“Today I went with Pearl for a trip up the river from Westminster Bridge to Kew Gardens. The aredens are a picture – beautifully wild in places with woods of pie or English trees in other places and masses of wildflowers, and laid out formally in other places. The Rhododendrons in masses were a riot of colour as were beds of tulips. Beds of tulips may be seen all over London – the colours are wonderful.
My friend Nell from the Himalaya is due back from a week in Ireland today and I am expecting her to ring tonight or in the morning, so will be going out with her or Pearl tomorrow.
This letter has amounted to a diary, which must be horribly boring. Hope you can read it. I think the Scotland folk are inpatient that I’m not on my way up already. I’ll be quite glad to go by the end of the week, and feel very excited about seeing them all.
Do tell me all that’s going on back there. Sometimes I wish I could wake up and find myself there. I just can’t write all the letters I should to my friends. Remember me to Mr and Mrs Bates and Urwin and Alex. How is work? Kippy and Joyce? How are Robinsons, Quails and McColls and Richardsons? All my love to yourself, Marj and boys.
Love from Jean.”
Excerpts from Jean’s letter to her sister Mary, 30 May 1951
