Presumably published at Pickwick, and containing family news, and articles by Lines family members. This (No. 9 – published on 8th February 1939) is the only edition that I have available.
The Pickwick Paper was printed using the Hectograph method, with a tray of ‘jelly’ from which you peeled the copies.
It was organised by Michael and Roger and sent to all the Aunts and Uncles, and was paid for, no doubt with Postal Orders and accounts were kept! Michael would have been 14 and Roger aged 12.
(thanks to Jeremy for the extra information about the Pickwick Paper)
Pickwick Paper Dear Sir, The Editor, Pickwick Paper. I hear from our old friend Kathleen Tucker of Hartley, S.Rhodesia, that her husband is again tobacco farming. Remembering her attachment to your assistant Editor in his very tender youth, I feel sure you will allow me to voice her appeal, "Smoke Rhodesian Tobacco", in your hospitable columns. Apart from the fact that I find this Tobacco an excellent pipe-smoke, I feel that we ought to give support to an Empire grown product. I believe that many of your readers who are already proud of the bridge building achievements or your illustrious Uncle and Cousin in Rhodesia will welcome this suggestion. Yours faithfully Paterfamilias Sub-Editor: What does this mean ? Familiar father ? Our Chrostic = HALTAIWIN Last issue's BROMES=SOMBRE Children's = LINK Last issue's children's AYLED = DELAY
Notes
Hartley is now Chegutu
I am not sure who Kathleen Tucker was, but presumably she married into the Freemans, as they have connections with tobacco.
Page II No. 9 The Blasted Oak.
Chipstead, Surrey.
Extract from letter redacted by Editor.. Jan 22. 1939
"Peter Robert Keeley wishes to state that he
highly approved of his (no advertising)
Perambulator, (1939 model) in which he recently
took his first outing. He attained a speed
of 35 miles per hour on the flat. (is this
a record ?) and found even at this high
velocity - apart from hiccups - comfort
and snugginess were unimpaired.
I am, Sirs, your appreciative and
constant reader
Eleneya Popplethwaite.
Dear Sir, The Editor, Pickwick Paper.
Can any of your medical readers lend support
to the theory recently advanced by Jeremy
that the reason why you are able to
dispose of your meals with such rapidity
is probably due to the fact that Nature's
Throttle, your tonsular flaps, were removed.
Yours faithfully,
Curious.
Sayings of the week. Question: What's French for cow ?
Roger: La vâche. Question: And for bull ?
Roger: Le vâche !
Peter Keeley – the son of my Grandmother’s sister, Susan – known to the family as Tudy – was born in 1938.
No. 9 Pickwick Paper 8/2/39 We should like readers to know that 20 copies of "Pickwick Paper" are printed for each issue. If last issue's size was small, we must point out that the specimen copy originally sent out was the same size as that one, but we hope this number will be longer. Commander E. Rebbeck, R.N. sailed on Jan. 27th in H.M.S. Vindictive, bound for the Barbadoes. Mr G.E.Lines celebrated his birthday on the 28th of January. Afterwards he and Mrs. Lines visited "French without Tears". It has just transpired that the young doctor who kept a man alive by frequent blood transfusions while conveying him in an ambulance from Kettering to the Middlesex Hospital, and who modestly refused to give his name to the Press, is James Freeman of Graden, Finchley. Domestic Item. At the time of going to press, Mrs G.E.Lines has just completed 69 lbs. of marmalade this season. We feel sure that this will not be enough !
Commander E Rebbeck was Eddie Rebbeck, later to become Rear Admiral Rebbeck, and was the son of Edward Wise Rebbeck and Lillian Stevens, who was the sister of Charles Arragon Stevens, my Great Grandfather.
Jeremy remembers in 1947-48
going to have lunch with the Rebbecks when they lived in Bournemouth, I was in Poole, we always had chicken which was a real treat in those days. Their cook was Nora who will forever be remembered for her Chocolate Whip which was fantastic.
Jeremy did his Apprenticeship as a boatbuilder in Poole.
Page IV. The Outlaws of the Broads. R. Lines. Part II The outlaws have felt that Baron Philip de Brois was planning an attack on their marsh surrounded stronghold, so Big John, the leader and Ned the smith, go to the Baron's castle. "And remember when we reach the Baron's Castle, I am the sheriff of Norwich, and you are my servant, Ned. Remember to let me do the talking" said Big John. "But now we are at the Castle gate, so remember well". "Ho! There! Guards! Let down the drawbridge, I am the sheriff of Norwich." The drawbridge clattered down, and they rode through into the courtyard where the baron was standing. "Well met", cried the baron, "I have a good piece of news for you, so come into the hall while I tell you about it." "Well now, what is this news, Baron." said Big John. "It is about those troublesome outlaws. The question is getting more outrageous every day and I have planned to get my men across to the rascal's stronghold on rafts at about 4 o'clock on Monday night". "A good plan, my friend, I shall be there to help you," said the 'Sheriff', "but now I must be away to my wife, so I will take leave of you." To be continued.
What will happen next ? – unfortunately this is the only episode I have.
I do however have a note from a conversation with my mother, who told me that one issue contained the information that ‘Mr George Lines broke several ribs while skating’ – This was at Purley Ice Rink, where the family used to go skating quite a bit after the end of the war. I do not know which issue, or exactly when, this would have been.