大象传媒

161 Revidge Road,
Blackburn, Lancs.

7th May 1941

My dearest Annie,

Life has been very hectic in this part of the country lately. 1000 evacuees from London - all mothers with babies - arrived in Blackburn a week past on Saturday and 101 of them slept all night in the club. Beds, feeding bottles, blankets, food etc. were all sent in and Florence and her helpers were up all night looking after the babies to let the poor mothers have a rest after being bombed out of their homes. Some had 2 or 3 kiddies. Homes were found for all of them by tea-time on Sunday and we have a mother and baby girl of 9 months here. We have given her the room downstairs that I have been using and I have gone upstairs again. Everybody must do their best to help, as these people have lost their homes and have had to leave their husbands and other relatives and make their homes among strangers in a strange town. It isn鈥檛 even as if we could guarantee them safety either, as we have had enemy planes over every night since they arrived and the gun fire was very loud and heavy and all the doors and windows shook and it was impossible to sleep. We don鈥檛 often have so many nights running and so far have not had bombs dropped, and now that so many people have sought refuge here, I hope this good luck will hold.

On Monday we are going to Scotland for our Easter holiday. A bit late but perhaps the weather will be a little warmer. It has been very cold and everything is later than usual. We have added another hour to our summer time so it will hardly be dark at all in the north.

I hope these black clouds darkening all our lives will soon roll by and we will once again live normal lives, each with family life close knit together.
.

It is two days since I started this letter! Yesterday was a very busy day and I never had a minute to write. In the afternoon I went to Florence鈥檚 annual meeting which passed off very well. Then I came home and just had time to make tea for Mrs Heath and myself before going to a play at the Grammar School - 鈥�100 Years Old鈥� - an excellent play and very well done. It was difficult to believe that elderly ladies鈥� parts could be so well portrayed by school boys. I recognised an old black satin and lace evening frock of mine worn by one of them. You will notice my interests are still of a varied type! After the play I came home to prepare supper for Florence and Miss Whyte - the speaker of the afternoon who was to spend the night with us.

This is Florence鈥檚 day off but we are not going out till the evening. Then we go to a play reading. I think I told you that Florence and I belong to a circle and once a month we meet in a house - each taking it in turn - and read a play. We had them last month and 14 attended. The members each contribute something to eat and the hostess for the evening only provides the tea and coffee and we have a break for refreshments at a suitable point. It is a jolly and instructive method of passing an evening and we forget about the war for a few hours.

We are looking forward to our holiday in Scotland starting on Monday morning. Mrs Heath will be left alone with baby while we are away but that can鈥檛 be helped. I told her she could ask someone to come and stay but her mother (in London) could not come so far and leave the father alone and most young folk are too busy nowadays. She says she won鈥檛 be nervous by herself. Patricia - the baby - is a wee mite of a thing and was very frightened and upset to begin with but is much happier now and very bright. She just needs quiet and feeding up. She was blown right out of her cot on to a table while at the same time her mother was blown out of the house. What an ordeal. However, they are both looking much better and will soon recover their usual health.

I will write again when we are in Scotland (I hope) as I will have nothing to do there but rest. Florence will go part of the time to Comrie but I don鈥檛 think I will bother.

I will have to stop now as I want to bake a gingerbread to take with us and also some oatcakes which have become too dear to buy!

Warmest love to you all from Florence and Mother.

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