NOTECARD - HANDWRITTEN

                11/4/47
Dear Mr. Davidson,
    Pardon delay in reply to your very kind letter - It will be our pleasure to meet your Daughter anytime during our visit to Glasgow.
                Regards-
Stan Laurel Signature

Note from the Editor

While abroad on tour, Stan’s letters carry the more common continental European dating system of day/month/year, so this letter (as well as those that follow from this time period) dated 11/4/47 was typed on April 11, 1947.



SAVOY HOTEL LETTERHEAD - London - HANDRWITTEN

                17-4-47.
Dear Mr. Speak-
    Please pardon delay in reply to your kind letter and invitation to the Football match. Would have loved to have joined you - but was impossible for me to make it - have many Business engts to attend to beside our shows. Trust you will fully understand. Hope Bishop Auckland did alright. Most interesting to know you were at King James same time I was.
    Again many thanks.
                Kind regards always-
Stan Laurel Signature

SAVOY HOTEL LETTERHEAD - London - HANDRWITTEN

                17-4-47.
Dear Mrs. [Lillie] Wray-
    Please pardon delay in reply to your very sweet letter. It brought back many memories to me. I saw my Dad a month ago - 85 now - isn't it wonderful! He was so happy to see me & naturally mutual. Thank goodness we are starting to get warmer weather now - quite a relief. Well will close now -
    Many thanks for writing - it was nice to hear from you. My kind regards to Mr. Wray & self.
    Trust alls well & happy.
                Sincerely-
Stan Laurel Signature

SAVOY HOTEL LETTERHEAD - London - HANDRWITTEN

                18-4-47.
Dear Mrs [Mary] Rutter,
    Please pardon delay in reply to your very sweet letter - greatly appreciated & certainly brought back many memories to me.
    Yes, my Dad is still living - saw him a month ago - 85 now.
    When I played Newcastle - I took a ride around No. Shields - it was sad to see the old Town in such a State - but I got a thrill just the same to see once again Dockwray Square - Saville St etc. I didn't see the wooden Dolly. But asked after her & understand the old Gal is still there! Will close now. Many thanks for writing - it was a great pleasure indeed to hear from you among my many friends in the North - with kind regards to self & family. Trust alls well & happy with you-
    Bye now & God Bless.
                Sincerely-
Stan Laurel Signature

Note from the Editor

The “Wooden Dolly” was a buxom female figure without any arms, brightly painted in a red dress with a pink face and black hair. The original figurehead was replaced in 1850, and after wearing away, a third version was made in 1864. This lasted until 1901 when a newly designed statue was made and sited in central North Shields. A replica was made of this in 1958 but it was not until 1992 that a “true” Dolly was restored to its rightful place on the quayside.



Stan Watermark