A letter frozen in time
HISTORY: Guy Wood's great-great-grandson Tim Thorpe with his copy of the 12.12.12. letter.
it was one man’s message to his future family, passed down through the generations.
Now 100 years old, a letter written by a Batley man on December 12, 1912, offers a snapshot of a time only found in the history books.
Guy Baines Wood was 51 when he decided to capture his world in writing for future generations.
He writes about the sinking of the Titanic, the Suffragettes’ fight for the vote and Europe’s march towards a war that would cost millions of lives.
“This is the time of Flying Machines and Motor Cars only in their infancy,” Mr Wood, aged 51, wrote.
“I often try to picture to myself what things will be like in 12.12.2012.
“I am writing this today to put on one side so that some of my offspring may perhaps read it.”
The impact of his words on great-great grandson Tim Thorpe was so profound it led him to a career in history, as a museum collections officer.
“He didn’t know if any of his family would be living in a 100 years time,” Tim said.
“It’s a lovely, personal thing to have in the family.”
For the full story, see this week’s paper.
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Friday 24 May 2013
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