So, here's the first one I pulled out. I'll leave the writer anonymous because I haven't asked her permission, but all other names are their real ones. It's very long, but I love the 1950s language and the breathless angst
Ward 8, CH, Herts. March 27th (not sure, but I think it's 1960, though could be 1959)
Dear Jennifer,
We've won the Sports' Cup! Isn't it wonderful. We beat 7s by 1 1/2 marks. Elizabeth O. (Ed. note, Elizabeth Onley) was wonderful. She got an awful pain after the 220 (she was second, Jane Norcock made a record) for various reasons, and the chucking was next but one after it. Anyway, she did it. She couldn't see straight when she chucked the first one, but it was her best, and, obviously, she won. Rosemary C. came 1st in the High Jump Class 2, Delphine came second in the Class 3 and, being Delphine, broke a pole! Liz tied 1st with Sarah Battye in the Open. Sarah Ram won the netball shooting Class 2 and went up the Inf. straight away afterwards with swollen glands (mumps???!!!?) 8's came 2nd in the relay, 2s won.
By the way, Peggy came down! She looked jolly nice, too. She's got some new specs, sort of (Ed. note: a drawing of something now worn by Dame Edna Everage) only not as exagerrated as all that. (Sorry! I don't think I've spelt ex....... quite right!) She had a grey woollen dress with a highish (though not very) neck, and a full skirt, and a straight green coat. Her hair was more or less the same, and she hadn't got very much make-up on. But she hasn't changed a bit, really she's exactly the same as she was when she was here. I thought somehow that she'd have changed, but she hasn't at all. She same and talked to me a bit, she said, oh well, never mind what she said. Oh dear, I really shall have to improve. She said I was lucky you were taking an interest in me, and I agreed with her there. Oh, shut up - I mustn't get sloppy whatever I do. Sorry, please excuse the outburst.
How's your letter list going? Don't bother about me if it's still impossibly long, I can wait. I'm glad your mother's a bit better now. Oh, by the way, I think it's possible that I may have gone up a little in Philippa's estimation. You see, I went to Ashbourne on Wednesday, and I ended up playing against Philippa. Well, the first few times that she got the ball I stood back and watched and then I thought why shouldn't I have a bash at tackling her because I could always sue her for damages if the worst came to the worst. So I did. Anyway, I turned several thousand times but noone bothered about that, and I think I must have put her off a bit (not by my wonderful playing, of course). I think if I was in the UVIth and notorious for the hardness of my hitting and my good stick-work, I'd be a bit non-plussed to see an insignificant (?) UIVth flying at me. One thing, she's jolly soft to bump into (luckily). At the end of the game she said "well played" (or something to that effect) and, well, anyway, I hope she doesn't think as badly of me as she used to.
Oh, I had a wonderful interview! Yes, honestly. I went in fear and trembling and by the time she'd got halfway through I couldn't control my grin any longer! She said I had a scientific mind (?) and that I ought to have been top of Geography and mind I am next term ("Yes, Miss West" says Innocence Y!) and oh, I know, I ought to be more like Bruce's spider and I mustn't glory in my misdemeanours and peccadilloes (or did she say armadilloes? I always get those two mixed up). She could have given me a foul one, but she didn't. She gave me a jolly nice one, and, as Peggy said, I didn't deserve it!
Clare's OK now, or more or less at any rate. Nobody likes to say anything about you when she's around. Of course, old Tactless here's dropped a few clangers, but everything's settling back to boring normality now, well perhaps not quite, because it's so near the end of term.
(Ed. note - will miss out a short chunk that's very personal to the writer)
By the way, I plucked up courage and went down to DR about something on Wed. night, it was awful. I worried solidly all the way through Lenten Addresses, I couldn't hold up my hymn book because my hands were shaking so much, and then I got down there, and I needn't have worried, because DR was terribly nice, and she's helped me a lot.
Oh, I got the book eventually, but I've got to pay another 1/- as it's 3/6. In the end Margaret asked Mrs Davies to get it for me and she did! I don't know! Susanna's taking it home for me if I don't leave it at school. I daren't take it home. Mummy was shocked when I mentioned that I'd read it last year. I don't know what she'd think if she knew I'd bought it!!! (Ed. note: I can't remember what dreadful book this might have been). I must stop now, and thanks (with the rest of 8s) for the charming (!!) card.
P.S. Sorry if everything about the sports has already been said in Angela's letter!