Wednesday, July 18th, 1945

Dearest Joan,

We were so very glad to have your letter saying Dr. Angervine said you were fit enough to come home. Just to think you may even now have had notice to pack! Do hope you have a good voyage and fine weather. I didn’t know you were allowed to bring so much foodstuff home and I hate to feel a burden on Auntie Mary. I have collected quite a few tins of powdered milk but a little more would be very useful in the winter when the cow’s milk is cut so low. Do you think you could get any dried apricots? We cannot get any at all and it makes nice jam. Also another extremely useful item would be suet, but this may be rationed⁽¹⁾ in the States. It is not rationed here but terribly scarce, anyway don’t worry about it, anything you think and like yourself will be fine.

I think your theme song very fitting. I too found one, but mine is an old sentimental ballad I bought years ago and is called “Coming to You”. You’d like it very much.

Do hope you will soon be able to use your left hand⁽²⁾, it must be trying for you to want to play so much and be so handicapped and of course almost impossible to compose. We shall have to wait until you get home to see just what you can do and what you aim at being, in the music line.

As for a school, we had quite good news this week. All the children returning from the States are reckoned about 2 years behind the children here – mainly because of the subjects that are not taken at all out there – like English History, French etc. The schools here too are much over-crowded, even so-called Private schools. All parents have been worrying about it and Dr. Roy said something would have to be done. When Mrs. Kemp took John along to the Middlesex Education Officer this Monday, his secretary told her that they were definitely having an annexe class for all the 13, 14 and 15 year old children returning from evacuation and that it would be attached to the Preston Manor County School. This would mean an awkward journey for you, and your lunches at school, but I’m so glad you will have a decent school, because I’m sure you are clever enough to have passed the County Scholarship had you been in England.

Am so glad you will be able to get some swimming in this season after all. Anne is looking forward to going with you. By the way, I suppose you haven’t an old swimming costume you could bring for Anne? I wish I could buy her one. Oh! We were terribly proud you were down for the music award. Bravo Joan. It’s really a blessing you weren’t sent home before graduation day – but I always wanted you to see the school year through. You said you were sending your report card, but you didn’t put it in the envelope - I don’t know whether you meant to.

Must break off for a bit – John and Anne are wanting their tea.

Now that’s over I have a little time until their bedtime. I met Mrs. Gleadhall this afternoon and she told me she met Mrs. Thomas the other day and she always asks after you. I had mentioned that you might be wanting to go back to her if she wasn’t full and Mrs. Gleadhall told her this. Mrs Thomas said she would certainly squeeze you in if you wanted her.

I know, dear, that you will be sorry to hear that Daddy has been in bed a week now with bad pain – the Dr. says it’s Fibrositis. It’s a lot better than it was and he is able to get to the bathroom on a stick. You will understand when I say I was really glad you didn’t arrive home this week. It would be just too bad if we couldn’t all be at the station to meet you. We have pictured it in our minds so often – it would be a terrible disappointment, and I know you’d be sorry too, but we have good hopes now as we should get at least a week’s notice and think by that time Daddy will be up and around.

Hope you were able to meet Miss Auer and Miss Spilbane after all. It was nice of them to want to give you an evening out.

Au revoir, darling. Hope to see you soon. Everybody sends their love.

All my love
Mummy
xxxxxx