18th June 1951

Hongkong Bank
Penang

Dear Mum, Dad & Alan,

I enclose three photos of the interior. The crowd scene is particularly good and is one I wish to keep so please look after it. The others do not matter. I seem to have been very thoughtful when my picture was taken - but as it was possibly before the office was open I may not have been fully awake! Anyway it gives a fair idea of the place before 10 am after that it is not quite so peaceful.

Guy Sayer - a junior coming through for his first leave - spent an evening with me on Friday. He has just completed 3 1/2 yrs in China and has some rare experiences there. He appeared to be a good type and seemed to be very sure of himself. Evidently the "marriage bar" has dropped to 4 yrs and he is shortly to take a step into that direction.

Had a very pleasant tiffin party with the Rice's next door on Sunday with the Agent & his wife and three other people. At five the St Giles' organized a large party of us to pick up a mass of children from the Salvation Army Home and take them to the beach. The Fiat proudly took three of them and they seemed to enjoy the trip. Plenty of splashing in the sea with a picnic of buns and pop broke down their reserve and they had quiet a gay time.

Afterwards we finished up at the St Ciles' house for a drink and relaxed evening.

Have sent your parcel on the Carthage and it ought to be in UK in about 3 weeks.

I received my first Book Club issue to-day and was pleased to see it was one of the Forrester's "Hornblower" series.

Expect your holiday is far from being organized even though it is the end of June - Am I right?

Peter is still on holiday - I had the place wrong though - it is Kota Bahru - am not sure of the spelling though. Work is quite bearable as we are marking time for the end of the half year. Am doing telegrams again though only checking them in spare moments.

We are to have a new Accountant in the near future as our present one is due for leave. Its a pity to break up our group just we have settled but that is always happening and gives something to look forward to. There 's nothing like change!

(Letter has "Cont at 4" but that page is missing)