Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RICOTOY
RICOTOY
Your letter arrived ‘par avion, ‘this morning. It was most exciting to receive the post with a Spanish
stamp. The housekeeper, Miss Harris, was delighted to have the postage stamps to give to her nephew.
We heard the news of the SS Scheldestad on the radio. How tragic that some 40 sailors lost their lives. I
feel a sense of great sadness for the mothers who have lost their sons and wives who will never see the
return of their husbands. We in the servant’s hall have donated a small sum of money that the vicar will
send to the bereaved. Reverend Jones knew several Belgian refugees from his parish in Folkestone
during the Great War.
It surprised me to hear that some 250000 Belgians arrived in England when the Germans invaded. How
sad they lost their home to invaders, only to return home, without choice, when the war ended. The
Reverend said the government wanted the jobs back for returning servicemen. Miss Harris has a niece
who was a conductress on a tram. She also lost her employment, as a soldier required the job. Miss
Harris believes they will one day pay men and women the same wages for the same work, but I fear that
is most unlikely.
Mr. Ross met with the prime Minister. Mr. MacDonald is a good man but in poor health, and Mr. Ross
says he can not remain in power for much longer. The Tories dominate the National Government, and his
Labour policies have little support. The newspapers once again reported that his son was a conscientious
objector during the war. It did not reflect well upon him.