c1960: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5A Third Avenue, Denvilles, Havant: ‘On the Boat Tuesday 12.50 a.m. Dearest Mum, I’m sitting on the boat, taking care of various people’s luggage. My word, there is a crowd on board and there’s a lot of shouting going on. It’s a lovely day and the sea looks perfectly calm. All our party is here and several of the Letchworth ladies have already asked about you. Mr Way ran us to Central in his car and Mrs Way came too, to see us off. Kenneth is walking round the boat seeing if all our party is settled. Fondest love G xxxx’
4 August 1960: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ‘Wayland Broadway Sandhurst A Picture from Switzerland to pretend that I am abroad as well as the rest of the family. This is to wish you Many happy returns of the day and that you will have had many of them. Mm’s family joins me in all good wishes Yours sincerely W. H. Curtis Kenneth’s father’
6 August 1960: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Hants: ‘Dinant Tuesday Dearest Mum, Arrived at Dinant at 9 last night. It looks like fairyland & everyone would have liked to stay for a day at least. However, we are off at 8 15 so I must go up and put everything in the cases. Had a good night & feel fresher for it Tons of love from us all G xxxx’
8 August 1961: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ‘8/8/61 Dearest Mum, Am writing this in no-man’s-land, between the German and Belgian Borders. We had a break at Aachen and did our last posting with German stamps. Next stop Brussels!! Lovingly, G. xxxx See you Thursday about teatime’
24 October 1961: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ‘Dear Grandma, Thank you very much for your letter-card which we received this morning. We’re glad you enjoyed the service on television on Sunday but are sorry that you weren’t able to go out. Hope the pain is less now and that you are feeling a little better each day. We have had some very strong winds here too but we managed to get both lawns cut once again and the few apples picked yesterday. Mum’s very thrilled because we have a Jay visiting our garden in addition to squirrels. It is quite a big bird with white & a lovely patch of blue on its wings, apparently they are fond of acorns. Perhaps it will stay long enough for you to see it. We all send our love & hope to see you very soon. Take care of yourself. Love Peter xxxxxx Thank you Peter for those lovely Daffs & sweet message’
18 June 1962?: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ‘Dear Grandman, So sorry that in our haste to get to school this morning we forgot to pop up and see you before going. Hope you had a good journey home and look forward to seeing you at St Martyn’s before very long. We’ve just finished dinner had some rhubarb for a change. Thank you very much for what you left behind for us. Cheerio for now, love Peter And many thanks from me too. I got my first exam over now! Robin’
c1965: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5A Third Avenue, Denvilles, Havant: ‘Thurs 17th Amsterdam Dearest Mum, We are just back from Volendam by the Zuider Zee and I think everyone was thrilled with the very typical little Dutch sea resort. We saw plenty of Dutch costume and several of the party had their photos taken in it. Had a nice dinner – veal, spinach, potato & sald with trifle afterwards. We are now going to walk it down and go to post. Pete & June will be on their way to you to-morrow and Derick & Hazel will be back at Hayling. Our love to you all, G xxxx’
c1965: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, 7A Third Avenue, Denvilles, Havant: ‘Wed. 16th Aug. The Hague Dearest Mum, Our coach is parked outside the Peace Palace (in the centre of card) so that photographers can take pictures. The rain has stopped again but it came on heavily after we had had a lovely meal in Rotterdam. The centre of that city has been rebuilt since the war. There were no cars – plenty of flower beds with geraniums, begonias, heliotrope etc. We also saw budgerigars in large cages. A very nice party again and already everyone seems to know each other. Our love to June & Peter if they are with you. Do hope you are feeling fairly well. Fondest love G xxxx’
13 August 1965: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5A Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ‘Friday 13th Heidelberg Dearest Mum, We arrived safely at Heidelberg last evening in plenty of time for dinner but I haven’t yet bought any cards. This is another of the Rhine. This is a very popular and famous place and a noisy one but fortunately most of our party slept all right. I didn’t even write a card in bed!! A free day today. We are going to the Castle this morning and up the hill on which it stands so we should have a wonderful view of the River Neckar &c. Hope you are keeping well Lovingly G xxxx’
13 August 1965: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5A Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ’13/8/1965. Dearest Mum, This is the little railway in which we went to the top of the mountain. This afternoon we got out at the first station and went to explore the castle. Since dinner we have walked to see the floodlit castle and bridge again. The boys have gone right up the hill the other side to see it. Peter says this has been the best day of K’s six tours!! Lovingly, G xxxx’
19 August 1966: Postcard to Mrs F. Simpson, St Martyn’s Lodge, 5A Third Avenue, Denvilles, Havant: ’19/8/1966. Dearest Mum, I am writing this in bed at Nancy in France, where we are sleeping just the one night. The ladies have been more thrilled with the shops here than in Paris. We have just been for a walk in the centre of the town and the floodlighting is the best we have seen – in a huge park (we didn’t get as far as the lions and bears!) and in the main square where “golden” gates and fountains looked really lovely. Will send you a picture of one of the golden gates next time. Lovingly, Gertie xxxx’
14 August 1968: Postcard to Mrs F. Nichols, 5 Third Avenue, Denville, Havant: ’14/8/1963 Dearest Mum, Just arrived at Dinant in the Belgian Ardennes where we are spending the night. On our way we stopped at Waterloo where Letchworth members (visiting Belgian relatives) met us. Young folk are going up in cable cars but we are just going for walk in town before dinner. Fondest love, G xxxx’