27th august 1912 r watts to clara bessie james

luton, bedfordshire to worthing, sussex

74 miles

the message

“Dear Clara

Thanks for PPC. So glad you are all having a nice time. I wonder if you have heard that my uncle is at Shoreham preaching tonight. I hope you have as i know your brother would like to go. I shall be very glad to have you back again & I know some one else who will.

Much love from

R Watts”

the sender

There are no clues that identify R Watts.

the recipient

Clara Bessie James (1895-1952) was the eldest of four children. She was born in Brasted, Kent. She was the daughter of Charles Thomas James (1869-1947) and Martha Wheeler (1868-1950). Charles had a varied career. At one time he was a butcher and then he worked in a Motor Works, which is what he was doing in 1911, a year before this card was sent. In the 1939 Register he is a Jobbing Gardener.

In 1901, 1911 and 1939, Clara was living with her parents. In 1891 they were in Sundridge, Kent. In 1901 they were in Brasted, Kent. In 1911 they were in Archibald Road, Worthing, Sussex. This was just around the corner from Meadow Road where Frampton’s Nurseries was. The card suggests that Clara was working at the nursery in 1912 although in 1911 she is listed as a Dressmaker’s Apprentice. They were still in Archibald Road in 1939.

Claras death was registered in Worthing in 1947. She did not marry.

the tree

the places

Luton, Bedfordshire to Worthing, Sussex

Worthing Sussex showing Meadow Road

what the card says to us

The picture shows the Town Gardens in Swindon, Wiltshire which does not seem to have any connection to the message or the family.

The sender refers to Clara’s brother, Thomas Henry James (1898-?) . It has not been possible to trace him further than 1911 when he was a schoolboy living with his parents. What the nature of R Watts’s father’s preaching is not known, nor the reason why 13 year old Thomas would be interested.

What the final sentence means may never be understood.