The letters are largely of a factual nature, describing her studies and teaching and other activities.
The letters written during Ena’s Girton years [1937-40: GCPP Burton 4/1/2-5] talk of concerts, dances, sculling, English Club, netball, music, theatre, film, her English studies, walks and outings, tennis, punting, practical matters relating to living at Girton, thanks for parcels etc. Friends and contemporaries mentioned, including Girton staff, include Katharine [Brooks?], Margaret [Newall], Miss Murray, Miss Bradbrook (referred to as Brad); Miss Jones; Joan [Carruthers, Newnham College 1939 and, like Ena Burton, educated at Ludlow High School]; Pearl Hackett; and Ineko Sato. On 3 November 1938 she briefly mentions Dorothy Sayers speaking at the English Club. In an undated letter (probably June 1939), she mentions a Women’s University Settlement visit to Girton. In July 1939 she was studying Italian (presumably in a Long Vacation course). Letters written around the time of her application to the Oxford Training College discuss the relative merits of that college and the Cambridge Training College for teacher training. She makes occasional mention of wartime matters, including the possibility of fruit picking for the war effort, though she considers it impractical to join the Land Army.
The letters written while Ena was teaching at Wolmer’s Girls’ School, Kingston, Jamaica [1945-1948: GCPP Burton 4/1/8-11] give some detail of school and teaching but revolve more around social activities, life in Jamaica generally, and travel around Jamaica and beyond.