Grandad – Ethel heard that Mrs Chambers one of the members of DLM had died (first) member. She died on the 7th.
Mum – Patricia went to London by coach with school – went round Houses of Parliament. FR rang several times in am. Had letter from Cecil – replied briefly. Alan got spots on his leg – ? heat lumps or gnat bites? Took engagement ring, watch & brooch (from Robin) to Partons to be valued. Also Peggy’s first engament ring.
Notes
Mrs Chambers
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. DLM stands for Drayton Ladies’ Meeting which was how grandad referred to the weekly women’s meeting that grandma attended at Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. I assume, from the entry, that Mrs Chambers had been one of the first members of the group and that she had died the previous day, see Chapter 116.
Tricia’s School Trip to London
Patricia refers to my older sister. This trip to London was made through Norwich High School for Girls which she attended, see Chapter 118.
Rev F R Dowson
FR refers to Rev F R Dowson. Frederick Rodham Dowson entered the Methodist ministry in 1936. He was born in Haxby, York on 5 August 1912 and he died in Selsey on 4 September 2011, aged 99. I believe he was superintendent Minister for the Park Lane circuit from 1968 to 1974. He and mum were close and they spoke and corresponded frequently, see Chapter 114.
Cecil
I am not exactly sure who Cecil was. It was someone to whom mum was close at this time. They corresponded frequently. I wonder if it was someone she knew through Christian Guild Holidays, see Chapter 114.
Alan’s Spots
Alan refers to my brother. I am not exactly sure what this rash was, see Chapter 116.
Jewellery for Valuation
Mum was somewhat obsessed with valuing property, particularly jewellery, and did this fairly frequently ostensibly for insurance purposes. I have a number of records of valuations but much later than this. In this case, she had four items valued.
Engagement Ring
I assume this was a reference to mum’s engagement ring. Mum and dad bought this ring on 11 September 1954 from Gibbs of Nottingham, see Chapter 57. The ring passed to Tricia when mum died.
Watch
Mum mentions a number of watches in her diary and I am not sure which one she is referring to. She did get a new watch in July 1947, see Chapter 37, and, in 1956, she and dad bought each other watches at the same time as they bought mum’s wedding ring, see Chapter 62. At the time of mum’s death, she had three watches, one made by Limit, one by Corocraft and one by Accurist. They came to me and they were valued together at £150, see Chapter 68.
I suspect that the watch she is referring to is the Accurist watch as I believe it to be nine carat gold. I also believe this was the watch that mum and dad bought in 1956 when they got married, see Chapter 68.
Brooch
I assume it is this brooch that was “from Robin” and this refers to Robin Harrison with whom mum was friendly in the early seventies, see Chapter 99. I am not exactly sure what this brooch was. There were a number of brooches among mum’s jewellery when she died but nothing to indicate which one had been from Robin, if indeed mum still had this brooch at this point.
Peggy’s First Engagement Ring
Although mum wrote “engament” ring, I am sure she is referring to an engagement ring. However, I am not entirely sure who Peggy was although I think she may have been someone she worked with at Dr Downes and Dr Day’s surgery, see Chapter 121. I don’t know why mum had her first engagement ring. Possibly, mum might have mentioned that she was getting some jewellery valued and offered to do the same for Peggy.
Parton’s
Mum went to Parton’s to have the jewellery valued, see Chapter 108. In the 1967 Kelly’s Directory, they are listed as a jewellers, silversmiths and watch and clock makers based at 20 Gentleman’s Walk.
There are similar entries in the Kelly Tradefinders for 1970-71 and 1971-72. This is on the corner of Davey Place where Caffe Nero is now.
There are some fabulous photos of Parton’s on the Norwich Remembers Facebook Group including two posted by Karen High, one from the 1980s and one from 1914 showing troops gathered in the Market Place. A similar 1914 photo was posted by Peter Rowley. Reg Thrumper has posted views across the market comparing the 1970s and the 2010s. Ed Norfolk posted a shot taken from Davey Place which shows Parton’s on the left with a large clock with their name on it. Richard Vivian posted a photo which looks the other way towards the castle.
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