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.
Sent from Winchester College. Telling her about “sixes” [Winchester College football games], that they had “commoner singing” and Hatch Thoke [founder’s commemoration day], that he was 2nd [place in his Greek division] for the “half” [autumn term] and exams start on Monday. John also writes that he is glad she can get up [she had been ill], and he doesn’t need a new Sunday coat; and asks her to apologise to [Herbert Pendlebury] for him as he didn’t wish him happy birthday, and to thank the MacAskies for an invitation.
Sent from Winchester College. Asking for money and telling her what time his train arrives [for the holidays], his places [ranking] in Latin Prose, Greek, Chemistry and History, and that he had broken a window with a football.
Sent from Winchester College. About playing in Ellis Pots [soccer tournament], academic work and ranking in the school, lectures they were having and books that they were studying. John also tells Herbert that he is looking forward to receiving a letter from him, and asks Herbert to send his love to [Lilian Pendlebury] and to ask her to develop prints of photographic films.
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. About his academic progress (better than the previous week), the possibility of a “remove” and private tuition; and that they were doing badly in Ellis Pots [soccer tournament]. John also tells Herbert that they were going to the Cathedral, he was getting [‘The Outline of History’] serialised book by H G Wells, and that they had a task on how men show their character by the things they laugh at.
Sent from [Winchester College]. Thanking her for chocolates, asking her not to send a button, telling her that he was playing outside right [position] in Ellis Pots [soccer tournament], and asking her to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] about his academic progress (particularly in Greek) and that they were studying the history of Israel and Judah.
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. About his academic ranking, being invited to tea by the Smiths, his team doing badly in Ellis Pots [soccer tournament], a task on how men show their character by the things they laugh at, and having been inoculated [against ?].
Sent from Winchester College. Thanking her for spray and chocolates, asking for Uncle Howson’s address and if she’d like to order ‘The Wykehamist’ [magazine], and sending “Short Roll” [register of students at the College]. Also telling Lilian there was a “leave out day” with London leave on the 26th [of Feb], they had not had academic marks or a “cuse”, there had been no games in Ellis Pots [soccer tournament] that week so he would probably be playing when [Herbert Pendlebury] visits, and that “old Chambers” was teaching them instead of Charles Little who had [been ill].
Sent from [Winchester College]. Reporting on his division for French, books he was studying, saying that he would like to see ‘Tilly of Bloomsbury’ [play] at the theatre and had invited friends for lunch on Saturday and Sunday [during Hebert Pendlebury’s visit].
Sent from Winchester College. Giving train times, and telling Herbert that he was 3rd in History, they had not a “cuse”, that he had written to [Lilian Pendlebury] at Radnor Cliff [Kent] and that he would ask for London leave.
Sent from D House [Culver], Winchester College. About life at the school and the other boys at the school, including that John was not the youngest and that there was “really no brocking” [teasing]. Also asks Lilian to send [a book by Henry Rider Haggard], photographs and stamps.
Sent from Winchester College, containing a note about arrangements for Lilian to go to a [football or cricket] match at Eton [College] with John.
Sent from Winchester College. Saying he’d arrived safely back from visiting home and had enjoyed the visit, telling her his place in Ellis Pot [soccer team], that they were revising history rather than having a set task, and his marks [for a test] on prose. John also asks whether Nanny [Alice Comber] would go home or her mother would visit, and says that he is sorry for the death of Mrs Barnes.
Sent from Winchester College. About playing sports at the school, that they had a task on the best form of government, and that he was looking forward to [the holidays], going to Cambridge to see Mrs Comber [Alice, his nanny] and going to Lords [cricket ground]. Also telling Lilian that he was going on a field trip to Salisbury plain.
Sent from Winchester College. Telling her that he would be running in a Steeplechase race, that the field trip [to Salisbury plain] was a success and he saw Tommy [?] there, about his task on the best form of government and that they had a lecture on nationalisation. John also asks Lilian to thank [Herbert Pendlebury] for notes on [the best form of government task], says he is glad that it was arranged [to go to Lord’s cricket ground in the holidays], that he is writing to Dr Menzies and that the Smiths had asked him out to tea.
Sent from [Winchester College]. Thanking her for money, telling her he was 37th in the Steeplechase [running race] and would enter the senior and junior high jump competition and middle hurdles in athletics [at the school].
Sent from Winchester College. About athletics competitions, asking her to confirm his grandfather’s address, and payments for the bicycle shop and to give the college servants.
Sent from [Winchester College]. Thanking her for money and explaining why they were giving money [to the college servants], reporting on his progress [in athletics] and results for an essay, and saying he would write to his grandfather.
Sent from [Winchester College]. Reporting on his performance in the hurdles and high jump in athletics.
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. Reporting on the result of the Taylor Pot [inter-house award, based on aggregate athletics marks] and examinations; telling her he had photographs of himself doing the high jump and running in the Steeplechase race, his schedule for the next day (as he was travelling home the day after) including “Dick Shield” [rifle shooting competition], and that he had written to his grandfather. John also mentions that his cricket boots had arrived and that there was a 10-day camping trip at the end of next half [the next term].
Sent from Winchester College. The questionnaire (titled “catechism” and written by Lilian or Herbert) contains questions about John’s activities and place in the College, and has been answered by John. The letter informs Lilian about the new prefects at the school, that the whole school were going to see [a play] at the Guild Hall [Winchester], and that he had been inoculated again. John also asks Lilian to ask [Herbert Pendlebury] to get him the correct version of the gospel according to St Luke in Greek, says he is sorry about Dicky [the dog?] and sends his love to Nanny.
Sent from [Winchester College]. Informing her of his arrival time and saying that no telegrams would go after 10am because it was a bank holiday.
Sent from D House [Culver], Winchester College. Thanking her for a postal order and telling her about a lecture on ants, tea with Canon Smith and a huge thunderstorm which resulted in a leak in the roof. John also asks for a box to keep butterflies in [that he had caught].
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. Sending “Short Roll” [register of students at the College], asking for ‘The Book of Good Hunting’ by Henry Newbolt and for her to get him a song (he didn’t mind which as long as it was short, cheerful and not too high).
Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. Reporting on (and sending papers from) his assessments, his weekly task, academic progress, and a Chawker Pot [soccer tournament] game between Culver House and Chawkers House. Asking Herbert who Lady Dalton was because she had asked Mr Richardson to invite John to lunch and tea; telling him about a play about Agamemnon at the school put on by “The Bince” [Mr Robinson], that they had 2 lectures by Sir Edward Grigg on the Dominions, about his preparations for athletics, and that they were going to the Cathedral as it was “Cathers Sunday”.
Sent from D House [Culver], Winchester College. Asking for his net and a killing bottle [for butterflies] as he had joined the Natural History Society, and telling her that Marlborough [College] had won a match [football or cricket].
Sent from D House [Culver], Winchester College. Thanking Lilian for handkerchiefs and telling her about life at the school including a boat race, a “crockets” [cricket] match and that he had been to Gunner’s Hole [to swim]. Also telling her that he was going to have tea with Canon Vaughan and visit the Sings.
Sent from Winchester College. Reporting his place in the College (division, soccer team, dormitory, seat in Chapel, being Dicker’s clothes cad [assistant, part of his “sweats]) and the books that they would be studying. John also says that the eider-down [bed cover] arrived and he had paid the subscription to the school, and asks for Hutchinson’s magazine.
Sent from Winchester College. The letter from the College is about the summer holidays and an outbreak of fever in the school. John writes that the College lost a boat race to Westminster [College], that he had “put up the mugging” [trim decorating his toye in the mugging hall], had been chasing butterflies and liked a frame she gave him for a photograph of his grandfather. Also includes an invented short dialogue about the devil being everywhere.
Sent from D House [Culver], Winchester College. Asking for Lilian to change a sovereign coin into shillings and pence so he could have money for a day when they were allowed out of the school, and telling her he had played cricket and gone up 10 places in “cuse”, and that there was an exam the next day.
Sent from “E.E.S., T.A.” [Egyptian Exploration Society excavation, Amarna].
Sent from “Egypt Exploration Society’s Camp, Tell el Amarna, Near Deir Mawas, Upper Egypt” [Amarna].
Sent from “Egypt Exploration Society’s Camp, Tell el Amarna, Near Deir Mawas, Upper Egypt” [Amarna].
Sent from “Egypt Exploration Society’s Camp, Tell el Amarna, Near Deir Mawas, Upper Egypt” [Amarna].
Sent from 2 Sh. Seray el Gezira [Cairo, Egypt].
Sent from 31 Barrow Road, Cambridge.
Sent from Oxford and Cambridge University Club, London.