by Pam Rhodes
Signed
Leonard Carmichael
Senior Builder
There was complete stillness as Derek finished reading, the crowd deeply moved by what they’d heard. Thanking Derek, Michael started to speak again.
“When Edith received that letter, she was expecting a child. She had a son named Walter, and I’d like to introduce you to Walter’s daughter, Joyce Jessop. She grew up remembering her grandmother Edith very well – and she knows how much Gerry’s death affected life in the family for generations to come. Here she is.”
Joyce was helped up to the microphone as the crowd fell completely silent.
“Let me start by reading you the letter Granny Edith received via the Soldiers’ Christian Association months after Grandpa had died.” Her voice cracking with emotion, Joyce started to read.
“Dearest, if this should ever reach you it will be a sure sign that I am gone under. I will have died with your name on my lips. I love you deeply – how much, you will never know.
I am heartened that I am leaving you with a son. I have not met him, but already I love our boy with all my heart. In the future, when your grief has worn a bit, speak to him sometimes of me.
Please tell Mother and Father that I think of them often, and brother George. I pray that this war will end before he too is called up. How could Mother bear that?
So, dear heart, I will bid you farewell, hoping to meet you in a time to come if there is a hereafter. Know that my last thoughts were of you in the dugout or on the fire step. My thoughts are always for you, the only one I ever loved.
Gerry
“Imagine how she felt reading those loving words in the handwriting of the husband she adored, penned just hours before he died. They had shared only three weeks as a married couple, but that was enough for Granny Edith. She never married again. She always said she’d married the man she loved, and no one else could ever match up to him. That wonderful lady lived to the age of ninety-five before we lost her nearly thirty years ago – but she always hoped there would be a day like this when people from the town would gather to remember the sacrifices of her generation. She spoke often of what she would like to say to you all, and eventually she gave me this letter for you to hear today.
“I write as a widow, a mother and a grandmother who has lived in this town all my life. I was married to the man whose father, Leonard Carmichael, oversaw the building of Hope Hall in 1920. It was more than a job of work for him. It was a labour of devotion, dedicated to the memory of his son Gerry, who died in the trenches along with so many other fine young men from this town, and others like it all over our country.
Gerry was my husband. How can I put into words the love we shared, having grown up together as neighbours and friends all our lives? Loving Gerry was as natural as breathing to me, and losing him simply took my breath away. He was my life and my love. I still think of him and miss him every day.
His younger brother George was spared from being called up in that war, and we all thanked God that he was saved for us. But then, at the start of yet another world war in 1939, all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-one were conscripted into service. George was thirty-nine, so he too was called up, in spite of all those hopes and prayers that this country would never see war again. Thankfully Leonard never lived to see that. It would have broken his heart.
Do we ever learn? How many mothers have raised their children with love, only to see them march off to war? How many fathers have received news, as Leonard did, that their beloved son had died? Why do we never learn?
I have no way of knowing how, or even if, the people of this town will ever hear the words of this letter. I simply want you to know the plea in my heart. Life is precious. Love doesn’t end. Love life and each other enough to work tirelessly together to prevent wars in the future that rob us of our sons and daughters, our peace of mind and our reason to go on.
Hope Hall is a symbol of that plea. Treasure it with pride.
Edith Carmichael”
The emotional ceremony ended with the rededication and laying of both the old and new stones, after which everyone was ready to move into the hall to look at the displays, drink tea and coffee, and find their places at the beautifully set tables.
Maggie and the team had worked for days in advance to make sure as much as possible was prepared and ready for the serving of high tea, but she’d been excused kitchen duty that morning so that she could join the management team of Hope Hall in welcoming the local dignitaries to the church service, and then remain with them to host their attendance during the ceremony in which the original foundation stone and the new plaque were put into place. Liz, Kevin and Jan had managed to slip into the foyer to watch the proceedings on screen before nipping back to the kitchen to make sure the urns were piping hot when the crowd poured in for their drinks.
When Maggie eventually made her way into the kitchen, Liz did a double take because she hardly recognized her good friend. Wearing a pale turquoise jacket and matching blouse that caught the shine of her hair and the sparkle in her eyes, Maggie looked wonderful. But before Liz could comment she realized Maggie wasn’t alone. Alongside her was a smiling man who gave a friendly wave to everyone in the kitchen as the two of them came in.
Raising her voice to get their attention, Maggie called out, “Let me introduce you all to a very dear old friend of mine, Phil Coleman. He says that you’re going to be seeing him around quite a bit from now on – and if so, I hope you’re going to like him as much as I do. If he isn’t up to scratch, I know I can rely on you to tell him the error of his ways in no uncertain terms!”
Sometime later, after everyone had had their fill of a high tea that was universally declared to be the best ever enjoyed at Hope Hall, the band began taking their places on stage to start the dancing.
“Oh good,” enthused Doris, rubbing her hands together with glee. “I hope they play a quickstep. Will you dance with me, Flora?”
“I’ll have a go, but I can only be the lady. You’ll have to lead, so you’re the gent!”
“Are you coming, Betty? Elsie over there will dance with you. She’s always good for a laugh.”
“Oh no,” muttered Betty nervously. “These new shoes are rubbing my corns. I’ll come and watch, though. I like this song.”
As the three of them hurried off towards the dance floor, Percy walked casually over to the table where Ida was sitting alone.
“Care to dance?” he asked.
Ida stiffened. “No, thank you.”
Percy shrugged and started to walk away.
“But I’m glad you asked,” she added before he’d gone too far.
He grinned broadly, then without looking back ambled off to his own seat.
Kath walked past at just that moment, having returned from saying goodbye to the high sheriff and his wife at the main door.
“Kath, do you have a minute?”
She turned to see Richard walking towards her. Without waiting for her reply, he took her hand and drew her over to the back of the hall, where the music was a little less loud.
“Did you really think Celia was my partner?”
She smiled, looking down with embarrassment. “Yes, I did.”
“She isn’t.”
“I’m glad.”
“So am I, because I’d never even thought about having a partner until I met you. I’m so drawn to you, Kath. I love your company. I love our conversations. I love spending time with you. I’d like to do a lot more of that from now on, if you’ll let me.”
She drew in a breath, her heart pounding at his words. But before she could answer, a couple of elderly ladies brushed past them, deep in conversation.
“My Joe liked dancing,” said the lady in front. “Mind you, he led me a merry dance! He was a rascal, that man, but I never stopped loving him in the forty-three years we had together.”
Kath looked up at Richard with a cheeky smile. “Are you going to lead me a merry dance, Richard Carlisle?”
/> He slipped his arms around her waist, then pulled her towards him. “Oh yes, my dear Kath. You and I are in for a very merry dance indeed!”
Who’s Who at Hope Hall
Hope Hall staff, friends and family members:
Kath Sutton – Administrator of Hope Hall
Dr Jack Sawyer – Kath’s partner during her time as Senior Administrator at a major London hospital, from which she resigned to look after her mother
Maggie Stapleton – Catering Manager at Hope Hall. Daughter Steph, married to Dale and mother to Bobbie; son Darren, lives with partner Sonia
Dave Stapleton, married to Maggie for twenty-five years before leaving to live with Mandy and her children, Marlin and Belle. New baby Aurora Giselle born in June
Sylvie – Maggie’s schoolfriend, married to Bill, brother Joe
Phil Coleman – used to walk to school with Maggie every morning. Works as an architect, recently divorced from Sandra Shirley Wells – Management Assistant at Hope Hall. Married to Mick with two sons – Brandon in Bristol and Tyler, who recently returned home and discovers new prospects – plus a daughter, Kayla, married to army sergeant Gavin in Yorkshire
Barbara Lucas – Younger sister of Shirley and dance teacher for many years. Mother of Della, who now runs dance classes at Hope Hall
Ray Brown – Hope Hall Caretaker, whose wife Sara recently died of cancer
Trevor Barratt – Hope Hall Accountant, married to Mary
Hope Hall kitchen staff:
Liz – Assistant Manager
Jan – Catering Assistant
Kevin – work experience Catering Assistant
Centenary committee:
Kath Sutton – Hope Hall Administrator
Trevor Barratt – Hope Hall Accountant
Michael Sayward – historian
The Reverend James Barnard – vicar of St Mark’s Church
Mrs Ellie Barnard – represents Broad Street Upper School
Peter Radcliffe – Public Relations Officer for the local council
Brian Mack – building contractor
Roger Beck – Rotary Chairman
Brenda Longstone – Chair of Women’s Institute
Maggie Stapleton – Catering Manager at Hope Hall
Ray Brown – Caretaker at Hope Hall
Grown-ups’ Lunch Club members:
Percy – noisy character with a cheeky sense of humour. Loves making fun of Ida
Ida – very proper and disapproving, especially where Percy is concerned
Betty – often nervous, but can be led to join in with anything
Doris – won a cup for dancing the quickstep with husband Bert many years ago
Flora – small, rotund and always on a diet. Enjoys singing and dancing, but is more enthusiastic than skilful
Sea Cadets:
Muriel Baker – Commanding Officer of the Sea Cadets, temporarily based at Hope Hall throughout the summer months
Richard Carlisle – father of Sea Cadet Petty Officer William. Head of Carlisle Agricultural, which specializes in agricultural machinery. Comes from a local family with a trust fund that supports community projects, especially for the elderly and disabled
Hope Hall benefactors:
Celia Ainsworth – great-granddaughter of Reginald Ainsworth, the land and mill owner who originally donated the land on which Hope Hall was built, as well as half the cost. Now Pension Fund Manager at Apex Finance
Douglas Ainsworth – CEO at Ainsworth Mill, often seen in society magazines. Married to Diana with two sons, Matthew and Barnaby
Adrian Morgan – minibus technical expert who works on a swanky new minbus for Hope Hall, funded by the Ainsworths
Leonard Carmichael – chief builder of Hope Hall back in 1920
Gerry Carmichael – Leonard’s twenty-two-year-old son, killed during the Great War. Married Edith Carmichael three weeks before leaving for the front
Joyce Jessop – granddaughter of Leonard
English as a Foreign Language:
Jean Morgan – class teacher
Mili Novakova – au pair from the Czech Republic who moves in with fellow Czech student, Terezka Tumova
Mariana Lopez – Spanish student and friend to Mili and Terezka
Friction:
Carlos – lead singer and boyfriend to Mariana
Andy – keyboard
Jake – rhythm guitar
Graham – lead guitar and boyfriend to Ali
Nigel – drummer, married to Jayne
Money Advice Service and Food Bank:
William Fenton – organizer of the Money Advice Service
Brian – organizer of the Food Bank, set up by Churches Together
Sheelagh Hallam – retired social worker and counsellor. On the Money Advice Service board and helps out at the Food Bank
Michael Ford – mystery man who comes along to Food Bank, married to Anne
Salvation Army:
Captain Sam Morse – helps Sheelagh uncover Michael Ford’s identity
Officer Jackie – also assists in the Michael Ford identity quest
COMING SEPTEMBER 2022
Enjoy more fun with all your Hope Hall favourites in the final book of the series!
OUT NOW!
If you haven’t yet read the first book in the Hope Hall series, catch up with Kath and friends in this heartwarming tale!