Letter from Billy Akrill to his father

Letter from Billy Akrill to his father

Writes of the weather, a visit to Fillingham Castle, acquaintances, new kittens, geese laying and family members. Includes a number of drawings of people, places and animals.

1935-06-01

1935-06-02

Eight page illustrated handwritten letter

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Potter Hill [drawing]
Collingham
Newark Notts.
Sat. 1 June [drawing]
Dear Pop, [drawing]
Oh watter toim we ed a gittin to de buss [drawing] We ran down de hill, [drawing] bumped into Mish-ta Ned Rushtun at de Stooan Bow [drawing], Flew straight past him [drawing] & arrived at de buss stayshun where we met Arntee Nellee [drawing] loaded with parcels which were flung at us. [drawing] Just in time for de buss [drawing]
And so home again [drawing] Mother & auntie about fagged out [drawing]. amen. [drawing]
[drawing] Geoff & a young lady outside hospital
[drawing] Past the Traffic lights
[drawing] the kittens at play
[page break]
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[underlined] Sunday. [/underlined] June 2nd.
Ah, a lovely rain. [drawing] Grand! [drawing] It started about 1/2 past eight & has been raining hard ever since [drawing] The geese & ducks say its grand [drawing] & so does everybody else [drawing]
Oh dear its stopped. [drawing] But it looks like starting again [drawing] THIS VACANT SPACE FOR SALE 1/- per day.
Last Wednesday Lucy & I looked round the Castle (Fillingham) [drawing] & the gardens [drawing]
Guiness for Strength
We had rather a hurried peep round [drawing] Looked through the top [drawing] & would have liked to have walked on the roof [drawing] but had no time
[page break]
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[drawing] There were two people buying plants [drawings] from Ann Johnson [drawing] who knew you were in hospital. [drawings] He says he used to play football against Collingham & knew it ever so well
SUPPORT GENEROUSLY KING GEORGE’S JUBILEE TRUS AND SMOKE PLAYERS’ [drawing]
[drawing] Another cletch of kittens. Whiskers’s [drawing] She’s got – or had – 5 [drawings] three jet black & two black & white. They were big ones. TAKE “HIKITS” AND KEEP FIT. 6d PER TIN.
I’ve caugh [sic] a lot of sparrows lately [drawing] & given them [drawing] to the kittens. The black one of Midge’s (which is mothered by Felix) is a little monkey for them [drawing] He’s eaten sparrows which were as big as himself [drawing]. Lucy & mother have named
[page break]
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him “Toots” [drawing] he has such staring eyes & lives in the granary [drawing]
“Bubbles” Ginger’s Black & White kitten is also a rascal for sparrows [drawing] Talk about “sweem”! “Jessie” Ginger’s toitorshell [sic] kitten doesn’t care for sparrows at all [drawing] but is always come off top in the fights. [drawing] Its such fun to see them playing [drawing]
[drawing] The kittens have always dirty noses & all Ginger’s washing can’t keep them clean.
I tried to draw Jessie but I couldn’t get the mischievous expression on her face
[page break]
5
Charlie [drawing] has become very friendly with his children [drawing] & slept with them last night. The Grey goose is still laying [drawing] Mrs White comes off a week on Monday. I shall test them tomorrow [drawings] Mother has given Auntie all the goose eggs we’re getting now. She’s got 7. I’ve lost count of the gibs now. [drawing] About 60. I think [drawing] 20 more eek! & still more to come [drawing] I keep the big ones out of the orchard [drawing] by nailing backing round the fences. Ive [sic] a variety of drinking vessels in the stock-yard where they go for water[drawing]
[page break]
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I had a gosling which wasn’t feeling too grand so I went to the drinking place & took him away and – [drawing] Charles & Ann Grey were soon after me. But Charlie got “what for” [drawing]
[drawings]
ADEU
[underlined] Billy [/underlined]
Remember me to Nurse Wright & Doug.
[page break]
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[underlined] LATEST NEWS. [/underlined]
THINGS I’VE FORGOTTEN.
Uncle Jack, Ernest & Peter have come [drawing] Ernest has brought 5 gals of oil for £1 .. 7s [drawing] At Challand’s it would cost £2. [drawing] Everybody’s making a fuss of Peter. He can say lots of words & knows the different animals “Moo” for cows, “Maa” for sheep, & cockaal for hens. [drawing] he’s as brown as a bilberry. Walter Wells & a college [sic] He came to see Harry [drawing] this afternoon. [drawing]
I’ve two old hens out of the year sitting away [drawing] 1 on 17 & 1 on 16.
[page break]
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Mother sends love & hasn’t time to write “hopes your [sic] getting on O.K.
Cheerio!
[underlined] Billy [/underlined]
P.S. We’re just having a thunder shower. ‘Bess & Peg are terrified & have come in the house. Peter’s been amusing us during tea.
I don’t suppose Harry’ll get this in tonight
Toodle pip
B
[drawing]
P.P.S. Nora (Saxby) always asks me how you are she’s very concerned about you
Cheerie by B
P.P.P.S. Sun’s coming out.
Toodle oo B
P.P.P.P.S. If you can get any “Kings & Queens” out of Player’s cigarettes Please save me them. Good Bye Billy