01-04-2018, 08:35 PM
5640
Re: Leisurely Scribbles (part 5)
Evening all,
I reproduce this genuine & original letter sent from nurse Gillian's father Frank to his mother who was recuperating.
It's dated about 1933 & I just thought it would be interesting to read.
Here goes.............................................
Sunday 31, Mainstone Romsey
My darling Mother,
Just a few lines hoping that you are feeling the benefit of the baths. Very glad to get a letter from you. By the look of the views of the postcard, I should say it is a quaint old place.
Well dear, to change the subject, Mainstone is the centre of liveliness at present.
On Friday night from half-past nine to midnight old Bill Offer was fighting & squabbling Bill Harrington, Harry Frampton, Dick Pragnell & the Edwards boys.
Oh dear, fighting!
Haven’t seen anything like it for a long time. Last night (Saturday) about 12 lads, under Dick’s son, plus about 20 onlookers were laying in wait for Bill. Harry & the Edwards boys. They meant murder. Really & truly,’. They got hold of Jesse Edwards & chucked him in the Test river. But they couldn’t get the others, they didn’t turn up.
Tonight they are still there, laying in wait for Harry, they are stopping any likely car. They’ll kill him when they do get him. The trouble arose out of the fighting. Harry hit Dick Pragnell when he was down .but eventually got 2 black eyes himself and ran away home, the coward after hitting a man when he was down on the ground.
It is quite a picture, all of the people looking out of the windows & no light on the bridge, only on the corner.
Well, darling, I can’t keep on talking about it so I shall change the subject again.
We shall both be glad to get you back again of course, when you are better.
The honeysuckle is nearly all out now & people are admiring it
Well dear, I think I will close now.
With love from your ever-loving son
Frank
Xxxxx
Ps excuse writing, it’s 11 pm
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NB, Tom seems to have left Dick & Harry to it .