P went on 7.10 bus to Cambridge. Took her to bus station then did washing, then took A to school. Ken E came for me about 10 past 9 & took me to a Communion Service at St Barnabas Counselling Centre. Had chat with Maurice Bird afterwards. Quite nice – not like FRD! Took R to have tooth out at David Rogers at 11.15. Took A & E to school dentist in aft. Then to see if we could find Alan a dressing gown – none his size! Roger went to help with school carol service coffee in evening. A went to BB. P rang – coming back tomorrow. Rang FR in evening – lovely. 1T.
Notes
Interview at Cambridge University
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). She was applying for university places, see Chapter 120, and she went for an interview at Cambridge University. She went there by bus, see Chapter 127. Mum dropped her at the bus station. Tricia phoned from Cambridge to say she would be back the next day.
Washing
While mum did not always note it, both grandma and mum tended to treat Mondays as wash day, see Chapter 126. Mum must have done this quite early as she then took Alan to school.
Mum Took Alan to School
A refers to my younger brother Alan. After mum had taken Tricia to the bus station and done washing, she took Alan to school. At this point, he was attending Earlham School, see Chapter 118.
Rev Ken Elworthy
Ken E refers to Rev Ken Elworthy who was the junior Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church at this time, see Chapter 124. On this occasion, he picked mum up and took her to a communion service at St Barnabas Counselling Centre.
Communion Service at St Barnabas Counselling Centre
Rev Elworthy was keen that mum consider attending St Barnabas Counselling Centre for counselling, see Chapter 114. He clearly thought this would be a good idea. As far as I can see, it was only Rev Elworthy who was suggesting she go to St Barnabas. I am not sure if he was suggesting this for bereavement counselling or also as a way of addressing mum’s broader mental health issues. He took her there for a communion service and she spoke with Maurice Bird afterwards.
Established as a centre for Christian healing in 1974, St Barnabas still provides non-denominational, multi-faith counselling. However, according to their website, they are no longer accepting new clients.
Whatever Rev Elworthy’s reasons for suggesting mum have counselling at St Barnabas, I think the approach he proposed would have been the most appropriate to provide access to professional counselling from someone who mum was not personally attached to. However, my impression is that this is not what mum wanted. She wanted “someone” who she could be close to and with whom she could share everything. As far as I know, I don’t think mum ever took up the option of counselling at St Barnabas.
Maurice Bird
After the service, mum spoke to Maurice Bird, see Chapter 114. She thought he was quite nice but not like Rev Dowson (FRD). Maurice Pidding Bird was Anglican vicar of St Barnabas in Norwich from at least 1971 until 1978. He was born in 1919 gaining a BA from Lincoln College Oxford in 1940 and an MA in 1944. He completed training for the Anglican ministry at Cuddesdon College in 1940. Then, he was ordained as a deacon in 1942 and as a priest in 1943. He served in Malden (1942-3), Headington (1943-6), Eastney (1947-55), Clapham (1955-1959), Winterton with East Somerton (1959-1971) and Norwich (from 1971).
Tooth Out
R refers to me. Mum took me to have a tooth out at our dentist, David Rogers, see Chapter 116. I believe I recall him. I remember his surgery being upstairs in a property on Prince of Wales Road.
Sure enough, the 1967 Kelly’s directory lists him as a dental surgeon at Lombard House, 20 Prince of Wales Road. He was still there in the 1971/72 Kelly’s Tradefinder. It seems that 18-20 Prince of Wales Road are now office buildings called Greyfriars House. As of April 2025, they appear to be for sale. Apparently, In the late 1960s hire purchase financiers Lombard were based at 20 Prince of Wales Road and perhaps that is where the name Lombard House came from. They were also known as Lombard Banking or Lombank. Lombard Banking was taken over by NatWest in 1970.
School Dentist
A refers to my younger brother Alan and E to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). Mum took them to the school dentist, see Chapter 116. I am not sure why they went there and I went to David Rogers.
Dressing Gown for Alan
After the dentist, mum tried to find a dressing gown for Alan but could not find one for him in his size, see Chapter 125.
Helping with Coffee at the School Carol Service
Mum noted that, in the evening, I went to help with coffee at my school’s carol service, see Chapter 118.
Boys’ Brigade
Alan (A) went to Boys’ Brigade (BB), see Chapter 124.
Rev Dowson
FRD and FR both refer 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 rang him in the evening and said it was lovely.
Antidepressants
During this period, mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She was on antidepressants. On this occasion, she took one tablet of amitryptilline (Tryptizol, T).
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