Letter to Mrs Beckett from Hazel
Title
Letter to Mrs Beckett from Hazel
Description
Two versions of the same letter, the first original and the second transcribed. Letter thanks Mrs Beckett for writing and says she has recovered from illness. Writes how happy Geoff was to receive letters from his mother. Continues with comments about Geoff and his family. Thanks her for inviting her to stay with them during Geoff's leave and mentions alternative plans.
Creator
Language
Format
Four page handwritten letter and two page printed (transcribed) same letter
Conforms To
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SBeckettG622136v10046, SBeckettG622136v10047
Transcription
“Bryn – Hendre”
Llanbiblig Road,
Caernarvon.
North-Wales.
Monday. 7th.
Dear “Mrs Beckett,”
Firstly I wish to apologise for being so long in answering your very sweet letter to me. I am ever so sorry, but it was all due to my health. Secondly, I wish to thank you for being so good as to write to me. The letter was sweet and wonderful.
Please don’t ask me to forgive you for addressing me as Hazel. I much prefer you to call me by my christian name. I should feel most uncomfortable had you addressed me otherwise.
I am glad to say
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined].
that at long last I have completely recovered from my illness, thank you Mrs Beckett. I have started working again, and feel my old self again.
Geoff has often mentioned you to me. It was nice to hear him speak of you. Always, he would tell me when he received a letter from you, and I believe that that day was the happiest of all days from him. This is what he’d always say. “I had a letter from my “Mom” today.” “She’s wonderful you know.” He was so excited when going from here after passing his exams knowing that he would spend a few days in London with you.
Yes, Geoff seems very happy in his life and work. He loves being “up & doing,” and doing his best to rid the world of great horror. My parents
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined].
declare that never have they seen anyone so keen and enthusiastic in his work as Geoff is. “God Bless him and keep him safe, - always.”
I do hope you enjoyed, your eldest daughter Dorothy and her son David, weeks stay with you. And did you manage to see Geoff? I hope so. I had a very pleasant surprise a week last Thursday. I happened to be working late in the offices attached to the factory, instead of in the Castle. That meant that I could not be found by phone. Anyway when I got home, Geoff was there. You can imagine how happy & surprised I was. They had been forced to dock at Penrhos near us. He stayed the night with us, and none of us could do enough for him. All the family took an immiediate [sic]
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined].
liking to him and he has been invited to call any-time he likes. Thank you so very much “Mrs Beckett” for being so kind as to invite me to stay with you on Geoffs leave. I shall do my utmost to come as I know you must want to see Geoff as much as I do. As a matter of fact Geoff & I discussed the matter when he was here. He said, failing me coming down he would come here and bring you with him. Could you come? I should hat myself for taking Geoff away from you on his real decent leave. It wouldn’t be fair. I promise you, my parents & myself would make you comfortable, and that you are always welcome. My parents would agree to my staying with you and I am now quite strong for a long journey. Please excuse my writing & wording. I’m afraid it sounds rather welshy. Well – Goodbye for now & keep cheerful & happy – always. Do you mind if I say:- With Love, Hazel xxxx
[page break]
Monday 7th
“Bryn Hendre”
Llanbiblig Road.
Caernarvon
North Wales.
Dear “Mrs Beckett”,
[deleted] Finally [/deleted] [inserted] Firstly [/inserted] I wish to apologise for being so long in answering your very sweet letter to me. I am ever so sorry, but it was all due to my health. Secondly, I wish to thank you for being so good as to write to me. The letter was sweet and wonderful. Please don’t ask me to forgive you for addressing me as Hazel. I much prefer you to call me by my Christian name. I should feel most uncomfortable had you addressed me otherwise.
[page break]
I am glad to say that I have completely recovered from my illness. Thank you Mrs Beckett, I have started working again, and feel my old self again.
Geoff has often mentioned you to me. It was nice to hear him speak of you. Always, he would tell me when he received a letter from you and I believe that that day was the happiest of all days for him. This is what he would always say. “I had a letter from my Mom today. She’s wonderful you know.” He was so excited when going from here after passing his exams knowing he would spend a few days in London with you.
Yes, Geoff seems very happy in his life and work. He loves being “up and doing,” and doing his best to rid this world of great horror. My parents declare that never have they seen anyone so keen and enthusiastic in his work as \Geoff [sic] is, “God Bless him and keep him safe, - always.”
I do hope you enjoyed your eldest daughter Dorothy and her son David weeks stay with you. And did you manage to see Geoff? I hope so. I had a very pleasant surprise a week last Thursday. I happened to be working late in the offices attached to the factory, instead of in the Castle. That meant that I could not be found by phone. Anyway, when I got home, Geoff was there. You can imagine how happy and surprised I was. They had been forced to dock (land) at Penrhos, near us. He stayed the night with us, and none of us could do enough for him. All the family took an immediate liking to him and he has been invited to call anytime he likes.
Thank you so very much “Mrs Beckett” for being so kind as to invite me to stay with you on Geoff’s leave. I shall do my utmost to come, as I know you must want to see Geoff as much as I do. As a matter of fact, Geoff and I discussed the matter when he was here. He said, failing me coming down, he would come here and bring you with him. Could you come? I should hate myself for taking Geoff away from you on his real decent leave. It would’nt [sic] be fair.
I promise you, my parents and myself would make you comfortable, and that you are always welcome. My parents would agree to my staying with you and I am now quite strong for a long journey. Please excuse my writing and wording. I’m afraid it sounds rather ‘Welshy’. Well – goodbye for now and keep cheerful and happy – always. Do you mind if I say:- With Love
Hazel XXXX
Llanbiblig Road,
Caernarvon.
North-Wales.
Monday. 7th.
Dear “Mrs Beckett,”
Firstly I wish to apologise for being so long in answering your very sweet letter to me. I am ever so sorry, but it was all due to my health. Secondly, I wish to thank you for being so good as to write to me. The letter was sweet and wonderful.
Please don’t ask me to forgive you for addressing me as Hazel. I much prefer you to call me by my christian name. I should feel most uncomfortable had you addressed me otherwise.
I am glad to say
[page break]
[underlined] 2 [/underlined].
that at long last I have completely recovered from my illness, thank you Mrs Beckett. I have started working again, and feel my old self again.
Geoff has often mentioned you to me. It was nice to hear him speak of you. Always, he would tell me when he received a letter from you, and I believe that that day was the happiest of all days from him. This is what he’d always say. “I had a letter from my “Mom” today.” “She’s wonderful you know.” He was so excited when going from here after passing his exams knowing that he would spend a few days in London with you.
Yes, Geoff seems very happy in his life and work. He loves being “up & doing,” and doing his best to rid the world of great horror. My parents
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined].
declare that never have they seen anyone so keen and enthusiastic in his work as Geoff is. “God Bless him and keep him safe, - always.”
I do hope you enjoyed, your eldest daughter Dorothy and her son David, weeks stay with you. And did you manage to see Geoff? I hope so. I had a very pleasant surprise a week last Thursday. I happened to be working late in the offices attached to the factory, instead of in the Castle. That meant that I could not be found by phone. Anyway when I got home, Geoff was there. You can imagine how happy & surprised I was. They had been forced to dock at Penrhos near us. He stayed the night with us, and none of us could do enough for him. All the family took an immiediate [sic]
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined].
liking to him and he has been invited to call any-time he likes. Thank you so very much “Mrs Beckett” for being so kind as to invite me to stay with you on Geoffs leave. I shall do my utmost to come as I know you must want to see Geoff as much as I do. As a matter of fact Geoff & I discussed the matter when he was here. He said, failing me coming down he would come here and bring you with him. Could you come? I should hat myself for taking Geoff away from you on his real decent leave. It wouldn’t be fair. I promise you, my parents & myself would make you comfortable, and that you are always welcome. My parents would agree to my staying with you and I am now quite strong for a long journey. Please excuse my writing & wording. I’m afraid it sounds rather welshy. Well – Goodbye for now & keep cheerful & happy – always. Do you mind if I say:- With Love, Hazel xxxx
[page break]
Monday 7th
“Bryn Hendre”
Llanbiblig Road.
Caernarvon
North Wales.
Dear “Mrs Beckett”,
[deleted] Finally [/deleted] [inserted] Firstly [/inserted] I wish to apologise for being so long in answering your very sweet letter to me. I am ever so sorry, but it was all due to my health. Secondly, I wish to thank you for being so good as to write to me. The letter was sweet and wonderful. Please don’t ask me to forgive you for addressing me as Hazel. I much prefer you to call me by my Christian name. I should feel most uncomfortable had you addressed me otherwise.
[page break]
I am glad to say that I have completely recovered from my illness. Thank you Mrs Beckett, I have started working again, and feel my old self again.
Geoff has often mentioned you to me. It was nice to hear him speak of you. Always, he would tell me when he received a letter from you and I believe that that day was the happiest of all days for him. This is what he would always say. “I had a letter from my Mom today. She’s wonderful you know.” He was so excited when going from here after passing his exams knowing he would spend a few days in London with you.
Yes, Geoff seems very happy in his life and work. He loves being “up and doing,” and doing his best to rid this world of great horror. My parents declare that never have they seen anyone so keen and enthusiastic in his work as \Geoff [sic] is, “God Bless him and keep him safe, - always.”
I do hope you enjoyed your eldest daughter Dorothy and her son David weeks stay with you. And did you manage to see Geoff? I hope so. I had a very pleasant surprise a week last Thursday. I happened to be working late in the offices attached to the factory, instead of in the Castle. That meant that I could not be found by phone. Anyway, when I got home, Geoff was there. You can imagine how happy and surprised I was. They had been forced to dock (land) at Penrhos, near us. He stayed the night with us, and none of us could do enough for him. All the family took an immediate liking to him and he has been invited to call anytime he likes.
Thank you so very much “Mrs Beckett” for being so kind as to invite me to stay with you on Geoff’s leave. I shall do my utmost to come, as I know you must want to see Geoff as much as I do. As a matter of fact, Geoff and I discussed the matter when he was here. He said, failing me coming down, he would come here and bring you with him. Could you come? I should hate myself for taking Geoff away from you on his real decent leave. It would’nt [sic] be fair.
I promise you, my parents and myself would make you comfortable, and that you are always welcome. My parents would agree to my staying with you and I am now quite strong for a long journey. Please excuse my writing and wording. I’m afraid it sounds rather ‘Welshy’. Well – goodbye for now and keep cheerful and happy – always. Do you mind if I say:- With Love
Hazel XXXX
Collection
Citation
Hazel Salisbury, “Letter to Mrs Beckett from Hazel,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed September 11, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/41291.