Mum – At Dunoon. Went to Baptist Church in am – baptism. V nice. Went walk round Bishops Glen in aft. Went to Kirk Parish Church in evening. Excellent service. Poured with rain from 6.15 onwards. Had haematuria all day.
Roger – Got up at about 10 o’clock and did some shopping. Both grandma and dad rang up to check that I was allright. After lunch I watched the TV and played my guitar. I range Caroline up to say goodbye as she leaves for France tomorrow.
It was the first day of competition in the Olympics today but unfortunately several African countries have pulled out as NZ whose rugby team played against South Africa were allowed to compete. A few gold medals have been won. In the 100k Cycling Team Time Trial Russia won the gold, Poland Silver and Denmark Bronze. An East German won the Free Pistol Shooting and 3 Americans took the medals in the men’s 200 metres Butterfly. The women’s 4 x 100m Relay Medley was won by the East Germans, 2nd the Americans & 3rd the Canadians. The British cyclists were 6th, so was Brian Brinkley in the Butterfly and the women’s relay team.
Notes
Dunoon
Mum and my two siblings Alan (A) and Liz (E for Elizabeth) were away for a two-week holiday at Dhalling Mhor, the Christian Guild place in Dunoon, see Chapter 122. On this day, mum went to church twice and for a walk in the afternoon.
Baptist Church
In the morning, mum went to a Baptist church. There was a baptism which she described as very nice.
I assume this refers to Dunoon Baptist Church which still operates and is located at 9 Alexandra Parade. I am not sure if this was the location when mum went there as the building looks relatively modern. One of its early pastors was Rev Duncan Macgregor who served as pastor for 25 years and established a Bible College in Dunoon. Interestingly, this was located at Dhalling Mhor.
Bishop’s Glen
In the afternoon, they walked round Bishop’s Glen. Mum was involved in this but I don’t know if others were including Alan and Liz. Bishop’s Glen is located to the west of Dunoon and is part of Dunoon Woodland Park. Within Bishop’s Glen is an old reservoir which used to supply water to Dunoon. It is now a popular fishing spot.
Kirk Parish Church
Mum went to Kirk Parish Church in the evening. She described the service as excellent. This is referring to what is elsewhere described as High Kirk also known as the Old Parish Church. There has been a church on the High Kirk site since the 13th century. The current building was constructed in 1817 but enlarged in 1839/40 and in 1909. The High Kirk joined together with three other churches in 2021 to form Cowal Kirk. The final service at High Kirk was held in October 2023.
A Note on the Weather
Mum noted that it poured with rain from 6.15 pm onwards.
Haematuria
Mum had felt unwell the previous day with pain in the left side of her back. On this day, she noted that she had haematuria all day. It turned out that she had a renal stone and, on the day she should have come home, she was admitted to Dunoon hospital. She later flew home and had surgery for the stone in Norwich, see Chapter 116.
Shopping
I noted that I got up at about 10 o’clock and then did some shopping presumably for food, see Chapter 125.
Checking Up
I noted that both my grandmother and father phoned to check that I was OK. I presume this was because mum was away on holiday, see Chapter 122, I was 16 at this time. My older sister Tricia (Patricia) had been home with me but I suspect these phone calls mean she had gone somewhere although I can find no record of this in my diary.
TV
After lunch, I noted watching TV but did not say what I watched, see Chapter 122.
Guitar
I noted playing my guitar in the afternoon. At this time, I was trying to learn guitar but was never very good! I had been given a new guitar for my 16th birthday the previous month, see Chapter 122.
Caroline Kingham
Caroline refers to Caroline Kingham. She and I had been going out for about a week or so! I phoned her to say goodbye as she was leaving for France the next day for a holiday.
I recall Caroline and would consider her as my first “proper” girlfriend, see Chapter 122. We went out for a relatively long period by the teenage standards of that time, but it was probably less than a month all told! I confess that I was unable to recall her surname but was able to track it down as my mother and her mother later worked together. I don’t know much about what happened to her but I believe she may have married Marcus Adam Batch in June 1982.
Olympics
I noted that that day was the first day of competition in the Olympics, see Chapter 123.
African Boycott
However, I noted that several African countries pulled out as New Zealand, whose rugby team played against South Africa, were allowed to compete. A total of 29 countries boycotted the games for this reason. Although they were mainly African countries, they also included Afghanistan, Albania, Burma, Guyana, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Syria.
Gold Medals
I noted that a few gold medals had been won.
100km Cycling Time Trial
In the 100km cycling team time trial the Soviet Union, who I referred to as Russia, won gold, Poland silver and Denmark bronze. The British team of Paul Carbutt, Philip Griffiths, Dudley Hayton and William Nickson finished sixth.
Men’s 50m Free Pistol Shooting
An East German won the men’s 50m free pistol shooting. His name was Uwe Potteck and he posted a world record score of 573. Although he appeared in the 1980 and 1988 Olympics, this was his only medal.
Men’s 200m Butterfly
Three Americans took the medals in the men’s 200m butterfly. These were Mike Bruner, Steve Gregg and Bill Forrester. Mike Bruner also won gold in the 4 x 200m freestyle men’s relay. Britain’s Brian Brinkley finished sixth in the men’s 200m butterfly. He was part of the British 4 x 200m freestyle team that won Olympic bronze.
Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay
The women’s 4 x 100m medley relay was won by East Germany with USA second and Canada third. The British team of Joy Beasley, Margaret Kelly, Susan Jenner and Deborah Hill finished sixth.
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