Dear Reginald,
I seemed to have struck lucky with my chance of writing to the address I found in your local Directory!
I was very glad indeed to have your letter of the 10th and to know you were indeed one of the family.. What extensions the Brind family have and how they seem to provide some of the High-ups for the Army and Navy.
I understand that the late General Brind was one of the distant relations and he was in command of the troops in the Bradford area during the War 1939-45, when I was in the North making radios for Spitfires, but I never saw him.
It was news to me that Aunt Sally played the violin and 'cello. My mother was a good performer on the piano and I well remember singing in my little piping treble while she played the "Lost Chord", or what-have-you!
My father played the Zither,. a confoundedly hard instrument to master and I have one of this still, but haven't found anyone who could help me to play it.
I don't know how your father was called Captain but they always referred to him in that name. Yes! all of them were living at East Grinstead when young and I think Grandma Hepher had a very hard life bringing them up after Grandpa died through catching pneumonia as a result of his privations in the Crimea. My mother said he came back with his beard nearly to his knees.
Was surprised to hear about your brother Otto. I wonder if he was named after my father, whose name was Otto. Can't think how I have missed seeing you all in the past, as I frequently came to stay with Aunt Sally. My word! she could be a bit of a Tartar, but I always was very fond of her.
My mother (Millie) died just before the War broke out and my father just after. He was well over 80.
Eddie Brind used to come and see us, usually on a Bank Holiday, when they and the two girls would walk over from Enfield. I have quite lost touch with them now and have heard nothing of Rosa Blanche Brind since the beginning of the War.
You do not mention Uncle John-- he was the schoolmaster member of the family and taught in Ebbw Vale for many years and at a later date became headmaster at Sidcup Grammar School.. He died, I think, about 1928, but I have not kept up with his family, therefore don't know what has become of his daughters Maggie and Addie.
Uncle John was very versatile-- a good writer, musician, (F.R.C.O.) and short story creator. We had, at Chingford a novel he had written also a short story in the Western Mail. I also remember a ballad by John Brind called The Emigrant's Song, or the Dear Homeland. Both words and music by him and equal to any of the ballads of that period.
I heard from my mother about the Rev. Blakiston quite a lot and apparently he was a power in the lives of the East Grinstead people. I have a colour transparency of his Coat-of Arms in the tower of the church. The story goes that your father used to say to his mother, Ma! the Rev. Blakiston's coming, and she used to fly into a tizzy immediately, in the way women do when they suspect a visitor on the doorstep!
I hope your suggested visit to these parts next June will include a visit to us. Unfortunately we have no means to putting anyone up, as this bungalow-cottage is small but if you were able to use your caravan for sleeping we could manage the commissariat!
Like you we are fond of Suffolk and have spent many happy hours there. It is all you say and reasonably unspoilt so far.
We are hoping to visit Rochester some time later this year, possibly in August and will certainly look you up then.
When I wrote to you last week I was in hospital and have just returned home again. I am suffering from anaemia after an operation for duodenal ulcer which took place year and a half ago, but they are still trying to solve the anaemia for me, and I have just had radio-isotope treatment in an endeavour to find out where my iron goes to.
No more for now, but hope to see you both later. Please let us know when you might be calling, as we go into Cambridge quite often.
Sincerely yours,
Alexander Puck
