My name is Edna Loveridge, I live at number 5 Wood Street in Walthamstow, East London. I am 35 years old and live with my husband, William and three children; Roy, age 17; Doreen, age 12 and my little one Graham, age 4. We live in an old Victorian terrace, with a front parlour, a back parlour and a small kitchenette, with a scullery and an outside toilet but no bathroom.
I work part-time in the evening, when the old man gets in from work. I give him his tea and rush out to work as a teller at Walthamstow Dogs.
I got married when I was young, meeting William at my father’s betting shop, where I used to clean. My mother stayed at home to look after her large family of 8. I was the eldest girl and had to help with looking after the little ones.
I don’t really need to work, as my old man gets paid very well as a docker, often he brings home stuff, that is extra from the Docks. But he always puts it in his lunch bag. I always wondered why his lunch bag was so big.
We have quite a good life really, apart from one thing, which is the reason I go to work. We really need an indoor bathroom, so I am saving my earnings in order to afford one.
So, when the Dogs announced that they were updating the betting procedure and making some of us redundant, I was devastated.
I wrote egging them to allow me to continue to work for there.
Dear Mr. Latimer,
I was very upset when I heard the news about the new telling machines you are installing. I desperately need my job, as I am saving to get us a bathroom put in our house, as the council won’t do it for us.
It is awful living with no indoor bathroom and I love working at the Dogs.
Please could you make sure that you keep me on and don’t make me redundant.
My kids and my old man are also desperate to get a bathroom and they would be very happy if I could keep my job.
Please, please consider me to be kept on. I would be so grateful if I could continue to work for you, in fact, I would work even harder, if you didn’t get rid of me.
My neighbour, Susan has got an indoor bathroom and it is lovely. She doesn’t have to go outside to use the privy and she doesn’t have to boil up kettles to fill the tin bath. In fact, her family have a bath every week and they have clean water every time.
My old man said that if you wanted, he could bring home some extra stuff for you from the docks. Cigarettes, perfume, whatever you want.
Thank you for reading my long letter and I hope that you understand how important this is for me and my family.
Yours,
Edna Loveridge
500 words Sandy Bryson
,
‘Egging on’ Long time no hear that one Sandy, Good parlance value though. Maybe try it this way round.
a/. Announcement in the Walthamstow Gazette redundancies at the Stow’ – devastation of Edna. The what to do – what to do? William (Bill) you don’t need the money – we’re alright Edna. Look what I got for us from old Tom – here in my snap box(lunch bag).
Realisation .No need to be like your old mum,even her and her hordes of kids loved it here in Wood st. Close to the docks, good pubs and we know all the neighbours. I know all the neighbours got bathrooms , we aint.
Imagine how I feel Bill when i hear Susan next door splashing about in her bath, and wipe that smirk off your face , I know what you’re thinking.
I am going to write to Mr Latimer at the Stow and tell him my mind , I am and you won’t stop me.
Dear Mr. Latimer……