
To: Mrs Violet Bridgewater, Ward 2, St.Luke’s Hospital, Cale Street, London S.W.3
307. Torquay Road, Paignton, Devon
17th April. 1970
Dearest Vi
I am back in Paignton after my visit to Teignmouth. I am spring cleaning after a chimney sweep left a film of black soot in my sittingroom. Now am going to see, on the Newman’s Television the “splash-down” of the men who tried to get to the moon. I hope they get back safely!
Much love Babs
[Apollo 11 landed the first men on the Moon on July 20 1969, closely followed by a second crew aboard Apollo 12 in November 1969. Flushed with success, James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise launched in Apollo 13 on 11 April 1970. Two days later the space flight was crippled by an explosion and fire in an oxygen tank. The crew continued their flight to the Moon, swinging around the Moon and using its gravity to send them back to Earth. They splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 17 April. The crew were in good condition, apart from Fred Haise who had a painful urinary tract infection. I watched every minute when I wasn’t in school!]