Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks once more for the weekly letter. Again it arrived on Friday, so consistent service now. You will be pleased to know that both patients have recovered from their chickenpox. The spots on Susan have almost disappeared while those on Carol have lessened and are fast fading. Both have had one or two particularly bad ones which want a bit of watching, and which are a bit unsightly, but ten days can make a lot of difference. Christine has the mumps all right. I gathered from Doug yesterday that she still has a sore throat but as this is another complaint that lasts about two weeks she should be out of it fairly soon now.

I am sorry and surprised to hear that you had none of the rain we have been having. Again this week about Wednesday I noticed that the patch was drying out and in need of some water had decided to hose it in the evening when we had heavy and continuous rain starting at 11 a.m. and continued until well after we went to bed. As you might guess, no watering was then needed. The soil still has not dried out nor have the lawns.

I was not aware that you had been told of our ETA but that is now confirmed. We have borrowed a roof rack from the local Scouts, and will be bringing the camp bed. I am instructed to make sure to tell you this. I think I shall avoid both Bath and Bristol. The latter has to be passed on the Southside, so I should imagine I shall pass via East Harptree turning off the Bath to Glastonbury Road. I am not very worried as there are a variety of ways one can do this.

Good news about Mr Heel if he can get cracking on his garden even if only light duties. We have had a card from our neighbours – late – and they are now living at “Benhaven”, Cliff Road, Worlebury, Weston-super-Mare. Odd choice for the name of the house, I wonder he did not call it “Ericsome” or perhaps he thought it would be misleading if he were out. We are expected to go to see them when we get down next week or the week after. There is plenty of activity next door, and much banging and tapping etc. We have not seen them to talk to this weekend but they have been around almost daily since the previous week. I mean in their own place of course.

I doubt if Peter’s car would take our new T.V. Later on I may do something about it but in the meantime it is not doing any harm where it is. Lucky to get your car done so cheaply. I put mine into the garage for the timing chain to be fitted and the oil changed. They charged me 2/- short of £8. A bit steep, but they fitted a new oil filter, and had a bit of bother with the distributor. They cleaned and reset the contacts of the latter and cleaned and adjusted the plugs. Also they tuned up the engine. There is no doubt the old car has benefited from this work as the engine is almost silent in operation, and there seems to be a lot more zip (instantaneous response) from the controls. Apart from getting new tyres at some time in the future we are set now for the next 50,000 miles. Incidentally we have done 450 since the overhaul. Incidentally a timing chain links the mechanical part of the engine (camshaft) with the electrical section through the distributor. It is necessary for the spark in the plugs to ignite at a precise moment in time when the piston is just at the top or just over the top of its stroke. There must be a positive action between the two sections or the engine will not fire properly. An old and sloppy chain can have the obvious consequences.

Re: Susan by the way, I should mention that we had a couple of interruptions in the night from her. a bilious attack this time with nothing more to come – we hope. Apart from a complete change of bed clothes, bed linen, and night attire she is nothing the worse for wear this morning. Of course we abstained from fried breakfast in her case.

Although the Esther Reeds only gave a few flowers each they have lasted well. We have flowers in the vase that have been there sometime long enough for three separate lots of sweet peas – and they are still full of life. A mixture of Esther Reeds, blood red carnations, and mixed sweet peas is now on top of the new TV. We put our plants under the hedge if you recall, and I doubt if that is the best place they could have had. Probably they would have done better in the bottom square. However room is scarce so they will have to stop there for now. One of the plants you brought us is coming into flower, but the gypsophila is hardly more than six inches high. Tomatoes are plentiful on all the plants, and some are getting fairly large. The fruit on the loganberry did not last long. It seems that one day in the week Susan was given the ripe one, and found it not to her taste – after a lick or two it was thrown away.

Bad luck on the sportsmen. The surplus water from our garden must make its way down the hill but I really do not know if it goes into number 86 or down into our soil. All he has to do if it collects in his patch is to provide a through route for it to go into the field. So Cornish came in to see the hydraulic masterpiece did he? If you play your cards right you could make an outdoor bathroom with shower. I still cannot see why you cannot use mower down to the river. If the way is bumpy you could level the bumps out with the aid of a bit of digging to remove the hills and some soil transferred to fill the hollows. As a matter of fact the whole thing could be done in a similar fashion to my own lawn making. Put all the accumulated rubbish from the garden down there to make the level up a bit. The mower will dispose of any weeds that come up, and the rain will flatten it down for you.

So your visit to Lyng went off in good order. Good lunch by all accounts. How do you manage to get uninterrupted time for a sleep after dinner? Some output from the chickens too. 40 dozen eggs per week is a lot by all accounts.

Back bedroom finished, but the wall and woodwork now shows up the ceiling a bit so that may well be done before long.

I worked with Elmer at Bristol when he was Class 5. if it is his death reported then he must have contracted something unusual as he was a comparatively young man.

Your proofing arrangements for the pond have had mixed success, but it seems that you now have the answer. Shall look forward to seeing the improvement. We must catch some fish to put in it so get some water in to take the sting out of the chemicals.

So you are back in the cherry business then in spite of the birds. Good to be able to get there first for once. Beetroot wine does go a fine colour but as you say the colour is only part of the business. Have you not tried raspberry wine? Perhaps mother will think better of them in that form. Good idea to put the orange on top of the brew. Sliced orange gives a greater surface to the yeast and to the must for it should do it work, and by putting orange slices on during the fermentation period contact can be maintained for a longer time.

Good do for the ringers’ meeting then. Did Mum take any of her rock cakes or were they banned in view of the number of steps there are up to the Belfry?

No news of applications for vacancy. I only hope that interview will not come when I am on holiday. This is sure to happen though.

It is a pity that the Exe Valley line is to close, but if people will not use it they cannot expect to have it. It is really all those naughty railwaymen’s faults – wanting more money. The probable number of passengers carried and the tonnage moved is not much different from fifty years ago go I suppose, only it costs more to do so now. I should not be a bit surprised to learn that the Clevedon branch had been closed. I cannot think that it pays much.

Good lark about Trueman. I should imagine this was only one incident they had been waiting for to teach him a lesson. Should think he is a bit of a hard case.

Used up the last of the sack of sand and cement yesterday. It was about a half barrowload and did for filling up crevices and gaps in paths etc. I found that it had not dried this morning although we had no rain. It should not be long now as the sun has come out.

If you can see to the bottom of the pond as mentioned in mom’s letter it means that you have put water in it already? Our apples are filling out well now and so far the girls have left them alone. Hope the local kids do not remove them when we are away. As the house next door is empty they might well do that. On reflection I do not think that apples are quite the prize they once were too small boys.

Well I had better dry up here and keep all news till next time not that I can think of anything that I have left out. Hope you are both well and ready for the invasion to come. Love from us all. 

[At this point there is a gap in the correspondence until 22nd August, to reflect a two week holiday with several days’ grace either side.]

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter received this morning with all the latest news. Sorry, in a way, about Carol but I expect you both agree it is best for her to have the complaint and get it over. By this time we hope she is much better and getting rid of the spots. Poor Carol she did not want to have her photograph taken then with all the spots in evidence – maybe thinking the sooner she gets rid of them the better and no reminders required. So mumps are about in your district, that’s another complaint everyone can do without. Hope the children miss this one.

Good news about June’s mother. Must have made her feel on top of the world to know the specialist was sufficiently satisfied not to require her to visit him again. Let’s hope she can regain some of her strength during the remainder of the summer.

Incidentally we could do with some of the rain you have been getting. Last Sunday for instance Mum and I went to Lyng and although we had the windscreen wiper going for about five minutes it turned out a very hot and sultry day. Everything is bone-dry down here. Les Garland has been to Cornwall for a week’s holiday. Came home last weekend and said they did not have a dry day – in fact at times they had torrential rain. The only thing we hope is that we do not get our quota of rain when you are here.

We remembered you suggested coming in the afternoon of Tuesday the 7th prox and our arrangements are proceeding accordingly – just awaiting your confirmation. Whichever way you come try and avoid Bath and Bristol, both places getting worse and worse for traffic and diversion measures. Looking forward to your visit.

Mr Heel progressing satisfactorily and has actually started on garden again with the hoe but only for about five minutes at a time. He has to see his specialist on the first prox for a final check up so this in itself indicates his progress. A really wonderful recovery.

Note your neighbours have at lasts ‘gone west’ and are now at Weston-super-Mare. The new people already on the job getting the house around to their own liking. Just as you were doing a few years ago. I bet Susan was pleased to go in and ask them to come round for a cup of tea. Noted also the T.V. (from next door) is acting as a plant stand at the moment. If you could get it right would it go in Peter’s car for the journey to Pauline’s? Pity to lose the use of it.

June getting in some good practice driving on Sundays and in the rain too. The total cost of repairs to our car was £4/14/2d* without as you already know any charge for doing the work. This would have totalled about £8 overall** if I’d had to take car to garage. What is timing chain? Excuse my ignorance.

I cannot understand your Esther Reeds only giving about one flower per plant. Did you move them during the past winter? Ours have a literally been a picture – masses of bloom for a long period. They are still in full flower but showing signs of fading now. Don’t blame June for taking them for the house. Mum has had loads of flowers of various sorts in vases in the down stair rooms [sic] and hall.

Glad to hear the lawn is improving and showing a lot of green nowadays. Much better for walking on and I expected the girls like it too. Fancy not having to water the tomatoes etc. I cannot carry enough down here and the Bristol Waterworks people are now in queer street with water and have imposed restrictions on the use of water for sports grounds much to the disgust of the ‘sportsmen’ affected. It’s a case of “I’m alright Jack” because there was no comment from them when the original restriction was imposed.

Those long shoots on the loganberry are next year’s fruiting stock – this year’s canes being cut out in the fall of the year and the new growth fastened back to the netting. We have gathered any amount of fruit from ours this year and has proved a most useful fruit to have in the garden.

The raising of your lawns has proved beneficial now that you have had so much rain. Does the surplus water drain into the garden of number 86 or does it disappear altogether? Cornish has been round to see the waterfall but as it is not yet working he could not see it in full swing. Had a few remarks to make of course.

I’m afraid there is little hope of getting motor mower on the path to the river as you will appreciate when you see it – too lumpy by far. Have now cut the hedge (next Heels’) back to the fence right down to the river and it looks much tidier. The job now is to pick up the cuttings and grass and dispose of it.

As previously mentioned we went to Lyng on Sunday last visit for Don’s birthday which is Friday this week. They made us very welcome and all traces of their recent upset with roof have disappeared but they told us it was pretty awful at the time. Well but what can you expect when you are pulling about a house that has been up for over 100 years. Had a roast chicken and a bottle of wine for lunch and of course a sleep afterwards. Got back home in time for church. Joan says she is disposing of 40 dozen eggs per week at present. Mum brought back quite a lot.

Note June has been having a go at the small back bedroom and I expect she has made it look very nice. Our interior decorations at a standstill for the present.

Sounds as if you drop a few more cacti plants and divide the roots you may have better success with them all together.

One of our bell-ringers – a Mr Williams age 77 – was buried this morning and we went over and after the service rang the bells half-muffled for about half an hour.

Did you know Elmer of the New Works Section Bristol? I’m pretty certain it was an announcement in the evening paper giving notice of his death last Friday but no one has advised me officially. He was I think well under 60 years of age.

Must now give you latest news of progress on pond. Last letter indicated rain had fallen on some patent stuff Don had let me have and spoilt the lot. Well last Saturday morning I put on a second coating of black bituminous paint and this dried out without rain falling on it. On Monday I decided to give pond first coat of some cream coloured Snowcem and this seemed to cover up the blackness of the bituminous paint very well – still no rain until after it had dried out. Some slight rain since which necessitated bailing out again but this afternoon although sky cloudy and some spots of rain did actually fall at intervals I put on the final coat of light green Snowcem. It is exactly 2 hours ago that I finished and no rain yet so I think I’ve got away with it. Looks quite nice and I’m fairly sure the pond will now hold water. The task will be to fill it without using hose.

The beetroot wine is now under fermentation lock and I’ve put it in a little isinglass. Had a bit of luck with the cherries. Went down to the field last Saturday and saw quite a lot ripe and ready for picking almost out of sight of the birds. Got busy and picked them and together with those I had picked earlier made nearly six pounds by weight. Put them soaking for 48 hours and boiled up the juice last night and put in the sugar. This morning added the yeast and (my own idea) cut two oranges into slices and put them on top of brew. It is now working furiously. So we hope to  supply some cherry wine after all. The beetroot is a lovely colour but I know one does not drink colour. The proof of the pudding etc. etc.

Tomatoes now on sale and runner beans ready for sale. Managed to sell six or seven more pounds of peas last Saturday and raspberries plentiful and in demand. Mum hates the sight of a raspberry after picking so many. Had a huge bonfire late this afternoon but still there is a large quantity of stuff waiting to be burnt.

Last Saturday afternoon we had a ringers’ meeting at Clevedon, ringers coming in from various places within the Deanery. Ringing 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. then service in church followed by a tea in the Church House and the annual meeting of the local Ringers’ Guild followed by more ringing until 8:30 p.m. Mum went down and helped with the tea and I think a good time was had by all. The vicar and new Curate were both there for most of the time including the annual meeting.

Referring to your letter again Mr Palmer has had a bit of heart trouble for many years and I suppose the operation etc. did not improve matters. Moreover he is now 73 years of age. He is still home – Dr will not let him go away yet.

No mention this week of your application for vacancy so presumably no news yet. Perhaps it is a bit early.

Great noise down here now about the proposed closing of the Cheddar Valley line. Someone has got hold of the date the last train is supposed to run and is kicking up a row. I see the Tiverton and Exeter line is definitely out in the near future. This was a very pretty section as you may remember but there it is. it obviously does not pay and must be closed. I see even Clevedon is down for consideration according to the press.

By the way I wonder how much Somerset cricketers paid the chambermaid at the Taunton hotel to forget to call Freddie Trueman? He must be laughing his head off.***

Just about getting to the end of this episode so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls and we hope they will soon be back to normal. 

Mum and Dad.

P.s. No rain on final coat of Snowcem on pond yet 28 hours since applied so should be alright. Dad. 

*Roughly £112 in today’s money – very generous of Leonard not to ask his neighbour for a contribution IMHO!

**Or £190!

***According to ‘Farmer White‘ “Fred Trueman arrived late for the Championship match at Taunton and was sent home by the Yorkshire captain for his pains. Trueman always pleaded extenuating circumstances.” I’ve been unable to find any further information online although it probably turns up in Fred’s autobiography; it’s well-known that at certain periods of his life Fred was very fond of a drink, and at one point even lived in his car, so it’s not entirely surprising that he may sometimes have had a problem getting out of bed in the mornings.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thanks for letter received yesterday together with shopping list from Susan which has been duly noted. So Susan is passing through her phase of chickenpox as well as can be expected but no reaction from Carol yet. Wonder if there have been any developments since you wrote? She may of course miss the boat this time and wait until she starts school when June will have the trouble all over again. Never mind. We hope they and yourself will be all right when you come to Clevedon shortly. We are also thinking of Mrs Baker and hope that checkup was satisfactory and that she is progressing towards good health again.

Whilst on the subject of illnesses I am glad to report that Mr Heel now seems to be round the corner. Came off the heavy drug tablets over the weekend and the virus did not reassert itself and he is looking very much better. The doctor called yesterday and was most pleased with his progress and said it was pretty certain now that he would not have to go away again. He has been pottering about the garden and today when I was in our garage he knocked on the door and came in. Still weak of course and dressed in overcoat and walking with a stick but very much improved since he came home from hospital. Should now gradually regain his strength.

Very pleased to hear your lump seems to be disappearing and perhaps by the time your next visit [to] surgeon there will be no lump for him to examine.

What a mess your neighbours must have been in over the weekend with their furniture all over the place. They will be glad to get going. Queer about the TV set though and unfortunately Mr Benn will not now be able to do anything about it – too busy with the move etc. I wonder if you will be able to make anything of it?

So you were all out early again on Sunday. Good practise June even if the roads were quiet. Plenty of time to get into the thick of it. Our young neighbour (Bushell) who knows the inside and outside of cars cannot pass his driving test. Failed today for the third time. I think he is overconfident and takes risks which an Examiner would not expect a learner to take, consequently he is failed. Except for the Monday and Tuesday of this week he has not taken the trouble to get in much driving practice so what can you expect? Must now continue to use his motorbike for at least another month. He has repaired or rather replaced the broken exhaust equipment on car but when we were out yesterday afternoon there was some vibration when braking or changing gears which he thinks he can identify and put right by turning the exhaust tube a little. This will be done shortly. He would not take anything for his labour so must make it up to him in other ways – garden produce etc.

Did not know you had a hole in your silencer. How did this come about?

Your query re: Mr Palmer. He is getting on slowly. Does not get about much unless by vehicle and doctor will not let him go away for a holiday – wants him here under his eye. His heart is a bit groggy I think but the subject is not mentioned.

Note your Esther Reeds are flowering. Our row has been a picture. There must have been several hundred heads of flowers all out together. I’m surprised your loganberry is bearing fruit. I noticed the flower buds on it when we were with you but never thought they would mature. Just at this moment we have literally hundreds of berries on our one plant and mum has already made some jam with them and of course we have had them stewed – delicious. Hope you will get as good results from yours in due course.

Raspberries to are now ripening by the hundred and Mum has been busy picking – see her letter for further remarks. Apparently she does not like the job. I picked about one-and-a-half pounds cherries last Friday towards more wine but the birds have had the rest and it is doubtful if so I’ll get enough to make any this season. The beetroot is still fermenting and answering your comment re: flavour I’m making it according to Bravery which includes oranges and lemons so must wait and see how it turns out. We have picked three quarters of a pound of tomatoes but others are colouring up now and market will soon be open.

Another interruption now – somebody after raspberries. Have sold 8lbs already in addition to what have been given away and what we have used. Last weekend we had a lovely lot of peas turn in all at once and apart from what we have been using we were able to sell 12 lbs. Could get rid of any amount if only we had them.

Am pleased to say the water held in the pond and I had an awful job mopping it up yesterday in order to get another coat on. Had to use a small tin and later when tin not effective an old woollen vest to act as a squeegee. Got it all out and no rain during the night so was able to paint over again this morning and it was still drying out when rain started again later this afternoon. I’m going to give it another coat, before putting on the Snowcem, to make sure. Anticipate shall have to bail the water out again now. Tried to siphon it out but no good.

There is another instalment now to the ‘old bath’ quest. Last Saturday at about 1 p.m. one of Stanley James’s sons called and asked if I wanted an old bath. Yes. Well there is one at a house in Knowles Road so be ready at 2 p.m. to pick it up. Stanley James used his van and we loaded up and brought it back here and dumped it by garage for the weekend. On Monday morning with the help of Bushell I got it in position end on to the bath already receiving water from the roof of garage. Then on Monday at about 2 p.m. Stanley James called round and said he had two tanks in his van, were they any good to me. I said how much? He replied nothing, if you do not want them they will be scrapped. In they came and later the same day I fixed them and onto the new bath and just managed to get them in without having to remove the glass screen at bottom of the little alleyway between garage and greenhouse. The two tanks (at their original place) were joined together with a pipe at the base. They were separated when I had them but the pipe is still attached to one of the tanks and can quite easily be reconnected to the other. These two tanks will then fill equally and an overflow pipe will run surplus into the new bath and a hole at the top of the narrow end of this bath can be short piped to take surplus water into the original bath. Hence I can arrange for water to pass from the tanks to the second and first of the baths. Now I’m I’m waiting for Cornish to come over and open his eyes. So far I’ve only put guttering for the front side of garage and must put it up for the other when I should get twice as much rainwater as heretofore. Incidentally the new bath is bigger than our old one and the tanks at an estimate will hold about 40 gallons each.

On Monday I went over and dug some potatoes for Mr Heel and and repeated the dose Thursday. Cornish goes in and cleans out the fowlshouse. Mrs Heel and her sister-in-law (who is staying with them for the time being) get busy in garden picking the fruit etc. It will be some time before Mr Heel can do anything although in response to his query yesterday the doctor told him he could if he felt like it drive his car as far as Hill Road for shopping purposes towards the weekend.

Rather interesting your visit to the flower market and the goldfish store. Shall not start any fish or weed etc this year. Must give the water a chance to soak up all the impurities from the bituminous paint and Snowcem or shall kill the lot.

Note you had a good week out of the office. Understand at Bristol they are stopping the use of the P.O. telephone for private calls. Several individuals have been pulled up for it already including one who was phoning his ‘bookie’.

With Susan having the chickenpox I take it she will not be resuming school until after the summer holidays. How long must she remain away from the other children?

Have now cut a way right down to the river and en route found a young plum tree growing. As it was not actually in the line of the path I’m leaving it to mature. River is muddy at present but quite a volume of water passing down. Must measure the actual distance from end of garden to river.

Mum has been to the T.W.G. this afternoon and now busy making raspberry jam. Yesterday afternoon we went to Bristol to see the Staceys. Had quite an enjoyable time and arrived home again about 9:40 p.m.. On Sunday we are going to Lyng. We wanted them to come back up here but they are in the throes of having a new roof put on their back bedroom and the place is in a bit of a mess. The old roof apparently gave signs of collapsing. It is a wonder to me any of it stays put.

Reading June’s PS Susan has the right idea in ordering the groceries for her visit to Clevedon. What painting are  you doing now? No mention of car this week (other than comment on silencer) so presume going alright since the repair work was completed.

No more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for two little girls called Susan and Carol. 

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks for the weekly letter once more. Here we are again with another from this end. Susan’s chicken pox is running its course. She has not felt too badly with it although she has had quite a lot of spots. No doubt they itched, and some on her face broke and look quite messy. However there seem to be fewer and dryer, so must assume that she is getting towards the end of this bout. So far Carol has not shown any signs of getting it, but the clear fortnight from the signs on Susan is not until next Friday, so we think we still have it to come. Hope she does not make it any later or it may interfere with our holiday. The neck appears to be even better, although I can still feel a small lump there.

Our neighbours’ move is in its throes. They asked as if we knew anyone who would like a television set so June thought of Delph and Roy who have not got one and said we would take it off their hands. It is an old one – not their best one – of 12in size with new tube and a converter for the I.T.A*. I went in to pick it up yesterday and my they are in a right muddle. It took us five minutes to get it out of the dining room with all the other stuff that was piled up there in. The set is a console and stands about three-and-a-half to four feet high. It has doors over the screen – dates it – and has the speaker in the bottom compartment like yours. It was supposed to work according to Eric and although I got a couple of new fuses and soldered a wire or two I could not get good results. I could get nothing of the I.T.A. (Channel 9) and although I could get the BBC there was something radically wrong with the picture that no amount of adjustment to the controls would put right. Somehow I cannot see Delph wanting this model even in good working condition, so I expect it will be another addition to our dining room. I shall have to have another go at it to put it right.

Re: June’s driving, we had another session this morning. We went out at 7 a.m. and returned 1 hour later having done 23 miles. There was little traffic on the road, and most of the time it was plain sailing. It was all good practice for getting the feel of the car but I think that another time I will concentrate on the side roads for the practise in taking road junctions, turns, starting and stopping etc.

I was aware that rhododendrons had to be grown in lime free soil as Azalea. Our soil has so little of anything in it that I doubt if there is enough lime there to worry about. In any case Eric has a Rhododendron growing well just the other side of the hedge, so they may be all right. In any case all the leaves are still green and showing signs of standing up.

Regarding vacancies although I have heard nothing about mine, I hear that a chap on the Southern has been told to apply for the vacant lecturer’s job on the Watford B.T.C. Staff College. He was formerly a fireman at Bristol until five years ago, and took a work study course. It appears he has the gift of the gab, and is very self-opinionated. Just to the qualifications for the job.

My hose has not been needed this week**. As you know it has rained heavily and continuously for some long time and no assistance from me has been necessary. I can see that you will get your tank and pump before long. I note the shortage and cause, and have to say I can send you plenty of shortage from this end anytime.

You would get no pressure from the hose if the water were allowed to gravitate from the higher level. It would work out much cheaper though because, given a tank that will hold all you need at one sitting, you would only need a very small motor to pump from the stream to this tank as it could take 24 hours to fill if necessary. I have in mind the sort that Don used to have to pump water into his goldfish tank when he was at ‘Whittlesea’***.

Your beetroot have been turned into wine then. It makes a change. I did not have a great deal of success with my only shot at this veg. I think that something wants to be added to improve the flavour, possibly lemon or lemon balm.

Sorry to hear of Mr Heel’s disappointment, and also his partial relapse. It must have been very rough for him to be told he could not go home especially after being away for such a long time. It seems as though he had a bad time even after he got home, but let’s hope he is feeling better now. It is dreadful to think that we are still getting troubles like that even in the middle of summer.

In regards to your collision with the gate fittings, you must have felt unfairly done by after turning out for the Heels. Your silencer is in the same condition as mine then, a hole in it. He has a big bill to pay for medical attention. Assume he did not do that on the National Health. Still £400 is a lot.

Your pond work going on apace. Pity about the cracks. Of course the best weather to  concrete is cool moist weather, but I remember the time the pond was first made the weather was hot, and we had rations of ice cream (in basin) from Elfords. Pity about the compost cage. Is it necessary to cut it back? Perhaps you did not give it the use you had in mind when it was first made. Our loganberry has a number of fruits on it which will have to ripen. We shall leave them till ripe to say we have had a taste. The tomatoes are going well, and all the flowers are making good progress. The Esther Reeds have started to flower but the first crop of roses and the syringa are now over. The patch at the back is now three parts covered with grass. I mowed it in the week after a shower, and although it was like mowing a shingle beach it cut very well, and this will make the grass grow thicker.

I visited Slough in the week and during the lunch hour I went into the market where I had not been before. they are selling all sorts of goldfish and pond weed. The market is on the down side of the A4 opposite the turning for Slough station. Your fish in the pond were (query spelling) one dozen golden orfe, one dozen shibunkins, one dozen golden rudd, two carp plus odd goldfish making a nominal total of 40.

Had a full week last week at the office. Managed to be out every day except Friday. Looked in long enough to pick up my pay on Thursday of course.

Just read again your post script. Pity about the pond filling to prevent your again covering the surface with bitumen. Still if the water stays put you will not need it obviously. Should at any time the pond show signs of leaking no doubt you can give it another coat.

Your wedding invitation noted. I take it you will go. I cannot say I should think much of it myself****.

We shall be alright for crisps when we get back to ‘Devonia’ then. Rather you than me at that temperature though.

I see that you say Mr Heel is a lot better and I hope he continues his improvement. What is the latest on Mr Palmer please? Well I must now close, so will wish you all the best for another week. Love from us all.

*This dates its manufacture to before 1955, and if my very rough rule-of-thumb calculation is correct it would probably have cost the equivalent of about £4,000 – £5,000 in 2022 money; that it, it would have taken roughly the same proportion of a family’s income/savings as that would.

**I don’t want to go all Frankie Howerd here, but I’m struggling to convince myself that these two were utterly unaware of the double entendres they were exchanging with regard to their various hoses and nozzles. On the other hand, ‘to the pure in heart all things are pure’ – and obviously I don’t fall into that category!

***For anyone who doesn’t remember, Whittlesea was the name of the house in Exeter where the family lived for some years. It was apparently later demolished to allow for an extension to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

****At this stage I have no idea which wedding this may have been. There were a lot of cousins and second cousins, mostly on Eva’s (Fewings) side, about whom I have very little information, but equally it could have been the wedding of some friends or the offspring of neighbours or people from the church. Unless further information emerges in the letters, I’m not inclined to spend a lot of time on it.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thanks once again for the weekly budget duly received this morning. So it’s chicken pox this week is it? Well never a dull moment but hard lines on Carol being barred from her party. Anyhow we hope if Carol has to have the complaint she will get it now and keep Susan company thereby making one do of it for June.

Glad to hear June’s mother improving and we hope she will regain her normal health as soon as possible. Noted Pauline has gone back to her job. Our very kind regards to her when she calls at 84 and we are sorry to have missed her when with you in June.

Yes we enjoyed our short holiday abroad and looking forward to the next one at home in August.

Good news about the neck and let’s hope that too will give you no more trouble. Seems to be a long time disappearing though.

Your neighbours on the move at last then. I expect they are all excited about it and looking forward to their residence near the sea. Sounds as if June is making excellent progress with her driving. It will make a difference to her when she has passed the test being able to pop round the block as it were to do the shopping etc. Note you had a good trip out last Sunday and found Burnham Woods again. Those rhododendrons strictly speaking should be grown in soil which contains no lime. this is difficult because practically all garden ground has a lime content. Mix plenty of peat with the earth and you may succeed in saving them. Can picture your journey as we have been over most of the country you mentioned.

Glad to hear you have had a long shot for a vacancy – you never know your luck in these matters and as you say stranger things have happened in the past. Good luck – may get an interview.

Your hose is coming in useful than. Mine is out of action as you know but all my enquiries regarding a supply from the river finish on the same note i.e. that a tank should be elevated near riverbank and the ordinary hose used to gravitate the water to another tank near the edge of garden. The only thing preventing its adoption is the usual shortage which has been slightly worsened lately as you will see later in this letter. Anyhow we are glad you can make use of the hose at your end and that as a result the various items are improving including the hedge. Constant spraying of the foliage disturbs the green and other fly so you are quite correct in suggesting the cold water upsets them.

Since last writing you we have had many diversions of sorts. First I took your suggestions to make wine out of the beetroot gone to seed and now have a gallon fermenting. I’m afraid there was not a lot of juice in the beetroot but must take a chance on that. Then Mrs Heel asked me if I would go to St. Mary’s hospital and see Mr Heel who would be pleased to see me. (Cornish had been asked but declined.) Mum and I went up on the Thursday. He was still in bed and looking very thin and feeling depressed. There was however some talk off his being allowed home by the weekend.

On Sunday at 5:45 p.m. the Staceys from Bristol called just as we were going to church so we told them to go on the front and we would find them about 7:45 p.m. This we did and after a short walk and a call at Salthouse they departed at 9 p.m. About 9:45 p.m. Mrs Heel came round and said Mr Heel was being allowed home at 11 a.m. Monday and would I fetch him. We left here at 10:10 a.m. and went straight to the ward we knew he was in only to find him in tears and breaking down. I withdrew from the ward and left Mrs Heel with him alone for ten minutes then heard his temperature was up again and doctor would not let him out. He (doctor) however was operating in another hospital at morning and said he would come back at 12:30 p.m. and give a final decision then. We decided to wait and see what was going to happen. At 1 p.m. doctor said he could go home provided he went straight to bed. He (Dr) had already phoned Mr Heel’s own doctor at Clevedon giving him full instructions for treatment. We drove home nicely and then decided to drive right into Mr Heel’s drive to avoid him walking any distance to his door. Unfortunately he has about four inches of gas piping standing up from the ground in the middle of the gates and the exhaust equipment under my car collided with same and wrenched it off car although I was only travelling about five miles per hour. Got Mr Heel indoors and returned to car and with help pushed it into our drive. The next door neighbour (Bushell) was home at 2 p.m. and he said the whole of the exhaust equipment and silencer was damaged beyond repair. He said he could get the various parts and put the job right. He disconnected what remained attached to car and ordered from Puddy’s (his own uncle’s place) the parts required and will replace them in about a couple of days. This will of course cost much less than if I had called in Binding and Payne’s. Mr Heel wants to pay for the repairs but I shall not allow him to do this. His gate stop arrangement however is a trap and any A55 would suffer similarly because of its long wheel base. (There is a big dip in the gutter just as you approach his gate and my back wheel was in this dip which brought the exhaust equipment low enough  to collide with stop.)

Mother had gone to Smith’s Crisps and my dinner was waiting on oven but it was not until about 2:30 p.m. that I was able to tackle this.

We hear Mr Heel had a very bad night (his first home) and that he perspired so much that all his clothes had to be changed in the middle of the night. The specialist at Bristol warned him that if he did not improve at home he would have to go into Southmead or the B.R.I. for further treatment. Incidentally his account for treatment at St. Mary’s, the surgeons fee for operation and the supply of drugs and the many X-rays taken amounts to about £400*.

Last Saturday I was outside the front gate talking to Bushell who was erecting his gates when in the distance I espied Tossell coming up the avenue. When he reach me he asked if any cement at the had arrived with the answer no. Apparently he had ordered the same to be delivered by 9 a.m.. At 10:30 a.m. we got in car and went to look for it. Back to the yard the lorry was there with material loaded. The driver had gone to wrong address and returned to yard. Got moving then and Tossell had covered the shallow portion of pond by 1 p.m.. It was a very hot day and I kept mixture moist in the afternoon with rose of watering can but when inspected on Sunday morning there were several small cracks (as though made by a pin). Rather disappointing but yesterday I painted the whole of the shallow portion and the sides with bituminous black paint especially dealing with the cracks. Tomorrow I think I shall give another similar coating and then when quite dry put on the light green Snowcem. So you can see we are doing everything possible to get pond ready for two young paddlers. Moreover I can see a way of getting down to river without going all round the garage. I’m going to cut through one of the portions of compost cage (near bonfire heap) then straight down the side of Heel’s hedge.

Garden very dry as you may imagine but the other night I carried thirty gallons of water down to runner beans and they are due for another lot now but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Am keeping the tomatoes well watered and we are saving quite a lot of used water from the sink. No tomatoes picked yet but we still have another week to run before reaching date we first picked last year. The raspberries are turning in well now and the loganberry is covered with fruit gradually ripening. Broad beans nearly over and those left have black eyes and are mealy eating.

Mum told me just now that St Peter’s Church had been broken into on Monday and the Sunday collection taken. (Should ask these people to come and take up the collection next Sunday and avoid breaking in.)

Not much other local news but there appears to be very few people in Clevedon on holiday and it is understood they have all gone to Butlins at Minehead this year. No less than 6000 there last week. Obviously such an organisation must affect all other resorts. Now the Clevedon council have agreed site for a new swimming pool on the lawn tennis courts. The latter never paid as I expect you will remember but I can not see a pool being made with the cricket ground purchase hanging over the council’s heads.

Note your wine activities at rest at the moment – must drink up the surplus I suppose sometime.

You have a good memory re: pond fish. I cannot recollect the golden carp at 1/6d. We also had half a dozen golden orfe beside numerous goldfish. If I can only get pond going and again can collect an odd fish now and again.

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

P.S. Thursday morning Before could get second coat of bituminous paint on pond heavy rain fell Wednesday and shallow part of pond is full of water and – we hope – holding. 

*Roughly £9,500 in 2022 parlance.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for weekly letter arrived as usual on Friday. Yes I forgot to mention that the contents of the previous weeks envelope had been registered. Good idea that, things often do go astray, and might just as well have the G.P.O. foot the bill as do it yourself.

Not much forthcoming from ERNIE, but every little helps. I believe that despite ERNIE’s failure on your behalf, you did manage a short holiday abroad this year to Ruislip. Depends on what you want I suppose.

June’s mother is steadily improving. We saw her in the week and she said that she felt well but every now and then felt the need of a rest and sit down. Pauline left Yiewsley during last week and is now back at her job. She may see us in the week.

Did you say colds and sore throats? We have chicken pox to report this week. Susan looking like a prize winning Dalmatian.* All things considered she does not seem all that bad in herself, but the spots must itch a lot. Carol so far has not got it, but we are hoping that if she is going to get it she will do so before the holiday and have a clean bill of health at that time. Unfortunately for the latter there was a garden party yesterday in connection with her Sunday school class and she was looking forward to going. We had to keep her home in fairness to the others, and that brought on the pangs. I had to provide a taxi service for some of the kids and it seemed to be quite a bun fight.

What the state of our lawns would have been if I had not wanted them regularly I cannot think. They have cracked enough as it is, little rain for days.

Regarding the hospital, when I went there last Tuesday the surgeon said he was very pleased with the lump, it having gone down considerably since he saw it last. He said keep in touch and I have fixed another appointment for the middle of September. It has certainly gone down, but I would not say we are out of the wood yet. I shall I expect it to disappear altogether before next time.

I gather the Benns are moving towards the end of this month, but I am not sure of the actual day. if Mr Heel has a collapsed lung I cannot see him coming home in three weeks. Sounds worse than at first thought.

I had a drop of the date wine yesterday and found it still up to standard. Do not think I shall make any more for a bit. Perhaps if I get a barrel later I will make a large quantity, and keep it in the wood.

I suppose that by now you will have made some progress with the pond. I wonder if that shop in Weston-super-Mare still sells fish, and I wonder what the prices are like today. Do you remember that you paid 1/6d for two giant carp? They were good value. I think a lot came from Johnny Joint’s shop in The Triangle where Bill Bryant now is.

June drove us all home from Yiewsley when we were there in the week, but other than that we have not had the pleasure. There was more traffic about, but she managed quite well. Today we have all been to Burnham Beeches. We went first to Boulter’s Lock at Maidenhead and let the girls see the boats and then without stopping there we made our way back to Burnham and had a picnic lunch there. We wandered in the woods a bit before eating and found that there were any amount of flies buzzing around and the ground was covered with wood ants. The latter were about a half an inch long and no doubt had a hefty bite. We did not think much of that so we went back to the clearing where we parked the car – same as when you were up last year – and read our books for a bit. Around 1 p.m. lots more cars started to roll up and people fetched out food to eat so we went in search of an ice-cream. After that we made our way out on the Bourne End Road and then cut across to Beaconsfield and back along the Western Avenue. There were not all that amount of cars using the main road although it was busy enough. We popped along Millionaires Row (Harefield) to admire the view and got back here about half an hour ago. The children were very good but a little bit restless by the time we got here.

The tomatoes are making very good progress thanks to the sun and watering. I have had to lop off a deal of middle shoots. The geraniums made such good growth that I have had to take them out of their pots and they are now in the front garden. The other flowers are not so fast growing. The Esther Reeds are in bud and about to open. I think they may not be in the right place for best results. Coming back from Burnham today we have the idea of getting a rooted cutting of a rhododendron and June nipped out and had a forage round till she got a couple. Apparently they were difficult to take. Many were still in full Bloom. I suppose they must be late varieties.

Have applied for a £2,000-a-year job** (minimum) just to show that is no ill-feeling. I believe this is more than Mr McDonald is getting. The qualifications are up my street, but I should be happier of success if salary was say £1,600***. Still stranger things have happened.

Good news that your outlet for foodstuffs has widened. These people at the Martindale will want a lot of green stuff if they do letting. Put old Elfords nose out of joint. He is a wily old bird though and I expect he has more than one string to his bow.

I can imagine the photos getting lost down the side of the settee, I remember that we nearly lost mother down there once and that is quite something.

Bad luck on your soft fruit. You will really have to fix up some wire netting although as you say it is a bit expensive.

The car is now going fairly well after its overhaul. We have now done just under 300 miles since. I do not think June likes it as well as the one she learned on but its age is against us there.

Pumping the water from the river, I have often thought it would pay to get a pump to bring in water from the river. What is wanted above all with that arrangement is a good filter as the variety of muck and weed that is liable to come up with the water is enormous. At least you have the alternative water supply to use, but here we have to pray for rain. My hose has had lots of use since you gave it to me, and I wonder what I did without it. It is now so easy to water both front and back gardens that they get done more often. I do believe that our hedge is growing at last thanks to the watering it is getting.

There has been a peculiar lack of greenfly this year and I wonder if the cold water has discouraged them.

Well I suppose I ought to go and do some more watering so will close down till next week. Hope you are both well. Love from us all. 

*Thanks, Dad, that doesn’t hurt a bit, not even sixty years on.

**£47,500 in 2022 parlance. Apparently this is currently a decent median base salary for a tech job in Manchester, which I think is a fair equivalent of what Alec was doing – albeit his work was analogue rather than digital.

***£38,000

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for the weekly budget received this morning. Glad to hear the envelopes with contents arrived safely – thought it better to register – and that the cash has been earmarked for good use. Noted girls gave you an Addis car cleaning brush and that it is a useful addition to the cleaning apparatus. No we did not know that June had struck lucky on ‘Ernie’. Glad somebody in the family can get something sometimes. It seems a forlorn hope each month waiting for our Mediterranean cruise but one never knows. Some people can go to Norway, others to Germany, but we generally manage to get as far as Clevedon each year.

Also noted you have no up-to-date news from Yiewesley but we hope June’s mother is improving daily. Is Pauline still home or returned to work? Colds again then but the dry weather must surely be responsible for sore and dry throats. Hope they will soon be better.

It is as dry as the Sahara down here and not a drop of rain for weeks. The garden soil is parched and large cracks are appearing in the ground. Now that the use of hose is banned it is impossible to keep all the crops watered that really need water but we are carrying it to the runner beans and to the greenhouse and chrysanthemums but the rest must take pot luck. Rain seems as far away as ever at the moment.

We are wondering how you got on today at the hospital and if it has been decided to operate. From what you say however I would think they would leave it a bit longer in the hope the lump will disappear altogether.

Regarding your observation on railway work and possibility of a change I should think at forty years of age it would be most difficult to get something else which would ensure a good pension later but I must admit I know nothing of business organisations nowadays. My point is that the various firms must have employees who have been with them from school leaving age all looking for promotion and the influx of outsiders would be very much resented. Moreover some firms in seeming good financial circumstances suddenly disappear leaving their staff stranded. This at least could not happen on the railway. So far as residence is concerned I’m sure the London area is the best from the employment angle in the railway world but you may be able to get further out in the country one day away from the smoky atmosphere.

Has your neighbour made his move to Weston yet? I should think he was very fortunate to get such a good job at Bristol and be able to move to a place like Weston. This is getting well away from ‘the Smoke’.

Sorry you had only a cup of tea on the 28th ulto but I cannot think you really mean this. If so we must make up for it when you come down.

Don’t know what to say about the pond. Tossell has not been here since I last wrote but we all want to see the pond full of water again as soon as possible. No time has been lost really since I spoke to him but I shall feel happier when he has made a start.

Good driving June. That must have been a very nice run around on Sunday. Apart from the roads being a bit quiet than the air in the early morning is lovely and I’m sure you enjoyed it. Assuming the children went as well to see Mummy drive? We had a good day Sunday. There was a special service in the afternoon for Rotarians – they came from Gloucestershire and Somerset – and the Bishop of Bath and Wells preached. I saw from the evening paper on Monday he had been at Glastonbury Abbey on the Sunday morning.

Reverting to pond again if we can manage to get it watertight shall not want any eels etc. in it otherwise trouble will be created when goldfish are introduced.

I’m sorry to say Mr Heel has not been too good again. Apparently he has been running a temperature of 103 at times and three specialists were trying to diagnose the trouble. Now they have decided he has a collapsed lung and are treating him accordingly. Progress now being made but still no news as to when he will be allowed home. it will be three weeks on the 4th inst (Wednesday) since he was admitted.

Am still sampling the wine but have not yet made any more. At the moment I’m on elderberry and my word it is tart. Have you had some of it? The apricot is still intact and the carrot – wonder how much longer I can resist them?

The vine cutting was planted inside the greenhouse and is growing well. I did not want to make a hole in the end of greenhouse and there seems to be no point in it when I could find a suitable spot inside. The roots can penetrate outside if they want to. There is only one drawback to this arrangement and that is the soil in greenhouse around the root of the vine cannot be sterilised otherwise it would kill the roots.

So you had a trip to Newbury last Friday – nice day in the country but no racing presumably.

So you think the Moneymakers are doing better than the others. Do I understand you have tomatoes already formed on them? Ours are doing alright except that we are still waiting for them to colour. We have had a good market for are broad beans, peas, lettuces and spring onions without any going to Elford. The person (Tranter) in Martindale apparently does ‘letting’ in the summer and she has had a fair lot of vegetables so far. At last we are digging potatoes about three weeks later than in 1961. On the small size though but will not grow any bigger if left in ground. The raspberries are turning in now and mum has already made a little jam. The birds are swarming on them in spite of fact that we have the netting over them. There is only one cure and I shall have to see if I can do it in time for another year. A wire cage will have to be erected all around the small fruit patch with inch mesh wire covering. There are more birds than ever this year and some of them even got under the netting over the strawberries and broke their necks in trying to get out. Not much use trying to grow small (soft) fruit if we cannot reap the harvest. Wire netting is very expensive but something will have to be done or we might as well pack up trying.

Yes we guessed the walk to Ruislip Manor was not appreciated and no doubt Susan has been given the tip not to push things down the side of chairs again*. Do you remember the wedding photographs you gave us? Well some time ago we had visitors and thought we would like to show them these photographs but we could not find them anywhere no matter where we searched and we turned the place upside down. Searching again later we found them down under the seat of the settee in the front room. Can you imagine it bearing [in mind] the size of the photographs. More over they were not bent or misshapen in any way. They had evidently been placed on the seat of the settee and gradually worked their way down the side and thence under the padding.

Glad to hear the car is giving satisfaction after its overhaul. How does June like driving at compared with the one she is learning on? No two cars are exactly alike although the construction may be similar.

This week so far I’ve been busy in field trying to cut the long grass but it is tiring work and a little goes a long way. I’m also wondering if it would be a paying proposition to get a semi-rotary pump to obtain water from the river**. Should have to pump the water into a tank placed near the river and at an elevation and use hose for water to gravitate to another tank near hedge at bottom of garden then carry it to crops in watering cans. I can foresee a water shortage annually now for some years. In spite of additional reservoirs there has been a tremendous increase in the use of water everywhere and Clevedon unfortunately now gets its share from the Bristol supply and consequently must share any shortage. The first thing to get though is one or two tanks and I’ve a scout or two looking out for me. The additional length of hose I bought at Eastcote did not therefore prove useful for very long. The whole lot is now round up on the reel and back in storage in garage. What a game!

Yes we remember the plastic boats Susan and Carol had at Ruislip and how they played with them in their little swimming pool***.

Have still a number of hedges to cut here. Last week I took out a little bulge in the one at bottom of lawn near the pond. Made a bare patch but it will fill up again before the end of the season. Actually that particular hedge wants about 2 ft taken off its entire length but that’s another story.

Well this has been a letter mostly of complaints of one sort and another of various troubles happening here as specially in regard to the garden but Susan says it is only six weeks now and you are ‘bringing down a lot of luggage’. No need to repeat that we are looking forward to your visit.

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

Mum and Dad

*Interesting that this is automatically a case for *blame*, even when they recount a similar thing happening to themselves.

**An Archimedes Screw would probably do the trick…

***Paddling pool, of course. Yellow plastic, Woolworths, you get the idea.