England - St Ives, Cornwall - 14.2.1958.

 St Ives, Cornwall. England - 14.2.1958.
Launching the Lifeboat at St Ives.

Dear Timmy,

     The lifeboat is only having a practice, so that is why you don't see the crew in their yellow oilskins and life jackets.  That is the pier I see from my window.  When the tide goes out all the boats look so silly just perched up on the sand.

    Lots of love, G.A.N.

Seagull House, St Ives, Cornwall. England - 14.2.1958.
Two of the cats of St Ives. Cornwall.

Dear Merry,

     I've told you before about all the cats there are in St Ives, so thought you'd like to have a picture of two of them.  I'm not too sure whether they are going to kiss or bite each other.

     Lots of love, Nan

England - St Ives, Cornwall - 10.11.1957

Seagull House,  The Wharf, St Ives.  Cornwall. England. 10.11.1957.

Dear Pen,

     Thank you for your letters, which I would have answered before if I hadn't been too busy having flu, and looking after Susy having flu, and moving from London to here.  I like being in my flat very much.  Did you see the picture of it that I sent to Mama?  I went to visit some friends yesterday and when I tried to walk home along the road near the sea I couldn't because the waves were breaking over it like mad.  So I had to take the one higher up and even then I got spray on my face.

     How is Artillery Lass? * I hope her leg has recovered.  Susy is looking forward to going to school in Italy next year because she will be able to have riding lessons.  This term, in Switzerland, she is to learn ski-ing I hope she has a bit of sense and doesn't break her bones. I suppose you have started swimming by now.  Susy will be green with envy.  She did go swimming in the lake near her school but not often enough to please her.

      It is now half past ten, Sunday night, here in Cornwall, at Willoughby, it is half past eight, Monday morning, and I suppose you have already left for school.  Funny isn't it?  I must leave for bed, so lots of love, Nan,

* Artillery Lass was a foal born to Gindy, at the Army Quarters we were living in at the time.

Below... The Wharf, St Ives from Google Maps today.

England - Lands End, Cornwall - 6.9.1957

Dear Pen,

     I got the cards mixed, this is Tim's the one I sent Tim is yours.  Sorry.  Everything is First and Last here, a church, a hotel, a cafe and even a cat!!

     Lots of love, Nan

Dear Merry,

     I bought these cards at the house on the picture.  Tell Mummy, please, that I've changed my mind again and think i will now live in Cornwall.  I think I told her last time that I was going to live in France!

     Lots of love, Nan


Below... Lands End from Google Maps today.

England - St Ives, Cornwall - 2.9.1957

Garrack Hotel, St Ives. England - 2.9.1957

Dear Pennie,

     There are just billions of gulls here.   They sit on the chimneys of the hotel and squawk like mad.  I am going to see King Arthur's Castle tomorrow, at a place called Tintagel.  At least the ruins of his castle.

  Lots of love, Nan

 Garrack Hotel, St Ives. Cornwall.  2.9.1957

Dear Timmy,

     Do you think you could write to Uncle Ed?  He is in Gloucester House having an operation, poor boy.  The old horse doesn't seem to mind going into the sea, does he?  I have sent birthday presents to you and kids by sea.

     Lots of love, G.A.N.

Garrack Hotel, St Ives. Cornwall.  2.9.1957

Dear Merry,

     I have the tiniest little bed-room you ever did see, but it has a wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean, a lighthouse and lots and lots of rocks.  During the night a great big pussy jumped on the window from the roof but she didn't stay for long.
  
     Lots of love, Nan

England - Wells, Somerset - 24.6.1957

 An old custom at the Bishop's Palace Wells - The swans ringing for their food.

Salamander Cafe, Bath. England - 24.6.1957

Dear Pen,

     These swans are just a little way from our hotel at Wells.  Coming to bath today we passed through towns with the oddest names such as Stoke-under-Ham, Midsomer-Norton, Straton-on-Foss and Peasedown-St John and Combe Hay.

     Lots of love, Nan

' Jack Blandiver' Wells Cathedral.

Salamander Cafe, Bath. England - 24.6.1957

Dear Timmy,

     We are really staying at Wells, where the man in thepicture strikes the hours.  We were driven to Bath for the day we have come here for coffee and because it's raining.  We visited Roman Baths and drank mineral water which tasted horrid.

     Lots of love G.A.N

The Swans on the Palace Moat Wells, ringing a bell for their daily food.

Dear Merry,

      The swans were so greedy, pulling the bell rope all the day, that now the rope is only let down to where they can reach it twice a day.   They have learnt which are the times to swim that part of the moat.

     Lots of love, Nan

Below:  From Google Maps showing the trip from Wells to Bath through towns called Midsomer Norton, Peasdown St John and Combe Hay.

England - Wells, Somerset - 21.6.1957

The China Room, Woburn Abbey.

Wells, Somerset. England - 21.6.1957

Dear Pennie,

     We visited Woburn Abbey today.  It is the place belonging to the Duke of Bedford and is very lovely.  The glass-ware you can see I liked very much.  We saw a huge 4 - poster bed Charles 1st slept in, hundreds of years later Queen Victoria slept in it when she used to stay at the Abbey.  I went to the races yesterday at Ascot and I won some money.  The Queen's horse came first and I won quite a lot on it.  I saw the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexander and the Queen Mother.  I also saw Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Todd.'

    Lots of love, Nan

Landseer's - 'Deer in Woburn Park', Woburn Abbey.

Wells, Somerset. England - 21.6.1957

Dear Merry,

     I seem to be sending you a lot of deer cards, don't I?  I saw lots of the great great grandchildren of these deer today and I drove through the same park.  I also saw some little ponies kids could ride on and a Llama they could ride on too.  We are going to a place called Wells tomorrow.  Ask Pen to find it on the map of England.

     Lots of love, Nan

England - London - 19.6.1957

London, England - 19.6.1957

Dear Merry Rodd,

     This is a special card for you because Mama tells me you have been sick.  You are a dope, aren't you.  We met the biggest pigs in Cornwall, I have ever seen.  They were pink and really and truly as big as Bambi was.  When I called 'pig, pig' to them they just turned up their noses at me but when a Cornish man squeaked a funny squeak they all came running like billy-oh.  I also made friends with lots of calves, three different sorts of dogs and two cats.  We came home today in a train called 'King Richard 111'  all the trains here have very tasty names.  I hope I will see the Queen tomorros when I go to the races.  I will tell you all about it if I do.  Hurry up and get well.

     Lots of love, Nan

Read all about the 'King' steam trains HERE.

England - Penzance, Cornwall - 18.6.1957

Mousehole, nr Penzance, Cornwall. England - 18.6.1957

Dear Pennie,

     We are surrounded by fishing boats and seagulls and of course , sea.  We are having scones and honey and Cornish Cream for afternoon tea.

     Lots of love, Nan

Mousehole, near Penzance, Cornwall.  England - 18.6.1957

Dear Timmy,

     We are sitting in the 'Lobster Pot', just about to have afternoon tea, so haven't got time to write more.

     Lots of love G.A.N.

Mousehole, near Penzance, Cornwall. England - 18-6-1957

Dear Merry,

     Haven't got time to tell you any news, except that it is low tide here and all the seagulls are making a terrible noise as they dig for their tea in the sand.

     Lots of love, Nan

Below:  Mousehole from Google Maps today.

England - Falmouth, Cornwall - 15.6.1957

 Gyllyngdene Hotel, Falmouth, Cornwall. England - 15.6.1957

Dear Pennie,

     This is a beautiful place.  I can see the English Channel from my window.  We went to St Ives yesterday and I think I am going to have a flat there.  There are fine beaches, with the first real sand we have seen since we left Australia.  Hurry up and write to me.
 
     Lots of love, Nan

Gyllyngdene Hotel, Falmouth, Cornwell. England - 15.6.1957.

Dear Timmy,

      We haven't had any of these to eat yet, but we have eaten Cornish ice cream, which is made from butter and is really delicious.  We had a long car drive yesterday and stopped to look at the Atlantic Ocean at a place called Hills Mouth.  We talked to a sea-gull with one leg, poor bird.  The gulls are very much bigger than most of our Australian ones.  If we go to Mousehole on Tuesday I will sent more cards from there.

     Lots of love G.A.N.

Gyllyngdene Hotel, Falmouth, Cornwall. England - 15.6.1957

Dear Merry,

     I used to know this prayer when I was a little girl like you, We are going for a bus trip tomorrow to a place called The Lizard.  Look on the map and see if you can find it.  Ask Mummy to tell you the rythme about - St Ives.  We went there yesterday and saw almost millions of cats.  They play on the beach, which seems a funny thing for cats to do.

     Love from, Nan

England - London - 5.6.1957

 Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Place and Guards, London --- This magnificent memorial to the late Queen Victoria stands in front of Buckingham Palace which makes a fitting background to the sculpture.

Dear Pennie,

     The palace is where the Queen lives when she is in London.  She must have been at home when this picture was taken, because you can see the Royal Standard flying.

      My address is now :-  c/o Miss Pitcairn, 5 Regents Park Road, Gloucester Gate. NW1.  I have a lovely big room a gas ring and a gas fire, so I will be very comfortable.  I am saving sixpences for the gas.

     Lots of love, Nan

From Google Maps, 5 Regents Park Road, London.

  

 Piccadilly Circus, London --- Piccadilly Circus is one of London's busiest centres and is at the junction of several important streets.  The Statue of Eros is seen in the centre of the picture.

Dear Timmy,

     This is a most awful place to try to cross the street!  I am frightened every time I have to do it.  The funny looking cars with no front-door on one side are the London Taxis.  The luggage is put in the bit where the door isn't.  They used to have old ladies selling violets on the steps near the statue but they don't do it now because there is too much traffic for people to cross over to buy from them.

     G.A.N.

Horse Guards, Whitehall, London --- Horse Guard at Whitehall, at one of the entrances to St James Park.  A very interesting ceremony takes place here daily, that is the changing of the Guard.  A regular feature appears in the statue-like cavalry sentries.

Dear Merry,

     When Susy was in London with me we saw these soldiers and horses.  The horses have their hooves polished a lot better than I ever polish my shoes!  The soldiers sit as still as still and don't seem to mind all the people staring at them.

Lots of love, Nan

From Google Maps today...

 Buckingham Palace and below - Piccadilly Circus.

England - London - 18.4.1957.

 Berners Hotel, London. England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Pennie,

     We arrived in London yesterday, by air.  Half way across the Channel we could see the cliffs of Dover in front of us and the coast of France behind us.  It was thrilling.  We loved Paris, I think it must be the most beautiful city in the World.  Susy and I went up to the top of the Eiffel tower.  A lift takes you up one stage, then another lift goes to more stages and then yet another one another stage and then we walked up the last stage!  We counted 13 bridges over the Seine from the top of the tower.  Thank you for your letter, I'll write a proper letter to you when I have finished racing over the country.

     Lots of love, Nan

Berners Hotel, London. England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Timmy,

     Thank you for your letter I was very pleased to hear the news of Pee-wee.  We went to see Buckingham Palace yesterday and to watch the guards.  One had his shoe lace undone and I did want to tell him about it but he looked so stern,  I did not like to.  The queen has gone to Windsor for a holiday and we are very disappointed that there is no chance of seeing her this time.  We are going back to France tomorrow week, by boat this time, so I hope the sea is nice and well behaved.  In the aeroplane yesterday all the seats faced back the front.  It seemed very odd to be travelling backwards.  I will try to send you big stamps but I can't always get them.

     Lots of love G.A.N  (Great Aunt Nancy)

Berners Hotel, London.  England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Merry,

     Thank you very much for your letter, you certainly put a lot of hard work into it and I was most impressed.  We haven't seen these 'Beefeaters' yet, but we will next week.  Please tell Pee-wee she had better come to France to live because dogs are allowed to travel in trains and buses there and I saw one dog much bigger than she is, sitting on a chair in a cafe eating off the table !!  I think I might have told you that before, did I?

     Lots of love, Nan.