8th October 1974

Dear David,

I thank you very much indeed for your long letter received this morning. Please forgive the use of the typewriter (no-one forgives my hand writing these days) I must say you all look extremely fit and well in the photograph. I am sending your letter on to Mr. Clough, with the photograph. He edits the 'Guild Messenger.' Your £1 will buy you 4 year's membership and should ensure delivery of the magazine for that period. But do let him and me know your new address when you move in. I am glad Susan's parents have settled in over there; it must seem more like home when relatives are near by. I did have a Christmas card from Les in 1973. Tony, his brother, now lives in Hertford and I see him occasionally on Saturday mornings helping with the shopping.

You would find 'bangers' as expensive as most other things over here now. I saw a 1959 Ford Zodiac (in mint condition) on sale for £375 last week. I still run my Classic and it goes as well as ever; I did invest in a new engine at 95,000 miles.

Derek Hammond visits occasionally, usually with his wife. He is studio manager with Royles in London and seems quite prosperous. His address is: # Colebrook Road, Walthamstow, London, E.17. The last I heard of Robert Buggs he was working for a small firm in London but I do not have his address. Keith McSweeney went to Australia early this year - still a single man. Chris Berry married and lives in Eastbourne; the last I heard of Gordon Hughes he was applying for a job as a nurse in a psychiatric unit. Barry West is doing very well in Buckinghamshire. Bernard Munro works in Norwich. Robert Hendry earns £90 a week in Hertford, working for Colour Workshop, litho plate-makers. Ray Hillier visited recently and he is a commercial traveller.

Not many staff changes since you left Mr. Reg. Purkis retired  a month ago and his replacement is a young man of 23. Mr. Whitbread retired to Norfolk in July 1973 and his replacement is quite young too. I am trying to infuse some youth into the establishment as most of us old codgers are on the way out I may have sent you the enclosed booklet which covered the re-union we held in 1972. Some 350 attended that function, and it was very enjoyable.

This poor old country is in dire straits at present; everyone wants more and people seem very hard to please. If my son and daughter and their families emigrated I should be quite happy to up sticks and away with them. I have three grand-children now. I may even take you up on that Linotype job in 18 months' time if I retire at 60 - I can still 'pram' along at a fair speed!

All the best then David, with good wishes from all at the School. Jim James sympathises with your wife if the boys are like their Dad:

Au revoir

Ron Stackwood

NB: Please note this is an OCR copy of the original letter some text has been changed.