P off in aft. Work all day. Had letter from Uncle Arthur telling us Heather was killed on Sunday night in a car accident in York. Rang Dorothy – won’t go to funeral but will go up in a few weeks time for few days. Thought I might go March 3rd to 6th but P exam on 4th so won’t go until the Thurs if P agrees. 1T 1S.
Notes
Tricia Was Taking Her Mock A Levels
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). She was in the middle of her mock A levels, see Chapter 118, and only had to go into school when she had an exam. On this occasion, she presumably had an exam in the morning but no exams in the afternoon (aft) so she was off school.
Mum Worked for Mr Ashken and Mr Stephens
During this period, mum worked as part-time medical secretary for the private practice of two surgeons, Mr Ashken and Mr Stephens, see Chapter 121. This practice was based at 41 Newmarket Road. She worked all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and half day on Fridays. On this occasion, as it was Tuesday, she worked all day.
Heather Taylor
Mum noted that she received a letter from Uncle Arthur. Although she called him “uncle“, he was not a relative but a long-time friend of grandma and grandad’s. Arthur Lofthouse had been the Minister at Bourne Methodist Chapel in Kirkby for the first part of the second world war, see Chapter 31. His adopted daughter, Dorothy, whose married name was Taylor, was a very close friend of mum’s.
Dorothy had two daughters Heather and Jill. Sadly, the letter told mum that the eldest, Heather, had been killed on Sunday night in a car accident in York, see Chapter 116.
According to a news article, she was a passenger in a car which hit a tree. She was 16 years old. Also killed was a soldier, Corporal David Fradley who was 26. The car driver Corporal David McNeil suffered head injuries and had to be cut from the wreckage by the fire brigade. The accident was blamed on icy conditions. Heather had been studying child care at the now-demolished Marygate Centre in York. She was formerly a pupil at Grantley Infants School (possibly now Fountains CE Primary School) and St Aidan’s School in Harrogate.
Plans to Visit
Mum phoned Dorothy. She decided she would not go for the funeral but would go in a few weeks and satay for a few days. Initially, she thought she might go from March 3rd to 6th but did not want to go then as Tricia (P) had an exam on the 4th. She said she would not go until the Thursday if Tricia agreed. This is slightly odd as I can’t see Tricia would have objected whenever mum wanted to go given the circumstances. Also, the Thursday was the 4th, the day of Tricia’s exam so personally I don’t see much difference between mum going on the 3rd or the 4th.
Antidepressants
Mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. Mum was on antidepressants. She took one tablet of amitryptilline (Tryptizol, T) at night.
Senokot
Mum noted taking one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.