You will have noticed large gaps in the correspondence. My grandparents obviously did not keep all the letters. In 1954 my father met and married my mother. My mother would say that any letters detailing meetings etc would not have been kept as my grandmother did not approve of my mother. In the latter part of 1954 my father was in UK on leave so no need of letters home.
My mother, Marguerite Beatrice Aylett, worked in HSBC and would have met my father in London. She probably would have taught him as she did many of the managers. My aunt remembers my father as being one of the crowd but my mother said he definitely was not a boyfriend of hers. My mother travelled out to Hongkong in 1954 to meet up with her fiance. She stopped off in Penang on the way out and was obviously entertained by my father. (Reading of the social times in the letters, you wonder if any work was done!). My mother went on to Hongkong and decided that her fiance was not for her. She returned to UK via Penang. My Nan received a letter asking her to book the church for a wedding but this time for another fiance - my father, the author of these letters. They were married on 14th November 1954.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
7th April, 1953
H. & S. B. C.
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
I have to answer two letters, as Easter has again put me off from routine. Also we have been short staffed - Ken Rice went racing at Singpore in Snipe class and was fortunate to be in the winning intersport team. Peter O-S had two days in Sungei Patani on some special work that cropped up. So all in all with the end of the quarter we have been busy.
Spent Friday in the sun - it has been very hot with fierce showers in eventime and turned bright red once again. Attended the wedding on Sunday morning. It was, as is usual here, a big one, with reception at the sports club. Stilliard, the accountant, had a party at mid-day and to this I owe quite a full morning coming as it did immediately after the wedding. Relaxed lazily at the swimming club all afternoon.
Peter's brother came up from Singapore for the holiday and on Saturday night his father threw a party which was successful. Had an enjoyable time and ended at 4.30 am.
I don't think Sir A will do anything in London - it would be unusual to say the least and also unnecessary. After all he has had a pretty good innings and there are plenty of people waiting to move up.
Fancy Roger getting married! Good thing though - give him my best wishes.
My regards also to the Martins - you mention that Tom is going in for a larger car - he isn't thinking of marriage yet then!
Hope Alan enjoyed the motor racing. I heard that BRM did well on 7th.
Cheerio for now and Love,
Peter
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
I have to answer two letters, as Easter has again put me off from routine. Also we have been short staffed - Ken Rice went racing at Singpore in Snipe class and was fortunate to be in the winning intersport team. Peter O-S had two days in Sungei Patani on some special work that cropped up. So all in all with the end of the quarter we have been busy.
Spent Friday in the sun - it has been very hot with fierce showers in eventime and turned bright red once again. Attended the wedding on Sunday morning. It was, as is usual here, a big one, with reception at the sports club. Stilliard, the accountant, had a party at mid-day and to this I owe quite a full morning coming as it did immediately after the wedding. Relaxed lazily at the swimming club all afternoon.
Peter's brother came up from Singapore for the holiday and on Saturday night his father threw a party which was successful. Had an enjoyable time and ended at 4.30 am.
I don't think Sir A will do anything in London - it would be unusual to say the least and also unnecessary. After all he has had a pretty good innings and there are plenty of people waiting to move up.
Fancy Roger getting married! Good thing though - give him my best wishes.
My regards also to the Martins - you mention that Tom is going in for a larger car - he isn't thinking of marriage yet then!
Hope Alan enjoyed the motor racing. I heard that BRM did well on 7th.
Cheerio for now and Love,
Peter
11th June,52
H. & S. B. C.
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
The Sports Club dance on Wednesday last was a grand success. The party that I was in numbered over 30, and we assembled first at the mess. It consisted of both Europeans and Asians - a good crowd that kept going all night. I got to bed just before 6 am the following morning.
On Wednesday, oversleeping by an hour, I pushed off on a launch picnic to Pulan Reman, a small island off Penang - a two hour journey by sea. We were 10 all told - no women at all - it was an excellent way of recovering from the night before - although plenty of swimming was done. Mostly by bods falling overboard in, what we learnt afterwards to be, shark fishing areas.
On Friday we had some friends in to dinner - two of whom were just married before the leave that they have now arrived back from (preposition?). He is an American and so they had spent all their time there. The conversation was, consequently, interesting.
Saturday afternoon I pushed off to the mainland in the Fiat and made for the Sungei Patani club to meet Brendon Moore. He was in the bank but is now a planter on United Patani (M) Rubber Estates Ltd. Their estates cover a vast area. He took me in under escort in a Land Rover and we arrived in time to shoot flying foxes - none appeared but we fired our shot guns (12 bore) at the tops of the trees and retired to the house for a meal and bed.
I could write a great deal about rubber now - as I was shown all the various stages of planting during the next day. It was all of great interest and much of a change from Penang's civilization.
In the afternoon we went to a club on a neighbouring estate and met various people who were there for a swim & tennis. Dinner was in Sungei Patani and so home arriving about 7.30 pm. The car ran well.
Last night I played tennis and enjoyed a good game. I haven't played for some time and hope to take it up again. Afterward saw "Appointment with Venus" a comedy with D. Niven. Very amusing.
Must get down to some work now - we are building up for the 1/2 year on the 30th.
Cheerio and Love
Peter.
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
The Sports Club dance on Wednesday last was a grand success. The party that I was in numbered over 30, and we assembled first at the mess. It consisted of both Europeans and Asians - a good crowd that kept going all night. I got to bed just before 6 am the following morning.
On Wednesday, oversleeping by an hour, I pushed off on a launch picnic to Pulan Reman, a small island off Penang - a two hour journey by sea. We were 10 all told - no women at all - it was an excellent way of recovering from the night before - although plenty of swimming was done. Mostly by bods falling overboard in, what we learnt afterwards to be, shark fishing areas.
On Friday we had some friends in to dinner - two of whom were just married before the leave that they have now arrived back from (preposition?). He is an American and so they had spent all their time there. The conversation was, consequently, interesting.
Saturday afternoon I pushed off to the mainland in the Fiat and made for the Sungei Patani club to meet Brendon Moore. He was in the bank but is now a planter on United Patani (M) Rubber Estates Ltd. Their estates cover a vast area. He took me in under escort in a Land Rover and we arrived in time to shoot flying foxes - none appeared but we fired our shot guns (12 bore) at the tops of the trees and retired to the house for a meal and bed.
I could write a great deal about rubber now - as I was shown all the various stages of planting during the next day. It was all of great interest and much of a change from Penang's civilization.
In the afternoon we went to a club on a neighbouring estate and met various people who were there for a swim & tennis. Dinner was in Sungei Patani and so home arriving about 7.30 pm. The car ran well.
Last night I played tennis and enjoyed a good game. I haven't played for some time and hope to take it up again. Afterward saw "Appointment with Venus" a comedy with D. Niven. Very amusing.
Must get down to some work now - we are building up for the 1/2 year on the 30th.
Cheerio and Love
Peter.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
16.4.52
Written on Bank stationary. Penang.
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for your letter of 10th. The socks appear to have gathered in great number and sound just right - am looking forward to having them.
Many of the juniors are completely new to me, though one is coming on the Chusom that I do remember.
Must be quite a problem for Tom - though I imagine he will try for the job - it would be a mistake not to. How often one finds a thing is possible once it is tried.
The Rices came in to dinner last night and we spent a pleasantly quiet evening.
The whole of Easter was quiet in fact - hot with a short fierce storm at night. Thunder and a gale of wind three evenings running. Bows and branches of trees snapping and doors being blown in. Very exciting - and cool afterwards. Spent a lot of time lazing in the pool and reading a couple of books.
Had drinks last week with the Eastern Bank man at Butterworth - that is over the water from Penang. He runs a one man branch over there and it is a little primative. It is the unloading port for North Malaya though it lies in the same Harbour as Penang. The ships unload this side - or in the Roads - and the lighters shift the goods to Butterworth.
There is a small community over there. Shell people, Government, Customs and a lot of R.A.F. personnel from the nearby aerodrome.
The Siamese Navy came to Penang this week - at least part of it. They still wear small dress swords and the white uniform looks a little old fashioned. We paid their money out here - it was quite a lot. They wanted large notes too which made things difficult as a note above $10 is little used except on race days. Still we managed to procure it in the end after lots of phone calls to other Banks in Penang.
I have sent Mrs Martin 2lbs of Tea and 2lbs of Sugar and will forward the bill when I get it at the end of the month. I cannot get tea other than Ceylon - and not Brooke Bond at all. I asked an Indian why we could not buy Assam tea here but he did not know. That is the best kind and is also strong. I suggest you drink it without milk with a little lemon!
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for your letter of 10th. The socks appear to have gathered in great number and sound just right - am looking forward to having them.
Many of the juniors are completely new to me, though one is coming on the Chusom that I do remember.
Must be quite a problem for Tom - though I imagine he will try for the job - it would be a mistake not to. How often one finds a thing is possible once it is tried.
The Rices came in to dinner last night and we spent a pleasantly quiet evening.
The whole of Easter was quiet in fact - hot with a short fierce storm at night. Thunder and a gale of wind three evenings running. Bows and branches of trees snapping and doors being blown in. Very exciting - and cool afterwards. Spent a lot of time lazing in the pool and reading a couple of books.
Had drinks last week with the Eastern Bank man at Butterworth - that is over the water from Penang. He runs a one man branch over there and it is a little primative. It is the unloading port for North Malaya though it lies in the same Harbour as Penang. The ships unload this side - or in the Roads - and the lighters shift the goods to Butterworth.
There is a small community over there. Shell people, Government, Customs and a lot of R.A.F. personnel from the nearby aerodrome.
The Siamese Navy came to Penang this week - at least part of it. They still wear small dress swords and the white uniform looks a little old fashioned. We paid their money out here - it was quite a lot. They wanted large notes too which made things difficult as a note above $10 is little used except on race days. Still we managed to procure it in the end after lots of phone calls to other Banks in Penang.
I have sent Mrs Martin 2lbs of Tea and 2lbs of Sugar and will forward the bill when I get it at the end of the month. I cannot get tea other than Ceylon - and not Brooke Bond at all. I asked an Indian why we could not buy Assam tea here but he did not know. That is the best kind and is also strong. I suggest you drink it without milk with a little lemon!
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
31 Mar 1952
Written on Bank stationary. Penang.
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for your letter of 24th - am glad that the parcels arrived in good order. I shall be sending another one to arrive around the end of this month. I still haven't written to John Allan as yet and must do something about it soon.
Alan is certainly counting cash these days and am glad to hear of it. It will be useful to him should he have to go in the forces for a year or so - even more so should he go abroad.
The Agent is back from his leave and says that he had a grand time doing nothing and enjoyed himself very much. The end of the first 1/4 of 52 has passed - I am in the middle of a balance now waiting to "call over".
Have received a notice to-day to attend a special jury at the High Court next Monday and am hoping that it proves interesting.
Yesterday we had four juniors on one ship and spent much of our time in entertaining them. Also with us for the weekend and a couple more days is Peter's brother who has at last managed to have a break from hunting bandits. He is a very pleasant type a most interesting on his subject of jungle work.
Heard the Boat Race on the wireless on Saturday - the break down in transmission was annoying. WE were with some people who have rowed something in the past so there was quite a lot of excitement. Went to a dance at the E & O afterwards and so made a full evening of it.
Wrote to Douglas & Beryl last week, answering a January letter. There ought to be an addition to their family next month. Bill was hoping for a daughter I believe.
Another odd thing connected to the boat race - driving snow! You do have peculiar weather. The announcer was likening the scene to Siberia and we were all sipping iced drinks. Our host sent a telegram to the President of the Boat Club in London "Congratulations from Penang. No snow her. Ex-Bandit". Time to arrive at their dinner. I imagine it caused some amusement.
Must turn to - and do some work -
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for your letter of 24th - am glad that the parcels arrived in good order. I shall be sending another one to arrive around the end of this month. I still haven't written to John Allan as yet and must do something about it soon.
Alan is certainly counting cash these days and am glad to hear of it. It will be useful to him should he have to go in the forces for a year or so - even more so should he go abroad.
The Agent is back from his leave and says that he had a grand time doing nothing and enjoyed himself very much. The end of the first 1/4 of 52 has passed - I am in the middle of a balance now waiting to "call over".
Have received a notice to-day to attend a special jury at the High Court next Monday and am hoping that it proves interesting.
Yesterday we had four juniors on one ship and spent much of our time in entertaining them. Also with us for the weekend and a couple more days is Peter's brother who has at last managed to have a break from hunting bandits. He is a very pleasant type a most interesting on his subject of jungle work.
Heard the Boat Race on the wireless on Saturday - the break down in transmission was annoying. WE were with some people who have rowed something in the past so there was quite a lot of excitement. Went to a dance at the E & O afterwards and so made a full evening of it.
Wrote to Douglas & Beryl last week, answering a January letter. There ought to be an addition to their family next month. Bill was hoping for a daughter I believe.
Another odd thing connected to the boat race - driving snow! You do have peculiar weather. The announcer was likening the scene to Siberia and we were all sipping iced drinks. Our host sent a telegram to the President of the Boat Club in London "Congratulations from Penang. No snow her. Ex-Bandit". Time to arrive at their dinner. I imagine it caused some amusement.
Must turn to - and do some work -
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
14th March 1952
Written on Bank stationary.
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Have to-day received your typewritten letter - it did look odd - especially Alan coming in in the middle for purpose of correcting it.
Glad to hear that a spot of sun has come out at hope - I suppose Spring is ready to come into full flower now. It is strange not having any real seasons here. We are just commencing to have a spot of rain (sheets of it) after a particularly long hot spell. I think I can remember the same last year.
The Budget appears to have been welcomed with open arms - except for our Communist friends of course - I think it may well be the answer to the Sterling Area's difficulties so the UK position is a vital point in set up. A stronger pound will eventually help out at home and cost of living will be forced down after marginal working units have been drowned by the tide of scarcity of money (brought about by the rise in bank rate - another 1 1/2 %). (The avoe should not be quoted in any financial paper of repute!?)
However, apart from the joking, there is going to be a change and it will happen pretty fast.
Haven't done anything of particular interest since I last wrote this week so will end at this juncture.
Cheeribye,
Peter.
P.S. I shall be a conscientious objector if they try to conscript me again! In Malaya too! Actually whether a bill passed or not these days all manpower is well tied up.
Penang
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Have to-day received your typewritten letter - it did look odd - especially Alan coming in in the middle for purpose of correcting it.
Glad to hear that a spot of sun has come out at hope - I suppose Spring is ready to come into full flower now. It is strange not having any real seasons here. We are just commencing to have a spot of rain (sheets of it) after a particularly long hot spell. I think I can remember the same last year.
The Budget appears to have been welcomed with open arms - except for our Communist friends of course - I think it may well be the answer to the Sterling Area's difficulties so the UK position is a vital point in set up. A stronger pound will eventually help out at home and cost of living will be forced down after marginal working units have been drowned by the tide of scarcity of money (brought about by the rise in bank rate - another 1 1/2 %). (The avoe should not be quoted in any financial paper of repute!?)
However, apart from the joking, there is going to be a change and it will happen pretty fast.
Haven't done anything of particular interest since I last wrote this week so will end at this juncture.
Cheeribye,
Peter.
P.S. I shall be a conscientious objector if they try to conscript me again! In Malaya too! Actually whether a bill passed or not these days all manpower is well tied up.
Friday, January 23, 2009
22nd Jan 1952
Kuala Lumpur
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Well - I am still here and have not gone up a Hill. The car decided it didn't want to and I have had to put it in dock for repair. Its only petrol pump trouble but the spare part had to be sent for from Singapore. Howsoever, K.L. still holds my interest and am having a very restful time. Saturday night we toured "The Leog" "The Griffin Inn"," Harliquin" and the other spots. Much more sophisticated then Penang and more colourful also.
Sunday a game of golf at 8am and tiffin later in town. Very pleasant -, but my golf is shocking and doesn't look like improving.
My plans are very indefinite, if the car isn't ready in the next two days I shall fly back to Penang. Otherwise I shall drive into Ipoh for the weekend to see the Malayan Golf Championships to be run off over the Chinese New Year.
The weather has been wonderful and laying in the sun a glorious "occupation". I won't feel a bit like work on Sunday next!
Cheerio for now and all the Best,
Yours,
Peter.
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Well - I am still here and have not gone up a Hill. The car decided it didn't want to and I have had to put it in dock for repair. Its only petrol pump trouble but the spare part had to be sent for from Singapore. Howsoever, K.L. still holds my interest and am having a very restful time. Saturday night we toured "The Leog" "The Griffin Inn"," Harliquin" and the other spots. Much more sophisticated then Penang and more colourful also.
Sunday a game of golf at 8am and tiffin later in town. Very pleasant -, but my golf is shocking and doesn't look like improving.
My plans are very indefinite, if the car isn't ready in the next two days I shall fly back to Penang. Otherwise I shall drive into Ipoh for the weekend to see the Malayan Golf Championships to be run off over the Chinese New Year.
The weather has been wonderful and laying in the sun a glorious "occupation". I won't feel a bit like work on Sunday next!
Cheerio for now and all the Best,
Yours,
Peter.
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