From Aden to Bliss

By Winston Forde

"As a precursor, on 27 February 1963, he wrote to his then girlfriend these words that have proved her lasting, and favourite quote:

[Dear Gloria neigh Patience,

How time flies! “These days one needs to muster all the vigilance possible to keep abreast of the ever escaping minutes and days”. When I promised to write to you over the phone on Monday, I really meant to get down and do it that evening, but one thing led to another, and here am I now on Wednesday still trying to do it!]

Later that year, they were to have a serious row that threw them apart for the next two years until he decided to renew contact by writing the enclosed amazing letter on 3rd December 1965. The rest is History!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jul 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456832186

Winston Forde

The Author served at RAF Khormaksar in Aden from July 1965 – June 1967 where these letters were written As a precursor, on 27February 1963, he wrote to his then girlfriend these words that have proved her lasting, and favourite quote: [Dear Gloria neigh Patience, How time flies! “These days one needs to muster all the vigilance possible to keep abreast of the ever escaping minutes and days”. When I promised to write to you over the phone on Monday, I really meant to get down and do it that evening, but one thing led to another, and here am I now on Wednesday still trying to do it!] Later that year, they were to have a serious row that threw them apart for the next two years until he decided to renew contact by writing the enclosed amazing letter on 3rd December 1965. The rest is History!

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Winston Forde.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2010918671

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4568-3217-9

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4568-3216-2

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4568-3218-6

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CONTENTS

Dec 65-Jan 66 - Let’s be serious friends

66 - Proposal of marriage, and its acceptance. My busy life as a young junior RAF Officer serving in Aden.

Aug 66 - Planning for LUKFREE (Leave in the UK). Our civil marriage and plans that should lead to Holy Matrimony in Freetown in Aug 67.

Dec 66 - Planning Start of 3 weeks Home Leave leading to Holy Matrimony at St Luke’s Parish Church, Redcliffe Gardens, London SW 7

Jan 67 – Mar 67 - Gloria visits Aden, and we enjoy life living properly as Man & Wife for the first time.

Jun 67 - Birth of our son & heir

Jul 67 - Beginning of the end of our letters

Bliss

is

Delight, ecstasy, euphoria, felicity, glee, joy, pleasure, rapture even perfect

Happiness

Happy are they who find such joy and happiness,

and good luck to those who are willing to try!

BACKGROUND TO THIS COLLECTION OF LETTERS

I first met Gloria when we were both about to enter our teen years as children belonging to two prominent families living in Freetown,Sierra Leone. There was an attraction right from the start, but at that young age we could only behave as teenagers ‘in love.’ Our friendship continued even after we had both travelled overseas to pursue our tertiary education in the United Kingdom, and thus a more constructive relationship started to develop. As we grew closer, so did the usual pressures arising from any meaningful relationship, especially in those days of well nigh Victorian standards in such matters.

Sadly we had a row in the course of our personal feelings that was to drive us apart, seemingly on a permanent basis. It was quite a wrench , and no other replaced her in my heart as I continued with my career as a newly commissioned Officer in the Royal Air Force. After completing my first tour as the Junior Accounts Officer At RAF Leconfield, I was posted overseas in, July 1965, to RAF Khormaksar, in Aden.

A few months into my two year unaccompanied tour, I decided to renew my relationship with Gloria after a break of about two years. Luckily, I made contact after an initial delay due to a change of address, and these letters are a testimony as to how things moved with incredible speed and complexity between us soon thereafter.

I felt this story had to be told as it shows what true love, determination, trust, and careful planning can achieve.

Image4705.PNG

Dedicated to my darling wife, Gloria, who contributed in equal measure both in her letters, and her resolute handling of every episode throughout.

A Map of Aden with

RAF Khormaksar

Image4712.PNGImage4718.JPG

RAF Khormaksar crest badge.

RAF Khormaksar

RAF Khormaksar was a Royal Air Force station in Aden. Its motto was Into the Remote Places. During the 1960s, it was the base for nine squadrons and became the RAF’s busiest-ever station. It later became Aden International Airport.

History

Established in 1917, RAF Kormaksar was enlarged in 1945 as the British spread their influence deeper into the Arabian Peninsula. In 1958, a state of emergency was declared in Aden as Yemeni forces occupied nearby Jebel Jehaf and RAF squadrons were involved in action in support of the British Army. In the 1960s, during operations around Rhadfan, the station reached a peak of activity, becoming overcrowded and attracting ground attacks by terrorists. In 1966, the newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom announced that all forces would be withdrawn by 1968. The station closed on 29 November 1967.

Units and aircraft

Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes

No. 8 Squadron RAF Various Various See below

No. 12 Squadron RAF 1935 and 1936 Hawker Hart

No. 21 Squadron RAF 1965-1967 Douglas Dakota

Hawker Siddeley Andover

CC2

No. 26 Squadron RAF 1963-1965 Bristol Belvedere HC1

No. 37 Squadron RAF 1957-1967 Avro Shackleton MR2

No. 41 Squadron RAF 1935-1936 Hawker Demon

No. 43 Squadron RAF 1963-1967 Hawker Hunter FGA9

No. 73 Squadron RAF 1956 de Havilland Venom FB1

No. 78 Squadron RAF 1956-1967 Scottish Aviation Pioneer

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

Percival Pembroke

Westland Wessex

CC1

C1

CC1

HC2

No. 84 Squadron RAF 1956-1967 Various

No. 94 Squadron RAF 1939 Gloster Gladiator I and II

No. 105 Squadron RAF 1962-1967 Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C1

No. 114 Squadron RAF 1945 de Havilland Mosquito VI Originally used the Douglas Boston

No. 203 Squadron RAF 1940 Bristol Blenheim IV

From Aden to Bliss

A Life journey of Love that was planned

in daily love letters from December 1965 to June 1967

Coolie and Gloria

alias

‘Stravinsky (Snr)’ and ‘Rossini (Snr)

Image4724.JPG

At our Engagement

Endorsement of ‘From Aden to Bliss’

I was delighted to be asked to endorse the publication of these letters because Winston Lemuel (Coolie) Forde, and Gloria Monica Hamilton Forde are two people dear to my heart. I thought it was very brave of them to be willing to put the details of their courtship, and early marriage into the public domain, especially since we, Africans, tend to be reticent about such matters.

Reading this charming correspondence has been an enjoyable experience. Not only do the letters provide a vivid account of the difficulties the young lovers face, and overcome as they travel the bumpy road to marriage and early parenthood but also, with both parties given to writing long and detailed letters , through them we catch more than a glimpse of Winston’s official and social life on a Royal Air Force Station in the Middle East, and of Gloria’s life as a student in the U.K. Her challenging experience of organizing her formal wedding almost single handedly, at short notice and on a tight budget is compelling.

Readers of a certain age will find much more of interest in the process of reading these letters which recall a time when people still wrote with fountain pens, photographers used celluloid film, recorded music came on long-playing records and social mores and family values were somewhat different from what they are today, not to mention the cost of goods and services. For the Sierra Leonean reader the events of historical importance mentioned along the way add to their interest.

This collection of private letters is recommended to anyone who enjoys autobiographies and social history.

Lucilda Hunter

1965

Getting Back Together Again-Contact established after 2 years!

RAF Khormaksar—

Flying Officer Forde

Officers’ Mess

RAF Khormaksar

B.F.P.O 69

5th October 1965

Dear Gloria,

This will probably come as a surprise to you, and I will not attempt to anticipate your reaction to this letter; for instance you might decide to ignore it, or on the other hand you might reply to it. I shall just have to wait and see.

It is over eighteen months since we communicated with each other, and a reasonable reaction of course would be for you to wonder why I should suddenly decide to write to you virtually out of the blue. I shall not attempt to justify this because this should not be necessary. Suffice it to say that I am writing because I want to, and this I think is the best reason I can advance.

After such a long interval I cannot imagine what you are doing at the moment, and what your present situation is. Obviously you could not have stayed put, but must have moved on to other things. You would, no doubt tell me about this, if you reply.

As for me, a lot has happened since you last heard from me. You would see from my address that I am now serving overseas. I was posted to Aden at the end of July where I have been since. It is a two year tour. The weather here is hot, and dry although there are two definable seasons—the hot and cool seasons! We are just coming up to the cool season now when even though the days still continue to be hot, the evenings become much cooler, and one is even forced to use a jacket. At the moment our uniform is Khaki shirt and shorts, and off-duty, we use long sleeved shirts, and ties with slacks.

You would probably remember Flt Lt John Cartwright and his wife Pat with whom we had a meal at my Graduation Ball. You can imagine how pleased I was when I arrived here, and found that John was serving here also, and is now a Squadron Leader. I spend every Sunday with them, and we usually go down to the beach after matins returning in time for evensong. Unfortunately, Pat has decided to return to UK, and John will be moving into the Mess in the next few days.

Yes, with this weather the beach is a popular pass time. We have an officers’ club at Tarshyne about 8 miles down the road where we have a private beach, two swimming pools, a restaurant, and a bar. I have bought a small Japanese 50cc Honda motor cycle to get around, and I find it ideal in this weather.

I was lucky when I first arrived to find the operatic Society practising hard for the Opera "The White Horse Inn." They had already started stage work, but I joined them all the same, and we are hoping to produce for the last six days in October. I thoroughly enjoy the rehearsals.

Since you last heard from me, I have started reading Law, and soon after I arrived in Aden I sat to my first two papers. I am awaiting the results, which should be published on the 22nd of October. In the meantime I have started my next subject, which is Contract & Tort.

I attended a party in London just before I left where I met Bennetta again, after a long break. I went home in January for three months Domicile leave during which I had a wonderful time. I used to go swimming with your dear cousin Ponsford, and his crowd. It was quite a good leave, and it was nice to see all the many changes.

There is so much more I would like to say, but all the time I keep thinking of the possibility that you might consider this odd, and unacceptable. I hope you don’t because it will be a pleasure to hear from you.

Whilst in Aden I am entitled to leave down in Kenya on one occasion, and at least 3 weeks leave in UK (LUKFREE Leave) on another both of which I intend to take. So, I would not be surprised if I am back in UK next year.

How is your Course getting on? You must have done over two thirds of it, and I expect that, as usual, you are doing very well. I think I shall stop now, and hope to hear from you some time.

Love

Coolie

Aden

3 Dec 65

Dear Gloria

At last I don’t have to wonder any more. I received your Christmas card today, and was pleased to have received some form of reply from you to my last letter. Mark you, I inspected it three times subconsciously searching for the phrase letter to follow, but of course there was no such annotation so, once again, I can only continue to wait.

Time continues to fly, and soon it will be another Christmas. From what we hear on the news, and read in the papers you seem to be heading for a white Christmas, although most people would have preferred the snow much later on this month. Meanwhile, back here in Aden, we continue to enjoy swimming + all the other outdoor sports, and activities. Mark you, the evenings get quite chilly these days as we are now going through the cool Season, but it’s still nothing to worry about.

Did I tell you that I run a motor cycle out here? It seems to be the ideal thing when one is on his own, although it could get unbearable during sand storms.

I missed matins last Sunday when I went fishing with three friends—civilians. We hired a powered boat operated by two Arabs from Little Aden, which is 25 miles away from here, and we went out for the whole day. We caught quite a few between us, I caught 8, and also brought up a beautifully shaped coral, which I hooked off the bottom at one stage. Altogether it was quite a good day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have just received the results of my two Law papers taken in September. I passed my Roman Law, but unfortunately failed my Constitutional Law. I shall have to repeat the latter with my next paper in May 66. I don’t know whether I shall have enough sustenance to continue to the end, but at least I have started, and that is the main thing.

We have a cinema show in the Mess every Thursday, and Sunday evening. Last Thursday we saw a film that you may have seen yourself called ‘To kill a Mocking Bird’. On the whole I find that I have seen most of those that are being shown now, which makes me wonder whether I spent too much time at the Cinema back in the UK. I must remember that, when I go back on leave for about a month sometime next year.

We also have frequent Saturday evening dances in the Mess when local Pop Groups formed by servicemen provide the music for all to have a good time. Mark you, because of the Curfew we always have to stop by 1130 pm to allow people to get home by mid night. This ruins things a bit.

I wish we did not have to work on Saturdays as well then on a day like today one could look forward to a weekend. Anyway, I think I am going to stop on this page.

Love

Coolie

I have just noticed that this is the last page in this pad, and as the next one has white pages I think I ought to use it as well.

There is an Army Officer friend of mine here whose in-Laws own a pub by the large roundabout from your place travelling towards Harrogate. I can’t remember the name of the Pub, and for that matter I don’t suppose I have described it well enough for you to know the exact one, but it is not very far from you. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Coolie

Methodist International House—Nice to hear from you, and I wish you well

55 Cliff Road

Leeds 6

11.12.65

Dear Coolie,

Thank you for the Christmas card, and your letter. You obviously did not inspect the card properly otherwise you should have noticed that my address is as above.

At the moment, I am in a sorely depressed state. Uncle Sal died in Freetown on Tuesday. He had been ill for about a month, and when everyone thought he was getting better, he breathed his last. In fact, arrangements were being made for him to travel to Germany for convalescence. Tunde has returned home from America, but unfortunately both Pons, and Brady are here.

We sure are heading for a white Christmas. Sometime in the middle of November we had a snow fall of about a foot in depth, and the fog is even worse. I have moved down to the South for Christmas anyway, so I shall not be affected by the bad weather.

After two years, there should be a lot for me to tell you. Not much seemed to have taken place, but I have completed my Course which is a great change. Two Summers ago I was down in Italy for about a fortnight, and visited Venice, a place I had always dreamt I would go to. Last Summer I was in London at the time you saw Bennetta at the party, I should have gone too, but I am becoming too complacent about going to parties now especially when they last all night. I hope I am not becoming a square.

I am glad to see you are enjoying your stay in Aden. I know a boy from Aden who lives in the same hostel with me. On Sunday he showed us slides of Aden, and I could see that it is a very well developed place, despite all the troubles going on there.

Once again I wish you a Happy Christmas

Yours

Gloria

RAF Khormaksar

BFPO 69

11th December 1965

My dear Gloria,

I suppose I have not given you enough time to receive my last letter, and reply to it. But, Sunday is my regular letter writing day along with the other six days in the week, depending on what I receive during the week, and as I don’t suppose you would object to receiving yet another one, I find myself writing again.

This is a particularly joyful weekend for us. I received a letter yesterday at 11.30 am, which was posted in Sheffield at 5.00 pm the previous day in which Olu tells me that he is now a fully qualified Doctor. As you may imagine this is wonderful news, which left me very happy. I had been invited to a meal by two friends of mine, and I accepted provided they would allow me to buy a bottle of wine, which we used to toast the doctor. I think I told you in my last letter that he is due home this week on a three week holiday so I can imagine what sort of a Christmas they are going to have, what with my sister arriving home as well.

Talking about the latter reminds me of the fact that your Mother is visiting the United States. Is she still out there, or is she going to get back in time for Christmas? The World is certainly getting smaller, and smaller, and one can’t help wondering how much longer it is going to go on for.

As Christmas draws nigh the more I realise that it is going to be the most unusual one I have had for a long time. It is a bit unfortunate that at a time of Peace and Good Will one should be restricted in any way. Yet is is all good experience I suppose, and gives one an even broader cut of life.

Is your telephone number still Leeds 22277? We start work on the Mikado on Wednesday. Unfortunately my Wing Commander has invited me to drinks that evening so I am going to miss it, but as I have already done it that should not really matter.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Love

Coolie

RAF Khormaksar                       Lets be serious friends again

BFPO 69

13 Dec 65

Dear Gloria,

I received your last letter today, and am sending this to Leeds in the hope that it will be re-directed to you down South.

My deepest sympathy for your present bereavement. It was only on Sunday I enquired after Uncle Sal in a letter to my Mother as I knew he was unwell. May his soul rest in peace.

I am going to write very little else in this letter. Just to say that I know it has been two years but if you are agreeable I would like us very much to make a fresh, and serious start. I can assure you it will be just you and none other. If you are agreeable could we keep it just between us at the moment?

Yours

Coolie

1966

Leeds—I agree, lets!

3.1.66

Dear Coolie,

I wondered at first whether I should write this letter. I am sorry for the delay, but I know you will understand. It seems hardly possible that after what happened, and now that we are so far apart you should make such a suggestion. Besides, I thought that you had completely forgotten that I existed.

I got your letter whilst I was away on holiday, and since then I have been giving it much thought. When I got your first letter I never dreamt that that was your aim. I thought that there was more likelihood of mountains moving than for you to come back to me. Even the thought that we would speak to each other again did not last beyond those few days during which we exchanged those ghastly letters. What happened? It’s so long ago now that it needs no raking over, and I prefer not to talk about it.

Weeks of discreet thinking has convinced me that you must definitely have thought over this seriously before you decided to confront me with it. I take it for granted that you did, and in the light of this I would agree to your suggestion. But I would like to know one thing—What are the profound reasons that have made you come back to me after such a long spell? For one thing you haven’t even seen me for the past two years, nor even heard about me, I guess. I hope there is a genuine affection behind all this.

I am glad it has come solely from you with no outside forces. Nothing was made easier by the forced intimacy that existed between us, which only raised tempers, and strained nerves. I agree with you that we should keep it between us as we both know the inevitable consequences otherwise. So far for this.

I shall be going to London this weekend to attend the engagement party of Abator, and David Thomas. I guess you know them.

Well I hope you have a very good year. I must stop now.

Yours

Gloria

Royal Air Force Khormaksar

BFPO 69

Aden

7th January 1966

My dear Gloria,

I hope you do not mind receiving a badly typed letter instead of a badly handwritten letter. I won this machine at our Christmas Draw, and Dance last December, which I spent a lot of time, and effort arranging, and I am determined to use it as often as possible until I am completely used to it. I have not bothered to learn properly but I can touch type at a reasonable speed so I am in no hurry to do so, and may not get round to it at all, so you would do well just to ignore all mistakes.

I have not waited so anxiously for something for a long time, and I really counted all those moments to my receiving your reply to my last letter yesterday. Mark you, I had expected you to give it as much thought as possible before sending a reply, so I was not exactly without understanding. Anyway, it finally arrived yesterday, and you know as much as I do what you had to say to me. It must have taken a lot of careful thought before you wrote that, and all I am going to say to that is "Thank you for giving me another chance", I know I have not seen you for a long time during which you may have changed. Nevertheless, I feel I know you, and you just can’t be all that different. I suppose the same applies to me, and I expect it would take another to tell me whether I have changed at all. What we could start off with are photographs. Unfortunately, I damaged my camera just before I came out here, and since I arrived I have not been able to take any photographs of myself. I can’t buy another one just yet, but I think I can borrow one from a friend, and should be able to take some for you. What I have got, however is one which was taken of me, and two other members of our Cast for our recent Operatics Production—White Horse Inn last October, which I think you might like, and another which was taken whilst I was home in Freetown last April, which I don’t particularly like, but which would do until such time as I can take something else, and send the same. If you are sending me one of yours I would like a half, or full plate please so that I can have it on my desk. You asked of me what was prima facie a very simple question. You asked what was my profound reason for my suggestion to you. You know the words "once to every man and nation comes a moment to decide". I thought the time had come for me to start thinking seriously of the next stage in my life, and I decided to ask you in spite of what happened between us, hoping desperately that you would find it in your mind to forget. This you have done, and I hope that we can make things work out the way we would like them to.

This is my present situation: I was posted to Aden in July last year for a two year tour, which means that I am due to be posted back to England in July 1967. This does not mean that you would not see me before then, though. Whilst I am here I am entitled to two free trips back to UK each leave lasting for at least twenty one days, or I can to UK only, and one to East Africa. At the moment I am hoping to take one of each, but I can always change this even though I would like very much to see Kenya, which is a very attractive country. I have not applied for leave yet, but I hope to be back between July, and September so you can start planning along those lines.

Now that you have finished your Course, are you going on to something else in Leeds? No doubt, you will tell me all about yourself in your letters so I shall not jump the gun here. I was pleased to hear about David, and Abator, I saw him up at Newcastle before I came out here along with Alphaeus, and Armand Thomas. In fact, there are quite a few of them there.

Due to the emergency, it is not as much fun in Aden as it used to be, and there are all sorts of restrictions, the main one being the midnight Curfew so that you are forever racing back to beat it just as the party is beginning to swing. It does one good though, it gets us into bed early which is a great advantage as our day actually starts at 07.00 hours, and we are out of bed reasonably early every day. We only work from seven till one officially, but many a time you find you have to work in the afternoon, as well, in order to complete all there is to do. The Forces provide all our own entertainment, and outside there is very little going on. Most of this takes place at this time of the year during the cool season. Come the hot season at the middle of the year it gets almost unbearable.

I met a friendly chap during White Horse Inn with whom I have been sharing a lot of my spare moments. He is married, and they have a baby who is fourteen months old. Jim, and Sheila have a lot of charming friends, and through them I have met a lot of these, and had a good time. This is a tremendous advantage out here where one could easily get very lonely especially as Khormaksar is such a large station compared with Leconfield. I moved out of the Mess at Christmas, and spent the weekend with them. They were at the Mess for the Draw, and that Thursday I attended a party at Government House given by the Governor to a cross section of the British population in Aden. Then on Christmas eve we went to the Rock Hotel, which is the best in Aden, and had a dinner in the Panorama Grill, which is seven floors up overlooking the harbour. There were eight of us in the party, and we had a super time. On Christmas Day we had our Christmas meal in the evening followed by a full length film—Reach for the Sky, which one of them had brought home from the school. On Boxing Night Jim, and Sheila had a party in their flat, and on the Monday we went to another one at a friend’s so altogether, thanks to them, I enjoyed my first Christmas out here, which could easily have been dull.

Did I tell you that I have bought myself a Honda 50cc motor bike? It is the obvious thing for the weather, and of course it is cheaper to run. I find it a fascinating experience, and I am glad I bought it. I used to ride in formation with three of my friends who also own bikes all the way to the beach at Tarshyne, eight miles away. This is during the hot season when the beach is a must every day, but not so much now. Of course I feel mean talking about hot, and cool seasons when you are probably freezing in the cold this very minute. Do you still suffer from chilblains? I have almost forgotten what it means to have to sit by a fire in order to keep sufficiently warm, but no doubt it will all come back to me when I come back. I think I am going to stop on this page, and get on with a bit of Law. I started a test paper yesterday, which I would like to post tomorrow if possible. So darling I shall wind down, and hope to hear from you soon. Take good care of yourself, and God Bless.

Much Love

Coolie

Getting To Know you and My friends

Royal Air Force Khormaksar

BFPO 69

Aden

13th January 1966

Gloria my dear,

This is probably going to be just a short letter, and I think I ought to promise not to type any more of them, at least not to type all of them, because they do have that official look about them when they are typed, don’t they. I have just got back from a production meeting for the Mikado, and have an hour to get ready for dinner, and as I don’t like doing nothing I thought I should spend the extra moments writing to you.

You might like to know that I had a very successful photographic session with the civilian friend of mine whom I think I told you about in my last letter. He took about eighteen very good shots of me, and I spent quite a long time this afternoon trying to choose between them so that he could do some proper prints for me. You will like them very much when you receive them in the near future—at least I do anyway. I received a letter from my father yesterday in which he tells me that Uncle Sal was not given the last rites by the State that one would have expected him to have got with his record of service to the Country. The Church, however did not fail in its duty, and they played their part for which I was pleased.

Did I tell you in my last letter that Olu is now a full Doctor? He went home for Christmas, but should have, by now, returned to Sheffield to do his House work. Apparently, he had a lot of difficulties with the authorities, and wasted most of his leave trying to get out of UK, and when he got there my parents could not even hold any parties on his behalf for fear of jeopardising his chances of getting out of the country. I don’t understand what exactly is going on, and await his long letter with the utmost curiosity. I think it is criminal.

You know I started to write a so called autobiography in March 1963, well I started another novel in October last year, and in November I decided to write to the Publishers, Longmans Green, about them. I sent the scripts along even though both of them are incomplete, and I received a second letter from them two days ago in which they have intimated that if I could go on they might be interested at the end. This I find highly thrilling, and I am going to try and pursue it even though at the moment I seem not to have the time so to do. It is going to be entitled ‘Then came the Wind’ so you can keep an eye out for it on the market!

The petrol strike is still on, and we are having to be rationed petrol by the Services. I am entitled to three gallons a week which is plenty for my bike. The men working at the oil refineries at Little Aden have gone on strike, and as a result all the normal petrol stations are closed. Not only that, but we have also run short of gas, and various oils. Goodness knows how long it is going to last.

Just as if I did not have enough to occupy my time at the moment, I have now decided to join another church choir—Christ Church down the road, only until Easter as I understand they are doing Stainer’s Crucifixion, which I have not done now for many years, and which I like very much. I shall be singing with them for the first time on Friday afternoon.

Well, my dear, I am going to stop now because each time I tap a key I feel even more guilty that I should be typing to you. No, I promise that this will be the last time. I hope you are keeping yourself warm, and that you are well.

Much Love

Coolie

Leeds

14.1.66

My dear Coolie,

Thank you for your letter, and photographs, to me you haven’t changed a bit. I don’t think I have either. I keep putting on, and losing weight, but at the moment I think I am just what I was like when you last saw me. You will be receiving my photograph in about three weeks time as I haven’t got any now like the one you requested.

What am I doing in Leeds? Well, I finished my Course in June last year, and have already been admitted as a member of the Corporation. However, I cannot use the letters after my name until I have worked for three consecutive years in a recognised Company, or government institution though some people have already started addressing me like that: this is just by the way. Now I am doing a one year course in Credit Management. Actually it is a three year Course, but it is regarded as a one year post-graduate course for people with a professional qualification. I should complete this in June, but whether I shall, or not remains to be seen, but by March next year I think I should be going home.

I think I’m really having a holiday because there isn’t much I have to do when I complete this course, there won’t be anything specific for me to be doing here, so I think I must really go home. Bennetta doesn’t even think about that, she might finally decide to go home one day.

Pons came up here last week to see me. He had to stay in the Hostel, it’s not like those days when I used to live with Mrs Marshall. In fact both of us went to see her, and she was so pleased to see me. I moved out about a year ago, and had never been there since until Pons, and I went. As soon as I entered, the first person she asked for was Winston, even though she knew we were not writing any more. I shall be having tea with her on Sunday.

Armand Thomas is now in Leeds, and so is Kayode. I see Armand fairly often, but Kayode I meet once on a while. Like a dream, Sylvanus has left Leeds now, and so has Bunting Johnson, it is rather empty in a way. There are lots of other Sierra Leone boys here, and as we do not mix much with them I don’t see them at all. They will be having a party next week, I mean the Union, and being Sierra Leoneans we are ipso facto members of the Union, and ought to pay for the party, but they know we wouldn’t bother even if it were free, so they have offered to give us free tickets on the guarantee that we will go, so I think we will. I hope you know who I mean by us (Doreen & Agibola). Amy Davies is also in Leeds now doing a diploma in English Studies in the University.

The weather seems to be playing hide, and seek. One minute it’s as nice as Spring, and the next it is so cold that we are all positively freezing. There is nothing like the English weather for changing its mind!

Hope you will write soon.

Love

Gloria.

RAF Khormaksar -I promised to write once a week, or more frequently

BFPO 69

Aden

20th January 1966

Gloria my dear,

Having checked my mail wrack in the Mess yesterday, and finding no letter, you can imagine how pleased I was when I got down to the office, and found that your letter had been delivered to my desk. Of course, at that moment, all official matters became quite unimportant whilst I read through it. For the first time anyway because, as usual, I read all my important letters more than twice.

I found your account of your present activities quite interesting, and found myself thinking that, who knows, you may not even be going home in March next year! It all depends on what plans we make, doesn’t it. This is something I am sure we can settle between us, with time, so we can afford to shelve that for the moment. In the meantime, I look forward to the photographs you have promised to send, especially as you have expressed the opinion that you have not changed at all since I last saw you. This should be interesting to see.

I noticed that you went to the trouble to add two 1d stamps to the already 4d stamp. You probably do not realise this, but you are entitled to reduced postage when writing, or posting to me, provided you mark the package Forces Air Mail. So that your normal air letters cost 4d and, in fact, if you want to send an air letter form you can get some special Forces Air Letter forms from the Post Office, which don’t have a stamp, and are of a different colour, and all you have to do is stick a 4d stamp on. This may not be all that much saving on letters, even if you write as many as I hope you will find time to write especially as you say you are on holiday, but on large packages this could be quite substantial so may be it’s worth keeping it in mind.

It was amazing that my dear Mrs Marshall has enquired after me after such a long time. I still use the green RAF book mark which she gave to me some time ago, so she has not exactly been out of my mind either.

From time to time you will hear news about Aden as various terrorist incidents occur. I hope you will not spend your time worrying about this, because the natural thing in cases like this is to over exaggerate things in your thoughts. At the moment we are not only suffering the effects of the petrol strike, which is still on, but the slowing effect of Ramadan. Everything goes for a ball of chalk, shopping hours become truly erratic, and completely unreliable. I was mad today because I phoned through to Ma’alla re my bike, which has been in for a servicing, and they told me I could collect it before 1pm. I went down by taxi just after 12 o’clock just to find they were closed. So I had to pay to get back, and more than that they might not open tomorrow, which is most likely going to be the feast of ‘Id Ul Fitri’ apart from the fact that most of them don’t open on Fridays normally, anyway. So, I shall be lucky to get it by 12 o’clock Saturday.

I have just thought of something else. I am enclosing a slide, which I would like you to take into one of your photo agents for printing please. The least number they can do is three, but that is OK. This means you can keep one, and send me two. They will tell you the various sizes, which they do, and I shall leave the choice of size to you. Can you remember when we took it?

I am sure it would have made your day when Pons went up to visit you. Did I tell you I saw a lot of him whilst home? We used to go swimming on Sunday mornings, I joined them at Lemon Johnson’s after church, and then we would set off in various cars to a different place each time. We spent one morning at the Police swimming pool at Hastings, and I remember driving his Volkswagen back that day.

Do you know darling, I was going to say I was going to write once a week as I do home, but I think rather I shall leave it open, and write as my thoughts move me. I think you stand to gain by far that way. But I must stop now. Looking forward to your next letter, in the meantime all my love.

Love

Coolie

PS Regards to Armand, when next you see him.

Leeds—I will match your one a week offer, but with short ones!

25.1.66

My dear Coolie,

I got your last letter about two days after I posted my last one. I think I should write more often than this, but there is so little going on here that I can’t find anything new to say each time I write. Anyhow I am alive, and always thinking of you, which is the main thing. I’ll try to write at least once a week, but don’t be surprised if the letters are very short.

On Saturday we went to the Sierra Leone party, which I told you about. We got there at about 10.30 to find only two ladies, and about seven men. Later on the number of men tripled, and with five ladies you can imagine how worn out we all were at about 3 am when we left. It wasn’t that bad though, because the music was good.

Yes, you told me Olu is now qualified, but I keep forgetting to mention it in my letters. I am glad to hear this. It is a very relieving thought to think that one’s Student days are over. I cannot understand their not being able to hold a party for him. I won’t be surprised if what happened in Nigeria should happen in Sierra Leone, Siaka Stevens was dismissed from the post of Mayor, and in a subsequent Election Mrs Cummings John returned unopposed for S.L.P.P. Margai has in fact been asking Nkrumah for advice on how to run the Country so you can understand what that means.

I am dying to see what your books sound like. You must be very ambitious to even think of this, but I must say you have a right to your ambitions since you seem to have an astonishing lucidity, and a touch of literary genius in your power to describe things. This is the sort of thing I will never dream of doing. I am quite sure that you will be churning books out in the not so distant future. I am now very conscious of my grammar when writing to you—a future Novelist! You must certainly exploit this exquisite intellectual structure of which you are made.

I have previously written about the sudden changes in the weather, and in my own case the effect is getting much worse lately since it is not doing my chilblains any good. I better not start another page.

Love

Gloria

RAF Khormaksar

25th January 1966

My dear Gloria,

In one word HELP!! I have just tonight offered to Jim, and Sheila the two friends of mine who I think I have mentioned to you before, you remember the ones I spent Christmas with, that we could invite some common friends of ours, and I could cook Jollof rice for all six of us. I tried to put it off as much as I could, and we have decided on Tuesday the 8th so you can understand when I say it is essential for you to reply by return of post.

Its not that I am not sure of myself, but I want this to be at its best, and therefore I would like you to send a suitable guide as to what you think I should have, and maybe you can remind me of the sequence of things. Will you do that by return post, please?

I shall write you a better letter soon. Looking forward to hearing from you. If you think time is running out, send a telegraph or phone me! I trust you are well darling.

Love

Coolie

xx

Khormakasar

BFPO 69

30th January 1966

My Darling,

It is Sunday again, and as usual I am sitting at my desk writing to people that matter to me i.e. one letter to you, and one home, which is all I can manage. When I first arrived here, and especially when the Security incidents started multiplying I wrote home, and promised them a letter at least once a week. This I have managed to maintain, so far, and hope to be able to continue to do so. With you it need not be just one, but could be more, depending on various things. I found that with all the other writing, and reading I have to do in connection with my book, and papers in May, it is becoming quite tricky to write to all my Leconfield correspondents as well. I still try to fit them in all the same because in the Service where one is constantly moving, and bumping into old friends, it pays to keep in touch.

Since I wrote my last ‘HELP’ letter to you on Tuesday, which I trust you have replied to by now, I have had a very exciting time. I was having my dinner on Monday evening, and a friend of mine who used to be at Cranwell with me came, and sat by me. By talking I found out they had an aircraft going down to Nairobi on Thursday, and I could travel as supernumerary crew if I wanted to. This was all arranged, and I took three days leave, and the excitement started on Wednesday evening. I missed choral rehearsal, and attended a party in Ma’alla. I barely made the gates for the Curfew at midnight, and rode down to Air Movements to change my money for East African currency. Then I found I had to do a bit of sewing before packing so I did not get into bed till twenty minutes to one. I was called at quarter past one, and together with the crew we had a quick breakfast, and then went on to flight planning after Met briefing. We took off from here, eventually, at 4 o’clock on Thursday, and arrived Nairobi five, and a half hours later.

I only had a day there so whilst the others all went to bed I had a quick wash, and change, and went into the city. I did a bit of shopping then visited the University where I was shown round by two Indian students. It is a very attractive set up, and I was most impressed by it all. I finally finished up in the Principal’s office to meet Dr Arthur Porter who you know comes from the staff at Fourah Bay. He got his driver to take me back into town in his Rover 3-litre, and I then went on a tour of the Nairobi National Game Park for three hours. This was most interesting, and although they had no elephants, or Rhinos there it was still well worth it.

I then returned to the Mess at RAF Eastleigh for a quick change, and then back into the City where a friend, and I went to a night club, The Sombrero. Apart from the normal dancing to an eight piece band, there were cabarets—a South African dancer, and two Egyptian girls did some belly dancing. You can imagine that by the time we got back to the Mess at about two o’clock I was as tired as ever. I had had half an hours sleep in forty eight hours apart from travelling 1900 miles as well.

I was called again at five o’clock on Friday for breakfast in time for us to take off at 0700 hours bound for Aden. I spent more time in the co-pilot’s seat on the return trip than I did going out, and altogether it was a far better trip. I hit my bed like a log once I got back, and desperately tried to catch up with my lost zzzzzzzzzzzs.

We went to the Theatre last night, which is only the gymnasium at the Khormaksar Secondary School where we have all our live shows. The theatrical Society, The Dolphin Players, put on ‘The Blue Goose’. It was not as good as their last one, but we enjoyed it, and had a lot of publicity from it because it had a lot about the Mikado in it, and as you know, we are going full speed now for our production of the Mikado in March. The Dolphins are, in fact, thinking of squeezing in another play in April before the hot season comes on when all our live entertainment comes to an end because it is so hot, and sticky, and uncomfortable.

I am looking forward, very much, to receiving your photographs. What I would like you to send also is your telephone number, and the best day, and time at which you think I could speak to you so I could give you a call from here one of these days. Don’t forget now will you, in fact your next letter is the best one in which you could provide me with this information.

I have not applied for my UK Leave yet as it is probably too early, but I am now thinking that I could get it all in during July because this would be to my advantage because my first year out here ends in July, and they tend to regard both years of the tour out here individually, Still, all this is very much just speculation at the moment so I don’t have to start worrying yet.

I suppose you heard on the BBC News yesterday that Sir Albert has now made a public declaration regarding his aspirations for a one-party ‘Democratic’ State in the near future. I don’t like the sound of it, and I hope it never comes about, at least not just yet when they all seem to be set for personal aggrandisement, and very little else.

Incidentally, did you know I was ignorant ? I don’t know what letters you will be entitled to have behind your name, and as you did not mention them in your letter, I still don’t know. Would you care to enlighten me?

I went to the beach this morning, as usual, with my friends Jim, Sheila and their baby Melanie. We had breakfast, as usual, before going down on to the beach for a swim etc. I was wearing a new pair of trunks, which I bought in Nairobi with a wine/blue design. My favourite trunks are my white ones, which I bought in Newcastle before coming out here last Summer.

You would notice that I have kept to my word, and have not used the type writer. Actually, it could do with a rest because it always seems to be pounding away during the week as I write this wretched book. Actually, considering the amount of work, and time, and effort I am putting into it I sincerely hope something worth the while comes out of it. At the moment I am stuck with my main character who has left school, and is about to go overseas to England to study. At first I was going to send the male student except that not having been to University myself I could only fashion him on my own experience. But now that I have come to think about it I could send my female lead, Martha, and base her experience on what I think yours were in Leeds, or alternately I could send them both, and arrange for them to get married in England! I don’t know, I shall have to think about it.

I am going to stop now I know you will write soon. God Bless.

Love

Coolie

xx

Leeds

31.1.66

My dear Coolie,

I have just received your letter, and I am going to attempt to advise you on how to cook Jollof rice. I don’t think I know myself because it is an age since I cooked it.

I was going to assume you can cook stew, and start from there, but I better not.

1. Fry the meat in oil with a bit of water until it is soft and brown.

2. Put in the onions and tomatoes and leave to fry for about two minutes then add some water.

3. Add tomato purée and leave to boil for a few minutes until it is cooked

4. Put some of the gravy into another pot and add sufficient water for cooking the rice. Then add in some more tomato purée.

5. Put in the rice and allow to cook as usual.

6. When the rice is half cooked, add some onions and fresh tomatoes, and fix the lid on tight to allow it to steam. Avoid putting too much oil in at the start. You can put some in from time to time if you consider it necessary, but put only a bit to start with. Also avoid stirring the rice while it is cooking otherwise it will go soggy.

I think this is as far as I can go. For four people I think you will need:

1 ½ pkt of rice.

4 tins of tomato purée or tube.

1 lb tomatoes.

3 onions.

½ pint of oil.

I think the quantity of meat is entirely up to you.

All that is left to do now is to wish you Good Luck! Thank you for your postcard from Kenya, I was rather surprised because I didn’t know you were going there. I am not going to write much in this letter, I shall write another later on this week.

Love

Gloria

Khormaksar

31 Jan 66

Dear Gloria,

I received your letter of the 25th today. Actually, I would have received it on Saturday, but I was on leave, and did not go into the office where it was lying on my desk. I went out, and bought this pad today, and thought you could be the first to receive of it. As you may imagine, very little has happened since I wrote my last letter to you yesterday, which I posted this morning. It was the usual sort of Monday, which started in the normal reluctant way, and had nothing in particular to make it exceptional. I have not even been off the station today, so I should not even tell you what goes on in the outside world.

Tonight we start work on stage. The Dolpins spent all yesterday dismantling their scenery and flats, and we can now go ahead with our own rehearsal on stage. This is when the fun starts, and of course I am looking forward to it.

Yesterday after evening service I rode across to Jim, and Sheila, and we went out to dinner at one of the restaurants in Aden. I had a continental Kebab, and altogether we each enjoyed the meal. We then came back to the Mess where we sat on the patio having drinks, till it was late enough to retire.

I am afraid I am on the scrounge again. I would like you to get me a replacement part for my electric shaver if you can, please. It is a FIGARO III, which most dealers who sell electric shavers must, or should have. I would like the thin foil, which covers the blades, please. On the shaver it is curved, but it usually comes flat, it is about 2" square, and costs about 6/6d. You could send it between the pages of a letter quite easily. I seem to go through them rapidly out here because the last one I had was at Christmas. I am planning to change the machine as soon as I can save enough for a new one. Could you do that?

I suppose you have heard about the imminent pay rise in April. It is not before time, and we are all looking forward to it. So far, it has been quite something to make ends meet because in the Forces a single man is given all conveniences, and enough to exist on, and as I don’t get flying pay it has needed astute control. The pay rise should make all the difference, and of course when one gets married there is marriage allowance, which is at least 23/= a day, and Ration Allowance, which averages £10 a month depending on various things, so maybe things are looking up a bit for us, at last, especially as we have no Unions to fight our cause for us. We shall wait, and see what disappointments the White Paper due out in February will have for us all, because it is invariably a case of giving it with one hand, and taking it away with the other.

I hope your feet are much better, darling. I must stop on this page. Write soon, and God Bless.

All my love

Coolie

xx

Royal Air Force

Khormaksar

BFPO 69

5th Feb 66

My dear Gloria,

I shall post this letter on my way to evensong tomorrow, so if you