Wednesday, May 2nd, 1945

This letter is unfortunately incomplete.

Darling Joan,

I am so glad to hear you are getting on so well with your piano lessons. It seems a pity now that you didn’t keep it up, because for a musical career these days one has to be almost a genius, and that is 4 years wasted. Of course the war is to blame in the first place as you were getting on so splendidly with Mrs. Thomas. She told me once that she studied the temperament of her pupils as to what pieces of music they had. There is a programme in the children’s hour one day each week in which young people entertain and some of them are really brilliant, although usually between 10 and 14 years of age. I am longing to hear you play, dear – our poor old piano never gets opened except for dusting. It seems that you have a good voice too. Let me know if you were allowed to sing in the Easter Choir. With your Banjo-Mandolin and Sandy’s Violin, Auntie Mary has a small orchestra, hasn’t she? I wish your school musical festival in May every success, but of course, it will be over by the time this reaches you.

In fact you may even be thinking of coming home. I don’t know how you will feel about it, but Daddy and I signed the papers 2 weeks ago for your release from the U.S. All danger here has been eliminated, and as it takes 2 or 3 months to get things settled, we want you back with us for a while before you start in a school here in September. I can guess how much you will hate leaving Auntie Mary and the boys, and I do wish I could save you both this hurt. They have been so good to you, we shall never be able to repay them.

I don’t suppose you remember Tony Swann, do you? He went out with your party (they live in Box Tree Lane) and he was on our bus to Wealdstone that fateful evening we went to Grosvenor House. Well, he came back last week and has grown so much I hardly recognised him. Of course, I knew he was expected, and the Swanns had a Union jack ready to be hoist when he got home, and I was talking to Betty in the sitting room when I glanced out of the window and saw the flag slowly rising. It was a big thrill and rather dramatic. I was a wee bit envious too, but our turn is coming. We have been expecting the end of the war in Europe every day and last night we heard that Hitler had died. It surely can’t be much longer before the end is announced. Last night I cried ...