King Charles praises handwritten letter society as ‘inspirational’

King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, wrote over 2,400 letters annually, some of which were handwritten, reaching out directly to members of the public.

Dinah Johnson from Swanage, Dorset, has made a significant impact with her Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society. King Charles has called her efforts “inspirational,” and she has received various celebrity endorsements, many of which are handwritten.

Chris Evans, host of Virgin Radio, expressed his admiration, asking on air who wouldn’t want to join the society. Axel Scheffler, illustrator of the Gruffalo books, created a special postcard for the society and wrote to Dinah, eager to join. He mentioned, “Just learned about the Handwritten Letter Society – I’m all for it!”

King Charles wrote more than 2,400 letters a year when he was Prince of Wales https://t.co/cTkqKz3MaH pic.twitter.com/BCz8CaaZoj

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 1, 2024

Comic Rob Beckett frequently mentions the society on his Radio 2 show. Alan Titchmarsh, a fellow gardener, wished the society well in a handwritten note. Joanna Lumley, star of Absolutely Fabulous, sent Dinah a Christmas card. Reverend Kate Botley and actor Richard E Grant also took the time to write to her.

Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending James Timpson praised handwritten letters in a flowing script. The late Queen also responded to Dinah’s letters.

Stephen Fry congratulated Dinah for establishing the society. DJ and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary described it as “a wonderful endeavour.” Taskmaster comedian Alex Horne and wartime singing legend Dame Vera Lynn, before her death in 2020, also sent signed photos.

Dinah finds it gratifying when well-known individuals send her letters. However, she treasures letters from family and friends the most. Her passion for letter writing began in childhood when she corresponded with an emigrated friend. She fondly remembers writing to her grandparents and other relatives.

In 2017, Dinah launched the society after receiving thank-you letters from schoolchildren at her workplace. Concerned that future generations might miss out on the joy of handwritten letters, she created a website with a friend’s help.

The society quickly gained members. Dinah has paused new memberships temporarily to handle the demand. Membership costs £17.50 and includes a welcome pack with a certificate, pin badge, postcard, and envelope.

Initially, membership was for life. However, after a request for posthumous membership, the society now extends beyond life. An elderly gentleman’s framed certificate was displayed at his wake, delighting his family.

Dinah believes letters keep memories alive after people pass away. The society does not function as a pen-pal network; instead, it encourages writing to anyone members choose.

Members must not share entire letters online without the sender’s consent, although quoting a line or two is acceptable. Dinah values the personal and intimate nature of letters, allowing individuals to express themselves freely.

Dinah’s top tips for letter writing include sending without expecting a reply, writing conversationally, and being personal. If handwriting is challenging, using a typewriter or computer is acceptable. There are no strict rules—just write. As Dame Vera Lynn noted in her correspondence with Dinah, “Writing letters is a lovely art.”