Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 36. Mentions latest letter from her and is pleased that some of his missing letters to her have turned up. Writes of arrival of music examination papers, food parcel from Switzerland and tobacco/cigarettes. Catches up with domestic matters and news of family/friends.

1943-05-14

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430515

36
14th May 1943.

Darling Ursula: Your letter No. 53 - 20th March – came today. I was so glad to hear that some of my older letters had got through. Please don’t bother sending any more books. I have plenty to read & would much prefer you to keep all your cash for yourself or for us later on. Our musical exam papers have arrived & we shall sit them in about a month’s time – I am taking Grammar of Music & two papers on elimentary [sic]harmony – the papers are from the London Schools of Music. I hope you manage to get me a watch I really find the absence of one a great handicap. Mr food parcel from Switzerland is her – please give the donors my very warmest thanks – I don’t know who they are. Congratulations on your earnings savings. I still don’t know what you do nor where, when or how often. Please, please tell me. I loved your details of Frances’ personality. I wish I could share her with you. Very interested to hear of your activities with Mrs Boyd – may the idea prosper, Delighted to hear about Olive’s husband please offer my felicitations. I had a tobacco parcel from Woods today (AST[?]) Ill[sic] send my thanks separately. I also had 150 cigarettes from Rothmans in which was a note saying that the cigs were a gift from the company & that my name had been supplied by a customer named Miss Frances Valentine. While I deeply appreciate the kindness of this lady in proferring [sic] my named[?] I am surprised that a daughter of mine should become a customer of a tobacconist at such a tender age – they say that smoking hinders growth too. Somehow I suspect she heavily disguised handwriting to be the penmanship of Aunty Bar – anyway I’m grateful for the gift. I wonder if if[sic] I’ll get a similar sort of gift from a firm of gin manufacturers thus proving how you have let Frances go to the dogs so soon. My numbering system may occasionally be similar to yours. Have had some lovely weather this week – am still tasteless though. I think I was on leave with you a year ago tonight.
All my love dearest
John

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[reverse of letter]
GEPRUFT 46

MRS U.M. VALENTINE
LIDO
TENTERDEN GROVE
HENDON
LONDON NW4
ENGLAND

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