Grandad – Ethel went to DLM. Mr Barnes came during the afternoon. Did a bit more at the trolley.
Mum – Went to Chairmans in am. Typed all afternoon. Rang FR at night – briefly. Made cake for Patricia’s school for centenary service. Sponge with green & white butter icing. No tabs.
Notes
Grandma Went to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting (DLM)
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. DLM refers to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting which was a weekly women’s meeting at Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
Mr Barnes Came to Grandma and Grandad’s in the Afternoon
I am not entirely sure who Mr Barnes was. I suspect he was a friend of grandma and grandad’s. He possibly lived locally and/or attended Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. This is the first time he is mentioned in the diaries and he was mentioned a further four times between April and August 1975.
Grandad Did Some Work on The Trolley
Grandad was very “handy” particularly in terms of woodwork, see Chapter 126. He made us a variety of trollies/go karts over the years, see Chapter 85. On Sunday 9 February 1975, my brother Alan and I had brought one for repair. The last trolley I have a record of grandad making, for Alan, was in April 1973, see Chapter 109. Perhaps it was this one that needed repair.
He had started to repair it on Monday 10 February 1975 but had not, I think, done anything more on it subsequently. Although Alan and I had brought it for repair, grandad referred to it as Alan’s trolley.
Mum Worked in the Morning for Rev Eddy, the Chairman of the Methodist District
The chairman is a reference to Rev G T Eddy who was Chairman of the Methodist District. Mum went to work for him in the morning (a.m.). Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum was his part-time secretary from 1973 to 1977, see Chapter 121.
Mum Did Typing in the Afternoon
According to her CV, see Chapter 105, mum ran her own typing/duplicating business from home between 1965 and 1975. This could have been part of that or it may have been typing she did for church. The boundaries between typing as a paid business and typing she did voluntarily for church was not always clear in the diaries.
Rev 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. On this occasion, mum phoned him and they spoke briefly.
Mum Made a Cake for Tricia’s School Centenary Celebrations
Patricia refers to my older sister Tricia, see Chapter 118. She attended Norwich High School for Girls and it was this school that celebrated its centenary in 1975. The green and white icing related to the school’s colours I believe. Tricia’s uniform was certainly green.
Mum Took No Tablets (Tabs)
Mum sometimes noted taking Tryptizol or Lentizol, which are both forms of amitryptilline. On this day, she noted that she took no tablets. I am not sure if she was meant to be taking them regularly or as required, see Chapter 116.
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