Grandad – Arthur came while E went to Doctors, PO etc. A little better but oh so weak. Up for 1¼ hr.
Mum – P went to Hull University – with Margaret, Judith & Jane – on Physics course (M & Judith – Chemistry). Saw Dr W in aft. To stop Heminevrin & try Largactil. “Need a holiday” he says. Went & picked strawberries with Jack & Janet Howard & Mrs Ream at Tunstead. Bought 2 new dresses from C&A (9.90) & white cardigan from B H Stores. Took Largactil + 1 Lentizol – had terrible night the Largactil seemed to stimulate thoughts.
Notes
Change in Handwriting
There had been a change in handwriting at the end of June. Based on this, it seems likely that this, and subsequent entries, were made by grandma even though this is not stated explicitly. If indeed, the entry was made by grandma, she writes about herself inthe third person as “E“. Implicitly, grandad is referred to in the first person, e.g. I was “up for 1¼ hr“.
Arthur Elsegood
Arthur refers to grandad’s friend Arthur Elsegood. He came to sit with grandad while grandma (E) ran some errands including going to the doctors and the post office. Grandad was a little better but feeling very weak. He got up for a short time, see Chapter 116.
Hull University
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia) who was in the process of applying for university, see Chapter 120. She went to Hull University with three friends. Margaret refers to Margaret East but I do not know Judith and Jane’s surnames. Tricia attended a physics course as did Jane while Margaret and Judith attended a chemistry course.
Dr Welch
Dr W refers to mum’s GP Dr Welch. Mum saw him in the afternoon (aft), see Chapter 116. He wanted her to stop the clomethiazole (Heminevrin and try chlorpromazine (Largactil) instead. He also advised her that she needed a holiday. Mum took the chlorpromazine that day but thought it had stimulated her thoughts meaning she had slept poorly. She was also taking long-acting amitryptilline (Lentizol).
Picking Strawberries
Mum went and picked strawberries, see Chapter 122, in Tunstead with church friends Jack and Janet Howard and the Minister’s wife, Mrs Ream. She had been strawberry picking with Janet Howard and my brother Alan the previous Saturday.
Two Dresses and a Cardigan
Mum also went shopping, see Chapter 125. She bought two new dresses from C&A for £9.90 and a new white cardigan from British Home Stores (BH Stores).
C&A
C&A is a major Dutch multinational clothing company, see Chapter 68. It was active in the UK from 1922 until it withdrew in 2001. Apparently, it suffered from a perception of being unfashionable and its strategy of selling budget clothes in city centre retail stores. For me, C&A was one of the iconic stores in Norwich during my childhood. It occupied the space on Hay Hill where Next is now. It was also known for the fountains in front of it which were regularly sabotaged by putting foam in. As of 2025, Hay Hill has been refurbished with a design including some smaller fountains.
British Home Stores
British Home Stores (BHS) was one of those stores which defined St Stephen’s for me growing up. In the 1960 Kelly’s Directory, there is no entry for it but, by 1967, it is listed as occupying 23-29 St Stephen’s Street. For a while, it was then occupied by Primark but, in May 2021, it was back up for rent. In 2024, it was occupied by Poundland. However, as of 2025, Poundland was struggling and was itself rescently sold for £1! British Home Stores was established in 1928 and was largely closed down over the period from 2016 to 2018.
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