Scope and Content
Correspondence from Mary Pack in Canada to Lily & Nora Grimmer in Ampthill:
1980: Four items, first being a CARS (Canadian Arthritis & Rheumatism Society) CRAFT card from early January sending New Year greetings and reminiscences of earlier years. Mary talks of getting older and the fact that her siblings Harry, Joan and George all now have hearing aids. George is also due to have a cataract operation. Her brother Roger is well. Mary has only two more Medical Research Council trips planned and is still having water colour painting lessons.
16th January: a postcard TO Mary being a first day cover of a picture of a kingfisher with a 10p and 2p stamps. Lily sends thanks for the Beautiful British Columbia magazine and the diary and calendar from Mary. Nora has had to go into hospital for surgery.
7th May: a postcard TO Mary being a first day cover of a picture of the Albert Memorial with a 13 1/2p and 1/2p stamps. Lily tells Mary that Nora is making slow, steady progress following her operation.
12th June: Mary is off to Montreal to attend her last conference where she will be involved in making national health funding allocation decisions. Simone has just had a hysterectomy and her daughter Kathie is helping to look after her. Debbie is living with her aunt Joan whilst at university summer school. David, George's youngest son, will be getting married in October. The rest of the family are all well.
1981: Three items. June: a postcard illustrating a painting of the Corbett Lake Country Inn with 3 x 12c stamps. Mary is touring British Columbia with a friend. She reminisces over staying at this inn with Lily and Nora when they visited Canada.
22nd July: an airmail first day cover celebrating the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles to Princess Diana. Lily and Nora responding to Mary that they do remember staying at the inn. They add that they have recently been hosting a American choir, one of whose members knew of Mary and her work with CARS.
December: a Christmas card with Christmas and New Year greetings to all in Ampthill. Mary sends thanks for all the cards, clippings and books on Bedfordshire. She asks after Lily and Nora's health and all the family. All the Packs are well but George still awaiting his cataracts being operated on. Mary has been on a trip to Spain, which she enjoyed immensely.
1982: Two items. May: a postcard from Grand Pre, Nova Scotia with a photo of the Evangeline Memorial. Published by Paul Pix of Margaree, Nova Scotia with a 15c, 12c and 3 x 1c stamps. Mary is coach touring with a friend and enjoying the colours of the autumn.
24th October: Mary sends thanks for the gift of a book on the history of Bedford High School for Girls and feels very proud of Andrew [Underwood, the author]. Mary recoginises the staff of 1914: Dolly Buckets, "Colty" and Henry Penny. She also talks about the general depression in the Canadian economy and the levels of discontent and dissention across the country, especially between workers and management. In family news - Harry and Clara are both getting elderly and more poorly; Harry especially is having short term memory problems. Joan is well and still driving and has recently to a birthday gathering at Mary Lou's and then went on a visit to her son George, his wife Janice and their children Scott and Laura. Jessie is also well. George and Simone have been on a bus tour to Eastern Canada to visit the Maritimes and Quebec. Their son David and his wife Brenda are well. Their daughter Debbie is studying nursing at university. Mary herself is generally well, walking every day but is no longer driving. She has renewed the subscription to the Beautiful British Columbia magazine and encloses their compliment slip in the letter.
1983: Three items. 12th February: a letter informing Lily and Nora of the sad death of Mary's brother Harry. His wife Clara and son Bill were with him at the end. Although Clara herself is very unwell and is being looked after by Bill and his wife Verna, who is pregnant with their first child.
12th June: a card printed with a watercolour painting by Mary. She has had a selection of her watercolour paintings printed up as cards to be sold as fundraisers for CARS. The charity has sold about 9,000 so far. Mary has enjoyed reading The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden and recommends it to Lily and Nora. She also describes a visit of Queen Elizabeth II to British Columbia. Mary was invited as a guest of Vancouver city council to a lunch being held for Her Majesty and sat opposite Lady Hussey, the Queen's Lady-in-waiting. Clara is feeling better and is deciding where to live, especially with Bill and Verna expecting their baby in August. Mary is feeling well and fit enough to keep living in her apartment but laments the forgetfulness she is starting to suffer from as she gets older.
22nd August: a letter saying that sadly Clara has had a stroke and died. She had just enjoyed celebrating her 80th birthday and was eagerly awaiting the birth of her first grandchild. A postscript of 28th August states that Verna has given birth to a baby girl named Lena.
1984: No correspondence has been retained.
1985: Three items. 30th August: a watercolour print card. Mary is feeling her age but is otherwise well. Jessie is not so, suffering from health problems related to the tuberculosis she suffered earlier in her life. Her husband of 85 needs a hip replacement but is stubborn. Jessie's family are supporting her well. Joan has another granddaughter, Krysta, through her son George. Debbie has finished university and is job hunting. Harry's granddaughter Lena is now a toddler. The weather in Vancouver has been wonderful and Mary has enjoyed watching all the beachgoers swimming, surfing and canoeing from her apartment. Her watercolour print cards have raised over $8,000 so far for CARS.
17th November: a watercolour print card. Mary would like to telephone Lily and Nora on Christmas Day and asks for the correct details. George and Simone are expecting another grandchild through David and Brenda. Joan is now in a retirement home. Her eldest son, Henry, is now president of his mining company. Jessie is very ill; problems with her heart and lungs and is being cared for at home. Debbie's nursing graduation is coming up soon. Roger and Marie have been up for a visit from California. Verna has had food poisoning. Mary is well, still painting for the cards and has been to the cinema recently with Kathie and Donald.
31st December: a watercolour print card. Mary sends New Year greetings. She loved being able to speak to Lily and Nora on Christmas Day. She spent the day at Mary Lou's with her family, plus Jessie, Peggy and Max. Joan is in hospital but is a bit better than she was. Mary has had a large family visit from George, Janice and family plus Bill, Verna and Lena. Mary Lou and Peggy's families are off skiing together.
1986: Four items. 12th July: a watercolour print card. All the family are well. Mary sees Bill, Verna and Lena very regularly. She now has a hearing aid and wears glasses. Joan is in hospital at the moment being treated for heart problems. Jessie now needs oxygen at night. Her husband has finally had his hip replaced by the CARS doctors. Her brother George has had two corneal transplants. Simone is very helpful to the whole family, especially as she is still driving. David and Brenda have had a baby boy called Michael David. Debbie has graduated now in nursing and recently came with Mary to see the Royal Ballet. Roger was up from California for a visit. Mary is still painting for the cards which are raising about $4,000 a year for CARS. The interest on the investment bond Mary took out when she retired, now provides enough funds for a technician to assist in arthritic research.
3rd October: a watercolour print card plus a colour photograph of Mary of the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens taken on 4th August 1986. Mary writes that David's little boy Michael looks just like Harry when he was a baby. Lena is growing up very pretty but is very shy. Joan is in hospital again with her heart. Henry and George visit their mother regularly. Jessie is not well but there are no spaces at her preferred residential home. The doctors have told her not to do anything strenuous. George has had cataracts removed. Debbie has taken up a nursing post about 100 miles up the coast. Mary suggests another telephone call on Christmas Day.
December - a watercolour print Christmas card. Mary is looking forward to their Christmas phone call and suggests a time. The family are well: Mary Lou's boys, Michael and David are growing up. Mary Lou is learning french to be able to teach in high school. Peggy and Max are very fit and sporty. Jessie's poor health continues and is still waiting for a care home place. Joan is now in care home and will be transferred to hospital as and when her heart problems occur. Mary is now giving speeches on the history of CARS and helping in any way she can.
26th December: a watercolour print card. Mary is very disappointed that the telephone call on Christmas Day couldn't be connected because of the busy lines. Mary went with Jessie, husband Harry and Mary Lou's family to Peggy and Max's home.
1987: Four items. 15th March: a watercolour print card. Mary is well, active and happy and hopes the same for Lily and Nora. She encloses a larger copy of the photo in the Botanical Gardens last year. Jessie and Joan both send their love. Jessie is still waiting on a place in a care home. Joan is very well cared for at hers. George and Simone are both well and their daughter Debbie is away nursing. Mary continues in her watercolour painting.
8th May: Mary reminisces over her Ampthill childhood and youth. She thanks Lily and Nora for helping her to stay up-to-date over the years will all the cuttings, magazines and books they send. Mary is pleased to hear of the church window for Mr Searle, who Mary credits with teaching her to paint alongside Mrs Watkins. Her nephew and niece, David and Debbie, have her love of family history and will inherit all of Mary's heritage and memorabilia. David is now a senior electrician, like his father George, in the British Columbia Telephone Company. Joan is keeping reasonably well in a caring and stimulating home. Mary Lou has completed her B.Ed and graduates next week, enabling her to teach any grade. Mary may be moving downstairs to a ground floor flat in the same block to make life a little easier. She encloses a newspaper cutting all about the paralympian Rick Hansen and his wife Amanda plus 22 black and white photographs of the Rockies: scenery, animals and Native Americans.
1 September: a watercolour print card. Mary gives thanks for her 65 years plus friendship with Lily. She is definitely moving to the ground floor flat and is decluttering as it is smaller, although it does have an outside area. She has been on a lovely tour of the Rockies with a friend.
12th October: Mary is settling into her new flat after refurbishing and decorating. She has just been to dinner with Jessie as guests at Joan's care home; Joan is fairly well at the moment. George, Janice and family came to visit Mary for Thanksgiving. Sister-in-law Simone visits often with their little grandson Michael. Jessie is quite frail and is helped a lot by Mary Lou and Peggy.
1988: Four items. 18th August: a watercolour print card thanking for the photograph of Lily which Mary has framed and is now in pride of place. She sends sympathy for Nora being unwell. Jessie is in and out of hospital and on constant oxygen, even when at home. Joan has been moved to Powell River to be nearer to her son George, one of whose children has developed diabetes.
10th October: a watercolour print card, announcing the death of Jessie that morning after a severe decline over the previous week. Mary misses her very much.
16th October: a longer letter repeating the news regarding Jessie. She had lapsed into a coma at the end but was well cared for and her funeral was very well attended.
26th October: a watercolour print card, thanking Lily for her sympathy and wishing Nora better.
1989: Six items. June: a watercolour print card, sent from a new address, Chalmers Lodge in Vancouver. Mary explains that she has had the opportunity to move into a flat in this residential unit, which comes with full board and maid service. Three of her friends already live there. Decluttering and passing on her life's treasures was very hard. Mary Lou visits often. Joan is still in the home near her son George and Mary's brother George and Simone are both well.
July: a letter explaining more about the residential home. Mary still has her art supplies with her but is not painting at the moment, although she is still working with CARS.
28th October: a watercolour print card thanking Lily for the photograph of St. Andrew's Church in Ampthill and reminiscing about her life there. Mary talks about the variety of residents in her home. Her niece, Debbie, has started nursing in the NW Territories, up in the Arctic. She is learning the eskimo language to help her in her work up there. Mary is arranging a small tea party at the home and wishes Lily could be there. She enclosed some laminated pressed flowers.
30th October: a letter sending Lily sympathy for her nursing duties [presumably for Nora]. Mary is still enjoying life in Chalmers Lodge, where they had a concert party last night.
19th November: a watercolour print card and letter sending Lily good wishes for continued good health. Mary receives regular visits and phone calls from her family. Her niece Debbie will be returning from the Arctic in the spring. She has covered doctor's duties whilst up there and is considering further training to qualify as a doctor. Mary sends love for Christmas.
December: a CARS Christmas card sending Lily Christmas and New Year greetings, enclosing some hand-pressed maple leaves.