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McCully Collection
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Page One
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Page Four Marion McCully auto album
newspapers -
photographs -
postcards -
letters -
no dates -
misc.
Letters 1948 - 1949
1948
 
1
1) 3rd January 1948 - Ashford Castle Hotel, Cong, Co. Mayo - My dear Marion,
Thank you so much for your nice letter. I was delighted to Get the two
recipes & to hear all the news. How very remiss of me not to have given you
all the details? In any case the name is Maynard, christened Thomas Henry
but always known as Jock or Jack? All further information to be supplied
when we see you in London. Now let me ? with thank you in anticipation for
your kind thoughts & let me say also that in these hard times we shall be
grateful for anything. It is a lot of fun collecting for one's home & I have
gathered quite a tidy collection about me already. I had time to do some
embroidery too, which looks effective but I am sure you could pick out the
flaws. We had a lovely wedding & everything went according to plan. I
entered to a processional Hymn "Lead us, I Father in the paths of peace" &
after the ceremony we had the inevitable "O perfect fore?" During the
signing of the Register an Aunt of mine sang "The Lord is my Shepherd" to Crimond, as favoured by Princess Elizabeth. Our new church looked very
pretty with decorations, I think (page missing, also writing changes &
this part seems to be before the wedding) ... hope that whenever you
come back to England or Scotland you will come & stay with me. I would so
very much like to see you again - I shall always remember how kind you were
to Jean & I on the tour. Now must tell you about our dresses. I'm having
heavy ivory satin & a illusion net veil ? with lace, for my headdress a
pearl & rhinestone tiara & carrying a boquet of red roses. My two big
bridesmaids wear really heavy gold satin, carrying autumn roses, & for their
headdresses gold leaves. I'm having three attendants, in very full skirted
dressed of shere? net with silver spots, they are carrying posies & having
wreaths of living? flowers in their hair? Has your daughter made any plans
yet? do write & tell me all about their romances, I love to hear. I had a
very quiet but most interesting & enjoyable holiday, this year I spent with
a friend - we had a most wonderful time visiting many places of interest &
mansion houses which are open to the public. What wonderful Autumn
weather we have had up till today; I have never seen the countryside looking
more beautiful, the colours are simply magnificent. I seem to spend all my
time dashing around & my fiancé and I are both fond of antiques, so we
attend all the furniture sales trying to pick up bargains, so far we have
got 6 black oak dining chairs, a coast? cupboard 1689 & a black oak chest of
the same period. We are having great difficulty to find a refectory table.
We are hoping to go up to Edinburgh this week to hunt one. Do give my
kindest regards to Mr. McColley, do write & tell me all about your family.
Yours very sincerely Margaret
 
1
1) 7th September 1948 Postmark Glasgow to Mrs. McCully, Churchtown,
Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Tuesday
Dear McCully's All, Here I am sitting in Room 6 at 8.30am. We had a lovely
crossing and Eleanor introduced me to a lot of other girls on the boat. The
boat was in about 7.45 & we took a taxi to No. 1. Eleanor says the taxi
driver must have thought we were both new because he took us around for
miles out of our way. The other three girls in this dorm have just come up
from breakfast. They all seem very nice. One is a girl from Belfast who is
doing Institutional Management & she is very excited about meeting me as she
says it makes a great difference knowing someone from Ireland. There is an
English girl in this dorm doing Group III Diploma & oh what a talker, but
she seems to be a very nice person. I must go now to see the Warden. I
have just met the warden, a charming person & the Junior Warden is sweet,
she showed me where Room 24 is & we have to be there at 10am. You will be
glad to hear that I haven't shed a tear since we left Belfast! & I feel as
if I am going to love this place, everybody seems so friendly. Did Mammy
find her gloves? How is Jess? Give my love to her. I can understand Marion
loving College. Remember don't read this scrawl or show it to anybody. My.'s
lunch is very useful as we missed breakfast this morning. Love Heather
         
1
1)
9th-11th September 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.S. - Thursday - Dear
McCully's All, I am sure you have been expecting another letter, but time
passes so quickly and there is so much to be done. I couldn't give you very
much news on the letter card (7th September 1948 above) I will begin
at Belfast. After you left us Eleanor & I had tea & toast which cost 1/6 &
we met quite a few "dough" school girls in the dining room. The Stewardess
told us that the boat would be in Glasgow at 6am & we decided to have
breakfast in the college. However we weren't Glasgow until 7.45am & we were
too late to have breakfast in college. We took a taxi to college & the
driver took us miles out of our way. Eleanor says he must have thought we
were both new. We saw no one around the college as they were all in at
breakfast, so we just came up here to Room 6 & Eleanor said I had better go
and see Miss Hamilton, the warden about 8.45am. Well I just sat down & wrote
the letter card while I was waiting & then the other three girls who are in
the dormitory came up from breakfast - Maureen Roughead from Belfast, Evelyn
Blake (Diploma Student) English & Doris Gibb Scottish, Doris said she was
going out for a walk & she said she would post the letter card, she went out
but couldn't find a letter box, so she asked a policeman where she could
find one & he said "Give me the letter" & off he went to post it. At 8.45am
I went along to Miss Hamilton & told her I had found my room. I gave her 4/-
& she gave me my keys. I then went to the office & asked when room the
Institutional people were to go to & one of the office girls said Room 24,
so I went up & told the other two girls who are in this dormitory that we
had to go to Room 24, so the three of us went off together (Oh! I must fly,
it is 1.30pm, time to go to laundry) Well here I am at 5.30pm. I
have been out shopping with Eleanor since 4pm. Now to continue my story. In
Room 24 there were hundreds of girls and Miss Forrest (Head of Housewifery
Dept.) divided us into different sections. I think there are about 36 new
students doing Institutional. At 11am we went down for a cup of tea, but we
lost ourselves so had none. What a disappointment after having had no
breakfast. We had the afternoon off so Doris, another girl called Norma
Greggor & I went downtown & after dinner we went to the pictures (cheapest
seats). I was in a terrible state because everybody was unpacking trunks &
cases & mine hadn't arrived. I had no coat hangers so I couldn't unpack my
case. On Wednesday morning we had a lovely demonstration (I don't know
who the teacher was), we managed to have a cup of tea & hot scones at 11am.
From 1.50 until 3pm we had a Housewifery Demonstration - cleaning of silver,
again I don't know who the teacher was. From 3pm until 4pm we were drawing
serving diagrams & taking down notes. At 4pm Eleanor & I went downtown to do
some shopping. We got 2oxs butter & two ozs margarine to do us until next
Wednesday. At 10.30pm there was a hostel meeting & we were told about all
the rules in the hostel. we were doing serving specimens this morning & I'm
telling you we don't get as much time to do them here as we got at Rainey.
We did Tacking, Running, Hemming, Top Sewing & Loop Stitching. We are taught
that when doing tacking, to make stitch = space not stitch = 2 space. This
afternoon we had Biddy Melville for laundry. She doesn't seem to recognize
my name. Oh! what a poor teacher! She is just the type of person who would
hear music in running water. I had a terrible time getting things for
laundry, we had to do 3 table napkins. I had these because Marion said I
might need the, to keep my sewing in. Eleanor gave me the loan of her Tray
Cloth but I couldn't get a tea cosy cover. We will have to do these things
again, so please send me 2 napkins, tray cloth & tea cosy cover. Eleanor & I
went downtown to-day again & here I am finishing off this letter having had
supper. I am sitting here with two girls who I have got very friendly with.
One is a girl from Perth called May Stark, who was born on 6th May 1929, and
another girl called Ann Dod who has come from Ashley House. Her parents live
in Scotland & she went to Ashley because her mother is Irish. She knows
Margaret Shearer, Nan Twigg, & the (petrol man) McNeill's of Cookstown very
well. She says she had a terrible time with Margaret Shearer in Ashley, she
& Rosemary Duff were always fighting & it was very hard to keep Margaret
quiet. Nan Twigg is coming here next term. The food here is marvellous & I
never feel hungry, although I like a piece of cake occasionally. I have
never felt the slightest bit home-sick & I just love this place, I never
imagined it could be like this. I love the people, work, food, everything is
just super. Ann, May & I are going out on Saturday morning for coffee.
Thanks for card which arrived this morning. I am not going to get my overall
changed as most people here wear their overalls well above the knee & they
probably wouldn't change it in any case. It is 10pm so I think we had better
go to bed. Friday Lunchtime I have just finished
lunch Sausage Roll, Turnip & Potatoes, delicious trifle with cream. We had
our first cookery lesson this morning. Kitchen 3, we were learning about the
Aga Cooker & have got pages & pages of notes to write up to-night. I have my
sewing notes to finish & oh about 8 pages of Laundry Notes. I took them down
during the demonstration & I have to word them better & lay them out
properly. It is going to take hours. We have another laundry dem. this
afternoon & I am sure we will be getting more notes. By the way getting up
early doesn't worry me. I was up at 7.20am this morning & all the others
were still sound asleep. We make our beds, dust & sweep our rooms after
breakfast. The locking is terrible. Here are lots of maids running around &
everything has to be locked all the time. I had a terrible time about
my trunk. I was without it all day on Tuesday & couldn't unpack my cases
because I had no coat hangers. I had no sewing equipment & I was in a
terrible state. All the other girls had their unpacking done on Tuesday &
their trunks put into the box room. We were asked for our linen on Wednesday
morning & I hadn't any, so I had to go down & tell the warden. In the
afternoon we had to have our sewing things & after lunch I went & found my
trunk, it had just arrived, Doris and & were trying to lift it & there was a
teacher standing beside it so she told us to put it in the lift & she would
come up with us. When we were going up in the lift she asked which was
McCully & then she asked had I a sister called Grace McCully in the college
a few years ago. I said I had a sister here but her name was Marion & then
she asked me was she ever called Grace. She says Grace McCully was here
about five years ago. I don't know who the teacher is. When we got out of
the lift she brought along a trolley so we were able to wheel the trunk
along the corridor & then we carried it down a stair-case. The warden came
along & said I couldn't take my trunk into my room again, I had to explain
that it had only arrived. I had time to get my sewing things out & off to my
sewing class. I had to go down town at 4pm with Eleanor & I had to have
permission to have my trunk in my room until after dinner. I had no note
paper to write home. Everything I wanted, seemed to be in the trunk. The
trunks were all supposed to be out of the rooms on Wednesday morning & mine
wasn't out until Thursday. Friday Evening I have
just had a huge tea, pancakes, delicious scones & lovely home made biscuits
& loads of jam. We get heaps of jam. Doris & Maureen are going away for the
week-end so there will only be 2 in the dorm. There are a lot of girls going
away this week-end. It is 4.50pm & Norma & a girl called Ann MacDougall have
called in my dorm. They want me to go down to the laundry with them, so I
must go & do some washing. Honestly there is far too much to do here, not a
spare second. I have just finished dinner, fish, carrots, potatoes, Eves
Pudding & Custard. This is going to be a hectic week-end. Notes & notes to
copy & learn. By the way the lady who asked me about Grace McCully is
Miss McIntyre, a warden. Do you know her Marion? What number was your dorm
Marion? Our dorm is green, very nice room indeed, it looks out to the back,
but we never have time to look out. The staff here speak exactly the
same. I wonder how many times in 1 hour they say "Just na-oo" I am
sending a lot of things I would like as soon as possible. The electric bells
are out of order, so we just have to go down to meals without any bell & we
never know whether we are early or late. I tried in Coplands & Lye?
for a waterproof but they had nothing in my size. I managed to get a reel of
120 sewing cotton, ink, coat hangers, etc., but I haven't got any shoes or
any clothes. I would love to try for a silk frock. Maureen Roughead has
dozens of beautiful frocks, mostly new look. Saturday Morning
9am I am sitting in laundry 11 waiting for Ann MacDougall who is
ironing. We are going downtown in a few minutes & I want to post this
letter. Hope Jess enjoyed herself. Love to all including Mary & the Scotts &
don't forget Mary Ann Patrick, because she said when I was leaving "remember
me in your letters" How is Kenneth Irwin? Is he home yet? Lots of Love xxx
Heather PS I am sitting in Wendy's having a coffee, I will post this
before I go back to College.
       
1948
11th September 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Saturday Night - Dear
D, My, M. & W. I have just finished High Tea, Fish Pie & Baked Beans, tea,
bread, toast & cookies. I am feeling a little lonely to-night because there
are so few people in College. Lots have gone away for the week-end & most of
the others are going out dancing so I am sure there will only be about half
a dozen girls here for supper. Evelyn Blake is trying to persuade me to go
out dancing, but I just can't be bothered. I will just go down to the lounge
& do some knitting & hope that there will be someone to speak to. I went
down to a fruit shop this afternoon & bought some oranges & I saw some
currants. If you could send me a ration book I could get some & bring them
home at Christmas or post them to you. I would send the Ration Book home
again, when I would get the points. I was alone this afternoon too & that's
why I thought I would just go out. We don't get a half day here. Most of the
classes do but our training is going to be very stiff & one of the teachers
told us that the exams are very difficult & our work must be of a very high
standard. We have English one day each week from 4pm until 5pm so we are
actually working more than college hours. We were told that we will
have to knit men's socks some time, so probably Mammy could keep a look out
for some nice wool. I don't think we will be doing them until after
Christmas. Wednesday Morning I have just got a few
minutes to spare before going to the Cookery class. I can't find my cookery
caps here. Luckily we haven't been told to wear them yet. I think they must
be at home. There are just a few things I want to tell Marion. Miss Aflect
gave a Cookery Dem. yesterday. She made Mutton Broth, Boiled Mutton & White
Sauce, Cabbage, Steamed Potatoes & Baked Rice Pudding. When she was chopping
the onion for the soup, she chopped the whole thing on a chopping board.
Another thing she was telling us, that before the war they taught the
students after chopping vegetables to leave them in cold water until they
were ready to use them (turnips, carrots, etc.) but now it has been
discovered that a lot of the food value is lost in this way, and they must
be chopped just before using & if this isn't possible just keep them on a
dry plate. Miss Aflect is a marvellous demonstrator. A lot of the girls seem
to laugh at Biddy Melville. She just can't teach Laundry but I heard someone
say she is great at Housewifery. I was sitting last night at 11.45pm trying
to get all my notes written up. We are only allowed to use the main door No.
1 to come in & out of College now, 8 & 9 are closed all the time because
lots of men used to come in at night & go down to the basement & sleep
there, so they only keep one door open now. Honestly I can't get over
about the food being so good. We have had tinned grapefruit twice for
breakfast & we had 2 large helpings of tinned peaches for dinner on Sunday.
I was in Marks & Spencer's one day last week & saw some lovely canvas bags
(green & brown) at 59/6. There was a lady looking at them when I was & she
said she paid £7-7-0 for one exactly the same, a few days before Ann
MacDougall says she paid £5-5-0 for one. Let me know if you think I should
buy one. The week-end after next is a long week-end & most of the
girls seem to be going away & a friend of Ann MacDougall's who lives in
Hamilton has asked Ann to come down for the week-end & bring me with her, so
if Daddy could send me a letter which I could show to Miss Gibson, saying
that he gives me permission to go to friends for week-ends whenever
necessary. This would do me the whole year & if I ever wanted to go to
Edinburgh the same letter would do. Just put Dear Madam, you know the sort
of thing!! Please let me have it as soon as possible, as I will have to see
her about it next week. Hamilton is only 9 or 10 miles from here & I would
like to go. All the girls out off this dorm are going away & I know I would
feel very miserable if all my friends go away. Tell Mr. Scott that I
am a bit disappointed because I haven't met my old friend "Jock" yet!!! I
cannot understand why I haven't for a parcel yet & only two letters from
home. Marion hasn't written yet. Oh, I must tell you a very funny thing, we
had an English class yesterday afternoon. There is a lady from Jordanhill?
comes in to take the English class, she says we will have to learn to make
speeches & she said "the following people will speak to us next week on any
subject they choose. Their speech will have to last at least 3 minutes" & my
name was the first she called out (All the Mc.'s) I said to her after the
class that I never had any practice in speaking & I would like to hear a few
others before I would make an effort. She says "Oh! I think you are just the
proper one to start" Honestly I don't know what I am going to say.
Could you imagine me making a speech before 36 or 37 girls? I am really very
worried. I am spending hours at my sewing note book & sewing. We did a
Print Patch in the last sewing class & the teacher said it was beautiful &
when she saw my sewing note-book she said "you must have done these before"
so I did feel quite pleased with myself. I have just finished lunch & am
delighted to find the parcel waiting for me. Thanks for everything. We are
quite well off for butter, & I haven't eaten all of the piece I brought with
me & we got ¼lb pure butter this morning. This is a huge piece which I got
to-day & I don't think you should send any more to me for about 6 weeks as I
couldn't use it. Honestly it would go bad & you might as well have it. Ann
Dod (Ashley House girl) has just asked me to come home with her for the
first week-end in October. She says her mother is Irish & told her to bring
home some Irish girls. She lives in Pitlochry near Perth & says it is the
beauty spot of Scotland & is very keen that you should allow me to come.
Please let me know as soon as possible. She is a very nice girl 17½ yrs &
has got the Ashley accent. Her step father is in the Customs. I am going
down to her room now as she wants to show me a photograph of Ann Twigg. I
have dozens of friends here & when I go out with one, the others are
jealous, so what a time. Evelyn is trying to persuade me to go out for a
walk now, but I can't afford the time. I have still hours & hours of work to
do. I am worried about one thing & that is the fare to Ann's house. It is
very expensive, about £1. She is very keen that I should come & her mother
is too, but if you think it is too expensive, just say so. She was telling
me that Bonnie Prince Charlie carved his name on her bedroom window. Imagine
I have been asked out for 2 week-ends & I am only here a week. We had jelly
& tinned oranges for sweet to-night. I am very sorry to hear about Eileen
Aicken. It gave me a terrible shock. What happened to her? You did not
enclose the paper cutting. I see Eleanor Quinn at meal times, but as she
sits at a different table from me, we hardly ever be speaking to each other.
What about Kenneth Irwin? How is Mary? Is she still crying? I have not yet
felt home-sick. I just cannot understand it. Please write as often as
possible. I am delighted with the cake. I have just had a piece of fruit
cake & am going to have a marshmallow now. My cold is better. I was alright
when I arrived here. 2 of the girls in the dorm have got colds at present &
quite a few students have it, so I am hoping that I won't take it again. I
have been keeping myself really warm & wearing a woollen vest. The other 3
girls in dorm don't wear any vests. I washed a pair of blue silk
knickers in the laundry last week & when I went to look for them they had
gone. I asked a girl what I should do about it & she said sometimes girls
bring dry clothes from the laundry along to a cupboard in Hostel 9. We
looked there but no knickers. I was in a terrible state & I went & looked in
another cupboard & there were the knickers with the name tape cut off. The
girl who was with me says that someone had stolen them & lots of things
disappear from the laundry. Miss Gibson interviewed all the girls
individually on Monday. She just asked us how we liked college, charming
person, she told me that she always had an interview with Institutional
people before she allowed them into college but she said she had some
correspondence with my old school, so the boss must have written very sweet
letter about me. H.
        
       
1948
22nd September 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. -
Dear McCully's All, I just got your parcel to-day & oh 'what a treat! I have
just had a slice of the Butter Sandwich & 2 marshmallows. Food is getting
scarcer here, although what we do get is always lovely. I have just finished
dinner. We have had a hectic day to-day. We have been told several times
since we came here to study a notice, which has been put on the notice board
about Fire Drill & we were also told that there would be a practice some
time. However at 6.45am this morning the Fire Alarm went & believe it or not
I was one of the first people outside!! There we were at 6.45am standing
outside College with pyjamas, coats & shoes on & a towel & a pair of
knickers in our hands & there were about 6 men standing watching us, Oh! it
was a scream to see everybody flying down the stairs. I was back in bed
before I could realize what had happened. Evelyn, Doris & I got up as soon
as we heard the alarm and then Maureen sat up looking terribly frightened &
she "mumbelled" What's happened, what's wrong? so we hauled her out of bed
and I left her in the room struggling in vain to get her knickers on,
on top of her pyjamas, & as Maureen is rather a hefty lass you make guess
how funny she looked. Honestly I don't think I ever laughed as much in all
my life. I am looking forward to seeing William, it will be great to see one
member of the family. We had Cookery this morning with Miss Allan, we
made Boiled Beef, Mustard Sauce, Boiled Beetroot & Boiled Potatoes without
jackets & Baked Rice Pudding. We had a Housewifery Dem. this afternoon from
2pm to 3pm given by Miss Steele. It was all about Cleaning of wood & Daddy
will be interested to hear, the first thing she washed was a Pastry Board!!!
From 3pm -4pm we had sewing with Miss Nicholl. We were working at the
Cretonne Patch & got diagrams on it. We got some notes & diagrams on the
Warp & Weft threads in material. Next week we are going to do some
canning & we all have to supply enough fruit to fill one can. As peaches are
just 4d each I think I will do 1 can & we can have them on Christmas day. By
the way thanks for 10/= note. I am telling you I am very glad to get it.
Doris & Maureen have gone out to-night. I haven't seen downtown since last
Saturday, I just can't be bothered. Marie & Frances came up after dinner to
ask me to go to the pictures with them & Jean Wright wanted me to go to with
her to the Theatre & Maureen asked me to go out with her to visit some
friends & I didn't accept any of the invitations. Evelyn is sitting
here on her bed knitting & I am sitting on my own bed with my dressing gown
on, on top of my clothes. Norma Grigor has come down to see me & she wants
me to help her with her Calico Patch. I have been wearing stockings this
last few days in class & I wear a woollen vest, my green woollen frock, the
old cardigan & then my overall & I feel I couldn't do with any less. The
weather is terrible & most of the girls are full of the cold. Poor Maureen
has got a terrible dose. Evelyn is better - Thank Goodness, Maureen was
telling me she washed 41 handkerchiefs this afternoon. I did some washing
too & I tidied all my drawers this afternoon. Hugh Peden's sister has just
come in & she is dancing around singing, with Norma & Evelyn joining in & I
find it very difficult to write now. This room I think is the most popular
one in Hostel & I must say most of the girls who come in are my friends.
Marie came in this morning to see me & Evelyn said "I hate the way everybody
comes diving into this room" Poor Marie felt terrible, she didn't know what
to do. Evelyn is English. She was here last term doing Chemistry & she has
started Group III Diploma this term. Maureen, Doris & I are all in the same
class, all doing I.M. & Evelyn said this morning "Actually girls I shouldn't
be speaking to you, because I am a Diploma Student & you are just I.M.'s"
She is crazy, but not a bad soul. Edna Peden has just been telling me
all about Eileen Aicken. She went down to see her before the faith healer
was with her & she was just whispering - couldn't speak & after she had the
faith healer she was going about in the car & Edna says "You ought to have
seen her coughing - doubled in two coughing for all she was worth" Her
father, mother, brother & 2 sisters all had a touch of the T.B. Winnie is
back nursing & Joy is nearly better. Eileen died on Monday morning & the
Friday night before some men broke in to the shop & stole a lot of things.
Eileen was lying in the hut in the garden, wide awake & could hear all that
was going on in the shop, but she could do nothing and she had no way of
getting in touch with the others in the house. She got such a fright that
night that she never got over it & died on Monday morning (see the other
version later on) I must write some notes, have a bath & go to bed. I
found my caps, they were between 2 pieces of tissue paper & when I was
unpacking the trunk I lifted them out in the paper & thought the whole thing
was tissue paper. However I put all the paper back into the trunk. It would
have been terrible if I had thrown them out. I find my house shoes very
useful. I never have them off & they save my shoes a lot. I am doing
all my own washing except the woollens & I will not send them home until I
have a few more dirty ones. You need not send me any more soap, as I
think I will have enough to do me until the end of term & if not I can buy
some because we got some coupons yesterday. Thursday Morning
Here I am writing before breakfast. It is just 7.30am. The English class was
postponed on Tuesday because Miss Bowie couldn't come, so I haven't made my
speech yet. However I will have to make it some time & I wish it was over. I
must write out a copy & send it to you. I will have to speak very slowly to
make it last out for the 2 or 3 minutes. Lunch Time
We have been sewing all morning with Miss Roberts (I think her name is
Roberts or it might be McRoberts) She asked me did I ever have a sister here
who took Diploma? & I said "yes" & she said "I know her well. We were in the
same class. What is she doing now?" & I told her & she says she has lost
touch with most of the people in her class. It is no wonder Marion is such a
cross teacher?? because Biddy Melville & Miss Roberts are both very sharp.
She gave me back my Calico Patch to-day & she says she had to use a
microscope (no idea how to spell it) to see the stitches. We are doing the
Tweed Patch now & mine is a terrible mess. I was speaking to Eleanor
Quinn this morning & she was telling me that Noreen Houston is in Glasgow &
she wants to see me some time, so Eleanor is going to write to her to-night
to tell her that we will meet her on Saturday. Some of you mentioned
about me going so often to the pictures, there are girls asking me every day
to come to the pictures or Theatre. Some of the girls go every other night?
I have only been to the pictures twice & I haven't been to the theatre. I
haven't been downtown since last Saturday & I haven't been outside the door
since Sunday morning & I went to church, & then Evelyn was just saying to
Doris. What are we going to do with Heather? She has got into a rut.
There has been a Glasgow fog this past two days, it is fairly heavy at the
minute. Eleanor Quinn had a phone call from home last night. She was talking
to Kathleen Gray & she was asking all about me. We had the last of our
Laundry Dems. this afternoon - (Thank Goodness). It was on washing of
woollens & given by Miss Sinclair. I have just finished tea and am
writing this while I am eating a huge chunk of Mum's Fruit Cake. I have
nearly the cakes finished. Friday Morning We are
going to do Bottling this morning with Miss Aflect & this afternoon we have
Biddy Melville for laundry. I heard a new girl asking an old one about their
laundry teacher. She wanted to find out her name. The other girl said "is
she a giddy creature because if she is, it must be Melville" The girls seem
to think she is dozy. The mail is just in but no letter. There will probably
be one tomorrow. I have just had dinner. There were just 25 of us, all the
others are away for the week-end. I am the only one left in this dorm, so
there is a girl coming up from the basement to sleep with me. She is the
only one left in the basement, so I think both of us will feel much happier
when we are together. On thinking it over I will be able to meet William at
9am at the College door on October 2nd. Breakfast is at 8.30am, & I will
make my bed before I go down to breakfast, although we are not supposed to
make it until after breakfast. We are out of the dining hall about 8.40 or
8.50am, so I could meet William at 9am. I know how miserable it will be for
him walking around Glasgow waiting for me. Well Mammy, I am wearing my
grey flannel skirt to-night. When I left home it was much to wide for me &
to-night the side opening keeps bursting open & the skirt is very tight
around me, & the girls are telling me that I have got very fat & I know it
myself. We eat a terrific amount of bread. Saturday
Here I am sitting in my bedroom with another girl from the Hebridens
(Hebrides) & I must do some work as she is working very hard. Mail is
in & no letter. I do hope I will get one on Monday. I wonder could you send
me a small blanket or something to iron on & also a sheet to iron on. It is
terrible here, we have to use our own rugs for ironing & I don't feel like
using my good one very often. I have just finished tea, Eleanor & I went out
with Norma & as the weather is bad we went to the pictures. After breakfast
this morning I went back to bed & stayed there until lunch time. I think I
will go to bed now as I am alone. I don't know one person who is staying in
to-night. Eleanor is going to the theatre with some of her friends. She goes
out a lot & I have only seen her once or twice at supper time. She seems to
have a lot of friends in Hostel 9, with the result I am only speaking to her
occasionally. There is a social next Wednesday for all new students. "There
will be tea & games & you will meet the staff" said Miss Aflect. It starts
at 5.30pm & goes on until 8.30pm. I was talking to the Indian girl
to-day, who is such a good Badminton player, she said "Heather I am going to
teach you play Badminton. A few times on court & I would have you,
first-class player." She is very keen to teach me, so I must go down to the
Union sometimes with her. Someone was telling me that when she was in the
South of England, she was coaching people in Badminton. She plays Tennis,
Badminton, Table Tennis & Hockey - very keen on all games.
Sunday I have just come in from Wellington, I went with Eleanor
& some of her friends. When we came out of church it was pouring. I don't
think I have ever seen such heavy rain. We stood inside for 20 minutes & it
got heavier, so we just ran for 100 yards & jumped on to a tram, but we had
to walk from the end of the road. Luckily I had my umbrella, but
unfortunately I was wearing my court shoes & I had no coat with me. There
was an Indian minister there and he preached the sermon. He speaks exactly
like Miss Paul so spoke at the General Assembly. There are only about 28 or
30 girls left in all three Hostels this week-end, & I saw 14 at Wellington
this morning. There might have been more there. I was talking to an Irish
girl at supper last night, she did group I Diploma at Belfast and has just
started Dietetics here. She liked the Belfast College better than this one.
Ethne Gray shared digs with her & Harriet Mitchell was in the same year.
Harriet failed last year. She thinks it was teaching she failed in & thinks
she will not be able to do it again. I was asking her about Harriet's hair &
she was telling me that she had a motorcycle accident & a patch of hair in
the front turned white & now her whole hair is turning grey with white
patches & it makes her a lot older looking. I wonder Mammy could you send me
about 3 or 4ozs of butter, no more, I have scarcely enough to do me the
week, but if you send me a lot it will go bad. I just have to keep it in the
wardrobe. Unfortunately the last ½lb had started to go bad before I could
use it. Doris had her ration for the week finished & I gave her a piece, a
few days longer & it would have been gone. My cake is all finished. It was
delicious. Hope you take the hint. Have the Scotts been up lately? You never
seem to mention them in your letters. My red handbag hasn't come from
Selfridges yet. Don't worry about me wearing plenty of clothes. I have
a cotton vest on to-day & one of those white heavy woollen ones, I wear
stockings all the time. On Friday night I thought I was taking the
cold, so I rubbed my chest with Vick, & I rubbed my nose & forehead with
Vick. However yesterday morning my voice had nearly gone & I had a very sore
throat. My right tonsil was swollen & my throat looked a bit white. I got up
for breakfast yesterday morning, filled a hot water bottle & went back to
bed. I got up for lunch & I had to go out with Noreen. Last night I rubbed
my chest & throat with Musterole, & put some Vick on my nose & forehead. I
forgot yesterday morning after breakfast it was pouring. I looked for
Eleanor to ask her to get me a packet of salt, I couldn't see her anywhere,
so I rushed out & bought a packet of salt & I got up at intervals & gargled
last night, I also took 2 aspros, a drink of hot water, a hot water bottle &
put all my coats on top of the bed. Marion sent me a piece of an old woollen
vest for laundry so I put it over my chest. What a roasting I got & it was
well worth it because I am nearly better to-day. I went to bed very early &
breakfast wasn't until 9.30am this morning, so I had a long rest. I am
taking the Emulsion & have half the bottle taken. I coughed in church this
morning, because I had a slight tickle in my throat, but I am feeling grand
now, I have never seen a cold cured so quickly. I suppose I got it under
control in good time! A lot of the girls have lost their voices. Miss Lemon,
one of the wardens has lost her voice for a week now & is quite worried
about herself. My throat looks a lot better to-day, just a little red, but
it is not the slightest bit sore. However I will rub my chest to-night
again, just in case might come back again. It is 1.30 so I must go for
lunch. It is now 3pm & it is still pouring. I am all alone & I am just lying
across the top of my bed. I don't know where Eleanor is. She is sitting at
the same table as I do this week-end, but she rushes out of the hall as soon
as she is finished. I knew that Dinah had calmed before I got William's
Letter, because Marion wrote "Dinah had" & as Dr. Logan would say "The Dinah
had" was stroked out! May Stark does not know a girl called Edith
Stark. Several of the teachers asked her of she ever had a sister here. Have
you heard from Jessie since she went back home? The Stoneman's will probably
be with you when this letter arrives. I do hope they have good weather. I
haven't worn my new coat & hat yet. Noreen Houston told me a different story
about Eileen Aicken. She says Eileen was sleeping in the front of the house
& when she heard the people going into the shop, she jumped out of bed & ran
in to he mothers room. She got a terrible fright. How does Olive Stewart
like Claggan? How is Rory? Is his paw better? Give my love to
Mary. I hope to go to Ann Dod's house on Friday October 8th. Is it necessary
to bring something to her mother & if so what should I bring? Please send my
Nylon Stocking which has the ladder in it, because I might be able to get it
fixed in Copland & Lye Lile? I hope that you have sent the wool & pattern
for socks & also the material for the pillowcase. Please don't worry about
my cold Mammy as it is better to-night. I don't feel my throat at all. I
must say that I gave myself a terrific dosing last night. You knew what you
were doing Mammy when you packed the Aspro's, Musterole, Vick & Emulsion. I
would have been lost without them. I would like to go over to Edinburgh for
the mid term Holiday, which is from October 29th to November 2nd. Dorothy
Thompson say there are only about 2 or 3 people who are staying here during
that week-end. It costs over 8/- to go by train but it only cost a little
over 4/- on the bus Monday Mail just in & again no
letter. Imagine I am sitting writing 15 pages & I haven't had a letter since
last Wednesday, there are four of you to write. I know Mummy sends parcels &
she has no time to write, but there is simply no excuse for the others. I
was talking to another Irish girl last night & she was telling me that she
travelled up to Dungannon one time with William. She says he told her that I
was coming here & she was looking out for me & she noticed me one day & said
that must be the girl because she is so like the boy I met in the train so
she asked Eleanor Quinn & Eleanor told her that it was Heather alright. She
is a very friendly girl so when I am going home at Xmas I will be with
her to Dungannon. Did Daddy have any more trouble with his dog bite? Would
you like some cherries? No points, but very expensive 3/- per ½lb. If you
want some let me know immediately & I can get them & post them to you. It is
12 o'clock & I have had a very busy morning. I gave the dorm a thorough
cleaning to have it nice for the other girls coming back & Miss Hamilton
asked me would I carpet sweep the carpet in the hall. I then washed 3 pairs
of stockings & have all my books backed. I had to use the good piece of
brown paper which mammy gave me. Two 2nd year I.M. students arrived
back on Saturday night after having spent two weeks in a camp doing the
cooking. They just get out of bed for meals as they are so tired. At the
camp they were up at 5.30am every morning & were working until 12.30 at
night & they were saying last night that they hardly spoke to each other
during the whole fortnight, because when they were on duty they hadn't time
& when they got off they just rolled in to bed without speaking. They said
it was very hard work, but they enjoyed it thoroughly & wouldn't have missed
it for anything. I think I will be making a Christmas cake soon so do get
some icing sugar if Parke has any ground almonds try for them too. Don't
send them until I tell you. I am going out for a walk now.
          
1948
Posted 27th September 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Sunday - Dear
D. My, M. & W., I am writing this before breakfast, so you can guess that I
am not nearly as lazy as you thought I was. I forgot to tell you that
Eleanor, May Stark, & I went to Wellington last Sunday morning. There were
other Dough School girls there & we came back with them. Dinner is at 1.30pm
on Sunday's & we were out of church at 12.40pm, so we went to the Western
for a cup of coffee (nothing to eat) on our way home. We were starving with
hunger. May Stark & I went out for a long walk in the afternoon, we walked
for miles. I just read the newspaper & talked to a few other girls in the
sitting room. After supper I went to bed. Nothing else to do, so I thought I
would go to bed early. I am going to Wellington this morning with Eleanor,
Doris Gibb & Marie Aicken. I am sure there will be others coming. Ann Dod
was telling me she had a letter from her mother saying that she thinks we
should go to Pitlochry by bus, because it is just about half the price of
the train. She is going to find out how much the bus fare is. Ann & I had a
shampoo & set each yesterday. My hair was very dirty. This is my second set
now since my hair was permed so I think I will be able to set it myself now.
I had it done in the hairdressers this time because it is very difficult to
get it dried here. The older girls sit round the fire in a circle & none of
the new girls can see it. However I can dry it in the laundry in future. I
also did some shopping yesterday morning. I spent the book token. I got a
lovely Hymn Book for 9/- so I had to but another wee book for 1/6 to make up
the price of the book token. I could only see one book in Allan's which cost
1/6 & that is "Takes Fra? Aberdeen" I got a beautiful white cotton? blouse,
it is more like a petticoat it is so long!!!! Honestly money just flys
here. I have kept my account so you can see them when I go home. My books so
far have cost £1-13-0, coat hangers 1/6, red ink 10½, Blue ink 1/5, thread
2/-, money for specimens 2/6. Keys 4/-. Those are just a few. There are lots
of small things after that, shoe cream, trams, oranges, etc. I was
trying to play Badminton yesterday morning. I don't think I will bother
having the racket fixed, because I didn't enjoy the game yesterday. Table
Tennis is much better. There was an Indian girl playing, she is a marvellous
player & was very keen to teach me, she kept saying Must learn, hit shuttle
cock middle of racket!!! Table Tennis hasn't started yet, but she is very
keen that I should plat with her when it does start. She has played against
dozens of Internationals, she was telling me she beat the English ones, but
she says the China boys are impossible. She just cannot get a point against
them, so it should be great practice for me playing against her. I am glad
Mary enjoyed the wedding, I am sure she looked very well. I must fly for
breakfast now. I have just come in from Wellington, Doris Gibb, Frances
Aimer, Marie Aicken, May Stark & I went together. There were dozens of girls
from College there. We had a cup of coffee & a chocolate biscuit in the
Western afterwards. I saw Eleanor Quinn in the Western with some other girl.
We don't get dinner until 1.30pm, so I have half an hour still to wait.
I am about tired getting short letters with no news in them. For goodness
sake someone sit down & write me a good letter. I have written 10 pages in
one letter & eight in another. I haven't heard about the Portrush visit yet.
Mammy sent me a card but didn't tell me anything about the visit. Then
William wrote 'We were in Portrush yesterday but of course Mammy will tell
you all about it' Then Marion writes "Mammy & William will have told you
about the grand day they had in Portrush" so I have not yet heard anything
about it!! I am keeping a note of what we do every day in class. On
Monday morning we had Miss Nicholl for sewing. We did a Print Patch & got
notes, 2 diagrams on the Print Patch. By the way we only do 1 corner when we
are doing patches. In the afternoon for 1 hour, we had Miss Whitby or Whitty?
and she gave us some Hygiene notes. After that we had Cookery Theory with
Miss Nicholl and she gave us some Cookery notes, Hanging of meat, etc. Miss
Nicholl is a dear, she is my favourite teacher - we have her for sewing and
cookery theory. On Tuesday morning we had Mrs. Parke for Housework. We made
beds & cleaned out rooms & then we got notes on bed making & cleaning of
rooms. In the afternoon we had Miss Aflect for a Cookery Dem. I think I told
you about it in my last letter, & we had English from 4.15pm to 5pm. That
reminds me, I have to prepare my Speech for next Tuesday!!! On
Wednesday morning we had Miss Allen, we cleaned gas & electric cookers &
then we got notes on both. In the afternoon Miss Steele gave us a dem. on
the cleaning of the different metals. Brass, Pewter, Aluminium, Zinc & Lots
of others. We had Miss Nicholl in the afternoon for sewing. She gave us
notes & diagrams on Ticking Patch & we started the Patch. Thursday
morning Miss Roberts for sewing a very sharp person. We got notes & diagrams
on Calico Patch & Notes on Tweed Patch & we did the Calico Patch. You know
how slow I am at sewing, well! I hadn't my hemming quite finished when she
came round & she said "What have you been doing" & I said "Sewing" she was
very nasty & then when she looked at my sewing she smiled & said "Well I
must say I don't think it would be possible to do any better sewing."
She said it was beautiful. so she was much nicer after she examined it. She
inspects them at the end of the lesson. Quite a few failed & have to do them
over again. She just glanced at mine & said "Passed" Thank goodness I
haven't to do it again. The parcel arrived at lunch time with handy? things.
In the afternoon we had Miss Melville for laundry. We damped, mangles &
ironed our table napkins, tablecloth, & tray cloth & she gave us our list of
articles for next laundry day. Duchess Set, Pillow Case, Guest Towel & print
apron, so it is very lucky that I have got them all. On Friday morning
we had Miss Aflect for cookery, we made Scotch Broth, Boiled Mutton, Boiled
Potatoes & we got notes on canning. In the afternoon we had another of
those horrible laundry Dems by Miss Smilar? Removing of Stains & washing &
ironing of prints. Time for dinner, I hope we get something nice. We have
just had a lovely dinner, not very filling thought!! A good helping of meat,
Peas & Potatoes. For sweet we had a delicious flan made with tinned peaches,
grapes & banana's & we had some custard, but helpings were small. For
breakfast this morning we had bacon and egg & yesterday morning we had a
plate of cornflakes & a whole banana each. Marion promised to send me some
photographs, most of the girls have photographs with them & I haven't.
Please send the one of Joe Loss. I mist tidy my drawers this afternoon.
Monday Night I am writing this in bed at 10.30. Evelyn is
sitting talking so I don't know when she will be going to bed. I am feeling
very worried to-night because I have to make my speech tomorrow evening. I
was expecting a letter to-day but didn't get, one, however I will not post
this tomorrow until the mail arrives in the morning. I had a card from Mrs.
Scott this morning. We have had a very busy day to-day. In the morning we
had sewing with Miss Nicholl, we finished the Ticking Patch & started the
Cretonne Patch. We got notes on the Cretonne Patch. This afternoon we had
Miss Whitby for Hygiene from 2pm until 3pm. After that we had Cookery Theory
with Miss Nicholl, we finished the notes on Boiling & we have got some on
Stewing. We were writing notes from 2 o'clock until 4pm. My arm is feeling
stiff to-night & actually looks swollen. Tomorrow we are have Bottling Dems.
all day so this time tomorrow night I should know a lot about bottling.
We got rather a surprise to-day when we were told that we have to start
knitting the socks on Thursday week, they can be ankle socks or men's socks,
so could you buy a pattern (must have either Dutch Heel or French Heel) &
some 3ply wool, I think I would like to knit men's socks, so if you could
get the wool, needles & pattern, it would be a great help. If you cannot
manager thus let me know immediately & I will try to get some wool, but I am
very bad judge. Another thing we have to make is a pillow case. We have to
start these a fortnight from to-day, she said that the college would supply
the material for them but if so we would have to hand the finished pillow
case to the College, so most of the girls are going to supply their own
material. I wouldn't like to put all that work into something that I
couldn't keep. We can make it out of a bolster case or get some new
material. The measurements are two pieces, one 31½" by 20" and the other
37½" buy 20" so do please let me have this as soon as possible. I don't
think I will go to Hamilton this week-end, I have found out since that Ann
MacDougall is an R.C. & I have met her friends whom I was to stay with & I
am not very favourably impressed. I told Ann that I didn't know whether I
could go or not because I hadn't got your permission, so I think I will put
her of as best I can. I know I will feel very lonely here because all my
friends are going away & the other 3 in this dorm are going away, however I
think for my own good I will not go, because it would be very akward on
Sunday when they are R.C.'s I know you wouldn't like me to go. However I
would like very much to go up to Ann Dod's house. she is a different class
of girl entirely. The food here is still very nice but helpings are getting
gradually smaller, so I will be very glad to get any cakes or biscuits which
you will send me. There is plenty of butter & jam. I must say the girls here
are very good at sharing. We are beginning to feel hungry very often now!!
Mairi Aicken was telling me she wrote home 3 times & told them about the
wonderful food but she says she things she will write home to-night & tell
her mother to send some food. We really do get as much as is good for us,
but I feel I could eat a lot more. Tuesday Morning
William's letter has just arrived. He did not say that I am allowed to go to
Pitlochry but I take it for granted that I am. Unfortunately the Saturday
that William will be in Glasgow is the week-end I am invited to Pitlochry.
However I will ask Ann would another week-end suit, because I wouldn't like
to miss seeing William, nor would I like to miss my visit to Pitlochry.
I have asked Ann Dod about the week-end & she says that actually the next
week-end would suit her better & she was going to ask me would I mind
changing. Now I will meet William at the College Door @ 9.15am on Saturday,
October 2nd & I will be going home with Ann Dod on October 8th for the
week-end. Please send me a letter which I can show to Miss Gibson saying
that I may go to visit friends. I have told Ann MacDougall that I am
not going to Hamilton & I feel much happier about it. We have been at
Bottling Demonstration all morning. Miss Aflect was the demonstrator & I
have never enjoyed a morning so much, it was very interesting & I have
learned a lot about bottling. She recommends the Parasan caps & thinks they
are better than clip fasteners. She likes the Kilner Jars very much. This
afternoon we are doing canning & drying. I have asked a lot of questions in
my last letters & very few of them were answered. I have got my speech ready
for this afternoon & I am going to talk on "Life in Northern Ireland"
4 o'clock We have just finished our work for the day as the
English class has been proponed postponed, so I am very pleased with myself.
Ann Dod is going to post this letter for me. Hoping to hear from you soon,
Love Heather
       
1948
28th September 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow, C.3. - Dear Mammy, At 9am this
morning I got your letters which were written on Sunday and you said "I hope
the wool which I sent will do". I was terribly worried because I hadn't got
a parcel. However I went along at 1pm and the parcel was waiting for me,
also a letter of 12 pages from Marion Casey. Marion is coming over to
Ireland at Christmas. She arrives on the same day as I do, December 24th,
and she crosses back on January 3rd. When I am writing to her will I ask her
to come up yo us for Christmas dinner? I was very pleased to get the
chocolates and biscuits. We were told to get 3ply wool but is I cannot get
it I will use yours. We have to have it for Thursday. To-day we had an
English class (during which I made my speech) after 4pm & the thunder, rain
& lightening for terrible. It was too late then to go downtown. Tomorrow at
5.30pm is the party, so I will just have ¾ hour downtown & I have a lot of
shopping to do. Now about my speech, Miss Bowie said it was very good
& asked me did I enjoy doing it Miss McCully, & I said "I did not" & then
she said "Well, you gave us (the audience) the (impression/idea?) that you
were enjoying it thoroughly, & that is exactly what we need to do when
speaking. Another thing I like is the little touch of humour, that about the
pigs was very good" Honestly when I mentioned "pigs in the kitchen" & "Rinty
Monaghan's name" everybody roared. I really do think it was as good as the
others, the others weren't really very interesting. Miss Bowie is an elderly
person with grey hair, cut very short, old brown hat, which she never takes
off, old black suit & rimless glasses, very like the Adairs - you know the
type, she is a charming person. After the speeches were over we were
discussing something else, Miss Bowie said "I think we should stop for a
minute girls to look at the rain because I have never seen anything like it"
& then she said "I wonder where it all comes from - probably Ireland" &
looked down at me, & I said "No, it couldn't have come from Ireland, because
Ireland keeps all it's rain," She thought that was a great joke & so did the
class, they all roared. It is 7.15pm & I have a lot of washing to do &
I want to wash my hair. It is sticking with dirt. I think I am walking
much straighter & you would be quite pleased if you saw me. Here I am
at 9.30pm having has supper & my hair washed, set & dried. Maureen
Roughead wants Marion to mention her name to Mr. Wareham & let me know what
he says. She says, she used to have a great fancy for him. I am very pleased
about Simmy's kittens, is Winnie jealous? Does she still have a pretty
tough time of it?
Now answers to 20 questions (1) I wear my green frock & blue overall every
day until 6pm & then I usually wear my grey skirt & a jumper (2) I haven't
worn my good coat yet (3) Ann Dod is going to do Kindergarten but she cannot
get into the College until next year, so she is doing Housewives here to
pass a year. She is in the basement in Hostel 8. Her step-father was telling
her that he knows of the McCully's. His name is McKimm & he is in the
Customs (4) Maureen Roughead has an Aunt in Glasgow, so she going out to see
her very often & we don't see very much of her except in class. (5) Doris
Gibb is in the same dormitory as I am. (6) I must confess I am a bit
disappointed in Wellington. It is a very dark church, seats are more
uncomfortable than the Claggan ones & I always have a slight headache when I
come out, probably it is because I sit in the gallery (7) I know most of the
Hymns, there are just a few that I have never heard - very nice tunes. (8)
Dr. Jarvis preached the first two Sundays I was there & an Indian minister
last Sunday, although Dr. Jarvis was there too. Dr. J. is a very good
preacher, but a very small man. (9) I sit in the Gallery on the right hand
side ie. turn to the stairs on right of porch. (10) Ann MacDougall is doing
Housewives. (11) I haven't seen Miss Mitchell yet. (12) I have found my
caps. (13) Yes, please send sandals and grey jumper (don't forget to sew
buttons on jumper)
Where has the McManus family gone to? Ann Dod has arranged a super week-end
for me. We are going cycling on Saturday. What a pity that I didn't bring
Marion's camera. We are going by bus, the bus fare is 12/6 and the train
37/6 so there is a terrific difference. The bus leaves at 5pm & we will be
in Pitlochry about 9pm. We are going to buy some rolls & fill them with
butter & jam & Ann says we should buy grapes to have if we are thirsty.
Grapes are just 2/= lb now or even 1/6. We had Mrs. Parke all morning
doing Housework. Miss Hamilton told us not to make our beds this morning &
all four of us left ours just pulled back. In the other dorms, with 4 or 5
beds, they only left 2 unmade. Miss Parke seems to like me. I am the only
girl in our class whom she knows & it is Miss McCully this & Miss McCully
that, I wonder did Marion know her? She asked me would I like to do my
own dorm & I like a fool said "Yes" I thought that there would be 2 girls in
each dorm. & Mrs. Parke didn't realize that there were four beds to make & I
had all four to make & room to sweep & clean. All the other girls had just
one or two beds to make. However I got through & she said I made them very
well. I turned all the mattresses. This afternoon we had a Cookery
Demonstration given by Miss Affleck - (Thanks Marion) Cauliflower Soup
(Puree), Fried Steak & Onions, Grilled Steak & Tomatoes, Deep Frying - Fish
& Chips. Before the lecture started I was sitting reading Marion's letter &
I was just at the sentence "Miss Roberts could be sharp" when I heard a
terrible noise from the demonstrating table, & Miss Roberts was banging a
wooden spoon against the table, she wanted to call the roll, she can be very
sharp, but I must say she is more than nice to me. Sunday
I am sitting here in dorm 3, with a girl called Marie Aicken. She is in bed
& not feeling very well. Miss Moir came in & gave her a terrible scolding.
She said "why didn't you tell Miss Hamilton or myself early this morning
that you weren't feeling well? You should have got up & walked around until
you found me! Lie there & I will get you a hot drink!" Well Marion waited &
the hot drink never came & then Miss Hamilton came in & was very nice to her
& has brought her some Orange Juice. Miss Moir also upcast to her that she
came in late last night. We are supposed to be in at 11pm & I was talking to
Marie at 10.55pm, so she wasn't late. She is a horrible woman. She is really
warden of Hostel 9. Thank goodness I am not there. I was at Wellington this
morning, wearing my new coat & hat, with Maureen Roughead, Norman Grigor & a
girl called Banks. I saw Eleanor Quinn in church & as I was coming out, she
was walking in front of me. I tapped her on the shoulder & said "Hello, I
haven't seen you all week & she just looked over her shoulder & said with ab
accent "Hello, I didn't know you," & walked off with some other girls. She
puts on a great accent here & it is a scream to listen to her. Maureen said
"Surely you didn't know that girl before you came here - she doesn't seem to
know you very well" I was talking to her last Sunday & she went into the
flat on Monday, she never said she was going & I hadn't seen her & I asked
some of her friends where she was? She goes out a lot & she would never say
"Would you like to come? She has a terrible opinion of herself. Another day
we were coming up from breakfast - a crowd of us together, and Eleanor was
there, she just said, with a giggle, in front of everybody. "These are the
stairs that your mother is so worried about you having to come up & down"
then she turned to the girls & said "You know Heather is spoiled" My friends
who were there said "Oh! what a horrible girl" All the older girls are very
nasty to the new ones. Eleanor is no exception. We new girls go around
together. I had a great time with William yesterday. I got up at
7.30am, made my bed & tidied my room. We came out from breakfast at 8.55am &
I rushed up to my room, put on my coat & went out to the door & William was
coming up Park Drive. I was delighted to see him & even more so when I got
the parcel. Thanks for everything. It is marvellous to have the camera for
next week-end. He stayed until after lunch. I am very sorry to hear that he
has taken such a dislike to Jess. What do you people think about it? (now
please answer this question) I knew that Tom Scott was trying to attract he
that Saturday night but she wasn't terribly thrilled. William is simply
furious at Tom Scott, but he is not nearly so bad as I am. How he could do
it to William, I just don't know!! If Mrs. Wright knew she would fix him. I
got some lovely grey sock wool in Smiths. Wool in Glasgow is very poor & the
girl in Smiths said you are very lucky to get this, we haven't had it for
ages. I got at 9am in the morning & some of the girls went down in the
evening to get some & there was a very long queue. It is in balls & I will
send you a label of one. It cost 1/1 per oz. We have to look out for
material to make a small chair cover, & a box. Would you like chair cover &
box the same material or different? How much should I pay per yard? What
colour would you like? & if there is a chair you want covered, send the
measurements, & if not I will just make it the standard size. On
Wednesday morning we had Miss Allan for Cookery. We did canning. I went out
before class to buy some peaches to can & I couldn't get any, so I just
bought some pears. I am sure they won't be very nice. In the afternoon we
had a Housewifery Dem. by Miss Steele - Cleaning of different types of
floors. Then we had Miss Nicholl for sewing, & we finished the Cretonne
Patch. At 5.30pm we had the party. It was marvellous, we had the most
wonderful cakes & lovely ice cream afterwards & we played some marvellous
games. On Thursday morning we had sewing with Miss Roberts. We finished our
Tweed Patch & started our socks & knitted a square for darning. In the
afternoon we had laundry with Miss Sinclair. We did the guest towel, pillow
case, net curtains & supper cloth. On Friday we had Miss Afleck for
Cookery in the morning. We did Boiled Beef & Mustard Sauce (revision) Canned
pears for the store & made some Bramble Jelly. We also did pickling. In the
afternoon we had a Household Management lecture given by Miss Affleck -
"Cleaning of a House." Then we had a First Aid Lecture - "Digestion &
Poisons" given by a lady doctor. Monday Evening I
have just finished classes for to-day & I am feeling very tired as we have
been taking notes from 2pm to 4pm. We had sewing this morning with Miss
Nicholl & we started this? place darn on damask, we have not started pillow
cases, so I am sure this material which I got to-day will do. We had Hygiene
this afternoon with Miss Whitby - Ventilation & then we had Cookery Theory
with Miss Nicholl, steaming & frying. I must go out & post this now.
Delighted to hear that My is having a holiday. Love Heather
  
Speech
When Miss Bowie asked me to speak this afternoon. I did not know what to
talk to you about, but on thinking it over I decided to tell you about my
home country Northern Ireland. This is such a wide subject that I find it
difficult to single out a few topics for discussion. Northern Ireland
has its fair share of sporting personalities. To mention a few, there are
Fred Daly the former Open Golf Champion, Rinty Monaghan, the light-weight
Boxing Champion of the world and Prince Adedoyan (can't spell it) the
athlete, although he himself does not hail from the Emerald Isle. Belfast,
the capital of Northern Ireland is not by any means as big as Glasgow or
Edinburgh, nor is it a very beautiful city. I don't know if you have heard
of Stormont. This building is one of the few really beautiful pieces of
architecture. It is the Houses of Parliament. The magnificent gates on the
background of a huge cream building are a delight to the eye in bright
sunlight. Another beauty spot is the Botanic Gardens, and the splash of
green is a great relief from the dull, grey of shops & streets. Far from the
buzz & hum of this big city, excitement of a more simple type can be found.
The cottagers can be seen on almost any occasion which calls for the
slightest bit of festivities, visiting each other from miles around,
dancing, singing & playing cards until the early house of the morning, this
the Irish call 'going on my 'Ceilhe (can't spell) Céilidh. I think
that this is a good time to inform the people, who believe that we keep pigs
in our kitchen, that never yet have I ever seen even a hen in a kitchen. But
the picture of this green Ireland can never be conveyed by words & I would
advise a personal visit so that you too can deny the saying that "the Irish
keep pgs in the house"
     
1
1) 4th October 1948 Postmark Edinburgh to Miss Marion McCully, Churchtown,
Cookstown, N. Ireland - c/o Mrs. Donaldson, 17 Sutton Place, Edinburgh 8 -
Dear McCully All (except 2), Vera & Wendell met me at the Station. Vera left
to go to the Royal & the rest of the party proceeded to Stormont. Den &
Paulina were very much impressed with the building & grounds. The guide was
wonderful, really good at his job. I think Wendell & I enjoyed it quite as
much as Den & Paulina. When we arrived back at the city centre Vera had
ordered tea for us at the Kensington. We had a wonderful meal with roast
chicken, etc. We sat in the lounge for some time afterwards & then we went
off to the boat. I shared a cabin with a London traveller who was very
chatty. We didn't have supper on board as we had had such a huge tea. The
boat was in very early in the morning, about 6.30. Den popped his head into
the cabin & said Cheerio. I had breakfast & then took my cases to the
Central Station. As I was approaching the college door at 8.58am, Heather
appeared. We wandered about a bit & had a coffee. We then did a lot more
wandering & had lunch. I think the shops in Glasgow are wonderful compared
with Edinburgh. Heather is looking very well indeed & is definitely stouter,
I think she eats a lot. She seems to get on very well with the members of
the Staff. Mrs. D. gave me a very warm reception. 'Pop' soon appeared &
afterward the presentation he went out of the door whistling "I walk back to
you" He said "you never forget old pop" Paulina told me the most shattering
news, Den has met another woman & is leaving Paulina after he sits his exams
on 14th October. I could hardly believe it, but it is definitely true. Den
spent several days in a hotel in the Hebrides with her & also 2 week-ends.
He never said he was going away for the week-ends but just disappeared. The
queer thing about it is that he doesn't hide anything, but is quite open
about the whole affair. Paulina is making a desperate effort to try & save
the situation but without success. Several of their friends have talked to
Den about it for hours but he won't change his views. He says that he is
going to live with this other woman even if Paulina doesn't divorce him. I
can hardly believe it of Den of all people. Paulina says that she will
either get a job or keep boarders, she says that the holidays in N.I. saved
her from a nervous breakdown. I do hope Mary is having a good holiday. The
weather has been wonderful here the last 2 days. Please send stamps.
William
    
1
1) 11th October 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Monday morning -
Dear Marion, I am feeling rather tired this morning as I just arrived back
from Pitlochry last night. I think I will tell you all about my Pitlochry
visit first. Mary & Ann thought we had better have a taxi to the bus station
on Friday afternoon because it would have been a terrible rush & we would
probably have had to stand in the bus. I packed on Thursday night & on
Friday at lunch time I dressed & had my coat on the bed - all ready to walk
out. At 4pm we swallowed a cup of tea & a scone & flew. We got the
taxi at the door & we were at the bus station at 4.30pm. The bus did not
leave until 5pm & we weren't by any means in the front of the queue. We
brought some fruit & rolls to eat in the bus. We arrived in Perth at 7.50pm,
(where we parted with Mary Stark) & the Pitlochry bus was waiting so it left
Perth at 8pm & we arrived in Pitlochry @ 9.35pm. The fare was 12/- & it
would have been 37/6 by train although the train would have been much
quicker. We had Welsh Rarebit & a piece of cake when we arrived & straight
to bed. The McKimms have a beautiful house - very old & lots of antiques, In
the sitting room they have an old case filled with antique ornaments & a lot
of them have electric lights inside. Mr Kimm put a light into anything that
is at all possible. In the small sitting room there were six light. Mrs.
McKimm has thousands of pounds worth of jewellery. She showed me a few that
she keeps out, but she says she keeps them all locked. Hers has real
diamonds & pearls, I wish you could see the engagement ring which Mr. Dod
gave her. I think that Mr. Dod must have been very wealthy. Ann Dod would
put on a few airs & she was talking about dining late & some other things &
I was nearly frightened to go, but her mother is a charming person & made me
feel at home right away. She was a Gym teacher before she was married & she
reminds me very much of Mrs. Shearer only her voice is not quite so deep.
She was sitting in the sitting room on Sunday morning & she said, "I am sure
my spuds are in smush" You know the way Shearer would say it. Mr. McKinn was
more than nice to me. Mrs. McKinn asked him did he know Daddy & he said "Is
his name Sammy? sure I know Sammy McCully." He was in Cookstown for a while
& knew Richardson of the shop. I wonder does Daddy know him. He is "a big
heavy man" - like Daddy. It poured all the time & luckily I brought my old
shower proof coat with me. On Saturday morning I went up the street with Ann
& then we went to see a 100ft waterfall "Back Spout" When we came back Mrs.
McKimm had lunch ready. We just sat in the house on Saturday afternoon. Mr.
McKimm had a taxi ordered to take us for a 4 hour run, however he had to
cancel it, as it was so misty. We couldn't even see the view from the
windows. On Saturday night we went to an hotel for dinner. We left at 3.45
on Sunday & arrived here at 9.15pm. I really did enjoy myself & they have
asked me to come back as soon as possible, because they want to take me
round to see some of the country. It is too bad about Den & Paulina. Paulina
told William on the boat & he told me all about it when he arrived here. He
certainly doesn't think much of Jess. He says "she sent Mary 2 pieces of
things for putting a teapot on that weren't worth anything." Oh! I
nearly forgot, on Friday evening (on our way to Pitlochry) we were on the
bus & it had gone about 300 yds. & saw David Kennedy standing at a train
stop. He didn't see me as the bus was flying past. I recognised the
Dungannon Regt. Scarf first. Now I am going to send a list of things
which I would like immediately, the book "Electrical Handbook for Women"
(This book costs 7/6 I think Marion has it) Table Tennis Bat, A glove to
repair, sock to darn, "British Red Cross First Aid Manual"
Monday Evening There was a notice for me on the notice board for
me at lunch time to-day & it said, "Two gentlemen will call at 4pm to-day to
see you" so at 4.30pm I went out to the door & there was Alex & Duffy, so I
had a great chat with them. They like Glasgow very well but the work is very
difficult. I am sure you will want to know what we have dome in class
this week. On Tuesday morning we had Miss Whitby for housework - Cleaning of
Silver. In the afternoon Miss Affleck gave us a Cookery Demonstration on
Pastry. On Wednesday morning we had Cookery with Miss Allan - Baked
Sago Pudding, Steward Figs, Brown Stew, Steamed Potatoes. In the
afternoon Miss Steele gave a demonstration on cleaning of furniture, etc. &
after that we had sewing with Miss Nicol, pillow cases etc. On Thursday
morning we had Biddy Melville for laundry. She is mad, instead of scolding,
now when we do anything wrong she giggles & giggles. Ann Dod says she
scorched something & she asked Biddy what she would do? & she started to
giggle & she giggled & giggled. Ann says she thought it was a hug joke but
she (Ann) didn't. I washed my white woollen jumper, with her, my red scarf,
woollen ankle socks. Finished supper cloth & washed & finished tea cosy
cover. In the afternoon we had Miss Parker (known as Peggy P. etc.
etc.) for electricity & she gave us a list of things which w have to get. I
am going to try to get them second hand. After that we had Miss Roberts for
sewing notes. I adore Miss Roberts. She is a marvellous teacher & very nice
to me. I am a special friend, On Friday morning we had Cookery with Miss
Dickie, Steamed meat & vegetables, Creamed Potatoes, Potato Soup, Cornflour
Mould & Stewed Apples. In the afternoon we had our Second Household
Management Dem. on Carpets, & after that we had Dr. ? on structure of the
body. Someone was telling me that her husband who was a Dr. died lately. Now
I have got that all finished & I can't think of much more to say. I haven't
much time in any case as I want to write to Mrs. McKimm & write hundreds of
pages of notes. I am sorry I cannot write to the Scotts as I am a very poor
letter writer & I don't want to disgrace myself. I am delighted that Mammy
is having such a good time but I missed her wee parcel this week!! I
am sending 2 pairs of pyjamas home & 2 woollen vests. Don't think that I
wore them until they were as dirty as this but you remember when I had the
cold, well they got covered with Musterole then & they have been lying in a
bag since. I am also sending some Robin Starch. Have you had any at home
lately. I must go out & post this letter "na-oo" Love Heather
       
1948
12th October 1948 -
8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mammy, daddy & Marion, Your letter has
just arrived this morning & I was delighted to get it. You didn't say how
Roland Hutchinson sang. I have met Edna Buckley several times and the first
time or two she never looked at me, so now when I meet her I just ignore her
& I think she feels a bit surprised at my attitude. She thought that I would
like to be friendly with her & now she has discovered that I don't & I think
she would speak to me now but I don't bother. She never joins the queue for
lunch, just walks right up to the front & walks in. I met Yvonne Glover in
the corridor on Friday morning and she was very friendly. She just couldn't
have been any nicer, I was greatly surprised. Ann Dod was telling me that
Margaret Shearer has got no brains but Rosemary Duff is absolutely
brilliant, although Margaret Shearer is a much nicer girl.
Wednesday Night I have just finished dinner. What a meal.
Macaroni & Cheese, Potatoes & Sago, so it is no wonder I am so fat. I
weighed myself at Pitlochry & I am 11 stone 2 lbs - Worse than Marion ever
was. I am just "a big heavy woman" Now about what we have done in class
during the last two days. Yesterday morning we had housework with Miss
Whitby. We cleaned all kinds of metals. In the afternoon we had a Cookery
Dem. by Miss Afflect on Yeast Bread, Soda Bread (oven & griddle) & then Mrs.
Parke gave us notes on yeast. This morning we had Miss Allan for Cookery (A
splendid teacher) Lentil Soup, Fried Steak & Onions, Fried Potatoes & Bread
& Butter Pudding. In the afternoon we had a Housewifery Dem. by Miss Steele
- Brushes. Oh what a voice. It gets on my nerves & often every word she says
"eh-a" I am sorry I can't spell the grunt! Biddy Melville is discussed at
practically every meal. Honestly Marion the girl is mad. She just giggles
every time anyone speaks to her. I don't like to ask her about you. If I did
she would probably giggle. After the Housewifery Dem. we had First Aid (Miss
Nicol) - Bandaging. Thursday Evening I have just
come in from shopping. I bought a lot of things to-day, ½lb cherries which I
will send later. My hair is in a terrible state with dandruff so I bought a
bottle of ? hair lotion, etc. Later I went down to
the union to-night & played a few games of table tennis. Yvonne Glover was
there & she introduced me to her boy friend Gerald. Gerald is the only boy I
have ever seen in the Union. It closes at 9.20pm to-night & every other
night at 6pm. There are lovely fires, & a piano down there & we had a cup of
coffee to-night, cream biscuit & a cake for 4½d. We had laundry this
morning with Biddy Melville, finished woollens, washed & ironed white apron,
using washing machine. She said "By the way did you have a sister
here? Marion? I said "Yes" & she said "I noticed that you were very like her
& then when I looked the register I saw your name, & I had intended asking
you. What is Marion doing now?" & I said "teaching" & went on with my work.
Probably if I had said anything else she would have giggled. In the
afternoon we had electricity with Peggy P. My electricity equipment will
cost me over £1. After that we had Miss Roberts for sewing "Swiss Darning"
Friday Night I got your parcel to-day. Super to taste so many
lovely things. I got Mary's 10/- note from Newcastle. I forgot to tell you
in my last letter that Mrs. McKimm has invited me back to Pitlochry for the
long week-end if I am not going to Edinburgh. What length will I knit
the foot of the sock for daddy? We are doing Science with Peggy P. before we
actually ? electricity & I have no idea what she is talking about, it is
very difficult. We had 3 hours taking notes this morning on Bottling,
Jam Making & Canning (17 pages) & I have still to write them into my note
book. We had a Household Management Dem. this afternoon. "The Family
Budget", given by Miss Forrest & after that we had another First Aid Dem.
Monday I have quite a lot of news now. On Wednesday I had a
letter from William asking me to come over to Edinburgh on Sunday for the
day. Buses run every 15 minutes & it costs 5/- & 9/6 by train. A crowd of
girls were going to the theatre on Saturday and then out for tea, so I
thought I would just spend my money on going to Edinburgh instead, I didn't
even go out for coffee. William said he would meet the first bus which left
Glasgow after 10am. On Saturday night Robert Stewart phoned & he happened to
ask about W. & I told I was going over to see him & Robert said his aunt
invited him to Queensferry & he was going ? Edinburgh, so we were together
the whole way to Edinburgh. William met us & I had a wonderful day. He took
me to his digs first & I must say I don't think very much of them. Different
entirely from Mrs. Delaney's. He took me into his room & there was a big
fire on. he says he hasn't seen a fire like it since he came, Mrs. Donaldson
kept putting more and more coal on all for my benefit. However William said
to me "don't take off your coat & hat until you meet Mrs. Donaldson" I was
really looking very smart & when she saw me she said "Oh! I am afraid we are
not very smart here for a young lady" W. was highly amused. I had lunch
there & I didn't think it was even as good as we get in college, although
William seems to like it very well now & says he wouldn't change for
anything. It wasn't too bad, but I think W. needs all the food you send him.
Mrs. Donaldson is a very nice person & was very nice to me & has asked me to
come back. I met the other 3 boys in the digs & they were very nice to me
too. I had my lunch with four men. Unfortunately they aren't very exciting!!
I must say William gave me a wonderful day. After lunch we went for a walk
through Lord Rosebery's? estate, 4 miles we crossed over the river in a
boat (free) from Cra? (about 30 yards) & then we walked to South Queensferry
& came back by bus. The sun was shining & it was a glorious day. We went to
S? in the afternoon & they gave me a great welcome. Paulina was amazed
because I didn't come to her for the week-end & has asked me to come over &
stay with her at any time. Den & William left me to the bus stop where I met
Robert & when I arrived in Glasgow there were 3 of my girlfriends there to
meet me. They know how frightened I am at night. William says I look super
in my new coat & hat - of course I wear my veil down. Den & Paulina think I
am looking very well & much fatter, I am the same weight as William now. Den
was telling me they had a great holiday in Ireland. Now to get down to brass
tacks "I have a lot of things that I want you to send me. 1) Pliers (I can't
spell it) for electricity 2) old, but sharp scissors (I would like
these two articles immediately, as I need them for electricity) 3) box
½" tacks 4) hammer (for upholstery) 5) screwdriver 6) Box
for upholstery. I think you will have to get it made. I don't think Jimmy
Wright could do it well enough, so perhaps daddy could get it made some
where. I will need it in 2 or 3 weeks time (probably 3 or 4 weeks)
Instructions: a) Thickness 5/8" b) There must be no pieces of wood
inside, it must be perfectly plain. c) No hinges or hinge grooves
d) lid ½" bigger all round than box & if possible the lid should be like a
pastry board with grain running round in a different direction at the edges.
(drawing) The usual size of the box is 12" x 15" x 8" Shall I make mine this
size or would you like it bigger. If you are having it made bigger let me
know immediately as I want to look out for material. What colour would you
like the material to be? Something like Marion's & where should I try for it
Marion? & how much should I pay? Now the chair cover, is there any chair at
home you would like me to make the cover for? if not I will just make it the
standard size. What colour would you like? & how much should I pay? Please
let me know about all these things immediately, as they are most important.
I haven't met a girl here yet who hasn't got a silk frock. Doris has one,
Maureen has 4, & I would like to get one. There might be a party at the end
of this month. Will you allow me to try for one? If so how much will I pay?
& where should I try Marion> Please ANSWER this question. I wrote one letter
& said 'Please do answer these questions' Marion replied "Sorry I can't
answer your questions as Mary has taken your letter to Newcastle with her."
wrote again 'please answer questions' Marion reply "Sorry can't as we have
sent your letter on to Mammy. Now NO more excuses please "Time is short" & I
must have these questions answered. All the questions I have asked in this
letter are very important. William is worried about Dinah's leg, so please
let him know how it is. I am enclosing this letter in a parcel. I am sending
a jar of Peanut Butter. Perhaps Mammy could make Peanut Butter Biscuits. I
was tired eating jam, so I bought the P. Butter & then I didn't like it. I
am also sending ½lb cherries, ¼lb crystallized ginger, pillow case material
which I am not using, 1 pair pyjamas, & 2 labels with Mary can use over
again when sending a parcel to me. I cannot think if any more news,
now except we had sewing this morning with Miss Nicol (pillow cases) & this
afternoon we had Hygiene & Cookery Notes. Dinner is at 6.15pm & it is
now 5.50pm I have to wash dress & go to Post Office to post this before
dinner. Lots of Love Heather. If you want any more cherries let me know.
          
1948
20th October 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My, D, & M., I was
very disappointed to-day when I didn't get my Table Tennis bat. There is a
match on Thursday night with the boys from McBrayne hostel & I haven't got a
bat. The bats in the Union are just made of wood & I cannot play with them,
it is going to be terrible and I don't know what I am going to do.
There are only two matches (Eleanor was telling me) in the season, and I am
going to make a very poor show in the first one. The girl who has chosen the
team has never seen me playing and she is just trying me out on Thursday
night, so I am afraid it will be my last game. However please send my bat
immediately. I was sure I would have had my bar for Thursday & I am feeling
very worried. Imagine playing with men and I haven't even got a decent bat
to play with. Send it even though the rubber is hanging off. I am sure the
other 5 players are super & I am telling you it is an honour to be chosen
when only 6 people are playing. However it is only a poor worker that blames
his tools (or the lack of them) Perhaps I have been too sharp, but
please forgive me as I was a bit annoyed. Thank you very much for £1. I will
find it very useful as money just flies here. Please send my gym tunic
& girdle. (Don't put yourself out about it Mammy & don't bother pressing it.
I can do that when I get it) I have decided to play hockey because I am only
outside very occasionally (about twice a week) & I feel if I started hockey
it would make me go out. A lot of the new girls are starting next week. I
would like an ironing blanket and sheet. I don't like using my rug as these
flat irons burn things very easily. Mairi/Marie Aicken got the loan of Yvonne
McCumiskey's rug on Saturday & she lifted a piece right out of it, the same
size as the iron. She is getting it invisibly mended & it will cost her 4/6
per inch. Yvonne was terribly annoyed about it because her mother and father
got it as a wedding present. I remember you asking William about his
rub, well you will be pleased to hear that it is OK because I saw it on his
bed on Sunday. I was delighted with the food parcel, but unfortunately
I have everything eaten - not a crumb left. I must confess it was better
than the table tennis bat. I do hope you will like the things I sent
yesterday. Let me know if you want any more cherries or starch. I will not
be going over to Edinburgh again this term because William is working very
hard & so am I & neither of us can afford it. I must say William gave me a
super day on Sunday. He had it all planned & we had a super time together.
He was telling me about Andy Maneely saying to Tommy Hutchinson, when D.
passed "Have you seen that man before" William is as funny as ever.
Needless to say, I miss Mammy coming in at night to tuck me up. I always
shed a few tears when I read Mary's letters. I miss you all very much. Mammy
was making rather a rash promise when she said she would tuck me in at Xmas,
I am afraid she will need D. to lift the side of the mattress. What a burden
I am!! Another Johnny Matthews!! I miss my 'Slug' of Lemonade. May
Stark was telling me that before she came to Glasgow, she & her sister were
always fighting & they always finished off the same way. "Thank goodness I
will soon be going to Glasgow" & her sister would say "Then I'll have peace"
I was telling her that M. & I fought too & I said "I am sure you were sorry
saying Good-Bye to her" May replied "Not a bit" & every week-end I go home
we have a row. I must confess I was sorry saying "Good-bye" in spite of the
fact that we had a lot of rows. I got my red handbag to-day & it is
beautifully fixed just the same as it was when it was new. At supper time
last night I was sitting beside a girl from Derry (2nd yr. Institutional)
She asked me what part of Ireland I came from & I said "Cookstown" & she
said "I know people in Moneymore, actually they live in a place called
Letteran, the Johnston's (Anna Johnston), I know Margaret Hill very well & I
spent a holiday with her in Johnston's, years ago. so she is going to mention
my name to Margaret when she writes. Unfortunately I don't know her name.
There is another girl here from Derry & she & the girl who I was speaking to
last night were talking about Peter & Donald one night last week, I was
wondering was it the Hills. I wonder when you are sending a parcel
could you send an old exercise book with some empty pages in it. It is just
for taking notes down in rough. We had Housework yesterday morning with Miss
Whitby/Whitty. Four of us cleaned No. 8 room. In the afternoon we had Miss
Morton & we did invisible mending - stick on patch. We had Cookery with Miss
Allan this morning. White Vegetable Soup, Irish Stew & Queen of Puddings.
She was talking about the Irish people "They use pork in Irish stew" & then
every body looked at me so she asked me did I come from Ireland & when I
said yes, she said, "do they use pork for Irish Stew" I said "No" & then I
asked Maureen Roughead & she said 'No' so then Miss Allan said "I was over
in Ireland during the ? & the Irish people, whom I was speaking to, told me
they used pork." I wonder was it Marion who told her. Miss Steele was
not here to-day, as she has a bad cold so instead of a Housewifery Dem. Miss
Allan gave us notes on Household Pests & for the last hour, we had bandaging
with Miss Nicol & Mrs. Parke. I must get some work done. I have
homework to do for 'Biddy' for tomorrow morning & I have notes to learn for
Peggy P. for tomorrow afternoon. I wish I were you people now, sitting
eating Orange cake, Brandy Snaps, etc. Thursday I
have just finished work for to-day & am going to rest now for this match
to-night. By the way the Housewifes are having a sale of work & the I.M.A.
students are having the white elephant stall, so we all have to bring as
much stuff as possible, so if Mary could send me some things now I would be
very pleased. Mammy asked in her letter if I had a good appetite. I
have a terrific appetite, always hungry & I eat far more than I did at home.
"A bottle of Stro"? would be no use to me. We had laundry with Biddy this
morning. We washed & ? one of our blue overalls, a tea cosy with embroidery
& some handkerchiefs. This afternoon we had electricity with Miss Duffis,
she is a very young girl, just 23 years. We were delighted when we went to
Peggy P. this afternoon & she said I am only taking one section & the other
section go to Miss Duffis. Thank goodness I am not in the other section.
After that we had Miss Roberts for Swiss darning. Friday
I am writing this at lunch time. We have been doing Cookery Theory this
morning with Miss Nicol and then she taught us to make little paper baskets.
They are lovely & would look lovely on a Xmas tree. All 6 of us were
beaten at Table Tennis last night. I was playing an American chap & he just
beat me 21-16, 21-18. I must say I played quite well & I had a good bat, one
of the other boys gave me the loan of his. Really this place is terrible. We
have got a lovely union & we are just allowed to use it one night each week
(Thursday) & it closes at 9pm. Last night one of the girls had to walk
in and say to the boys "Time for you to go" They gave them supper, just 1
cup of tea each. Betty Thompson asked if they could have a 2nd & Miss
Donaldson said "No" There were hostel meetings last night & there were
some terrible rows. Miss Gibson told the head girls to tell us that she was
appalled at the way we dressed for dinner, so many of the girls wearing
slacks, so the girls here sent the message back that the slacks are in
keeping with the meal & when we get a decent meal, we will dress. Miss
Gibson said, that there was too much talking at meals & the girls said "If
they didn't talk they wouldn't get the meal down & they have to enjoy
themselves in some way" I must admit the meals are not nearly as bad as
this. The girls asked for permission to sit up later at night to work &
Gibson said "No" there is lots of time to work between 4pm & 11pm. Then they
asked would the college repair the bed linen, ? "no that is great practice
for you" The girls have also sent the message that up to now we have been
paying the maids & doing their work & we are doing it no longer, Nearly
every night we are paying for something, 6d for the ? at intervals, 10d for
? ? & if we damage anything we have to pay for it, There is going to be a
terrific row about these things. Maureen Roughead's father is a Civil
Servant & in his spare time he is an actor. Did you listen to the play on
Thursday night on the wireless "Johnny Malone Ma?" He took the part of Jock.
He will be on again on Nov. 5th in a feature Country Profile, it is called
"Cattle Dea?" 10.15pm to 10.45pm. Nov. 10th Play, Trans? Cas?
9.30pm-10.30. Nov. 17th Play, Dr. Quicksilver 9.30pm - 10-30pm. He
thinks he has got quite a big part in Dr. Quicksilver. Nov. 23th?
Feature, The Loughsiders 7.30pm - 8.0pm. He was telling Maureen that
his pay for the first 3 ? will pay her college expenses for the term & the
fees are $4?-16-0 so that is excellent. Saturday I
have just had a very short letter from William this morning. He says the
Stoneman's didn't mention anything about the divorce last Sunday.
Sunday I have just finished lunch after being at Wellington this
morning with Maureen. There was a christening. Thank you very much for the
parcel which I got yesterday. I was hoping to get one & I finished my butter
yesterday - if I hadn't got yours I would have had none until Wednesday. The
cakes are lovely. I am sure there won't be very much left tomorrow night. I
am very pleased to get the ironing blanket. Yesterday morning about
10-15 someone called "Heather McCully. Some one to see you at main door" &
when I went down there were the Kennedys, Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy. I just
couldn't speak, so they asked me to meet them at the Beresford Hotel at 2pm.
I went inside the Beresford & there they were, so we sat there until the two
boys came & then we all went to the pictures "Sleeping Car to Trieste" 3/9
seats then we went for a meal. They ordered Roast Chicken Stuffing. Salad, &
chips, & bread & butter, & tea & when we had that finished Mr. Kennedy said
"we will have to get some more chips, but we couldn't eat any more. Then
Mrs. Kennedy said, "we will have to get Ice cream & Fruit Salad" I said "No
thank you I couldn't really have anything more" she wouldn't listen to me &
ordered 5 ices with fruit salad but unfortunately they didn't have any fruit
salad. We came out & I said Thank you very much I have had a wonderful time.
Mrs. Kennedy was surprised at me suggesting going back to hotel & said, Oh
no, we must do another show, so they took me to the circus in the Empire 5/-
seats, we were very lucky because someone had cancelled 5 seats together.
Unfortunately we were in the very front row. However it was marvellous. We
came out at 10.35pm & Mrs. Kennedy said you must come with us for some
supper but I refused because I had to be in at 11pm, so Alex & David left me
back to College. Honestly Mary I don't think I ever enjoyed a day so much.
3/9 pictures, 5/- circus & I am sure the meal cost 6/- the chicken would
cost 5/- & probably the ice about 1/- They even payed my bus fare back to
college. If Mammy could write to Mrs. Kennedy & thank her. Tell her I
enjoyed myself thoroughly, I can't really tell you how much I enjoyed it. It
was super. It is great the difference money makes. David is as funny
as ever, Mr. Kennedy, has got very fat & D. said at the table "Oh Pop, don't
tell me that you are still able to wear your watch chain." I don't think I
will ever forget my marvellous day. I wonder would you send me a list
of people whom you think I should send College Xmas Cards to. They cost 3½d
each & I was wondering how many I will need, let me know as soon as
possible. There is a girl here from home, Kathleen Tweed, she is very Irish.
When I told I went to Rainey she said "Do you know Robin Hastings" She says
she went to Ballycastle one year for her holidays & she was walking to
church on the Sunday & this man with a beard, a filthy shirt & terribly ?
trousers & shoes. He asked her where the Unitarian church was & she says I
was terrified & I told him what way to go, I was going there too, but I
didn't want to tell him, because I got such a fright. Daddy went to church
in a car so when I saw him I told him all about it, so we just sat and
stared at Robin during the service. When I came out again I walked on &
along came Robin on a bicycle, got off the bicycle & started talking to me.
I was terribly insulted at such a person speaking to me & I turned my back &
hardly answered him. Then he made me get on to the back of his bicycle &
when we were going down a steep hill he said "Mind you there are no breaks
on this bicycle" so that was the first time Kathleen met Robin. She knows
him well now but she says she will never forget that Sunday.
Later Maureen Roughead's father knows the assistant minister in
Wellington very well, but hasn't seen him for years, so he wrote to Maureen
& asked her to look Mr. Brown up, so we went round to his house this
afternoon & he was delighted to see us & so was his wife. They have 3
smashing sons, 1 just finished a Dr., another in final year medicine &
another with 2 years medicine to do. The boys were very nice to us & we had
a super time with them. They made us stay for High Tea & what a spread. The
boys say that they will see that we get an invitation to any youth partys in
connection to Wellington. We had a super afternoon with them. The Dr. has
been in bed all week with a sore throat & when we arrived to-day, he got up
& came down to the sitting room. It was marvellous. We sit in the same seat
as they do in Wellington & we didn't know. It was very funny, I was sitting
beside Bobbie the last Sunday I was at Wellington. Monday
Morning I am going to finish this off & try to find someone who
is going out to post letters before class. Love Heather P.S.
Maureen is dying to hear what Mr. Wareham said about her. H.
     
1
1)
30th October 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Saturday - Dear
McCully's All, Here I am sitting in McKimm's sitting room - I came here
yesterday & it was pouring & it has poured all day to-day. I do hope it will
clear tomorrow or Monday. We go back on Monday night. We came to Perth with
May Stark, Edna Peden, Mary Chalk, Margaret & Ann McLeish (twins). Edna
Peden is the Kilrea girl & Mary Chalk is an English girl, they were going
home with the McLeish twins who live in Montrose?? They left Glasgow at 5pm
& they were sitting in the same bus until 11-15pm, so I am sure they were
feeling very tired. May Stark has invited me to her house next
week-end. She was outside Perth & when I told her I really couldn't afford
it, she was terribly annoyed, of course she said I was spending 2 in
Pitlochry. May is a very nice girl & I am looking forward to going very
much. Although this is my third week-end away from college. I am saving in
other ways. I haven't gone to the theatre yet & I haven't paid for myself at
the pictures for ages. I have only paid for myself twice & the Kennedy's paid
for me the third time. I really am saving in other ways. I am getting
on very slowly with my socks & as for my twin set, I never have time to even
look at it. It will never be finished. I got Daddy's letter last
Monday, telling me to look out for the Kennedy's & I had spent all day on
Saturday with them. I had better tell you now what I have been doing
in class. On Monday we had Miss Nicol? for sewing & we were working at
our pillow cases. In the afternoon we had Hygiene with Miss Whitby & we got
more notes. After that we had Cookery Theory with Miss Nicol, and we got
notes on grilling. On Tuesday morning we had housework with Miss Roberts. I
cleaned my navy handbag, my brown shopping bag, hair brush, comb,
toothbrush, red shoes, tan shoes & cleaned & washed carpets, In the
afternoon we had Sewing with "fat" Miss Nicol (first time we had her, there
are two Miss Nicols in College) We started the Specimen Sewing in of tapes.
On Wednesday morning we had cookery with Miss Allan, we made Brown Stock,
Mixed grill, Máitre d'hótel butter, Apple Tart, and Custard. In the
afternoon we had a Housewifery Lecture by Miss Steele. It was all about fire
places, and cookers. Then we had bandaging with Miss Nicol. On Thursday
morning we had laundry, Miss Sinclair gave us a dem. on washing of rayons
and silks & then, we had Biddy & I washed & finished my blue petticoat. She
said "Miss McCully do you know Miss Mitchell?" & I said "No", although I
have seen her once, & then she said "Miss Mitchell was wondering if you get
Maureen Patton's address for her" & I said "Yes" so I will give it to Biddy
& she can give it to Miss M. Write it out for me & I will give it to Biddy.
Please send it as soon as possible. Ann Dod has Miss Mitchell for sewing &
she says she is very particular - Could not be pleased. In the afternoon we
had electricity with Peggy P. & she just gave us notes, then we had sewing
with Miss Roberts & we started the specimen of darning. On Friday morning we
had Cookery with Miss Dickie - Potato Puree, Grilled Steak & Tomatoes,
Maitre d'hótel butter, Chips & Swiss Pudding. She said our Swiss Pudding was
best in the class. In the afternoon we had a Household Management Lecture on
Furniture given by Mrs. Affleck & then we had a First Aid Lecture.
Please send a lisle stocking with 1 hole only (not a very big one) I want it
for next week if possible. A girl who finishes her 2 years I.M.A. coming at
Xmas was telling us about her last cookery test. She had 3 hours & she had
to cook a meal for 50 people. Two of the meals? were individual salads &
Swiss Pudding. It took her ages peeling the apples & she took 40 minutes
extra, but Miss Jackson told her she had passed. I went down to Burnsland on
Thursday & got my Travel Ticket & Berth Ticket for going home. What am I
going to do about Xmas presents, I won't arrive home until Xmas Eve. We are
going to the Hydro Hotel for dinner to-night, so I will have to leave this
letter in the meantime. Later I am writing this in
bed. I went up town this morning with Ann & did some shopping & to-night we
went to the Hydro Hotel for dinner. We had a taxi both ways & Mr. McKimm
wore his dinner jacket. We had a very nice dinner. Slice of melon, oxtail
soup, Roast Beef ? Yorkshire Pudding, Roast or Mashed Potatoes, & Banana Ice
& Coffee. There is certainly no scarcity of money here. I wish you would see
Mrs. McKimms wardrobe, 2 fur coats, fur cape, single fox fur, dozens of
frocks, suits, & shoes, & as for her jewellery. Sunday Evening
I have just finished tea & we had a lovely apple tart & I got 6d. Ann & I
went for a lovely cycle run this afternoon. We went to the Pass if
Killcrakie (Killiecrankie) & we had a marvellous view. Thanks a million
Marion for £1. It is very useful. I have tried for a silk frock and I
couldn't get one. Should I try C&A some of the girls were telling me that it
is a great place for frocks. Ann & I are going back to Glasgow tomorrow
afternoon. We are having roast chicken for dinner to-night. Mrs. McKimm
bought it for 12/6. We are just sitting round the fire now & Ann is
counting her mother's clothes. She has 13 woollen frocks and 17 summer ones,
2 fur coats, 2 lots of other coats. Ann says it is impossible to count the
number of costumes she has & she has about 3 or 4 pairs of shoes of every
colour, blue, black, red, brown, etc. I must finish this now as I want
to read some of the magazines which Mrs. McKimm has. Hope there will
be a parcel for me when I go back to College. Love Heather P.S. Please
send "Phil the Fluters' Ball" "Dacent Irish Boy" "Mountains of
Mourne" & "Bless this House" I have only played the piano once since I
came, but I am hoping to get another chance. Love H. Ann was telling
me that Sue Romjat was at Ashley with her & before Xmas each year Mr. Romjat
wrote to the Head Mistress & asked her to find out the bust measurements of
the Staff & then he sent each of them a bra for Xmas. Mrs. McKimm was
showing me a lovely new brassiere she bought in Perth. It is beautiful &
when I looked on the packet. Printed in green "The English Rose" & below
that a big red rose & then at the bottom. Daintyfyt & Co. Ltd., London,
England - Cookstown, N. Ireland. Mrs. McKimm hadn't noticed that.
     
1
1)
3rd November 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Thursday - Dear
McCully's All, I have just finished work for the day. I got a parcel from
you yesterday. The staff in the office are very stupid, the parcel arrived
on Tuesday, or perhaps before that, and they only gave it to me yesterday
afternoon. I was very much surprised to get another one to-day, but needless
to say I am delighted with it, you have no idea how pleased I am, such a
rarity. I must say I have had a hectic week - not a minute to spare. I was
in bed at 11.15pm last night & up again at 7am this morning & I don't seem
to be any further on. I am going to Perth tomorrow with May Stark. I don't
know when I will have time to write to Mrs. Scott, but I will try as soon as
I can, please explain to her. Our exams are very near. First Aid on Monday
November 16th and our Cookery Theory on December 8th. By the way I am
delighted with the lisle stockings. I tried for them several times but
couldn't get any. The parcel which I got to-day was in a pretty bad state.
The paper was torn off on one side. They must get a lot of abuse. I am
surprised to hear that L. Clemants? is singing. Hilda Irwin told me she
would have to stop singing in public for a long time, as she had too much
confidence & was making mistakes. I am sorry Mammy couldn't get a
coat, perhaps she will be able to get one later on. I am looking forward to
seeing Marion's new clothes, I am sure she will look a smasher. I was going
to say she is like myself, she doesn't need any padding at the hips but what
an insult to Marion being told that she is like me because my posterior is
huge!! I think Glasgow is a great city Marion & it is so easy to learn
your way about. Is Ella, Victor Quinn's wife. I thought she was blind.
William told me that he & Jess were going to meet occasionally, so that they
wouldn't be parting & never speaking to each other again. They want to
remain friendly, says it is definitely finished. He doesn't want her,
doesn't miss her at all, although he thought he would have done. What is all
this about clothes, and hankies for the Watson's? I never heard of them.
Please forward their letters. I just cannot get over Sam Nerrie & Olive
Cromie, I wonder how long it will take Sam popping the question? I hope he
can get it out a bit quicker than the way he usually speaks, when he is
telling us anything. Probably Harry Glasgow will out him over it
beforehand!!! I am very sorry to hear about the Sloanes. Did Olive
Stewart not like "Marvins" How does Winnie? like Olive? Now the weeks work.
We had Monday off. On Tuesday morning we had Miss Roberts for Housework.
Cleaning of Brushes, bathrooms & lavatory's. In the afternoon we had Sewing
with Miss Morton & we finished our tape specimens. On Wednesday morning we
had Cookery with Miss Allan. Roast Beef, Mashed Turnip, Gravy, Roast
Potatoes, & Dinner Pancakes. In the afternoon we had a Housewifery Dem.
(Miss Steele) on cleaning of shoes & carpet sweepers, & then we had
bandaging with Miss Nicol. This morning we had laundry with Biddy, she gave
us back out homework & she said mine was good & very carefully done & well
thought out. We washed Silk French Knickers, Silk Scarf & stockings. Before
that for the first hour we had a Dem. with Miss Smiler? on washing silks. We
had electricity this afternoon with Miss Duffis & we did some wiring. We
then had Sewing with Miss Roberts & we were doing some darning. We got our
Calico Patches, Invisible Mends & Tweed Patches back & any one with a pin
had to be done over again. Thank goodness there were no pins in mine.
Maureen has to do her Tweed Patch over again. Tomorrow is Diploma Day so we
are getting of at 12am. We have Cookery for 2 hours with Miss Dickie, and we
are making Celery Soup & Sausage Rolls. I have changed my hairstyle, I
have now got a centre parting & the girls think it is much nicer. Thanks a
million Marion for £1. I got that other £1 from you. Monday
Evening I have just finished work & I am sitting here with the
light, there has been a fog all day, & it is dark already. Thanks for parcel
which I got when I came back from Starks. I will not be using the box for a
fortnight, but please send me the lisle stocking to clean, or if you can't
get one send a silk one. I must have it for next Monday. Thanks for £1, it
will be a great help. There is a dance in College on Friday night, but
I don't think I will go. It is just a hop so there will be lots of partners,
but unfortunately I haven't got a silk frock yet & all my friends are
wearing silk frocks. I had a wonderful week-end at Starks. What a
welcome they gave me. They took me to a Y.F.C. dance in Perth on Friday
night & it was super. I danced nearly all the dances, it cost 7/6 each &
Mrs. Stark gave May the money to pay. On Saturday morning I was wakened with
my breakfast tray. I had grapefruit & a fry beautifully served. We just got
up in time for lunch. Chicken Soup, Chicken etc. & in the afternoon I was
helping Elma, May's sister to bake, it was marvellous to be in a kitchen
again. We were just going out to the pictures on Saturday night when a man
came in & we couldn't go. On Sunday morning we went to church & it was
communion Sunday. I took communion. The minister was in the last war & he
has two wooden legs & a glass eye. It is a terrible pity of him. It is a
very small church & Mrs. Stark was very proud of me with the new book, what
a fuss they made of me, introducing me to lots of people. On Sunday we had a
super tea, all kinds of cake including sponge sandwich with loads of whipped
cream & Meringue with loads of whipped cream between them. What food. Mrs.
Stark gave me 6 apples to bring back with me. She even gave me my collection
for church. We had a great arguement about it but she just put it into my
bag. She also had a popy bought for me. Oh, it was super, U was very sorry
leaving. By the way I saw my marks for some of my sewing specimens
to-day. I wasn't supposed to see them, but Miss Nicol went out & left the
book open. Tweed Patch 4, Print Patch 8, Ticking Patch 9, Calico Patch 9,
Cretonne Patch 9 & No Sew Patch 10. Are these good Marion? It is 52 marks
out of a possible 60. Now about our work, we did not make Celery Soup &
Sausage Rolls with Miss Dickie on Friday morning, we made Cookies with
Yeast, Oven Scones & Griddle Scones. We finished at 12 o'clock, so May & I
got the ?pm bus. We had Sewing with Miss Nicol this morning & we were
working at Pillow Cases & ? damask patches. This afternoon we had Hygiene
with Miss Whitty & we got notes. After that we had Cookery Theory with Miss
Nicol & she gave us notes on Braising. Our Sale is tomorrow & I have
to be at the White Elephant Stall at 1.15pm so I will be very busy to-night
getting my Uniform ready, we have to wear full uniform, white aprons & caps.
I am afraid this letter will not cross to-night, however I will post it now.
Who made my box? I have the feeling it was Daddy because I saw an A & I
thought it was like D's printing. I must post this now & then write to Mrs.
Stark. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
   
1
1) (no date but mentions a shooting and the following letter mentions a
'bulletin about the bullets') 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Thursday
- Dear McCully's All, I have just come up from the Sale. It was opened by
Miss Greta, Miss Allan was in the chair & Miss Gibson & a diploma student,
who presented Miss Greta with a boquet (bouquet) were also on the platform.
The articles were very reasonable but unfortunately I couldn't manage
to get anything worth while. The cakes were wonderful, all made in college.
They had one huge fruit cake with marzipan & icing which they divided in to
four & auctioned. It was about 15" in diameter & about 4" deep. Miss Roberts
was the auctioneer & she was marvellous, even better than Joe Allan. The
prices were terrific 18/=, £1, £1, £1-1-0. Miss Allan bought one ¼ at £1.
Imagine £3-19-0 for one cake. When I was walking around I saw a shabby, wee
woman pushing her way through & to my horror I heard someone say "Hello Miss
Melville" I enjoyed the sale very much. By the way I forgot to tell
you in my last letter what the Starks do. They have a big farm (over 200
acres, 88 sheep & hundreds of cattle) They have four cottages on the farm
for their workers. It is 3.50pm, tea is at 4pm & we have an English
class at 4.15pm, so I will have to go in the meantime. We had 2 hours
housework this morning with Miss Roberts & we did the thorough cleaning of a
bed. We did the springs with paraffin. The wood with vinegar & water & then
we polished it & then we cleaned the room. I haven't being taking any
tonic this term, so I thought if Mammy would send me some of those brown
iron tablets which I used to take, they would keep me up during the winter.
Now Mammy, don't be saying "Oh Heather mustn't be feeling well whenever she
is writing for the tabs. It is so unlike Heather to take a tonic without
being told" because I feel in tip-top form. 8.30am
Oh Mammy, a terrible thing has just happened, there was a terrible explosion
in hostel & a girl got 3 bullets out through the window & Miss Hamilton has
phoned Police. 9.15pm I will tell you all about it
now. There were 3 girls in a bedroom facing the Park, 2 bullets came through
the window. We heard the terrible explosion about 8.35pm & we were all
laughing, we thought it was a tram smash & we all put our heads out of the
window & some girls went out onto the roof. We then heard Miss Hamilton
phoning & she said this is College of Dom.-Sc., C.I.D. immediately please,
we have just got 3 bullets out through a window, we all nearly dropped with
shock & then we met Mary Matheson, she was in a terrible state. She says she
went into the room to see Aileen Tate & 1 bullet came through the window.
She is not quite sure if there were more. Cargie? Berks? was in bed & when
it came through she leapt out of bed & hasn't been seen since. Nobody knows
where she is. We have plain clothes detectives in college at present & lots
of Police outside. I think this area is being closed in now. Mairi
Aicken was coming along the corridor with Ann Dod & the electric bell gave a
ring & a flash, & Mairi doubled up, screamed & started to run. Ann caught
her & she said take me up to Heather's room, however Ann took her to her own
room & she is lying on her bed weeping, she says the men will come through
her window because there is a scaph??? up. We got a terrible fright, but we
are alright now because we are surrounded by police. Thank goodness I am not
in a front room. It could easily have happened to me, if I had got a front
bedroom. A lot of people have said "It would be Aileen Tate's room"
Aileen is not a very good ?? I must do some work now. I have
just been talking to the watchman, & he says when he heard the explosion, he
went outside but could see nothing. He says, just after the C.I.D. arrived,
all the Press Reporters arrived. "Daily Mail", "Daily Express" etc. but Miss
Hamilton refused to see any of them, but I am sure there will be something
in the papers about it tomorrow. This has been the 3rd shooting incident in
Glasgow to-night. The other 2 were in the South of Glasgow, & the Press men
were sure they would find out a lot about it here. There was a hold-up in a
chip shop. We are splitting our sides with laughing. It will probably be in
the papers tomorrow, & we are imagining the state all our parents will be
in. I am sure there will be a lot of phone calls tomorrow. Miss
Hamilton is a wonderful person. She certainly has her head screwed on. The
very minutes Kay told her that she had got a bullet, she didn't even go to
the room, she just dashed for the phone. Wednesday Morning
It is in the paper this morning, so I will send the cutting in the next
letter. Please keep it. Maureen is going out now & she is going to
post this letter. Love Heather P.S. Don't forget to send the
stocking.
       
1
1) 11th November 1948 - Churchtown, Cookstown Thursday - Dear
McCully's All, Here I am at lunch time after a very busy morning. We had
Cookery with Miss Affleck, and guess who was helping her Marion - A new
teacher Miss Gardiner. She did not recognize me. It was very funny, on the
day of the sale Miss Nicol told me to take the money from the White Elephant
Stall to Miss Gardiner. She said "she is going round the stalls, collecting
the money" & then she described her to me. It never dawned on me who she
might be, and I went over and said to her "Are you Miss Gardiner" and I was
telling some of the girls about the new teacher. When I went in to
Miss Afleck's kitchen for First Aid yesterday she said to me "Who have you
got this afternoon?" She never thought of me & I never thought of her.
I have seen her lots of times and it was just to-day when Miss Afleck gave
me two order sheets to bring down to the store, and one had A. Afleck
on it and the other had J. P. Gardiner & I recognized her writing. I might
speak to her some time. She is going to teach Cookery. Biddy Melville is
very nice to me. I have heard that the explosion that night was made
by the boys from McBrayne hostel. The had a squib surrounded by bottles & a
bottle hit the windows, but most people think it was a bullet. We have to
keep all blinds down night & morning when the light is on, Miss Hamilton
says it is in case any more bullets come through. It was in the Bulletine
the next day, but unfortunately I couldn't get one. It was headed "Shot
Alarms Girl Students" We have been laughing ever since. That was
Tuesday we had detectives in College, but last night a passer-by saw flames
coming from the back of College, and she reported it, and in a few minutes
Hostel 9 staircase was packed with firemen. It was somebody's chimney that
had gone on fire, behind College. We are certainly getting a name on
ourselves, Detectives one night, and then firemen. Now about exams, We
have our Cookery Test divided over two days. I am doing mine with Miss Allan
on Wednesday week, we start at 9.30am and finish at 12.30. I have to
make White Lentil Soup, Mixed Grill, Boiled Potatoes, Swiss Pudding, and
Girdle (Griddle) Scones. We have yo hand in our "method of work" on Monday -
what a job. Miss Afleck was telling us to-day, that a very high standard is
expected, & if we do not pass this time, we will have to leave. This is what
this test is for. I am nearly mental. You can see me in a terrible muddle.
Soup has to be served at 12, Grill 12.5pm, with Potatoes etc., Pudding
12.15, and Girdle? Scones at any time. I will send a copy of my order
of work, and please tell me Marion, if you think it is poor. Our First
Aid exam is on Monday. Housework ? on Tuesday week, and then we will have
all our theory papers. Imagine only 6 weeks until I am going home and the
amount of work that has to be done before then. I bought a Silk Frock
on Wednesday. I must say, it is really very nice, & I am a bit disappointed.
I know you won't like it, I tried dozens of shops & couldn't get anything.
They were all light, plain colours, & very expensive. I got this one in
Watts. It is navy with pale blue flowers, & I just took it because it
was only £3-8-9 & I wanted it for the dance to-night. All the girls in
hostel are going, and they said I would feel miserable sitting all alone, &
hearing the music. I will try to draw the frock. (drawing) It is
called a tulip sleeve. It ties in a bow in the back, and the skirt is
gathered. I must go to class now. Saturday Evening I
am very busy, so I am afraid my letters from now until the end of term will
be very short. I enjoyed the dance very much last night, although I
must confess, the boys weren't a very nice crowd. I was dancing with a
Glasgow chap and he said to me "it is very hot" & I said "Yes it gets very
warm after the first hour" (or something like that) & he said "What part of
the world do you come from - Ireland" & I said "Yes, how did you know" & he
said "I knew the minute you opened your mouth." Just at the end of the dance
I saw a chap with a "Dick tie". He must have arrived just about ½ an
hour before the end. I have been washing and ironing all afternoon, white
aprons etc. It is surprising how much washing & ironing has to be done.
Maureen had to go out for the day, so I had to iron her white apron for the
exam on Monday, as well as my own, so you may guess how busy I have been.
I have to practice all the bandages to-night & I haven't had time to open my
First Aid book yet, so I will just have to get down to it to-night. We
have to graft the toes of our socks on Thursday, so I will have a terrible
rush. I will try to write to Mrs. Scott, even thought it is only a page. I
know I really ought to & I feel terrible about it. You have no idea
the amount we have to do. I have only written to William twice this term.
We get homework now. This week we have Housework, Electricity, Laundry, &
Hygiene homework. I am delighted with the parcel. The cake was very
useful last night, because we were all very hungry when we came in from the
dance. I have a piece of it yet though. I was also very pleased with the
chocolates. It was very good of Dr. Elliott. Will I have to write to thank
him? if so, some of you people could send me a letter to copy, because I
couldn't possibly write a letter of thanks to Dr. Elliott. I will be
sending a parcel soon with pyjamas, vests, & my blue gignam (gingham) frock.
It is too cold to wear it now & it is just taking up room in my wardrobe. I
got the "Mid" to-day. It is marvellous to see a paper from home. I wish you
would send it oftener, after all Marion got it every week when she was away
from home. Another lovely job for you Marion - I wonder would you keep
all the "Home Chats" that I haven't seen, in a bundle. Imagine I will be
going home in less than 6 weeks. I would like to drive the car out from
Cookstown all by myself, on the day that I arrive home. Just the way William
does, & I will blow the horn at the foot of the hill & you can open the
doors. I am sure Rory misses me. I keep a photograph of him on my dressing
table. I will have to get something done to my pale blue woollen frock at
Christmas. It is much too short & I think I could probably put a piece of
navy in. It is very funny to see the girls lengthening their frocks. They
are always put stripes into skirts. Did Bob & Bert Kinnear ever come
over to spend a week-end? Give my love to the Kinnear's when you are
writing. You can tell Mr. Irwin, that I am very worried about myself,
because I am nearly as fat as he is. Mammy & Marion will probably be too shy
to tell him, but I know Daddy will deliver the message. O.K. You can also
tell him that Robert Stewart was asking about him. Robert phones quite
often, his girlfriend is thinking of coming to College, so Robert has to
bring me along some Sunday. We hope to go a fortnight from tomorrow. Alex
Hyndman would have called quite often, but I had to tell him, that I had no
time to go out & it is true, I haven't a spare minute. I was telling the
Derry girl that you had mentioned her name to Anna Johnston & she told me to
tell you to give Anna her love. It is 8.10pm - nearly supper time. I must
say I am just like a baloon that keeps on getting fatter & fatter.
Although I have burst some articles of clothing. I do hope that I, myself
won't burst. It has really got beyond a joke. I would just like to
apologize to Mammy for the terrible things I said to her about her tummy. I
hadn't thought at that time that I would have one twice the size. I
have had terrible trouble with my drawers, we have three drawers each & the
same key does all three. Well, two? weeks ago last Thursday my key
broke & I gave it to Miss Hamilton to get fixed, & she hasn't bothered about
it. It is a terrible nuisance be cause my bottom drawer is locked & I
cannot get anything out of it & the other two are open all the time which
means I have to lock all my valuable things in my wardrobe. I must go to
Miss Hamilton again about it. It was very funny at dinner time the other
night. There were 14 of us at the table & everything was very quiet,
nobody was speaking & there id a girl called Dora at the table, & Dora is
always very polite - she is a very old fashioned person & wears clothes that
her granny should wear & she shouted right across the table to me "Heather,
have you got your drawers sorted yet?" Well everybody just burst our & there
was a shriek of laughter "Honestly Miss McIntyre just stared at us, she was
mad at such a noise in the dining hall. Of course Dora was disgusted at
everybody laughing, because she was quite serious about it all. I must go to
supper now & then learn some First Aid. I will write more tomorrow.
Monday Night I was at Wellington twice yesterday. Mr. Jarvis was
not there in the morning. He was at Centenary Service somewhere & at night
it was a Missionary who spoke. There is a broadcast from Wellington at 7.45
on November 28th. It will be broadcast on all Services, so don't forget to
listen. I will give a cough after the first singing! We had our First
Aid exam to-day & I can tell you it isn't as easy as the one I had at home,
I do hope that I have passed but I am very doubtful about it. However it
cannot be helped if I have failed. There were hundreds of girls doing
it & several doctors. We were in Room 24 & Sam Gardiner was in charge of our
class & she said to me, when I come in I want to see you afterwards, so when
the 6 of us came out from our exam, Miss Roberts, Jean, & another member of
staff were standing, & Miss Roberts was very excited when she was saying to
Jean "Do you remember Marion McCully? well this is her sister, it is not
hard to tell I knew as soon as I saw her" then Jean walked along the
corridor with me & she has arranged to meet me before class tomorrow morning
before class for a chat. She says I have got very like Marion & she
says she recognised me in Miss Afleck's class, but she couldn't find the
register to see if it really was me & she didn't like to speak in case it
wasn't. I am going to be very busy from now onwards. I have a tape
specimen & another one to finish to-night. I have also got my sewing note
book & other note books to write up to date. We are starting boxes nest
week. Our exams are very near, so please forgive me if I don't write, as I
am just up to the eyes. Tuesday November 23rd Housework Exam
(Practical) Tuesday November 30th Theory Exam (Sewing, Laundry)
Housework Household Management Hygiene & First Aid December 8th
Cookery Theory Wednesday 24th November Cookery Practical. You will see
from this now much we have to do & if we don't get good marks, we will have
to leave at Xmas. I am very lucky to have got into College, because they are
not taking in any more students who have not got senior. I have just got in
in time. Tuesday Evening I went to see Jean
this morning & she wants Mammy to write at once. She says Ma??? her a
letter. What is Mary? McLarnon? doing. When I hear from you I have to let
her know & she will come out for coffee with me some Saturday morning.
I have just had bad news, we are having our Cookery test on Friday instead
of Wednesday ? & ? ? here Miss Afleck. I have to go to the English
class now. Lots of Love Heather
   
 
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1) 21st November 1948? - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Sunday night -
Dear My, D. & M., I am writing this just before going to bed, so it is going
to be a very short note. I suppose you would like to hear about my Cookery
Test. We had Miss Allan after all. Well, I must say I feel quite
pleased with myself. When Miss Allan was giving back our sheets with the
method of work, she held mine up to the class & said "Now girls, I want you
all to do your work neatly like that" ? ? ? Well, Miss McCully I must say I
can't find very much wrong with your cooking. It is an excellent test. Your
soup is a lovely consistency & well seasoned. Grill & Potatoes very well
done, also your potatoes. Your scones? are a very nice mixture but not
very well fried, but I feel with more practice they should be good & I know
you didn't have a proper lesson on them. Your method was excellent & you
didn't have to stop to think what you would do next, you knew exactly what
you were doing. You are a very neat, tidy worker & I must say that was an
excellent test" Miss Allan is supposed to be a very stiff marker, & we
are rarely told our Cookery practical marks, but I saw mine 68% & 65% in
Cookery is a First Class Pass, so I am feeling very pleased with myself. My
Housework test on Tuesday & we have to make out our method of work. I will
have to spend hours at it tomorrow. I have to clean enamelled, varnished &
polished woods & a galvanized iron article. We will have Miss Roberts.
We are starting boxes tomorrow morning. I bought my material yesterday, you
have no idea how difficult it is to get material. This material is not
anything like what I wanted, but it was the only thing I could get, I just
couldn't get material for my chair cover. I went to Wellington this
morning with Edna Peden & Mairi Aitken & I love Wellington, I wouldn't miss
it for anything - lots of marvellous tunes, there were 3 babies christened
this morning & I want to-night with Mairi & May Stark. The choir sing an
anthem in the evening. The singing is wonderful. Next Sunday is the
broadcast. We are practicing the hymns from 7.15 to 7.45pm. You can imagine
me Marion, sitting on the right hand side (facing the pulpit) complete with
veil. I am sure I will weep. There was a hockey match on Saturday between
Belfast. The Belfast girls were here all day & I would loved to have gone
back with them. You can send me some more brown tablets please, those will
do me until the end of the week. I do hope I will get a parcel during
the week because next Sunday I will miss the main meal 8.30pm, because I
will be at the Broadcast Service & I will have nothing to eat from afternoon
tea at 4.30pm until Monday morning. I will be making my Xmas Cake on Friday.
What coats & clothes should I bring home at Xmas? Who will I send Xmas Cards
to? Oh gosh! it is 11-30pm & if I am caught with the light on I will be
scolded. Monday Morning I am just going to finish
this off before going to class. I have a lot of work to do this afternoon
because I have to prepare my method of work for my Homework Test tomorrow
morning. It is very difficult to write out a method of work when we don't
even know how much we will have to do. I will send you a pattern of
the material which I am using. I am putting the lighter side out. I will
write to Dr. Elliott when I get your letter & I will really try to write to
Mrs. Scott this week. I will be going in 4 weeks after you get this
letter so if Daddy would let me know the train times & the arrangements
about going home. I would be very pleased. When I am sending a parcel
home should I register it. I want to bring some of my books, but we have to
hand in our Sewing Note Book before Xmas & I am sure I will not get it back
before I go home. Miss Lemon (warden) was asking us if we had started
stroking off the days yet. Must go down & see if there is a letter
from home. I only got one last week. I have been feeling a little home-sick
since I saw the Irish girls on Saturday. However it is only 32 days until I
will be home again. Love Heather
2) (no date but mentions putting net on her dress and asks on 28th if it
will be ready for xmas also this mentions exams which she has yet to do, the
next letters comment on scores achieved) Churchtown, Cookstown?
Monday - Dear Mammy, Daddy & Marion, I feel I must write immediately to
thank you for the wonderful parcel which I got to-day. I think it will do me
for at least 4 weeks. I don't know which to eat first. I think it is a shame
for me eating all the chocolates that Dr. Elliott sent, so if I can keep
them until Monday I want send them back to you people to eat. Thank you very
much Marion for the £1:10:0 I will certainly need it, Daddy is going
to get a great shock when he sees my P.O. Book. I really don't know where my
money goes to. I hardly ever go out. Tuesday We had
our Housework Test to-day with Miss Roberts & it certainly was tough. We had
2 hours & I washed a polish ? & a huge polished chair with vinegar & water,
& then polished them with furniture cream. I then did a huge varnished
sideboard with soap & water & then polished with a duster. I then did an
enamel chair & cupboard with soap and water, & then a filthy pail with bath?
& paraffin. It was a terrible rush & I spilled paraffin over my
Housewifery Note Book, so I am going to have a hard working Xmas holiday
writing up my notes again, & Miss Roberts asked me lots & lots of questions
about how to clean different articles. I won't do nearly as well as I did in
Cookery. Our next exam is Sewing, Laundry, Hygiene & First Aid, so you can
guess that I have a lot of work to do. Evelyn, Doris & Maureen are
trying on their marvellous evening frocks, I saw a lovely evening frock in a
window one day & it was something like mine covered with white net and it
looked lovely. Let me know if it would be possible to cover mine with white
net, if so Marion could buy the net!! & we could put it on at Christmas.
The College Ball is in the Grand Hotel on Monday week, & the tickets are
£1-1-0, so needless to say I never considered going. The Residents Ball is
next term, February I think. I must do some work now.
Friday Thank you very much for the parcels, I got both of them
yesterday. The almonds come very quickly, the rum had leaked slightly, the
paper round the cork soaked up most of it, & there was a drop or two in the
sugar, 3 of the eggs were slightly crushed, bit I was able to use them
alright. We made our cakes this morning, & mine is very nice, we are going
to ice them next Friday. You will be very pleased to hear that I have
written to Dr. Elliott, Mrs. Scott, & Eleanor Steenson, I wrote to Maggie
McCulloch, because she wrote a very interesting long letter to me. I
never realized what a Glasgow fog was like until this week. The day students
were sent home at lunch time yesterday & to-day & Miss Hamilton says that
she thinks the trams will probably have to stop running. Our bedrooms are
very foggy & our faces bleak. I managed to get a "Bulletin?" with the
paragraph about the bullets in ? I will enclose it, but keep it for me. I
must really do some work now as our big exam is on Tuesday. Love Heather
   
 
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1) 28th November 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mammy, Many Happy
Returns of the Day Mammy. I am very sorry I cannot sing it to you. I am
sending you a little present which you will find inside a little box in an
envelope. I am also sending 2 summer frocks which I am finished with, a
light blouse, 3 pairs of pyjamas, my blue woollen jumper. You need not
bother sending the blue jumper back, as I will need it at home at Christmas.
I am also sending the tin of pears which I canned at the beginning of term,
& also the cherries that I have left over from my cake. I think this is all
that I have inside the parcel. I will have to post a lot of things home, as
I don't want to have anything heavy in my cases when I come home. I had some
of the girls in stitches the other night, when I was telling them about my
luggage going home. In one hand I will have my black case, & in the other
hand my hat box & leather bag & between my knees my cake tin with the
Christmas cake in it. I was demonstrating what I would be like at the
station at Belfast & I am sure no one will offer to help me, because "a
beefy lump" like me would frighten anybody!! I am only joking, I will manage
fine. I am writing this in bed before breakfast, so that will actually be
the reason for such writing. What clothes do you think I should bring home
at Xmas & what ones should I post. I will send heavy parcels at the last
minute & then the Mail Van will be out with Xmas presents & it will save the
postman. Marion never told me who I should send Xmas Cards to, & what
about presents?? What about the Dance on Boxing Night. Marion Casey is
bringing her evening frock. Do you think I could have the net on mine before
that? I must get up soon as it is just 20 mins. to breakfast time. During
the week I usually get up about 2 mins. to 8 - Evelyn gets up with me but
Doris & Maureen hardly ever get up for breakfast. I slept in one morning & I
never felt right all day after that, so I never miss breakfast. I hope
you will hear me coughing to-night. Maureen Roughead has told her mother
that she is going to cough after the 2nd. hymn. One of our theory exams is
on Tuesday & I am nearly mental. I just cannot get the "stuff" into my head
& I know very little, so I will not get a very good mark. Imagine 6 subjects
all at the same time. Later I have just come in from
Wellington, & Mr. Brown preached because Dr. Jarvis is in bed with the flu.
Mr. Brown said that the Dr. said he would allow Dr. Jarvis to get up &
preach to-night. Imagine ? when he has influenza. I love Wellington Church
Marion & I usually go twice every Sunday. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I
went with Edna Peden, Mairi Aicken, & Frances Aimer. Did I tell you before
that Edna Peden's boy-friend is Martin Craig? Maureen Roughead only
comes to church occasionally. She is one of those Methody girls, who tries
to be very smart & says "!Oh no I have some work to do. I haven't time to go
to Church Silly fool." She dresses beautifully & if she goes out for a
paper in the morning she wears, nylons & court shoes & ear rings.
Later I have just come in from the Broadcast & we managed to get
some supper. Poor Mr. Jarvis looked ghastly, he had a terrible wheeze & he
was holding his chest the whole time & before anyone was out of Church, he
went down from the pulpit & rushed home in a taxi. Mr. Brown was
telling us that Mr. Jarvis has a high temperature & that he was just out of
bed before the broadcast, & his voice seemed different. I hope you heard me
coughing immediately after the first hymn. I was the only one coughing & it
was a very loud cough. I coughed up a lot of corruption!!! You are bound to
have heard me. Please let me know if you did hear me. Shall I bring home my
navy hat at Christmas? I cannot think of any more news just now, and I
want to make this parcel up. Again Wishing You a Very Happy Birthday
Love Heather xxxxx P.S. I know the first thing you will say as soon as
you see the present. "I wonder how much Heather paid for that" H.
2) (no date but mentions Dr. Jarvis still not feeling better) 8 Park
Drive, Glasgow C.3. Thursday - Dear Daddy, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear daddy, Happy Birthday to you.
I am just writing before class, & as I am scullery maid in Cookery this week
I have to be in at 9.30am, so this will be a very short note. I was at
Wellington twice on Sunday, and it was a minister from Edinburgh who
preached as Dr. Jarvis is not better yet. Our exams are over except
for a Laundry practical, and it is next Thursday. I am sending a copy of the
papers, so that Marion can see them. The cookery paper was very
disappointing. Miss Nicol said to me afterwards "How did you like the paper"
& I said, "it was just horrible Miss Nicol," & she said "What was horrible
about it" & I said "I could say the bottling & jam making notes backwards, &
all my proportions, & there wasn't a question on either of them" she just
laughed at me. The final I.M.s, are doing their cookery finals next week,
and each girl has to have two maids & give them written instructions, so I
am on duty from 10am until 6pm next Wednesday. I don't know what my
feet will be like. There were only 11 people chosen out of our class to do
it, so I am very pleased with myself. I have a lot of sewing to finish
off before the end of term, so I am not going to have much time to spare.
Celanese Patch, Glove Mend, Stocking Mend, Socks, and a lot to do to our
chair covers. Daddy I want to warn you about one thing & that is you
are going to get a terrible shock when you see my P.O. Book. I really spent
my money carefully, but it just seems to fly here. However, I will have
several things to show for it. My chair cover will cost about £1-11-0.
I am terribly annoyed because this is Friday & I haven't had a letter from
home. Perhaps there will be one this morning. Excuse paper as my note paper
is finished & I can't afford to buy any more. Again wishing you a Happy
Birthday & I am sorry I haven't got anything more for you. Love to all
Heather
     
 
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1) 13th December 1948 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Monday Night
- Dear McCullys, I will begin this letter by telling you that I have passed
my First Aid Exam. I forgot to tell you in my last letter. Two I.M. people
failed out of 34. We have not had our other results yet. I heard to-day that
6 people from I.M. are going to be asked to leave at Xmas. Imagine only 34
people & 6 being asked to leave. I am scared stiff. I do hope I won't have
to go. I haven't heard from William for quite a while. Wednesday
Morning The results of the Management paper are going up on
Thursday & the Cookery paper on Monday, so you may guess how nervous I feel.
I am going to be very busy to-day. The Senior D.M.'s are doing their
practical tests to-day, & I am scullery maid to one of the girls to-day. She
has to make a lunch for 50 miners with scones & tea, so she is making Lentil
Soup, Roast Chops, Carrot & Turnip, Potatoes, Gravy, Apple Squares & Custard
Sauce, Scones & Tea. I have to peel, core & slice 16lbs of apples, & dice
vegs with the machine. The girl who I am with says I will just be exhausted
when I finish. I start at 10 o'clock this morning. By the way Robert
Stewart's girl friend is thinking of coming to College & I was invited down
to Motherwell last Sunday to see her. I had a super time & a wonderful tea.
Robert seems very depressed. I will tell you all about it when I see you on
Friday week. He feels it very badly about having no home to go to. He
doesn't seem to like his sister now & he says "I pity Jim Weir, he was badly
had" What will I wear coming home? & what coats shall I bring? Will I
see Daddy at Dungannon? I do hope Ronny will be out to meet me. I
can't get anything here for ? because I ? time. I have a lot to do before
the end of term. Thursday Evening I had two letters this
morning, one from William and one from D & My. William is crossing home
tomorrow night, so I am going down to central station to see him for a few
minutes. I wish I could go with him. By the way we got our results
yesterday. I got 2nd place in Cookery out of both sections of I.M. (34
people), my mark was 73% & first place was 75%. I got 65% in Management. I
don't know how I got 65% in Management because I had only 3 questions done,
so what I had done must have been good. Miss Nicol told me on Monday that my
housework question was very good because she had marked it at the week-end.
We had a Laundry Practical this morning with Biddy & she said mine was good.
I was in the Institutional Kitchen yesterday for 10am until 7pm, so you may
guess how tired I was last night, & when we had finished we got gallons of
ice cream, we just couldn't eat it all, so we had to throw some of it out.
Then I had to come up to my room & get all ready for my test this morning.
If you had seen me walking along the kitchen with a huge pot full of
vegetables. I carried them along to the sink, drained them, and carried them
back & served them. There was enough for 50 people. I have still got a lot
of work to do before Thursday. 1) Sewing Note Book to finish. 2)
Cookery & other notes to write up. 3) Socks to finish. 4) Lots
to do to my Chair Cover. I was talking to Jean this afternoon & I am
going out for lunch with her on Saturday. Marion do you want me to
bring my sewing notebook home, with my specimens in it? I must do some
work now, as the socks must be finished before the week-end. I will send a
list of the marks of both Sections I.M. 50% is pass. I think Daddy
should eat his sweets now, because they are made with soya flour, & they
will not keep until Xmas. I will get a present for Olive Hunter here &
you can get one for Paulina? (2 pages of marks)
2) 21st? December 1948 to Mrs. McCully, Churchtown, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone,
N. Ireland - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. Sunday Aft. Dear Mammy,
Just time to write a card this week. I was at Wellington this morning with
Maureen & Norma & it was marvellous. Going to-night again with Norma. To-day
is Maureen's Birthday & we are having a feast in our room to-night. I met
Jean Gardiner yesterday morning & we had lunch together in the Overseas
House. I had a letter from Marion Casey last week & she is coming to our
house on Xmas day at 4pm. Now about coming home. I hope to arrive in
Cookstown at 10.35am on Friday morning, failing that I will phone home when
I arrive in Cookstown. Daft Friday was last Friday, but nothing very
exciting happened except a few University chaps came in through a window!!!
Charities Day is just when we come back so we are making some great plans.
The Residents Ball is on February 6th. By the way quite a few of the girls
were dancing all night on Friday night. The dance started at 8pm on Friday &
finished after having had breakfast at 8am on Saturday morning. I arrived
back at College safely on Friday night after seeing Wm. off on the boat. The
girls thought I was daft coming back through that district alone. Thanks for
parcel which I got yesterday. It was marvellous to get it, as food is
terrible now. It is disgusting!!! See you all on Friday, Love Heather
1949
 
 
   
 
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1) 13th January 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mammy, This is just
a very hurried note, as I want to get it posted as soon as possible. As you
probably know, Charities week begins on Monday & there are 200 dough school
girls going out with 200 Tech boys on Saturday. We are going in groups of 20
- 10 boys & 10 girls, we will have our meals at Tech. & there will be a
dance at night in Tech. & the overflow Tech. dance is in Dough School, & as
the one in Dough School is evening dress & the Tech one is fancy dress, I
will have to be prepared for both, because I don't know which I will be
going to, so will you please send my evening dress at once. I also want
something to dress up in during the day & I would like something warm. An
old pair of W.'s trousers would do, along with some other things, or if
Marion could make a big wide article like a clown, I would wear lots of
things under it. I would like to be fairly respectable, because if I go to
the Fancy Dress done at night I will have to wear what I had on all day.
There are 12 of us & some Tech. boys going to a hockey game in Paisley.
Tech. is having it & they are taking us as usherettes, so I will have to
dress up for it on Tuesday night. Evelyn is giving me the loan of her clowns
outfit for this occasion & it is so wide that I can wear a coat underneath.
I had it on last night & I made myself up, red nose, etc., it really did
look well. This is all about this, but please send fancy dress & evening
frock. Don't post it any later than Wednesday morning, Thursday if possible
because I have to be down at Tech. college at 8am. on Saturday morning.
I was speaking to Miss Ness this afternoon & she says I am very like Marion.
She says there is nothing arranged about the Refresher Course yet as some of
the College Staff are going to Sweden, but she will let M. know whenever
they have finally decided about it. There is no sign of my specimen,
Miss Hamilton says there is no hope whatever & Miss Nicol is in a terrible
state about them, she says I will not have to do them over again, but she
says it is a lovely thing to have - to think of the work you put into them &
then you will probably never see them again. I must rush now. Will write on
Sunday. Please excise scribble as I am in a terrible hurry. I have to go out
all next week to sell "?" I was very disappointed when I didn't get a letter
to-day. Lots of Love Heather
2) 24th January 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mum, I suppose I
may begin by telling you the good news - My specimens arrived back on Friday
morning, how & where I don't know. I really couldn't speak when I saw them.
I don't know, who could have had them. Thank you very much for the
parcel which I received to-day, I am delighted with the bed gilet. I have
been frozen in bed these nights. I keep my rug, 2 coats, dressing gown, bed
jacket, and blue bed gilet on top of the bed, the bed jacket & vest ? I
wear. I have had a hectic week, something on every day. I will tell
you all about it during the Easter holidays. Tuesday Night
Maureen is going out to-night, so she will post this when she is out. I was
out on Charities day in D's "rig out" I wore three woollen vests, jumper,
cardigan, costume, jacket, ? ? & suit, so you can guess how warm I was. I
went to the dance in Tech at night & I was never so disgusted in all my
life. Drunk girls, & drunk boys, there were about 5 drunk girls here, that
night. I saw David Kennedy at the dance & I am sorry to say he was one of
the boys who was looking for drink. He had a ? short shirt & ? ? I was
at Wellington twice on Sunday with Chris & Maggie McCall. There are about 10
people in hostel in bed with flu. It has nothing to do with Charities Day
because there were 2 people in bed then. Doris took it on Friday, so she
went home on Saturday & has not come back yet, there are about 50 other
people who should be in bed because they are going around with a terrible
dose of the cold. I am terribly disappointed about my frock, tell Mrs.
Frazer? that I have written to say I want it at once. I had a parcel from
Mrs. Scott yesterday, buttons? pattern?, biscuits & 1 or 2 lbs of sweets.
What a super surprise. I must finish now as Maureen is going out. Lots
of Love xxxx Heather
3) 26th January 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My, D. & M., Thank
you very much for the parcel which I received to-day. I am very pleased with
the frock, although I have not tried it on yet. I have got the pink knitted
vest here & I have worn it several nights. I have got my pairs of lisle
stocking here too. hank you very much for the Post Office Book. I was
delighted to hear about My.'s leg being so much better. How about colds? Are
you all O.K. I had 2 letters from William last week & he seems to be
in good form. He has started final year & says he finds it very interesting.
Marion did not say if her bra fitted & if it is a good shape. I told
you in my last letter that a lot of people have the flu, but I did not tell
you that I have it. I knew I was taking it on Sunday, because I had a very
sore throat. Doris took it on Friday. However I gargled, rubbed my chest,
etc. & stayed up all day Monday & went to bed after class on Tuesday. Then
Chris went down on Tuesday too. Maureen insisted that she should tell Miss
Hamilton, so Miss Hamilton took our temperatures, she told me I had one but
she didn't say what it was. Chris had a slight one. When I wakened this
morning my throat was terrible, with a white spot on one tonsil, so I told
Miss Hamilton & she said that they all had spots in the throat. She
said I still had a slight temperature, ? ? but Chris was down to normal.
You know I should not have got up on Monday because I had a terrible cold &
my throat was fierce. I will not post this letter until I am better. The
maid said this morning, "This is ? there are about 2 people down in every
room" I must say we are very well looked after. Miss Hamilton said I would
be better to stay on liquid diet. I had breakfast at 8am this morning, pot
of tea, 1 piece of toast, 1 piece of bread, butter & marmalade. 11 o'clock,
glass of orange juice, (2 of the wardens go round with things) they say if
any more go down they don't know what they are going to do. The Dr. was here
yesterday afternoon, so I expect she will be here tomorrow again. She did
not see me yesterday, as Mrs. Hamilton didn't know I was ill at that time.
To get back to Vicks.? 8am breakfast 11am orange juice 12
noon soup * ice cream 2pm lemon squash 4pm tea 2 think slice of
bread 4.30pm lemon squash 6.15 soup I have really for a
terrible cold, but I am taking Emulsion & keep rubbing my chest. I will
write some more tomorrow. By the way I was in bed last night when I wrote
your letter. Friday Night You will be pleased to
hear, that I am up again, although I have still got a cough. I got up about
11 am to-day, & Mrs. Hamilton arranged that we, the patients would not have
to queue. Miss H. told us to go back to bed as soon as we felt like it.
I lay down on top of the bed for half an hour after lunch, but I am feeling
fine now except for the cough. I am taking ?? Emulsion, Orange Drinks, etc.
Please do not worry as everybody has the flu. Miss Blad? (our Cookery
teacher) sent 2 girls out of class this morning to buy some flowers. She
arranged them in a vase & sent them as a present to Chris & me. They are
beautiful daffodils. I had a parcel from Mrs. Scott on Monday, some
lovely sweets & biscuits. I wrote to her last night. Your food was
marvellous. It was lovely to be able to finish off our tea & supper with
cake. Chris & I are in the same ? you know. We are all feeling very sad
to-day. One of our wardens, Mrs. Smeaton? (elderly women) who comes in every
day, gives out parcels, & looks after the maids, died last night. Yesterday
was the first day she missed at College & she dies last night. ? it was
Double Pneumonia. I had a letter from William to-day. Robert Stewart
has just phoned to hear all about the xmas holidays. I have tried on the red
frock & the bodice is much too wide, I just couldn't wear it. The shoulders
hang over my arms. I think if Marion could measure mine with her blue one &
make mine slightly narrower. Round the bust is much too wide, & Chris has
put pins in at the sides. It fits me when it is pinned. The waist is too
wide too, but I think with a belt it will not be noticed. Just measure it
with yours Marion & a size smaller will do me. I am sorry Marion to give you
so much work, but I would be afraid to tackle it myself. It is a pity Marion
& I didn't make it between us during the holidays. I would like to have it
back soon, as I would like to wear it, when I am going over to Edinburgh for
the Rugby match in the middle of Feb. I think I could get a belt & buckle
made here, if you would send the material soon. Thanks for "Mid" I
sure did enjoy reading it in bed yesterday & oh Mammy where I would have
been without your bed jacket I hate to think. I just wore it all the time &
it is so lovely & warm. Everything turned out well when I was to bed. I had
plenty of cake to eat. Mrs. Scotts sweets to suck, when I coughed & last but
most important that bed jacket. I kept saying to Chris What would I have
done without this bed jacket. I was down to supper & Miss Lemon told
me to fill my bottle & go to bed. She says I have been up long enough
for the first day, so I must go to bed now, as she will probably be down to
give me some aspirins. They gave us 6 aspirins each per day. Give my
love to Scotts, Irwins, etc. How are Simy & Patrice? Give my love to
both. I cannot think of any more news just now. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
4) 31st January 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My, D. & M., Here I
am, just finished with college for to-day. I got your very welcome parcel at
lunch time & I am delighted with the blanket. I sure will need it. Yes
have got both pairs of lisle stockings here, also the pink woollen vest. I
am very pleased with the Emulsion as I have just finished my second bottle.
I am feeling grand now except for the cough. I am rubbing my chest at night
with Musterole, & keep taking the Emulsion. It is going to turn out rather
expensive. My cough is not a very severe one, but it just seems to take ? at
night. I coughed & coughed last night. I was awake for 2 or 3 hours. I got a
sweet & sucked it but still I coughed. I sat up in bed, then I went to the
bathroom & got a drink but still I coughed. It just felt like a tickle in my
throat, not down in my chest. The girls are all the same, it just seems to
be going around. I meant to warn you people not to take Aspirins. One of the
girls was telling me that her Dr. told her never to take Aspirins because it
will make her deaf when she gets on in years so I must write to William &
tell him not to take any. I am very sorry for not writing sooner last
week but on Sunday I didn't feel very well & I went to bed in the afternoon
(as usual!!) Then had tea, ? & back to bed. I went to bed early on
Monday & on Tuesday I just rolled into bed at 4pm. so I just didn't feel
quite like writing letters. I was at church twice yesterday, I cannot
see any of the people that Marion mentioned except I know the people who sit
on my right in front row of the ? are called Davison. Pop us small &
glasses. Colin (smashing young son) tall & fair hair) & the daughter small &
fair hair, very like Colin Davidson might be a D? I do hope my frock
has arrived safely. Do not kill yourself at it Marion. If you could tell me
what to do I might manage to scrape up a few ? & ? it myself. By the way it
was very funny in church last night. Doris, Chris & I went together & we
just started to cough at the same time. I don't know what happened but none
of us could get stopped & what a row. Some people turned round a few times
just to see what was happening but all they were able to see was 3 crimson
faces - me co? with a crimson hot. How did Parkes case go? I have had
3 letters from William this ? Please thank Mrs. Scott for the parcel. It was
lovely to have her sweets when I had the cold. Your marshmallows were super
when we were in bed. We were a liquid diet. I think it was silly, if we had
stayed in bed for 2 weeks we would have been a ? ?, then ? day get up for
all ? as usual, they won't bring means up to bed. I must say though, that we
were very well treated. I have a lot of notes to copy up now, also a lot of
sewing to do & I want to go to bed early. I am so pleased that My & D are
coming over in the spring. Do you want me to try & book somewhere. Let me
know. Lots of Love xxxx Heather By the way a great friend of mine,
Maggie McCaull? has got a new electric wireless & I often go up to listen
in, so if there are any exciting N.I. Programmes on let me know. The N.I.
Programme is very clear on her wireless & I could easily have heard Ti?, if
I had known, actually I was in Maggie's room at that time. I usually go up
on a Sunday night. Thanks for "Mid" It was lovely to have it to read in
bed.
   
 
1
2
1) 12th February 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My D. & M., I am
sure you will all be wondering how I got on at the College Ball, Well, I
never had a night like it in my life. William is wonderful. I never go to
the theatre or the pictures in Glasgow. I haven't been to the theatre since
I came. William met me at the station in Edinburgh, took me to the theatre,
then to Mrs. Donaldson's & off to the dance, & what a dance & what a supper
we ate & ate & ate & as I was saying to William "It is great to think that
every time we eat a cake, we don't have to say, there goes another 4d," ice
cream, fruit, French cakes, chocolate éclairs, Hors d'oeuvres, Salads,
Sausage Rolls. I just cannot mention everything. I wouldn't have missed it
for anything. I just caught the 8.40am train on Wednesday morning &
got into College at 10.15am. I told Miss White, that I would be late, and
she didn't saying anything. I had only 3 hours sleep that night. Mrs.
Donaldson couldn't have been nicer to me, she had a hot water bottle in my
bed, and a heater in my room. She said "your brother told me that you have
had the flu, and I wouldn't for anything that you would get a chill here" I
made my bed up in the morning, left my hat box, bag & gloves all ready to
pick up and after breakfast when I went back, there was a banana on top, she
said "you might feel hungry on the train & off course she said "we are not
very smart here for young ladies. After the dance we made tea, Mrs. D. had
left some biscuits out & the kettle on. William says she has been very nice
to him this term & she was very good about me coming. She told me to be sure
& come back again some time. I had a letter from William this morning
& he enclosed a letter from Daddy - A very interesting letter. I see S.
Hamilton was at our house again. Did you have him in for tea? (Please answer
this question!!!) We had our Sick Nursing Exam yesterday & I think I
did quite well, I was asked how to treat a back for bed sores, so I was able
to tell all in detail, because I did it at Magherafelt Hospital, only for
that I wouldn't have known; we were in the room for half an hour & I
finished at 2.30, so I just went to bed - lay until 6pm, I am feeling grand
now but I just like to take as much rest as possible after the dance.
I am going over to the Rugby International on 26th Feb., which reminds me I
must go & listen to the English & Ireland commentary just now. Jean Gardiner
sends her love. I was telling her that My & D are coming over. She is always
sending messages to me - Ask Miss McCully, could I borrow some wadding? next
time a screw driver, etc. but don't say anything to her about that. I was
telling her all about the Dick ball. William has written to me at
least 6 times this term. Ann Twigg is a very sweet girl & very friendly. By
the way my red frock is a perfect fit now, you made a great job of it Marion
& thanks a million. I do hope you will have a nice nightie for Mummy. Did
you ever fix Mrs. Scott's frock. We are all delighted about the Unionists? I
said to Ann Twigg do you know if Brian Fa? has got a seat & she said I don't
know him but Daddy knows him very well! I asked Ann last week, would
she like to come over with me to get her tickets for coming here & she said
"thank you so much Heather but D. is going to get them for me" She came back
to me a few days ago in desperation, "Could you tell me where B? Office is
because D. has written to me & told me that I am old enough to look after my
own affairs now" so I told her where to go. She really is a scream, you
couldn't help liking her. What is wrong with Betty Macahy??? the head has
gone for one thing, but there must be something else wrong (other
complications) I saw some lovely blue & white silk in Copland today, oh I
would love a frock of it, but it is 17/9 per yard. Let me know what you
think about it!!! Sunday Afternoon I was at church
this morning with Chris. There were two hymns that I haven't heard before,
Hymn 218 "Lord of? our? life, and God of our Saluation?!" I cannot remember
the other one. What did you think of the result of the Rugby
International 14-5. I am thrilled. I have made a huge rosette for the match
at Murrayfield & hope to wear a green paper hat. I haven't seen Robert
Stewart this term yet, but he will phone this week I expect. I just don't
seem to be able to think of anything more to write. My cough has gone now
but I am still taking the Emulsion to keep it from coming back again. I am
going to church to-night with Chris & Norma & it is time to get ready & I
want to post this letter when I am out. Our ball is on March 4th. I will be
home in less than 7 weeks. Isn't it wonderful. I have the feeling that
something very important to tell you & I just cannot think of it. Lots of
Love xxxxx Heather
2) 16th February 1949 Postmark Belfast to Mr. and Mrs. McCully, Churchtown
Post Office, Cookstown - Tullynakill House, Comber, Co. Down. 16th
February 1949 - Dear Friends, Thank you for your kind telegram of
congratulations, and good wishes. I cannot say how much I appreciate your
sentiments, and all the help that I have received from a host of friends.
Yours sincerely Brian Faulkner?
      
1949
18th February 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My, D. & M., I just
received Mummy's letter this afternoon & am delighted to hear all the news.
Thank you very much for 10/- note. The parcel arrived on Wednesday & oh it
is marvellous to have all these lovely things to eat. Funny on Tuesday night
I was saying to myself I would love some Orange or Lemon Curd, but a piece
of butter sandwich with curd between would be super, & the next day it
arrived. This is the long week-end, Doris Gibb, Ann Dod & Chris Frazer
all invited me for the week-end, but I just couldn't go as I have so much
work to do, my Chair Cover has to be finished by next week & I have all the
pleating to do. I have loads of notes & electricity diagrams to copy, & when
I am going to Edinburgh next Saturday I thought that would do instead. It
would be sore on the purse going away this week-end & then next Saturday. I
hope to get a lot of work done, tomorrow & one Monday. Now to answer
questions. 1) Certainly I was William's partner at the Ball - "Ye
absolutely" 2) We danced about 6 times, there were so many other
things to see. It was wonderful & don't say that William neglects his little
sister, because he ? her over here, his first words to me when I went over
to the Ball were, "I am delighted that you were able to come, it makes such
a difference having you, because if you hadn't come I would have to have
gone with a stranger," He is so excited about taking me to the Rugby
Match "Make yourself a rosette" He has the day all planned. When I was over
last time at the Ball, he had a list of suitable ? & all ready for me, I
bought a carnation for the Ball, it made such a difference to the frock, & I
wish you could have seen W. pinning it in. "No! I think it would be
better this way" & he had it looking super & then he came to the conclusion
that the strap of my vest was showing, so he had to hide it under my frock.
He was wonderful helping me to get pout. Don't mention any of this to him
when writing. The night before the ball I had the girls here in stitches. I
said "This time tomorrow night I will be putting W's collar? on with 2
spoons.? He introduced me to dozens of people, "Heather come here &
meet so & so, You must meet so & so, where could he be?" & he was pointing
out all the Professors to me. I have seen the famous Pro. Graham. He made a
speech. Really I never had a night like it in my life. No, Jess was
not at the dance & William never sees her now, he hasn't seen her this term.
Paulina is in Edinburgh. It is definitely finished between she & Den now.
She always thought there was hope, but there isn't now. Den took her out to
dinner one night & told her that he was still in love with this other woman.
Mummy will say "a bad bitch." (Don't scold me for writing this, but I can
just hear My saying it.) I must stop now as it is almost dinner time & I am
going to the International club immediately after dinner with Ann Sampson. I
played a game of T.T. with her last night & beat her & she said, "Come to
International Club tomorrow night & we will have a good game on da good
table" I would just like to have a game with one or two really good people.
The table in College is terrible & no interest is taken in it. Before
I dress I must mention about dress making. We are starting dress making next
month & we have to make a blouse, will you buy the pattern & material or
Will I? If so, what kind of blouse should I make - Colour, material,
style, etc. Do let me know what you think about it, & that is a good idea of
My.'s underlining the questions. Marion did not give me any ideas about what I
should give for the afternoon tea & snack at bed time. We can make
anything we like. I don't know when I will have to do it but it could be any
time. Saturday Morning (8am before breakfast) Ann &
I did not go to the International Club last night because it was pouring. I
did my washing instead, I haven't done any washing for ages, & it just came
to the stage that I had hardly a clean stitch. I was washing from 7pm - 10pm
& then I had to come up & do hall duty. Stack up the fire to burn all night
& tidy the sitting room, so I was feeling very tired last night. I am going
down this morning to do some more washing and do my ironing. I am feeling
quite happy & have not felt lonely yet, because Maggie McCall gave me her
wireless for the week-end so I am just keeping on the Northern Ireland
Programme, she is very decent, she said "come up to my room & take my
wireless for the week-end," so here I am lying in bed, writing a letter &
the electric wireless on beside me. Our Ball is on March 4th. Should I
bring William over, or should I just go on a "blind date" as they talk about
here. Ann Alderson (Head Girl) told me that quite a few people haven't
got partners, so they are going to make out a list & get an equal number of
boys from one of the Colleges. Which should I do? Eleanor Quinn is a
great pusher. She is bossing everybody about & seems to be arranging the
ball. She is mad. She wrote invitations & here is how they read. The
Resident Student. The Glasgow & rest of Scotland College of Dom.-Sc. request
the pleasure of the company of Miss H. McCully & partner, which means that I
am asking myself & the girls here asked that another lot should be ordered
because they cannot send these to their partners. It seems so daft the
residents requesting the company of the residents. She should have given a
blank invitation to each person. Eleanor treats the people in Hostel 9
like kids, she shouts "too much noise in there" "So & so come here at once"
She reported the blue coats as she calls the other course to Miss Taylor for
banging in "the lunch Q." she said the Blue Coats didn't know any better &
it happens that the Diplomas do it more than the Blue Coats. Everybody
thinks that it is a huge joke. Sunday Morning (before breakfast)
I spent most of yesterday in the laundry. Both my overalls, 4 white aprons,
pyjamas, underclothes, dusters, 15 pairs of stockings, tea towels, both
petticoats are spotless. I haven't a dirty stitch to my name, so I am going
to turn out my drawers this afternoon, and then I will see day light as
regards my clothes. I am so glad that I didn't go away this weekend, because
I am getting so much work done. Chris & I went down to Dumbarton Road on
Thursday to see Robert Stewart. He looks very well in his white coat & a
great salesman. He asked me to come to the Western for coffee sometime so we
arranged it when we came down, & so Chris & I are going for a coffee with
him on Tuesday night, I think the greatest joke of all is that Chris has
fallen for him. She says "Don't be telling any of the other girls, or they
will come to the Western that night & I don't want any of the others to meet
him. He looked well in his white coat & behaved very sensibly. I have
managed to get a photograph, which was taken on Charities Day. Unfortunately
my hair was down under my cap, because I had just got out of the van &
didn't have time to put it up. I am near the front & it is quite good. I
will send it home later to let you see it. Sunday Night
I did not go to Church to-day as it was pouring, & I had nobody to go with.
I am sending this parcel home with the things I used on Charities day, also
a few things (belt, etc.) that I don't need. I am sending these "?" home
which I was selling on Charities Day, there are three I couldn't sell. I
will go down to the Post Office in the morning. How is everybody at
home? You never mention the Scotts. I just couldn't have lived this week-end
without Mummy's eatables, those are super. David Kennedy called this
morning to ask me to write to William to see if he could get him 3 tickets
for the International. He was asking me if D. & My were going to the
Ordination of Mr. McKee in Newmills. Did you get an invitation? I will
finish this off in the morning, as I want to write to William to-night to
ask him about the tickets. Monday Morning I have
just received your letter, but I am a bit annoyed, because you didn't tell
me more about the dinner. Who was there? Bob Nesbitt, J. B?, What did you
do? Tell me far more about it. I think it is wonderful about the
silver tea & coffee service. When is he going to send it? I think myself
that 17/- is much too expensive for material, as you say, it would be
terrible if it were spoilt in the making. I have a lot of work to do
to-day. That chair cover is like a nightmare, so I think I will make up this
parcel & go down to the P.O. to post it & then start in. Hoping to have
another letter soon. Love xxxx Heather I hope to go to the dentist
tomorrow to see about my teeth. Chris is going to get one filled & I am
going with her. H.
   
1
1) 28th February 1949 - 8 Park drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear D. My. & M., What
a wonderful time I have had, I have got the autographs of all the Irish team
except McKay. William & I went to the hotel on Saturday before the match to
see them. They were a super crowd & George Norton would have talked
all night, so would O'Hanlon & O'Briene, O'Briene told me they hadn't a
chance of winning. Mullen said, "Now, I hope we do win, but it will be a
tight bit" - What a Dublin broug?????? I met McKee on Princess Street later
& he spoke to me. I met Norton a little later in the hostel & he came over &
asked me how I was getting on with the autographs. He said, "Going to that
corner & you will find McCarthy & a lot of the boys" I didn't go of course,
Chomley (reserve) told me that my face was very familiar & he cannot think
of where he could have seen me. he knows Stanley Alexander very well. I was
walking to Strathde? for quite a while & he was telling me to give Maureen
his regards. Henderson is a very nice boy & spent ages signing his
autograph. He knows a girl, that is in College with me, ?ay Andrews, & he
told me to give her his regards. Kyle thanked me a thousand times for asking
him for his autograph. It was wonderful. I got Brice's? autograph too. He
said "Surely you don't want mine when you are Irish" & then he said "Well I
will give it to you if you give me a blue page, because you are the Irish
boys a green page. I went away laughing. I saw him in the bus when he was
going out to the pitch & he smiled very sweetly. I had super fun with them.
The Irish boys were thrilled at me asking them. It was funny, an Irish girl
asking them for their autographs over here. I was telling them all they had
better win, but they all said the same thing, that they thought it would be
close. Nelson told W. that we would win O.K. The match was great.
Ireland were on top after the first 15 minutes. Henderson tackling Wes?
Dealy? He just mowed the Scots down. Bruce played very badly for Scotland.
I stayed overnight in Edinburgh, bed & breakfast in place. William & I
met at the N.B. in the morning, but McCarthy & O'Hanlon were the only ones
we saw & they didn't look as if they had won a match the day before.
However on Saturday night I went to the Dick dance with William & had a
super time. I met lots of boys. The Queens Team came to Dick too & I met
McKillen, ? & Morrison. All the Irish boys kept together & it was wonderful.
Andy Chestnutt & ? ? introduced me to people too. Andy introduced me to
Morrison & Sims. W. knows all these boys well. I danced with Hutchson
(Irish) Johnny McGowan, Andy? & lots of the Irish boys, & we all say in one
corner of the room & ca?, the boys started singing Irish songs. ? sister
knew quite a few of the people at the end of the night. I had coffee
yesterday morning with W. Johnny McGowan, J. Minnis, Simms, & in the
afternoon J. McG, W. & I went for a long walk, about 5 miles, & then I left
on the 6.30pm train. I was so glad I stayed over, & now I have been to a
Dick hop. Later It is nearly dinner time & I want to
get this posted as soon as possible as I am sure you will be anxious to hear
all about the match. Marion never told me what I should make for the
afternoon teas in Housework. The Resident's Ball is on Friday & I have
not got a partner. There are quite a dew girls without, so Miss Gibson is
getting some boys from some of the Colleges. One of the girls fell down the
stairs this morning & hurt her ankle, she went to the Infirmary in an
ambulance, however she is back again now with her leg in plaster. She has
broken a bone in her ankle will be in plaster for 6 weeks. I think I
told you in my last letter that I am going out to ? girl Guides in "Hostess
& Homemaking" after the exams. There are 6 of us going out & we have
to ? 68. They will probably know more than us ? nearly ? when Miss
Nicol asked us would we do it. Miss Moir (warden) was making great fun
of the Irish girls about going to see Ireland being beaten, so I went down
in the store this morning & I said to her "Now Miss Moir, what have you got
to say about the match?" & she laughed & said "I want to talk to you later
Miss McCully. It is well you weren't in for breakfast yesterday morning", so
I don't know what she is going to say, probably that the referee favoured
Ireland!! Miss Nicol wanted someone to do a message for her this
morning & she said "I think Miss McCully should do it, because Ireland won
on Saturday" & the girls in College thought Ireland hadn't a chance, so they
are very quiet now. I must get ready for dinner now & I will go out &
post this after dinner. I have just finished dinner & I am going out to post
it now. I have a lot of sewing to do to my chair cover. By the way
Marion, my cookery test is Cauliflower Soup, Mixed Grill, Game Chips, Cake
Mixture, Pudding, & Iced Biscuit. I have to do it Friday week. I do hope I
will get through it. I just cannot think of any more news. How is Mrs.
Irwin? Is she feeling better. What about the Scotts? How is the
electricity coming along. Have you bought anything yet. I must fly now, Lots
of Love xxxx Heather
 
 
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1) (I don't believe pages 1 & 2 belong with pages 3 & 4) 14th Marsh
1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear daddy, Mammy & Marion, This will be
a very short note as I have a lot of work to do. I had my Cookery Test on
Friday & I must say I am very pleased with myself, because I did a very good
test. 6 of us did it on Friday & mine was the best test? Miss B. said "I
must say this is a very good test Miss McCully, your soup is lovely, good
consistence & flavour, your mixed grill is lovely, your game chips a work of
art, How did you get them so evenly browned? Your pudding is slightly
over-cooked. It is a difficult pudding to do though, & your biscuits are
very very nicely served & your icing has a good gloss" This was a
(Head of I.M.A.) Miss Nicol (2nd in command) The Principal, Vice Principal,
Miss Jackson, & Miss La??? (Institutional Kitchen). I was finished 10
minutes early & Miss Blond? was very pleased. The others finished later. Our
Cookery Theory paper is on Friday & I have a shade? book of notes to learn
as well as handy measures, foundation proportions, etc. I will never
get it all done. Our management paper is on Monday & it is out of the
question. I have no idea what it will be like. I have a lot of sewing to do,
so therefore have not started to swot yet. My chair cover is nearly
finished now, & my sampler is well on the way. We start blouses at the end
of this week. Material is very expensive over here. Chris paid 16/- per yard
for her material for her blouse, Doris 11/4. Maureen I don't know, & I had
to pay 7.4 per yard. It is pale blue, I will send you a scrap. The
blouse will cost 2/8 McCall No. 7535. I will try to sketch it on the nest
page. I am doing the short sleeve. I can have it with or without the
collar. Which do you think I should do? You could see the pattern in
Alexander's. It is very difficult to get a pattern & this is the best I
could do. I haven't heard from William for quite a while. Chris had
two friends here from A.C. for the week-end & I was asking them did they
know Jessie Watson & I's dad said "Yes," she used to go around with a Dick
chap, vet student. It appears she went around with him for quite a while, &
it has all fallen through now, & since September she sits & reads the Bible
verses to all meeting, hardly ever goes out & very quiet & religious. They
couldn't imagine Jessie having any boy-friends because she leads such a
quiet life. 30 of us are going to the theatre to-night to "Ye? of the
Guard?" This is my first time this term. Tuesday Morning
We had a super time at the theatre last night. Two rows of I.M. Students. It
was lovely everybody knowing everybody else. I wonder did I ever tell
you that we have 2 male students in College now. They have a cloakroom with
Gents on the door. They don't have to queue for lunch & they seem to enjoy
themselves thoroughly. One of them is medium height & thin & the other is
small & very fat. The thin one wears a white coat & hat & the other a white
sit & fet?. When you meet them in the corridor the fat one is always ? about
10 yards behind the thin one. It is very funny. To think that a fortnight
from Saturday, & I will be home, but unfortunately I have a lot of work to
do before then.
2) .... cannot come over now, because there are lots of super shoes in the
shops & very reasonable prices. I had a pair on yesterday & they were
lovely, only they had covered heels which were very narrow. Was there
an account of Parke's case in any of the papers? if so & would like to read
it. I haven't seen Jean Gardiner for a fortnight. I wa? is she off? I
do hope she hasn't got flu. There was a dance in Vet College last Wednesday
night & quite a few of the girls went, there were 40 boys over from "Dick"
Cissie Anderson was dancing with an Edinburgh chap & she asked him did he
know a boy called McCully, he said "Sure there is one of his best friends" &
he called this chap over & introduced him to Cissie. She says his name is
George & he is Irish, so she said to George "I know McCully's sister" & he
said "oh M? & Cissie oh no Heather, & he said of course Heather, so I have
no idea who it could be. I think there is somebody William talks about
called George Stewart. I must tell him on Tuesday. I was wishing I had gone
to the dance. Do not worry My, if you don't get a letter from me for a
while, because we have a Home Nursing Exam Friday & I was absent when they
did bandaging, so I will just have to try & remember what I did with Mrs.
Crawford & I have a lot of them to tea. We have an electricity test on
Thursday. I am going to the dance on Tuesday & our chair covers have to be
finished before Feb. 21st so I have my work cut out for me. My Housework
group for this week is the one about the Sewing Machine, so I will have to
clean machine, do ..........? make a household article. I am making a
tea-cloth for Chris. I don't know which one I will have to do next week
probably one of the teas. Now My. do not worry about me, because I am good.
Don't send any butter for 3 weeks as I have still got the last piece which
you sent me. When I came back here Mummy I was quite slim & now I have
got a bigger tummy than ever. Marion seemed to think it was the girls
who brought us the flowers. It was Miss Blad who sent them to us. She gave
thee girls the money to buy them. Wasn't that sweet of her. Thank you very
much Marion for fixing my frock. I hope you did not kill yourself working at
it. Thanks for £1 it was entirely very useful as I had to buy my tickets for
coming home last week. 57/8 + 3/3 = £3:0:11. I will be home 8 weeks
from yesterday. Time certainly flies. Tell Mrs. Irwin that I hope she will
soon be better. Are D. & M. feeling alright again? Has My. had any more
trouble with her leg. I wonder if you could send 2 or 3 old exercise
books in the next parcel, as my scrap paper is nearly finished. No M/
you needn't said "What Every Cook Should Know" I wonder could you send
me some music. I would like "Bells of St. Mary's" "Holy City"
"Phil the Fluter" "Pipes of Pan" "With My Shillelagh"
"When Irish Eyes are Smiling" "Loves Old Sweet Song" (if we have it) &
others, I was at Wellington this morning with Mairi. Must go to bed now.
Lots of Love xxxx Heather P.S. You could send that song book with a
blue cover & a girl on front of it. It has the White Cliffs of Dover, Love
Heather
 
  
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1) (no date but same paper and pen and writing as 17th October below so I think this
comes before) 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3 - Wed. Morn. - Dear Mc's All, I
just want to thank you all for allowing me to come home for the long
week-end. I just cannot wait. It will be lovely to see you all & great to
have a decent meal. The food this term is appalling. The meals are very badly
planned. One night last week we had macaroni cheese, & bread pudding, the
following night we had salad & jelly. I am sorry to say Marion, that I don't
think much of Kathleen Stevenson. She isn't at all popular with the
students. I am sure the lights make a great difference to the Church.
Are the street lights in yet? When are Claggan Harvest Services? You seem to
be having a lot of visitors just now. Have any of you heard from Marion
Casey? Is she coming over at Christmas. I am surprised to hear about Doctor
Wilson. Do you ever hear of Margaret McCulloch? Did she go to the Tennis
Dance. Is Isobel going with Robert Croskenny? I haven't bought a new frock
yet. Actually I haven't had time to look for one yet. Have you heard from
the Kinnears? How are they? It was very funny I received your card
yesterday morning & letter in the afternoon, so it just shows how the time
varies for a letter coming from Ireland. I cannot think of anything more to
write just now, & I mist get some work done. Thursday Morning
Chris is on Resident's Sinners this week, so she is going to post this this
morning. I haven't got anymore news & I haven't heard from William since I
was over for the week-end. Looking forward to seeing you all. Lots of Love
Heather. PS I had a letter from Lucinda yesterday.
2) 6th March 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3 - Dear My D. & M. Here I am at
9pm, just having finished supper. I was at Wellington twice to-day with
Chris, so I suppose I had better let M. know, some of the hymns which I did
not know. 232 "Worship the hand" 674 "Looking upward every day"
439 "Sometimes a light surprises". I am sure you will all be wondering
how the ball went. Well Miss Gibson said any girls who hadn't got partners
were to sign in a list & she would get partners. However she only managed 8
boys for about 15 girls. However we went down, spent half the night in the
buffet & the other half dancing. I never ate so much trifle, jelly & fruit
salad in my life. It was wonderful. The boys all mixed very well & I only
sat about 2 dances. Miss G. had 2 nephews there who danced with Dolly, etc.
& I was greatly honoured because one of them danced with me, 1 yr medical,
tall, dark & very good looking. Dolly was there with a bare back. We were
expecting great food after the ball, but I am afraid it has been poor. We
were only allowed 2 ozs marg this week & no butter. I finished mine
yesterday so it will be dry bread until next Wednesday. Eleanor Quinn looked
very well at the ball, talking? to Miss G. Dolly etc. & sitting with them.
Then I saw her walking about with hair? ? out, very long long black evening
gloves & cigarette ? ? Our work is quite difficult now & we are kept
very busy at nights. Our chair covers are supposed to be finished, & mine
isn't, so I must hurry with it. We were told on Friday to have our blouse
pattern & material at the end of the week, so I will have to buy it
to-morrow. I am just going to make a simple cotton blouse because I won't
have the time to make a very elaborate one. I have my Cookery Practical on
Friday, Cookery Theory on 18th & Management? Paper on 21st. I don't
know when the Housewifery Practical is, 3 girls in our section have been
asked to leave & 8 more told to pull up their socks. Imagine 11 people out
of 34. We had to do rabbit on Friday & what rabbit, they were frozen
together & we had to hammer them apart & they were all in a square shape.
Before we could skin them, we had to steep them in hot water, the girl I was
working with wouldn't even look at the thing & I had to skin it & clean it
myself, meat, ? ? etc., I asked to bring me over the basin for the skin &
she said "Oh I couldn't do that Heather, I hate the thing. I was just asked
as she was but I just had to do it, Oh I was mad with her. I didn't mind
doing any of it as much as its "little posterior" & mine was a filthy little
thing!! which reminds me, (to change the subject) on Charities day several
of the students had toilet rolls fastened in front of them & everybody who
put anything into the can, got a sheet of toilet paper, It was very funny to
see the boys tearing off sheets all the time. Marion you may think
your girls bad but one day last week a girl in
our class wa? on seeing my Yorkshire Pudding, ? ? a lot ? at all, she went
straight back to her place, took the Yorks. Pud. out of the oven & put it on
a cooling tray!! Miss Blad was furious. I laughed at M's letter
when she told me about the breakfast in the scullery. I couldn't be bothered
going to the scullery for breakfast yesterday morning, because it was so
cold I stayed in bed but I do pity my going into that mess in the kitchen.
Robert phoned last night & Chris & I are going out for coffee with him on
Tuesday night. I really cannot afford the time to go, but he is so lonely &
I feel so sorry for him, that I think we ought to go. Chris is ? mad about
him. She talks about Bob all the time. We are having another dance in
College on 18th this month & I would like William to come through for it,
but I don't think he will. It is evening dress too. This night 4 weeks
I will be sitting in the drawing room with my feet on the mantlepiece &
Country Hymn singing will be on, Marion will probably be writing & Da, Daing?
at the same time, but on the other hand the amount of work that has to be
done before then is terrible. I know perfectly well that I must do as well
in these exams. My head is nearly gone with Electricity. I just cannot
understand it, I just haven't a clue, I am really terribly worried as we
have to pass E.A.W. or Bookkeeping & I hear Bookkeeping is even worse than
Electricity. I had a letter from Marion? Casey? yesterday. I cannot think of
any more news & I want to write to W to-night because I haven't written to
him since I came back from Edinburgh. Lots of love xxxx Heather
   
 
  
 
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1a) 19th March 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mammy, Daddy &
Marion, William, I nearly forgot about William being at home. He is a lucky
thing, but in 3 weeks time I will be home too. William will have told you
that I met him last night & had a coffee. It was great to see him. I
intended writing a letter & sending it with him, but I just couldn't find
time. We had our Cookery Exam yesterday afternoon & it was quite a difficult
paper. I was up at 6.30am yesterday morning reading over my notes for the
last time. The first question I just couldn't do. I never thought we would
get soup, so my attempt was very poor. I read Bread making notes dozens of
times & I just couldn't get it into my head. So I think I ? it in my paper.
My third question was quite good & No. 4 was good. I knew my pastry well,
50% is pass mark & I think I should scrape through but nothing more. I
didn't do nearly as well as last time. We have our Management paper on
Monday (3 hours) & it is going to be terrible. I have no idea what we are
going to get. I haven't learned anything for this paper, as I have spent all
my time learning Cooking Theory. I have reached the stage that I don't care
what happens. There was a dance in Dough School last night. It was a flop
because only 70 people turned up. I worked in the buffet selling Ice Cream &
I never ate as much in my life, we went to Celebrate the Cooking Exam being
over. Chris has gone to the pictures to-night with Robert Stewart. ? says my
hair was getting too long for college, so I got Chris to cut it, it is much
neater. Miss Allen has left, so Jean Gardiner has now got Kitchen to?
to herself. We had our Housework Practical Test on Wednesday. I did a
sitting room, hall, swept, & scrubbed the store stairs. When I had finished
the perspiration was pouring down me. Miss White said it was a very good
test & I had done a terrific mornings work. She was terribly worried in case
I should catch cold after being so warm. She was very sweet to me. She said
my test was very well planned & the stairs was a very good thing to chose to
do. She told me my stairs were gleaming. I was surprised to hear that
Tommy McCulloch was going around with Lavinia. I had a letter from Margaret
& she told me about it. I will enclose part of M's letter. I will have to
let my red striped frock out when I go home, it hardly meets on me now. I
must get two or three really nice cotton frocks for next term. I would like
a long new look one. I was wondering could anything be done with my blue
gingham frock because it is too short & then I will have to alter My.'s
costume. I am looking forward to bring it back with me next term.
I priced M's tray clothe a long time ago & I forgot to tell her. I asked the
price of one & it was very plain 21/- I said, "Have you no cheaper ones - he
said that they are all about 21/- each. Things are very expensive here! We
have Miss Mitchell for blouses. We have to have them ready for fitting next
Wednesday, so I will have to cut one out on Monday night. I do hope I won't
make a mess of it. This is different from school, we have to do a lot ion
our own. Sunday Morning Chris was out with Robert
last night & she thinks it is a terrible pity of him. She was asking me
about his cough. She noticed his wee couth & thinks he ought to see about
it. He was telling her that he would like to come to McCully's in the summer
holidays & he is thinking of writing to ask M? Chris thinks it is Jane he is
getting his holidays. If he asks me what should I say. How are the
Scotts & Irwins? You never mention them in your letters. Margaret McCulloch
was telling me that Tom Scott is going around with Margaret Vint now. It is
very funny to hear Ann Twigg about Tom. She doesn't know I know him & she
calls him "a spiv" Daddy will have to let me know the train times & he
must be very neat & tidy on Friday because Ann Twigg & Gillian Carton will
be with me, & Mrs. Twigg will be meeting Ann at Cookstown Station. Ann is
dying to see Daddy & Mummy. She cannot remember having seen you. My
summer holidays are going to be very short because I have to do 2 weeks
cooking at a camp. Chris wants to come to Ireland, so we are going to try to
find a ? in Northern Ireland where we can work together. I haven't asked
Mrs. White yet. Afternoon Maureen is going out & I
am going to ask her to post this letter. Our exam is in the morning & I
won't have time to go out to post it then, I do hope there will be a letter
from home to-morrow. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
1b) Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science (Incorporated)
Cookery Theory I.M.A. - Classes 2A & B Exam Sheet
2) (no date putting here because its before cookery exam results) 8
Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Thursday - Dear Mammy, You will be surprised to
hear from me again so soon, but Miss Allan told us this afternoon that we
have to make our Christmas cakes next week, so you will have to send the
things not later than next Tuesday morning. I must have it not later than
Thursday because I will make mine on Friday morning & we do not get our
parcels until lunchtime. Send in a cake tin as we have to keep our cakes in
a tin. I will give you a list of what I want. Cake Tin; 1lb 6oz sugar; 6oz
butter; 8 eggs, 1lb fruit (mixed currants, raisins, sultanas, peel, anything
you can get); 2 tbsp of Rum, Brandy or Sherry; 6oz icing sugar; 6oz ground
almond (if not available, soya flour & let me know which you have sent). I
think this is all. Please post on Tuesday at the latest. I have got some
cherries. I am in a terrible hurry as I want to get this posted to-night.
Ann Dod heard some of the staff discussing me to-day & they were talking
about Marion McCully. She is a sister of Marie's? There is a teacher, Miss
Nicol, very fat & she was telling some of the others that I was very like
you Miss Allen said she met Marion McCully in Belfast in the summer & she
was describing me to some of the others, & then Miss Whitby came in & they
said Do you remember Marion McCully? She has got a sister in College, & Miss
Whitby said Yes, I remember her well. Do you remember her, she is tall &
dark. Must rush, Love Heather PS My cookery exam is to-morrow morning
3) 23rd March 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear McCully's All, I just
thought I would write a short note before class this morning. I went to the
dentist yesterday, and he asked me when I had my teeth scaled and cleaned
last, so he is spending ¾ hour on Tuesday cleaning, and then he says he will
start filling. I have at least 4 to get done. I ? actually to hear what he
would say about my back tooth which ? said would have to come out & he says
he will fill it for me. He is a very nice man & he says he will not hurt. I
hope to get 2 filled before I go home. Our exams are now over but I
still have a lot of sewing to do. One of the teachers said the Cookery
papers are poor. I have done very badly in both papers. I just couldn't do
them. The Management Paper was fierce. I will send a copy. Thank you very
much for the parcel. The cakes & ? are super & my butter was finished, so
you can guess how pleased I was with it. I won't need any more this term,
this will keep me going. I might send this letter with a parcel. I don't
know if I will have time to make up a parcel to-night as I have a lot of
electricity to do & tomorrow night we have to ? girl Guides ? must make out
a few questions. I have no idea what I will ask them. Only 10 more days & I
will be home. Isn't it super. I thought there would have been a letter this
morning, but there will probably be one at lunch time. You didn't say if you
liked my blouse material. 8pm I didn't get a letter
this morning but there will be one to-morrow I expect. You will be
surprised to hear that we got our Cooking Theory results this morning & I
got 2nd place (out of 33) with 78%. I just cannot believe it. I think
I must have got full marks on my pastry question, because my soup question
was very poor. I will send you a list of the marks. I don't know when I will
get the Management results (probably to-morrow or Friday). I must do
some electricity now. I haven't time to make a parcel up to-night. I'll not
post this letter until lunch time to-morrow because the Management results
might be up in the morning. Friday Morning I went to
the Guides last night & they were very nervous. I asked one girl to tell me
some body-building foods & she said potatoes & then I said, what do you
usually have for lunch as well as potatoes & she said soup. However I had to
tell her it was meat. It was good fun & I enjoyed it thoroughly. The
Management results are not out yet, but they might be out this morning.
Thank you very much from your letter. Poor May/Mary/Mammy? the house must be
in a terrible muddle. I don't know what to do about coming home. Which would
be most convenient for you people? I really don't mind, If I don't hear from
you before Friday night, I will spend the day in Belfast with Marion.
I think it is wonderful about Bedren? Do congratulate him for me & whatever
you say! Say I am very pleased. Saturday Morning The
Management results are not out yet so I think I will just send a parcel
to-day & write next week again. Just one more letter to write & then I will
be home. Will the wiring be finished before I arrive home. If I spend the
day in Belfast I think William & I should go straight from the boat to the
G.N.R. with Ann Twigg & see her off in the train because she was so pleased
about being with her to ? Gillian (Ann friend) brother is meeting her at the
boat in the car. Later I have got the parcel ready,
I am sending home my new skirt, which I got at the beginning of term & I do
hope you will like it. We made some French cakes in class yesterday & I have
never eaten as much icing - water & butter. Did you know that dried eggs are
going off the market? I must finish this off & go down to the Post Office.
Lots of Love xxxx Heather
4) (no date but its 5/6 days before end of term (3rd April) so assume
this was written 29th March
1949
which was a Tuesday as it says on the letter)
8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Tuesday - Dear McCully's All, I am just
beginning my last letter this term - what a lovely thought, but at the
moment I have other thoughts, not just so nice, because I am sitting in the
dentist waiting room. I am having my teeth cleaned to-day. My chair cover is
not finished yet so I am having a terrible rush with it. The Management
results are not out yet. I don't mind, because I will not get over 50%. I do
hope I will reach 50%. We have been cleaning kitchen 4 to-day & I think this
must be my unlucky day, because I bruised my fingers & nails 2 or 3 times.
Jean Gardiner seems to be very bust & I only say "Hello" in the corridor -
Poor Jean. William & I will see Ann Twigg off in the train on Saturday
morning, because she is disappointed that I will not be with her in the
train, & I promised that I would see her to the G.N.R. Station. She is a
very sweet girl, and very friendly. She says she has no friends in
Cookstown, do you ever be in Cookstown? & seems very keen to be friendly
with me. I must have her out some time during the summer holidays, you would
love her, she really is a scream - you think Marion Colby can express
herself well, but nothing like Ann. She was describing her little brother to
me - huge ears, glasses & very sulky looking. I think it is the accent that
makes it sound so funny. The dentist has not appeared yet, I do wish he
would hurry. I think I hear him coming now. No. it isn't him. Maureen, Ann
Smeddle & I went to a Rugby match on Saturday, Collegians v Glasgow
Academicals. Collegians won 19-5. Cromey, McConnell & Dudgeon were playing.
I was speaking to David & Alan for a few minutes, they are not going home
until the 7th or is it 5th??? There were quite a few Belfast Supporters
over. Miss Glaster's (wa?) friend was playing for Glasgow & she was there to
see the match too. I see in Ann Twigg's "Mid" where there is a
broadcast from Rainey, I must try to hear it. Some of Group III were giving
their Final ? yesterday. I do wish this man would hurry!!! I can't think of
any more news just now, but I will write something more when I go back to
College. Thursday Morning I am still working at my
chair cover, so I haven't had time to make up a parcel. The Management
results are out & I am afraid I didn't do well 63½% However I have passed &
that is the main thing. Thanks for letter. You must be having a terrible
time Mummy, I do hope William & Daddy are feeling O.K. again. My did not say
in her letter if William weren't at the boat, what I - to do. However if
William is not at the boat I will wait alone & meet M? I must finish this
off now, as this is my sweeping day & I will have to sweep the do? Looking
forward to seeing you all on Saturday. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
   
 
 
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1) 24th April 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear My, D. & M. Thank you
very much for parcel. I hope to send a parcel home soon with things that I
won't need again this term. A very funny thing happened on Thursday.
There was a new girl in the sitting room & Doris discovered that she was
Irish & she asked her did she know me. I asked her where she came from, &
when she said Ballyclare I asked her did she know W.J. & she said "Oh! Yes
how do you know him" so I explained that W. knew him & she said "Oh my
brother has just finished at Dick 1 year ago" - Eric Bryan. Isn't it funny,
I often hear W. talking about Eric. June is a very sweet girl & she is
coming to Wellington with us to-night. She did I.M.A. in Belfast & did her
3rd year in Royal Vic. Hosp. She knows Nila Taylor & Eleanor Gray & Peggy
Hartin? well. Eleanor Gray is great fun & so is her boyfriend "Tub" Morrow -
a Dr. & is doing well. June is doing Prelim Service? this term & then Diet.
We have got new rust coloured rugs in our bedroom & there is a new picture
in No. 8 sitting room & one in 9. We have got 2 new book cases in No.
8 & they are terrible looking things. The head girl is thinking of asking
could one be removed to Hostel 9. Ann was annoyed about her mother
shouting at her in front of you people. She says when she was going to
Ashley for the first time, she was sitting in the train feeling quite happy
with a crowd of other girls including Eliz. ? & she says "As you know
Heather, Mummy has a very loud voice, Well I was sitting feeling quite
happy, when I heard My coming along shouting where is Ann Twigg, off course
no one had ever even heard of little insignificant me. At last she found me
& said "Ann Darling don't be homesick" Really, we were all in fits in the
sitting room. It is the way she says the things. Chris & I went out to
look for a coat on Wednesday afternoon - no luck, & Doris & I spent all
Saturday morning - we didn't even take time for a coffee, came back for
lunch & tried all afternoon again - no luck, so I am just going to go out
every afternoon until I get one. I tried a coat on in Watts? £12 (I never
even thought of that) & it has a color the same as M's new coat. I am hoping
to get a nice one about £6, as I have seen some really quite nice ones. I
have got a new brae for M. & I will send it later, My should try it on & if
it fits I can get another one, it is 38". We are going to try to go
out every morning before class for a game of tennis. Just the 4 of us D, C,
& M. were out this morning. To-morrow is cookery, so we won't be able to go,
but, we hope to go out on Wednesday morning. Monday Afternoon
Well, you will be pleased to hear that I have got a coat. Chris & I went out
this afternoon & bought it in Raynad? I am thrilled with it. It only cost
£6-14-0 Some people thought that it was rather short, but it is 14" with low
heels from the ground & is 1" shorter than ? C. thinks it is super &
not too short at all. It is grey. ??????????? The color is very sweet & the
sleeves very unusual. We are thrilled with the color & sleeves. Chris says
she will take a photograph of me in it & we will send it on sometime. (drawing
of coat) The parcel arrived to-day & Chris & I are thrilled with the
suit. Chris insisted that I should wear it this afternoon because it looked
so well & I was told by several people that I looked very smart & suited me.
(Remember ?) It is nearly supper time, so Chris & I are going for supper &
out for a walk & we will post this letter then. Don't forget to send racket?
in next parcel. Must fly now to supper. Chris sends her love to all, Lots of
Love Heather
2) 26th April 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mc's All, I am just
writing to remind D about the check for my fees, I should have had them paid
last week. By the way our Mid Term holiday is Monday May 23rd. Are you
coming over & if so book berths now. They can be booked 8 weeks in advance.
What arrangements would you like me to make about Hotels? It is time you
were making plans. I think there will be about 8 of us on my birthday but
don't put yourself out, baking, Mrs. as a piece of birthday cake will do,
but on the other hand if you have a few nice thanks I will be very
pleased!!! Chris, Doris, & I are going downtown this afternoon, to try for a
grey hat to match my coat. I do hope I will be lucky. I am delighted with
My.'s suit. It looks super, with my blue jumper. The weather is glorious now,
so I hope to go out to-morrow morning for a game of tennis. Ann Dod was
telling me that there was a lady (a shepherd's wife) put her baby (1½ yrs)
outside, while she was doing some cleaning & when she came out again, she
just saw an eagle going off with it - Isn't it terrible. Ann doesn't know
the lady, but it happened in some of the hills around Pitlochry. I am going
out now with Doris & Chris so I must finish off. Please send check for fees,
as soon as possible. Lots of Love xxxx Heather PS Hope Mrs. Rea had
quite ? from her ?
3) 30th April 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mc's All, Please
excuse this paper, but I got it as a present from some of the girls, so I am
just using it to write home. Thanks for letter & check received this
morning. I am thrilled about Mum & Dad coming over. I will go to Edinburgh
on Sunday night with you. Do you want me to try to book for you in Glasgow?
Is Mrs. Scott coming? You are going to get a surprise when you hear that I
will not be home until fairly late on in July. U have practically got a job
for a fortnight £3-10-0 per week & all expenses from Glasgow & keep.
Actually it is a Ministry of Education job. Lots of girls have applied & we
go all over Scotland. Chris & I have asked for a seaside town. We will be in
a building with an Institutional Kitchen & 3 maids. Can you imagine me
bossing 3 maids. We will have 40 children 21 adults. I am quite looking
forward to it & the girls who went last year are all going again, they say
it is super. We are going to make out Menu's before we go. We will not hear
though for quite a while if we have got it, & we will not know where we will
have to go to. I had a lovely surprise last night, May Stark went home for
the week-end & she phoned me to say, that her mother had arranged a wee
party for her birthday & mine next Friday night, so she has asked Chris, &
me to come home with her for the week-end. Isn't it super? I am so thrilled.
I think it is very good of them, so I hope to have my wee party in College
on Thursday night & have May up. I really do not know what I would do
without Mummy's? suit. It looks very well, & a lot of people admire it. I
have got a wee grey hat to go with my coat, trimmed with navy & I was
wondering if you could please send my navy lace gloves. By the way how
did Marion get the belts for her practicals? When did they arrive? Another
thing about Mum & Dad, do you want me to ? ? for you for going back on May
25th (Saturday) We are having lovely weather here just now. I am getting a
lot thinner. My tummy has nearly gone. I think it is because we are eating
more salads. Sunday Morning I will need at least 2
white overalls for the camp, so if Marion would send me 2 of hers before
then. Glasgow Vet. College has arranged a trip down the Clyde on
Saturday week, & they have asked "Doagh School" to come too, we are making
up a party in Hostel - about 10 of us. We get it for 7/6 that includes a hop
at night. It is very cheap, so I wouldn't like to miss the chance. June
Bryson is coming with us. I will write to William to-day & tell him to
book for me on the Sunday night. I really think that we should go straight
through to Edinburgh immediately after lunch on Sunday, as there is so
little to do in Glasgow, & it is very difficult to get a meal on Sunday. Ask
Marion & William what they think? It is really breakfast time so I
must get up & get ready for church. Later Chris,
June & I were at Wellington this morning & I wore my new coat & hat. Chris &
June like it very well. I have just written to William to tell him to book
for me on the Sunday night. I suggest that I try to come down to the
boat to meet you as soon after 8am as possible. Bring you up to College &
you can sit here while I am having breakfast & then we could go straight to
Wellington. There will be very few girls here, as they will all be away for
the long week-end. I will be the only one in my room. I will not be out from
breakfast until 10.15am & we will have to leave for church at 10.20am. You
will have breakfast on board. I could come back to College for dinner & D. &
My. can have lunch out. Meet after lunch & go to Edinburgh. I will have a
look around to see where you could have lunch. There is so little to do in
Glasgow on a Sunday afternoon & so difficult to get meals, instead if we go
straight to Edinburgh, we can have tea in the place where we are staying.
I am so thrilled about my visit to St?. Isn't it very sweet of them. I
must close now as it is nearly tea time. Have you heard or seen Mil???
McCay's friend yet???? Love xxxx Heather
4) (not sure if there's a page missing or not) 3rd May 1949 - 8 Park
Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mc's All, I am writing this in the dentist's
waiting room, came at 4.30pm & had a tooth filled. Chris came at 5pm, is
having hers done now. I have 2 teeth filled now, & 3 more to get done.
I was delighted with the letters this morning. I hadn't been told before
about Tom Scott getting the job, I am sure they will all be very pleased.
I am going to tell you something in fear ? I think it is easier to write it,
than to explain to Mummy & Daddy when they come over. I have bought myself a
simple wee cotton frock. I am paying for it with the money I hope to earn at
the camp. No horrible remarks Pop please, so it is just a wee extra, &
believe me I will have to work very hard for it. I hope to earn £7 at the
camp. Tell me of you are very angry. Now about sandals. I don't want a pair
of white ones because they are so common! (E?? Sinter?) I had thought of
buying a pair of navy ones & then the would go with my new grey coat. The
weather is very hot here & my feet are burning in those crepe soles. Let me
know if you think I should look out for a pair of navy ones. I would like
them for the Cruise if possible. I think I told you I was going on a Cruise
to the Kyle of Bute. Dough School & Vet College are going. It costs 7/6 for
cruise & dance at night, whereas if we were going ourselves it would cost 8/
single. PS I am sending a few things which I won't need this term.
 
  
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1) 7th September 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3 - Dear Mac's All, At last
I have got a minute to write a note. We arrived safely after a very good
crossing. The boat was rather late though & we weren't in until 8.30am. My
first job in the institutional kitchen was carving cold roast meat for 70
(staff) & then I prepared tins for sultana cakes & prepared ingreds., 31lbs
marg. & sugar, 1½ doz. eggs, etc. etc. It seemed very funny working with
such large quantities. For the rest of the week I am in the Union (By the
way I am writing this is my lunch break) I spent this morning making Short
Bread Biscuits. We finished at 12 & we have to be back at 12.30 pm so I am
in a terrible rush. Next week I am on vegetable duty. Marion you will be
glad to hear that I am sitting with my feet up. Yesterday afternoon I went
to the dentist & he took so long filling my tooth that I missed my dinner &
only had time to dash back here & off to the Theatre with 4 other girls, so
I was very glad I brought the choc biscuits. I don't think ? need send me
any cake for a long time, because I have had such good food at home, I don't
think I could really eat a piece of cake now. This morning I was in the
Institutional Kitchen at 8.15am, so I have not had very much time to write.
It is 12.30pm & I must finish, Love Heather P.S. Trunk? has not arrived yet.
H.
2) 15th September 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3. - Dear Mammy, I have
just been out doing some shopping. You may think I am very silly, but I
bought a skirt at a Cheap Sale for 19/11. It is blue, do hope you will like
it, but it will always do as an extra skirt. I also got a brassiere for
Marion but I couldn't get one for myself. I was very lucky to get this one
for Marion, as they are very scarce, & I was always asking for them last
term. How much did M's new skirt cost? I will send a Prospectus & the bras
with this letter. By the way, thank you very much for the parcel which I
received yesterday. I do hope I will get the fancy dress on Friday, I also
got a letter to-day & I am delighted to hear about Jim Bradford. Poor wee Simy - how is her paw? Have you got my knitting pattern from Mrs. Scott yet?
There is more excitement here, Maggie Morton is engaged. There is still no
sign of my specimens, Mrs. Hamilton says there is no hope, however it cannot
be helped. Marion will be interested to hear that Ann Twigg is in the
room that she was in. She is in the bed at the door. When I was paying
my fees this time Miss Russell said "How is your sister Miss McCully?"
Most Important Is Marion still as much in love - Dear but she is
a silly ass!!! (I really don't mean that Marion, I think you are a sweet
kid.) Maureen Roughead talked for hours about George last night. She showed
me a photograph of him & he looks at best 60 years. He is much to old for
Marion & tell her to take my advice because I know best. I will finish this
off tomorrow, as I want to write up some notes now. By the way the key
for my drawers has not yet been fixed & I am about fed up of it. Pat
Gainer was telling me to-night that she lost weight last term & the Dr. told
her that she was under nourished, so her mother wrote & told Miss Gibson &
Miss G. replied & said that we had better food than we were supposed to have
& that we were having more than our allowance. Sunday Afternoon
You will be pleased to hear that my cold is completely better & that I am
feeling in tip top form. I am sitting here all alone. Cris & Doris are away
for the week-end & Maureen has gone out. I expect you are all sitting in
front of the drawing room fire. I was at Wellington this morning with Mairi
Aitken. I saw Ann Twigg there with some of the girls out of her room.
You can tell Marion that they had one new tune this morning. Hymn 75 "Ye
fair green hills of Galilee" I hope to go again to-night with Norma Grigor.
Give my love (sorry) regards to the Irwins & Scotts. Marion our Housewifery
is very difficult this term, we do a different group each week & I am
sending you a list of the groups. The children's party & afternoon tea &
breakfasts, are the worst. Could you please give me some ideas & also what
should I bake. Another thing, what will I give the guest as a bed time
snack? I am not doing any of these next week but I do not know which I will
have the following week. Monday Morning I must
finish this off now, as I want to post it this morning. I wonder could you
send me some old exercise books to scribble on. I just cannot think of
any more news. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
  
   
 
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1) 17th October 1949 Postmark Glasgow to Mrs. McCully, Churchtown,
Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow E.3 16th
Oct. 49 - Dear My D. & M. Thank you very much for the gloves. They are just
beautiful - perfect fit & lovely & warm. I will find them very useful. The
little Swedish girl is not sure whether she is coming home with me or not.
She is going to find out how much money she will need to go to Edinburgh &
London & then she will see if she can afford £4 for Ireland & she will tell
me in the middle of the week if she is coming. One of the girls in
Hostel Marian is going to ? teaching in Bernard Street School. She told me
to ask you about it. I was wondering if Daddy had any foolscape holders like
what he used to keep our school reports in, if so if you would have one at
home, when I go home for the long week-end I could bring it back with me. I
haven't heard from William yet. I saw Sam McAdoo on Friday but was not
speaking to him. May Stark cut her finger very badly in the Inst. kitchen on
Thursday & had to go to the Infirmary to have it attended to. However she is
grand now & her finger is not nearly so sore. It was a big delph jug which
was broken & she cut her thumb right up on the side of it when she was
washing it. Another girl in hostel fainted at lunchtime on Friday & at 5pm
had not come out of it so they sent for the ambulance & she went to the
Infirmary, last night we heard that she still had not come out of it. She is
a terribly green girl & it appears she cried all night on Thursday night &
they think she has taken something. It has cast a great gloom of hostel. I
simply cannot wait for the long week-end. I just don't believe that I will
be seeing you all. I cannot think of any more news & it is now bed time.
Lots of Love Heather
2) 23rd October 1949 - 8 Park Drive, Glasgow C.3 - Dear D. My, & M. Here I
am lying in bed resting. It is such a miserable day, wet & foggy. I haven't
got a woollen frock yet. I went out yesterday morning at 9.30am & I ? Arnettes?, Copeland, Watts, Hendersons, Pettigrews & Daley's & I just
couldn't get anything. I never realised I was so big & akward!!! I was
speaking to the little Swedish girl this morning & she is very anxious to
come home with me, she has written to ask her parents & should have a reply
on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I will let you know as soon as I hear from her.
The little g8irl who failed is not back yet. Everything is being kept
secret. She was a very queer girl & on the Thursday night she cried all
night in bed & on Friday morning she took something & it did not have any
effect until lunch time. It is very sad about her. I will tell you all about
it when I come home. I haven't had a letter from William yet. I am going to
be very busy next Saturday, we have a full College day, we start at 9am &
finish at 6pm. There is some Conference in College & we have to do the
catering. Later Miss Stevenson has just phoned to ask me
to go into K14 & rinse out some tea towels that she left steeping in Parazone. She forgot all about them & she was afraid of Miss Jackson finding
them in the morning. I am going to the flat for supper to-night, so I must
tidy myself. I have been tidying all my drawers this evening & they look
much neater. This is a terrible night. It is just pouring & very
foggy. Did you hear Down Your Way this afternoon. I heard part of it
including H. Byrne? Ann Twigg was in bed yesterday, she was not
feeling well, however she got up for dinner to-day & says she feels much
better. Poor Ann. She gets up at 7.30am every morning to get ready for
breakfast at 7am(?) She doesn't even make her bed before breakfast. She
allows herself 5 mins. for walking from her room to the dining hall &
wakening the others as she goes out. It appears one morning she didn't waken
until 7.45am so she was in such a flap, that it nearly killed her. She
really is a scream. I cannot think of any more news. By the way
Gillian Carton is going home for the long week-end too. Monday
Afternoon I am just going to finish this off, as I want to post
it. I had a letter from William this morning & he seems to be in great form.
I am caterer next week, so I have to go down town to-morrow & do all my
ordering. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
3) (no date but the girl with the cut finger is mentioned in #2 and also
this one) 8 Park Drive, Glasgow E.3 Tuesday - Dear My D. & M?.,
Just a very hurried note, as I am very busy this week. I am caterer & that
means I am responsible for the kitchen & we have to keep a caterer's book
which means costing every dish which has been made during the day. I was at
it till all hours last night & I'll be to-night again. I have left some
celery on boiling. It has been boiling since 2 pm & I have to go down at
5.30 pm to take it off & I have another lot which will be ready at 7 pm, so
as you see I am being kept very busy. There is really no news this
week, but how I am longing to see you all again. I am looking forward to a
nice Apple & Celery Salad!! & lots of other lovely things!!! Maureen's
finger is nearly better, but she cannot do very much yet. There are a lot of
people ill in College just now. One girl went to hospital yesterday for a
fortnight? She has got something - I cannot ? what you call it, but it is a
cousin to ? ? Don't jump to conclusions Mummy, I am in tip top form &
working like the "dickens" Oh I must get on with my costing. Don't expect
another letter this week as I am just up to the eyes. Diploma Day is on
Friday & we don't finish until 6.30 pm. Lots of Love xxxx Heather
next page three -
Letters 1950 - 1965
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