7 March 1942

7 Mar 1942

Dear Angela
Your letter arrived a few days ago and I am beginning to answer it now - at 11.00 pm it is the only time I can find; I suppose you will know what kind of a letter to expect when it is written at this hour of the night.
You certainly seem to do things in style in America, there is no ceremony at school when we receive our School Leaving Certificates from Secondary School, even when I matriculated (i.e. became a member of Durham University) there was very little fuss. I have heard quite a deal about ‘Graduation Day’ but I am still not quite clear about what really does take place - please excuse my ignorance! I was glad to hear that you got through you exams alright even if you did take them late. Do you sit you main exams during the winter? Nearly all British exams are set in June or July just when you feel like going out at nights instead of swotting.
Sunderland had its ‘Warship Week’ about three weeks ago and we raised over 1.25x106 pounds (as the engineer would write it) or a million and a quarter pounds. I was given the task of writing to the Prime Minister for one of his cigars to raffle in aid of ‘Warship Week’, however the most I got was a typed note and a piece of paper with his coat of arms on. I think if some ‘official’ had written up we would have got the cigar as many other towns have done so.
I must admit that I laughed a little about your ‘blackout news bulletin’ but you seemed to have the same feelings as I had when it first began. You are lucky because you seem to be just blacked you for a few hours at a time - over here there has never been a street lamp on or any window lights showing since the beginning of the war. We are not so lucky as you, because the Hun can come to us in a few hours; and you get to know when anyone is coming to you a good while beforehand. We haven’t had much activity over here for a while and I hope we don’t have any more. As for the war in general, it seems to be ‘ups and downs’ like wave motion, but, we will rise to the crest of a wave and stay on top.
You mention going on the beach - I am afraid that is impossible over here, unless you wish to go through about six coils of barbed wire and other obstacles, this wire stretches for miles along the coast and I would like to see it all piled up - I bet the heap would be a size.
I have just been to an art exhibition this afternoon (I decided to have an afternoon off to do some shopping), the exhibits were very good and included some illustrations to one of GB Shaw’s books, they were very abstract in style for book illustrations but they seemed to create the emotions in the story, rather than illustrate it. Some very fine paintings have been made of the bomb damage in London, I have a catalogue somewhere with a photo of one of them - if I can find it I will send it in some future letter. I have done very little painting lately but I will do some in the summer. My last painting was my first attempt at abstract painting and my old art master said it was very good, however the more I look at it the more I am amazed that I painted it. I hope I am not boring you and that you do not dislike ‘modern’ art, if you do dislike it - I will say that I am not an artist and will not argue any more. Do you still keep your drawing and painting up? If you do - I think it is only fair that you send me some of your attempts in exchange for those terrible distortions on paper that I sent you - in short - send a sketch if you can!
I have been asked so often to go to dances and I have had to refuse so often, that, in spite of all my work, I have started dancing classes. Dancing is about the only thing left to do over here. Do you have many dances? The procedure of my dancing lessons is as follows - I attend my class and when I come home I have to try and teach mam the modern steps - you can imagine what happens!
Well I must close now as it is about time to get some ‘shut-eye’. Your letter was opened as usual - the only reasons I can give for mine not being opened are
(a) The censor has decided that I haven’t made any more slips of the pen since the first one.
OR
(b) Someone recognised the writing (highly improbable) and remembered being bored by the last one and so just missed it.
Please take these reasons hot on a cold plate with custard and a pinch of salt.
I am in no fit state to write any more

Yours sincerely
Harold