Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you both very much for 40th birthday greetings and enclosures, also the weekly budget of news. Needless to say I was pleased to get your letters on the 28th, I had several cards which have been arrayed on top of the TV, and the girls gave me a car cleaning brush – made by Addis – which attaches to the end of the hose. The idea is that the brush loosens the dirt and the water swells it away. I must admit that it certainly does do that. I tried it out yesterday, but I think the water pressure must be regulated just so, or there is a minor flood.

Well to turn to your original letters, yes I agree it is now my turn to have a birthday, I come well at the end of the list now. What with birthdays in March April May and two in June before mine, I think I deserve one. I think I told you that June had a bit of luck from the premium bonds, and some of this coupled with some of Dad’s contribution will go towards a suit. I have already been to tailor’s in this respect. The money Mum sent for the shirt has already been converted thank you very much. I have a nice white drip-dry shirt now waiting to be worn.*

Regarding the redundancy bug, and being halfway through the railway career, I do not think too rigidly about either. So far as redundancy is concerned, it is often a useful thing. And I do not feel there is much risk of that in my line of country for quite a while yet. You cannot be sure of anything these days though. So far as being halfway through a railway career is concerned, I still would not overlook a good opportunity to seek employment outside. The chances are admittedly small, but money is too tight on the railway to admit of high salaries to its staff. However this is all idle speculation.

I have to go to the hospital again on Tuesday to have neck seen to, and I believe that the lump has again shrunk. There is still a swelling there but I do not find it projects beyond the ‘building line’ as it were.

It is twenty years since I came to London, and I have no quarrel with the results. In comparison with others, the results could have been much better, or much worse. So far as residence is concerned, I have already had enough of it. I cannot think that living in this area is much good for the health. Germs and diseases are more likely to spread in centres of large populations, and the motor fumes and smoke and soot, fog and smog are known to have an adverse effect. There are many advantages of course, particularly in the field of education and public services.

Glad you had a drink on the strength of the date. I had a cup of tea.

Regarding mum’s letter – nicely typed – I did not remember that it was a summer’s day – how could I? I do recall my 6th – the first at Clevedon – was a fine summer’s day. So you had to keep Dad waiting for his supper last week? Stopped off to have one I expect.

Pity about using the hose. I have not heard that we have to stop using it. So far as mine is concerned it has had plenty of good use. The patch at the back is increasingly green, and the green pieces are beginning to merge. We had some rain yesterday which helped.

Well to turn to the weekly letter, thanks for telling me what was in Susan’s letter. She had stuck it down when handed to me so that I did not see it. Good effort by the sound of it.

Yes it was Susan’s turn for the cold, but since then a Carol has been complaining about a sore throat, and June has had a nasty one with all the trimmings. I think she is a little better today. I think things are alright at Yiewesley, but their phone seems to be out of action as I could get no reply yesterday.

Have knocked up just 200 miles in the car since we have had it back and it is now going very smoothly. So far as June’s progress is concerned we got up at 6:30 a.m. this morning, and she took us for an hour’s run way past the American Camp out past the Eastcote Arms, and in the direction of Harrow. We turned left at the traffic lights into the Headstone Lane direction and carried on to North Harrow but did not turn into Headstone Lane. Instead we carried on through new country to me and got on the Watford Road. We turned off and dropped down through Pinner and Eastcote, all the way down Field End Road into Victoria Road up to the garage for petrol, back to the roundabout and home. I must say it is a great improvement from the first trip down your drive.

Sorry the eels and things got lost, but we have said no more to the girls so there will be no tears. As usual there are plenty more fish in the sea etc. etc. Hope your repairs are now well in hand and that you will have something to show us before long. Good news then about Mr Heel, sounds as though they will pull him round without any surgery. Hope the progress continues.

I well remember watching Tossell play football for Clevedon during the 30s. As I recall, brothers Ernie and Ted played at the same time as Son Hack**, and Napstone in goal. Also playing about that time was Davenage and I believe Bart Price had just started. All very primitive.

I like Susan’s reference to the pond. The boats they have in mind our little plastic ones that were obtained from Woolworths when you were up here. Glad you appreciated the point about the traipse over to Ruislip Manor for Susan’s bag. I did not think much about it at the time.

Note your work on the hedges etc. They can be quite an undertaking to cut. I have to keep my ‘hedger and ditcher’ up to the mark this end too. I am glad you have widened the drive – makes life easier for the “L” driver.

Note that the fruit and veg market is on the up and up and in particular the tomatoes are now waiting change of colour. Ours are progressing and I would say that the Moneymakers are making the best progress so far as size is concerned.

Re: the holiday in Norway, I expect etiquette demanded that you should ask about the details. Cannot understand Mrs E holding back though, etiquette or not.

Your vicar seems to have the right ideas. Pugh would have settled for a pin. ***

The vine you have seems to have made tremendous growth. I was not aware that they grew so fast. Have you planted it outside with the growth inside or is it wholly inside? Sorry about your beetroot. What about turning some into wine? My activities that way are non-existent now. I must get round to tasting some too. Have you finished the apricot? Do try some on Mrs Cornish.

Well I have not got an awful lot of news on my own account this week. Mr Lay and I went to Newbury on Friday to try to get them to accept an investigation. I held a meeting there some weeks ago and got a firm no. This time we split off and isolated one section of the staff and got to work on their spokesman. We feel we have hopes now of making some progress. McDonald has been away for the week and things have been a little hectic.

Well we are planning to go out again in the car in a few minutes – not practise this time – so I shall have to conclude this letter and draw the line once more. Love to you both from us all, and thanks again for remembering the 40th.

*It’s almost impossible to convey to anyone under forty how exciting it was, in those days, when a *new shirt* came into the house. It was a huge honour to be allowed to help with the unpacking! For a start, they always came in boxes – and there would be at least one layer of tissue paper within, plus card stiffeners for the cuffs and the collar, a dozen or more pins holding everything together, and last but not least a *big* piece of white card backing the shirt itself – and possibly also a paper band or a ribbon wrapped around the whole thing. As children, the shirt itself (drip-dry or not, and I bet it was a ‘Double Two International’ shirt!) was the least of our concerns – it was the thrilling bonanza in terms of card, paper and pins that we were more excited about!

**I have no idea who ‘Son Hack’ might have been, although as there does seem to have been a Chinese contingent in Clevedon at this time it’s not impossible this was someone of Chinese origin. On the other hand the only footballers named ‘Hack’ that I can find online seem to be German … and there *is* apparently a Hack family still in Clevedon but no indication of their background. I leave it to the reader’s imagination.

***Sorry, this has me stumped!

Leonard to Alec:

Dear Alec

After Carol’s, Susan’s, and June’s birthdays it is now your turn for us to wish you Many Happy Returns of the day. A rather special birthday to seeing it is the fortieth anniversary. My word how time moves on and what a lot can and has happened these last forty years. We hope you will have a very pleasant day and lots of happy memories of the years that are gone. I expect most of the day will be spent at the office but no doubt two little girls and June of course will give you plenty of reminders that it is your day. The enclosed is sent with all our love and best wishes and mum says she has already suggested something to get with the £2* from her and I’m sure you can find a good use for the remainder.

You are now at least half way through your railway career and so far done exceedingly well. Moreover if the redundancy ‘bug’ can be saved off a little longer you should get another move before long as it is nearly two years since your last promotion. Anyhow good luck in the future and the best of health for all of you. Shall be pleased to hear in due course that the neck has been properly and finally dealt with and that you can expect no more trouble from that source.

Your weekly budget arrived this morning as usual but I will deal with that in the weekly newsreel which should reach you on Friday. This one is for you to arrive on the 28th.

Have just thought of it. It is twenty years come August that you went to London so you have spent half half of your life to date in that area and there is no doubt that it was the right move. As we have said before you would never have progressed as well in the provinces. It was however very problematical at the time but that was a risk you were prepared to take and it came off. Now you have your own lovely home and I’m sure you are all very happy. I wonder what the next twenty years will bring?

No more now or I shall be encroaching upon the weekly letter. Once again wishing you all the very best for the fortieth birthday and for the future. Shall not be with you on this occasion but we will have a little drink on the strength of it and perhaps a bigger one when you come down.

All our love from Mum and Dad. 

*Roughly the equivalent of £50 in 2022 currency.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Having written to Alec for his birthday I can now proceed with the weekly news bulletin and first of all many thanks for letter and enclosures from the girls received this morning. It is a pity you did not see what was enclosed from Susan. Apart from her letter which was very good there was a drawing of a lady standing by the side of a vase in which there was a flower (meant to be a rose). A star had been put on the vase and underneath were the words ‘1st Prize’. Thank you Susan for a lovely letter and a really nice drawing. Carol’s effort too quite nice and with Susan’s help has made a good job of some of the words. Thank you too Carol for sending a such a nice letter.

Sorry to hear it is Susan this week with the cold but hope it is on the mend now. You can very well ask when are we going to get rid of this cold weather. The so-called summer will soon be gone and I had a sharp remainder of this in the library on the 22nd inst when one man said, referring to the weather, “Well the days are beginning to draw in now”. He was absolutely right of course, the longest day of the year being the 21st. We have had some really good days but not a continuance of the hot weather we might expect along now.

June’s mother only stopped the fortnight then at Harefield but we hope she will be able to take things easy for the time being. This is easier said than done when she is among the various jobs crying out for attention. We hope she is feeling very much better again after the operation and forced rest she was able to have in the convalescent hospital. Please tell her we are very glad to hear she is home again and hope she will soon be back to normal health.

Good news to about the car but for first journey surely it was a bit of a risk to run it to Paddington? Glad you were able to put various matters right after getting it home. I’m afraid they would have been beyond me and I should have taken car back to garage with my compliments for further attention. It’s very nice though to be able to do these odd jobs on a car and the knowledge is most useful if you run into trouble when miles away from garages.

Of course the ribbon gives a better impression than the old one but if such a position occurs again why not send us the carbon copy? Or is the carbon worn out as well?

June making good progress with the driving then. Do you remember when you went round the block with mine a few years ago? So the girls are backing mummy then in regard to driving? No doubt they are looking forward to June taking them to school in car later on. I take the view that if one can drive in the London area there should be not be much if any difficulty anywhere else. Unfortunately additional cars are being put on the roads daily and it is difficult to get on a stretch of road without other cars around you. Such is progress which brings me to the point about the closing of stations and branches. The trend should be to get traffic back on rail and free the roads for that which cannot be catered for by the railways. As I said in your letter someone will fasten onto this before it is too late perhaps.

Better news of Mr Heel. A second and a third opinion were obtained before any improvement was affected but now the physiotherapy experts are working on him and the doctors are more pleased with the results. He has already been told that when he does leave hospital he must not do any work for six weeks.

So your grass is now showing through the soil. Rather a long time coming through but I expect the hosing accelerated matters.

So you go in for caterpillars then. You used to have tadpoles about the place and later tiddlers from the river. I’m afraid our eels etc. were lost when cleaning out the pond. I had another go at sealing it last Saturday but the only cement on hand had been in garage about seven to ten years. This I used with poor result as on Monday I could pick it all out again with a pointed tool. Consequently I cleaned it all out again and had borrowed some new cement from my young neighbour (Bushell) and was going to have another try Monday afternoon. However in the early evening Tossell showed up to put the capping on the wall next door and I knew he had had some experience of stopping up leaks in ponds so called him in for consultation. He said I would never stop it by piecemeal methods and suggested putting an inch thickness of new concrete over the whole of the shallow portion using specially selected stone dust, cement and compo-seal. In the end I asked him if he would order the stuff and tackle with job. He said he would but even so could not guarantee complete success. I think I have mentioned this chap to you before. He and his brother used to play football for Clevedon years ago. Nowadays he works as a ‘bricky’ for Turners of Yatton and does quite a bit of work on his own in the evenings. At the time we had the kitchen extended he was here working for Tinckling. We shall see how we get on.

Incidentally Susan in her letter said she hoped the pond would be alright as she was bringing her boats to sail in it. Using her words “Is the pond ready or not because we are going to bring our boats to sail them in it.” Well with such a request we must make a special effort to do something about it.

Note loganberry lost a few leaves but new growth taking their place. Sounds as if you have a good show in garden at the present moment but the sounds coming from the neighbours wireless not appreciated.

What a shame you had a walk over to Ruislip Manor for nothing in searching for Susan’s bag. I suppose it was Mr Nobody who put it in chair.

Since last writing I’ve been busy in garden as usual. Concentrated on the hedge alongside lawn running parallel to drive. It was really hard work as it had not been attended to for several years. Must have taken at least 18 inches of the width of same on the driver’s side door – plenty of room to drive in now June – and the top had to be cut with the secateurs, the shears useless on it.

Managed to sell 7 lbs of broad beans last Saturday to neighbours and yesterday we started on our second lot of peas. Tomatoes not quite ready but they are the right size, now waiting for them to colour up. The strawberries are almost over, raspberries almost at point of ripening. Have made one further effort with scythe on field and used some sodium chloride on paths. Various relations of Heel have been visiting and whilst there have trim lawns etc. Cornish went in and cleaned out fowlshouse one day last week.

Mum has gone to Portsmouth and Southsea today with the Townswomen’s Guild. Left here at 8:30 a.m. and not expected home until about 8.0 p.m. Last evening we had to go down to the Hewitts’ and expected to be given an eyewitness account of the holiday in Norway but we heard not a thing. It is my opinion Mrs Hewitt will be giving a paper on ‘My Holiday in Norway’ at one of their meetings this coming winter. Tomorrow evening we are going up to the Vicarage for a coffee evening to meet the new Curate. I told vicar on Sunday it ought to be a bottle party especially bearing in mind the Archbishop of Canterbury got a firkin of beer for one of his parties last week vide Sunday papers. Said the vicar I don’t think that firkin would have gone far with so many at the party. In other words he was indicating that a hogshead would have been better.

There is a big service here next Sunday. All the rotarians from an area bounded by Dursley Glos  and Bridgwater have been invited. The Bishop of Bath and Wells is preaching. Apparently it is an annual event and the party visits different churches. Last Sunday it was Clevedon Civic service and I spotted R.T. Moule among the elite.

The vine cutting Mrs Cornish gave us last autumn and which I planted out in greenhouse this spring has now reached the roof of greenhouse and will have to be trained along under the ridge. It is, as you can tell, making good growth but understand there will be no grapes for three years at least. Practically all the beetroot is running to seed so I have sown another lot today. I suppose the cause was due to the seed being sown too early. The shallots will soon be harvested and we have a nice lot again this year so you will be able to pick up some more later on. Our neighbour (Bushell) is giving me a few pickling cabbage plants. Have not grown any for years but if these turn out alright mum may be able to make some pickle with them. We finished our last bottle of pickled onions some weeks ago. They generally go very well at the ringers’ New Year’s Eve party.

I think this pretty well concludes the weekly newsreel once more but mum must have her go when she gets home – possibly having a go at typewriter tomorrow morning. Expect she will be all In by the time she arrives home.

All our love to you both and lots of kisses for two little girls who sent us such nice letters.

Mum and Dad

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you once again for weekly letter. Received on Friday as usual. June and I are more or less O.K. this week, but Susan has a cold. When do we get out of the cold period, I thought winter was the time for colds?

You will be pleased to hear that June’s mother is now at home. She was allowed to leave the hospital on Monday last and in fact arrived at usually about 1:30 p.m. They have fixed up a bed for her downstairs and are trying to give her as much rest as possible. We hope to go over there later on this afternoon.

I am sorry to say that this ribbon has just played up as you can see from the faint print on the line above. It is easy to just give it a prod and get it going again, but it means that the changeover is now manual instead of automatic.

You will be pleased to know that we have the car back and that June has had her first outing with it. I picked it up on Wednesday evening at West Drayton, and took June and girls as far as Hillingdon Station thence I went to Paddington where I had an appointment at 7 p.m.. Drove home from there at about 10 p.m. The engine had been reassembled and although in working condition I have to go slow for about 200 miles. I had the feeling that some considerable adjustment was necessary to get the car back to a normal performance however. Since then I have discovered that the choke has been fixed in a rather advanced position. I relaxed this and had a go at the carburettor adjustments. This all resulted in a better performance, but still lacking in something. In addition some of the accessories cut out of action. Heater common indicators and petrol gauge. I have had a go at putting them right today and have succeeded so had a further go at the engine. The plugs were not very clean on the outside insulators and the wires were a bit loose so I cleaned off each one and made the connections a tight fit, and lo and behold 100% improvement. Must give it a good clean as soon as possible, and then we are right again.

As you say it does not seem that the holiday has been over so long. Never mind the further away from yours, the nearer to ours.

I expect you found the type a vast improvement on the old ribbon. I must say it looks better although the mistakes seem more obvious now.

Sorry to learn that Mr Heel is having such a rough trip. Hope the next news will be better.

We had some welcome rain in the week although I do not mind getting out with the hose. It is so much easier than with a can. You may be interested to know that the patch is showing a lot of green now, and the green places are beginning to link up into larger places. Beyond the garage the grass is quite thick, and the place where we removed stones and replaced with earth is growing over nicely.

Having not heard about the fate of the fish from you we assume you did not keep them. Latest stunt this end is keeping caterpillars in jam jars. We have already had one broken jar, contents of which went into dustbin, and now have another on top of the coal bunker.

Do not ask me what Hamblin is doing now. All sort of people are popping up in odd places these days. He is a funny sort of chap, but I think he is reasonably friendly disposed if you follow me.

So you had some visitors last Wednesday. Good they space themselves out, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Some goings-on with the Rose Show. Presumably the gold star is mounted and placed on the mantelpiece.

I should not think that the potatoes have come to much yet. It would probably be a waste to pull any now. Some of the leaves of our loganberry turned black at the tips, but there has been a lot of new growth elsewhere so that has been no loss.

Odd that Mrs Tranter should have railway connections. It will be even odder in the years to come as they seem to have written off railways now. Plenty of new work on the roads, and bags of private enterprise (everyone owning his own car), and nationalisation proving a costly failure. I am more and more convinced that the railway preservers are flogging a dead horse, might as well bring back the stagecoach. Of course if there should be another war the pendulum goes into reverse.

Hope you enjoyed the bottle of apple. I do not think that it is quite up to the standard of the apricot, but it is not bad though.

You can see that the ribbon has played up again, but I think that I may have fixed it this time.

On Friday night after arriving home from the office Julie took us all round the block three times. She has obviously benefited from her six lessons and should not be long in getting complete control. Only now a matter of practice I should say. The girls say her driving is better than mine. They were to have been driven to Pinner Park by June this morning, but due to naughtiness yesterday that got scrubbed. The weather today has been lovely to date but is now beginning to cloud over. There are still patches of blue sky but the clouds are getting bigger.

Our cacti have been getting the full treatment of water since you went back and look the better for it. Our front lawn is looking well now. The lawn after cutting and watering looks a lot better, and all the flowers are coming out including the roses. The peony is large and centred and the mesembryanthemums are doing well.

Sounds as though you will not be getting your assistant horse this year. I suppose he would have been round by now if he was coming. We can only guarantee to trample the grass down for you which I doubt is what is wanted.

The syringa is fully out in flower in the back garden now, and looks a treat. Our neighbours at the bottom have treated us to full volume wireless this morning. I doubt if they could have got it any louder even with a steam organ. By the way I must say that mother’s typing is a lot better than before. Has she been having lessons? We have two letters from two little girls to enclose, but as they are sealed we do not know what is in them. Susan was instructing Carol in her letters so what that has produced I would like to know.

By the way there was a panic last week as we could not find the handbag that you gave Susan. We looked high and low in all the rooms, garden and garage and could not find this thing. As we had been out on the Wednesday that you returned and had a cup of tea in a cafe I walked over to Ruislip Manor and made enquiries there without success. After giving it up one of us one of life’s unsolved mysteries, it was found between the seat and the springs of the green chair in the front room. What about that?

Well there it is again for another time, hope you are both keeping fit. We have taken no more pictures since last time so nothing to report there. Will close then with love from us all.

Leonard to the family [continued from yesterday]:

We have had more rain today. Started about 4 a.m. and continued most of the morning only really clearing up about 2:30 p.m. Bill Aston came over about 10:30 a.m. and stopped an hour. Then Roy Hewitt arrived this afternoon for some plants etc. Mum had gone to the Townswomen’s Guild and as there was a competition for one rose she took one of our new ones and was awarded first prize. No money involved (unfortunately) the first prize being a gold star. (A paper gold star at that.)

Could not do much outdoors myself today so have been pottering about in garage and greenhouse. Later this afternoon, after departure of Roy Hewitt, I weeded a portion of the garden. There is plenty of work outside at this time of the year. Hedges want trimming and the lawns cutting apart from general work on the land. Have orders for up to seven pounds of broad beans for Saturday and we hope to have another feed ourselves. So far have picked several pounds of strawberries and mum has already made some jam for you to have a taste later. Last year you were with us for the pickings. I’m still hesitant to try a haulm of potatoes. Aston tells me that they were in Cornwall last week the market gardeners were working very late at night getting out the potatoes. The size was very small and the price in local shops there 1/9d per pound*. Our lettuces are as big as cabbages but no sale for them as everybody seems to have them available. I put out about 70 more of them yesterday and sold another box full today. The runner beans are halfway up the sticks and now coming into flower – had to replace a few that withered during the dry spell when we were away. Mum put out the dahlias following the rain so they should get a good start. With all the ground we have believe me it is a job to find a vacant patch to put anything else in. I’m now intercropping lettuce and cabbage plants between broccoli and sprouts – these last two are always been given plenty of space between plants and between rows so that quick growing and smaller items can be put in between them.

No further news of Mr Heel today so far.

Glad to hear the loganberry etc. taking hold at 84. The tomatoes should have been out a week or two earlier but I hope you have something for your trouble in due course. Nothing like picking your own.

We met our new neighbours in Martindale over the weekend and they are certainly very much different to the previous owners and occupiers. This was the first contact we had with them or though they have been living here six months. Rather strange but Mrs Tranter told me her brother is a signalman at Portskewett.

I have finished the bottle of apple wine I brought back but I shall try and keep the apricot at least for the time being – and carry on with the blackberry and elderberry. Must look round to see how soon I can make some more. The elderberry trees are now in full flower but I do not think I shall make any more of this – wait for the berries. The cork in one of the bottles of grape wine keeps coming out so there must still be some pressure in the juice. No trouble with the other bottles though.

Referring to your letter again I know the possibility of making a reduction in the number of grades of railway men and agree this is very necessary and should have been done years ago but I think the unions will oppose it tooth and nail, protesting that such an arrangement will further reduce the number of men required. They want the ha’penny and the bun every time. So I’ll be most interested in the progress of the scheme.

Has June had any more driving lessons yet? And incidentally does Carol go to or would that be too much of a distraction? That will be the time when Susan and Carol want to learn. Perhaps by that time the gear changes will be a thing of the past.

Still no sign of the horse to eat out the grass and I’m afraid it is now too long for him to tackle. I have started to cut it with the scythe but rain stopped play today. Must do something about it it all the girls will never find their way down to the river. Honestly the grass is taller than Susan at the moment.

Well I think this is about all for this week and mum is waiting to do her bit with this machine. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad. 

*£2.08 in 2022 currency, with the current price being approximately 35p per lb – roughly one sixth as much.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter duly received this morning and we were very glad to hear you had got rid of the cold and that it had not been passed onto June all the children. It was a very nasty bout and most unfortunate to coincide with the holiday. Pleased to hear to that June’s mother seems to be getting on alright – the rest no doubt is working wonders. Presumably she is stopping at the hospital for a few more days as you did not say anything about being discharged. Yes it must have been pretty tough getting to and fro the hospital without the car and it is at times like these that one appreciates the use of one. There is nothing like door-to-door transit for quickness and convenience. What a journey you had though especially with the girls. I’m sure they will prefer the car in future. By the way have you got the car back yet? I realise you did not have it on Sunday but query since.

I certainly did not hear the telephone on Tuesday night – perhaps there was a fault and the dialling tone did not come through.

Hope the trouble with the car has been properly remedied and that you will have no further difficulty but I’m sorry you were without its use during the time when you could most have appreciated it. Our stay with you was a bit short as you say and it does not seem we have been back a week already but in fact it is and we have been very busy every day. As mentioned last letter we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and now look forward to your holiday with us – perhaps seven weeks today you will be on way.

So far as wireless concerned I have it set for the West of England programme and shall leave it at that for the time being. Perhaps when the winter is on us I may experiment. Mum said this morning when she started to read letter that ‘This is better’ referring to the clearer type. I wondered if you would get ribbon right in time for the weekly letter but apparently it did not require much adjusting. Of course when the ribbon wears in the position you are now using it you can switch to what would otherwise have been the ‘red’ section of ribbon and go merrily on again for a time.

Yes that was a nasty accident you mentioned near Ruislip Station. There have been several around here lately. One at Cambridge Batch where a lorry ran into a Bristol-Weston bus, another (two fatal casualties) between Glastonbury and Street. Did you see of that tragedy at Padstow on Sunday? Three little girls eldest six run into by a car when leaving Sunday School, all being killed. I see a Clevedon man was taken to hospital at Bristol after his car collided with another somewhere near the Centre.

It is now 6:20 p.m. and Mrs Cornish has just called to say Mr Heel not too good today and his trouble now complicated by some affection of one lung. I guess this is pneumonia following the operation the same as Mr Palmer had. Sounds as if he was very much under the weather before he went into hospital.

So you had another trip to the park on Sunday – the girls do like to go there and enjoy the various children’s playthings. It was quite warm here that day and has been ever since we came back until this morning when from about 3 a.m. a nice steady rain fell until about 7 a.m.. This dropped the temperature for a while although later the sun came out and a strong breeze arose to dry things up again.

Mum and I went to Hill Road on Monday (calling at Post Office for the monthly retirement benefit) and I enquired of the ironmongers how small were quantities of Snowcem available. The smallest lot is 7lbs which will just suit me for the purpose of trying to seal pond. I’ve ordered 7lbs of Snowcem (sea-green) and can have it towards end of week. In the meantime have swept out all the dry debris from deep and shallow parts but today’s rain has moistened the surface again. Perhaps next week I may be able to deal with it.

Can understand work not going very well last week but by this time you have no doubt got back to normal again. Now I hear the unions are going to do all they can to prevent the closing of branches etc and are getting their various members to hold meetings of protest etc all over the country. What with that and the application for more money the railways are right back in the news again.

Note the proposed ‘Versatility’ campaign. This sounds very much like a word coined by Hamblin who was once famous for his ‘Picturisation’ effort. I thought Hamblin was with the B.T.C., assistant to the Manpower officer?

Met the new Curate Sunday – seems a very nice chap with more life in him and the other had. We have now completed the set as he is a Scotchman. As you know we have already had an Englishman Welshman and Irishman.

Glad you can make use of the hose. I’ve certainly had plenty of use of mine. Today I dismantled the Solo Sprayer as it was not functioning properly. Cannot say what I did to it but on reassembly it worked A1. (Will stop for tonight and finish letter tomorrow.)

[To be continued…]

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Well here’s the first after the short holiday, and the first with the new ribbon. It certainly does make a difference. I have not adjusted it since we had a go at it on the first attempt to get ribbon in. It seems to be working alright, but maybe when it gets to the end of its travel it will give trouble. Alright till then anyway.*

Well the holiday went far too fast again as usual but this time it really flew by. It was probably due to the short week, the cold (medical) and the absence of the car.

Well to reply to your letter first, we are glad you had a good run home. We happened to look at the clock just after quarter to two and remarked that you must be home then. Had 40 minutes at Marlborough then. What could you do there all that time. Not much in the way of shops there if I recall. Perhaps you had a coffee there.

The girls were very sad at your going, and several times Carol asked “Why have they got to go home so soon?” etc. etc.

We went over to see June’s Mum on Friday night and found her in good spirits. What a game getting there though. I went straight from Marylebone to West Ruislip and met June and the girls there at 6:30 p.m. We waited about 15 minutes for a bus (everything else but,) and got to the hospital just as they were going in. We left at twenty to eight. Waited about half an hour for a bus. Got in a waiting train at West Ruislip and got turned out again. Eventually got home just before 9. By this time the girls had a just about had it. No rocking needed, and they slept on a bit in the morning.

With regard to the car, having heard nothing from Peter I asked June to ring up during Thursday and it appears that Peter did ring up on the Tuesday night several times around 10:20 p.m. . We certainly did not hear him, neither presumably did you. Anyway it transpired that he only wanted to say that he had been working on the car which was now awaiting Bob’s inspection. Heard no more so rang up again on Saturday morning but as Peter was still in bed relayed messages to him via Pauline. It seems that they had found the trouble as being due to a bent connecting rod. We must have bent it during the overhaul. A new one had been obtained. Later Peter came over in his car and said that Bob had promised to reassemble the engine this weekend. We now await more news.

Glad to hear that the wine travelled safely. Have had a drop or two since you went back, but not much. Glad also that you managed to connect up the wireless and that the programs are clear. I forgot to mention that the positions for the push buttons may be a little adrift as they were set for London listening. If you take the front sub-panel off (this is only held by two small screws, above the buttons) you will see two screws, one above the other for each button. These are small tuning condensers and by careful adjustment with a screwdriver you can get maximum signals from the station already selected, or if you prefer to get other stations instead you can tune them in. As you can get the Light Programme on the left-hand button, and also on the last but one on the right, you may prefer to keep the loudest, and retune the other button to another station.

Hope that things were not to dry in the garden when you went out there. Does not take long to give a good soaking with the hose. Mine has had good use already, and I have had three helpers. In regards to the screw clips**, I was in Woolworths on Wednesday, and saw some of the small-sized ones fitted with wing nuts instead of worm screw and priced fourpence each. They seem quite useful so I got a couple for reserve.

Sorry to hear about Mr Heel, and hope that the news is better by now.

We all hope that you have rescued the eels and flatfish, and have put them away for the time being until your pond is again in order. I thought you would find some livestock at the bottom of the pond when you got down to it. I wonder what happened to the newt and the minnow-like fish. Perhaps the eels have eaten them.

I have just got to one end of the ribbon, and the spools have started to go the reverse way.

Good news about your cacti. We have no flowers so far as you know, but they all look better for regular watering. They have had a little from the hose practically every day, but have had a main watering on Wednesday and again on Saturday. We hope to keep this up.

I see the bit in the Mercury about the new Curate. They come and they go. Sounds like a very bad accident at Bristol. We had one last Monday it seems. Just under the bridge by the station, an 11-year-old boy and his mother riding bicycles were talking to one another when he fell off under the wheels of a United Dairies lorry. There were only pieces to pick up.

Again reading Mum’s addition to letter, I see that Mrs Heel is having atrocious luck all at once.

Hope you have not caught my cold. It will have become apparent by now if you have got it. I am glad to say that mine has gone, and I feel lot better than this time last week. After breakfast today we took the children into the park for a go on the swings etc. I took a few photos and hope they will come out o.k.

I am afraid that work did not go down at all well on Thursday and Friday. Hope it will go better this week. Good job it was a short week. By the way if you have not already heard we have a new “Versatility Committee” in being now. I think L.J. Hamblin is on it (or in charge of it bracket). The object of the exercise is to reduce the many grades of railway men to a few basic grades each capable of performing a variety of jobs. Told McDonald this is what I have been preaching for sometime, what is wanted is a Railway Serviceman, capable of doing carriage cleaning, parcels and goods handling, cleaning duties, number taking etc.. McD is going on his annual leave in two weeks time so we may get a chance to get some work done for a change.

This ribbon has changed and is filling up the other spool so I assume things now in order.

We had a nice warm day here yesterday, but today is not nearly so good. At first when we went to the park it was warm and sunny but the sun went in for some time, and it is now clouded over. The birds are out making meals of my grass seed which has come through in patches. The rest of the garden looks quite good after its intensive watering. The tomatoes and the loganberry and the flowers are doing well.

Well I think that is all I have for you this week. Look forward to your next. Love from us all.

*This, and the later description of how to adjust the tuning of the wireless, will give some idea of the skills that were required to operate what will undoubtedly seem to some people as ‘primitive’ equipment. It was not just a question of buying a device and expecting it to work perfectly first time; one really needed to understand the nuances of the equipment and how to get the best performance out of it. In addition there was always – with wirelesses and televisions – the vexed question of the aerial and how it should be positioned in order to capture the signal one wanted. Even when there were only two television channels in the UK – as was the case between 1955 and 1967 – there was often a choice of transmitters/masts available, and it was necessary to set up the equipment to receive the strongest and most reliable possible signal. There was, in other words, a certain amount of ingenuity involved in simply listening to the radio or watching a programme on the television!

**These sound like what we now call ‘jubilee clips’.

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Once again many thanks for all your letters including one from Susan and a drawing from Carol. Very glad to hear that so far June’s mother is going on alright. They did not keep her long before operating and we hope you will be able to give us good news next letter. There is bound to be a little anxiety immediately following the operation but by the time you write again Mrs Baker should be feeling much better. Thanks too for information re Sharon and we hope she too is going on satisfactory now.

Last Sunday’s weather here was dull to rain during morning and afternoon but about 6 p.m. the heavens opened up with heavy rain, thunder and lightning which continued for about half an hour. Today it has been a soaker – started raining about 8 a.m. and kept on continuously until about 3 p.m. Consequently I was not able to continue putting out vegetable plants which I managed practically all day Monday. Anyhow the slugs are busy and I’ve had to get some more Slug-It.

Not very long now before we shall be on our way. having mind to travel via Chippenham Marlborough to beginning of Slough where I see I can turn left and go through Farnham Royal, thence Stoke Poges and across to junction of A40 and Western Avenue. Have asked AA to give me detailed routing. Incidentally please do not get dinner for us June – Mum says we will stop en route at some suitable place and call in for a lunch so I should imagine we might be arriving 84 either just before or after 2.00 p.m. If June is out (query driving lesson) we will wait until her return.

Glad to hear she has had four lessons already but it certainly is unfortunate your car is off the road just at the moment when the little additional driving practise would help. Assume you were not able to do anything to car over the weekend due to visit of June’s Aunt and Uncle from Westcliffe. Hope they had a good journey and enjoyed their visit and were able to return home satisfied that Mrs Baker was going alright. You have told me before what the distance is from Westcliffe but I have forgotten*.

Glad to hear also that you have been able to get some sleep again – a few broken nights soon upset the system and make life miserable. Mr Palmer seems to be getting on well – was at church morning and evening on Sunday but the Curate it is still very ill and I see his resignation is referred to in this next month’s magazine.

Your details of car dismantling amazes me. I should never get it back again in position. Still I expect Peter knows a bit about cars and as you mention can get further advice locally. Can keep cost of running repairs down – like anyone doing their own house decorations. Note you have been collecting more rubble from field and that the raising of the lawn is nearing completion. Is it any good bringing up a bit of rubble? By the way so far as plants etc. for your neighbour is concerned it occurs to me the better arrangement would be for you to take anything down from here when you visit them whilst on holiday. The stuff would be fresher, would not be subject to a second moving and would obviate the transit between here and Ruislip and thence to Weston. Let me know next letter as there will still be time to bring it up if that is considered the best arrangement.

Noted the Esther Reeds are growing – they will give you a good show later. Also note your comments re dahlias. Have not put them out yet – still a risk of frost. Actually 4 degrees were registered in Clevedon last Wednesday but we escaped. A letter from Don yesterday said they had two white frosts last week but his garden (walled in as you know) escaped. It would be very serious now if frost came but I think we are turning into the warmer weather at last. Today’s rain is from the southwest and temperature much higher.

So far as pond is concerned I’ve not been able to do anything yet as the concrete keeps wet. I saw Joe Reed last week near the church and he has a pond with fish so asked him if ever he had a leak there and he said yes he had and a friend had advised him to use Snow Foam to seal it. This he did and never had any more trouble. I think I shall try this before using the bitumen. At the moment we are using the water in the deep part for water and garden plants when necessary – not just at the moment though with this rain.

The horse has not arrived back yet and I’ve told Norman Baker to hold off now until after Whitsun because there will be no one here to look after it. The Caples started off for Norway today and Roy and Mrs Hewitt go on Friday. We travel on Thursday the 7th prox. Had a knock on the door about 7 p.m. Friday and that was the Hewitts. It was going on for 9 p.m. when they left with our blessing. Aston came round this morning. Said he knew he would find me in greenhouse as it was raining. Had a natter for an hour and he departed with about 25 Primo cabbage plants which he said would go in today rain or no rain.

Don also said in his letter that he had heard recently that parcels traffic had been piled verandah high at Temple Meads** owing to some new working being introduced which the staff did not like. Passenger guards passing through had told him but understand all in order now. Have you heard anything of this? Also had letter from Jeff in which he told us to Sarah has not been successful in the 11-plus exam but perhaps you have already heard this. Frankly I thought this exam had been dispensed with in Middlesex. Perhaps it has and the place is awarded by the general class work.

Mum’s birthday passed off alright – we had a drop of Graves wine for dinner and a sherry in the evening (after the thunder). So far as homemade wine concerned the grape is a bit thin but quite tasty. I’m not bringing any of that up so you must pass opinion later when you are here. Have put aside to bring three bottles of blackberry, two of elderberry (1961) and one of blackcurrant/rhubarb. Latter very sharp and will require sugar. At the moment I am using a bottle of cherry and that is a bit sharp.

It was bitterly cold here last Saturday – north east wind – but I dug quite a lot of ground – had to keep my coat on all day. So far have put in 88 Primo’s and 33 Brussels sprouts in addition to about two dozen put in a month ago. May be able to bring up a few lettuces to eat next week. I’m bringing them on in greenhouse. We shall of course leave the kitchen sink here.

There has been no more work on the house opposite (Miss Weekes’ old) this week and our neighbour (Bushell) was unable to start the wall over the weekend having to wait his turn to get the concrete blocks. Quite a call for them so in effect he has to queue up.

We looked in to the Coventry Cathedral service and it was certainly impressive. Have no idea how far Coventry is from here*** but we should both like to see the cathedral sometime but think the best way would be to go with a coach party when run is advertised. Expect the coach people will be alive to this before long. Must ask Heel, our other neighbour, he used to live in that area before coming to Clevedon.

Have not seen Cornish this week – must be still taking his bath. Since the seawall has been widened the motorbike lads have been having a grand time at weekends riding along the top full out. Some of the bikes are not licensed and they bring them along on lorries and unload at site. The noise has been fairly bad but now some of the people living in st. Andrews Drive have put the police on their track and all is quiet once more.

Mum is out this evening delivering the June church magazine in the Westbourne Avenue and Knowles Road areas. The rain fortunately has almost stopped so she will get round in the dry. (Just looked out and it is raining again.) We went up to printer’s this afternoon to fetch magazines and saw there were three or four coaches in the parks. What a day for visitors especially in this place. Last Saturday it was so cold at 7 p.m. that it was a case of lighting a fire or going to bed. We little fire and we’re glad of the warmth. Good job you are not at Exmouth now – much worse than last year. Had a card from the Staceys who are in Jersey on annual holiday where I believe the weather is just as bad. Must be the spacemen upsetting the atmospherics.****

You have not mentioned your neck recently so presumably it is about the same and will eventually mean having the necessary attention. A bit of a nuisance but much the best to have it dealt with.

If your neighbours’ new place is on the Weston side of Sand Bay I assume you would get to it by taking the Sand Bay Road this side of Worle as we did when we went to Sand Bay.

Wednesday 30th of May

It was a frost this morning but our garden escaped. Another, harder one, forecast for tonight so hope we escape again. It has been a glorious day – sunny and very hot – and we have been out in the garden all the time. Put framework up to carry netting over strawberries during the morning and put out 33 early broccoli plants. Roy and Mrs Hewitt called round about 6 p.m. for a few minutes and I gave them some Primo plants to get in before they start their journey abroad on Friday. If only this weather will keep up now for a few weeks we shall have a fine holiday. The ground dried out very quickly after yesterday’s rain and was really hard on top when I got at it this afternoon.

Well I seem to have run out of news at the moment but unless you hear to the contrary we shall be on the move next Thursday the 7th of June en route for yours and we are both looking forward very much to seeing you all and enjoying a few days at Ruislip .

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

Mum and Dad. 

*Rome2Rio makes it about 60 miles with the present-day road layout.

**I must admit this puzzles me a bit as a verandah should be on the ground, so let’s assume he means a balcony. That being the case, he may be referring to what later became a pub (or licensed tea room) on the main platform, which at one point had a mezzanine level. I’ll make some further enquiries and see if I can fathom this out.

***Rome2Rio suggests just over 100 miles with the 2022 road layout.

****This would be a reference to Scott Carpenter’s flight in Aurora-7 on 24 May 1962.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

I have enclosed a letter for Mum to supplement the card which should have arrived before the 27th. We will keep the present for her until your visit. Thank you both for this week’s letter – very full and newsy. We have as yet heard nothing more about Sharon and I enquired of Delph yesterday and she had no more news either. Although the weather was bad last Monday with copious quantities of rain we managed to keep fairly dry at the cemetery as we had a dry spell at that time. As you say the expected happened with Aunt Eda, but as always most of us were unprepared for it. I feel rather sorry for the poor old lady of 81 who had only recently taken up residence with her, having giving up her job in Eastbourne. It appeared she wished to live near her daughter. Now I suppose she will have to make other arrangements.

Sharon is a very highly strung child, very intelligent, with an active brain, and for some time she had been having medical attention for insomnia. It was the practise for Iris to keep both children up very late, and I do not know if this was cause or effect. The latest business however is obviously not connected.

Glad you liked the letter from Susan. She dished a few out this time, saves Dad from having to do the thank you letters. I expect you will find them larger and more mischievous, but I think they have remained very much the same in appearance since last year. Perhaps I cannot see the difference.

As you say there is always something more to be done with property. If it is all attempted at once, however, it becomes a financial drain. I suppose the next stage after getting the place the way it Is wanted is to have the same thing only different, or somewhere else.

We have had some good nights recently so have been able to recharge the batteries so to speak. Had a go at your grape wine and found it a bit thin. I do not know if it tastes any different from your own brewed and bottled variety. It looked a faint pink in the glass, and gave off a number of minute bubbles.

As I write the skies are opening and the rain lashing down. It wants a windscreen wiper on the French windows so that we can see out into the garden.

Not much change out of your trip to Weston then – too cold for sunbathing. Glad Mr Palmer has been able to get round although you had to give him a lift home. Also he manages to get to church which is good progress.

So far as the car is concerned, it is still under repair. It is at 155 with the cylinder head off and the sump off and one piston out. So far we have found no bad trouble. The bearings are a bit loose but as yet I do not know if that is significant or if it is due to wear of the bearings or of the linings. As far as my unprofessional eye can see there is no wear in either. The piston rings also seemed in good nick. There is no sign of uneven wear, and they looked to be as new. Peter is getting some professional advice about them from the garage there today, but my guess is that we shall put it all back together again as it is. Not be sorry as I have had enough for one.

June has had four lessons now, and feels a lot more confident about driving. The teacher says she should be getting lots of practise on our car. Just right is it not that it should be out of commission.

I have had another go at collecting rubble from the field and we now have a few feet to do do now. Should have asked you to bring a trailer load of pebbles back from the beach to finish off. You might as well plant out your dahlias and increased them. When we get round to it we will get some new varieties. The Esther Reeds are growing well so no fear on that score.

Last I heard of our neighbours they had in mind a bungalow on the Weston side of Sand Bay. What the latest position is now I would not know. I gather they will take anything in the way of shrubs, perennials etc. etc I expect it is just a question of getting something in the ground to stop it looking bare.

We well recall this date last year. I can see the picture of our arrival at Wincanton in my mind easily. Weather about the same, with frost at night (Saturday) and rain today.

Crane is still at Southall and a proper washout. He is always grumbling. I have not seen him for some time but I gather he has little enthusiasm.

Your neighbours’ wall will be a great improvement on the old as I recall it it was leaning badly. It was built over the line of an old gully or stream as I remember. Some activity opposite obviously. As few of the houses in the Avenue were built with garages or even garage space this is no doubt a handicap when selling. Newcomers have to build their own if they want them.

Some progress with the pond then. It looks as though you are determined to get the leak stopped for good and all this time. Will the bitumen harm the fish? Gardening news very interesting too. All you want now is some good sunshine in the day with a modicum of rain at night.

Well I must curtail this letter as we are expecting our guests any minute now. They will have started off from Westcliff at their usual early hour no doubt and as it is turned 11 a.m. and knock at anytime would not surprise me.

So there it is again. We may squeeze another letter in before your arrival, but your next will be the last before you come up so perhaps you will give estimated time of arrival here and details of the route.

Love from us all for now.

Alec to his mother:

Dear Mum

A special letter for you today to follow the card in aid of your birthday. Hope you are not feeling too young and giddy so that you reduce dad’s stocks of wine. We will keep your present to hand to you when you come up next week. For some reason both June and I have been missing a week out – we thought Whitsun was this coming week, and had been talking in those terms for some time. In fact our efforts to get straight one week in advance as it were has given us a week to spare. Good job too, as with the car out of action and visits to the hospital etc. to be fixed we can do with a spare day or two.

We are certainly all looking forward to your visit and hope the weather bucks up a bit. The only thing that can be said for it at the moment is that it is making the grass grow. I do not mind that just now with a lawn in the making. So far as the rest is concerned, one mow per week easily keeps it in check.

You will be pleased to know that the girls are both well at the moment although the way they behave – taking their coats off etc. when in the garden – will lead to more colds soon I have no doubt.

We are expecting Aunt Bessie (Mrs Baker’s sister) and Uncle Jim for dinner. They are coming over from Westcliffe and after dinner will go to visit Mrs Baker at Hillingdon. The operation was on Friday at 8:40 a.m. of all times, and she was back in the ward by 1.00 p.m. although how much before we do not know. There were about 9 down for operation that morning, and she was the first to go in. We have Saturday’s report that she was as well as may be expected, and later when Granddad Baker and Pauline went over they said she was a bit weak and not fully over the immediate effects of the operation. We have not yet heard the results of yesterday’s visit.

It has been pelting with rain here all night and everything outside is stopping wet. We think that Eric and Dorothy are down your end this weekend as the car has gone and only the old lady left next door. They may however have gone to Coventry as Eric was there in the week to do the TV coverage.* He travelled to and from Coventry every day so it cannot be all that far by road.** I expect he used the M1 for part of the way. June wants to see the new cathedral. Cannot say it looks much like one though. Nobody came to see my garage when I put it up.

Well I will put the rest of the news in the main letter and will close this one wishing you happy returns of another birthday.

Love.

*This was of course the new Coventry Cathedral, built to replace the one destroyed by bombing during World War II.

**Consulting Rome2Rio suggests that this would nowadays be a journey of 95 miles/an hour and a half each way, although given the differences in both cars and the road network in the intevening sixty years maybe two hours each way would be more realistic. If the choice is between that and staying in a hotel – which no doubt would all have been booked solid at the time anyway – it’s hard to fault Eric’s decision. He may also have been giving a lift to a colleague and sharing the driving, which would make excellent sense.