Yesterday, I went to my father's funeral. He died 3 weeks ago - not COVID related. My step-mother gave me some papers of his, including the wedding album of my parents. Tucked into the back was an envelope that was addressed to my Grandmother at their old address of 11 Kimberley Road, St Albans, which is where the family may be found in the 1939 Register. Upon opening the envelope, I discovered something that I had not seen before, which is pictured below. There is no postmark on the envelope apart from one that has the crest of George VI and Buckingham Palace, Postage Paid on it. No date. Pretty special, eh?
So sorry to hear of your loss Jan but, what a wonderful find - do you know what your Grandmother did to receive such an accolade or is that yet to be found?
This is from the Queen Mother I think, so the George VI stationery would be correct. I wonder where the 'strangers' came from - France and Belgium didn't fall until 1940.
A quick Google search found that the Queen sent letters like this to people who had taken in evacuees
Dad never mentioned any evacuees but the 1939 register has 2 trainee nurses living with them. The house in Kimberley Road is only a 2 minute walk from the Hospital and is a 3 bedroomed terrace house. My grandparents would have been in one room, Dad in the box room and the 2 nurses probably sharing the third bedroom.
You might be interested in this from the Hertfordshire Mercury of the 1st September 1939. St. Albans Committee for Refugees Sir, —May we through your kindness address this letter to those whose hearts and consciences are moved to help the thousands of people in Europe, who are being persecuted because of their racial origin or-for their religious or political opinions? Work among the refugees was started by the St. Albans branch of the National Council of Women, last winter. Homes were found for a number of children; several girls were placed in suitable domestic situations; and two trainees started work with firms in the city, for whose maintenance for one year a fund was raised. The work, however, increased considerably, and a committee representing more widely the life of the city was obviously needed. The Council, therefore, approached the Christian Social Fellowship, who convened meeting in the Town Hall, at which the religious, municipal, social, professional, and business interests of St. Albans were well represented. A letter from the Bishop was read commending the cause, and Mrs Ormerod, from the London Committee at Bloomsbury House, gave a most useful outline of the many branches of refugee work. The meeting then resolved to appoint a committee of twenty, with power to co-opt, to deal with the care of refugees in St. Albans and Mid Herts. The Committee was duly elected, with the Dean of St. Albans as chairman, Mr Rex Yates (53 Battlefield Road, St. Albans) as hon. secretary, and Mr J. T. Jarman (Westminster Bank, St. Albans) as hon. treasurer. This committee has appointed the following sub-committees; Children: To deal with all inquiries, and to find suitable homes. Trainees; To find places where young men and women between the ages of 16 and 35 may be trained in agriculture, engineering, nursing, etc. This involves possible responsibility for considerable expense. Hospitality: To provide accommodation for older men and women, and for refugees wailing to go to posts. Domestic Servants: To get into touch with the many at work in this neighbourhood. Recreation: To arrange social clubs and to provide English language classes. Finance and Publicity: To raise and administer all funds. In order to avoid overlapping, the Committee will also work in conjunction with the existing Spanish Aid Committee on behalf only of refugees from Spain. Will all who are already helping refugees in any of these ways, or would be willing to co-operate, kindly communicate as soon as possible with the Hon. Secretary, Mr Rex Yates, or with the Hon. Treasurer, Mr J. T. Jarman. New offers of hospitality, both for children and adults, and generous subscriptions are particularly requested. A Refugee Week beginning Sunday, September 24 is being arranged for St. Albans, and Sir John Hope Simpson, the great authority on this subject, has promised to speak at a public meeting on September 25. In view of the ever-increasing regulations against Jews and political opponents, and the terrible plight of some of them, the urgency of this problem need not be stressed. When we realize that in the past an influx of foreign refugees - potential workers bringing new ideas and methods has always proved of incalculable value to the land that absorbed them, we in England with our past record an asylum for the afflicted, and with our Christian standard of duty towards the Stranger, the Naked, and the Hungry, must hope that, before long, may be possible for our Government to set the gates of entry more widely open, and thus enormously facilitate the work “I was a stranger and ye took me in.” Yours faithfully, Thomas F. Elm, Mayor of St. Albans; Michael. St. Albans; C. C. Thicknesse, Dean of St Albans, Chairman St. Albans Committee for Refugees; W. Morton Barwell, President, St. Albans Christian Social Fellowship; Edith Drummond. President, National Council of Women (St. Albans Branch); C. W. Dumpleton, Society of Friends; J. T. Jarman, Hon. Treasurer; May G. Clarke. Hon. Assistant Treasurer; Rex Yates, Hon. Secretary, St. Albans Committee for Refugees.
Very sorry for your loss, Jan. That is something to hold onto. On the '39 register our family have people - adults - staying with them who'd been evacuated from London, I believe. Mum said she was squashed into a little bedroom with her parents and baby brother to accommodate them.
so sorry to hear of the loss of your father Jan what a lovely letter to have its amazing the items that are found after its too late to ask the people about them.
Yes, I think that I will and hang it on my office wall next to the sampler that was completed in 1866 by her mother.
