A remarkable and poignant letter written by a mother to her children after the first moon landings has been discovered by her family following her death.

The message was penned by Blanche Terry in 1969 after she watched the momentous event unfold, telling how she hoped it would inspire mankind to end wars and seek world peace.

Her children found the letter while clearing her house in Canterbury, along with a copy of the Daily Mail reporting the historic mission.

She wrote: “Dear children and grandchildren, when you read this wonderful story about the first man on the moon I would like you to know that it was so thrilling and wonderful for us to watch on television. We could think and talk of nothing else.

“Maybe when you read this letter there will be people living on the moon and indeed many wonderful places in the universe will have been discovered.

“We hope and pray that these things will bring peace and brotherhood to all the world. If man’s brain can work to such a high degree surely he can work out a solution to end war and live in peace with his neighbour.

“Now the next step is Mars. It most surely is a wonderful world that God made as long as man does not destroy it. God bless you all. Mother, 27 July 1969.”

Blanche was 51 and living in Hillside Avenue, Canterbury, when she wrote the letter.

It has been shared by Blanche’s daughters, Sandie and Carol, and her son Robert, who all grew up in the city.

Sandie said: “It was quite moving to read and she clearly wrote it for us to find in the future after she had gone.

“What makes it so poignant is her optimism for the future, which has sadly not turned out the way she had hoped.

“She was appalled the world had become so embroiled in conflict and now seems such a precarious place.”

Blanche died on January 14, just a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday.

A staunch member of the Baptist church in Canterbury, her stoic character was borne out of her tough upbringing as a child.

She was a great-grandmother who adored her family and was married for more than 70 years to Grahame, a fireman who became a handyman in his retirement.

Her family say she dedicated her life to helping others, raising thousands for charity, including Cancer Relief, which is now known as Macmillan.

She also worked in the kitchen of the Baptist church, serving lunch to the elderly until she herself was 83 and decided it was time for someone else to cook for her.

Sandie said: “She was the best mother, grandma and great grandma and we all feel so lucky to have had such great parents who set us such a good example on how to live our lives.

“They were wonderful citizens, good friends and good neighbours. They were always there to help other people and were so thoughtful, kind and unselfish in so many ways.”

Do you remember the moon landings? Add your recollections below.