Letter from Bude Haven about children's health and activities

Date: 1942-02-10
Sender: unknown
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall.
Original scan: 1942-feb-10-bude-haven-childrens-activities.pdf




---

Summary

A letter from Rosemary Cottage in Bude Haven, Cornwall, dated February 10th, 1942, detailing the daily lives and health of children, particularly Gillian and Penna. The sender describes Gillian's recovery from an illness, her enjoyment of radio services, and the creation of Chinese rag dolls. The letter also mentions the children's sleeping arrangements, their appreciation for music, and a recent show they attended, highlighting Gillian's enthusiasm for the orchestra.

---

Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.

Feb 10th 1942.

My Own Dearest One
To Catherine and talk – he just put down
the telephone – Yes I think a prayer book
would appeal to Gillian – Not a beauty to
look new a long time but a book
– about one – She is rather hard on her books
at the moment – I’ve sat beside her
with prayer book and hymn book during
Radio Services and she has been thrilled –
She needs a pencil box too – but perhaps
I’d better try and find that – It needs to
be big enough to take her crayons – She
has a desk at school now so need not
carry so much back & forth –
She is full of beans today rejoicing in
her returned health – but as a matter
of fact she thoroughly enjoyed herself
during her illness – occupied herself
with one thing or another all day – One
day I made them each a
Chinese rag doll – from a
design my old Annah used to
make me – and of a Cobco. They
were thrilled and wanted Chinese

2.
names for them – Hawkin & Chinmin –
Penna calls hers “Chinminnie”
Penna won’t give up aerohans in her
cot. She was ride a cock horse over
the rail today – She is such a
mite pinched up there –
We got
Gillian
a small bed
in my room these nights as she needs
attention all the time – and when she returns
to her own room I’ll try Penna in the bed
The order of the day used to be – Gillian
in her own room till Children’s hour which
she listened to in my room – which had
been warmed for the purpose & H.W. Bottle
in bed – Gillian’s own room would then be
turned out and thoroughly aired & Penna’s
cot put into it – and Penna slept there –
Gillian returned to her room where it had
been aired & warmed after Penna’s night –
This was very satisfactory all round –
Penna feels it a great honour
to be in Gillian’s room – and
Gillian generally needed attention
about twice during the night – I took
up a thermos flask to do a warm drink

Jan FEB 1942. 4
She wanted to withdraw disturbing anybody – She Penna
had on her trousers with braces – I had taken
off her Coat (& later the trousers) She just copied
the dancing on the stage and thoroughly
enjoyed the whole show which lasted 2 3/4
hours!!! She was a little clown – but
she certainly has rhythm – Gillian of course
kept her eyes glued on the dancers. Not missing
anything – and at the end went to the orchestra
& said “Thank you very much for playing
such lovely music!” quite of her own
accord – She was perfectly thrilled with it all
– especially the orchestra – for being able

---

People mentioned

- Catherine
- Gillian
- Penna
- Annah

---

Topics

- family life
- children's health
- wartime activities
- education
- dolls
- music
- cornwall

---

Uncertain words / phrases

- Cobco
- aerohans
- H.W. Bottle

---

Archivist notes

- Page 3 is missing or misnumbered as '4'. The letter includes children's drawings. The date 'Feb 10th 1942' is repeated on page 2, and 'Jan FEB 1942' appears on page 3, suggesting the primary date is February 10th, 1942. The sender is likely a parent, detailing daily life with children during WWII.

---

Processing stats

- Input tokens: 1335
- Output tokens: 1153
- Total tokens: 5160
- Estimated cost: $0.000446