Mum – E went to St P Mancroft with school to play flute. Roy came for dinner & tea. Went to St P in am. V depressing. KFE – good with children. Went to Drayton for tea. I went to B Rd at night – Mr Bowler – quite nice. Put Malcolm book through his door at night – with comments. Had Chinese food at night. Roger still bit difficult – takes Roy’s side. Asked Roy if he’s got solicitor – said no – but is thinking of buying a house so must get one then!!! Sent long letter to Malcolm about book etc.
Roger – Got up at 9 to give Alan his birthday present but went back to bed till 11 o’clock. Liz was playing her flute at St Peter Mancroft so dad went to watch. Went to grandma’s & played bowls. Didn’t listen to charts as England were playing Finland in their world cup qualifier. They won 4-1. The other teams in the group are Italy & Luxembourg. I went to bed early as I’ve got my English Lit exam tomorrow morning.
Notes
Playing Flute
E refers to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). She went to St Peter Mancroft in the morning to play flute with her school which, at this stage, was Avenue Road School, see Chapter 118. It is a bit odd that mum did not go to this service. However, dad did, a fact we only know because of my diary.
St Peter Mancroft
This is a well-known, historic Anglican church in the centre of Norwich, see Chapter 90. It celebrated its 900-year anniversary in 1975. This anniversary dates back to the completion of the original building although the current building is later, dating to the 15th century, see Chapter 124.
Dad Came for Dinner and Tea
Roy refers to my father Royle Drew, see Chapter 114. My parents had separated in 1973 and my father was living in Birmingham at this time. He was in Norwich for a Norwich Union course. He was staying in a hotel as mum had told him that he could not stay with us. I believe he tried to spend as much time with us as possible.
Mum’s diary entry is slightly odd. She notes that dad came to us for dinner and tea but that we went to grandma’s in Drayton for tea! I am sure that dad would not have gone with us to grandma’s as, after my parents split, dad studiously avoided any contact with mum’s parents! The only thing I can think is that mum was using the terms dinner and tea to indicate time periods. So, dad may have come to ours in the late morning probably after the service at Peter Mancroft, possibly with Liz, and he probably stayed beyond tea-time possibly until we got back from grandma’s.
It is odd that dad had come to see us from Birmingham but mum thought it was OK to take us to grandma’s in Drayton where we went every Sunday. It interests me, especially as mum accused me in her diary of taking dad’s side, that I chose, or at least agreed, to go to grandma’s rather than staying home with my dad.
St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church
Mum was a member at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124, and she attended the service there that morning (am). However, she found it very depressing but does not specify why. She did note that the service was taken by the church’s junior Minister, Rev Ken F Elworthy (KFE) and this is confirmed by the notices of divine services from the previous day. She commented that he was “good with children” which, knowing my mother, might have been her way of saying he was not so good with adults!
Depression
Mum struggled with depression and anxiety during this period, see Chapter 116. She noted that the morning service at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church was “very depressing“. While her feelings of depression did not always reflect her circumstances, it is noticeable, from reading the diaries, that mum often felt more depressed after church services, particularly at St Peter’s! I find this sad that something which presumably should have helped her cope with her feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness often seemed to make them worse!
Drayton for Tea
Mum noted that we went to grandma’s in Drayton for tea. This was our usual practice on Sunday afternoons, see Chapter 122, and we did this on this occasion despite the fact that dad was at ours from Birmingham.
I also noted that we went to grandma’s and added the detail that we played bowls there. I recall doing this on her back lawn and, as far as I can recall, this was the only place I have ever played bowls!
Attending Different Churches
At this time, although mum was a member at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, she often went to Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church at night, particularly when the senior Minister, Rev Bill Ream, was speaking which he was on this occasion. Mum noted that the service was taken by Mr Bowler, a local preacher, and she thought it was quite nice. My sense is that she was probably at least slightly disappointed that the service was not taken by the church’s Minister, Rev Malcolm Carter.
Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church
This is now the base for the Chinese Methodist church in Norwich, see Chapter 79. In 2018, the church hall was demolished and a new extension built but it was built out of position so there was a possibility that it would need to be demolished. However, it seems that that fate was averted in 2020. But, as of August 2021, the site was fenced off.
According to the book “Through Cloud and Sunshine” edited by Norma Virgoe and Albert Ward, there were plans to move the church that was based on Dereham Road to Bowthorpe Road as early as 1938. However, it took time to do this and the new church in Bowthorpe Road only opened in March 1974.
Google Streetview provides a good visual history of how the site changed from 2008 to 2024.
Mr Bowler
The reference to Mr Bowler refers to Mr William D Bowler who I assume was a local preacher, see Chapter 124. I found a Mr Bowler listed as taking Methodist services from at least 1969 to 1981. On occasions, his initials were given as Mr W D Bowler. In June 1978, the Park Lane Over 65 Club presented Mr and Mrs William Bowler with a folding coffee table to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
Malcolm’s Book
Mum noted putting Malcolm’s book through his door with comments. She also wrote a long letter to Malcolm “£about the book etc.“
Malcolm Carter
Malcolm refers to Rev Malcolm Carter. He was a Methodist Minister who became mum’s friend and confidant, see Chapter 114. From Merseyside, he served in the ministry there and in Darlington and East Anglia. He was Minister at Court Hey Methodist Church from 1978 to 1986. He was the Methodist chaplain to Walton Prison, now HM Prison Liverpool, for 20 years. I found a YouTube video of him taking a service at Wonford Methodist Church in Exeter in July 2024. When he was in Norwich, he was mainly based at Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church. On this occasion, mum returned his book with comments.
The Book in Question
The book in question was “Adventures in Prayer” by Catherine Marshall which Malcolm Carter had given her on Thursday, see Chapter 124. Later that month, he gave her another book by the same author “Beyond Our Selves“. I had previously got her the book “A Man Called Peter” also by Catherine Marshall, see Chapter 122 from the bookshop where I worked at that time, see Chapter 119.
Chinese Food
Mum noted that we had Chinese food at night, presumably a Chinese takeaway, see Chapter 122. This was quite a treat at the time. Although mum does not say so explicitly, I assume this was for my brother Alan’s birthday as he turned 14 that day.
Difficult and Taking Dad’s Side
Roger refers to me. She thought I was still a “bit difficult” and that I took dad’s side. While there is some truth in the latter point, as I definitely identified more with my father than my mother at this time, I still find this comment harsh and painful. On this day, in particular, I did not do anything with my father. When a choice had to be made, I went to my grandmother’s for tea rather than staying home with my dad.
To be honest, this comment pretty much sums up my teenage years, see Chapter 114, trying to navigate between two warring parents while keeping on good terms with both! Clearly, I was not doing very well at this at this stage but it was something I managed better later in life! However, this feeling of being caught in the crossfire, and being blamed by both parties for siding with the other, seems to have been my recurring experience in terms of family conflicts over the years!
Legal Advice
Mum asked dad if he had a solicitor. I think this may have been partly because she was thinking of divorce in the longer term but also because she wanted to sort out some practicalities, such as who owned the house, see Chapter 114. Dad responded in a way which I interpret as passive-aggressive and which I am pretty sure he knew would irritate mum. He essentially said that he had not got a solicitor and he was not going to get one to suit her or to deal with issues that she thought important. However, he was thinking of buying a house himself and he would presumably get a solicitor then. If dad intended to irritate mum, I think his comment had the desired effect as it drew three exclamation marks.
Alan’s Birthday
Alan referred to my younger brother. It was his 14th birthday. I noted this explicitly but mum did not. I got up at 9 am to give Alan his present from me but went back to bed until 11 am. My suspicion is that I gave him my present along with other family members. Mum had noted earlier that she had bought him a light meter for his camera. Sadly, I did not note what I gave him. I had tried to get him an Airfix model of a skeleton but had failed to get one and did not note what I ultimately bought him. I had noted that I got Liz’s present for him, namely a front door key and two rulers, see Chapter 122.
Charts or Football
Usually, on a Sunday evening, I listened to the Radio 1 chart show where the Top 20 for that week was announced. However, I noted that I did not on this occasion as England were playing a World Cup qualifying match against Finland.
According to a TV guide for that day, the chart show was presented by Tom Browne who I do not recall. Apparently, he presented that show from 1 October 1972 to 26 March 1978 which would have been most of the time that I listened to it. The football was broadcast on both TV (BBC 1) and radio (Radio 2) and I assume I watched it on TV.
World Cup Qualifier
I noted that England played Finland in a World Cup Qualifier which they won 4-1. I noted that the other teams in the group were Italy and Luxembourg, see Chapter 123. However, they did not play each other until October 1976.
World Cup 1978
The 1978 World Cup was planned to be held in Argentina. The finals were to be contested between 16 teams.
Qualification
Two teams qualified automatically, West Germany as holders and Argentina as hosts. This left 14 places available for which teams needed to qualify. In Europe 31 teams competed for eight spots in the final plus one spot in an intercontinental play-off against a team from South America. This play-off was played over home and away legs with Hungary beating Bolivia 9-2 on aggregate.
The draw for qualifying groups was made in Guatemala in November 1975. Teams were seeded into four pots with the strongest teams in Pot A and the weakest teams in Pot D. There were nine teams in each of Pots A to C and four teams in Pot D. Groups 1-4 had four teams each with one from each of Pots A to D whereas Groups 5-9 had three teams each with one from each of Pots A to C only.
Scotland were in Pot A and were drawn into Group 7 with Czechoslovakia and Wales. England were in Pot B and were drawn into Group 2 with Italy, Finland and Luxembourg. Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales were all in Pot C. Ireland were drawn into Group 5 with France and Bulgaria; Northern Ireland were drawn into Group 4 with the Netherlands, Belgium and Iceland; and Wales were drawn into Group 7 with Scotland and Czechoslovakia.
England Had Failed to Qualify for the World Cup in 1974
While I did not cover qualification for the 1974 World Cup in much detail, see Chapter 112, I did note that England failed to qualify explaining that England had qualified automatically in both 1966 and 1970 as hosts and holders respectively.
There is an interesting piece on the history of England qualifying for the World Cup in the match programme for England’s home game against Finland in October 1976. Apparently, the home nations did not participate in the World Cup until 1950. In both 1950 and 1954, the Home Nations Championship was used for qualification purposes with England and Scotland winning through on both occasions although Scotland declined to take up their place in 1950. Then, in 1958, England qualified in a group that also contained Denmark and Ireland. In 1962, Luxembourg and Portugal were in the group from which England qualified.
Their different records in World Cup qualification in 1974 was one major reason why Scotland were seeded higher for the 1978 qualification process than England. This led to England being drawn in a group with a very strong team, Italy. However, Scotland were drawn into a group with Czechoslovakia, another strong team albeit in Pot B, who, at the time the draw was made, were about to go on to win Euro 1976.
Finland v England
The game against Finland took place in Helsinki.
Familiar to Finns
The article when translated into English was titled “English football is familiar to Finns” and read as follows, “English football and its top names are familiar to the Finnish football audience. Saturday night television matches have brought the British Isles’ league football into our living rooms.” I assume the article was referring to English football primarily. Liverpool had narrowly won the 1975/76 league championship from Queens Park Rangers. Southampton won the 1975/76 FA Cup beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final.
Drawn Together
The article continues, “The draw for the 1978 Argentina World Cup, held in Rome in the spring, has now brought our acquaintance to the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Soon, league champions Liverpool’s Ray Clemence, Phil Thompson and Kevin Keegan, cup winners Southampton’s Mike Channon and West Ham’s Trevor Brooking will be running onto the field. Finland has played against English professionals four times.” I think that was counting this game. The three previous games had been friendlies. In May 1937, England beat Finland 8-0; in May 1956, the score was 5-1; and in June 1966, England won 3-0.
Finland’s Improving Performances
The article then continues, “All matches have been played in Helsinki. Only once, in 1956, have we put the ball in England’s net. This time the line-ups before the match are perhaps more even. Finland’s good matches against Italy in 1975, as well as our victory over Switzerland this spring and our good game against Sweden have made even the English cautious. “ Finland had been in the same group as Italy for qualifying for Euro 76. They played each other twice in 1975. In June, in Helsinki, Italy won narrowly 1-0. Then, in September, in Rome, the two teams drew 0-0. In a friendly in May, Finland beat Switzerland 1-0. Earlier in June, Sweden beat Finland 2-0 in a friendly in Helsinki.
Quotes from Gerry Francis…
The article then quotes England captain Gerry Francis who said, “We have to win the match in Helsinki. I don’t care one bit about how we do against Scotland or Brazil or anyone else. We have to beat Finland in Helsinki.” I am not sure when Gerry Francis was interviewed but I suspect he was talking about England’s matches against Scotland and Brazil in May 1976 in the Home Championship and Bicentennial Cup respectively. England lost both those games. This could have prompted Gerry Francis to say that he was not interested in the results of those compared to the result of this competitive game.
…and Don Revie
Finally, the article concludes by quoting England manager Don Revie who said after Finland had beaten Switzerland, “England will have great difficulty beating Finland. I was impressed by the Finnish team’s well-organised performance.”
To be honest, I am not sure how genuine Don Revie’s comments were or the extent he was trying to respect the opposition. I am pretty sure there would have been an expectation that England would beat Finland, particularly among supporters and media. I suspect there would have been great collective angst had they failed to win. Thankfully, they did win, the score was 4-1 with goals from Stuart Pearson, Kevin Keegan (2) and Mick Channon. Newspapers after the game were generally positive, describing it variously as a comfortable, convincing or crushing win and referring to Kevin Keegan as having been in a tormenting mood.
English Literature Exam
I noted having an early night as I had an English Literature (Lit) examination (exam) the next day, see Chapter 118. This was an O level exam and 1976 was the year I took most of my O levels although I had done maths and English language the previous year.
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