Cornwall

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With love from Cornwall (1991)

with love from Cornwall St Anthonys

20.5.91 Here in a lovely hotel for one week. Weather dull but went to lovely St Mawes & found sun. Most enjoyable Trust things are sorting out for you Love Auntie Vi

Another brief update from Auntie Vi, once again featuring the hotel and the weather – those stalwarts of British postcard writing!

Interestingly, Auntie Vi has written a date of 20.5.91 on the card, but the postmark can clearly be seen as ‘NEWQUAY 14 MAY 1991’ – that will remain a mystery…

1991 was a difficult year for us, and many others, as the UK was deep in recession, to which Auntie Vi makes reference in her message.

 

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With love from Cornwall (2005)

with love from Cornwall

Hi Hilary – We’re in Cornwall at the moment – thought of you and Simon as we’re in Newquay today. Janet (Gra’s sister) is getting married on Saturday + Carrie + Ashlea are bridesmaids + I’m singing. Lots of excitement + my mum + dad are coming too. Getting about to different beaches with the children. Hope to catch up before hols are ended – will be in touch. Lots of love Sara + all xxx

Amidst all the excitement Sara has still found time to drop me a postcard – the style of writing suggests a very hectic time. Simon, my husband, comes from Cornwall, which is why she’s thought of us.

The postmark is very blurred, but I believe that it is dated 22.06.05  The other blurred postmark is asking us to ‘Please print the postcode’ – something which Sara has ignored on this occasion, and the card still arrived safely!

I haven’t seen Sara in a while, we both seem to have more time for meeting during the winter months…

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with love from Saint-Palais-Sur-Mer, France (1988)

with love from Saint Palais sur Mer

Having a great time, very hot here, sea not quite rough enough but did surfing yesterday. John has just replaced his rubber dinghy that he wrecked yesterday. The site is lovely, quiet, clean & very convenient & plenty of room (unusual for French sites). We are eating outside all the time, barbecuing & drinking every evening – very relaxing after the activity at home. Love J P R & C

The last sentence says it all – we can picture the evening sun on the caravan site and practically smell the barbecue as we read!

Postmarked ’17 LES MATHES 16h 45 28-7-1988 CHARENTES MARITIME’ the card features a view of Le Pont du Diable au Platin, which is a popular natural feature of Saint-Palais-Sur-Mer on the Atlantic coast of France.

The stamp is 2 franc 20c featuring the famous Liberté de Gandon engraving which appeared on French stamps between 1982 and 1990

This is another card from J,P,R & C.  John, once again features, as a middle aged man who has ‘wrecked’ his rubber dinghy in the surf!  This comes as no surprise to me – during the 70’s our family and theirs spent many happy holidays in Cornwall; a big feature of these holidays was John and my Dad endlessly pushing us children over the surf in a rubber dinghy and, inevitably, us squealing with laughter as we were tipped out.  

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with love from Cornwall (1984)

With love from Cornwall

29.5.84 Dear Hilary, Just a quick line from here in Cornwall – we are at the most West place – St Just, just me and mum on holiday for a week. Have got my ‘mock’ finals when I get back to it is ideal for working.  Hope all is well with you. Love to your family, bye for now, lots of love, Ida xxxx

Another card from Cornwall, which is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK.

The post mark is ‘Sennen & Land’s End, Penzance 29 May 1984’ and the stamp is 12½p the 2nd class price for a small postcard.

The illustrated map on the front shows the concentration of shipwrecks off the coast, indicated by the white dots, as well as the lighthouses (black stars) that help to guide vessels around this rocky coastline.  The Cornish Coat of Arms is also depicted with its motto ‘One and All’. A wealth of information for which the artist appears to be unacknowledged!

On the back there is more information about the wrecks, and to this day lives are lost off this savage and unpredictable coastline.

This is another card from from Ida, my friend from early school days. I like maps; postcards depicting maps are great for contextualising a place within its wider surroundings.

 

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with love from Looe, Cornwall (c1984)

With love from Looe, Cornwall

Dear Hilary, Having a super time eating lots of fish & cream teas. Doing lots of walks along Cliff tops its very pretty here. We have seen Dartmoore & Bodmin & Jim had a day shark fishing. We are off today to a place called Lansallos where no cars can get too. So its more walking. Lots of love Gill & Jim

Post marked ‘Plymouth, Cornwall & W. Devon, 3pm 9 Sep’ – the year is illegible but the 17p stamp suggests that it may have been 1984

It is unclear whether they were staying in Devon or Cornwall, as highlights of both counties feature in the narrative. The picture on the front is Looe, Cornwall, which continues to be a very popular tourist destination.  Lansallos beach, mentioned, remains relatively inaccessible today, as do many of the hidden coves around the Cornish coastline.

This is another card from Gill and Jim (Gill is not with Jim now). I am pleased to report that, as a result of this blog, Gill and I finally got together for lunch recently. We worked out that it’s nearly 30 years since we last met up. Time flies, but it was lovely to see each other and we had a great time reminiscing; we’ve vowed not to leave it another 30 years…

 

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with love from Tregony (1977)

With love from Tregony

Dear Hilary, The weather has not been very good with a couple of days of rain but we are still having a great holiday. We have been sailing nearly every day, the winds have been quite strong but we have not yet gone over. I shall not see you before so I hope you have a nice holiday Love, James

A newsy status update postmarked ‘Tregony Truro Cornwall 8th Aug 1977’ carrying a 9p stamp which was first class for a 2oz letter at the time.

Tregony is on the River Fal in Cornwall and still looks much the same now as it did when this photo was taken.

James’ family were members at the local sailing club, where my family sailed. James had a Merlin Rocket and I used to crew for him. There were plenty of social events and teenage discos and the inevitable snog… I have not stayed in touch with James.

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with love from St Ives (1974)

Blog 2

Dear Hilary, At this moment I am on a camp-site in our tent in bed.  I have been to Sennen-Cove today and after a gastly shower I am still sandy.  I had a nice time at the Wye-Valley we did lot’s of things.  I shared a room with Helen, Tracey, Anne and Clare.  Hope you are well and your family.  I didn’t manage to get to boarding school this year but I’ve got another chance next year.  Hope to see you sometime.  My mum gives her love to your mum, lots of love, Ida

Another postcard from my childhood – the postmark date is 9 August 1974.   We moved areas earlier in 1974 and it took me a long time to settle in my new school.  My friend Ida was committed to keeping me up to date with news from my old friends.

The other postmark is still asking us all to ‘Remember to use the post code’ which by 1974 was supposed to be included on all addresses.  As I recall, it was quite hard trying to find out  what the correct post codes were.

In 1974 a first class stamp had gone up to 4½p

St Ives is still a popular destination for tourists and artists.  The photo appears to have been enhanced by tropical vegetation – I think the main shot has been taken from the end of the harbour wall where there are no plants.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ida and I were at infant school together, we have not seen each other for over 20 years, but continue to enjoy catching up via regular exchanging of Christmas cards.