Letter from Peggy to Geoff Beckett

Letter from Peggy to Geoff Beckett

Sad footnote - 1943

Includes envelopes and 5 page letter from Peggy not knowing he had been killed, asking after Geoffrey Beckett and passing news of friends and acquaintances. Writes a little about Stamford and mentioning Wittering.

1943-11-01

Five page handwritten letter and envelope

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[inserted] A SAD FOOTNOTE
A 1943 LETTER FROM A GIRL GEOFF BECKETT KNEW WHILE STATIONED AT RAF WITTERING . . .
[/inserted]

[postage stamp and postmark]

622136 Sgt G. Beckett,
c/o 48 Ashbury Drive,
Norton
Sheffield.

Please forward.

[page break]

From:- Miss. P. Perfett,
19, Gloucester Road,
Stamford,
Lincs.

[page break]

19, Gloucester Rd
Stamford,
Lincs
1-11-43.

Dear Geoff,

I expect you will be surprised to hear from me after such a long time but I often wonder how you are getting on these days so I thought I'd write to you. I think it was last Christmas-time when you wrote and wished me a marry Chrismas so I think its my turn this year to write to you.

Well Geoff, Im afraid I don't know where on earth you are stationed now, so I shall send this letter to your home address and hope that it will be forwarded on to you.

How is life treating you these days?

[page break]

2/

I think its just about two years since you were at Wittering, or should I say left Wittering although it doesn't seem so long as that. H

How is Peter getting on now. The last I heard was that he was training to be an observer [inserted] in Canada [/inserted] but I expect he is back in England now, isn't he? We all had some very happy times together did'nt we Geoff?

Did you know that Mary is out of the Waaf now. She is keeping house for her dad and brother. Her mother died about 6 months ago, after a very long illness and Mary came out the Waaf soon after. She has just started back at B & Co again on part-time work in the telephone exchange. I'm still on the same job too,

[page break]

3/

I often see the McCarthy girl and often Mary & I would like to ask her if she knows how you are but she looks at us so disdainfully that neither I, or Mary with all her cheek, have ever plucked up the courage to.

You would’nt find Stamford altered a great deal since you were here. By the way Geoff have you ever been here lately. There are'nt many Raf left at Witt now, it seems to be over run with Yanks and now and again you see a few sailors (I hope I'm not giving away vital information)

Now and again we go down to the dance at Blackstones on

[page break]

4

Friday nights but now were getting older(!) they don't seem to bother me so much. Let me see now, you must be nearly 23, getting old Geoff!

Actually I don't really know whether I'm writing to a married man or not now, because I think you said you were engaged the last time you wrote. Anyway I have’nt put anything bad in this letter have I?

I dont think you would recognize either Mary or I now, at least I should say you might recognize us but I feel much older and sensible [inserted] now [/inserted] than in the days when we knew you before. Remember the number of times we

[page break]

5

used to ring you up when you were on duty – It makes me blush to think of it!

Well, Geoff, I think I'll close now and if you can find the time to drop me a line I should very much like to hear from you.

Best wishes,

Peggy.