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A Letter from Holland

I recently received a letter and some photographs from a lady in Holland called Anita whose mother was a companion to Mrs Courtney of Bungay from 1948 - 1950. During that time, Mr Courtney became Town Reeve - here is Anita's story..........

I want to tell you a little bit about my mother and her stay with the Courtney's. but my English isn't perfect, so be patient with me .....

A year after the divorce from her first husband in 1945 my mother decided she wanted to see a little bit more of the world and started applying for jobs outside The Netherlands.

First she worked as a maid and babysitter with a family in Brussels Belgium and after that she went to the Courtney's in Bungay.

I can't remember how she found this job. Knowing my mother she probably bought English newspapers. According to my mother her job was to keep Mrs. Courtney some company and read to her etc. The Courtney's didn't have any children and with her husband having such a busy job she felt lonely al the time. He was the Town Reeve in those days.

They lived at St. Mary Street then. The Courtney's became very fond of my mother. They took her everywhere. Even bought her clothes and things to smarten her up a little bit. My mother was from a poor family.

She earned about 4 pounds a week in those days. The pound was then worth 10- 15 guilders. She lived with them and had 'full board' so for those days my mother earned a lot of money. She could sent a big part of her salary to here parents in Utrecht.

As I said, the Courtney's were very fond of my mother and took her everywhere. She also was invited for the ladies night, organized by the local Rotary Club. My mother was very proud about that and kept all kinds of memorabilia of that evening.

Photo with close up showing Mr and Mrs Courtney and Hanny (wearing white)
In those days you were allowed to work 9 months abroad (with permit). My mother had to go home for a couples of months before she could return. In those months the Courtney's visited my mother here in The Netherlands. My mother took them sightseeing.

The smaller photo shows the detail from the Town Dinner with Hanny to the left of Mr Courtney who is in the centre of the picture

My mothers name was Harmina (called Hanny) Wolfs, born in Eibergen The Netherland on the 26th August 1916. In 1948 she lived with her parents in Utrecht and in 1950 she went for the last time to Bungay. She married my father in 1951.

Anita Bannink-Van Der Tier

The original photographs and press cuttings have been given to the Town Recorder, Frank Honeywood and they will be donated then to the Bungay Museum with Anita's original letter.

www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk