World Letter Writing Day

To mark World Letter Writing Day, we had a session dedicated to all things related to letters.

Residents discussed the art of handwritten letters, the difference between writing and receiving these through the post, and more modern forms of instant communication, such as email and phone texts. Some felt that thinking about what to write in a letter was more considered than other, more immediate messages. The delight in receiving a handwritten letter included enjoying the style of the writing, the scent on the paper, the gift of holding a letter that someone else had held while crafting the words, and the little gifts that might be enclosed, such as a pressed flower.

We shared the history of letter writing and sending, special letters that had been received, and the fun of having pen pals. Marigold brought along a book that she had compiled about the history of her husband’s family home, which included several letters about life in the 1800s.

She read out one from a new wife asking for advice on how to run a large household of staff. We ended by hearing some letters from past public figures—some of which were amusing, others moving. It was a fascinating afternoon.