Note: the footnotes are not part of the original letters
LETTER FROM ALICE MAY BERRY[1] TO LILIAN ALICE BALL (FORMERLY BERRY)
5 Cliff Park Avenue
Wakefield
18th Oct. 1956
My dear Cousin Lilian Lillie,
What a delightful surprise it was to receive such a nice interesting letter from you! Thank you very much for it. I am going to share it with Arthur[2] when I have replied to you, as I know he, too, will enjoy reading it. Of course I remember you quite well, though I don't think I was God-mother to you, dear, but I believe my dear sister Florrie was God-mother to Eva[3], as she was Florence Eva[4]. It seems rather funny that I used to think in the old days that you and I were a little alike in looks but I think your Mother once said in my hearing that she thought Eva was like me.
Then, of course, after I went to College I was seldom at home for any length of time, but dear Aunt Lily used to invite me to a Christmas party. I recollect & you & your husband[6] (fiance then I think) & Gracie & her fiance[7] were at one I remember. Was your husband "Harold" a teacher?[8] I was very sorry indeed to hear that he passed on about ten years ago[9], and I can well believe that you must have had a difficult time financially for there are no pensions, I think, for teachers' widows. It would be about the end of the war wouldn't it? I am so glad you have 2 lovely daughters who would be an incentive to you to make the best possible home at such a difficult time, and it was good to read that "something always turned up to give us hope again". That sounds as if you hold on to the "One Perfect Love behind all human life" Who truly works out our problems for us if we have the faith which channels His Love & Light to us. Anyhow, I expect you know, as I do, from life's experience how wonderfully things are worked out for us.
I am so glad you have one daughter still with you at home & that she is Captain of the Girl Guide Group. It is indeed a fine interest for her. One of the best I should say.
Like you, I love Scotland & have had several holidays there - twice I think with Edinburgh as the centre, once at Helensburgh & once on a tour reaching up to Oban (which I loved) & crossing over to Peebles, Perth & coming back to Yorkshire that way. I remember returning through Carlisle after my first visit to Scotland and thinking how flat and uninteresting England looked after crossing the border!
I am glad you & Lottie[10] keep in touch. She certainly must have had a very trying and unhappy time last Christmas & New Year[11].
You will probably be surprised to hear I have stayed in Luton many many years ago & certainly was not attracted to it. My College friend lived there in the early days of her married life - her husband was Surveyor of Taxes. I can't remember the name of the road nor anything much about the house but I do remember they had a fairly big garden at the back which had ever such a steep slope from the house upwards. I expect I should attend service at the Parish Church but she had 2 or 3 small children so probably was not with me.
I am very handicapped with deafness & even my AID is not always effective so that I feel myself something of a nuisance at times but if you come as near to Wakefield as Guiseley[12] and would care to pop over I should be very happy to see you & give you a cup of tea, & it would not be a "Mother Hubbard" cupboard if I knew a few days before hand.
At present I have a friend staying here from Manchester. My love to you both Dear & may you both be richly blessed.
Your affect.. Cousin Alice.
"Allie" I used to be & my College friend still uses the old name.
[1] Youngest daughter of Daniel Arthur Berry. She was born 18 July 1876 and died 22 November 1968. She is the oldest known Berry in the family tree.
[2] Daniel Arthur Berry (born 22 June 1873), elder brother of Alice May Berry.
[3] Eva Catherine Berry (born 27 June 1890, died 10 July 1958) younger sister of Lilian Alice Berry.
[4] Florence Eva Berry (born 20 April 1871, died 10 December 1935) elder sister of Alice May Berry.
[6] Lilian Alice Berry married Harold John Ball 21 May 1915.
[7] Grace Tryphena Berry (born 24 July 1887, died 11 February 1941) married Frank William Ball 23 July 1914.
[8] Wrong. Harold John Ball was manager of the Eagle Star office in Luton.
[9] Harold John Ball died 5 January 1947.
[10] Charlotte Victoria England formerly Berry (born 18 February 1897, died 28 July 1966).
[11] Her son, Michael, died December 1955.
[12] Arthur and Daisy Steel lived in Guiseley, Yorkshire. Daisy Lilian Steel (formerly Ball) younger sister of Harold John Ball.