Grandad Had Retired but He Had Some Ongoing Business Dealings
Following the sale of his business, in 1958, see Chapter 60, grandad was effectively retired but he continued to have some business dealings during the 1960s. For the period 1960 to 1964, see Chapter 83.
Loan to Fred Flint
One of the main issues for this period was the outstanding loan with Fred Flint for the purchase of grandad’s shoe business.
At the end of 1964, Fred Flint still owed grandad £900 related to this. In January 1965, he paid the interest due and a further £300 from the capital amount. The following year, in 1966, he only paid the interest due but nothing further from the capital amount. It seems grandad was not happy about this and asked mum to type a letter for him asking him to further reduce the loan. In February 1966, in response to this letter, grandad received a cheque from Fred Flint paying a further £100 off the loan capital.
The next year, in February 1967, Fred Flint paid the interest on the loan and a further £100 from the capital. In August 1967, grandad received a final cheque from Fred Flint paying off the balance of the loan. Grandad described this as £412 gross and £407 1s net. Does the difference in these amounts reflect tax paid on interest received?
A week after receiving this, grandad sent, by registered post, Fred Flint’s deeds and the agreement between the two of them from 1958. I confess that I had been surprised that grandad had lent Fred Flint most of the money to buy his business. I thought this would have been pretty high risk and not the kind of financial/business risk that grandad would have taken. But, it seems grandad had a written agreement with the loan secured against Fred Flint’s house. This seems more in keeping with what I understand of grandad and his financial dealings.
Old Age Pension
During this period, grandma and grandad were receiving their old age pension. Grandad used to collect this from Drayton Post Office. At the end of March 1965, he noted that the pension for a married couple had gone up to £6 10 0 per week. This was based on £4 for the husband and £2 10 for the wife. Sometimes, grandad collected multiple weeks at one go. For example, in April 1965, he noted collecting three weeks’ pension when he went for a haircut. In May 1965, he noted getting a new pension book for grandma.
The Post Office in Drayton
There is a very good history of the Post Office in Drayton on the Drayton Parish Council website. Based on that, it seems that the Post Office would have been at 3 Low Road at this time. The Post Office was there from 1964 to 1976. That building is now occupied by SapphireBlu Hair and Beauty. The Post Office has been located at Drayton Stores since that time.
Financial Investments
Grandad also had financial investments during this period. These included savings certificates, defence bonds and various forms of municipal or city bonds. All these seem to have been some form of fixed term investment at a set interest rate. When these matured, grandad reinvested the money presumably selecting the product that gave the best interest rate. Most of his financial transactions appear to have been done himself or by grandma at their bank, the East Anglian Trustee Savings Bank. In December 1965, he and grandma opened a cheque account at the TSB.
Trustee Savings Bank (TSB)
Grandad referred to this as EAT savings bank. Essentially, Trustee Savings Banks were local institutions to accept savings from those with moderate means. Between 1970 and 1985, they amalgamated into a single institution known as TSB Group Ltd.
Savings Certificates
These appear to have been national savings certificates that could be bought for 15 shillings. They were popular during and after the second world war. Grandma and grandad had purchased such certificates. For example, in December 1966, grandma and grandad went to the TSB in Norwich to cash 1200 saving certificates that they had bought in 1956 for £900. Their cash in value was £1,350. A few days later, grandad bought 500 savings certificates each for himself and for grandma at a cost of £1,000. He described these as 12th issue. In January 1968, grandma put a further £250 in savings certificates in each of their names meaning that they each had £750 of such certificates.
Defence Bonds
These were similar to national savings certificates but were more expensive costing £5. Grandma and grandad owned some of these. For example, in April 1967, grandma went to the TSB to cash some defence bonds. There were £800 in grandma’s name and £400 in grandad’s. Grandad was unhappy that grandma had not been given receipts but these arrived a few days later by post. In December 1967, grandma went to the bank to have grandad’s defence bonds entered in his book and she also closed her own account.
Municipal or City Bonds
Essentially, these were issued by cities or municipalities to raise funds. A fixed rate of interest was paid for a fixed period after which the loaned amount was returned. Most of the information I have found about these has a US focus or is relatively recent relating to the UK Municipal Bonds Agency. However, I have come across examples of adverts for various kinds of these bonds, for example, in football programmes of the time.
Grandad bought a number of types of these bonds. For example, In March 1965, grandad noted that grandma brought a cheque for £800 from the East Anglian Trustee Savings Bank. He then sent it to Nottingham City to be invested in joint names at 6½%. In February 1967, grandad went to Norwich and got a further cheque for £600 which he sent to Nottingham to invest for five years at 7% interest. He noted that this meant they had £2,000 invested in Nottingham Corporation.
In August 1967, grandma went to TSB to give notice to cash for grandad £1,200 of defence bonds plus interest. She got the cheque the next day and grandad invested this money in the Nottingham Corporation at a rate of 6½%. A few days later, he referred to receiving the mortgage for this from the Nottingham Corporation. In January 1968, grandma went to the bank to collect a cheque for £700 which grandad invested in Luton Corporation at 7% interest. At the end of December 1969, grandma went to TSB and got a cheque for £500 which grandad sent to Luton to invest in bonds at 9½%.
Tax Returns
During this period, grandma was still taking grandad’s tax returns to the Inland Revenue office in Norwich in person. For example, in August 1965, grandad noted that she took a return for six months and she took his regular annual return in February 1966, February 1967 and January 1969. In January 1968, both grandma and grandad took his returns to the Inland Revenue office.
Local Tax Offices
Apparently, these local offices closed after 2015 with a network of drop-in centres having closed earlier. The main tax office in Norwich was at Nelson House, 105 Prince of Wales Road. As of April 2021, these offices were vacant and were available to rent.
However, there were multiple tax offices in Norwich in the sixties and seventies including one on Upper King Street. According to a comment on the Norwich Remembers Facebook Group when I asked about this issue, “Norwich B Collectors cover(ed) most of the county. Norwich A covered the city. Both were at 15 Upper King Street & collected PAYE, NI & schedule D (now Corporation tax). Inspectors District 1, 2 & 3 who did the assessments of company accounts etc. were in Tombland, roughly corresponding to Collection areas between them. The Valuation Office also in Upper King Street did that – assessing property values for Schedule A & Land Tax. At that time there were no other tax offices in the city. Yarmouth had an Inspectors too, covered by Norwich B Collectors.”
Penny Policy
In February 1968, grandma went to Norwich and paid the penny (1d) premium to the end of June 1969. I assume this was some form of insurance and presumably was some kind of “penny policy”.
Grandma and Grandad Helped Mum and Dad Financially
Grandma and grandad’s financial position still meant that they were able to help mum and dad financially when needed.
Buying a Car
For example, in February 1968, grandma brought a cheque for £350 payable to Watsons of Yarmouth. According to the Great Yarmouth Remembers Facebook group, Watsons was a garage and Vauxhall main dealer on the corner of Bunns Lane. It was run by Tom Watson.
This money was towards a car mum and dad were buying, see Chapter 95. Of this, £50 was a contribution and the remaining £300 was an interest-free loan payable at £15 per year. Grandad noted that, in case of their deaths, payments would cease.
Loans to Other People
Grandad also sometimes gave loans to other people and organisations. For example, in July 1966, he received a cheque for £50 from Trinity Methodist Church in Kirkby paying off an interest-free loan he had made to them in 1962, see Chapter 90.
People Consulted Grandad on Financial Matters
People sometimes consulted grandad about financial matters. For example, in July 1969, Mrs Douglas brought some money to grandad for him to look after. In June 1969, when John and Mrs Douglas bought a house in Cambridge Street, grandad witnessed the conveyancing.
Noting Working/Business Arrangements of Others
Grandad also sometimes noted the working/business arrangements of other people. For example, in October 1967, he noted that John Douglas had left Bonds “to go into partnership with another chap”
Bonds
Bonds was a major department store in Norwich. It was taken over by John Lewis in 1982 and adopted the John Lewis name in 2001.
Mum’s Work
As far as I know, mum was not engaged in paid employment during this period but she did some secretarial and administrative work for the church, see Chapter 90 . It may also be that relatively little was recorded about this during this period as we were relying largely on grandad’s diaries for information. According to mum’s 1993 CV, during this period, she ran her own duplicating/typing business from home.
In June 1968, grandad noted that mum had produced some books and there was an error which meant that the word “not” had to be changed to “now” by hand in all 1,200 copies. Initially, grandad made the change in 300 copies. Then Irene Bell phoned mum and said they could do another 600. Mum brought them. Irene corrected 350, grandma 200 and grandad a further 50.
Dad’s Work
There was nothing very much about dad’s work in the diaries during this period. This perhaps reflects that he was in the same job for the entirety of this period but also that most of the entries during this period were made by grandad and dad’s work was probably not of central interest to him. An article in the Eastern Daily Press of 2018 had some excellent photos of staff working in a Norwich Union office in the 1960s.
Working Saturdays
At this time, dad was still working some, maybe all, Saturday mornings. Mum noted that dad was at work on 26 February 1966 which was a Saturday. For some reason, mum noted dad went to work on 12 April 1966, a Tuesday. It was the Tuesday after Easter and mum was unwell so perhaps that made it noteworthy that dad had gone back to work.
Tasks From Work
In September 1969, dad went from work to the doctor’s to bring Alan home when grandad had an accident and got glass in his eye, see Chapter 88.
Clerical/Administrative Work
On 16 November 1969 when we all went to grandma and grandad’s for tea, dad stayed at home as he had clerical (administrative) work to do. I don’t know if this relates to work or church. It also perhaps shows that grandad may have seen clerical/administrative work as different from (and potentially as of less value than) manual or more practical work. I also wonder if this was genuinely the reason why dad stayed at home. It is possible but it is also could be that it was cover for some conflict or other.
Norwich Union Social Activities
Most of the references grandad did make relating to dad’s work at the Norwich Union related to social activities. For example, in December 1965, grandad mentioned that Tricia and I had gone to a party at the Norwich Union. In July 1966, grandad noted that grandma went to a Norwich Union garden party. In January 1969, mum and dad went to a Norwich Union dance but they came home early as mum was not feeling well. Then, in July 1969, mum, dad, the four of us and Jim and Renie went to the Norwich Union carnival.
School
As with dad’s work, grandad said very little about our school attendances but mum did make some notes on these matters. For example, she sometimes noted when school terms ended or started, for example, in January 1965, 1966 and 1967. She also noted Tricia starting back at school on 27 April 1965. She noted that we broke up for summer on 26 July 1967.
Mum noted that Alan started school in April 1967 and that Liz started in September 1969. She noted that there was a school open day on 7 July 1966. She noted Alan, Tricia and me having various school medicals in 1967.
I assume that these references all relate to Kinsale Avenue, the school we all attended at that time, see Chapter 82. There is a photo of children at Kinsale Avenue school in 1959/60 on Peter Steward’s website.
Above – Alan, me and Tricia
Below – Tricia and me
School Reports
Among mum’s papers were a number of my school reports from Kinsale Avenue. They were signed by the headmaster, Stanley Rowbotham.
Stanley Rowbotham
Apparently, he was head at Kinsale Avenue from 1966 until he retired in 1980. Until 1976, he was headmaster of the Junior School. Following reorganisation, he took charge of the middle school. This information was obtained from the Local Recall website that is no longer accessible.
School from 1967 to 1969
It appears that from 1967 to 1968, I was in 1H and my teacher was S A Hogan. I do not recall (him or) her. From 1968 to 1969, I was in 2B and my teacher was Christine Buffham. Again, I do not recall her. The reports had spaces for marks and remarks on Maths, English and General Studies. There was also space for general remarks. Generally, the reports were very good.
1968 Report
In 1968, S A Hogan gave me a B+ for General Studies and noted “mostly good solid work but not always prepared to research thoroughly enough for topic information”. Her general remarks were “Roger has very good all-round ability and if maintains this standard he should do very well”.
1969 Report
In 1969, Miss Buffham wrote a combined comment for General Studies and general remarks, “Roger is very capable and extremely hardworking, and has reached a very high standard in all subjects. He is interested and enthusiastic and is a very stimulating influence in the class, contributing very well at all times. His work, as well as being of high standard, is neatly done, very well arranged, and illustrated with art. He has made special contributions in music and dramatic work too. I have enjoyed having him in the class immensely”.
Grandad Made Us Things for School
When grandad did mention school, it was in relation to things he had made for us. For example, in March 1967, he made Tricia a small weaving frame and, in September of that year, he made Alan a wooden sword as he was a pirate at school!
Caroline Douglas and Play School
Grandad noted that grandma took Caroline Douglas to play group in Drayton in July 1967 and that Caroline finished there in March 1969. I don’t think there was the concept of pre-school then and any activities before school age were called play groups. Mum noted, in January 1966, that Alan was going to one.
Tricia and the 11-plus
In March 1969, grandad noted that Tricia had passed her 11-plus.
The 11-plus was a standardized test that was widely used in the UK at the end of primary education from 1944. It was largely phased out by 1976.
Norwich High School
Tricia hoped to go to Norwich High School. She started there in September 1969. In December 1969, grandma, mum and dad went to Norwich Cathedral. see Chapter 79, to hear girls from Norwich High School, including Tricia, singing.
Teachers’ Strike
In November 1969, grandad noted that we had a half day’s holiday as the teachers were on strike for more money. Apparently, this was the first national teachers’ strike in Britain. It started on the 26th and went into December. The strike was mainly about low wages.
Living in Hellesdon and Drayton
During this period, we were living in Middletons Lane, in Hellesdon and grandma and grandad were in their bungalow on the Drayton High Road in Drayton.
Were Mum and Dad Thinking of Moving?
However, it seems mum and dad may have been thinking of moving as, in August 1965, grandad noted that mum and dad went to see “Bush” about a new house. This was a note by grandad and it seems to say “Bush“. The Bush Group was established in 1934 and is involved in property development and investment in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Maintaining and Decorating Houses
There were quite a lot of entries in the diaries about maintaining and decorating houses. In January 1965, a man from the Gas Board came to grandma and grandad’s to service the Lennox central heating and the Ascot water heater. Other services were also carried out, for example, in November 1967 and the person doing the services also fitted a gas tap in each bedroom.
Lennox Central Heating
Lennox are still in business producing systems to make air cooler, warmer, dryer, cleaner and better. The business was founded in the United States in 1895 by Dave Lennox. In 1960, their international division was established with a facility in Basingstoke.
Ascot Water Heater
Ascot Gas Water Heaters Ltd was founded in 1933. It became a subsidiary of Parnall Aircraft by 1944. Parnall was later taken over by Radiation and Radiation by Tube Investments.
Problems with Heating and Water
Grandad also noted whenever there were problems with heating, water etc. For example, in March 1966, grandad noted that there was no water one day until 9 o’clock. I am not sure what the problem was or whether this lasted until 9am or 9pm.
But, in February 1968, grandad noted that something went wrong with the blower on the central heating and they were not able to use it because of the noise. The next day, grandad looked at it and thought it was the motor. He phoned the Gas Board and they promised to tell Mr Turner, the man who had been putting in the gas side. That afternoon, someone came and corrected the central heating. It was the motor bearings, a lack of grease. Grandad noted that he considered they had not been greased enough when the motor was fitted and he told the man so!
Gas, Electric and Water Bills
Grandad also noted how much his gas, electric and water bills were. In May 1965, grandad noted that the gas meter reading for the year had been 1,132 (hundred feet) at a cost of £53 10 0. The electric reading had been 1,239 units at a cost of £12 17 0. This meant the total cost of gas and electricity for the year was £66 7 0. In July 1965, grandad received the water rates covering the period from May 1964 to September 1965 and the total cost was £6 12 6.
Bills Were Paid in Person
As with the tax returns, these and the rates were paid in person and grandma usually did this. Payments were made in Norwich and also at Hellesdon Welfare centre.
Paying in Norwich
In December 1966, grandma paid the rates and water rates in Norwich. In April 1967, she went into Norwich to pay the gas bill. Then, in June 1967, she went to Norwich and paid the rates and the electricity bill. In December 1967, she paid the rates at St Faith’s Aylsham office in Norwich. The following year, in May 1968, grandad was in Norwich and paid the gas bill.
Paying in Hellesdon
In June 1968, grandad paid the rates at Hellesdon Welfare Centre. He did the same in December 1968. In June and December 1969, grandma paid the rates in Hellesdon. I am not exactly sure what or where this welfare centre was.
We Got Gas Central Heating
In January 1967, mum noted that a man came and gave us a quote for gas central heating. We must have gone ahead with this work as, in October 1967, grandad went to ours to let the plumber in to continue with fitting the central heating.
New Toilet
For Christmas that year, grandma and grandad gave mum and dad £30 to pay for a new toilet (WC) to be fitted, by the firm who had fitted the central heating, before Christmas.
Kitchen Carpet
In March 1965, grandma and grandad bought a carpet for the kitchen. This was 7’6” by 9’6”. The price was 55 shillings per yard reduced from 67/6. The total price was £22 1 8 including binding. The carpet was delivered nine days later.
Spring Interior Bed
In October 1966, grandma and grandad got a spring interior bed from mum and they fixed it on their back bedstead.
Ron Douglas’ Garage
In April 1965, the builder, Mr Draper, who built grandma and grandad’s bungalow, see Chapter 76, concreted a piece of ground ready for Ron’s double garage. The ground was 16’ by 6’ in size. This garage was constructed over two days in June 1965.
A New Step
The day after concreting the ground for the garage, Mr Draper’s men pulled up grandma and grandad’s front (side) step and part of the concrete path to improve the drainage. It is worth noting that grandma and grandad’s front door was at the side. The next day, Mr Draper’s men built a concrete step and re-laid some concrete to improve drainage. They finished this the next day. This work cost £3 10 0.
Sewer
In May 1965, grandad noted that a main sewer was being brought to the area. In July 1965, Mr Draper quoted them a rough price of £6 to connect them. Prior to this, they had relied on a septic tank and soakaway. The work on this began in October 1965 and took two days. Grandma and grandad paid £8 for this work.
Repairs and Decorating
In April 1966, Mr Draper’s men came to repair some nails etc. in the walls and ceiling. It seems that this involved some decorating as, the next day, grandad noted that the decorator had left them for the Becketts. The following day, the painter was back and the day after that he was finished.
The Becketts
This refers to Frederick and Greta Beckett who lived at 170 Drayton High Road. She died in 1967, see Chapter 88.
Cove Mouldings and Artex
In February 1969, grandma and grandad cleared the furniture out of the front room into the bedroom to allow men to come to fix cove moulding and Artex the ceilings of the hall and lounge. They came the next day and also did the kitchen and bathroom. The original price quoted was £18 5 0 but grandma and grandad paid £22 because they had also done the kitchen and bathroom.
A Bad Smell
In March 1966, grandma and grandad became aware of a bad smell in the front bedroom. Mr Draper looked at it and said it was the carpet as he had had the same carpet and the same smell. The following day, grandma and grandad took up the carpet in the front bedroom and grandad thought that was the problem. Three days later, they relaid the carpet. I am not sure if it was the same or new carpet.
Pine Trees
In January 1965, Mr Read and another man cut down three trees in the back leaving about 12 feet of the trunks standing.
My recollection is that these were extremely tall conifers and they appear in some of the photos of the garden. I vaguely recall them being cut down and I think this was because of concerns that they might fall on the house in a storm. I am not sure why so much of the trunk was left but something similar was done at the front from what I recall. My recollection is that there were more than three trees at the back so I assume these were the closest ones, that is those at the side of the garden not at the back.
Two days later, Mr Read collected the heavy timber and grandad paid him £5. Grandma and grandad then cleared up the cones and needles and had a fire. They also gave some wood to Betty Douglas.
Damaged Front Wall
In August 1968, some damage was caused to the front wall at grandma and grandad’s house. However, grandad said it was not caused by a motor car or van. I don’t know how he knew this or what he meant by it. Perhaps he was saying it must have been done by a heavy vehicle such as a bus or a lorry. Or perhaps he was saying it was not done by a vehicle at all. For example, he might have thought it was direct vandalism. Two days later, he repaired the damage.
Out with the Keys Left in
In December 1967, grandma and grandad went into Norwich with Ron Douglas. According to grandad, grandma locked the side door but left the key in. He noted that they had gone in with Ron in the morning and they came back at lunchtime on the bus. I am not sure if they came back from the city earlier than planned.
Grandma Checked on our House
In April 1968, while we were away for Jennifer’s wedding, see Chapter 89, grandma, Eva and Auntie Dolly walked to ours to check on the house.
Properties in Kirkby
Grandad continued to have financial interest in properties in Kirkby during this period. This included one house he still owned in Victoria Road. He had sold two others – see Chapters 70 and 76.
In May 1966,he received a bill from F Howlett for £5 19 6 for carrying out repairs at 158. For some reason, he got a cheque to pay this from mum.
In August 1966, Amy took 23 shillings to Mrs Leach at 158 Victoria Road to refund her for roof repairs she had paid for.
In July 1966 and 1967, he sent cheques to Kirkby Urban District Council for Victoria Road rates. Grandad noted that in 1966, it was £12 7 5 and, in 1967, £12 6 0. I don’t know the reason for the difference.
In December 1967, grandad noted that another deed came from Kirkby concerning John and Len and a family deed. John was to put £600 into the TSB from the sale of 166 Diamond Avenue. It looks like 166 Diamond Avenue but the third number is not completely clear. As far as I know, the family originally owned 158 to 162 Diamond Avenue but these later became 160-164, see Chapter 24, but they could have owned 166 as well. In addition, it is possible that the houses were renumbered again. It seems that John and Leonard Smith were organising the sale but that grandad was due some money from the sale presumably because he part-owned the house. Grandad noted that he had already signed the conveyance for that.
Bungalows Mr Bell was Building
In March 1967, grandma and grandad went to Blofield to see some bungalows Mr Bell was building.
Caravan-type Buildings in Drayton
In July 1968, Betty’s Auntie Ivy took grandma and grandad to see the caravan type of buildings in Drayton. I think her name was Ivy Humphries, see Chapter 89. She had bought one. Grandad noted that the caravans and the site are much better than he had imagined. I think this is referring to Drayton Hall Park, see Chapter 89.
Ken Bell’s Chalet
In September 1968, Ken Bell got permission to build his chalet on the High Road. The Bells lived at 162 Drayton High Road and I assume that is where they built their chalet. Grandad noted when Ken started clearing the ground and started work including getting out the footings. Ken and Irene moved into the chalet in February 1969 but, on the day, Linda had to come to grandma and grandad’s for a bath as their central heating was not working. In June 1969, grandma and grandad watched a bulldozer knock down Ken’s old cottage.
John and Mrs Douglas
John and Mrs Douglas moved to 92 Cambridge Street on 1 August 1969.
Knapton House
In August 1969, grandma, grandad and Edna Bust went to Knapton to see Knapton House which a retiring mistress at Edna’s school was buying for £8,000.