In 1965 when my parents Bet and Wilf had become grandparents three times over within three months, they received a package from the head of Bet’s PE college, Principal Miss Fountain. My mother's parents had split up quite early and she had a somewhat itinerant childhood moving between her parents. She longed for family life and had found something of a family when she went to Chelsea College to train as a PE teacher. She loved the busy, communal life there.
Boscastle, N. Cornwall
Dec 13th 1965
My dear Betty,
Here is a strange Christmas present for you – quite a sacrifice I can assure you – you are an excellent correspondent (or were?) and your letters were much appreciated.
I hope that your daughters inherited your debonair way of producing their families and that you have had good news in November. You must not destroy these without letting them see what a wonderful Mum and Dad they had in wartime.
I hope especially you have good news of Sally – can’t remember which part of SA she is in. I am well – but for a cold which makes me feel very stupid – I’m not given to them and resent them.
Don’t forget to send news of yourself to whoever collects for the mag. I see there was none from you last time?
You will have seen the announcement of Dr. Harlow’s death in October – a very good friend of the college gone. My very best wishes to “Wilf” and much love to you, Fount.
M. Fountain
The letters, written between February 1940 and December 1946, have become family treasures and when my children were young, I took them to the London Museum and read the correspondence aloud in a small room set aside to replicate the blitz complete with sound effects. It made a great impression on all of them.
Some of the opinions in the letters would be considered insensitive now, but they reflected the views at that time.
Letter 2: February 8th 1940 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 3: August 1st 1940 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letters 4, 5 & 6: Oct 2nd, 8 & 9th 1940 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letters 7, 8 & 9: November 1940 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 10: November 20th & 27th 1940 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 11: January 22nd 1942 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 12: July 1942 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 13: May 6th 1943 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 14: June 27th 1943 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 15: April 21st 1944 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 16: June 1944 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letters 17 & 18: July 7th & Sept 1944 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 19: January 23rd 1946 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 20: March 21st 1946 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 21 April 7th 1946 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
Letter 22 December 3rd 1946 www.bbc.co.uk/dna/memoryshar...
More memories from RoseBayWillowherb2
This memory was added 10th December 2007
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