Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Terry Ford writes to his parents about his social life.

1942-09-11

Four handwritten sheets

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EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M420911-0001,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M420911-0002,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M420911-0003,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-M420911-0004

[RAF Crest]
1585520 LAC Ford T. A.
Hut 21, “J” Flight,
2 Sqdn., RAF.,
Heaton Park,
Manchester.
11-9-42.
Dear Mum, Dad, & Moira,
Just a few lines to say what is happening here.
Some pilot flights have been posted, but not us yet, & we still, at the moment, do not know when we shall be. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be giving us any 48 hour leaves as they are afraid postings might come through while we are away.
John Fisher has filled in a form applying for training as a flying-boat pilot. This would certainly be useful after the war, but it is a very long training, & rather a boring job, so I don’t think I shall bother. I have really no particular
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desires. Anyway, it is not certain That john will get his training on flying boats, although they had been asking for volunteers before we arrived.
I went to John’s house for the day on Sunday last, & am going with him & his people to see the D’oyly Carte Opera to-night. We went to a very good dance on Monday, & are probably going again to-morrow night, so we have been having quite a good time lately, especially as the weather is very nice now.
I have to do my own washing now, as I can’t risk sending it home in case we get posted. Anyway I’m making quite a good job of it.
How is Yvonne getting on with the farming? I hope she likes it.
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has at last become fine, & it is much more pleasant. During the day, we have various lectures etc, but it is more to pass the time than anything else.
I hope Yvonne gets the job at the Nursery, as it will be good practice for her.
What exactly is the Roll of Honour, is it the Scouts or the Church. If its the church they can jolly well take it off again. The old vicar only puts the names on for the enjoyment of putting them in red when they get bumped off.
The show we went to was awful, & everyone left about 1/2 time, as it wasn’t worth staying for. It was put on by the RAF
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stationed in the park, & the only thing worth listening to was the remarks of the chaps in the audience.
Gran & Grampie must certainly have wanted to go to Belle Vue very badly to go for a day, especially in those days. I hope they enjoyed it.
We should be hearing this week about our classification, so I will write you & also tell you if I am likely to get a leave on Friday, but I shan’t know definately [sic] until Friday morning.
We are thinking of taking dancing lessons here, as there is not a terrific lot to do without spending loads of money, so I hope to become more proficient.
We are all getting rather browned off here, waiting, & waiting & we had to do road sweeping this afternoon, as there is an inspection to-morrow, which is a bind.
Cheerioh, [sic] until Friday, I hope.
love, Terry