Dear Michael - 31 st Aug. 1969

Thank you for your letters. Sorry I don't write a lot but I have "nowt" to say most days. However had to let you know we now have a phone installed. Handy if you want anything urgent, or when you come home? Your friends can contact you easily. It's quite a novelty at the moment, everyone is phoning like crazy , but am making them put tuppence in the box. Iris and Nod have bought a bungalow at Leigh, off the London Road , and they, and Tony, are moving in on the 16th September, and will eventually get around to getting married. Then you will have a new little Uncle. Dorothy is going on holiday with her friends family to Yarmouth tomorrow. Barbara is staying with her friend Christine for a week whilst her parents are on holiday. Father is one night work. That leaves Ginger John and I, to get on with it, he can't go far , poor lad, as he has an evening paper round to earn himself a few bob. Just going up the vet with Seepy Doo ( last time I hope). So will say bye bye the noo. Hope to see you again before you start back to college. Look after yourself and get yer 'air cut ! Love Mum xxx

Dear Mike - April 1970

Mothers speaking. Hope you are keeping in peak form? Have you anything lined up for the Summer yet? There is not a lot of jobs advertised at the moment, but expect there will be in the next few weeks. The weather does not improve does it? Was hoping to take a few snaps as I have a colour film to use up. We are watching Dud & Pete on the telly at this moment, very funny, and I am on ( cloud nine) as Frankie Vaughan is the subject of "This Is Your Life" earlier this evening, don't suppose you saw that. Life goes on just the same here, except for the odd " exhilerating" moments like F.V. Father says thank you for the gardening book, very funny. Look after yourself. Love Mum xxxxx

Dear Michael - June 1974

Enclosed is £5.00 to get yourself a hair cut ! Ho Ho ! Hope you have a happy birthday, I shall be thinking of you, don't get drunk, you will only feel bad in the morning. Father went in for his moped test yesterday and FAILED. Oh well better luck next time. That was a nice photo of you. Father thought it was a girl in the boat. All Nod's relations are coming down from Manchester for their wedding, yes it really is happening on 2nd. July. Father and I are attending as witnesses at Southend registry office. Have to rush up to the shops because I want to go to Southend market with Iris. Yes, our garden looks a picture and I have a beautiful plant pot on my porch complete with lovely mauve flowers. Hope you will be home soon to see them, our apples and plums are coming on a treat. No more news for now. All our love. take care, Mum xxxxxx

My Dear Mike - Monday June 1970

Thanks a lot for your nice letters. Am on holiday at the moment, so am able to sit down and pen you a few lines. Hope you are well and happy. Will be sending you some birthday money this week but don't know what I should do! Shall I send a registered envelope? I don't suppose you saw me on T.V. yesterday at Sunday cricket, I went to Ilford with Iris and Sid, to see Lancashire play Essex, and it was televised, and father saw us in the crowd, how thrilling !! Am not going anywhere special for my holidays. Father never wants to go anywhere, so just get the house in order a bit and keep Bugs and Seep company while everybody is at work. Might go down to Surrey to see Auntie Doodie. When will you be coming home? Will have to have a sort out of bedrooms when you do, and put you and John our big one, and there is not a great deal of room in that box room. J. next door has her "lover" living there now, is getting divorced from his wife. "M" has been in hospital to have a throat operation. Little T is working now ( if you can imagine it, he comes home all dirty in his dungerees). DC is still courting strong, very much in love. Our John goes to Yorkshire for a week in July with his school on a Geography trip. Dee still likes her job. Barbara's still going around with her boyfriend. Iris is getting wed on the 2nd of July to Sidney Lewis ( I'll get her married off yet) Tony and Chris are having a weeks holiday down in Doodies caravan near Southampton. They have both got long bobbed hair. Tony had a long dago moustache but has shaved it off I'm glad to say. Our Ginger John could do with a hair cut but refuses. He is full of freckles! Hope you are getting the same nice weather as we are, and are making the most of it. Will be writing again in a couple of days. For now take care. Lots of love. From Mum xxxx

Dear Mike - Date unknown 1969?

Thank you so much for the lovely apron. Hope the other "pickings" were good. What beautiful weather we are having here, I do hope yours is the same that end. Father is on a weeks holiday, and is papering the hall, not before time. Don't suppose it will please your artistic taste, however it certainly has improved the look of the old place! He ( your father) is going to Tonbridge tomorrow to stay a couple of days with Nunkie Bill. Shall no doubt hear some old "Rang Tang" when he returns. The apple blossom on the trees here is terrific and we look like getting a bumper crop this year, everywhere looks so nice and green, hurry up and come home and have a rest! Twill do you good. Hope you are eating again, you must have proper diet, else you will come out in pimples and no doubt get scurvy or something 'orrible. Dee is liking her job alright at least she likes pay day and Fridays when she goes to Southend Art College. Everybody is happy and well here, and trust you are the same. Is Barry taking that little dog home? Do hope it doesn't get left behind! Dee and I went to a dance with Iris and Nod at the Civic Hall at Southend and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also went to see Ivy in Chadwell and went out in the evening for a drink with them at the "Cat Cracker" in Corringham. Wild living eh! I'll have to calm down a bit. I hope you have some luck regarding your college. I suppose it is a rather sad occasion, breaking up finally and all going your different ways. I daresay it will take some getting used to, you have been together quite a while now. Well, must away and put the kettle on for Ginger John who will be in shortly from school and he loves his cup of tea. By bye for now dear. Look after yourself. It's Father's Birthday today and it will be soon yours won't it? Love Mum xxxxxx What do you want??

Dear Michael - 27th February 1974

Have just recieved you beautiful hand painted door knob. Thanks a lot, very nice. I don't know how you have the patience to paint something so small. Many thanks also for the letter. Have passed on your message about "the film" to father and he is attending to the order forthwith. Sorry about your grotty pop scene, but you shouldn't live in such outlandish places, you should get back to civiisation and Ted Heath. It's going to be a great day tomorrow ( polling day ) are you going to sit up all night listening for the result. Paul G. had a shotgun wedding last Saturday and Irene T. ditto a couple of weeks ago, so there should be quite a baby boom in a couple of months with all the Grans competing about their grand off springs including me I suppose. I have a large picture for you I had given to me from my place off work, they had a clear out of the attic, it's rather large but an oil painting, the frame will come in handy anyway, Keep warm and look after yourself and be happy. Love as always. Mum xxxxxx

Dear Mike - no date ( in France ) 1974

Hope your weather there is an improvement on ours here at the moment. It's been raining buckets for two days and no let up yet. Expect you know we are having a General Election on the 28th of this month but who ever gets in won't get us out of this muddle the country is in at the moment. How's things with you, trust you are keeping free from colds and finding enough to eat. We seem to keep fairly well at this end except poor John who has just got over being proper poorly. Barb is getting as big as a house but then Maureen Clark is getting like a country seat so I'm told. There will certainly be a glut of Spring babies around soon. Keep well and happy. Love from Mum xxx

Dear Mike no date ( in France )

How are you hope you received a couple of papers I sent, I did not enclose a letter. Glad to know you are having a nice time, if a quite one. Will you be home for Xmas, let me know and I will do something about a Xmas gift for you? Barbara's wedding went off very well, nobody got drunk or disorderly. I expect she'll be sending you some photos. I expect you get a little home sick sometimes being such a long way away, especially now the Winter nights are drawing in. Have you drunk all the wine you stamped on, and are you having enough to eat. You did lose quite a lot of weight before you went, that dustbin job I expect. So maybe you will come home with quite a corporation. Everybody here is getting ready for the great day Wednesday of the wedding of Princess Anne. They'll all be sitting by the telly bolt eyed. Everyone is well here this end except Dee who has a filthy cold. Keep warm and look after yourself. Iris sends her love. Love Mum x I am in Rayleigh writing this, Iris manages a small bakers shop and am having a cuppa and gooey yummy cake. have just bought ingrediments for Xmas cake, hope you will be home to sample a piece. Love Mum.

Dear Michael - no date.( in France )

Hope you had a nice Xmas, it didn't sound too bad by our letter. Hope you are keeping warm. It sounds like you are having an interesting time if not too luxurious. I trust you are free from colds at least you don't get foggy weather there ( or shouldn't ) I am writing this without my specs and am finding it rather difficult. Barbara is keeping well , putting on some weight. It seems "Cissie" Clark is "preggers" too about the same time. John has been very queer all over Xmas, and couldn't touch his dinner, has been living on satzumas and oranges. However he has slowly recovered and is back at work. Hope you enjoy the paper, all I could get. Love from Mum xxx

Dear Mike - No date.

Hope you enjoy the Treasure Bag. Are you keeping warm up there, it's freezing here, so guess it's mighty cold up your way. Seepy Do and Bugs have just come in from the garden with icy bellies, and have had to rub them down. Hope your cold is a lot better now. How are you off for vests? Do you get half term holidays at your college ? John and Dorothy have two or three days next week, they want to know if you received their letters. Write soon. Lots of love . Mum x

Dear Mike - No date ( in France) 1973

A hasty scrawl in the post office. So you did not like the Reveille and Titty Bits eh! Well how does Mick Jagger grab you.. Hope Bill is back there with your beans, you sound half starved to me. I don't know why you have these indurance tests. You would be far better off at home. But then after your travels you might appreciate a few home comforts once again I say, is it any good sending presents or will you have to pay duty on them. let me know. Keep warm. Love Mum .

Dear Mike - No date

Sorry about the delay in sending the small offering. Hope you don't get any of your head colds, but should you do so, these Lemsips are really good for clearing the head. Our room is finsihed now and looks really nice, with new curtains etc. I went to a social dance ( wild thing ) with Iris and Nod on Thurday, at Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea. It was a musicians union "do" very nice too, lovely bar with lots of drinkies , apart from that one wild "rave up" I have not done anything exciting, only been to work, poor old soul! How are you keeping Mike, well I hope. Barbara is still courting strong. Iris has moved into her new bungalow at Leigh that should be handy for you if you lost your last bus. She would always put you up. Father says he still hasn't got your watch, the "bloke" is off sick. Only about 8 weeks to Xmas, expect you will be home before then ?? Shall be pleased to see you once again, especially if your hair is still much shorter! I'm only kidding! Mind how you go on Firework Night , keep away from those dangerous ones. Look after yourself, until we see you again. Love Mum xxxxx

Dear Michael - 1970

Dear No. 1 Son - 27th January 1970

Have just received you very nice letter, and feel absolutely ashamed for not having written. Barbara sent you one today which she wrote yesterday, and really it was her talking all the time about sending you a letter, I just kept putting off writing one of my own. I was going to pop a note in your goods via Poss, but he came and went before I came home from work. Now I have got that off my chest, hope I am forgiven and promise to send at least once a week. Hope you are managing alright money-wise etc. And also trust you are keeping well ! Sorry about not having any luck regarding your post graduate place, but I am sure you will make it. Will be pleased to see you when and if you get a London trip. The weather here is really lovely today, warm and sunny like Spring. have been going mad washing my curtains but lo and behold, they have shrunk, go to put them back up again and find there is quite half a yard of peeping space! Father is getting too fat so have put him on a diet. Uncle wrote and said you had sent him a very nice letter and he was pleased with it and asked for your address, didn't you put one on? Dee is leaving school Easter , wants to get a job with Barbara. So that just leaves ginger John at school, I'm glad he is staying on, it will give him more chance of a better job. I don't know what he has in mind, no idea at all. Hope this scribble will do for now. Will write more later, cross my heart! Lots of love, look after yourself. Mum x

Dear Michael - 19th June 1969

Just a few lines for your birthday. Hope you have a nice one! Your father sent the £1.0.0. I will be getting you a present for when you come home, which should not be very long, will it? perhaps you can write back and give me some idea what you want, sweater? firt? record? anyway let me know. Things are about the same here, nothing changes. Am looking forward to seeing you again, it's so long since you were last home, or so it seems! Expect you could do with the change of scenery. Hope your hair is not waist length, else they will never have you ate Ilfords. Iris is thinking of getting married again, guess who too, Nod! There's a laugh! Uncle Nod, hows that. Write and say when you will be home. Look after yourself. Love Mum xxx

Dear Michael - 5th March 1969

Sorry have been so long in writing, the others are going to make an effort tonight so you will get all your mail at once. Started a new job at Carreras this morning, not bad the money is alright. Have just sent away to have the phone enstalled at our house that will be nice won't it? Shall have to have a little box so you can put your threepence in. You can phone all your friends up then in peace! It should take about three weeeks to come. Hope you are quite well and enjoying life. Did you get those letters from Ilfords etc, that your father sent on?? It is lovely weather here today , hope you are getting the same up there. It will soon be around to the holidays again, but you are going to the Lake District for Whitsun aren't you? Your father is off this week and next on holiday handy for doing my housework! By for now, keep out of mischief, don't go squatting. Love Mum xx

Dear Michael - 13th March 1969

Thanks a lot for your very welcome letter. So sorry you have been "under the weather" do hope you are feeling a lot better. You should be having your easter holidays soon, are you coming home and if so when? The weather is pretty lousy here at the moment but we have had a few very lovely days. A sample of things to come I hope by next month. Your father has painted the ( no not the parlour ) kitchen, and I have nice colourful wallpaper up now, "tangerine" it looks very nice. Have just told Bugs you will be home for Easter, and she is sitting here with her head on one side, and Seepy is kicking on the rug showing her bellies off. Glad to here you have got rid of your unwelcome lodger. He sounded a bit unsavoury to me. Went to the Century cinema last week ( yes I did ) and saw a most unsavoury film with Frank Sinatra, that is, F. Sinatra was in the film. I went with Dee but wish I hadn't taken her, there were some awfully funny people in this film, they don't seem to make a nice decent film like they used to do. Expect you will be glad to be home for a while and have a little trip down Southend with your chums. Hope to see you soon in the meantime keep writing. Lots of love, Mum and the rest of the Leighs x

Dear Michael - 4th February 1969

Thanks for your nice letter. No I did not send the parcel as the post office seemed to be a bit unreliable , what with the strikes etc. However as soon as I go out and get some string and paper will send it along. It's not much only a couple of pairs of pants and 'at. Sorry you have not been very well. I hope somebody looked after you and got you something to eat. Glad you have escaped the scrourge scabies , that's a horrible thing to get. John and Dee are writing to-night when they come home from school. Do you get letters from your friends still, Linda and the others? Sorry you are bored with your job of the moment, but you have to take the rough with the smooth dear. Am going to make father a meat pudden because he has to go to work 2 til ten. Am going to look at Will Hay film tonight and have a laugh. Hope your telly is still working! Thats all for now. Will send a parcel soon as pos. Love Mum x P.S. Wrap up warm and wear your vest.

Dear Michael - 22nd January 1969

Just a line to enquire how you are and trust you are keeping fine. Barbara and I have been queer but we are recovering now. She had a week off from work. Hope college is still "Fun" and not getting you down. This is a horrible time of the year but we do have the Spring to look forward to, and then we will no doubt see you Easter and that's not very far away is it? Hope your alarm clock is getting you out of bed in the morning. Life goes on the same here, nothing spectacular to report. Will send you a parcel the weekend so look for it, from a well wisher. Keep rolling those letters in, we like to hear from you even if we are no great shakes at writing ourselves. Enclosing a few stamps to encourage you. Bye for now. Love Mum x P.S. Look after yourself.

Dear Mike - January 1969

Seepy Doo.