A Schoolboy's Wartime Letters by Geoffrey Iley

Author:Geoffrey Iley [Iley, Geoffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78279-503-2
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
Published: 2014-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Uncle Walter was a bit worried when David and I got back late from that cycle ride.

11 Carleton Place

Monday night 24/8/42

Dear Norman and Winnie,

Twice in this last hour or so I have wished you could see that son of yours, and since that is unfortunately not possible, I’d better try my hand at describing him. He and David set off on their bikes at about 11, cycled to Patterdale, climbed Helvellyn by the tough way over Striding Edge, took the wrong path on the top, but found themselves again and returned via Grisedale Tarn.

They arrived home just before 9, when we were beginning to get worried. I had thought they would be thoroughly tired, but not a bit of it – Geoffrey looked as fresh as paint, and gave no sign of anything but an immense hunger. David immediately took off his wet shoes and stockings, and washed his feet, hands and face, but Geoffrey was only prevailed on to remove his stockings with difficulty, and I hadn’t the heart to withhold him from his food any longer, so he postponed the washing until later.

Then it was that I wished, for the first time that you could see him – getting round scrambled eggs on toast, with fried potatoes, and then with deep apple pie — then his half pint of milk and cake. He has a rare colour on him, and was as chirpy as a sparrow. Immediately afterwards they retreated to bed, and I have just been up, and wished you could see him again. The two of them are lying on their tummies, with one book between them – one which I specially chose for them at the library this afternoon, called “Wizardarious Happenings” and there they are mopping up the gory details of age old murder mysteries, and what happened to the “Cyclops” and the curse of the Hapsburgs. I have just directed them to a particularly juicy one – “The mystery of the invisible bloodstains.”

Tomorrow we plan (if I get up in time) to go to Ullswater, over Place Fell and by Gage Tarn to High Street and then by the Roman Road to Ullswater and to finish by taking the steamer to Pooley Bridge. I have remarked to Geoffrey that is a pity that you are not here, so that the fathers might send the sons ahead as light columns and themselves bring up the rear in a slow and dignified manner.

We all went for a walk last night, and got amongst a big expanse of heather in full bloom – a lovely sight. By the way, have you thought of making G. a politician! He has a great penchant for leaving no stone unturned. He spent some considerable time hurling boulders into a river, and more in heaving still bigger ones over a quarry edge. If he keeps it up he will undoubtedly leave several marks on the face of Britain.

All of which is really to say that he is having a good time, and that we are thoroughly enjoying having him here.

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