Grandad – Ethel went to DLM.
Mum – Went to OM coffee morning then to Chairman’s. Had letter from Cecil – agrees with me over parties. Went to WF Quiet Day in aft at St Peter’s (circuit event) quite nice. Rang Mr Ream & told him that YWAGM is same day on Consultation on Worship – he agreed to change. Then rang me back & ordered me to let him have a YW programme in future. Talking to KFE afterwards, Ken told me he had told Mr R that the first date was no good. I am thoroughly fed up with Mr R. Jack Howard rang me in evening. I told him & he said he found Mr R alright. Rang FR at night.
Notes
Grandma Went to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. DLM refers to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting which was a weekly women’s meeting that grandma attended at Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
Mum Attended an Overseas Missions Coffee Morning
OM refers to overseas missions. Mum attended a coffee morning for overseas missions. While she does not say so explicitly, I assume this was at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, , see Chapter 124.
She Worked for Methodist District Chairman Rev G T Eddy
The Chairman refers to Rev G T Eddy who was the Chairman of the Methodist District. Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum did some part-time secretarial work for him between 1973 and 1977, see Chapter 121.
Mum Had a Letter from Cecil
I am not entirely 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. In terms of this letter specifically, I don’t know what this means but wonder if it might relate to us children attending parties. One thing I do know is that mum often did this kind of rallying of people to her cause! I experienced it a lot over the years!! Characteristics of this were her only putting her point of view and doing so in a way that made it almost impossible to disagree with. Also, based on my own experience, mum was someone you disagreed with at your own peril. So, many people simply agreed for a quiet life! Over time, I found this practice very problematic not least because I never had chance to put my point of view.
Mum Attended the Women’s Fellowship Quiet Day
WF refers to the Women’s Fellowship. I think this was a group of mainly older women at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. A quiet day is a time to be away from the demands of usual daily life, to stop, reflect, and be refreshed. It is intended to give time and space to explore spiritual life through silence, reflection and prayer. It was held in the afternoon (aft) at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church and was a circuit event, i.e. for multiple churches to attend. Mum described it as quite nice.
Mum Had Conflicts with Rev Ream
Rev Ream (Mr R) was the senior Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church at this time. It is clear from mum’s diaries that she did not get along with him. However, I don’t think I knew that at the time. I was aware of who he was and remember his name. I believe he lived on Christchurch Road and I think I washed his car for him on at least one occasion.
Mum phoned him to tell him that the Young Wives Annual General Meeting (YWAGM) clashed with a consultation on worship that he seemed to be planning. He agreed to change, or at least that is how mum thought the conversation had gone. However, he phoned back and “ordered” mum to let him have a copy of the Young Wives’ programme in future. I don’t know whether he ordered or asked but it does not seem like an unreasonable request to me. Mum discussed it with the other Minister, Rev Ken Elworthy (Ken/KFE). From that conversation, mum noted that Rev Elworthy had told Rev Ream that the first date, which presumably was the date when there was the clash, was no good. Based on this, and potentially other things, mum noted that she was “thoroughly fed up with Mr R“.
That evening, Jack Howard phoned, presumably about something else. Mum told him about this and seemed generally surprised when he said that he found Mr Ream alright. Jack and Janet Howard were people that mum knoew through St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
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 at night.
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