About the John Pendlebury Family Papers
The John Pendlebury Family Papers cover the period from 1913 to 1964 and document the life of archaeologist and WWII hero John Devitt Stringfellow Pendlebury, his wife Hilda and their family.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Thanking Lilian for sending his camera and asking for her to send off approval sheets [stamps].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Thanking Lilian for sending his camera and magnifying glass, and asking her to get him a rifle to shoot rooks. Telling her about the school, his stamp-swopping and that he should learn to ride a bike.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Thanking Lilian for [photographic] films, and telling her about photographs he had taken. Making arrangements for her to visit. Telling Lilian about the food and activities at the school including a cricket match, that he had learnt to ride a bike and his stamp swopping. John also asks Lilian to tell Aunt Tottie that he was sorry that Phil had been killed [in the War], and asks how Nanny and the birds are.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about activities at the school, a game that the boys at the school had invented, and about other students including that David Egerton was going to try for a Winchester scholarship at the same time as John. John also says that he was looking forward to Lilian visiting and asks her to bring items with her.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Asking Lilian to bring photography trays and caramels [when she visited].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Saying that time had gone quickly since her visit, that he had an illness that was affecting his throat, and that everyone wanted to borrow his books by [Henry] Rider Haggard. John also asks Lilian to get him another book by Rider Haggard, and to forward notes to Ponty [a friend from his previous school, St George’s] and to Mr Egerton [whose school John attended until he was 10]. He mentions that he is writing to Mr Bickersteth [headmaster from St George’s school] and Bunny [a friend from St George’s]. With “love to all” written in Latin, Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and French.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about a tennis tournament, a strawberry tea, and other news from the school, and asking if she had got him any cigarette cards.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden, shortly after Lilian had visited. Thanking Lilian for honey and ‘Nada the Lily’ [book by Henry Rider Haggard]; wondering if Bumpus’ [a shop] had managed to get ‘She’ [book by Henry Rider Haggard]; sending news of other boys at the school (a birthday and illnesses); discussing the weather, examinations and golf. John also asked after [Herbert Pendlebury], Nanny, the birds, cat and Dicky [dog]; mentions Uncle Powell; asks if she had heard anything about Bligh or Mr Webb (a friend of Sir Philip) who had “helped him to save us at Malvern the year before last”; and wondered if they would go to Bradford to see aunt Violet and Bella in the holidays.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About playing golf (and thanking her for golf balls), his upcoming examinations [for Winchester College], presents that another student received from his uncle, leaving the school, the weekly visit to church, and [books by Henry Rider Haggard]. John also asks Lilian if there have been any more air raids.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About upcoming exams [for Winchester College], holidays and church that morning (and the old man who brought round the collection plate). Also thanking Lilian for a mascot she had sent.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About his examinations [for Winchester College], the weather, playing golf, going for a picnic, and a starling nest. John also asks if Goodman [his friend from the school] could visit in the holidays after they had been to Bradford, and reminds [Herbert] about buying him a bat. Includes drawings of Theseus killing the Minotaur and Hannibal drinking poison.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About his examination results for Winchester College, a picnic at Bushwood [a school outing] and that he was glad that Goodman [a friend from school] would be able to visit in the holidays.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden on Easter Sunday. Thanking her for a box of caramels; discussing arrangements for Goodman [his friend] to visit in the holidays; telling her about going to church, news of his friends, play fights and shapes they had seen in the clouds. John finishes the letter by saying that will be his last Sunday at the school at writes that “in a little while I shall be a Winchester man!”.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about his new school, that is was “simply ripping” and that someone had tied up a hedgehog in a handkerchief, and that he had seen tanks on the way to the school the previous day. Also asks Lillian to send his swop book [of stamps].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About a cricket match, news of fellow students (Muir, Austin Colville, Ware, David Egerton, Pongo), their garden, Charlie Hill (a lieutenant of the Welsh fusiliers) visiting the school, and exams starting the next day.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Seems to be unfinished. News about a cricket match (in which John had hurt his hand), that Mrs Pilkington had visited and he had received a letter from Mr Egerton [whose school John had previously attended]. Asking Lilian if she had got him another book by [Henry] Rider Haggard, whether she had seen any [German aircraft] the previous day, how the birds were and where she had decided to go (possibly to Stratford). John also mentions that it is only 3 weeks [until the summer holidays].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Sent to the Foley Arms Hotel, Malvern. Telling Lilian about new boys at the school and a new teacher, a teacher who was still there and other boys still to return, about the garden and that he had got a photograph of the school. Asking if she had heard from [Herbert Pendlebury], whether anyone new had arrived and whether there was “anyone there who arranged their hair in the garden”.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian that he had been ill with a cold and so had a lot of the other boys, asking her to send ‘Chums’ [magazine] and saying that the new master (Mr Claxton) was nice and interesting.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Asking Lilian to write to Smith’s in Stratford (as they had asked him for her address), and to send his mittens and some golf balls. Telling her general news about the school, and asking her to visit to play football sometime after his birthday [17th Oct].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About his birthday celebrations at the school and presents from his parents, Mrs Boshington and Aunt Lily; books by [Henry Rider Haggard] and a planned [football] match against Packwood [school]. Also telling Lilian that he now sits next to Horace Martelli [in class] and that they had a harvest festival celebration.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Enclosing a letter for Nanny (as she would soon return from Rolvenden, Kent); thanking Lilian for golf balls, socks, ‘Child of Storm’ [book by Henry Rider Haggard] and an illumination on a letter; asking her to write a letter saying that she had knitted mittens as no one believed him; asking her to send his thanks to Mrs Boshington and Aunt Lily for chocolates [for his birthday]; telling her about the teams for football matches, and discussing German Zeppelins that were shot down [19-20 Oct].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about a football match, that they had had an organ in church, and that he had a nice time with his aunts Winnie and Kate though it was a shame that Howson couldn’t come but he was ill. John send his love to [Herbert], says that he is looking forward to [Lilian] visiting and hopes that everyone including Dicky [dog?] and the lovebirds are alright.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Looking forward to his parents visiting, and asking for a cigarette card album and for [Herbert Pendlebury] to get cigarette cards from men in the hospitals. John also tells Lilian about students going to take an exam for the Navy, that John’s foot had been swollen after a football match, that Mrs Richardson had been caught in an air raid, that they had seen a dromedary [camel] being fed, and asks after Nanny and the birds.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Wishing Lilian a happy birthday and hoping that she likes her present; telling her about a football match against the scouts, [stamp collecting], and [swans] which had been given to the school; and telling her that a collar [she had given him] was very nice.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Asking Lilian to send his camera, 2 rolls of film and his stamp magnifying glass “for burning things”. Telling her about the school, that he had 2 birds eggs, and that she could give things away except for a green and red engine [toy train].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about activities at the school (football, golf, dancing), that they would be having exams soon and when he would arrive by train for the Christmas holidays. Also thanking her for collars etc. and asking if [Herbert Pendlebury] had managed to get cigarette cards for him.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Telling Lilian about a football match against the scouts and that he was ill in bed with a sore throat.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Wishing Herbert a happy birthday; discussing the Christmas holidays (including having to study Latin verses and Greek, and going to gamages’ [department store in London]); telling him about exams at the school and that Simon and Venables [students] were going to take their exam [for the Navy] in London; and asking him to remind Lilian that he was arriving by train on the 17th of Dec.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Sending news of the other boys at the school, his journey back and the weather, and telling Herbert that they were going to play golf. Also mentions that Lilian must be having a good time with aunt Katie’s children and [didn’t want him to leave].
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. Thanking Lilian for a purse, giving her news about other boys’ at the school, asking for writing paper and to send his stamp album. John also tells Lilian about going to church, that Mrs Reynell had liked a calendar they had given her, and asks her to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] about his exam results and sorry for not writing “esquire” at the end of his letter.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About his stamp collection, the weather, the potato patch in the garden at the school, dates for the half-term and Easter holidays, news of other boys at the school, and asking her to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that his exam marks were only for [Latin] versus.
Written from Beaudesert Park, Henley-in-Arden. About activities at the school (going to church, playing chariot races on roller skates, the potato patch), his stamp collection, the weather, [Lilian and Herbert Pendlebury] coming to visit soon, and that he was the only boy leaving that term. Also asking Lilian to tell Nanny that he hoped she would read that letter, as he didn’t have time to write separately.
Sent from the Welbeck Palace Hotel, London.
Sent from Garden House Hotel, Cambridge.
Sent from Garden House Hotel, Cambridge.