Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes about domestic news and his wife's trip to London and Cambridge.

1943

Five handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM431201

Cork

Wednesday.

Dearest,

I shouldn’t have written to you tonight, only I got your letter today, & want to reply to it. All the aircraft are off on the first detail now, so I’ve nothing to do until they come back.

I’m surprised that my first letter took so long to arrive. Mine seem to be taking longer than yours do, because I’ve had two letters & [inserted] two [/inserted] parcels since Saturday.

I’m sorry about Iltyd’s family. He must have had his hands full, I should think. My people have escaped the flu O.K., except that Alice’s crowd had a dose when I went to that funeral.

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I’m glad the curtain material has arrived. I’m longing for the time when I can see it in our own house, aren’t you? If your Mother thinks it’s too good for curtains, what [underlined] should [/underlined] it be used for?

I’m glad you like Damon Runyon. I think his stories are wizard, & the wise cracks even better.

I hope you get your permit from the Labour Exchange. I shall feel very indignant if they don’t give you one.

The Norfolk Hotel is in Surrey St., Strand (I think W.C.2.) Charing Cross is the most

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convenient Underground Station, but that’s about half a mile away. Your best plan is to get a taxi from Paddington. Actually, I should think it would be just as easy to take a taxi from Paddington to Liverpool St. or Kings X (I forgot which) and spend the night in Cambridge. You would then have no journey to tire you out, & would be fresh for your interview. The University Arms is the pukka hotel in Cambridge, and since your expenses will be paid I don’t see why you shouldn’t use it. When I see Percy, however, I’ll ask him

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if he knows any other names.

Don’t forget, while you’re in Cambridge, that my friend Ian Ramsey is Chaplain of Christs College. One of his best qualities is that he is extraordinarily willing & obliging & provided he is not away for the Christmas vac. Will do absolutely anything he can & help you (He’s not the Arthur Rigby type at all!). If you do want anything, don’t hesitate to call on him. I’ll write to him in advance if I know you are going.

Tomorrow I’ll look out all the trains, acting on the

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assumption that you are going to catch the 9.30 from Aber.

Although I’ve written all this about Cambridge, I’m not building on it any more than you are. I just want to help as much as I can, even though I’m not with you, and of course, I do hope that you’ll get the job, for your sake.

N.B. I’m rather glad that there’s something you want to say & have forgotten. It makes me hope that I shall get another letter soon.

All my love,

Harold.