12 October 1941 - Starting college

12th Oct 1941

Dear Angela
Your letter arrived over a week ago but I simply have not had time to answer it. You will have been back at school about six weeks by now - I have been at college for just over one week, this is the reason why I have had so little time to answer your letter. I will start at my first day at college and give my experiences in order. I began on Oct 1st at 9.15, an address from the principal of the college was about all we got that morning. We were supposed to have the afternoon free - but we had to put in three hours squad drill under a terrible sergeant - you have seen pictures of “raw recruits” well I was one, the next “parade” was on Oct 4th when we got drill and lectures - this means that I am “in the army” for 6 hours each week, however I think it is grand. The rest of the week (except Sunday) is spent in lectures and lab. work, and piles of work to do at home; out of the 37½ hours I spend at college about 26 hours are spent with maths - they call it various names, but it still boils down to maths. You can imagine the amount of work I have to do now. As I am taking a degree I will have to become a member of Durham University - this will mean going through a ceremony adorned in a mortar-board and gown - I will look great.
I hope you got your dress and skirt made in time - you should be over here; mam is always making something out of something else, as you are only allowed so many clothes coupons a year. Most of the girls have finished their coupons, and are about half way through their brother’s or dad’s coupons.
We have had a busy night or two, when the moon was out, bombs were dropped near a friend of mine - the houses on each side of his were down to the ground and yet not one of the windows in his house was broken. When you walk around the streets you often hear snatches of conversation such as these:-
“I keep all the valuables in a case in the shelter - just to make sure if anything happens”
“The two men managed to get some sleep in the shelter, but I stayed awake because the guns were so noisy”
Or “Such and such a shop has got chocolate and cigarettes”
You asked why the July 4th ceremony was held in a school. The Elementary Schools don’t close until the second or third week in July and open about a month afterwards. The colleges close about the last week in June and open about Oct 1st.
The only topic left is the war and I don’t want to mention it, so I will close.
Yours sincerely
Harold