Philip
1 Statue of Thomas Hardy by Eric Kennington, Dorchester.
6 August 1976
Picture postcard1
This is our last full day (Friday) here in Dorset. The visit to Anthony Powell2 yesterday was all right, but he took us rather a long and pointless walk round his ‘estate’ and we got scratched and stung. The weather has held out well, but everywhere is very dry. I hope you are well and comfortable – you are always in our thoughts. We go to a place in Worcester tomorrow & shall be there for my birthday.
MUCH LOVE P.
1 Two white kittens.
2 Anthony Powell (1905–2000), English writer, best known for his novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time.
28 August 1976
Picture postcard1
Have come up to see Monica in Northumberland – today (Friday) – we had rain! Not much, but rain nonetheless. Tomorrow we hope to go to Bellingham show, that I wrote a poem about in High Windows.2 None too warm today – quite a change. Tomorrow is Betjeman’s 70th birthday too.
Much much love Philip
1 The Roman Wall, Northumberland. Clag Lough.
2 ‘Show Saturday’.
4 October 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Have just given my first talk to students & feel rather corpsed. Two more this afternoon! Then it will all be over for another year. I never got into my garden at the weekend, it was too wet. I expect you had a lot of rain too! We shall be growing fins soon.
Much love P.
1 Labrador puppy.
21 October 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
I expect I shall be seeing you almost as soon as this pussy, but I thought I would send him as he looks so appealing. Today started v. wet but has cheered up now. The leaves have started to come down now.
I talked to Bruce last night: he sounded v. old!
Much love to you Philip
1 Kitten. The same card as that sent on 8 October 1976.
30 November 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
It’s rather misty here today: I hope the fog isn’t coming back, for I shall come to see you at the weekend. Looking forward to it! Hope you are warm and comfortable. I am still making porridge in the mornings – sometimes it is v. thin!
Love Philip
1 ‘The Party Cake’ by Willy Scherwele. The same card as that sent on 9 February 1976.
6 December 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Here is Old Faithful again!2 hoping you are well and warm and comfortable. I did manage to drive back to Hull on Sunday night without mishap, but it’s nasty weather for driving. The painter has come to paint my bathroom, so I shan’t have a bath for two or three days! I shall look very grubby by the time he departs.
Much love Philip
1 Horse’s head.
2 He had sent near-identical cards featuring a close-up of a horse’s head on 2 July, 9 September, 9 November and 17 November 1976.
31 December 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
I don’t know when you’ll get this card – we managed to get to Haydon Bridge after a dreadful drive, & it is all very cold & miserable here, Lucky you to be ‘well wrapped up’ and looked after! We are supposed to go to see the New Year’s Eve bonfire tonight, but I don’t feel very keen. Let’s hope for a better New Year!
Much love P
1 ‘Blindman’s Buff’ by Margaret Ross (a rabbit Christmas Party).
1977
2 January 1977
Picture postcard1
Here is a pussy to wish you a happy new year! It is sunny today (Sunday) and I hope the weather will be clear and dry at least till I get back to Hull. On New Year’s Eve we saw the fire-walkers at Allendale but it was v. cold & icy. I wonder if you saw the Coronation on TV?2 It would be v. interesting.
All love from Monica & myself Philip
1 Head and shoulders of a cat.
2 On 1 January 1977 the BBC celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Queen’s accession by rebroadcasting the film of the 2 June 1953 coronation ceremony.
4 January 1977
Picture postcard1
Tuesday
We are setting off back to Hull today – shall be glad to get there safely! It’s not so cold, but the roads will be dirty. I hope you have survived all the festivities and are keeping an eye open for the first snowdrops. I don’t expect they’ll be long in coming! I shall see you at the weekend and we shall have another good chat. Much love,
Philip
1 ‘Hide-and-seek!’ by Racey Helps. Rabbits hiding behind trees in a bluebell wood.
10 January 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Here are four Siamese pussies to wish you a happy birthday! I do hope you have a quiet peaceful day. It was lovely seeing you at the weekend and having a bit of your birthday cake. How gay the candles looked! Term starts today – back to the treadmill.
LOVE Philip
1 Four cats in a wooden newspaper rack.
11 January 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
I expect you remember this old picture! There’s snow on the ground this morning, but the sun shines, so things aren’t so bad. Hope you are sitting up and taking notice.
Much love,
Philip
1 ‘Dignity and Impudence’ (1839). Oil painting of two dogs by Sir Edwin Landseer.
21 January 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
This is not a very interesting card, but it’s all I have. Nice sunny day today! I do hope it is sunny in Syston. In my garden things are beginning to sprout through the earth, so spring must be on the way. Wish it was with me!
Love Philip
1 Altarpiece, Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Hull. Bronze bas-relief of the crucifixion.
9 February 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Here’s the cheerful Basil Brush to say hello! I hope he cheers you up. He looks smart in his velvet waistcoat, doesn’t he? I brought a half-bottle of champagne into the Library today & drank it – very cheering. Wish I could give you some.
Much love, Philip
1 Portrait of Basil Brush.
4 April 1977
Dear Kitty,1
Back to base, & with many happy memories of Saturday – I know you said it was Rosemary’s day,2 and so it was in a sense, but you and Walter presided wonderfully, and made everyone feel completely welcome. Thank you for your hospitality – and the buttonholes – I’m sure everyone present will remember it as a splendid occasion. I hope David and Rosemary managed to get to wherever they were going.
I took the flowers to Berrystead & the big stone vase. The girls were very kind, & in the end Mother had five flower arrangements in her room, looking delightful. I hope they’re still there when you go.
Not that she really took them in. She was physically all right, and ate her sandwiches & cake, & I think knew me & smiled & tried to talk, but as before something has gone and I’m afraid communication has broken down. She had upper teeth in but not lower: they were in the bathroom. Plenty of woollies waiting! Mrs G was in evidence, though I fended her off twice. Mother needs more tissues.
I’m sure you are feeling whacked after it all: time for you to recuperate. How smart Walter looked! And you yourself looked like something from the fashion pages. See you soon, & again thanks.
With love Philip
1 There are no letters to Kitty in the ar
chive between September 1972 and this.
2 Rosemary married David Parry on 2 April 1977.
5 April 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
I know this is your favourite pussy, so here he is again. He is well wrapped up, and I hope you are.
I mowed a lot of my lawns yesterday – feel very virtuous.
All best love, Philip
1 Kitten wrapped in plaid. The same card as sent on 16 September 1976 and also at an undetermined date in that year.
6 April 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
These rabbits will be keeping warm at any rate. It’s rather a grey day here – and I burnt the porridge, oh dear.
Much love as always, Philip
1 ‘The Sack Race’ by Racey Helps. Sports day with rabbits, hedgehog, badger and squirrel.
4 May 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
The horses look peaceful, don’t they? I wonder what they are thinking about. It’s Monica’s birthday this Saturday, and I shall come and see her – and you!
Much love Philip
1 Mare and foal in field. The same card as sent on 5 November 1975.
Only three cards survive from May, no cards from June or July, two from August and four from September. Their frequently creased and stained state suggests that others were sent but discarded or destroyed.
9 August 1977
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Doesn’t the Queen look nice here? I hope she gets back safely from Ireland.
This is my birthday – much love to you as always.
Philip
1 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Annigoni.
[September 1977]
Picture postcard1
It is still very wet and miserable here, though I dare say there are sunsets like this. Tomorrow we set out for Ballater, further east. Hope you are warm and comfortable.
Much love Philip
1 Sunset over Ben Bheula, Lochgoilhead.
2 The date on the postmark is illegible but Monica and Philip were in Lochgoilhead in early September 1977.
[September 1977]
Picture postcard1
Here’s a colourful bird to greet you from Scotland! For once it isn’t raining this morning, but it isn’t sunny either. We both hope you are well and send love.
Philip
1 Head of a puffin.
16 September 1977
Picture postcard1
Here’s the beaky old bird again, to say Monica & I are back in Haydon Bridge, safe & sound. We send all love. Shall be returning to Hull on Sunday. Always thinking of you.
Philip2
1 ‘The Golden Eagle of the Scottish Highlands.’ Eagle at nest with a chick. Larkin had sent a slighly different card featuring a golden eagle at an undetermined date in 1976. He may also have sent an identical card to this, now lost.
2 This is the latest dateable card in the archive, though there are numerous undateable cards. It may be that Eva’s state was such that Larkin saw no point in sending cards after September. It is also possible that he continued to send cards until Eva’s death on 17 November 1977.
APPENDIX
Letters from Home
FROM Sydney Larkin
2 December 19431
73 Coten End – Warwick2
Dear Philip,
Mother asks me to write instead of her, as she has had a busy day. She will, however, write soon as she thinks much about you in your new “sphere”.3
I was intending to write to remind you not to omit to write to Bedford, but no doubt you have already done so.
Your vivid description of Bruce’s4 quarters is interesting but, as the M. of V. reminds us, all that glisters is not gold5 and, as A.T. says, kind hearts are more than coronets and the W.E.A. than Norman Blood.6
N.A.L.G.O. is a trade union.7 It runs, inside itself, the “Nalgo Approved Society” which is the Friendly Society. Do not be persuaded to join any other. That is the best. I have been to London today and have just got back.
Love from both.
Your affectionate Father.
1 This is the earliest surviving letter to Philip from either of his parents. The letters from the Oxford period have been lost.
2 Sydney continued to use sheets with the old letterhead, but overprinted with cancellation lines and the new address above. The family had moved to Coten End two and a half years earlier, in June 1941.
3 Philip had taken up the post of librarian in Wellington the day before.
4 Bruce Montgomery.
5 The Merchant of Venice, Act II, scene 7.
6 Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ‘Lady Clara Vere de Vere’: ‘Kind hearts are more than coronets, / And simple faith than Norman blood.’ The reference to the W.E.A. (Workers’ Educational Association) is Sydney’s joke: the speaker in the poem advises Lady Clara to be less haughty and devote herself to educating her tenantry.
7 National Association of Local Government Officers. Philip had asked his father if he should join.
FROM Eva Larkin
5 December 1943
Beauchamp Lodge, 73 Coten End, Warwick1
My dear Philip,
I have just written a long, long letter to Auntie Nellie, and am feeling a trifle exhausted in my brain and somewhat overpowered by the heat of the drawing room fire, but feel, nevertheless the urgency to write to you to thank you for your card and interesting letter.2
I hope by now you are getting more used to your new life and are comfortable in your little ‘bed-sitter’. I sincerely hope you can keep warm, as it is so cold here, and I expect is the same at Wellington.
I was muchly interested in your visit to Bruce. He does indeed seem to be one of Fortune’s favourites – for the present at least. Will he be able to get over to Wellington, I wonder? I expect his free time will not fit in with your’s. [sic]
It was kind of you to think of me when the sirens wailed last Wednesday! As a matter of fact I was in the bus, coming from Leamington and only heard the “All clear”! I did quite a useful bit of shopping. I left your old, battered brolly to be given a new cover, and have it’s [sic] ribs repaired, which will not be completed until the end of January!! I also got a pair of scissors at Burgis & Colbourne’s for Eva,3 which was a big surprise to us – and a bottle of orange squash at Shacker’s.
When I went over to pay the milk bill on Friday, Mrs Hubbard (Mr Choat’s sister) told me that the Art Master at the Warwick School was leaving. I was surprised.
Kitty came as usual this week end. She appreciated your letter, which also caused her much amusement.
I have been terribly busy since you left. Springcleaned, almost, our bedroom. There is a heap of things to be done before Christmas when we hope to see you again.
Daddy has gone to sleep over his book!
With our fondest love
Mother
1 In contrast to her husband Eva uses embossed notepaper.
2 See Philip’s letter of 1 December 1943.
3 Eva, wife of Alfred, Sydney’s brother in Lichfield.
FROM Eva & Sydney Larkin
7 February 1944
Beauchamp Lodge, 73 Coten End, Warwick
My dear Philip,
Your dear old letter came this afternoon much to my delight, and I read it after washing the ‘handkies’, and before starting on the tea towels! Incidentally I might add that I have also washed two pairs of Beau Brummelish yellow gloves of yours, which I found in a drawer, and one pair wants mending.
I am sorry to hear that you suffered from cold on Sunday morning – so did we, for our fire would not burn up quickly in ti
me for breakfast and Ginger Pussy had many ‘dead fingers’ or rather paws.1
I am alarmed to hear of the bread famine. I am sure this can be ended at once. Do please ask for a loaf to be put on the table at meals, say at breakfast, lunch and supper. Bread is quite cheap and there ought to be no difficulty in getting it.2
I have wondered several times how your little tea party went off on Tuesday, and lo & behold you do not so much as mention it!
We were interested to hear that some of Bruce’s music is to be published. I must read his book when it is out. Is he writing anything else?
I think you said that you were going to Birmingham to-morrow to buy some books. I hope you have a pleasant ‘browse’.
By the way, when I went for our meat on Saturday, the butcher (not Mr Lees) asked how you were going on.
Last Tuesday evening we called upon Mr and Mrs Colbourne, to say how sorry we were to know that Bob was missing. It has been in the Coventry evening paper, and of course in the Warwickshire Advertiser,
It is very sad, and I do wish we could have some good news of him.
Philip Larkin Page 62