Reference
AU10/102/1/63
Title
Handwritten letter
Date free text
15 February 1955
Production date
From: 1955 To: 1955
Scope and Content
"Thank you very much for your kind birthday greeting and the very attractive card. There is always a "something" about the cards you choose: good taste? charm? dignity? I don't quite know what word to use: but they all clearly indicate they have been chosen by someone with a mind! (This is not to suggest that that is surprising: it could be taken in two ways!) I never destroy them, as I do most of those I receive: I put them in books as bookmarks, so they turn up again years later.
I was in Arosa for the whole of last month, so I missed the very severe weather you had here. Arosa was one of the best winter sports place I have been to, and I know a good many. Being so high up, it gets sunshine all day: the only thing is that the rarified air makes one tire quickly. However, I seem to be able to do a day's strenuous skiing and go on dancing at night in spite of my advancing years! I must say I find a winter sport holiday very bracing and exhilarating. There is always such a jolly crowd, and one make new friends every time. As you say, Zermatt was in trouble again: also Val d'Isere in France, where I had thought of going - so that I could pop down to the Riviera for a short visit afterwards. But evidently my guardian angel intervened and directed me in the opposite direction. It was very enjoyable coming back to my cosy quarters in the Castle. I really do like it here. I am so glad I decided to come.
I am helping the Vicar of Walmer, lower down the coast on Sundays. He has two churches, and no kind of assistant. He has appealed in the Church Times again and again with no result. I have known him for many years: he was curate in a parish near S.John's, Kennington, when I was there. Bishop Howe Browne was here last week. He had been to see Miss Eagles at Roehampton Priory. You may remember I took her out to visit him at Bloemfontein in 1939, just before the war. I don't think I ever mentioned it to anyone at the time, but the main reason for that visit was so that she could attend the dedication of the church she had given the Bishop money for on a previous visit of his to England. It was a tiny building for natives near Maseru in Basutoland, and it was of course dedicated to S.Joseph. I took some snaps of the dedication service which show the Bishop towering above the black acolytes! I am glad to think there is a bit of poor Miss Florence in the heart of Africa: her name will always be remembered there. However the Bishop said she did not know him. Her physical health continues good: but her mind is like a jelly. She could not understand a word he said: but she babbled on a great deal, as she does when I go. It is a sad business.
I heard about Ampthill Park House from my old friend Ida Huckings in Oxford. She sent me a cutting from the "Oxford Mail" which had a picture of the house and an article on its history. I am glad it it going to be saved from destruction and put to a good use, for it is a beautiful house. I used to think, in the days when I went to the Russells' Monday luncheon parties that the whole place needed a thoroughly good painting and decorating: so I can imagine what it must be like now. Most of the rooms were empty in those days: the Russells seemed to live in two small rooms in the east wing facing the South. They opened up the large saloon in the middle in the summer. You know, I expect, that I have some of the furniture from that room! - two large gilt mirrors, a gilt screen with glass panels, two gilt bronze busts, and a gilt stand. They look quite at home here - more so than at 113 which is a modern house.
To return to your letter - I remember Rodney Gater quite well: also the baby that died. I christened Rodney. I must say Mrs.G. was one of the people in Ampthill I tried to steer clear of! I had to make myself say a prayer for charity and forbearance whenever I came in contact with her!
Perton tells me that he has applied for one of the flats in Dunstable St. opposite the Chapel. He is aggrieved because electricity was not taken to the cottage when the Rectory got it. But if he is still paying only 2/6d a week rent, I should say the Rector will be only too glad to see them go. In any case, their presence at the entry to the Rectory drive has been a nuisance to three rectors. I could never understand why Brew put them in there. but whatever will the flat neighbours in Dunstable St. think of Mrs.P. and her tongue so close to them? Perton himself I always felt sorry for. I always got on well with him as verger, and I found him honest and trustworthy. His rather familiar manner grated on me sometimes. But I thought he had a lot to put up with at home. He tells me there is no verger now. He is full of complaints about the church, the Rector, the people, and things generally. If he had married a cheery little woman who would have drunk a glass of beer with him and made him jolly, I think he would have been alright.
I wonder if you could get Ronald Radwell's address for me? I expect Doris Foster, his sister, would know it. I think I told you that from time to time since I left Ampthill, he has stopped his brick lorry outside 113, and come in (if I have been there) for a cup of tea. The last occasion was sometime last summer. I don't want to lose touch with him altogether, and he is not likely to bring his bricks this way (there are brick works in Kent I believe though where I don't know). You can also give my kind remembrances to the Fosters, and explain why I want Ronald's address as detailed above.
I had a letter from Kenneth Akin at Christmas. He seems to be still living at Arlesey, but he did not say what his job was. I always had a soft spot for him (though he was a "difficult" lad) as he was my first server at Ampthill, and my only weekday one for a long time.
I really must finish.
Your sincerely"
Level of description
item