Terry Family Letters

The Terry family archive contains many hundreds of letters, between the family, friends and business acquaintances.

Below is a sample of correspondence addressed to and from Noel Terry throughout his lifetime. A great many of them are from his eldest son Peter, who wrote to him and Kathleen very often while he was away at Bramcote School and Marlborough College. A few of the selected letters were between Noel and his siblings.

Letter from Peter to Noel and Kathleen, written from Marlborough College, 30th September, 1934.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

Letter from Noel's younger sister Betsy congratulating him and Kathleen on the birth of their daughter, Betty, 6th April, 1925.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

Letter from Peter to Noel and Kathleen, 28 October 1934. The letter was written from Marlborough College.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

Bramcote Scarborough Dear Mummy & Daddy, Give my love to Kenneth and Betty. We played cricket on Thursday and it was a drew [sic]. I made 20 not out. We played again on Saturday and we won by a run the first innings we made 22 and they made 27. The second innings I made 29 more than both sides. Thank you for the letters. I hope you are very well. Can you come over next Sunday. And bring some of the chocolates like nut that are with. I have got three lists. With Love From, Peter

Letter from Peter to Noel and Kathleen, written from Bramcote School, undated.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of this image.

Letter from Peter to Noel and Kathleen, 10 February, 1940.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

5 Pembroke Street, Cambridge May 21st 1939 Dear Mummy & Daddy, Thank you for your letter. Have you got my May bank statement at home because I don’t seem to have it here? If so I wonder if you would mind sending it. I heard from Kenneth last week and he said something about coming [image cuts off]

Letter from Peter to Noel and Kathleen, from Cambridge, 21 May 1939.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of this image.

Letter from Harold to his brother Noel, 31 October 1927.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

Letter from Noel to his brother Harold, 3 December 1928.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

The love story of Noel Terry and Kathleen Leetham (1910-1980)

Wedding photograph of Kathleen Leetham and Noel Terry. Kathleen and Noel are pictured arm in arm outside a mock Tudor wooden door. There are plants growing up either side of the doorway, and the building appears to have been made partly of wood. Kathleen is wearing a long light-coloured dress, possibly with a lace design, with a darker coloured band or belt around her waist. Noel is wearing First World War Army uniform.

Black and white portrait photograph of Noel and Kathleen Terry aged possibly in their 30s. The photograph depicts them from the waist up, sitting side by side, at a slight angle to the photographer. They are in front of a black background. Noel is on the left of the image wearing a dark suit with waistcoat, white shirt and a dark tie. Kathleen is sitting on the right of the image, and is wearing a mid-coloured dress with a wide V-neck flat collar and oversized sleeves.

Black and white photograph of Noel and Kathleen Terry standing outside a brick built building (possibly Goddards) c.1930s. They are standing outside a large door with small panes of glass and an elaborate brick surround, and there is a cast iron drain pipe coming down from the top of the photograph on the right hand side of the image. Kathleen and Noel are pictured right of centre. Kathleen is wearing her dark hair short, with a long white dress, white tights or stockings and black Mary-Jane style shoes. She is also wearing a darker coloured cardigan with a very dark band around the bottom. Noel is wearing a three-piece suit, white shirt, light coloured tie and black shoes. He has a pipe in his mouth.

York January 1 1912 Noel Terry Esquire Dear Sir, As by your action you seem to have overlooked or disregarded my wishes relative to my daughter Kathleen will you please remember in future that any communication at dances or elsewhere with her will receive my most emphatic disapproval. Yours truly, Henry Ernest Leetham.

Letter from Henry Ernest Leetham to Noel Terry, expressing his disapproval of Noel's advances towards Kathleen, 1912.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of this image.

Although initially prohibited by Katheen's father, Henry Ernest Leetham, from being in a relationship (as is seen in his directness in this letter to Noel) Kathleen and Noel still managed to engage in a romantic, secret courtship from 1911-1914.

This forbidden romance proved fruitful as their love was eventually accepted by family members, and they married in 1915. They remained together until they died within three months of each other in 1980.

The archive contains many hundreds of letters sent between Noel Terry and Kathleen Leetham both before and during their marriage. The surviving letters take up one travelling bag, and an additional box. We estimate there could be as many as 700 in total!

A sample of these letters can be found below.

9 May 1911: Noel to Kathleen (Kits).

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

12 May 1911: Noel to Kathleen.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

3 August 1911: Kathleen to Noel.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

3 January 1915: Kathleen to Noel.

You can find a transcript of this document in the ALT text of these images.

Page updated

Report abuse