Allan's mother is very happy to hear of Allan and Alette's engagement.Quinn CollectionA two and a half-page letter written on two sheets of pale blue paper (0885.a1-2), headed 14 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda and dated 10/9/51. The stamps have been torn off the matching envelope (0885.b). The postmark is St. Kilda. ''17 Sep.' is stamped upside down in purple on the back on the back.Letter commences "Allan Dear" and concludes "...From Mum and Kip"letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, mrs k hayes, jim hayes, alette andersen

This letter concerns the imminent arrival of Allan and Alette in London. Pat gives directions to the bed-sitting-room she shares with her husband in London.Quinn CollectionTwo sheets of thin, unlined off-white paper folded in book form (0886.a1-2). There is writing on both sides of the first sheet (four pages of writing); the second sheet of paper has some writing and a street plan on the first 'page' only. The letter is headed 19 Luxemburg Gardens, Hammersmith W6 and dated 12/09/51. The light brown envelope (0886.b) is addressed Mr Allan Quinn, Passenger on "Patricia", and below, in brackets, Arriving Sat. morning 15/9/51. The back of the envelope is badly torn. It would appear the letter was hand-delivered to the shipping office as there are no stamps or post-mark on the envelope Letter commences "My dear Allan" and concludes "...Until then, Yours, Patletters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen

Allan writes about his photography course and living in London.Quinn CollectionA letter written in green ink on three sheets of very thin paper folded in book form (0887.1a-3). There is writing on six 'pages'. Letter is headed London and dated 23/09/51. The matching envelope (0887.b) is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London W1 and bears one purple and one brown United Kingdom stamp . The return address, written on the back, is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsam Road, London W14. Envelope is torn down the left hand side.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk

Allan writes of attending the last night of the show 'Carousel' and that 'South Pacific', with Mary Martin in the lead, is playing in London. They also went to Albert Hall to hear Eileen Joyce play. He is enjoying his photography course and looking forward to the food parcel his mother is sending, particularly the eggs as they can only get one a week.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0888.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 3/11/51. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W1. In the upper right hand corner is a very faint promotional stamp "Civil Defence". The return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W14. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk, 'carousel', 'south pacific', eileen joyce, albert hall, london

Allan mentions that they are going to the Royal Performance Concert at the Festival Hall and that Alette had seen the Queen opening Parliament Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0889.a1) written in green ink, headed London and dated 17/11/51.. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is partly obscured but appears to be Paddington W 2. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Aust. House, London. Below this is written Fru. Andersen, Gamlegatan, Brumundoal Street, Norway.Letter commences "My dear Mum,..." and concludes "...from us both, Allan and Alette."letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk

Allan has received the three parcels his mother sent; one of eggs, one of butter and one containing a Christmas cake. He writes they can get two eggs a week now.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0890.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 22/11/51. Part of the address has been torn off. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Above the address and across the right hand corner is a very faint, barely legible promotional stamp . The return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W14. Below this, is penciled 45 Frederick St. Ormond.Letter commences "...My dear Mum and Kip,..." and is signed "Allan"letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk

Alette is writing to Mrs Hayes to thank her for her letter and Christmas gift.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0891.a1) headed London and dated 12/12/51. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, Fitzroy Street 14, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. There is no return address. Letter commences "...Dear Mrs Hayes!,..." and is signed "Alette."letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk

Allan writes of Christmas in London. He spent twelve days prior to Christmas day working in the Post Office delivering parcels in a hired truck with three others. They worked from six in the morning until seven at night every day of the week. From going to the Newsreels he has learnt of bush-fires raging in New South Wales and that Australia has retained the Davis Cup.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0892.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 2/01/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W1. The return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W14.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk, bush fires in new south wales, davis cup 1952

Allan writes of the sinking of the SS Flying Enterprise. Having been damaged in a storm it was towed about 300 miles with only the captain Kurt Carlsen and the Mate from the salvage tug on board. The ship sank when hit by a second storm 40 miles off Falmouth.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0893.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 25/01/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W1. The return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W14. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london-uk, ss flying enterprise, captain (henrik) kurt carlsen

Allan describes London following the death of King George VI. He witnessed the Proclamation of the Queen at the Royal Exchange. He writes "The Proclamation was read in four different parts of the city and about a hundred Lifeguards escorted the Royal carriages through the city." And ....."I also saw the procession from Kings Cross station to Westminister Hall when they brought the King back to London." He would have liked to walk past the coffin lying in state at Westminister Hall but the queue was three miles long and it took seven hours to get into the hall.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0894.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 14/02/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. The print is faint and difficult to read. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. There is no postmark. The return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W14.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, death of king george vi, proclamation of queen elizabeth ii, london 1952

Allan describes the funeral of King George VI which he witnessed from a good vantage point. Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0895.a1) headed 8 Glouster [sic] Walk, London W 8 and dated 29/02/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. The print is uneven and difficult to read. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is not legible. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Glousester [sic] Walk, London W8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, funeral of king george vi

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0896.a1) headed 8 Glousester [sic] Walk, London W 8 and dated 16/03/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. The print is uneven and difficult to read. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Kensington but is barely legible. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Glousester [sic] Walk, London W8. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, barry hannon

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0897.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 23/04/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. The print is uneven and difficult to read. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Kensington. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W8. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952

Letter contains news of family members in London Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0898.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 3/05/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Kensington and is barely legible. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, hampton court, pat hannon

Letter contains news of Allan's cousin Pat and aunt Vera. He describes a debate at the House of Commons that he attended. He writes "...Churchill came in near the end to vote. He is looking very old." He and Alette saw the musical 'Call me Madam' with Anton Walbrook in the lead..Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0899.a1) dated 29/05/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Kensington and is barely legible. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, winston churchill, anton walbrook, musical 'call me madam', pat hannon, barry hannon, vera south, guilford

Allan writes of seeing the Trooping of the Colour, of visiting the Kew Gardens and Maidenhead, and with the photographic school to Cambridge and Oxford. His photographic course finishes in three and half weeks.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0900.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 24/06/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London W1. Section for sender's name and address is blank..letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, trooping of the colour, kew gardens, cambridge, oxford, vera south, maidenhead

Allan has finished his photography course and passed the exams.. Eleven of his photos were exhibited in the end of year exhibition and one of them, a portrait of an Indian girl, received a gold star award. Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0901.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 16/07/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, musical 'south pacific', mary martin, pat and barry hannon, covent garden, margot fonteyn, frank sedgman

Allan is working with a photography firm.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0902.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 12/08/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south

Allan and Alette are going to Oslo for Christmas and may marry there. Allan has attended a number of Promenade Concerts at Albert Hall and enjoyed seeing harmonica player Larry Adler, composers Vaughan Williams and John Ireland and conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent. He has been promoted at work and is now in charge of the Processing Department.Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0903.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 18/09/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked Paddington W 2. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8. Enclosed is a small off-white piece of paper (0903.b) with writing, in green ink, on both sides.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, sir malcolm sargent, vaughan williams, john ireland, larry adler, albert hall

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0904.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 9/10/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is not legible. Return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W 14. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london, pat hannon

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0905.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 22/10/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London. Postmark is very faint. Return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, vera south, jim hayes, sir malcolm sargent, albert hall,, marian anderson

Allan writes of the severe fog which meant there were no buses of planes for three days. "I only heard or saw two cars over the weekend and each one had a man in front with a torch." When he and Alette attended the Royal Concert they found themselves sitting near Charlie Chaplin, Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh. The Queen was there and Sir Malcolm Sargent conducted the orchestra and a choir of 500. Alette is going home to Norway for Christmas. Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0906.a1) headed 8 Gloucester Walk, London W 8 and dated 10/12/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. It is postmarked London. The return address is Allan Quinn, Australia House. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952, royal concert, queen elizabeth ii, sir malcolm sargent, sir laurence olivier, vivian leigh, charles chaplin

Quinn CollectionA pale blue self-folding letter (0907.a1) headed 37 Elsham Road, London W 14 and dated 12/12/52. Letter is typed using a very small font. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. There is no visible postmark. Return address is Allan Quinn, 37 Elsham Road, London W 14.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, pat and barry hannon, london

Quinn CollectionA three page letter written on three sheets of unlined, buff-coloured paper (0908.a1-3). Letter is headed 542 Jersey Street, San Francisco, phone AJ 2-0309 and dated 20/12/52. The matching envelope (0908.b) is addressed to Mr Allen [sic] Quinn. It has been re- addressed from C/- Australia House, The Strand, London, England to 8 Gloucester Walk, W8. Written in the top left hand corner is N Cowley, 542 Jersey St. S.F. Calif. Below this is a purple post office 'Returned To Sender From San Francisco Postage Due.' stamp . This is partially obscured by one of the five three-cent postage stamps placed across the top and down the right hand side of the envelope. 'Air Mail' is written diagonally across the lower left hand corner. On the back is a partially legible postmark dated 2 January 1953. The postmark on the front is illegible. Letter commences "Dear Allen [sic]...." and concludes "...Merry Xmas and Happy New Year from Pat, Darline, Allen and Norman your Yavla Swenska Shipmate,"letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london, norm cowley

Allan writes of a lonely Christmas without Alette who is spending it in Norway with her family. They are planning to get married in the last week of February.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0909.a1) headed London and dated 30/12/52. Letter is written in green ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Postmark is illegible. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, Strand, London. There are four lines of writing at right angles to the return address. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952

Allan is very upset as Alette wants to postpone their wedding again. She has taken a job in a shop in Oslo and shows no signs of returning to London despite their plans to marry in February and travel to Australia in July. Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0910.a1) headed London and dated 8/02/52. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Aust. House, London. letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, alette andersen, london 1952

Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0911.a1) headed London and dated 25/02/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, 8 Gloucester Walk, London W. 8.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, vera south, graham hannon, victoria league, london 1953

Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0912.a1) headed London and dated 21/03/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked London W.1. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, folies bergere, graham hannon, oxford-cambridge boat race, london 1953

Allan describes his trip to Cowes on the Isle of Wight where he met, and spent time with, the photographer Keith Behan "...who is considered the best yachting photographer in the world......." He also visited Southhampton, Portsmouth. Brighton and East Grinstead before returning to London. He enjoyed being away from London for a few days.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0913.a1) headed London and dated 11/04/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and postmarked Paddington W.2. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Australia House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london 1953, cowes, isle of wight, keith behan, photographer, southhampton, portsmouth, brighton u.k., east grinstead, vera south

Allan writes of seeing the film 'The Cruel Sea' and attending the Anzac Service at St Paul's Cathedral. He is enjoying his new job "....working for a technical and industrial photographer." He plans to sail home to Australia on the 'Orontes' on the 17th July.Quinn CollectionA blue self-folding letter (0914.a1) headed London and dated 30/04/53. Letter is written in blue ink. It is addressed to Mrs K Hayes, 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. The postmark is very faint. The return address is Allan Quinn, C/- Aust. House, London.letters-from-abroad, allan quinn, london 1953, vera south