This month Barry Cuff has chosen two postcards sent from Fontmell Magna, by the same person and to the same person, sent just a few weeks apart in 1958
Sent on 1st September to Mrs Hobday in Four Marks, just outside Alton, Hampshire. The tone of these cards suggests this might be a young mother writing to her newly-moved-away best friend? With no names, and a now non-existent address (‘Whareora’ is a place in New Zealand, and there’s no record of it in Four Marks now), it’s hard to narrow these down further:
‘Mon. I hope you had a good trip back to Four Marks on Fri. Saw Stephen & party on Sunday. It was nice & warm yest. and so it is today, bet E busy working. Charles & Katie have not yet left Maresfield as the car is not yet ready. We miss you very much, esp. Pauly & me. Don’t go working too hard & eat! Time to go to ‘the shop’ – Aloha nui ake ake ake, L’
Note the presence of the Gossip Tree in Fontmell Magna in 1958 – the ancient elm was a victim to the 1970s Dutch Em Disease epidemic, and was replaced by the current lime tree in 1977 (see Roger Guttridge’s story of it in The BV, Aug 2021). The above card is instantly recognisable, even today, showing the familiar Crown Inn and the A350. It was sent on 3rd October, once again to Mrs Hobday:
Tuesday Some nice ‘Bright Intervals’ today, very welcome. After a heavy shower last evening there was a good rainbow arching over this Fontmell Down. The children were thrilled to see it, even Pipi & Pauly too, who is growing fast & is very active indeed! No letters from anyone today. Have you heard from Sunnywood at all? How is Mr Pateman? And how are YOU? Aloha nui from us all, especially L
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