The Agatha d'Ascoyne Papers

  I'm a little obsessed with Kay Kendall. This extract from one of my stories imagines her 'Genevieve" character - Rosalind - renting out a new room for herself and Susie the dog. Justine placed the advertising card on a Friday lunchtime and by Saturday afternoon, Rosalind and Susie were panting on the doorstep. Justine opened the door to the two delicious females in fur coats. They had obviously traversed the pavements at some speed.  "I say, it isn't gone is it and would you be an angel and allow me to move Susie in too?" Justine looked down at Susie, a large, hot looking hound. Although her tongue hanging pant gave the appearance of merry laughter, her brown eyes looked up at Justine with what she came to think of as an Oliver Twist expression. It was irresistible.  From room-rattling loneliness to a paying guest and a pet in one day was dizzying. But it was time to Carpe Diem. "No, no it's not gone. In fact you're the first to enquire.  Would...

The national Spitfire Fund was set up in May 1940, and was put under the control of Lord Beaverbrook. The government had asked him to help speed up aircraft production, so that Britain was better equipped to face the Luftwaffe. In a great first move, the cost of a Spitfire was priced up – one of the basic rules of fundraising is to show exactly how much you need. Then when people have contributed to a definite total, they feel better about their donation. It was announced that each plane cost a total of £5000, and the component parts were also given a price – a rivet cost sixpence and a wing cost £2000. It was then possible to send out certificates to show exactly what had been bought with funds raised. One school that had raised a certain amount were told that they had bought a tyre. This kept the children interested as they would then stand in the playground and watch the planes passing overhead, and wonder whether that was their tyre!  Spitfire Weeks began to be held that summer...

In 1962, a 53 year old lady that we shall refer to as Miss S was sentenced to 21 months in prison at Somerset Quarter Sessions. The charges were fraud, false pretences and forgery and Miss S also asked for 17 other offences to be taken into consideration. It emerged that she had also “done time” previously. The extraordinary thing that has relevance is that Miss S was secretary of Montacute Village Hall – as well as being President of the village WI and parish councillor. Even more fascinating is that Miss S didn’t commit these crimes for personal gain – not of a financial nature anyway. It seems to me that she just wanted to be popular. Miss S had invented a benefactress. At first, she declared the Lady Bountiful to be anonymous – but then she decided that she could in fact be named as a Miss McBain , who had an estate near Porlock. Using this fictitious lady’s donations, Miss S paid for outings, parties and marquees for flower shows. But of course this money had to come from somewhe...

 Here's a fine combination for a quiet summer afternoon when there's no one else at home. -Tea in a Woods Ware cup and saucer - A box of good quality chocolates - A mid 20th century novel by a female writer - A British Transport Film My novel of choice for the summer would be 'One Fine Day' by Mollie Panter Downes. This is one of my all-time favourites, that I have now read numerous times. It suits a sunny afternoon with a heavy atmosphere, this kind of weather being the star turn of the novel. The story, such as it is, follows one woman's day in the summer of 1946. It's not too long and the lack of any excitement is relaxing - perfect escapism. It is a study of how the immediate post war period was turning lives in an unanticipated direction. The end of domestic service as British society had known it, the need for middle class women to run their households with very little help, the loss of the local gentry - this is all becoming realised at the point of this ...

Postcards can be windows into past lives - I'm interested in them as an illustration of female friendships in the 20th century. This postcard of Tower Bridge was sent from Jan in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to Glynis in Sudbury, Suffolk. It was written on 29th January 1969. I bet Tower Bridge looked a lot greyer then than on this Photographic Greeting Card Company production. Here's the message: This pair are obviously established penfriends - a lost art. I have had many penfriends in my time but one-by-one they fall away as modern life takes over and makes too many demands. It's so easy - too easy - to send quick online messages. Factor in the price of stamps these days and the effort and cost of writing a letter is making this artform almost obsolete. Except among those of us who persevere. It's a shame because it is an art to write an engaging letter- one that makes the recipient want to reciprocate. I love to read collections of letters between well known corresponde...

  The Spinster Aunts of Crookes They felt sorry for us With their hands red and chapped  Rings squeezed on their finger Swallowed, forever trapped Pitying quiet homes From their sinks full of pots A chain of wailing mouths From damp and stinking cots They laughed gently at us From their ten foot kitchen Fifteen hours every day To live out their lives in We turned the other cheek Spent our money on flowers You gave your lives away All that we had was ours Buy Sewing With Sylko, A Treasury

 ‘Miss London Limited’ (1943) is a jolly Arthur Askey vehicle and wartime morale booster.  Old time rail enthusiasts will love the opening scenes.  As Waterloo Station (I wonder why it’s always Waterloo?) bustles away below her announcer’s box, Anne Shelton belts out a very catchy song called “The 8.50 Choo Choo for Waterloo Choo”.  This in itself educates as well as entertains, with its roll call of Southern railway stations that were – and still are – served by this London terminus.  You even learn where you had to change for Brockenhurst!  I’ve watched this opening song a good half a dozen times now, and not once has the sight of the song lyrics appearing on the departures board failed to raise a laugh. Come to think of it, neither has Evelyn Dall’s hat as she alights said 8.50 choo choo.  Forties fashionistas may also find much to amuse and delight in this film. The storyline is as daring as Miss Dall’s hat too.  It involves her and Askey runn...