Mum – P went to MAYC weekend. Got up at 7 & gave her her present. Roy sent her flowers & rang at 8am after she’d gone, Typed & dup all day. Went to hear The Evangel Singers at Drayton (Church Ann) at night. Mr Jones (med rep) of 187 College Rd in choir. Chatted to me afterwards. FR rang in aft. Longings & Loneliness. 1S.
Roger – P is 18 today but I gave her her present last night as she left for London at 7am. Worked as usual but Ross wasn’t there due to illness. Watched TV in the evening while Mum went to grandma’s church for something special. Scotland bt England 2-1 which means they win the championship. England are 2nd and Wales are 3rd with Northern Ireland 4th as Wales bt NI 1-0 last night.
Notes
MAYC Weekend
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). She went to London for the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC) Weekend, see Chapter 124. I noted that she had left for this at 7 am.
The MAYC weekend was one of the biggest youth events my siblings were involved in in the seventies. It was held in London in May each year from the 1950s until the 1990s. Tricia had been in 1974, see Chapter 107. She had been interested in going again in 1975 but, in February, she told mum that no-one else was going. Mum was worried that she might leave church.
18th Birthday
It was Tricia’s 18th birthday, see Chapter 122. Mum noted that she got up early, at 7 am, to give Tricia her present. I noted that I had given her my present the previous night as I knew she was leaving early.
Roy refers to my father Royle Drew. Mum noted that he had sent Tricia flowers and phoned to speak to her at 8 am. However, she had already left for London. I think mum was critical of dad because he had missed Tricia on her 18th birthday.
However, dad was living in Birmingham at the time and I think, by phoning at 8 am, he would have had a reasonable expectation of catching her. I think mum also probably felt a bit superior as she had got up to see Tricia before she left. I don’t know if dad knew Tricia was going to London and, if so, if he knew what time she was leaving. Mum and dad had spoken the previous day but I don’t know if mum had told dad this. It is quite possible that she had not. This kind of issue was typical of the type of sniping which they engaged in at this time!
Typing and Duplicating
According to mum’s CV, see Chapter 105, she ran a typing and duplicating business from home until 1975. However, she did typing and duplicating after this date, particularly for the church, see Chapter 121. On this occasion, she noted typing and duplicating (dup) all day.
Drayton Methodist Church Anniversary
Mum noted that, at night, she went to Drayton Methodist Church’s Anniversary. This was the church grandma attended, see Chapter 124. Mum noted that she went to hear The Evangel Singers. I noted in my diary that mum went to grandma’s church for “something special“.
Norwich Evangel Singers
Apparently, Norwich Evangel Singers were a singing group based at Wensum Chapel. I found multiple adverts for performances by them in the late seventies although they disbanded in 1979. During the late seventies, mum grew disillusioned with her church choir. So, in May 1976, she wrote to Anne Saunders about Norwich Evangel Choir. The following month, in June 1976, mum went to hear the Norwich Evangel Choir at night. Anne Saunders met her there. Mum thought it was quite nice but was not certain that it was right. A few days later, also in June 1976, mum did not go to Norwich Evangel Choir because Tricia and I had had an argument and mum was worried about Tricia who had gone out.
Mr Jones
Mum noted that Mr Jones, a medical representative, who lived near us at 187 College Road, was in the choir. He chatted to mum afterwards. I don’t know any more about him although he is mentioned a couple of times in mum’s diary. It seems she knew him through work and possibly as someone who lived over the road from us.
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, he rang in the afternoon (aft).
Longings and Loneliness
After mum and dad separated in June 1973, mum often noted feeling lonely and having “longings”, see Chapter 114, as she did on this occasion. These “longings” may have been of a physical nature but were also for intimacy with “someone” or “someone special” who she could share everything with. In his letter of January 1979, Rev Dowson noted “it is natural for you to have your longings. It’s worse for you than a spinster…. She had not known the joys you have; that’s why a widow or widower or divorced person seeks to get married again – to recapture what has been lost”.
Senokot
Mum took one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation, see Chapter 116. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
Saturday Job
I noted that I went to work as usual. At that time, I had a Saturday job at the Scientific Anglian bookshop, see Chapter 119.
Ross
Ross was another boy who worked at the shop. In my diary, I noted that he was not there as he was ill. I do recall him but not his surname. I believe he attended King Edward school and possibly went on to study law, see Chapter 119.
TV
I watched TV in the evening, see Chapter 122. This may have included highlights of the football match between Scotland and England which were shown on BBC1 from 10.15 to 11.15 pm. As far as I can see, the match had not been shown live.
Scotland v England
The match between Scotland and England was the deciding game of that year’s British Home Championship. Scotland won 2-1.
Scotland Won the Championship
I noted how the teams finished in the table. In that year, Scotland won the championship with England second, Wales third and Northern Ireland fourth. Scotland won all their games which, interestingly, were all at home.
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