18 July 1943

18 July 1943

Dear Angela
Please excuse the paper, it is the best I can do at the present. Large writing pads are almost impossible to buy now so I am using some of my stock of college paper. I am “fire-watching” at present and as the table was not made for writing on you must also excuse the scribble being worse than usual.
I think I had just finished exams when I last wrote to you – well I have the results now and am pleased to say that I got through. I am rather sorry at being the only Mechanical Engineer in 2nd Year to pass out of six – I will certainly miss the other chaps. I should learn something next year as I will be the only person in at each lecture. I have been given another year before being called up into the services, and when the time comes I will go in at my own work.
We had the college sports a fortnight ago, and even though I wasn’t very fit and hadn’t recovered from the fatigue of exams, I managed to win the 100 yds, 120 hurdles and the high jump and got second in the 220 yds and the long jump – the times and distances were very poor because hardly anyone had had time to do any training – however it was a grand day.
I had a fortnight holiday after the exams and it was just a series of dances, visits to the “pictures”, and rides on my bike – however I have once again donned boiler suits and gone back to work among oil and grease for 3 months. I don’t really mind work but the early rising doesn’t seem to agree with me at all.
Rod has received Ginny’s letter and has a reply written but not yet posted – he is with me now and we have both been having a good laugh because we are both as red as cherries with sun-burn. I must thank you for the photo, I think it is very good and that “sweet and prim” is the best way of describing you or perhaps I could put some more expression in to a whistle or a sigh – in short – I don’t think you would be short of ‘dates’ if you were over here!!! I am afraid you won’t be able to say anything as complimentary as the above about my photo as it does make me look a little sullen, but I suppose I do look like that, but I don’t think I am sullen.
I can’t think of any more to write and I haven’t any questions to ask at present, and I have none to answer so I will close with your advice –
Be good and write soon
Love
Harold