Grandad’s Health Seemed Better
During this period, grandad’s health seemed better.
Regular Medication
However, he was still taking regular medication. For example, in May 1965, he noted picking up tablets from the doctors.
Gout
He continued to experience bouts of gout, see Chapter 78. He had attacks in May and July 1966, May and July 1967, May and August 1968 and February 1969. For example, in May 1966, when he, grandma, Tom and Amy went to Lowestoft, grandad went in his slippers because of gout in his left foot. The next day, he noted that his foot was very swollen and he could not get his boot on. He continued to wear his slippers and it was only after six days that the swelling had subsided enough for him to be able to get his boot on. He still noted that it was tight. In July 1968, he started wearing his Pirelli bootees which he had when they used to come to ours from Kirkby.
Pirelli
Pirelli, the well-known Italian tyre makers, also produced slippers. I have come across a blog about their 1962 advertising campaign for these. Also, I came across an article about a 1984 flood at the factory in Burton where their slippers were made. I have assumed that when grandad referred to booties he was referring to some kind of ankle-length slipper or soft boot.
Urinary Stone
On 10 March 1968, he referred to passing a very small piece of gravel in his urine.
Illnesses Among Friends and Family Members
Coughs and Colds
Family members had various coughs and colds during this period. In March 1966, grandma had a sore throat and, a week later, mum didn’t feel very well and lost her voice. A couple of days later, according to grandad, mum was better but dad was said to have the flu. Mum differed somewhat and noted that, although she still did not feel too good, she carried on. A couple of days later, she noted having a high temperature.
On 1 April, Dr English came because mum’s temperature remained high. He prescribed her “hedamicin and medicine”. The next day, a Saturday, Dr English came back. He told mum she had pleurisy and flu and that she needed to stay in bed until Monday. He returned on the Monday and said she could get up for an hour. Over the next few days, she did get up but only for around half an hour as she said she felt tired and weak. On the Thursday, Dr English came to see her and encouraged her to do more.
Hedamicin/Hedamycin
I am not entirely sure what Hedamicin was. I have come across Hedamycin which is described as an anti-tumour antibiotic. But, it does not seem to have been widely-used.
Bunged-Up Nose
In June 1967, grandad went to the chemist for a bottle of smelling salts as grandma had a bunged- up nose.
Colds and Flu
On 4 January 1968, grandad noted that only five attended the Drayton Ladies’ Meeting as most of them had a cold or flu. Grandma developed flu a couple of days after this. Just over a week later, grandad developed a cold with high temperature and took to bed.
Bilious Attack
In March 1968, grandad referred to having a “bilious attack”. I confess to not knowing exactly what this is. It appears to be an old-fashioned and imprecise term to mean various symptoms including headache and abdominal pain.
Other People Had Colds
Other people who had colds during this period included Tom, Eva, Liz, Alan, Mrs Hodgson, Irene Bell, Ken Bell and Mrs Smith. Grandad noted that during December 1969 there had been a flu epidemic and many people had died.
Hong Kong Flu
It seems that there was an upsurge in flu cases and deaths in December 1969 and that this was part of the so-called Hong Kong flu pandemic which affected the UK between 1968 and 1970. I confess I have no recollection of this. I would have been eight at the time.
Smoking
On 16 March 1965, dad stopped smoking. This was the day my sister, Liz, was born although I don’t think the two things were linked. As Liz was adopted, I am not sure dad would have known about her at this point.
I confess I do not recall him smoking at all but I was only four when he stopped. I do recall having a number of old cigarette tins around the house as a child. From memory, I believe they were red and were from Benson and Hedges.
Warts
In August 1967, dad went to the doctors to have some warts treated.
Coeliac Disease
Alan was well during this period from the point of view of Coeliac disease, see Chapter 78. He went to the hospital for periodic check-ups of this with Dr Oliver. On some occasions, particularly between September 1967 and January 1968, when grandad referred to mum taking Alan to hospital for a check-up it is not clear precisely what the check-up was for.
Asthma
However, Alan had problems with his asthma, see Chapter 78, and, in September 1966, while we were on holiday at Butlins in Clacton, he had an attack and was admitted to hospital. Grandma, grandad, Tom and Amy came to Clacton the following day to visit us. Alan recovered enough to come home and, around ten days later, he saw Mr Green at Jenny Lind. For details of the Jenny Lind Hospital, please see Chapter 78. Initially, I presumed this related to Alan’s asthma but it might have related to bedwetting.
After a further ten days, Alan should have gone to Jenny Lind for an X-ray but he was not able to as his asthma was too bad. He finally had this X-ray in early October. In November 1966, dad took Alan to the Norfolk and Norwich for another chest X-ray. Dad took him on this occasion as mum herself was in hospital.
On 4 January 1967, Alan was wheezy and mum took him to see Dr Welch. She went again with him on the 6th.
The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
The Norfolk and Norwich is the main hospital in Norwich. It re-located from the city centre to the current site in Colney in 2001.
Ear Infection
In December 1966, Alan was not too well with a temperature. On the 12th, Dr Welch came to see him and said that he had an ear infection. Dr Welch saw him again on the 14th.
Bladder Examination
On 10 January 1967, mum noted that she went to the Jenny Lind and saw Mr Green who told her that they would aim to have “him” in in four to five weeks. I am not sure if this is referring to me or Alan but I think it was probably Alan. On 25 July 1967, mum took Alan to the Jenny Lind Hospital for a bladder examination under anaesthetic under the care of Mr Green. He was kept in one night and allowed home the next day. Mr Green saw him for review on 15 August 1967 and said there was nothing wrong. From memory, I think this may have related to bedwetting.
Toes
In August 1967, mum went to see Dr Welch about Alan’s toes and he had an operation on his toes in January 1969. From memory, this could have related to overlapping toes or an issue with a toenail.
Leg Problem
In July 1968, grandad noted that mum took me to hospital about my leg but it was OK. I am not sure what this was about. I do recall having an issue with my leg at some point and being unable to straighten my knee but I think this was later than this.
Cut Head
On 7 June 1967, according to grandad, Alan fell and cut his head. He had to have stitches and he had these removed on 12 June. I have a recollection of Alan having two such injuries in close succession. On one of these occasions, I was involved! My recollection is that he fell off his bike coming down the hill in the garden at Middleton’s Lane. Then, I caught his head with part of my bike, causing the gash. I don’t know if that was this particular time. I would have been seven and Alan nearly five which is a bit younger than I imagine it being.
Sprained Wrist
On 9 May 1968, grandma fell and sprained her wrist. Mum took her to hospital and she was asked to go back there on the 18th. When she went, the doctor took the bandage off and said it would be alright.
Cut Leg
On 24 January 1969, grandma stumbled as she was getting onto the bus and cut her leg. This meant that the next day she was not able to do decorating as she had intended and the following day she stayed in and did not go to church services. Quite a number of people came to visit her and dad dressed her wound. They borrowed a wheelchair from Geoffrey Carpenter to help grandma get around.
Involved in a Car Accident
In May 1969, mum and dad went to Newark to see Nolan who had been involved in a car accident. He was taken to King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton, see Chapter 50.
Eye and Facial Injury
On 15 September 1969, grandad had quite a serious accident in his cabin. He had put new emery paper on the wheel and put the screw in the wrong hole. When it was put on the spindle, it broke the wheel in two. One piece hit grandad in the face and broke his glasses while the other broke a window of the cabin. This was replaced on 29 October 1969. The cost of the replacement glass was 4/6.
As a result of the accident, several small pieces of glass went into grandad’s right eye. John was at Ron’s. He took grandad to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital to have it attended to. Mum brought him home. Grandad had to go back to the hospital the next day and he was told that there were still two small pieces of glass in his eye. He had to wear a pad on the eye and he had to put ointment in it for 14 days.
Once he started going out again, he had to wear a shield over his eye, He was reviewed at the hospital on 3 October 1969 and was examined for new glasses at Coleman’s in St Augustine’s. He ordered two pairs. He collected them on 10 October. The distance pair were £4 14 0 but the reading glasses were lenses only so cost £1 12 0.
He was finally discharged from hospital follow up on 28 November 1969.
Colemans
Colemans started life as De Carle’s drug store or pharmacy in the 19th century. It became Coleman and De Carle in 1945. It remains an active opticians under the name of Colemans.
Mumps
On 30 March 1967, grandad noted going to sit with me as I had “mumps” although mum referred to me having mumps at the end of May that year and this spread first to Alan, then to Tricia and then to Liz.
Chickenpox
At the end of July 1967, Tricia got chickenpox and Dr Welch came out to see her. In August, this spread to Liz and then, on the 13th, mum noted that I had chickenpox “slightly”.
Worries About Scarlet Fever
On 9 August 1969, there were concerns that Liz might have scarlet fever but this was ruled out two days later.
Vaccinations
On 6 January 1966, mum noted that Liz “had polio injection by mouth”. This is an odd expression but presumably mum meant that Liz received her polio immunisation or vaccination by mouth. Liz would have been just over nine months old at this point. I don’t have details of her other immunisations but this might reflect that mum’s diary entries were patchy at this point. While Tricia and I received polio immunisation by injection, Alan also received it orally reflecting that the UK switched to oral polio vaccine in 1962, see Chapter 78.
School Medicals
On 16 June 1967, Alan and I had school medicals. According to grandad, Tricia and I had school medicals on 5 July 1967. Mum referred to this being an ear test in my case.
Religious Services at Hospitals
Grandma was sometimes involved in religious services at hospitals, for example, at David Rice Hospital in November 1966. The ladies from Drayton Methodist Church also gave carol services there each year from 1966 to 1969.
David Rice Hospital
This was a psychiatric rehabilitation hospital that was demolished in 2003. As of June 2021, there were plans to develop the site by building a care facility and social housing. The hospital was named after a psychiatrist who was medical superintendent of Hellesdon Hospital. Hellesdon Hospital remains open as a mental health facility.
Volunteering at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
Mum noted going to a coffee morning for volunteers at the Norfolk and Norwich on 4 January 1967. From April 1968, grandma used to go to Norwich hospital to help serve tea, coffee and soft drinks at the hospital canteen. Days she did this in 1968 included 23, 26 April; 1 July (on this occasion she was deputising for Irene Bell as Ken was ill in bed with a bad cold); 3, 11 September (on this occasion she went with Mrs Hodgson); 9 October; and 6, 27 November. She also did it in 1969 on 26 February; 14, 21 April; 12, 19 May; 9, 16 June; 14 July; 8, 29 September; 6, 27 October (on 27th Amy went with her); 24 November; and 1 December.
Hosting Visits from Hellesdon Hospital
Grandma also hosted visits from patients and volunteers from Hellesdon Hospital, e.g. in November 1968 and in September 1969. In the September 1969 visit, the volunteer was called Miss Palmer.
Helping with Baby Clinics
Grandma also helped with baby clinics at Drayton village hall, e.g. in December 1968. On one occasion, she did this for Miss Cooke who was sick.
Visiting the Maternity Hospital
In May 1969, grandma, Mrs Smith and other Drayton ladies went on a visit to the maternity hospital.
Drayton Hall Maternity Home
While I do not know for sure, I suspect this was the Drayton Hall Maternity Home. This was the home for Norwich Maternity Institution from 1950 to 1989. Prior to this move, it was located in Pottergate from 1919 to 1928, at Heigham Grove House from 1928 to 1942 and at Earlham Hall from 1942 to 1950. The building on Hall Lane is now owned by the Lind Trust.
Eye Problems
Grandma
Grandma continued to have problems with her vision. In October 1965, she saw Dr Naughton in Norwich but he said that there was nothing that could be done. He gave her some tablets. Grandad said were the same as the ones she had been receiving in Kirkby. She started taking these a few days later.
Grandad
In December 1965, grandad’s long-distance glasses, which he noted he had bought in 1954, fell out of his pocket and broke in two. He drilled two holes in the pieces and fixed them together with wire and sticky tape but noted that he would need to get some more. A week later, he was tested for new glasses at Coleman and de Carle and paid a deposit of £2. He collected them a few days later. In October 1966, grandad noted that Mr Collins mended his old glasses with fibre glass.
Mum
In March 1966, mum went there to have her eyes tested.
I Need Glasses
I went to Jenny Lind concerning my eyes, in September 1966, and was told that I needed glasses. This was because I am quite short-sighted and recall having trouble seeing the blackboard at school. But, I found having glasses difficult throughout my school days partly because of severe teasing/bullying and partly because the glasses available then on the NHS were fairly limited. I decided that when I went to university I would turn up wearing glasses and did so.
In April 1968, grandma broke one side off her glasses and Tom took her into Norwich to get them fixed. She got them back the next day.
Visiting the Dentist
In March 1966, mum noted taking Tricia, me and Alan to the dentist. Following this, Tricia had to go back for a filling. In October 1966, dad had a tooth out in an emergency. In December 1966, grandma went to a dentist in Hellesdon to see about a new set of teeth. She got these two days before Christmas and grandad noted that she paid £5 to the National Health for these.
Hearing Test
On 2 January 1968, mum noted that a doctor from NCC came to test my hearing. I am not sure what NCC stood for. Norfolk County Council? Norwich City Council? They noted a loss of hearing and that I was to have my ears syringed. Mum took me to have this done on the 9th.
The Douglases
Grandma and grandad’s next-door neighbours in Drayton, at 168 Drayton High Road, were the Douglases, also known as the Brunton-Douglases. Ron and Betty lived there with their three children, Paul, Graham and Caroline. Paul and Graham were older than us, born in 1953 and 1957 respectively. Caroline was born in 1964 so roughly the same age as Liz. Ron’s brother, John, also lived with them.
Caroline Douglas Had Measles
In December 1965, Caroline had measles.
Paul Douglas Had a Bike Accident
On 9 April 1966, Paul was knocked off his bike by a car. He was taken to hospital but his injuries were not as serious as first thought. He was kept in two nights but they found no bones broken. Rather, he was badly bruised and he had a cut on his face.
Graham Douglas Hurt His Leg
That same month, Graham fell and hurt his leg. He was also kept overnight in hospital but no bones were found to be broken.
Fred Noble Died
In December 1966, grandad noted that Fred Noble, Betty’s cousin’s (Bunty’s) husband died in hospital. He died in Norwich and was 45 years old.
Betty Douglas’ Illness
Grandad first noted that Betty Douglas was ill in September 1965 when she had to go into hospital. On 21 December 1966, Betty went to hospital again for an X-ray and was told she would need to go again in the near future. She was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich on 30 December 1966 and she had surgery on 3 January 1967. Grandma visited her in hospital on the 4th. Grandad noted on the 7th that Ron came to see them and told them “sad news re Betty” that she had cancer and that the surgeon had only given her six months to live. On the 11th, grandma and grandad visited Betty in hospital and she came home from hospital on the 26th.
Betty Douglas Was In and Out of Hospital
However, over the next few weeks, she was in and out of hospital. On 27 January, mum took her to hospital for injections. In March 1967, Betty was not too well and she was readmitted to hospital on 14 April but then discharged on the 18th. She was readmitted on 5 May 1967 and discharged on the 8th. She was admitted to hospital again from the 19th to 21st “for the water to be drained from her” which presumably refers to some form of ascitic tap. On the 22nd, she was not very well and Dr Gale was called. He prescribed something to ease the pain and Ron stayed off work with her. Over the next few days, she improved a little.
Betty Douglas Dies
She was admitted to hospital by ambulance on 11 June. She gradually weakened and she died on 2 July 1967. Ron and John were there. Her funeral and cremation took place on 6 July. Grandma went with one of her neighbours, Irene Bell. On the 9th, Ron took Mrs Collins, Graham, Caroline, Minnie, grandma and grandad to see Betty’s flowers. Then on the 16th, Ron took grandma and Minnie to the crematorium to have a look round. On 27 August 1967, grandma, grandad and Auntie Dolly went with Ron and Caroline to the crematorium.
Betty’s Father
On 28 January 1968, Ron received a phone call that Betty’s father, Mr Collins, had had a heart attack and had died. He was cremated on 7 February.
Geoffrey Carpenter
Another of their neighbours was not well during this period. On 5 December 1967, grandad noted visiting Geoffrey Carpenter who lived with his wife Barbara at 164 Drayton High Road. He was no longer able to get out of the house, except in a car, because he was suffering from multiple sclerosis. In March 1968, grandad noted making what he called a “runway” to enable him to get in the wheelchair to the garden and the lawn. In September 1968, grandad noted that Geoffrey was taken to hospital by ambulance because he had “water trouble”. He was away from home for about an hour and a half.
On 10 May 1969, grandma and Mrs Smith accompanied Barbara Carpenter to visit her husband in hospital. On the 22nd, grandad went with Barbara to visit Geoffrey in hospital. Then, on the 24th, he was sent home by ambulance. Throughout August 1969, Geoffrey was not very well and he died on the 24th. His funeral was on 27th with the cremation at St Faith’s.
Minnie in Poor Health
Grandad’s sister-in-law, Minnie, was in poor health during this time. She and Cyril visited Drayton in June 1965. Cyril and Minnie’s grandson, Simon and his girlfriend, Joyce, brought them in their son Basil’s car. Another grandson Peter and his friend John picked them up. Grandad noted that they took her out in a wheelchair, which he sometimes referred to as an invalid’s chair. These trips out included to Hurn Road, Taverham and meetings at Drayton Methodist Church.
Cyril in Hospital
In September 1966, Cyril was admitted to hospital in Mickleover. I am not completely sure where Cyril was admitted but it seems that Pastures Hospital was a mental hospital, formerly the Derbyshire County Asylum, in Mickleover. It closed in 1994 and the building was converted to flats.
Minnie Continues in Poor Health
In October 1966, Basil and Hilda brought Minnie to grandma and grandad’s for a holiday. As the previous year, Minnie’s grandson Peter and his friend picked her up. This time, grandma took her out in the wheelchair including to Hurn Road, to Hellesdon via Drayton Wood Road and to Drayton Methodist Church. On one occasion, Betty Douglas helped grandma push the wheelchair home.
A Slight Stroke
On 27 November 1966, grandad noted that Minnie had had “ a slight stroke”. At the end of June 1967, Minnie visited again, this time with Eva. Minnie’s grandson Peter brought them, this time with his girlfriend Rosemary. Her other grandson, Simon, and his wife Joyce, picked her up. Simon and Joyce had got married in 1966. Grandma and Eva took her out in the wheelchair including to visit friends, such as Miss Cooke, to ours, to Hellesdon shopping centre and to Drayton Methodist Church.
A Fall
On 11 September 1967, grandad received a letter from Hilda saying that Cyril had fallen downstairs and had fallen onto Minnie. She was taken to Nottingham General Hospital, see Chapter 47.
Minnie and Cyril Die
She died of a coronary on 31 March 1968. Grandma and grandad were not able to attend her funeral but they sent Basil £1 to either buy flowers or to donate to charity. Cyril himself died on 23 September 1968. Grandma and grandad learned about this in a letter from Joyce. Grandma replied sending £1 to get some flowers from them.
Mr and Mrs Beckett
On 5 March 1967, grandad went to see Mr Beckett as his wife had been in hospital for two weeks. The Becketts lived at 170 Drayton High Road. His name was James Frederick Beckett. He married Greta J Batch in 1943. She died at home on 3 August 1967. Her funeral was on 8 August and she was cremated at St Faith’s.
Freda Taylor
On 18 July 1967, mum went to see Freda Taylor in hospital. She had been diagnosed with leukaemia. She died on 2 August in hospital. Her funeral and cremation were held on 5 August and mum and dad attended. The funeral was at Mile Cross with the cremation at St Faith’s crematorium. Mum and dad knew Freda Taylor through Mile Cross Methodist Church. She was 54 when she died.
Amy Wilson
On 13 March 1967, while visiting grandma and grandad, Tom took Amy to see Dr Gale as she had pains across her back and chest. They went home on the 16th as Amy was not feeling too well and she wanted to see her own doctor. She was admitted to Coppice Hospital in Nottingham on 25 April 1967. She went back there at the end of May 1967.
On 9 June, she came home but she was still not feeling too well so she was readmitted on the 23rd. Tom and Amy came to visit grandma and grandad in August 1967. Grandad noted that Amy was much better but that she would need to go to the hospital when they got home. On 13 October 1967, Amy was discharged from hospital follow up. On 26 October 1969, while visiting grandma and grandad, Amy did not feel very well so she did not go to the afternoon service at Drayton Methodist Church.
Coppice Hospital
Coppice Hospital was a mental health facility in Mapperley. It opened in 1859 as Coppice Private Asylum and it joined the National Health Service in 1948. It closed in 1985 with the main building converted to flats as Hine Hall. A more modern mental health facility was opened nearby, the Springwood Centre, but this has also since closed.
Jim
In June 1967, grandma and grandad had a letter from Jim stating he was to have an operation in Mansfield. I presume this was our Uncle Jim, i.e. Frank Seville. I don’t know what the operation was for.
Auntie Dolly
In December 1967, they received a letter from Auntie Dolly saying that she had shingles, see Chapter 100, so would not be coming for Christmas.
Eva
That same month, grandad’s sister, Eva was admitted to the City Hospital, see Chapter 65, in Nottingham. According to a letter from her daughter Olive, she was admitted for tests to find out what was wrong with her.
Miss Cooke
On New Year’s Day 1968, grandma visited her friend Miss Cooke who was ill.
Jessie Lofthouse
In March 1968, when Arthur Lofthouse visited grandma and grandad, his second wife, Jessie was not very well.
Clarence Reeve
In May 1968, Clarence Reeve had a heart attack and he was taken to Nottingham General Hospital. It happened when he and Linda had gone to meet Maurice at Nottingham Station, see Chapter 63. Clarence was discharged after one week and was told not to drive for a while.
Ken Bell
In July 1968, Ken Bell went to hospital for a chest X-ray. I don’t know what this was for.
Eva Visits After a Stroke
In April 1969, Olive brought Eva to stay with grandma and grandad. She had had a slight stroke in her right hand in March that year. On 15 June 1969, Eva was not so well and, on the 17th, they had Dr Gale to see her. She was experiencing dizziness and falling down. Although she was a little better on the 18th, things got worse again from the 21st. On the 22nd, the doctor came again and said she had had one or two more attacks, presumably strokes.
On the 24th, Dr Gale advised that it would be best to get her home so grandma phoned Alf, Olive’s husband, and he arranged to collect her. Alf and Lloyd came for her on the 29th. I am not entirely sure who Lloyd was. Perhaps a friend or relative of Alf’s? He is mentioned by grandad in both 1963 and 1964 when he and Nellie came for tea with Alf and Olive. On 7 July 1969, grandma and grandad received a letter from Olive saying that Eva was a little better and that she was going into a nursing home while Olive and Alf went on holiday.
Grandad, my Father’s Father
On 21 December 1969, dad and grandma went to Kirkby. Dad went to see his father who was not very well.
Deaths
A number of other people died during this period.
Tom Bust
Tom Bust died on 20 March 1965 at the age of only 51. He had married mum’s friend Edna Deakin in 1943 and they, and their daughter, Sylvia had been close family friends. He had worked as a bricklayer and had done practical work with grandad over the years.
Ella Lofthouse
That same month, on the 29th, Ella Lofthouse died. She was 73. Mum and grandma went to her funeral in Skelmersdale on 1 April 1965. They went on the day of the funeral and came back the next day. Among mum’s papers was a newspaper cutting related to Ella Lofthouse’s death.
Gerald Wyles
At the end of January 1966, grandad noted that Gerald Wyles had died while watching TV. He was 63. He had acted as grandad’s solicitor from at least 1947 and had been involved with him in a number of property purchases and concerning wills.
Eric C Bowmar
In June 1966, grandad noted that Eric C Bowmar had died. He was 68 which made him a similar age to grandad. In 1914, grandad noted that they had been in Methodist class together and Eric had twice given the lesson. His middle name was Champness. His parents were George and Annie. George was a wheelwright on Station Street and Eric also worked as a wheelwright. His siblings were Frank, Clarice, Kathleen Margaret, Charles Stuart and Alec Watkinson.
Tommy Oldham
In November 1967, grandad noted that Tommy Oldham died aged 66. The first mention of T Oldham is in 1942 when Fred Wilkins, an evacuee, started working for him for which he was paid two shillings. I wonder if he was Charles T Oldham who was a fruiterer and greengrocer in Harcourt Street. In 1947, he was taken to hospital with gallstones. In 1955, mum and grandma looked at his mother’s house but decided that it was not what mum and dad wanted. He died in November 1967.
Eric Chambers
On 23 January 1968, mum received a phone call from Doreen Barton in Doncaster saying that her sister Freda’s husband, Eric Chambers, had died. Doreen and Freda were granddaughters of Samuel Cirket, the brother of Charles Cirket, who was mum’s grandfather. This made them mum’s second cousins. Eric was 57 when he died.
Edith Green
That same day, Edith Green, Harold’s wife died. She was 78. They lived next door to grandma and grandad in Station Street. She had run a ladies’ hairdresser’s at 70 Station Street. She was cremated in Mansfield on the 26th.
Jim in Canada
On 6 March 1968, grandad’s brother Jim in Canada died aged 82. For more details, see Relatives in Canada.
Winnie
On 19 February 1969, Doris phoned mum to say that Winnie had died. She was 71. On the 24th, mum and grandma went by car to the funeral in Bedford. Grandma’s friend Mrs Smith went with them as she had friends she wanted to see in Bedford.
Jack Hibbert
The diaries noted a number of other deaths and funerals during this period. On 3 May 1965, grandad noted that Jack Hibbert hanged himself in Newcombes’ storeroom. He was 56. He was cremated in Mansfield and his funeral service was held at Trinity Methodist Church.
Helen Jay has confirmed some of the details to me. She writes, “And yes, Jack did indeed hang himself and it was my dad who found him. There was a back entrance to Newcombes on Ellis Street where my dad parked his car, only he and Jack had keys. Dad let himself in and found Jack hanging from a beam in the back storeroom. It was such a shock and such a tragedy, of course there was an inquest etc. No one knew why he had done that as there had been no ‘warning signs’. Mabel was of course devastated, not just at his loss but because there was a sort of shame and sense of failure etc. about it being suicide. But bless her, she was very brave and well supported and ‘got on with life’.
They lived up on Chestnut Avenue. Jack was ‘ second in command’ as it were to my Dad in Newcombes. The other two men in the shop were Roy Nuttall and then Mike Abbott who Dad took on as a school leaver. He was a nice lad and eventually left and set up his own shop further down Station Street – Mike Abbott Menswear. It probably existed until relatively recently… I can remember to this day receiving the letter from Mum and Dad telling me about Jack (we didn’t have a phone in those days) when we were living in our cottage in Norfolk. Such a shock, so tragic and it affected my dad very badly.”
Hannah Willetts
In August 1966, Hannah Willetts died. She was 74 and appears to have been a friend of Cyril and Minnie.
Frank Greensmith
Frank Cyril Greensmith died aged 87 in Kirkby in February 1968.
Fanny Maltby
On 11 May 1968, Fanny Maltby died aged 95. She was Walter Maltby’s mother.
Tony Overfield
On 1 December 1968, Tony Overfield died aged 65. He was John Overfield’s father and he had worked as a colliery hewer.
Russel Walter
On 23 June 1969, Russel Walter, Mrs Carpenter’s boss suddenly died. I think he was 75 years old and had been a solicitor.
Mrs Rudd
At the end of February 1965, grandma attended the funeral of a Mrs Rudd at Chapelfield Road Methodist Church. I don’t know exactly who this was. Possibilities include Ethel Rudd who died in Norwich Outer in Q1 1965 aged 76 or Rose V Rudd who died in Norwich that quarter aged 48. Ethel Rudd had lived in Sprowston and she died on 16 February 1965. Rose Verdun Rudd died on 23 February 1965, The funeral was on the 27th so both are possible although it seems more likely that this related to Ethel Rudd.
Mr Skipper and Mr Pointer
In January 1966, grandma attended funerals of Mr Skipper and Mr Pointer at Drayton Methodist Church on subsequent days.
There were two Mr Skippers who were registered as having died in Norwich Outer this quarter. One was called Leonard, aged 73 and the other, William, aged 84. Leonard had lived in Taverham so perhaps he was the one. I believe Mr Pointer was Edward J Pointer, aged 66.
Bob Heath’s Father
In August 1966, mum and dad went to the funeral of Bob Heath’s father in Catton. I don’t know who Bob Heath was and have not found any details of this death. No-one of this surname is recorded as having died in Norwich or Norwich Outer during this quarter.
Mrs George
In October 1968, grandma and mum went to the funeral of Mrs George at Mile Cross and then to St Faith’s crematorium. I think she may have been Kathleen E George and she was 63 when she died. In April 1961, Mrs George had asked mum if she would help in Mile Cross’ Sunday School’s Beginners’ Department but mum had said no, see Chapter 79.
Mum Thought She Was Pregnant Again
At the end of 1964, mum had thought she was pregnant again although it is far from clear that she was happy with this prospect as she referred to feeling depressed about having another baby, see Chapter 75. But, on 12 January 1965, she noted that she started a miscarriage. I confess I was not aware of this and am still not completely sure what happened, whether to take it at face value that she was pregnant and miscarried but then there was the point that she was depressed about the prospect of having another baby. In addition, there were issues with her mental health at this time and later it seems she thought she was pregnant when she was not.
My Parents Decide to Adopt
Anyway, soon after this, it seems mum and dad decided they would adopt. In some ways, this seems an understandable response to the miscarriage but this perhaps implies that mum (and dad) did want another child. It is not clear why they chose adoption rather than seeking for mum to become pregnant again. Perhaps she wanted another child but did not want to go through another pregnancy?
I am not sure exactly when mum and dad decided they would adopt, but, at the end of March 1965, mum had an X-ray for the Lancashire adoption society.
Lancashire and Cheshire Child Adoption Council
I think this may refer to the Lancashire and Cheshire Child Adoption Council which was a major adoption agency at the time. It was a registered charity from 1963 until it closed in 1992. However, it appears to have been in operation from 1943. In the end, they did not adopt from this society, see Chapter 89.
Adopting My Sister Liz
This led to my sister Liz (Elizabeth Mary) being adopted in 1965, see Chapter 89.
Mum Thought She Was Pregnant Again and Requested a Termination
I am not sure if mum and dad took steps to avoid mum becoming pregnant again but on 3 October 1966, mum went to see Dr Welch as she thought her period was late. On the 17th, he told her she was pregnant. She saw Dr Welch the next day. She agreed to see a psychiatrist as she wished to terminate the pregnancy.
This Preceded the 1967 Abortion Act
This preceded the 1967 Abortion Act but the Bourne case of 1938 had established that abortion was legal before 28 weeks when a woman’s physical or mental health was in danger. However, access to abortions was limited not least because of the uncertain legal position but also because a psychiatrist’s approval was needed. This meant that, in practice, only educated and/or relatively wealthy women were able to access legal abortion. This explains why mum saw a psychiatrist at this point.
Dr Fraser at St Andrew’s Hospital
On the 23 October 1966, mum went to see Dr Fraser at St Andrew’s Hospital.
According to Steven Cherry’s book “Mental Health Care in Modern England: The Norfolk Lunatic Asylum – St Andrew’s Hospital, 1810-1998” (p274), Dr James Fraser was the last medical superintendent of St Andrew’s Hospital. He was appointed in August 1965 and the post was abolished in 1971.
St Andrew’s Hospital was a mental health facility in Norwich. It opened as the Norfolk County Asylum in 1814 and became the Norfolk County Mental Hospital in 1919. In 1948, it joined the National Health Service as St Andrew’s Hospital. It closed in 1998 and the building, which is a grade II listed building, was converted to flats as St Andrew’s Park.
Mum’s Mental Health
On 29 October 1966, mum described being “in a terrible state” so she phoned Dr Fraser. She does not give more details but I assume she was upset, anxious and depressed.
The “Termination“
Two days later, she had an appointment to see Mr Carron Brown, a gynaecologist. John Andrew Carron Brown was appointed as consultant in Norwich in 1963 and worked there until he retired in 1990. He died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in 2008.
Mum saw him on 3 November 1966. She noted that he agreed with Dr Welch and that she should go in “to be sterilised and terminated”. She noted that he advised her to tell people that it had been a cyst on the ovary. On the 4th, she noted she was “losing” so she stayed in bed. On the 6th, grandad noted that dad had phoned him about 8pm to say that mum needed to be admitted to hospital and he referred to it as “internal trouble”. He went to see her the next day.
Mum was admitted to Ward E of the West Norwich Hospital, see Chapter 78, on 12 November. She had the operation on 14 November but was told that there was “no baby there”. She also noted that she had “F tubes cut”. While it is possible that mum misunderstood what she was told or that Mr Carron Brown gave her false information, neither seem likely. It seems likely therefore that this was a false pregnancy. Risk factors for false pregnancy include depressive disorders, marital or relationship issues and experiencing a miscarriage. Some/all of these may have been relevant in mum’s case.
Visiting Mum in Hospital
No-one was allowed to visit her that day but grandma and dad went the next day. On the 18th, mum was still in hospital. Grandad noted that dad visited her but mum said that he did not but that he went to a family meal instead. I confess I don’t understand this. It is possible that dad told grandad he was visiting mum when he did not. But, if he was involved in any sort of family meal I would have thought grandad would have known about it. It is possible, of course, that dad told neither of them the truth or that he did indeed visit mum that day but she was mixed up about it.
Mum noted that “Pat” visited instead. I am not entirely sure who this was. Mum referred to starting swimming with Pat at Hellesdon Secondary Modern School in September 1966. On the 19th, mum was moved to a side ward and she said she had a lot of pain. The next day, she noted having a high temperature. On the 21st, grandad noted that she was making steady progress. Mr Carron Brown saw her that day and said she would be able to go home on Wednesday (23rd). However, on the 22nd, the sister burst an abscess and told mum that she would not be going home on Wednesday. That same day, Rev Alan Warren came to see her. She noted it was the second time with the implication being that this had not been enough.
Discharge and Follow Up
On the 24th, Miss South saw mum and said she would probably be in until Sunday (27th). Dad brought her home on the 27th and grandad noted that she needed to have the district nurse until her abscess had healed. Mum noted that she was discharged because they needed the beds. Grandad called to see her on the 28th and noted that she was very well. Mum noted that the district nurse came on 29 November and that her name was Nurse Conroy. Dr Welch came to see her on the 30th. She also went to see Dr Welch on 23 December 1966.
On Christmas Eve, she did not feel very well and went to bed in the afternoon. On the 28th, she saw Miss South at the Norfolk and Norwich. She told mum that she had a cervical erosion and that she should come back in three months. Then, she saw Dr Welch on 2 January 1967 and he gave her some cream. She saw Mr Carron-Brown on 22 March 1967. He told her it had still not cleared up and that she needed to go back in two months. She saw him on 7 June and he told her that it was more or less clear and there was no need to go again.
Conflict and Depression
On 12 January 1967, mum wrote “Roy went to Visitation Committee came home & said he was resigning from it & also his membership – if he does so will I & I won’t go anywhere. Feel so depressed what with me, Alan, Roger & all the squabbling, screaming etc.”
Factors Affecting Mum’s Mental Health
This entry provides an insight into mum’s mental health at the time and seems to show that it was affected by a number of things.
Issues Relating to Religion
First, there were clearly issues relating to religion and their involvement in Mile Cross Methodist Church. This was not the first time that mum had threatened to leave Mile Cross. She had done so in 1964 after she received a letter from David Wheeler, who had led a campaign at the church, see Chapter 74. Clearly, she did not leave on that occasion and I am not sure if she did this time round. She certainly had in-depth conversations with the Minister around that time. For example, On 20 June 1967, mum went to see the Minister and his wife, Arnold and Margaret Clough. She noted having had a long talk with them.
Certainly around this time, she seemed to be less involved in Mile Cross and more involved in Belvoir Street Wesley Reformed Church, see Chapter 90. Dad did ultimately leave the Methodist Church completely but I am not sure precisely when this was nor if that was related to this incident. I also don’t know precisely what had happened at the Visitation Committee to make him feel like this.
Relationship Issues
Second, there were clearly issues in the relationship between mum and dad and I assume that the squabbling and screaming comment related to that. Again, this is not the first time that these issues surfaced. Also, there may have been times when there were rows or conflicts and these were explained as something else. For example, on 2 January 1969, mum and dad came home early from a Norwich Union dance because mum was not feeling too well. However, there are no other mentions of mum being unwell at that time. I wonder if perhaps mum and dad had a row and it was easier just to say mum was not feeling well.
Issues Relating to Herself, Alan and Me
Third, she refers specifically to herself, me and Alan. I am not completely sure what she was referring to but, given that Alan would have been four at this point and I would have been six, I assume she was referring to our physical health including our asthma which needed significant physio and exercises at that time.
Feeling Depressed
Regardless, of the cause, it is clear, by mum’s own statement, that she was feeling depressed. The next day, January 13 1967, she went to see Dr Welch in the morning as she was “depressed and cross”. He gave her Tofranil, the brand name for imipramine, the original tricyclic antidepressant, and Mandrax. Mandrax was a combination of methaqualone and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Methaqualone was used as a sleeping tablet but its production was stopped in the mid-1980s because of addictiveness and widespread abuse.
She Was Asked to Make a Follow-up Appointment But Did Not
Dr Welch advised her to make an appointment after two weeks but she did not. I don’t know why.
Holiday with the Leaches
On 8 February 1967, mum went by herself for a week to stay with Mary and Derrick Leach in Preston.
ECT
She got home on the 16th and, on the 27th, she saw Dr Fraser who wanted her to have ECT which mum described as “electric shock”. She noted that dad was not happy about it but she did not say why. Apparently, on 4 March 1967, dad went to see Dr Fraser and then went to Overstrand.
Mum started ECT on 6 March 1967 and she also had a chest X-ray on the same day. She had a course of ECT which grandad referred to it as “some injections”. This involved ECT sessions on 13, 20, 23, 30 March, 10, 17, 24 April and 1 May. She saw Dr Fraser on 1 May who said she did not need any more treatments at the moment. Mum saw Dr Fraser for review on 27 June 1967 and again on 7 August. Grandma looked after us while mum went for her appointment.
Above – Ethics in Electroconvulsive Therapy by Jan-Otto Ottosson and Max Fink published in 2012
Below – Handbook of ECT by Charles Kellner from 2021
Reflection on Mum’s Mental Health
This is perhaps the clearest information about mum’s mental health I have come across in the diaries so far. But, even this is not particularly clear not least because mum’s diary entries were quite sporadic by this point. In addition, mental health/illness was not something that was really talked about openly then. In particular, it was not something that grandad would have ever discussed. It is clear that other people apart from mum were experiencing mental health issues, e.g. Amy and Cyril. But, this is not stated explicitly. It can only be inferred from where they went for their treatment.