Reference
AU10/113/1
Title
Correspondence with Beatrice See
Date free text
November 1983
Production date
From: 1983 To: 1983
Scope and Content
Letter headed: "37 Chapel Road, Flitwick, Bedford, MK45 1EB. Phone Flitwick 714319."
"To Mr Andrew Underwood,
I was very excited to see your photo in the Ampthill & Flitwick News of last week 17th Nov. The photo was of 3 thatched houses in Ampthill near the cedars. I have lived in Flitwick since 1914, apart from time spent in service at Millbrook Rectory, both with Rev & Mrs Pollard then with Cannon Cotton and family. I was married at Millbrook Church to Matthew See from Millbrook who then worked as a gardener with Du Sautoy at 97 Dunstable Street. What a coincidence, that Deafy Billington in your picture is my great-grandfather. I have only seen a photo of him once before, it was whilst I worked for Rev Pollard. I often used to take messages to the Miss Bartons, also the Miss Eagles. On one occasion, the Miss Eagles, who like the Miss Bartons lived in Church Street, invited me in, and began to question me on my pedigree, and the conversation turned out to be very interesting, and it was this, that my great-grandfather, the said Billington, had worked for their parents when they were small girls, and they showed me 2 photos. One was the 2 Miss Eagles in a dog cart and great-grandfather standing beside (I cannot remember whether it was a donkey or a small pony). One sister said he took them through Ampthill walking beside them. The other photo was one of my great-grandmother and Deafy in front of that house leaning on the fence. Of course I was only shown them. Many a time I have tried to find out about the houses and no one has ever believed me, even my husband Matthew, so you see I was so excited and happy. Daniel and his wife were my maternal grandmother's parents. She in turn was mother to my mother, which makes them both my great-grandparents. I do not have any picture of him, but I have a photo of great-grandmother (I cannot remember her name). My grandma used to say she was named Liza. The photo was given me by my grandmother and is on some sort of metal or tin. My great-grandparents are both buried here in Flitwick churchyard. I tended their grave but can no longer get that far to do so. Now would it be possible for you to have a photo copied for me, if not too expensive. It would be nice for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in later years. I will show you gran's picture if you like. If you do call, give us a ring please, and I will get out the photos. We both are taken to the social centre on Mondays and Fridays; registered disabled, so don't get far.
I expect you remember Kathleen Donovan from Ampthill, she is our daughter-in-law, married our son Trevor See. It was she who said phone Andrew and tell him, but thought the phone call would take too long.
Best wishes for making one reader happy.
Yours sir,
Beatrice See"
Level of description
item