Mum – Hot. Work all day. V v busy. V worried about talking to Andrew – but did it at lunch-time. He understood & told me his problems – not good marriage. Rang M first & afterwards.
Roger – Giscard d’Estaing, French President’s state visit started today. The test match finished drawn. Cooked my own dinner and had our German Reading & Aural Comprehensions. Chemistry tomorrow. Got some new sunglasses free to replace my broken ones.
Notes
A Note on the Weather
Mum simply noted that it was hot. This is not surprising as 1976, is well-known for having had a very hot and dry summer, see Chapter 129.
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. She noted that it was very very busy.
Talking to Andrew
Andrew refers to Andrew Wright who mum knew through church. My sister Tricia (Patricia) and Andrew were friends at this time. Mum was concerned about this because of the age difference and because Andrew was married, see Chapter 114. She had raised her concerns with Rev Malcolm Carter the previous day and he had suggested that she speak to Andrew about this.
Although she was very worried about doing this, she did speak to him at lunch-time. She thought he understood which I take to mean that he accepted what she said, possibly without comment and certainly without contradiction. He also told mum about his problems including that his marriage was “not good“. I am not sure if this was meant to reassure mum or he simply told her the truth. I would imagine that hearing this would have made her more anxious!
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 spoke to im both before and after she spoke with Andrew.
Giscard D’Estaing
I noted that Giscard D’Estaing started a state visit to the UK that day, see Chapter 129.
Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d’Estaing was born in 1926. He was President of France from 1974 to 1981. His presidency was marked by a more liberal attitude on social issues and attempts to modernise the country. However, his popularity suffered after the 1973 energy crisis which resulted in austerity and rising unemployment. He lost the 1981 presidential election to Francois Mitterand. He died in 2020.
As President, he made a four-day state visit to the UK from 22 to 25 JUne 1976, hosted by the Queen. He and his wife were welcomed by the Queen and Prince Philip at Victoria Station. They took part in a procession to Buckingham Palace and there were then talks with Prime Minister James Callaghan. At night, there was a state banquet.
Second Test
I noted that the second test between England and the West Indies finished in a draw, see Chapter 123. England made 254 in their second innings meaning West Indies needed 323 to win. They made 241 for 6.
Cooking for Myself
I noted that I cooked my own dinner, see Chapter 126. Presumably, this referred to a midday meal and I did this because I was the only one home. I also assume it was a hot meal but sadly I don’t know what it was.
O Levels
I was doing my O levels and, on this day, had German reading and aural comprehension, see Chapter 118. I noted that I had a chemistry exam the next day.
Sunglasses
There was something of an ongoing saga about my sunglasses although my diary does not capture all the details. The previous day, I had gone from school into the city to see if I could get my sunglasses repaired. I had had to leave them and was told to go back the next day. I am not sure exactly what the issue was but assume I had broken them. The previous month, I had tried to buy some, see Chapter 125, but, as far as I know, was not successful. So perhaps I decided to try to get the ones I had fixed. Anyway, I noted that I was given some new sunglasses free to replace my broken ones. I can only assume that they were relatively new so were still under warranty/guarantee.
Charts
At the end of my diary, I noted the charts for three weeks including on Tuesday 22 May 1976. For some reason, these entries have been crossed out but are still clearly visible.
