More excerpts from letters from Alice⁴ (Ivens) Sanders to George Dallas⁴ York.
Written after her marriage.

after Dec 1941
From: A.E. Sanders, Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin George
Thank you so much for your kind gift which reached us about the end of March.  I am sorry for delay in sending back to you but the letters were left at my home which is about 5 miles from here To far to walk we have a car but it wanted a little repair for this we have to wait a long time as war work stands first but my husband is on the food control so hope we shall be able to keep the car going as he cannot possibly get to meetings without it.  He feels it very hard to miss a lot of his counsel meetings on account of Petrol shortage.

We are having lovely weather here now but a little rain is wanted as we have been without for a very long time and everywhere is very dry but the green of the hedges and blossoms are lovely.

My brothers down at Badby are well but busy.  I have just thought of something my Mother used to quote about your Grandfather.  One was as he was drinking soup his mother said why do you not sit down Henery.  He said because I want it to run down and warm my feet.  (the other) when he had some sweets he handed them round to all except his brother Thomas  when his Mother asked him why he said well I knew he would take one

I have sent you 12 letters written by your grandfather as far as I can find these are all there are  I have some older written by the grandmother's father when he was in the Army taken by the Press Gang and others by diffrent people.  I must close now.  My husband joins with me wishing you God richest blessing on all your going out and coming in also to your family.  With Love from Cousin Alice.

aft 4 Feb, prob 1944
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby (printed stationary)

Dear Cousin George
Thank you so much for the gift received on Feb 4th.  It was very kind of you to think of me.  I do not think we have had a letter from you since Christmas of 1942 and I often wonder if you get the letters that I have sent to you as things are so uncertain these days.

We are fairley well but can not get out much as we cannot use the car so we have to be content with little walks which tires us both as age creeps on.  I was 70 last July.

My brothers are well but find things trying both for themselves and to get food for the cattle and yet you are asked to produce all the millk you can.  We have a little chapel here which we attend and try to help on.  Just now we are holding a week night service and my husband and myself are responsable for as their is no minster here.  We have some good Christian people staying with us untill they can get a house and now this is a very difficuld problem just now.

My husband joins me in hoping you are enjoying good health and prosperity and shall be pleased to hear from you at any time convenient to you.  With love, A.E. Sanders

Dec
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin George
First I must thank you for the money order received Dec 11.  It was kind of you to send.  I hope before this you have recived my letters.  Sorry to say my hubby has been in bed for 10 days and has been very ill but I do hope has got the turn for the better now.

As we are very near Christmas, we both send you the Seasons Greetings, with all best wishes for your happyness.

My brothers are well.  The youngest one is here now.  He often come up to see you.

Please give my love to Bess and tell her I know what farm work is.  You ar on from morning till night.

Please excuse more now as I have several to write.  With Love,  E.I. & A.E. Sanders

14 Jan prob 1944 or 5
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin Gorge,
Thank you so much for your letter and good wishes but also dolars which came quite safely on Jan 8th.  We were sorry to hear of your sister death and her son, what a lot of trouble this war causes does it not.  We hear of some trouble every day far and near.

Thank you so much for your kind thought of sending us something.  Since Christmas we have one £ of tea each per week extra as all over 70 get which makes things a bit better for us.  The stationary is very scarse and very poor when you do get it.

The weather here is very ruff and stormy.  We have had snow but that has gone but it is still very cold.  We do not go away from home much.  My husband takes a service at Badby once a month, that is at my home you will remember.

The two brothers are there, the elder is Will and the younger Edwin.  He often comes up to us as the older one is married and they have cattle to care for so cannot get away.  I had a letter from Suffolk this Christmas.  They are all well and Uncle Will is 89 years old.  Of course he stayes by the fire this winter but he must be very wonderful.

[no signature - pages missing? perhaps the letter started in Jan 1945/6 and never finished]

Feb 17th prob 1945
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin George
It was kind of you to send us such a nice parcel.  It arrived quite intact on Saturday the 16 of Feb.  We were delited with it.  My Husband will write you thanks for his part.  I am glad to say he is getting better though he is a great age 84 years at Christmas.

I do hope you have received my letters, two by Air Mail but the one with the old letters in was sent ordanery post for which I was sorry.  Not posting it my self, a friend took it for me and of course I knew what had when they gave me the change.

We were glad to hear yesterday morning that most of the strikes in America were settled.  They do upset everything so very much and as far as I can see don't do anyone any good in the long run.  We have just herd that the UNO are coming to America to hold their next session.  I do hope they will be able to agree and bring peace to all nations.  I am afraid they will have a hard task before them.

No I must tell you that we have just lost a cousin.  I hope I shall be able to make it clear to you who it was.  His name was Laughton.  You will remember my grandfather who married Alice York.  His sister was grandmother to Alice Laughton, Mr. Laughton's wife.

They came from London 18 years ago as Alice had loss of memory which was very bad in London so they came to Badby but Alice got worse and was parlized in every way before she died.  Then Mr. Laughton came to live with us at Badby and servived her ten years.  He was 88 years old.  Mr. Sanders and I went to the funeral which turned out to be a very wet day.  We seem to be loosing a lot of old friends.

Thank you so much for the tea as I am very fond of a cup of tea, also for the writing paper as we have great difficulty in getting it.  A few things seem a little better here but am afraid food is going to be very scarce.  Of course the shortage of wheat efects so many other things.  But we have got through till now.

I feel this must close as I want to catch post.  With love from us both.  A.E. Sanders

prob Oct 1945
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin George
Thank you for your letter which I recived on 25 of September with dollars.  I was surprised to hear that you had not had a letter from me for so long a[s] I felt sure I had written to you.  On looking through other letters, I found that the letter to you in Jan had not been posted.  Am sending you a bit of it on.

Of course, many things have happened since then, amongst them the death of your p[resident?] just as the war was finishing and then the end of the Jap war which was a glad day for everbdody; but there is a lot of unrest in the world and things will take a long time to settle down if they ever do.  It is a great work for the governments and will take a lot of time and patience.

And what a problem the food is and now the dockers are striking which makes things much worse as they are with you.

Well now I must tell you about ourselves.  We are both fairley well but have been worried about Mr. Sanders eldest son who underwent an operation in the spring and for a time seemed to get on but had to take to his bed early in August and simply wasted away and passed over on Friday last.  [Lawson George Llewellin Sanders, d. 12 Oct 1945]  Of course this is very upseting to his father.

The younger one has been in the Army but hopes to get home soon.  He is in group 20 and has a bisness which his wife has carrried on during his absence.

Uncle Will Kinch reached his 90 birthday in May.  We hear he went to the sea with his two daughter in August so he must be fairly well.

Shall try and send you a couple of the old letters if possible.  We both send our love and all kind wishes to you.  Yours sincerely,  E.T.  A.E. Sanders

Thank you so much for the note.  It was very kind of you to send.

24 Jun 1946
Oaklands, Byfield, Rugby

Dear Cousin George
We were delighted to get a lovely parcel from you which arrived in good order on Friday June 20.  We both thank you so much.  It is kind of you to think of us in these trying times for all.

My husband is very shakey today or he would have written to add his thanks to mine.  He has given up most of his public duties now.  He could have held his aldemanic seat for 2 more years but did not feel equal to attend meetings so gave up for another person.  I hope you recived my letters.  I find the last I got from you was the end of February.  We do hope you are having better times now the strikes are over.

We have not had much trouble here in that way.  But the food situation certainly is very trying, there is no variety in the diet.

As you say, Bess must have to work very hard.  I do hope they are keeping well.  Please give her my love when you see her.

My brothers are well but Will works very hard.  He still goes to market and milks night and morning which they sell out at home.  We hope to go down on Sunday if alls well.  We are getting a lot of rain here.  Yesterday was bitter but today it is raining again.  We do hope you are keeping well.  Again thanking you for box,  With love from Both, Yours Sincerely  E.T. & A.E. Sanders