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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton
England
To
Mr John Derbyshire
126, Stevens Avenue
Valhalla
New York 10595
U.S.A.
15th, July 1977.
My dear son,
as always it was lovely to hear your dear voice once again, and to know all is well with you,
also to speak to Louise, I am really looking forward to meeting her and
Jeremy.[1] I hope he won't be bored here, in this quiet little
place. I hope you can all come
before the summer is over then I thought we could take Lou and Jeremy to some of our pretty little villages which are
lovely at the moment. My garden
is a bit of a wilderness but lovely with roses and all kinds of summer flowers I'm trying to grow a few tomotoes
but they don't look too happy
just now! Yesterday my club went to Clacton for the day, it was very
nice, we went into the
Dolphinarium and saw all the wonderful tricks they do, weather is lousy, we've had about 7 to 10 days —
really hot days, most
disappointing.
Judy and family are away from August 30th to 13th. If I have'nt heard from you by then I shall go and
have a week with Mary and Fred at
Snettisham. Do
tell Jay and Mary I am sorry
I shall not see them married,
but my thoughts will be with you all and I do wish them every happiness. Who knows I may be able to visit in the not
too distant future, perhaps to
my son's wedding!! that would give me joy. Last Thursday we had a very sad thing happen at my club, our Chairman
collapsed and died instantly. I gave
him the kiss of life and heart massage while waiting for the ambulance but it was useless a very nice man will be very
much missed.
I was delighted to see Peter Starmer, it was nice of
him, we talked of old times when you were children and had a laugh, he so wants to see you when you come, It is 4
years since you went to U.SA.
I feel sad when I think about it. So much has happened in the family. I have
Marcus for the day
ocassionly when Phil has a job on and Tessa most weekends.
Now darling, lets not be coy about sleeping arrangements when you come, do you and Lou want to have
my bed, Jeremy in
your old room and I can either sleep
at
Auntie Cis's or on the settee here, it is very comfortable or I
can borrow a camp bed for the
boy put your bed in Dads room Lou
can have my bed and I on the
settee, It is entirely up to you. Tess is dying to take you all swimming but if you leave it too late the outdoor pools
will be closed. Judy says
don't you dare come while she is away. She is now on 6 weeks holiday. You know she is doing a Dip. Ed. at the Open
University and will be doing her
final year starting in October. The baby is just beautiful and Dad adores him, but we do have to be very careful in
front of Tess, she is so easily
hurt if she thinks she is being left in the background She has done very well at school and has a very good
report, she starts at a new
comprehensive school in September at Weston Favell I do hope it
doesn't change her too much, she
is a sweet girl and so gentle. She is longing for you to come, as we all are.
I told you I had a letter from Ginny, she got her
money back from Church's O.K. said she had hoped to see you at Jay's
wedding but they would not be
able to attend now as they had Tom's sister staying with them and they were taking her down to Florida for a holiday.
By the way love, how long
shall you be able to stay? Don't take too much notice of Dads comments you know how he is, but he just thinks you are
the cats whiskers he and Judy
are great together now. My goodness, the things he's said to her and about her before now, have nearly caused me to
shoot him!!
We, that is Tess and I have a superb doll's house here so if you go into White Plains before you come
home you could bring her a little piece of furniture or little mats, I must be in my second childhood!
Well, my darling, do you remember this time last year we were in Washington, how wonderful that was.
I shall never forget it. Do write love I look for a letter every day, and so disapointed as the weeks go by. Come soon,
I feel sure Phil will fetch
you from the air port if they are not away. Take care my love, always thinking of you and loving you. It's cold and
dreary today. What's this
youv'e been doing to the electricity at Westchester putting all the lights out in New York,[2]
did it affect you?
All for now dear love to Louse and all who remember
As always
Mother .
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