Christmas newsletter

 

 

I was encouraged and amused by an item in the Economist Christmas issue about family newsletters. Now regarded as of some historical merit a small collection has started at the Harvard Schlesinger library on the initiative of an archivist at the US Smithsonian Museum. The item tells the story of a family newsletter begun in 1948 by Marie Harris.

The item goes on to say this is a post war  or later custom when technology permitted relatively simple copying. In fact Marie Harris had to mimeograph her first issues. More recently with computers and printers this has become much easier. I started in the 90’s when I had a computer and printer.

I was always rather put out to get cards from people with whom I was in infrequent contact which just had their names. While it was pleasant to get the card and keep the link alive it was irritating to me than it said nothing other than they were still alive and still willing to stay in contact. Fine as far as it went but I longed for more. This stayed a minor irritation until I began lodging with David and Jean at Bucklebury.

I had just restarted a job with Castrol at their Technology Centre near Pangbourne in Berkshire. This was too far for daily travel from our Midlands home and my newly settled family didn’t want to move. So I was introduced to David and Jean. They had inherited a house at Bucklebury and I rented the granny flat. David was a religious minister at a mission in London where they lived during the week so the house was empty most of the time I was resident as I travelled back at weekends. Periodically David , his family and various friends would stay during the week. David with family and many contacts through the church sent out a Christmas newsletter to keep his many friends informed.

I saw his newsletter and thought it was an excellent idea, and decided to do the same albeit on a smaller scale. David sent out 500 copies but at the most I have sent out is 50 and nowadays it’s more like 25. Annette thinks it is pretentious but I enjoy reading missives from those few we know who send similar newsletters. The amount of news I include has got less as I’ve withdrawn from organisations I was involved with. I have been fortunate to record our grandchildren as they have arrived and some wider family news.

Below is our 2020 letter. It  has less news than previously as we have spent most of the year sheltering from Covid.

Sadly David died some years later trying to save people from a burning car. He was a lovely man with an impish sense of humour.

Beechcroft
Lichfield Road
Hopwas
Tamworth
B78 3AG

01827 63807 and 07789 007194

Philip.hall@philiphall.co.uk

Dear

What a strange year 2020 has been.  We have both been sheltering on grounds of age plus Philip is a stroke survivor. Prior to the first lockdown Martin proved to be very realistic in his advice to the family. As a result we sheltered a couple of weeks before the nation. It appears that Alison had Covid 19 in the summer although she showed none of the symptoms which have been much publicised. It was only after the event with other symptoms her doctor advised she probably had coronavirus.

The first lockdown did prevent us from attending the wedding of Alison and Debajit. They decided to go ahead with the registry office wedding attended only by their children and one friend as witness. Right up until the last minute Frances had hoped to attend just travelling for the day but she decided the risks were too great. Alison and Debajit had hoped to holiday in India including visiting his parents. This proved impossible and sadly Debajit’s mother died in the autumn. At least Alison met her when they visited last year. Alison was very pleased to obtain a long term role with her agrochemicals employer where she now has responsibility for product stewardship Europe wide.

We did visit Whitby in the early autumn. A major objective was to visit Martin’s new house. They had longed for a larger property with a bigger garden. They have moved to a property in a great location in Robin Hood’s Bay which not only has a good garden but a modest amount of additional land. They are already busy planting trees. Their previous house about a half mile away is being retained as a holiday let. This is also the location of Martin’s homeoffice in a converted wash-house. They have taken to keeping hens which Ellen is already adopting as pets.

All the grandchildren have faced great disruption at school. Even this autumn Whitby school had to close for a time. With Ellie taking GCSE next year and Alex the year after this could have serious consequences. Fortunately all are part of the “digital generation”, were well equipped to study at home and have parents who can help..

Annette, as well as painting, has taken to jigsaws in a big way. Lately Philip has been digitizing slides taken many years ago. Lacking an effective slide projector we haven’t seen them for a long time, so much so that we struggle to remember some occasions. It has been very nostalgic to see records of when our children were small.

Like most others we have become used to video calls, initially over WhatsApp but mainly on Zoom. Alison and Frances both have access to full Zoom licences through their employers. Philip’s U3A book group decided to purchase one. The book groups did manage a couple of garden meeting in the summer but even “socially distanced” meetings were a bit awkward

With vaccine progress there is light at the end of long tunnel. To what extent some normality is returned remains to be seen. As well as wishing you a healthy and peaceful new year we add the hope that you “stay safe”