Mum – Hot. Went in city with A in am. Then P A & E went & picked strawberries. Watched Wimbledon in aft. Saw Malcolm at night – went to fetch some Comm Wine from B Rd. P went to Theatre Royal – I thought Andrew wasn’t going but he did. I was very upset when she got in. R went to party.
Roger – At work today we had quite a lot of fun. CID came in because Mr Peake was suspicious of a bloke who was selling him books. Although the bloke has previous convictions they aren’t sure the books have been obtained illegally. The major titles at Wimbledon have been decided.
MIXED DOUBLES Tony Roche (A) and Francoise Durr (F) bt Rosy Casals (USA) and Dick Stockton (USA).
WOMEN’S DOUBLES – Chris Evert (USA) & Martina Navratilova (Cze) bt Billy Jean King (USA) and Betty Stove (USA).
MEN’S DOUBLES – Gotfried (USA) & Ramirez (Mex) beat Case (Aus) and (Aus).
WOMEN’S SINGLES – Chris Evert bt Evonne Cawley (Aus).
MEN’S SINGLES – Björn Borg (Swe) beat Ile Nastase (Rum)
I went to the party tonight it was good. It started at 8 and most of the school people had left at 12 o’clock but some of Miss Simpson’s non-school friends came and continued the party. I walked Carol home and then talked with her and came home. It is now 10 past 2.
Notes
A Note on the Weather
Mum noted that it was hot. She had noted that it was hot or very hot for most of June. This is not surprising as 1976, is well-known for having had a very hot and dry summer, see Chapter 129.
In the City with Alan
A refers to my younger brother Alan. He and mum went into the city. I presume they were shopping but I don’t know if they bought anything in particular, see Chapter 125.
Strawberry Picking
Later, Alan went with my sisters Tricia (P for Patricia) and Liz (E for Elizabeth) strawberry picking, see Chapter 122. Pick your own fruit was something I recall doing fairly frequently as a child and teenager. My sister Liz tells the story that, on one of these trips, my brother Alan and I told her not to eat any of the strawberries as they weighed you secretly on the way in and out to check if you had eaten any! She says she believed us!! Others also remember picking their own fruit in Norfolk in the seventies.
Wimbledon
Mum noted watching Wimbledon in the afternoon (aft), see Chapter 123.
I summarised the main results of Wimbledon that year. In the mixed doubles, Tony Roche from Australia and Françoise Dürr from France beat Americans Rosie Casals and Dick Stockton 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
In the women’s doubles, American Chris Evert and Czech Martina Navratilova beat American Billie Jean King and Betty Stöve 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Although I recorded Betty Stöve’s nationality as America, she was actually Dutch.
In the men’s doubles, American Brian Gottfried and Mexican Raúl Ramirez beat Australians Ross Case and Geoff Masters 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 2-6, 7-5. Although I recorded Case’s name, I left space to add Masters’s name but never did.
In the women’s singles, Chris Evert beat Evonne Cawley in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 8-6). In the men’s singles, Björn Borg beat Ilie Nastase in three sets (6-4, 6-2, 9-7). This was the first of five consecutive wins for Borg.
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 saw him at night. She went to collect some communion (comm) wine from Bowthorpe Road (B Rd) Methodist Church.
Joseph at the Theatre Royal
My older sister Tricia (P for Patricia) went to see “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the Theatre Royal, see Chapter 122. Andrew Wright, someone Tricia knew from St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, went too. Mum was upset by this. She was not happy about their friendship as Andrew was much older and was married, see Chapter 114. However, I think he also played a leadership role in the church’s work with young people and it seems natural to me that he supported and befriended Tricia in that role. In addition, Tricia was 18 at this point so able to make her own judgments on such matters! I am not sure if they were going as part of a group or on their own.
Anyway, mum had intervened and spoken to Andrew who, she thought, understood her point of view. She also spoke to Tricia and they had, what I interpret, as a blazing row. Regardless, mum thought Andrew had agreed not to go to the theatre but clearly he hadn’t as he went but much to mum’s annoyance.
Based on my experience, this was one of mum’s common traits, that is, she often thought something had been agreed just because someone did not confront her directly. Direct confrontation with my mother was frequently a painful and explosive route to take! As a result, many people chose a degree of silence which mum often interpreted as understanding and agreement when this was not in face the case!
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat“
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a very well-known musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Its professional premiere was in 1972. Apparently, it was on in Norwich from 21 June to 17 July 1976. Cast included Ray C Davis, Tudor Davies, Mason Taylor, Louise Gold and Steve Devereaux.
I came across an advert for, and a review of, this in the local press. The review referred to this as “Joseph Mark II” and started very positively praising Tudor Davies for all the roles he played including director, choreographer and narrator. The reviewer found the portrayal of Joseph “immensely appealing” while the brothers’ performances were also praised. However, the reviewer criticised the distorted amplification and felt that the production lost the basic simplicity of the musical. He considered it “over-produced and over-ornamented”.
Party
R refers to me Roger. Mum simply noted that I went to a party, see Chapter 122. I had noted previously that this was Miss Simpson’s party. I am not entirely sure who she was, a teacher at school presumably. The party was held at 6 Beaumont Place which I presume was her home. The picture of this house seems vaguely familiar and I think I may have some memories of this party. However, it is a long time ago and I am not completely sure.
I thought the party was good. It started at 8pm but I noted that most of the school people left by midnight. However, some of Miss Simpson’s non-school friends came and continued the party.
Saturday Job
At this time, I had a Saturday job at the Scientific Anglian bookshop, see Chapter 119. On this occasion, I referred to having quite a lot of “fun” because my boss and shop owner, Norman Peake, was suspicious about someone who was trying to sell him books. The police (CID) came but although the man involved had previous convictions, presumably for selling stolen books, the police were not able to establish that the books he was selling now had been obtained illegally.
Carol Colman
After Miss Simpson’s party, I walked Carol Colman home. She was in my year and is someone I do recall. We went out for a short time following this party, see Chapter 122. I came home afterwards and noted that, at the time I was writing my diary, it was 2.10am.
I don’t recall exactly where Carol lived but I don’t think it was too far from Beaumont Place on that side of Unthank Road. I recall it as a low block of flats, such as the type found in Suffolk Square. If I am correct, it would only have been a walk of about a third of a mile, and was roughly on my way home.
Carol took exams at the same time as me, in 1976, but I don’t believe she went on to sixth form. I am not sure what she did after school.
One thing that surprises me is that, although mum noted in her diary that I went to a party, she did not comment on when I got back! Mum was upset with Tricia that night so perhaps her ire was directed that way rather than at me!
A Good Athlete
One thing I do remember about Carol Colman was that she was a good athlete and gymnast. I came across a news report of Hewett’s sports day in 1974. She won the third year girl’s high jump with 1.29m and the javelin with 15.70m.
Other winners I recognise from that report include Timothy Fisher (100 and 200m); Robert Bonwell (800m); Tim Newenham (javelin and discus); and Sarah Humphries (long jump). Tim’s result in the javelin was truly special as he was only one of two athletes to achieve national standards.
In March 1974, she was one of three students featured in an article on gymnastics at the Hewett School. This article included two photos of her.
