Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    AU34/21/7/16/6
  • Title
    Letter from Margaret Waddy
  • Date free text
    29 November 1953
  • Production date
    From: 1953 To: 1953
  • Scope and Content
    A handwritten letter from Margaret Waddy (wife of former Rector of St Andrew's, Ampthill) on headed paper from their home in Selly Oak to Honora Grimmer: "My dear Nora, It was so very kind of you to write for my birthday and to send me such a truly lovely card. Thank you for both! I was very sorry that I did not see you the Sunday I was in Ampthill - but I was only able to get to the 8 o'clock service. I sent a special message to you by Andrew when I met at the Lords - but no doubt he had to go back to London before he had another chance of seeing you. Yes indeed what changes there are in Ampthill! To us it seems very sad that Sir Anthony's house should be no more. Judy in fact is quite upset about it and keeps on referring to it. She has a deep affection and appreciation for the old! I did not meet many people in Ampthill which was disappointing - but having no Eleven o'clock service seems to give no focus to Sunday at all - and it seems impossible to get back at 9.00. We grieve for you and the Sunday School most sincerely. As for all the new plans for the day schools - they seem so much of a muddle that the cannot happen like that! I do hope you will get a nice building in the end. ..... invited us to tea on the Sunday so I saw Bill, Andrew and Peter there. What a fine trio they are - and how splendid that Andrew has a real piece of service to his credit for his National Service. We expect Christopher will go off at Easter. He want to join the Fleet Air Arm. The idea fills me with dismay - but one has to be brave for one's children and say nothing!! He has got his place at Balliol and also an award (i.e. major school) from B'ham and still has time to try for a Balliol scholarship in March. It's a great relief to him to know that his is safely in and we shall be financially solvent even if he does not get the Balliol school. Judy takes G.C.E. at advanced and s level in July and wants to go to Oxford too! But I'm sure they will not give her a place next Summer as she will still be only 16! It was partly to see her that I came down to Ampthill as I had her out in Bedford to see her Grandmother on Saturday afternoon. Pat is now completing his Life of Bishop Loyd and it is to be published by Mowbrays early in the New Year. I shall be glad when he has finished it and I can get the study properly cleaned and dusted again! Do you remember what the Rectory dining room looked like when he was writing "A Ship Under Sail"? Fortunately the study here is large enough to hold all he needs and so it should be, as he has another one in College. I hope you will come and see us some day - and stay with me if you possibly can. My house is really very comfortable and in the spring the bulbs all down ..... are a sight. We had not heard of Bob Vale's death. Will you kindly give a message of sympathy from us to Mrs Vale when you see her. I have no contacts with the St John's Ambulance people here - but I am on the Executive of the local G.G. Association - and we meet about twice in the year. With renewed thanks for your kindness in writing and kindest regards from us both. Yours very sincerely, Margaret Waddy P.S. When I came to plant my bulbs last year I found that your blue hyacinth glass was amongst all my vases etc. I can't think how it came to be left behind - or did the removers never unpack it? I just shan't know - but if it did get left at the Rectory I want you to know it was a sole omission!"
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