Grandad – E went to PO. Mr Pearce came. I went to HF at D Johnson’s. I was OK on my own. Hot day 80% in shade.
Mum – Went to see Ken in aft. Talked about family problems & church ones. Quite helpful but not like FR.
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 this entry was made by grandma, she writes about herself in the third person as E but also in the first person as “I“. Based on context, I think she uses “I” to both describe herself and grandad!
Grandma Went to the Post Office
E refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. She went to the Post Office possibly to collect their pension, see Chapter 104.
Mr Pearce
I believe Mr Pearce was one of the male nurses who came to look after grandad’s urinary catheter, see Chapter 116.
D Johnson
I think D Johnson refers to David Johnson who was someone grandma knew through Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. He sometimes gave her lifts to meetings and she sometimes went to house fellowship meetings at his house. I think that means that, in this context, “I” refers to grandma and “HF” stands for house fellowship. This is potentially confusing as when the diary says “I” was OK on my own, this refers to grandad.
Comment on Weather
Grandad’s diary notes that it was a hot day. I am not sure what 80% refers to but I wonder if it means 80°F which would have been 27°C.
Ken Elworthy
Ken refers to Ken Elworthy who was the junior Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. Mum went to see him in the afternoon (aft) and talked to him about what she described as church and family problems. She noted that he was quite helpful but that he was not like “FR”. This was a reference to a former Minister at Park Lane, Rev F R Dowson, to whom mum was close at this time, see Chapter 114.
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