Michelle Bullivant
  • Home
  • About
    • Historical & Archaeological Services
  • Cambridgeshire History
  • Cherry Hinton History
  • UK History
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Wanted

Cambridgeshire History

Cambridge War Time Letters - Oxford Road

26/12/2010

0 Comments

 
These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). These contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie to her husband George Cruden. ( both now deceased. )

In several of these letter Marie refers to George as Peter Precious- as she was a Catholic from Ireland and didn't want to introduce him to her family as George ( the English kings name ) she called him Peter.



At 95: [ Oxford Road Cambridge ]

My Dearest x
Thanks for your letter, & it was certainly a gruelling journey- pity they don’t put more corridors on- what a life at London Road- that’s some billet- guess the sooner they decide about some other places the better for all concerned- as the a.m. people must be getting fed up with it too. They say on the wireless that they’ve got so many airforce personnel they are drafting them into the other two forces- particularly the army- as that is where they are wanted, seems such a daft arrangement, although they add they are continuing to take recruits. Do you think bringing up the matter of remuster has brought about the recent change about for you & those other chaps? Went to the pictures by myself on Monday night- mother dosen’t care for pictures she says- Monday 6 p.m. I did the front garden by cutting the grass, clearing the beds of toffee papers, rags & other odds & ends, & mowed the back lawn- but I’m scratched to bits for overlooking the rose trees, & plonking into the taller ones. The weather keeps nice, that’s one thing in it all. Yesterday we went to the Botanical gardens. Con & the children. They enjoyed it…can’t seem to think of anywhere nice to go except to Frenches & Brittans..It would have been nice by the sea this weather, wouldn’t it? Uncle Harry turned up at teatime last night- he does look so thin & ill- but he says he couldn’t stand life in that Linton institution any longer & has come back to the lodging house here- I got that tea tin open & passed it on to mother- its best to do that think, don’t you- Well dear, did your washing yesterday ( what a pile ) & hung it out, if she doesn’t do it on me , I’ll iron it. Well cheerio, love. Hope you are feeling better & looking forward to seeing you x Your own loving Marie xxxx p.s. Had a warning Monday night.

0 Comments

Cambridge Wartime Letters

26/12/2010

0 Comments

 
These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). These contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie to her husband George Cruden. ( both now deceased. )

In several of these letter Marie refers to George as Peter Precious- as she was a Catholic from Ireland and didn't want to introduce him to her family as George ( the English kings name ) she called him Peter.



Boxing Day [ Cambridge ]

My Own Dearest & Best x
Well, here we are — another Xmas passed & we have had a most happy day but one & all were sorry that you were not with us- & of course theres no need to add what I felt & for you to say what you felt- but the fact was that we all had our drinks at 1.30 sharp- in the middle of cutting up the turkey & we one & all drank to you first & we hope that you were able to get a quite minute to do the same with us. We had plenty of drink & the turkey was just lovely. 15lbs. & the plum pudding mum was delighted with the rum you sent. Thanks were so for your Xmas card darling, it was lovely. By the way we had a large size egg flip & guzzled the lot in 2 sittings you boy.
Con [ Georges sister ] had her Xmas tree & it was larger that she has had other years, but the trouble was to get stuff to put on it anyway we didn’t do so bad. Your number was 6 & mine 10. I got a little old parcel tied up with a bootlace, no bigger than a finger nail- & caused some shrieks by its very size anyway, I opened it & what? A blinkin’ penny & two back studs!! Well I couldn’t resist seeing what you had & found three toffees & 2 cigs. Bill [ George’s brother] got a beautiful pink cushion cover, Ivy a brooch, Con some stocking mending silk, others got some bars of chocolate. Con had some candles on the tree & we outed the light & lit it up & Val [ Con’s daughter ] gave us the prizes she was terribly thrilled with that while we all sat round eyes & mouths wide open in anticipation we then played Newmarket & Brown Anchor& Con won 10/- after 2 hrs play. Then we had some music & my heavens what a row!! We just took it out of the piano me- but old Ivy & Russ had a few drinks & were a proper couple of coons- I laughed ( with the rest of course )- till I felt really sappy but you’d have laughed “fit to kill” if you’d have heard ‘em anyway, we turned in at 2o/c am. I got that song called “Yours” so we have had our bobsworth out of that already. Well, darling x have just had a Guiness & wished you everything of the best & only wishing with all my heart you were with us. X Have you been busy helping the other blokes to drinks? Did you have a party after all? Its bitterly cold today but we are warm & comfortable & my word thanks to mother, you wouldn’t think there was a war on. But theres simply no drink to be brought. Well sweetheart, its now dinnertime, good old roast beef of old England & horseradish! Lovely! Well cheerio sweetheart this is just to let you see I’m thinking of you in spite of all this pleasure & noise. Russel [George’s brother] is not going back until Sunday, so if you get this in time you will know he is not about until then. I shall D.V. be going back on that 5.15…. Russel didn’t get in until 9.30 when he left you, so you see how late trains are. Well, cheerio sweetheart all love xxxx love & always xxx Marie xxx

0 Comments

A Child's Homefront Poem - Cambridge

10/12/2010

0 Comments

 
Written by my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller )whilst attending Miss Winnie Chandler's infant school, Richmond Road Cambridge. c.1940's

Do you remember a red roofed school
A handful of shell for your sums?
They gave you a Mickey Mouse gas mask
And a pack of American gum.
Do you recall when your dad was on leave,
Dancing around like Astair?
They dressed you up like Shirly Temple
With a big ribbon bow in your hair.
At night sleeping under the table
While bombers droned over your heads,
And granny said "Won't it be lovely,
when we can sleep safe in our beds",
One day they said " The War's over!"
Grannie sang of the Alley and 'Sal'.
When Vera sang 'White Cliffs of Dover'
And the bells rang 'for me and my gal'.

Joan Toller

0 Comments

    About Michelle's Cambs History

    This is a blog page for the archives in in my own collection. It includes many of of my personal family archives, tales and scrapbook items to all kinds of general archive items from Cambridgeshire UK. Search for items or subjects of interest under the categories below, by date or keyword, name or place etc or keyword search in the search box above. Any problems finding something or if you've any questions or comments please do get in touch by using the 'Contact' page on this website.
    All photos and articles remain copyright of Michelle Bullivant, unless stated otherwise. Please use the Contact form if you would like to use any the items shown here, thank you.

    If you would like to add your memories or comments to any of these posts, just like on the post in question and click on the add comment button - the comment will be sent to me for approval and then I can go ahead and add it to the individual post (or you can use the 'contact me' form in the menu at the top of the website bar)  - hope that helps :)

    Categories

    All
    11 Plus Exam
    1910-1930
    1915
    1915-1925
    1925
    1931
    1935
    1938
    1940
    1941
    1945
    1955
    1963
    1965
    1975
    1979
    1983
    1984
    1985
    1988
    1991
    1999
    1999 2009
    1st Cambs HQ
    2000
    2003
    2009
    2010
    6th Birthday
    Ada Hatchman
    Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge
    Addenbrookes Hospital Trumpington Street
    Adkins Corner Cambridge
    Airforce
    Air Raids
    Air Raid Shelter
    Akeman Street Cambridge
    Allotments
    America
    American Gum
    Anderson Shelter
    Anna Maria Swanell
    Annemarie
    Anstey Hall
    Anstey Hall Farm
    Arbury
    Arbury Road
    Archaeological Dig
    Army
    Arthur Cruden
    Art Shop
    Astair
    Auntie Marie
    Baby Doll
    Bailiff
    Bakelite Egg Cups
    Balancing Parrot
    Balancing Toys
    Balloon
    Bananas
    Bateman Street
    Beales Family
    Bedding
    Bedford
    Beds
    Bed-spread
    Belfast
    Bendal Family
    Bermuda Terrace
    Betsy Brown
    Bianca
    Bill
    Bill Broom
    Billet
    Bill Goodes
    Bird
    Birds
    Birthday
    Blacksmiths
    Blankets
    Blitz Studios Cambridge
    Blossom
    Bobsworth
    Bombers
    Bombing
    Bombing In Cambridge
    Bombing In Linton
    Bonnets
    Boot Lace
    Bootmaker
    Boots (Shop) Cambridge
    Botanical Gardens
    Bottles Of Milk
    Boxing Day
    Bran
    Bridge Street
    Brittans
    Britton Family
    Broiler
    Brooch
    Broom
    Broom Family
    Brown
    Brown Family
    Brown\'s Anchor
    Brylcreem
    Buckets
    Building Site
    Bull
    Bullivant
    Bullivant Family
    Bulls Dairy
    Bungalow
    Burroughs
    Bush
    Butcher
    Cadburys
    Cam
    Cambridge
    Cambridge 1940
    Cambridge American Cemetery
    Cambridge Botanical Gardens
    Cambridge City Bowls Club
    Cambridge Colleges
    Cambridge-community
    Cambridge Community Archive
    Cambridge Community Archive Group
    Cambridge Community Archives
    Cambridge Evening News
    Cambridge Fire Service
    Cambridge Folk Museum (Museum Of Cambridge)
    Cambridge Grocer
    Cambridge High School For Girls
    Cambridge Lesuire Park
    Cambridgeshire Collection
    Cambridgeshire Shops
    Cambridgeshire Transport Section
    Cambridge University Press
    Cambridge University WWII
    Cambridge WWII
    Campkin Road
    Campkin Road Cambridge
    Candles
    Cardigen
    Care-Taker
    Cash Family
    Castle Hill
    Castle Hill Cambridge
    Castle Street
    Catholic
    Cats
    Cattle Market
    Ccan
    Celia
    Central Old Boys
    Chain Stitch
    Chalk
    Cherry
    Cherry Hinton
    Cherry Hinton Road
    Cherry Tree
    Chesterton Community College
    Chesterton Road Cambridge
    Chicken Food
    Chickens
    Chippenham
    Chippenham House
    Chippenham Park
    Chivers
    Chocolate
    Christmas
    Christs Lane
    Christ's Pieces Cambridge
    Church
    Churches Of Cambridgeshire
    Church Of The Good Shepherd Cambridge
    Church Street Chesterton
    Cigs
    Classroom
    Clinic
    Clothes
    Clothing
    Clowns
    Clunch
    Coal
    Coat
    Cobble-stone
    Cod Liver Oil
    Coe Fen
    Cold
    Colleges
    Coloured Pencils
    Con
    Concentrated Orange Juice
    Connie
    Connie Broom
    Connie Toller
    Connie Toller/Broom
    Constance Broom
    Coonie Broom
    Cornfield
    Corridors
    County Boys School Cambridge
    County Girls School Cambridge
    Cows
    Cripple
    Crocodile
    Crocuses
    Cross-over Apron
    Cruden
    Cruden Family
    Cultivated
    Curator
    Cutting The Grass
    Dad
    Dairy
    Daisies
    Dancing
    Dant
    Dawn Chorus
    Dentist
    Derwent
    Diary
    Dig For Victory
    Disco Clothes
    Ditch
    Dog
    Dogs
    Doll\'s Prams
    Donna
    Donna Easy
    Doodlebugs
    Drainage
    Drayton Road Cherry Hinton
    Drink
    Dunkirk
    Dunstable
    Eaden Lilley
    Eaden Lilly
    Early Medieval Period
    Easter Easter Egg
    East Road Cambridge
    Ed Toller
    Edward VII
    Egg Flip
    Eggs
    Elizabeth
    Elizabeth Brown
    Elizabeth Bullivant
    Elizabeth Toller
    Elsie Cruden/Calina/Ely
    Ely Family
    Emma Flack
    English King
    Enid Porter
    E.T.
    Everton
    Eyebrows
    Eyelashes
    Family
    Farmer
    Farming
    Fasten Shoes
    Faulkener Family
    Feet
    Fens
    Fenstanton
    Field Trip
    Fish
    Fishers Lane Cherry Hinton
    Fletcher Family
    Florence Clifton
    Flowers
    Fog
    Folk Musuem
    Food
    Forces
    France
    Fredaville
    Frederick Swanell
    Frenches
    Fringe
    Fruit
    Fruits
    Fruit Sweets
    Fruit Trees
    Garden
    Garden Historian
    Gardens
    Garments
    Gas Cooker
    Gas Mask
    Gas Masks
    Generation
    George
    George Cruden
    George Henry Penny Cruden
    Glebe Road Cambridge
    Globe Pub Cambridge
    Glouster Street Cambridge
    Granchester
    Grand Arcade
    Granny
    Grazes
    Great Aunt
    Great St Mary's Church Cambridge
    Great St Mary's Tower Cambridge
    Great Uncle
    Greengrocers
    Guineapigs
    Guiness
    Gunhild Way
    Hair
    Hair Cut
    Half Moon Inn
    Hampster
    Hardwick
    Hardwick Street Cambridge
    Harston
    Hatchman Family
    Hatton Ward
    Hay
    Headmistress
    Hearth
    Heffers
    Heffers Cambridge
    Hemingford Grey
    Hen
    Hills Road
    Hills Road Cambridge
    Histon
    Histon Road Cambridge
    Histon Road Recreation Ground
    History Pin
    Hitler
    Holidays
    Homefront
    Home Front
    Horseradish
    Horses
    Horses And Carts
    House
    Huntingdon Road
    Huntingdon Road Cambridge
    Ice Cream
    Infant Room
    Infants
    Infant Teacher
    Inns & Pubs Of Cambridge
    Ireland
    Iron
    Ivy
    Ivy Broom
    James Toller
    Jelly
    Jesus Green Cambridge
    Jesus Green Swimming Pool
    Joan
    Joan Punter
    Joan Toller
    Joan Toller/Punter
    Johnson Family
    John Toller
    Josiah Pestell
    June
    Kerb-side
    Khaki
    Kidd & Baker
    King
    Kings Ripton
    Kittens
    Knit
    Krrc Cadets
    Land
    Laura Hayns
    Lawn
    Leather
    Leave
    Leeds WWII
    Letter
    Letters
    Lilly Langtree
    Lingcups
    Linton Linton Institution
    Linton WWII
    Little St Mary's Lane
    Lodging House
    London
    Londoner
    London Road
    Long Grass
    Louies Boot Shop
    Low Income
    Lunch Box
    Lynsey Bullivant
    Macfisheries
    Madingley
    Madlingley Road Cambridge
    Malaya
    Malt
    March
    Marie
    Marie Cruden
    Market Street Cambridge
    Mary Swanell
    May
    May Day
    Maypole
    May Queen
    Memories
    Methodist Church
    Michael/Mick Brown
    Michelle Bullivant
    Micky Mouse
    Micky Mouse Gas Mask
    Military
    Milk
    Mill Lane Cambridge
    Mill Road
    Minniesota
    Miss Chandler
    Missing Teeth
    Miss North
    Miss Salters
    Miss Tredgick
    Monitress
    Monkeys
    Moor Barns Farm
    Morley Cup
    Mother
    Mowing
    Mr Hones
    Mrs Fletcher
    Mrs Golding
    Mrs Kidman
    Mrs Mansfield
    Mrs Mason
    Mr Turner
    Music
    National School
    National Service
    Nature\'s Food
    Netherhall Way Cambridge
    Newmarket
    Newmarket Road Cambridge
    Newnham
    Newnham Cambridge
    Newspapers
    Nick James
    Noel Teulon Porter
    Nose-bag
    Note Book
    Nursing Training
    Oh Dear Little Buttercup
    Old England
    Old Rowney
    Old Spring Pub Cambridge
    Old Wives Tale
    Oral History
    Orange
    Outings
    Overcoats
    Oxford Road
    Oxford Road Cambridge
    Packham
    Painter & Decorator
    Panton Street
    Papillion
    Paradise Woods
    Parcel
    Parents
    Parker's Piece Cambridge
    Park Street School
    Party
    Peck Family
    Peck's Shop
    Peggy Toller
    Penny
    People
    Perne Road Cambridge
    Perowne Street
    Perse School Cambridge
    Peter
    Peter Precious
    Pet Shows
    Petty Cury
    Piano
    Pictures
    Pigs
    Pigs Swill
    Pink Cushion Cover
    Places
    Plum Pudding
    Pneumonia
    Poem
    Poland
    Political Views
    Pom-pom
    Pop Gun
    Potato Peelings
    Potter
    Poultry
    Prayer
    Primary School
    Processo Calino
    Punter
    Punting
    Puppies
    Queen Edith
    Queen Edith\\
    Queen Edith\\\\\\\\
    Queen Ediths School
    Queen Edith's School Cambridge
    Rabbit
    Rabbits
    Radio
    Rags
    Rationed Fish
    Rations
    Rec
    Recruits
    Rectory Farm
    Red
    Red Cross
    Red Dress
    Red Roofed School
    Remuster
    Restored Garden
    Richmond Road
    Richmond Road Cambridge
    Richmond Road Infants School
    Richmond Road School
    River
    River Cam
    Road Side
    Roast
    Roast Beef
    Rocking Horse
    Roses
    Rose Trees
    Rowing
    Rowland Close Cambridge
    Royal Army Medical Corps
    Rum
    Rumby John Flack
    Russ
    Russ Broom
    Russell
    Russell Broom
    Russell Street
    Russell Street Cambridge
    Sapley
    Sapley Park Farm
    Sargent
    Scarlet Fever
    School
    School Diary
    School Pet Rabbit
    Schools Of Cambridgeshire
    Scraps
    Sea
    Second Hand
    Selwyn
    Sewing Machine
    Shaftsbury Road Cambridge
    Sheds
    Sheen Family
    Shirly Temple
    Shoes
    Shop
    Shy
    Sidney Street Cambridge
    Slate
    Snow
    Soldier
    Solider
    Songs
    Southill
    Spare Room
    Sports
    Sports Team
    Stables
    Stage
    Stalley Family
    St Augustines
    Steam Engines
    St Giles Cemetery Cambridge
    St James Church Cambridge
    St John's Church Cambridge
    St Matthew's Church Cambridge
    Stocking Mending Silk
    Storey\'s Way
    St Paul\'s
    St Paul's Church Cambridge
    Stream
    Streatley
    Stretham
    Stretham Pumping Engine
    Stroki Cullins
    Studs
    Sudan United Mission
    Summer
    Sunny Days
    Sweet Coupons
    Sweets
    Tales From Cambridge
    Teacher
    Tea Tin
    Telegraph Pole
    Tempsford
    Tennis Ball
    Theatres In Cambridgeshire
    The Backs
    The Backs Cambridge
    The Globe Pub
    The New Theatre Cambridge
    Throne
    Toffee
    Toffee Papers
    Toffees
    Toilet Paper
    Toller
    Toller Family
    Tollers Farm
    Toy
    Toy Shop
    Tracing
    Tracing Paper
    Trains
    Tree
    Trees
    Trousers
    Trumpington
    Trumpington Church
    Trumpington Street Cambridge
    Turkey
    Turkeys
    Turkish Delight
    Twigs Way
    UCLES
    Uncle Bill
    Uncle Grorge
    Uncle Harry
    Uncle Russ
    Uncles
    Uniform
    University Of Cambridge Exams Syndicate
    Upper Caldecote
    USAF
    Utility Mark
    V
    Val
    Val Burroughs
    Val Toller
    Veg
    Vegtable Peelings
    Vicarage Terrace Cambridge
    Vicotory Party
    Victory
    Violet Cruden
    Walled Garden
    Wall In Tree
    War
    Wardrobes
    War Letters
    Warning
    Wash Hands
    Washing
    Water
    Wax
    Wax Dolls
    Wayman Family
    Weather
    Well
    Westly Family
    West Road
    White Cliffs Of Dover
    Wild
    Wilkinson
    Wilson Family
    Windsor Road Cambridge
    Winnie Chandler
    Wireless
    Wool
    WWI
    WWII
    Xmas
    Xmas Card
    Xmas Tree
    Yellow Ice Cream
    Yours

  • Home
  • About
    • Historical & Archaeological Services
  • Cambridgeshire History
  • Cherry Hinton History
  • UK History
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Wanted