Reference
AU34/21/7/12
Title
Letter from Phyllis Barnes
Date free text
25 May 1976
Production date
From: 1976 To: 1976
Scope and Content
A handwritten letter (on a notecard) from Phyllis Barnes (nee Harwood) from her home in Nottingham to Honora and Lily Grimmer:
"To 2 of the splendid characters of the little country town of Ampthill, Bedfordshire,
How lovely to hear you both on Radio 4 on Sunday and this morning's repeat; and thank you for your reminiscences and your choice of music - a beautiful record.
I remember the occasion when Princess Beatrice came to unveil the cenotaph a the bottom of the Alameda - lovely word, the way of honey - and before the cenotaph the Canadians and Portuguese in camp to cut down the firs - I wonder why it was never replanted. It was such an agreeable place to scrunch through on the deep carpet of needles - how slippery they could be. Prof. Richardson too but more particulary his big black lovable dog Sam who used to come down and sit in the shop.
Then I remembered the Grimmer girls and Lil taking charge of me when I first went to BGMS. How we threw down our bicycles at the little station house and ran down for the train. Fred Brownridge seemed to have such a small bike.
I remembered going down the lane - playing pilgrims; past the little garden with the huge shell overflowing with golden moss - right past the field with the llamas - Be careful they'll spit in your eye! - down to a cross lane with lime trees, pale green leaves that we used to put with the pheasant's eye narcissus that the butcher on the market place, I can't remember his name, used to grow in the next field! Every year when I see new lime leaves and narcissus I think of them.
On one of picnics Lil taught me to chew with my mouth closed with a brusque "we don't want to see what you've got in your mouth!" - a ploy I've used with my own children, how we learn!
I remember going with the Grimmers to Lenten children's services and sitting up in the balcony - I suppose this was the beginning of church commitment for me, a chapel child - I have served on the church council here for more than 20 years. The balconys have disappeared I found when once I brought the children to town. How much bigger the market is now than it was in our time then there was little more than a fish stall on Sat night and I think one other day Sea Breezes fish and chips arrived and filled the air with an unusual pungent aroma.
I was delighted with the September cover of Home & Country with its excellent picture of the Town Clock over the Old Moot Hall and that led to many more reminiscences. I have in the garden here Lilies of the Valley which my father got from the field along Woburn Road, from the chemist's field and we had in a Tate Sugar box on the leads of the house - this he took to Brighton and then when we came here he sent some roots - so there's the link.
Like Ena, I have an Antipodean grandson - my son, his wife and their elder son went to live in Perth, Aus. nearly 5 years ago. Since then they have another son born there.
I have 2 other boys and a daughter - all married, and we have 6 grandchildren altogether, 5 boys and 1 girl.
Thank you for this pleasant morning of reminiscence.
My love to you both and to Ena and regards to Eva Jane and Madge.
For auld acquaintance sake"
Level of description
item