Letter Writer of the Month - Elizabeth
The London Letters Pen Pal Club began its life in 2019 with the hope of bringing together letter writing enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate the joy of receiving letters and the power of the written word.
Over the years we've grown slowly but surely in numbers each week, and we're so proud to now be a 700+ community of snail mailers! We have members from different countries, ages, religions, sexualities, political views, careers, disabilities, and genders - and whilst our differences vary dramatically, we are all united by a love of letters.
'Letter Writer of the Month' is a monthly journal entry where we invite one member from the club to give us an insight into their journey with letters. Some have always been letter writers from a young age, others only began when they signed up to the club. Our members all have a unique story to tell, and we hope you'll love getting to hear it.
Our Letter Writer of the Month for November is Elizabeth.
"I inherited all the letters that my paternal grandfather wrote to my nan from the start of their courtship in 1937 all the way through the second world war and that is so personal, and I feel so privileged to have had a glimpse into their love story."
Name: Elizabeth
Age: 58
Job Title: Retired
Location: Liverpool
Member since: May 2024
Tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in letter writing?
Hello my name is Elizabeth and I live in Liverpool. I am married with two grown up children and I am the proud pawrent of a feisty Yorkshire Terrier called Tilly. I am an avid reader and run a book club in our local village. We have 11 members and have just celebrated our 2nd birthday. I have always enjoyed writing and I was encouraged to write from a small age. When we’d come back from a day out or holiday it was tradition in our house to write a story about it. Thank you letters were always written to relatives and friends if we received a gift and it was a way of corresponding with our cousins and penfriends that lived in other countries.
What is it about letters that you think makes them special?
I feel that handwriting is as individual as a person’s fingerprint. I can look at a letter or list of a family member or friend and automatically know who wrote it. I inherited all the letters that my paternal grandfather wrote to my nan from the start of their courtship in 1937 all the way through the second world war and that is so personal, and I feel so privileged to have had a glimpse into their love story.
I was also lucky to go to the London library a few years back where they had a handwriting exhibition. Handwriting by Henry V111, Jane Austen, Geoffrey Chaucer and so many others. Documents like King Johns Charter, handwritten songs by The Beatles all collated so much of our history in one place. It was my idea of a perfect day out and it has stayed with me.
What type of things do you write in letters compared to digital communications?
I think you can be much more personable when writing a letter and you can let your guard down and let your emotions show through. I think a handwritten letter writes as you would speak it so you get to learn a lot about a person and their personality by the tone of the letter.
Do you have a favourite letter, either famous or one you have received personally?
I have many favourite letters. My grandmother kept all the birthday cards I received from when I was 1. Although I have had to have a clear-out over the years I have at least one by every family member with their writing on. I lost my Dad when I was young but I have letters he wrote me when he was in hospital so that makes me feel close to him.
Do you feel any positive benefits to your mental health when you write?
Oh my gosh yes, I’ve even written letters with no intention of sending them just to get my feelings out and make me feel better. I think letter writing is very cathartic.
I personally think letter writing/journal writing should be prescribed by the GP for people who suffer with mental health problems.
I feel when you wish to express how you feel about something, writing a letter is a better way of communicating rather than having a conversation. In a conversation there is the opportunity for emotions to take over and things can be said in haste. Writing a letter will give you the chance to read and reflect on what you are saying before sending it and the recipient the time to read and re-read before responding.
Describe your letter writing set up. Do you have a favourite pen or paper? Where are you when your writing?
I tend to write in my office where I have everything to hand. However, on a rare sunny day as it is today, I am doing my correspondence in the garden. I write with a rollerball Swarovski pen but I have just bought a fountain pen and have been practising with that. On joining London letters I had to go and buy a letter opener to open my post. I now make a pot of earl grey and sit down to open up my letter and give myself time to read it. A really enjoyable living in the moment experience.
What made you sign up to our pen pal club and take a leap of faith by writing to a stranger?
I had pen friends when I was growing up and I thought how lovely to be able to connect with people from the comfort of your own home and get to know someone the old fashioned way. Let’s be honest it is always nice to receive something cheerful through the post rather than bills.
Do you believe letters still have a place in modern society?
Handwriting is a lost art form. It formed a huge part of my education at school, I spent many hours perfecting my letters, I remember the day I was upgraded from pencil to fountain pen. It is sad to see that it is not taught now. People not only struggle with spelling, but punctuation seems to be a lesson of yester year. There seems to be a dependence on auto correct and the shortening of words. I was born in 1966 so it’s only the last few decades that tablets and computers have taken over. I really do hope that things will go full circle and handwriting be reintroduced in a huge way back in schools.
What role do you think letters will play in the future?
Our whole history has been written down as a way of our forefathers communicating with us. It is how we have learnt about the history of the world. Handwriting was first recorded in Uruk (modern day Iraq), over 8000 years ago with primitive marks on bone and later hieroglyphics drawn on the walls of caves to the writing of the New Testament.
I think there will always be people who enjoy the traditional way of communication and will find their way to groups like this. You only have to read the new member alerts to see the huge mix of age ranges.
What would you say to someone to encourage them to give letter writing a try?
I think I most people may feel silly sending a letter as it isn’t normal practice in this day and age, but just think how you would feel receiving a letter from someone who had taken the time to sit down and write to you and how much it would make your day?
A huge thank you to our Elizabeth for her time, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know her! Why not try Elizabeth's chosen letter opener to open your next letter?
Would you like to join our club? We're always open to new members, you can learn more about the club here.