Dear Times reader . . .

Oh that brings back memories.
I learned to ride when I was eight years old. My paternal grandmother always rode sidesaddle.
She was aghast when she found out that I sat ASTRIDE a horse. So ungainly!
I don't think she ever got over the shock.

How times change! and Mr Uvedale Lambert must be spinning in his grave.

More please Elegran

I am intrigued by his name! Uvedale (how is it pronounced and whoever thought that was a good name for a baby?).

I've searched for Uvedale Lambert in the indexes to registered births. He did exist and was born in Godstone between March and June of 1909. So he was a pompous little so-and-so of 15.

I'll find more gems and post them later.

Or possibly it was the school holidays and he didn't have an Ipod to post on GN.

Ooh yes more please Elegran!

I am bookmarking likely ones so that I can find them again when I need them. Here is one from 1914:-

Old socks wanted
Sir, - Mittens are wanted badly by the troops and they are scarce. A sock only wears out in the foot part, and if this is cut off (thrown away) and a hole made in that other part for the thumb to go through, an excellent mitten can be made without expense. I am paying unemployed typists to sew them over, but in three months I have exhausted my circle of friends. May I ask your readers to send me all the old (clean) socks they can collect, in order in this way to provide more work and more comforts without cost and without interfering with the living of any other class?
Geo Pragnell, National Patriotic Association, St Paul's Churchyard

A bit like www.turtle-doves.co.uk/pages/inspiration who will turn your old cashmere sweater into fingerless mitts. Well, maybe not VERY like.

I wonder why he only paid 'unemployed typists' to do the sewing...?

So that he wasn't "interfering with the living of any other class"? Maybe he has access to the typing pool of some defunct organisation? Maybe they were his wife and daughter?

1927
Sir, - I should like to draw your attention to the increasing habit of business firms misusing the telephone by calling up subscribers for the purposes of advertisement. Twice durng the last week I have been called up by the same firm in this tiresome manner. It is bad enough to have wardrobe dealers and hawkers ringing the bell all day without being pestered on the telephone. Surely respectable business firms wil realise that this sort of advertisement is not only annoying but not likely to lead to business.
Mr Ernest Bulstrode, Sheringham, Surrey.

Twice in one week? Shocking!!

Bulstrode was ahead of his time....he just knew what that pesky telephone would lead to!

I think that Uvedale Lambert's daughter is (or was) Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.

I wonder if Uvedale is a name that is carried on through the generations?

It's not exactly your run-of-the-mill label, is it? I can't imagine Mama yelling "Uvedale! Get yer effing butt over 'ere or I'll clout yer round the ear'ole!" But you never know, it might top the list for next years crop.