Grandad – Alan & Lizzie came for the day. Lizzie went horse riding & to Caroline’s birthday party. Put the clocks on 1 hour.
Mum – Work in am. Alan & Eliz went to Drayton. Made cakes in aft for E’s party. Roger went to disco at night. I went to Cathedral to hear Missa Brevis (B Brittain) & Nelson Mass (Haydn) by High School. Excellent. car battery flat in am – put charger on. P asked if she could have party for her birthday boys & girls & drink (beer punch & cider). I agreed. FR rang from Bournemouth. Can post letter Tues & ring.
Notes
Alan and Liz Went to Grandma and Grandad’s for the Day
Alan refers to my younger brother. Grandad refers to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth) as Lizzie while mum refers to her as Eliz. Both Alan and Liz went to my grandparents in Drayton for the day, see Chapter 122.
Liz Went Horse Riding
Liz was horse riding regularly at this point, see Chapter 122.
Liz Went to Caroline Douglas’ Birthday Party
Caroline Douglas lived next-door to grandma and grandad at 168 Drayton High Road. She was born on 13 March 1964 so was one year and three days older than Liz. They were friends and, on this occasion, Liz attended Caroline’s birthday party, see Chapter 122. This would have been Caroline’s 11th birthday.
British Summer Time
Grandad noted putting the clocks forward as we switched from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time.
Mum Went to Work in the Morning
Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum worked as part-time receptionist for Drs Downes and Day, see Chapter 121. She sometimes worked Saturday mornings and this was one example of that.
Mum Made Cakes for Liz’s Birthday Party
Liz’s tenth birthday was the next day and she was having a party on the day, see Chapter 122. Mum made cakes for that in the afternoon (aft).
I Went to a Disco
Roger refers to me and mum noted that I went to a disco at night. Mum does not say where the disco was and it is possible I did not tell her! I recall going to discos both at school and at Chantry Youth Club around this time, see Chapter 122.
Mum Went to the Cathedral to Hear the High School Orchestra
Mum went to the cathedral to hear the High School orchestra perform “Missa Brevis” by Benjamin Britten and Haydn’s “Nelson Mass”. This was part of the High School’s centenary celebrations, see Chapter 118. Tricia played violin and I assume she was in the orchestra for this performance although mum does not say so explicitly.
The Car Battery Was Flat
Mum noted that the car battery was flat and she had to charge it, see Chapter 127. At this point, I think mum had a Simca that she had bought new in 1972, see Chapter 110.
Tricia Asked Mum About Her Birthday Party
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). Her birthday is in May and she would have been turning 17. She asked mum about her party. She wanted it to be for both boys and girls and for there to be alcohol, , see Chapter 122. Mum agreed but I am a bit surprised that she did as Tricia was not yet 18 and I think mum was still pretty much teetotal at this point.
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, he phoned mum from Bournemouth. He agreed she could post a letter and phone on Tuesday. I am not sure why mum needed his permission to post a letter..
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