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Transcription of Page
October 27th 1992
Dear John,
It's a lousy day, wet cold & windy,
leaves falling rapidly,
dark at 5 o'clock, winter really draws on, however, I think it's a day nearer your baby's birth, & Granny Knowles
used to say,
"It's a day nearer Spring," as good a way of meeting Winter as any.
I've thought of some things
I'd forgotten,
such as places of my growing up years like "Shoal Hill" a well known beauty spot. "Pottle Pool"
where the boys learnt to
swim "Pye Green" where Auntie Gladys father
owned & farmed much land. Old
"Sam Blewitt" was reputed to be the wealthiest landowner on the "Chase" among other things, he
supplied all the collieries with
hay & straw for the little pit ponies. Mrs Blewitt was very good to our family, we never went short of
milk, butter, eggs meat &
fruit, I loved the dairy & the orchard, though the cows & huge shire horses scared me to death. Before Bill
& Gladys married my Dad used
to go poaching on Sam's land & I understand Old Sam had threatened to shoot Dad if he ever caught him!! To me the
farmhouse was a very grand
place, with a huge kitchen, & a maid