From Limavady with love....

Annie-Lou Woodcock from Catherine Street penned the letters, love notes and airgraphs to husband Tim during his active RAF service from 1943 to 1945. The longing letters will go on public display for the first time as part of the new centre’s museum and heritage programme. Annie-Lou, whose maiden name remains a mystery, details the couple’s hopes, her life in Limavady without her English husband and plans to leave the Roe Valley on his return from India.

“They detail the impact on families when husbands, fathers, sons were sent away on service during the Second World War,” explained Museum and Heritage officer Victoria Newberry who will be facilitating the talk. “Most of the letters are sent from Annie-Lou to her husband, but there are also exchanges sent by Tim to his wife, including a birthday card.

“In total there are around 70 letters covering the 1943 to 1945 period and they give a great insight into the sense of loss experienced by many for a time when family members, especially husbands were away on service.

Victoria continued: “Annie-Lou’s letters during times such as Easter and Christmas emphasised how much her husband’s absence was all the more apparent, In one she talks about waiting for the postman each morning, and her disappointment when he arrives but doesn’t have any letters from Tim.

“She also talks about how he is the only man for her, and how she doesn’t want to go to any of the local dances without him. There are also a number of hand written notes she sent along with packages such as talc or envelopes for him to respond to her letters.”

The letters, purchased by Limavady Borough Council some years ago, reveal the Limavady woman sent the letters from a Catherine Street address, that she was a teacher and that husband Tim was English first Lieutenant. But the exchanges give no reference to her maiden name, posing the question of whether Annie-Lou has any living Roe Valley relatives.

“We know Tim returned safely from India, but we are not too sure what happened after that though we presume the couple moved to England as Annie-Lou had made reference to that on of her final letters to Tim,” added Victoria.

In one letter, dated October 26, 1945, Annie-Lou wrote to her husband and spoke about a death in the family.

“I’m sure you can appreciate what these days since Saturday have been for us all. Mother and I are feeling very weary. Even yet we are having more and more visitors.”

“It is so very kind if them to call and express their sympathy but it is a bit of an ordeal.”

Another loving note, which accompanied one package, read: “Here’s envelopes to send me back and keep my postman from getting slack!”

The free talk, which has a limited number of places will begin tonight, Wednesday, February 9 at 7pm and will examine the significance of the letters, cards, airgraphs of the Second World War.

Victoria adds: “The talk will give those who attend a first hand-look up close at the items from the collection, that’s why places are limited. We will examine the importance of letters during that time and how that communication differs from today and talk about what the letters reveal about that time.”

If you would like to book a place you can either contact the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre’s Box Office on 028 777 60650 or call into the centre and speak to staff.