Reference
AU10/102/1/37
Title
Typewritten letter
Date free text
21 December 1949
Production date
From: 1949 To: 1949
Scope and Content
"I wonder if I shall get this in before you this time!
Anyway, I am writing to wish you a very Happy Christmas, and to hope you are fully recovered from your ordeal in the summer. You will have heard that I am now chaplain to a hospital near here (it was in the parish magazine). I returned from France in September to find the job sitting on the doorstep, as it were. A large private hospital called Roehampton Priory, a few minutes from here, adjoining Richmond Park, had just lost its chaplain. One of the two head doctors, George Stephenson (once famous international Rugger player), is an old Oxford friend of mine, and he begged me to take the job on. I hesitated, as I seem to be fated to ply to and fro across the Channel all my life until I finally settle down on that side (I prefer France to England nowadays), and I must go over there periodically to see to things: but they go the Bishop of Southwark to urge me on, so I decided to accept. I must say I am glad I did, as I find it a most intereresting job: there is a grand family spirit among the staff of the hospital: and the hospital chapel is a beautiful place and the services well attended. Not only the staff, but lots of people from outside come in, and the congregations increase steadily every Sunday. So I am very happy about it all, and hope it will be possible for me to keep on with it.
I think I am well posted up with Ampthill news, including the tragic Giles affair. I went to see Clifford Thompson in hospital when I heard he was up here. I was quite shocked by his appearance. He looked a nervous wreck. but he told me he was going back to Hitchin in a few days. He said he had let his house at Ampthill.
Both the Miss E's are flourishing, as ever: though at the moment we have Di in bed with a bad chill and a bit of a temperature. We hope she will be up for Christmas. We were expecting my father to come up from Yorkshire, but he has decided to go and stay with an old friend at Chester. I heard from Sir Anthony last week, and he sent me the book he has always given me at Christmas. I gather he is not as well as he was, and does not get to church now. I wonder if I shall ever see Ampthill again! My best years there were the six years before the war. Up to 1939 everything seemed to be building up well. But the war took a lot out of me. I never felt the same, and I am glad I left when I did. Waddy seems to be doing all the things I felt needed doing, though of course it is the usual story: some like him, some don't.
We all send our best wishes for a Happy Christmas, and kind remembrances to your family. Andrew's museum seems to be a "sight" of Ampthill now.
Yours very sincerely,"
Level of description
item