I boiled the parsnips and did not use Camden tablets, the second I used cold water and added the tablets. The first wine matured into a very nice sweet wine after about 18 months but was cloudy and contained a film of some misty substance, the other wine was as clear as a bell and extremely strong – less sweet and to my mind less acceptable. If I make any more parsnip I think I shall blend something else with it such as a couple of oranges, or a pound of raisins or sultanas. These one fruit brews are good for identifying the taste of particular fruits**, but the taste seldom has the fullness that is obtained from compounds and mixtures unless the fruit is similar in character to the grape – such as Raisins, Sultanas, Damsons, Plums, Elderberries, etc. My January mixture based on Apricot is still just ticking over and I am anxious to get it out of the jar to make way for the February brew based on Dates. I have a mind to go down to the Off Licence and see if I can get some of those older jars. All that is wanted is the bored cork, and can easily get them by post.

It will be a little while before we know if Susan can be accepted at the school, A little nearer the date June will have to take her with her birth certificate and find out, Hope she can be accepted – she is getting to be the giddy limit round here. She is as stubborn as old nick, and you would think she was deaf by the notice she takes of things she is told. It needs school quickly at this stage to change her ideas a bit.*** Fortunately she just loves the idea of school, and in fact Sunday School is one of the week’s bright spots for her. She narrowly missed being kept home this week but that is another story.

You remark about Carol not being too secure on her pins when last seen. I remember, but she is no toddler now. She can get on and off the swing by herself and trots in and out with plates, cups etc before and after meals. She will lay a table after a fashion, and drags piano stool into kitchen to help wipe up.

We went to Wembley on Saturday in car but again did not see lampshades, There were lots of people about, and we were unlucky with some purchases we set out to make that we did not spend much time there. Of course needless to say Carol was S —— on the way back. [sic!] We went to Eastcote in the afternoon for a couple of items and as we went via Whitby Rd we were able to get all groceries etc for week.

What do you do to fill up car with petrol that is different to normal? Do you got two gallons where you usually have one until tank is full? I have not yet got a certificate for car but have arranged for Jackson to take it and get one. I saw him about five weeks ago and told him I wanted the dashboard lights fixed, and asked about some other items, but clean forgot the most important item. Waited for him to come over by he did not, Last Monday night I saw him and he said he would be over the following night to do the lights but again I still have not seen him. On Monday last I told him about the test and he has a garage handy with a man who tests cars for his clients who will do mine. I am getting a little annoyed at his delay, and shall probably not bother with him after this unless he wakes up.

I remember Hamblins the Hairdressers did they have the shop next to Miss Ackerman ( from the village) ? or did they take over her shop? Note you have done some serious gardening. I cleared a pile of wood off the patch at the bottom to-day hoping to give it a dig over, but all was soaking wet so I pruned some roses and transferred one and a couple of lavender bushes, Hope they live, the bits and pieces went on the spot where the wood came from so I am as badly off as when I started. Gave the car a bit of a clean and that was the morning gone.

We went over to West Drayton this afternoon after Sunday School and found Delph and Roy there with Christopher. There was quite some activity on the Western Avenue both going and returning, but it is not surprising as the weather, was glorious.

Fancy Mum going to see Jessie Matthews, Should have been the other way round.

Yes the Country Lifes have been passed on to others and we are in a position to accept some more of like journals.

We do seem to be getting too many accidents lately. That one at Baschurch wants looking into I should think.****

You do not surprise me when you report that Goods Guards are being recruited from the Exchanges. I can see their dodge all right. Our difficulty is persuading the long service men like guards that Station staff on bonus will only be getting more money than they are until we can get round to Work Studying them. They are concerned that youngsters with negligible service will get more than them. It is more than a possibility, but without staff to cover every job at once what can you do. Of course the helpful situation at Oxford is that the Oxford L.D.G. is Chaired by a Passenger Guard, Secretary Goods Guard, and includes a Signalman and a Train Announcer.

Note the journey to the Play (Pantomime ) had a false start. As return trip was made to Herbert Rd and Fearnville Estate, and not Tennyson Avenue, I suppose you do not share in the blame? Note also that you will visit Caperns on the 22nd March so that by the time you get here you will be Bouncing with health. (Or is that Trill?)*****

What could have gone wrong with your gate? I thought it was iron?

Old Rees Barrett still a bit loose in the head then? A pity – his was a fairly good family I believe.

Well that’s the epistle again for this week. Notice it is light till gone 5-0pm here now so we shall look forward to a short time perhaps in the garden in the evenings soon. Love from us all for now.

[*Naturally no child would ever do anything worthy of his notice; the dismissive prose says so much.]

[**I wonder if he has noticed that a parsnip is in fact a vegetable, rather than a fruit?]

[***Yup, school is a convenient dumping-ground for those one is not prepared to parent adequately. School will ‘knock it out of them’ – and if not you can always start hitting them. June’s resentment at not being able to push this troublesome chick out of the nest and concentrate on having fun with her ‘good baby’ is clear in every line of this discussion. Of course that sort of thing doesn’t mark a kid for life, either, and they clearly wouldn’t still be hurt by it sixty years afterwards.]

[****The conclusion seems to have been that the signalman accepted a passenger express when a goods train, which had been partially shunted aside to allow it to pass, had not fully cleared the line. See https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1044 for more information.]

[*****Yes. ‘Trill makes budgies bounce with health’.]

Sunday 12th February, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you both for latest letter, glad to hear, you are both much better although not quite fully restored yet. Yes so far thank goodness we have all escaped the flu, and generally the epidemic seems to have been rather scattered in these parts. A list was sent round for key? staff to apply for flu vaccine injections. I had mine on Friday morning and can still feel tenderness in the arm. The vaccine is supposed to take full effect from two weeks after it has been given and to last for a year. If this can be given every year and it works, shall have to keep it going. There is some immunity degree even from the start, but there is still the risk of getting flu within the first fortnight.

I do not suppose you felt much like wine tasting recently however restful an occupation it is. Nevertheless I expect you are now feeling more able to cope. My Apricot/Celery mixture is in the last stages of fermentation and I have another concoction ready to take its place in the fermentation Jar. The latest is based on a packet of dates that got loft over from Xmas together with two old grapefruit and two old but very juicy and sweet oranges. One wizened apple also wont into the brew. There is upwards of half a gallon ticking over nicely. Have the remains of the last gallon of apricot which I shall try to keep for your approval next month.

Yes again we think the Field End School is quite modern and it certainly looks to be up to date from the inside as well as outside.

So far as meetings go, Mr Lay managed to stay away all last week so that we dropped in nicely for those arranged for last week. McDonald came back on the Monday still looking the worse for wear, but managed to last out. No more have gone down with it.

I noted the Class One vacancies. my strength is to be six each of “A”s Ones, and Twos, and as I have only two “A”s One One, and Two Twos at the moment directly attached (as distinct from those on loan) I shall certainly get some of this crop of twenty-five. The position changes rapidly from day to day however. For example, London (and now Bristol) are asking for a much larger establishment still, some vacancies will be filled from within the organisation which includes research men, and some will leave before even the initial posts have been filled. Where we shall be getting the staff from I cannot think. There are now hundreds of applications to come in – everybody now wants to jump on the wagon. They all seem to have forgotten what they had to say about the subject only a couple of years ago.

I am sorry Norman did not get a job. It was only an outside chance of course with his present grading so low. Still, tho fact that they interviewed 30 people is a good omen. It means they are looking around for likely candidates and are not just filling the posts for which the interviews took place. Some of the unlucky 30 will not bother again, some will have get other jobs by the time the next batch of W/S vacancies are advertised so it is bound to be to Norman’s advantage to persevere and particularly to show interest in the work that is going on in the section by asking the people in it. I cannot say how important a display of enthusiasm on his part is at the present time and he should not do too put out by his lack of success so far. By far the most important part of W/S is tho “Human Relations” angle and it has been said that that amounts to about 75% and tho remaining 25% is Black Magic (Slide Rule, and various technique etc.)

We had interviews for five two’s [sic] on Thursday and again on Friday morning. I do not know how many there were, but I am satisfied that two of my temporary two’s will be made permanent.

My requisition for coach equipment was cut and I am now trying to find out who deals with such matters. It seems incredible to me that no one seems to know. Shall drop a fair sized spanner in his basket when I find out. I cannot seem to get far over tho coach business. We had a good meeting at Oxford so that I shall probably start a team there soon. When I do I shall ask for a coach, and bring some more pressure on the subject. At the moment I have no immediate use for one anyway. I do not know whether I told you but I have the keys of the Westbury coach in my drawer, so it is someone else’s next move.

We still have not had much chance to do any serious window gazing for a lamp shades and although we went to Harrow this week-end did not see any there.

Some rain your end to all accounts, but you did manage to make a start with some of your sowing. I remember the gulley when it fills with rain, but I suppose you hare cured that bit between the greenhouse and garden by the construction of the concrete paths. Prams are getting plenty of exercise but no doubt this will increase with the arrival of better weather. There is still plenty of indoor activity that goes on with them as well.

Cannot comment on the price for Roselands as I have no knowledge of its size and condition. I remember Hamblin the hairdresser although you have the name wrong. It is Hamilton, but Gfr. Fewings* said he knew him when he lived at Tiverton but his name was Middleton then – some mystery. I asked him many years ago if he know Tiverton and he said he did.

I am sure you will look forward to seeing Arthur when he comes to England this year. As you say it is necessary to have some funds to keep travelling like this, but I suppose it is all a question of values and the relative standard of living here and in America. It must be rather nice where he lives. I expect he likes to have someone to look up on his trips.

I said at Headstone Lane that you would be thinking of us all. The jaunt went well but of course Carol got so excited that she was sick as soon as we got back. To complete that side of the picture we had a repeat performance from her when returning from Harrow yesterday.

Cranley Gardens is at Ruislip Manor. If you face up the hill there, you take the last turning to the left before you get to the railway bridge, and then it is a turning to the left again.

Eileen is spending tho Week-end with, and so is Pauline. We went to Pinner Park this morning but it was not too pleasant. Few flowers out and a host of dejected ducks feeding off bread crumbs that the girls threw them.

I note all the people are selling their houses in your area – is it coincidence? The place must look a lot better without all the tree branches – more light.

Well that is all from those “Bowler Hatted people”.

Love.

[*Joseph Henry Fewings, 1873-1943]

Sunday 29th January, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you both very much for your last letter, arrived well and truly before we had got up yesterday morning. More of that later.

We were both very sorry to learn that you had both been attacked by the ‘flu, and hope that it was only a mild one. There have been several references in the paper to a ‘flu epidemic which is moving southward from Northern England and the Midlands, but so far London has not had it too badly. Needless to say we do not want it and we are only too sorry to learn that you failed to dodge it. Perhaps ours is to come, but that is one thing that we can do without – liable to break the camels back.

Junes foot, although still showing pink, is fully recovered, and causes no distress. Yes Carol did give us a fright – how she got here we shall never know as she cannot give a coherent account of it. Have seen the people at the Sunday School twice since, and although they seem to take it lightly, have said they have not let either of them out of sight since. No ill effects apparent in Carol although she was stone cold on arrival. The party was destined to end at 6-0 pm so Carol lost an hour at least.

June went down to the School to see the Headmistress on Wednesday and she has promised that she will try to get Susan in after Easter, There are only a limited number of places so that if there are more actual five-year-olds presenting themselves than the teacher expects ( from advice ) Susan will have to wait till after the Summer – say some time in September.

I agree it is a pity that we are all going commercialised, McDonald has strong views on most subjects, including prejudice, and I expect to be able to hoist him by his own petard if his anti-operating tactics can be proved to be based on that. He has spent the last week on holiday in Switzerland. I hope to take over a grip ( at least ) on the reins this week as I can not see any forward progress being made until I do. Lay ( Work Study Assistant ) allows himself to be inundated. He has had copious quantities of work dropped on him, and instead of passing it down the line or even tackling it himself he puts it all to Mc Donald for a decision.

I shall lose my all stations pass in the near future. I don’t know what level one has to be before you get an all stations pass when in a Division.

Easter is as you say only a short while away now. February will be upon us by the time you get this letter ( even half over if my postal arrangements continue to break down ) and it is possible that the weather may take a turn for the better when March arrives. Of course it is doubtful if we shall get really good weather with Easter so early. The arrangements proposed for your visit sound in order, and I take it you will come on the Wednesday and return when it suits you – remember your last was curtailed involuntarily?

You referred in your latter to lack of rain to date of writing, but I expect you have had more than your share by now. The early and middle parts of the week were extremely cold here but Friday, Saturday and to-day have been very very wet with gale force winds. Can not seem to keep the lid on the dustbin, and have had to weigh it down with a heavy wooden box. It has poured all day to-day and the wind has been terrific.

Good thing to have expert to prune trees. Hope he avoided strongly pruning those that you had grafted or they will have reverted. I expect he has removed a considerable quantity of wood so that you will be busy sawing up logs for the fire. Apple burns well in the grate.

Have reached the part of your letter where you explain about Mothers flu, and must say she seems to have had a bad time of it. Not many illnesses keep her in bed, I hope you do not get yours ( or second lot ) on Good Friday or shall have your bed transferred to garage.

I note the accent on the lighting wire being rewired, but I was aware that it was the lighting wire that had failed. As existing equipment had to be scrapped and a new start made it would have been possible to run all heating and lighting off the two ring circuits. Its only a matter for personal choice, but I see no merit in having several electrical systems in one house when one will do. I gather the £ 28. 10. 0 is for labour and renewal of life expired equipment and as such it seems reasonable enough. Your neighbour should not be in trouble if he has renewed the faulty wire as that is where the danger lies. The components in the circuits do not present anything like the same amount of risk as that which can be caused by a perished wire resulting in a short. In the attic, mice have a habit of eating through rubber covered wire of the type you would have had, but they can not deal with the new plastic wire. It is so tough that it is very difficult to cut and shape and plays old harry with one’s hands.

Re Norman Alien, I explained the position regarding him to Ted Stevens, and asked that he pass on to Mann. Also explained that Norman would probably look in to see him some time. It seems that Stevens is starting up Plymouth Passenger station this Monday ( with Colin Lovemore) but has to detach himself almost immediately to apply a scheme for Carriage Cleaners at Kingswear. It looks as though Norman will not see him in Bristol for some time, Welch has got a Special A in the Transom House Admin, Section ( Work Study ) good luck to them ).

Should not think that Burt will ask awkward questions on Work Study. He knows little about it himself although I suppose he can be primed.

Sorry to say there is now some news about the housing prospects at: West Drayton. The prospective buyer has called round to say the deal is off. It seems to be a very fishy business, as if the situation can be read aright the prospective buyer must be about bankrupt himself.

Note your comments on the Football Match. I felt that the locals had not quite the skill of former teams, but they did not look as bad as the score suggested. Nevertheless it must be said that Walton were good value for their win, I see that yesterday they defeated Hornchurch and Upminster ( also in the Athenian League) by 9 goals to 3 so someone else found the going too hot.

I note that John is doing well in Business, but I am surprised to learn that the firm is the only ironmongers in the town. I wrote to Tiverton after Christmas.

Wine still popping steadily although the pace is reducing a little. I expect it will go another week before stopping. Note also that the Standard Lamp is getting a little lovelier each day, We shall not need to plug it in when it gets here, but just cover it at night like a parrot. Glad Mother has kept the pictures, they must reveal the progress that has been made. Hope you thought to put a date on them.

Do not remember the cycle trip to Bristol, but did spend one day at Wrington having got there via Kingston Seymour.

There are some new shops/down by the petrol station toward the Eastcote Arms. They are in Field End Road ( Eastcote to Harrow ) nearly at the junction with Victoria Rd ( Ruislip Manor to Harrow). They are not really in walking distance for shopping purposes, but they seem quite nice shops. Some are yet to be allocated. Note that Co-op have bought Billets and that there has been an alteration to old Normans shoe shop.

Not much news to give you this week. We had a broken night on Friday night with Susan making a fuss. To avoid waking Carol, June dumped her in with me and took over Susan’s bed herself. I had two wakeful sessions from her then all was quiet. It stayed that way for a very long time [and] in fact when June came in to find out what time it was, we discovered that it was twenty to nine. That hit on the head plans to make an early start and motor to Ealing. Instead we paid a couple of bills at Ruislip during which process I got soaking wet and had to dry off’with scarf.

Delph and Roy and Christopher came over to-day to lunch and tea. Of course they wrecked the joint between them, but all passed off amicably and the place has settle d down to a temporary peace. We go to Headstone Lane* for the return fixture next Sunday – the girls will have to forego Sunday School that day.

To-day Carol came home from Sunday School with a toy celluloid windmill. It appears that the young ones had been given them. None for Susan, but no other comment from her other than the statement of fact.

Well we all hope your illnesses will have cleared up now, and that you will have got over the effects of the flu. Love from us all.

[*i.e. to Geoff and Stella]

Thursday 26th January, 1961

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1961 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol,

Many thanks for both your letters and the drawings from Susan received yesterday. We are so glad to hear that June’s foot is healing up nicely and that there were no complications but Miss Carol must have given you a fright last Saturday. Fancy finding her own way home in the dark at her age. She could very well have walked off in the opposite direction and been really lost. Hope she did not catch cold through being without her hat and coat. Whatever did she say when you opened the door to her? Can imagine the teachers’ faces when one of their youngest pupils had got out of schoolroom without being missed – will put them on their guard in future. Susan apparently enjoyed herself at the party even if very few were dancing. What time was party expected to break up?

Susan – and Carol this time – have sent us some very nice drawings – improving every week. Thank you both very much.

Must make you realise they are growing up now that you have to go down to the school this week in connection with Susan’s entry after Easter and not so very long to wait before you will be doing the same for Carol.

Note you duly started new job on the 16th inst and that Mc Donald laid on lunch. Yes I suppose all work will be commercialised somewhat which is a pity but the Commercial Dept. being in power will have their own way. It is better than two departments being at loggerheads. Quite a variety of assignments in front of Work Study Section by all accounts.

Yes we quite understand you will not be able to visit us on odd occasions now your territory is confined to the London Division – presumably your pass also will be limited accordingly.* It is not many weeks to Easter now and gives Mum and I something to look forward to and we thank June for her preliminary suggestion to start from here on the Wednesday. Will leave it with you to confirm or alter when it gets nearer the date.

In the meantime we must try and get through this wintry spell of weather. No rain this week so far but a bitterly east wind. Have had an expert in to prune the apple trees and have been helping him on Monday & Tuesday but it had been so cold he has not shown up.

On Tuesday Mum was not too well and yesterday was certainly under the weather with an obvious dose of flu. Only came downstairs for about four hours then back to bed. Improving now but it will take its course. There is a tremendous lot of it about in Clevedon at the moment. I suppose I shall get mine on Good Friday again – I hope not.

Have had an estimate from Bell for rewiring the lighting and renewal of all light switches (to up-to-date pattern) for £28.10.0. [Roughly £670 in present-day currency.] The total includes rewiring for 6 one-way lights 4 two-way lights 5 two amp plugs and 14 switches and I’m going to be on hand when they do it – in about a fortnight – to see that newly decorated walls like the hall and other rooms not booked for early decoration are not disfigured. Your ‘ring’ circuit arrangement seems alright but I shall not alter the exiting method and Bell’s proposed now. Incidentally I did not realise until recently that we have no less than six separate fuse switches over the inside of front door and I must find out what each controls when workmen here.**

Talking to Heel one day this week I mentioned the lighting trouble and to my astonishment he said “Oh yes we have had that but I got a fellow in to renew the faulty wire.” Apparently he himself has been up under tiles and got a shock messing about with it before sending for someone to put it right. Seems to me he is asking for more trouble.

Was expecting a telephone call from Norman Allen on Wednesday morning when there was a knock on back door. It was Norman who apparently had a couple of days off. He was very grateful for information re: Work Study – no news of any interviews yet but he says he has been told Gerry Burt will take them. If this is so he can look out for some awkward questions. He has not met either Mann or Stevens but will be on lookout for them.

Noted there is no further news yet of rehousing for June’s Father & Mother. It’s such a pity to have this uncertainty hanging over their heads all this time. Perhaps someone will wake up soon and make a move to get things going again but in any case it looks as if they will see the Winter out at 155 High Street now.***

We did not know result of the Clevedon match until reading it [in] Sunday paper. I never gave them a chance to win but should think they were disappointed at score and disgusted with themselves.**** Pity they had not passed out in previous round.

Had a letter from Tiverton yesterday and learn that John has now entered into a partnership with Webber Saunders the ironmongers in whose shop he has been working since he left school. He has taken the place of Fred Fewings who died last September*****. It is a thriving business and apart from the town trade they cover the countryside for a very wide area. The other two partners are both elderly people so John in due course will become principal of the firm. Uncle Joe when writing us said they had had a letter from you recently.

So your latest effort at winemaking turned out alright. Shall have to pick out a few bottles to bring up at Easter.

Have put another couple of coats of polish on lamp standard – each one makes it shine a little brighter. (Sounds like advert for detergent.)

We have now been out since last writing you – except to Church on Sunday – but should have gone to library had Mum been alright this week. Perhaps we shall be able to before the weekend.

No more this time so hope you are all keeping free of colds etc. and that you can get out and about in spite of cold weather.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for dear little Susan & carol.

Mum & Dad

[*Alec and June both had lifetime ‘privs’ giving them either free or discounted train travel anywhere in the UK. These were also available to the children until we either turned 18 or entered the workplace.]

[**You may think this indicates a rather startling lack of curiosity given that Leonard and Eva had been in this house since the day it was built, more than thirty years earlier.]

[***I have been unable to definitively identify a picture of 155 High Street at the time but the building on left-hand side of this picture lines up exactly with my recollection and was a tobacconist’s in 1935. If my assumptions are correct that Frank ceased to manage the Strand cinema in Southend when it was taken over by the Essoldo chain in 1955, they could not have been in residence at 155 High Street much more than six or seven years in total – although the front was presumably repainted and they certainly had shop blinds made with the name BAKER in very large letters on them. One at least of these ended up as part of our play equipment but was presumably banished for good when we moved house in 1967.]

[****I have been unable to locate details of this match.]

[*****Fred Fewings must have been a relative of Eva’s, presumably a cousin, but at this stage I have been unable to identify him.]

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

Dear Alec June Susan & Carol

Thank you for both letters also the drawings from the girls they are coming on. I shall soon be able to open a picture gallery. Glad to say I am feeling better today but I ached in all my bones. Dad has gone down with it now but he would stay up it would have been better if he had stayed in bed longer. Flue is bad around here.

Mr Say has been today to do some more pruning but he did not come yesterday same reason he ached all over. It was really too cold to snow they have just given out that we may have some.

Fancy Carol running home what a fright it gave you, as bad as when Alec was small he & Frank Hessel came in with the tale that they had cycled to Bristol & back unheard of in those days you will have to buy some hair restorer to keep your colour black.

We are looking forward to coming up fancy it will be twelve months since we saw Ruislip. Glad Alec likes his new job. I did not see Normal Allen as I was in bed but that morning Dad did quite well with three visitors S. James & Mr Aston. Have they built any more shops round your way, there are several here where old Norman the shoemaker was & his house there are three new shops. Co-op has bought Billets.

The men have straightened up the path where the water leak was.

I think this is all news now love from us both.

Mum & Dad