Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Writes she is leaving to spend 3 or 4 weeks with her parents in Devon. Describes a house she will possibly buy in Chalfont St Giles.

1943-09-02

Two-sided handwritten letter card

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EValentineUMValentineJRM430902

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[inserted] A 5/10 1/10 [/inserted]
DATE 2nd September
My Darling Johnnie,
Tomorrow Frances & I leave here to go down & stay with my people in Devon for 3 or 4 weeks – we certainly are having the summer holiday which you so earnestly advocated. I only wish [underlined] you [/underlined] could have a holiday too! Meanwhile the househunting has again reached a crisis. In my last letter I told you of the 3-bedroomed house in Chalfont St Giles which I went to see last [deleted] month [/deleted] [inserted] week [/inserted]. They were asking £1650 for it & I told the agent I couldn’t consider more than £1500. Whereupon much to my surprise they wired to say that the owner would accept £1500. I expect even that seems a lot to you for a fairly ordinary 3-bedroomed villa, but considering that Lido went for over £2100 you can see how things have gone up. It has quite a nice garden garage, separate wash-house, coal store & wc & of course electricity & mains water etc. I [indecipherable word] admit that it isn’t my ideal home, but I don’t think we have any chance of getting that within our price limits, specially since renting is out of the question. How I wish it were possible to rent, I’d much rather! The good points of this house (called “Felmersham”, Bottrell’s Lane, Chalfont St Giles) are [circled 1] its position on a high ridge with open country & rolling woodlands round about, not many houses past this to the open fields [circled 2] It is easy & convenient
[page break]
for me to run house & garden single-handed. [circled 3] It is the type of house we should have no difficulty in selling again when we can fly higher. [circled 4] It is within easy reach of London, 35 minutes from Gerrards Cross which is reached by bus (or cycle). In short I am negotiating to buy it, & can only hope & pray that you will approve. I shall be able to pay the building Society etc out of my present funds. Many thanks 2 cards 25, 29 June. All my love, dearest Ursula.
[stamp GEPRUFT 32]
[postage stamp]
RANK & NAME: Sergeant John RM. VALENTINE
[stamp PASSED P.W. 6013]
PRISONER OF WAR No.: 450
CAMP NAME & No.: STALAG LUFT VI (via Stalag Luft III)
COUNTRY: GERMANY
FROM Mrs Valentine
Gable End,
Priors Marston
Rugby.