Grenville Hotel...For 12 Guineas A Week!

A Memory of Bude.

To all it may interest:

I have discovered among the effects of my late father, Roger B Vincent, of White Lodge, Hingham, Norwich, Norfolk, a letter dated March 8, 1947 from the manager of the Grenville Hotel, Bude. Mr R Williamson, replying to an inquiry from my father about reserving a room for his honeymoon following his marriage to my mother, H Joan Harrison, of Scarning, Norfolk, It reads: "Dear Sir, I thank you for your letter of the 3rd instant and have pleasure in offering you one double room with private bathroom at 12 Gns each per week and 2 Gns per week for the bathroom. At the moment this is available in July, but as bookings are becoming very heavy for the summer season, would you please let me know your definite requirements as soon as possible, Awaiting your further instructions, I remain, Yours faithfully R Williamson, Manager."

The headed and crested stationery bears the name and address of the hotel, along with: "Telegrams: Grenville, Bude. Telephone Nos. 15 and 442 Bude. Open all the year round."

My mother died, following a long illness, in 1973; my father, who fought in the Second World War, was evacuated from Dunkirk and spent three and a half years in a POW camp (Stalag 4b), died in 2005, aged 85.

John R A Vincent, 27 Malden Hill, New Malden, KT3 4DS