Moped
At the start of this period, grandad had a moped, an NSU Quickly, which he had bought in April 1964, see Chapter 80. He used it to come to ours, to go to get his haircut, to go to the Post Office to collect their pensions, to buy paraffin, to go to the doctors, to collect and pay for newspapers, to go to Dixons, see Chapter 85, to go to the library in Hellesdon and sometimes to go into Norwich. He also went other places with it, including to Costessey and Taverham.
Pointers
In March 1965, grandad took his moped to Pointers for servicing and he got it back the next day. The cost was 16/5. Pointers was a garage on Aylsham Road. Philip Hall has written a book, “The Ups and Downs of a Crane Driver”, which includes a description of the time he worked for Pointers until the business was sold in 1970. They also appear in Kelly’s Directory for 1960 and 1967, The 1960 directory lists them as a Mecca company at 300 Aylsham Road.
Licensing the Moped
Also in March 1965, grandad licensed the moped at a cost of 20 shillings.
Burst Tyre
In June 1965, as grandad was riding the moped past ours, a tyre burst so he had to leave the moped at ours. Mum took him to Dixons and then home. The next day, he came to ours on a bike and concluded that the moped needed a new tyre. So, he cycled to Heigham Street to arrange this. The man took him and the bike to pick up the moped. He put two new tyres and a new tube. The tyres were 35 shillings each and the tube was 10/6. There was a five shilling labour charge which I calculate as a total of £4 5 6 but grandad noted paying a total of £4 10 6.
Keeping his Moped in a Shed
From July 1965, grandad started to keep the moped in his shed, see Chapter 94.
The Moped Won’t Start
In December 1965, grandad wanted to go to the library but the moped’s engine would not start. He pulled the carburettor apart, put in a new plug and got it going.
Selling the Moped
However, in January 1966, grandad decided to sell the moped. I do not know why. Perhaps he considered it too much trouble to maintain. He placed an advert in the Eastern Evening News but got no response. On the 25th, he sold it to A P Clarke and Son of 10 Waterloo Road.
Albert P Clarke and Son
Albert Percy Clarke and Son were listed as a cycle dealer at 10 Waterloo Road in the 1960 Kelly Directory but not the one for 1967.
A Raleigh Bike Instead
To replace the moped, grandad bought, from A P Clarke and Son, a Raleigh RSW16. Raleigh are a well-known cycle manufacturer that were established in Nottingham in 1887. He sold the moped for £13 9 0 and bought the bike for £30 9 0.
Writing to Norfolk County Council
Grandad wrote to Norfolk County Council telling them of the sale of the moped. Presumably this was related to licencing the moped. At this time, vehicle licencing was still the responsibility of local councils. Although a decision to centralise the system had been taken in 1965, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Centre (DVLC), now the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), only started doing this in 1973.
Cars
Vauxhall Viva
At the start of this period, we had a car, a Vauxhall Viva, that we had bought in February 1964, see Chapter 80, but grandma and grandad did not have a car. In December 1966, mum noted that she drove the car in the afternoon. I am not sure why she noted this. It was at a time when she had not been well so perhaps she had not driven the car for a while.
Viva Estate
In February 1968, mum and dad bought a new Viva estate and mum brought it for grandad to see. The next day, mum picked up grandad to come to ours to “knock some concrete off the garage floor” as the new car’s silencer was catching when driving in. Ten days later, a man from Yarmouth collected our old Viva which he was taking as part exchange for the new car. Grandma and grandad helped mum and dad buy this car. They paid £350 direct to Watsons of Yarmouth. £50 of this was a gift and £300 was an interest-free loan. Mum and dad were to pay back £15 per year (£5 every four months) but payments would cease at the time of grandma and grandad’s deaths, see Chapter 91.
My Recollections
I don’t have very clear recollections of the early vehicles mum and dad had. I don’t recall the van at all although I do remember being told about it. However, I do recall that we had Vauxhall Vivas when I was a child but I don’t think I recall the estate.
I have some vague recollections of a Viva saloon including that the registration included the letters “EX” and I also understood that that meant that the car was from Yarmouth. Apparently, since 2001, the first letter of the registration has denoted where the car was registered with A indicating (East) Anglia. However, prior to this, from 1963, the area code was the second and third letters in a group of three letters. From 1963 to 1983, they preceded the numbers and from 1983 to 2001, they followed the numbers. It turns out that EX was a Yarmouth code until 1974 and thereafter a Norwich code.
Other People’s Cars
Some of grandma and grandad’s friends and neighbours had cars during this period.
Ron Douglas
In February 1966, Ron Douglas had a “new” car, a secondhand Austin 1800.
Tom and Amy Wilson
In March 1966, when Tom and Amy visited, they had a new car, a Wolseley 1100. Wolseley Motors Limited was a British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in 1901. Just before the second world war, it became part of Morris Motors and the name lapsed in 1975.
Grandad did not seem impressed with Tom’s new car as the speedometer was not working! It was his habit to record how many miles they had travelled each day and this meant he could not.
John Douglas
In April 1967, grandad noted that John Douglas had another car, a Ford Corsair.
In January 1969, John Douglas changed his car for a 1965 Rover. Rover was a well-known car brand that was launched as a bicycle company in 1878. Cars were manufactured under the brand from 1904 to 2005.
Ken Bell
In July 1967, Ken Bell also bought a new Corsair. Grandad went to see it and commented that it had cost over £1,000 and that it was “quite a nice car”. Grandad noted, in October 1968, that Ken Bell got his car back from being resprayed. I am not sure why that was needed.
In August 1968, Ken Bell got a new Ford truck. I don’t know more about this vehicle. It could have been a pick-up or a bigger lorry.
Barbara Carpenter
In September 1969, Barbara Carpenter bought a new car, a Renault 1300. Renault are a well-known French car manufacturer that still produce cars.
Relying on Lifts
As grandma and grandad did not have a car, they took advantage of opportunities to explore parts of Norfolk and East Anglia, when they had visitors who did have a car, particularly Tom and Amy, Clarence and Linda Reeve and Edna Bust, see Chapter 92. However, Clarence Reeve had a heart attack in May 1968 and was told that he should not drive for a while after that, see Chapter 88.
On some occasions, grandma and grandad did not go out in the car on account of the weather. For example, this was the case on 10 January 1967 when the weather was misty and damp and, on 7 May 1968, when there was slight rain and it was very cold.
On 2 March 1968, they did not go out in the car as Amy was not feeling well with a “bilious attack”. On 2 May 1968, they went part of the way to Horning but had to turn back at St Faiths as it was raining and the wipers were not working properly.
Other People Visited by Car
In addition to those mentioned above, I think Ken and Pearl Hodges came by car three times during this period but grandma and grandad did not travel around with them as they did with others, see Chapter 92.
Sometimes People Got Lifts to Visit Grandma and Grandad
In addition to visitors who came in their own cars, a few were brought by car. These are listed here.
Cyril and Minnie
In June 1965, Simon and Joyce brought Cyril and Minnie in Basil’s car and Peter, and his friend John, picked them up. In October 1966, Basil and Hilda brought Minnie by car. Basil and Hilda went to Wroxham for a trip on the broads and then stayed overnight in Horning. At the end of that trip, Peter and a friend picked Minnie up. In June 1967, Peter Parkin and his girlfriend, Rosemary, brought Eva and Minnie and, at the end of the trip, Hilda, Simon and Joyce picked her up. For more details see Chapter 92.
Eva
On at least two occasions, in September 1965 and August 1966, Tom and Amy took Eva home to Harby. In March 1965, Olive, Alf, Carole and Tony dropped her at grandma and grandad’s. In August 1965, mum brought her when she, grandma and grandad were coming back from Cyril and Minnie’s Golden Wedding. They had picked her up in Bingham. In June 1967, Peter Parkin and his girlfriend, Rosemary, brought Eva and Minnie and Olive, Alf, Carole and Stephen came to pick Eva up. The following year, in April 1968, Olive and Alf brought her and, in June, after nine weeks, Alf picked her up. In April 1969, Olive and Alf brought Eva for a holiday. In June, when time came to go home, Alf and Lloyd picked her up. For more details see Chapter 92.
Auntie Bertha and Mrs Merry
In April 1966, Auntie Bertha came with Tom and Amy to visit grandma and grandad. In July 1968, Jack and Thelma brought Auntie Bertha and Mrs Merry. Mrs Merry’s grandson Peter, and his girlfriend, picked them up, see Chapter 92.
Lifts With Us
In addition, to exploring Norfolk and East Anglia with visitors with cars. Grandma sometimes went to places in Norfolk with us in our car. For example, in September 1968, mum took grandma and Auntie Dolly to see the new Methodist Church in Sheringham, see Chapter 90. In August 1969, mum and the four of us took grandma and Edna Bust to Hunstanton.
Mum sometimes took grandma and grandad further afield in our car. In April 1965, mum took grandma to Ella Lofthouse’s funeral in Skelmersdale, see Chapter 88. Mum noted that while they were there they went for a run in the car with Dorothy and Rev Peter Dolling. In August 1965, mum took grandma and grandad by car to Ilkeston for Cyril and Minnie’s Golden Wedding. They picked up Eva in Bingham. They brought Eva back with them.
Peter Dolling
Peter Dolling is only mentioned this once in the diaries. I have come across a Rev Peter Dolling in a history of Consett Methodist Church as the Minister at the time the new church opened in 1970. He was a member of a circuit meeting in Swansea in 2017 but it appears that he died that year as there is an obituary for him in the daily record of Conference in 2017. This confirms that he did serve in both Consett and Swansea. It appears that his first post was in Bolton and it might have been while he was there that he attended Ella Lofthouse’s funeral. Soon after that, in September 1965, he and his wife, Pauline, went as missionaries to South India for three years.
Local Lifts
Grandma got local lifts from a number of friends and neighbours.
Ron Douglas
As mentioned above, Ron Douglas had a car and, in April 1965, he had a double garage built. Grandad noted that the builder, Mr Draper, concreted a piece 16’ by 6’ for this. Ron gave grandma lifts to various places including the Anglican Church in Drayton and our house.
John Douglas
One person that grandma often got lifts with, particularly into Norwich, was John Douglas. For much of this period, he worked in Norwich at Bonds. He also helped grandad by collecting items from Dixons including wood, sand and cement. When grandad bought an incinerator from Bonds, see Chapter 93, John brought it home for him.
Other People Gave Local Lifts
Other people who grandma and other family members got local lifts from included Ken and Irene Bell; Tom and Amy, when they were visiting; mum; dad; Ron Douglas and Joy, a friend of Ron’s.
Lifts for Church Events
One of the most frequent reasons grandma got lifts was to attend church events. She attended such events in various places including Chapelfield Road Methodist Church, Drayton Methodist Church, Heartsease Methodist Church, Hellesdon Community Centre, Mile Cross Methodist Church, Park Lane Methodist Church, Rosebery Road Methodist Church, Taverham Methodist Church and various homes, including Miss Cooke’s, Mrs Pointer’s and a bungalow on Hurn Road. She got lifts from a range of people for these events including Mr Bastin, Ken Bell, Edna Bust, dad, Miss Garrod, Mrs Le Fever, mum, Tom and Rev Warren. On at least one occasion, while Amy and grandma were at the church service, Tom sat in the car reading. Also, Tom and grandad waited in the car for Amy and grandma while they went to a ladies’ day of prayer meeting in February 1967.
Accidents
Family and friends were involved in some road/vehicle accidents during this period but they were relatively minor.
Ron Douglas
In January 1966, grandad noted that Ron had a slight accident with his car near to the golf course.
Tom Wilson
In May 1968, Tom caught the car door with the fence between 166 and 168. This happened as Amy was getting into the car.
Damaged Front Wall
In August 1968, grandad noted that their front wall had been knocked back but not by a motor car or van. I am not sure what grandad meant here. How did he know that the damage had not been done by a car or van? Did he think it was a bigger vehicle or something else, e.g. not a vehicle at all?
Mrs Boggan’s Daughter
In September 1968, grandad noted that Mrs Boggan’s little daughter had a narrow escape from being knocked down as she ran across the High Road to her mother as her mother brought Caroline home from playground.
Tangy
In October 1968, Irene Bell’s dog, Tangy, was hit by a car and sustained eye damage.
Grandma
In January 1969, grandma stumbled while getting on the bus to go to Hellesdon. She cut her leg so got off and came home. It was only on 7 February 1969 that she went to Norwich shopping for the first time after her accident. She went with mum.
Speeding Fine
In August 1968, while en route to grandma and grandad’s, Edna Bust was stopped for speeding in Mileham. Her case came up in East Dereham on 4 October 1968 and she was fined £6 and her licence was endorsed. The current system of penalty points was only introduced in 1988. Prior to that, licences could be endorsed for motoring offences.
Mum was Fined After an Accident with a Motorbike
In July 1969, mum was fined £35 plus £5 costs in Norwich for a motor cycle accident at Mile Cross in April. The accident itself was not recorded in either diary. Grandad said she did not touch the motor cycle but the driver skidded and fell off. I vaguely recall this incident and that mum was very upset by it, particularly as she thought she was not at fault. Clearly, grandad agreed with her but the court did not. I am not sure what the level of the fine indicates but it was almost six times as much as Edna was fined for a speeding offence.
Checking Traffic on Drayton High Road
In August 1969, grandad noted that two men sat in a car in the entrance to the park opposite their house for two days. He noted that they were checking the traffic on the High Road. I don’t know exactly what that means. Were they doing some kind of traffic count or was it some form of speed enforcement?
Driving Test
On New Year’s Day in 1969, David Bell went for his driving test but it was cancelled because of bad weather. He did take the test on 28 January and passed.
Hitchhiking
In June 1969, Linda Bell and a friend went hitchhiking to Spain, see Chapter 92.
Traffic Jams
In July 1969, grandad recorded the biggest car jams ever on British roads.
Mechanical and Other Problems with Cars
There were various mechanical and other problems with cars during this period. I am not sure if this is true but it is certainly my impression that cars were less reliable then than they are now.
Tom Wilson
At the end of August 1966, grandad noted that Tom was having trouble with his car. This came to a head when Tom and Amy were heading home at the beginning of September. They needed to get a new part in Swaffham.
In May 1968, grandma, grandad, Tom and Amy went part of the way to Horning but had to turn back at St Faiths as it was raining and the wipers were not working properly. The next day, Tom and grandad took the car to a garage on Vulcan Road to have the wipers fixed. There was a problem with the motor and they replaced it at a cost of £5 17 0 with the old motor given in part exchange.
In October 1968, grandad helped Tom to tighten a door on his car.
Our Car
In October 1967, our car broke down on the way back from Yarmouth. Mum called the AA and we finally got home around 7.40pm. Tricia and I stayed with mum but Alan and Liz went back in Tom’s car.
In February 1968, our old car would not start. Grandad brought his organ charger to charge the battery and after about three hours it started.
Punctures
There were a number of punctures during this period. In January 1967, Tom had a puncture near Overstrand. A man stopped and helped them fit the spare and Tom had the puncture repaired in Overstrand. In November 1967, Ron Douglas brought grandma to ours. He also brought a car jack so that dad could change a wheel. In August 1968. Tom had two new front tyres, at a cost of £10 8 4. In August 1969, Edna Bust had a puncture in West Runton. The tyre was badly cut. Grandad and Edna went to Shortis’s for a new tyre the next day. He said he did not have one but promised one for the next day so they went back and got it then. They paid £5 5 0 for the tyre and 19/6 for a tube.
AA
Mum was a big fan of the AA and strongly advised me to join as soon as I was able to drive which I did, probably initially on her membership. I have been a member ever since, apart from when we were living overseas.
Stories of AA Membership
I have many anecdotes and stories of the AA coming to my rescue. For example, when I was a student in Newcastle, a fellow student suddenly died, and a group of us arranged to rent the Student Union’s minibus to go to his funeral in York. But, the morning of the funeral the minibus would not start, so I called the AA. They came and after an examination said that fuel was not coming through. They asked me if I was sure there was fuel in the tank and it turned out there wasn’t!
This was not the end of my embarrassment! A bit later, one of the students noted that the engine temperature gauge was in the red. We decided to put all the heaters on etc. and see if the gauge started to come down which it did. We stopped in a lorry park and a number of lorry drivers came to our aid. They were delighted to point out that I had been driving with the choke out! We did make the funeral even though I and a friend got there just after it started as we had had to park the minibus.
Much more recently, when mum was flying to Switzerland from Southend, we had a puncture en route from Norwich. We called the AA and they came really quickly and mum still caught her plane with plenty of time to spare.
AA Route Planner
Mum was also a fan of the printed route guides that the AA provided. So, if we were planning a long journey, she would write to the AA and ask them to provide their best route which they did. I think that service has been largely superseded by sat navs and online route planners but I am not sure when or if the AA stopped providing this service.
AA Membership Brochure
Here are some extracts from an AA membership brochure/application form circa late 1960s/early 1970s.
AA Road Safety Booklet
Here are some extracts from an AA Road Safety booklet from 1965.
Bus Journeys
Some of the drawings from the AA’s 1965 book of road safety illustrated a bus journey made by the two main characters.
Grandma Often Went to Norwich by Bus
Grandma often went by bus to Norwich. She went on her own and with other people including Tricia, Auntie Dolly, Cyril, Eva, Jim and Renie, Auntie Bertha and Mrs Merry, Amy, Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse, Florrie and Arthur Booth, Mrs Douglas and Caroline, Mrs Smith and Mr and Mrs Davis.
Occasionally, Grandad Went Too
Very occasionally, grandad went into Norwich by bus but certainly not as often as grandma did. For example, in December 1965, grandad went in to collect glasses from Coleman and De Carle. In February 1967, he went to the TSB. In December 1967, he and grandma went into Norwich with Ron Douglas at 8.10 am and they came back on the 13.05 bus. Also that month, he went into Norwich by bus to buy iron tubing for the windmill.
In November 1968, grandad went by bus to Express Rewinds in Sussex Street about his drill. But, they had moved to Whiffler Road so he came back on the bus and then went with Ken Bell in his lorry to see them. In April 1969, he went with grandma and Auntie Dolly on the bus to Norwich to buy a Qualcast electric (cable) mower from the Co-op. In October 1969, Tom took him into Norwich and he came back on the bus. He was looking for a new pair of boots, without success, and he also paid the gas bill and went to TSB. In December 1969, he went with grandma into Norwich on the bus. They did some shopping and went to the bank.
Visitors Used to Go into Norwich by Bus
Other people who were visiting grandma and grandad used the bus to go into Norwich. They included Arthur and Florrie Booth, Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse and Doris Cirket.
Grandma Used to Come to Ours on the Bus
Sometimes, grandma came to ours on the bus. I am not entirely sure how door-to-door this service was then. There was and is a bus stop close to grandma and grandad’s old house. Similarly, there was and is a bus stop close to our old house in Middletons Lane. However, I am not convinced they are on the same bus route. Nowadays, Drayton seems to be mainly served by the yellow route and Hellesdon by the purple route. There does seem to be a number 30 bus which appears to serve both but the detailed timetable for that seems to indicate that it does not go along Drayton High Road.
I think this means that to make this journey by bus now would require two buses or to walk to Hellesdon Hospital from ours and then get the bus from there.
Other Places Visited by Bus
Other places that grandma went by bus included Mile Cross Methodist Church. In June 1967, mum took grandma and Florrie and Arthur Booth to Eaton Park and they came back by bus. In January 1967, when Bob Keeble’s mother came to visit grandma and grandad, she came by bus and Bob Keeble picked her up to take her home.
Further Afield by Bus
Grandma, in particular, and others also travelled further afield by bus including to Beccles, Bedford, Clacton and Walton-on-the-Naze, Coltishall, Cromer, Gorleston, Hadleigh, Hastings, Hethersett, Hunstanton, King’s Lynn, Lenwade, London, Lowestoft, Nottingham, Sandringham, Sheringham, Shotesham, Southwold, Weybourne, Wymondham and Yarmouth. For more details of these various trips, see Chapters 90 and 92.
While some of these trips were specially organised bus trips, others used public bus services and these largely started and finished at Norwich Bus Station.
When grandma and grandad were in Scotland with Tom and Amy, in June 1966, they went on a bus trip on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and they went on a combined bus and boat tour from Fort William, see Chapter 92.
Visitors Came to Grandma and Grandad’s by Bus
Various people came by bus when they came to visit grandma and grandad during this period and this often involved picking them up or dropping them off at Norwich bus station. The most frequent of these was Auntie Dolly, see Chapter 92, and others included Florrie and Arthur Booth, Jim and Renie, Eva, Doris Cirket and Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse. On one occasion, Doris Cirket came with her grandson Peter and, on another, with a friend from Rye. Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse came once by bus although they mainly came by train.
Those who picked such visitors up included John Douglas, Tom and Amy, dad, mum and grandma herself. On one occasion, in March 1967, dad picked people up with Tricia. Grandma often picked people up with Ron Douglas and, on one occasion, with dad.
Trains
Visitors
Some people came to visit grandma and grandad by train and these included Arthur Lofthouse, Maurice Reeve and Mr Nurcombe. On one occasion, Arthur Lofthouse came with his wife Jessie. Mr Nurcombe was a church visitor from Hove, see Chapter 90.
Norwich Railway Station
These people were often collected from or dropped off at Norwich railway station. Those who collected such visitors included mum, dad, Rev Hayman and Clarence and Linda Reeve. On one occasion, mum collected people with dad, me, Alan and Liz.
On one occasion, Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse went to the railway station from grandma and grandad’s by bus.
Travelling around by Train
A range of visitors also made trips out by train to various places including Cromer, Lowestoft and Yarmouth. People making such trips included Arthur and Florence Booth, Arthur Lofthouse and Eva. Arthur made such trips with grandma and/or his wife Jessie. Eva made such trips with grandma.
On one occasion, when grandma and Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse went to Yarmouth by train, they came back by bus. On another, in August 1969, grandma came home on the train from Yarmouth with Edna Bust when the four of us and mum stayed on to go to the cinema. Also, on one occasion, mum made a longer journey by train during this period, when she and her friend Gwen Hart went on holiday to Iona in June 1969, see Chapter 90. In September 1969, grandma, dad and the four of us went to Bressingham, see Chapter 92, to see a show of steam engines.
Boat Trips
During this period, grandma and grandad went on boat trips on the Broads on at least three occasions, with Eva, Tom and Amy in September 1965, with Linda and Clarence Reeve in October 1965 and with Amy, Tom and Auntie Bertha in April 1966, see Chapter 92.
Cycling
Grandad recorded cycling quite a bit during this period, particularly from January 1966 when he sold his moped and bought a bike, a Raleigh RSW16. I recall this bike quite clearly as I believe I inherited this bike from grandad in the early 1970s and used it to get to and from school. However, I am not sure if it was red or green. I seem to recall both.
I can’t say I loved it! The small wheels were odd and I craved getting a racing bike which I did in the 1970s, a black Puch, ten-speed bike.
Accessories
Soon after grandad bought the bike, grandma went to Halfords in Norwich to exchange the moped bag for a battery gas lighter and a lock for the bike. In early February he had a cyclometer fitted to the bike.
Cyclometer
Grandad got a cyclometer from Currys for ten shillings but he noted that it was recording more distance than he covered. This is not surprising as cyclometers of the time measured the number of wheel rotations and then converted those to distance covered. A smaller wheel would give the impression of more distance covered unless the formula was adjusted. Initially, grandma took the cyclometer back and grandad wrote to Lucas in Birmingham who presumably had made the cyclometer. But, they wrote back saying they did not make cyclometers for the RSW16 so grandad decided to have the one from Currys.
Various Places by Bike
Grandad used this bike to go various places including places he had previously been on the moped such as the Post Office to collect their pension; ours; the library; Dixons; and to the barber’s. He also rode it to Drayton Village Hall, to the bank, to Oak Street in Norwich, to Den Dutch, to mum’s friend Eileen’s, to Miss Cooke’s, to Drayton Methodist Church and to the post box.
Den Dutch
Den Dutch was a shop at 19 Drayton Wood Road that sold fence panels. There is now a hair salon there, Bodyworks. Grandad went there to order some sheeting like Formica.
Grandma Also Rode the Bike
Grandma also rode the bike including to ours, to the Salvation Army in Mile Cross and to Mile Cross and Taverham Methodist Churches. In December 1966, grandma came to ours on the bike but then got a lift home with mum. Grandad then came with mum and rode the bike to Dixons and then home. I am not sure why they did it like this. Perhaps grandma felt she could not ride the bike home or perhaps grandad wanted to go to Dixons on it and this saved him a bit of the journey. I wonder if it was the former as they did the same in June 1967 and grandad just rode the bike home although mum and grandad did use that journey to bring the coin case, that grandad had made for dad’s birthday, see Chapter 94, to ours.
Fair Weather Cyclist?
Grandad may have been something of a fair weather cyclist as, on New Year’s Eve 1969, mum took grandad to the Post Office to collect their pension as it was too cold and windy to go on the bike.
Punctures, Repairs and Maintenance
In May 1969, grandad had a front puncture on the bike which he mended. Grandad also mended punctures for us and for Paul Douglas during this period. Grandad also carried out repairs and maintenance for a variety of bicycles during that period. For example, in May 1969, he repaired bikes for Alan and me and he also repaired Liz’s wooden tricycle.
Earlier Bikes
Grandma and grandad did have a bike or bikes before they got the RSW16. In June 1965, grandad noted that grandma brought a Raleigh bike from ours to theirs. That same month, grandad went on it to Drayton Post Office and to Hurn Road through to Reepham Road. Grandma rode it to a meeting at Mile Cross Salvation Army.
Our Bikes
Grandad also mentioned bikes that we children had. In March 1965, grandad put together a bike for me that Ron Douglas had given him. That same month he put a new brake on it. He had got this from Halfords in King’s Lynn for 9/1½. Tricia, Alan and I all had turns riding that bike on 23 March 1965.
In July 1965, Tricia rode her bike on grandma and grandad’s front lawn by herself for the first time. She was not quite seven. That same month, I went on the bike by myself for the first time. I had just turned five at the time.
On 14 May 1967, Tricia rode her new secondhand bike to grandma and grandad’s with dad walking beside her. She was just about to turn nine at this point. It was the day before her birthday. This bike cost £6 10 0 and Tricia got it for her birthday. Grandma and grandad contributed £2.
On Christmas Eve 1967, dad went to grandma and grandad’s by bike. He wheeled home the climbing frame which grandma and grandad gave us for Christmas that year, see Chapter 92.
Bicycle Accidents
There were also a couple of bicycle accidents during this period. Perhaps the most serious was in April 1966 when Paul Douglas was knocked off his bike by a car. He was taken to hospital as he was thrown over the top of the car but his injuries were not as bad as first thought and he came home after two days. Grandad noted that he was very shaky but could walk. In June 1966, there was a court case about this and the driver was fined £25 plus £6 costs. His licence was endorsed and suspended for one month.
In March 1967, grandad hit the curb and fell off while riding the bike. He said it was on account of the traffic and that he did not hurt himself nor did he damage the bike.
Walking
During this period, grandad did note people walking some places but perhaps less frequently than in previous periods. Places people walked from grandma and grandad’s house included into Drayton, including to Drayton Methodist Church; to Costessey; to Taverham; to ours and to friends, such as Mrs Noble and Mr and Mrs Hodgson.
Walking Route to Ours
I think the route used to get to ours was down Drayton Wood Road and through a pedestrian short cut to Woodland Road.
We Walked Places
We sometimes walked places. In March 1966, we walked with mum to grandma and grandad’s. Ron Douglas brought us home. Dad had gone to Overstrand in the car for a church weekend. In February 1967, Tricia walked to grandma and grandad’s and back the following day. Grandma met her in Drayton Wood Road the first day and also walked part of the way back with her the next day. Tricia would have been eight at this point. In July 1968, grandma walked to ours with Liz in the pushchair. Then, in November 1968, when she was ten, Tricia walked to grandma and grandad’s. In April 1969, we walked to grandma and grandad’s as a family as the car was in the garage for clutch repairs. Ron Douglas took us home. In May 1969, grandma walked to ours with Alan and Liz.
Other People Walked
Other people who walked included grandma, grandma and grandad Drew, Eva, Auntie Dolly, Arthur and Jessie Lofthouse, Arthur and Florrie Booth and Ken and Pearl Hodges. Many of these people walked with grandma. In June 1967, grandma went with Arthur and Florrie Booth on a three-mile walk.
Grandad Did Not Walk Much
While I don’t think grandad walked much during this period, he did note taking Liz for a walk in October 1965. At this point, Liz would have been about five months old. In November 1966, grandad had a walk in Norwich City Centre. I think this was by himself as afterwards he could not find the car until he saw Amy and grandma. He noted that their one hour parking for 6d had gone so he had to pay another shilling for another hour to cover this. He noted that they only used 20 minutes of it!.
Maps
While grandad did not have a car during this period, he was interested in roads and maps. So, for Christmas 1967, we bought him a road map that was 3 miles to one inch. I think this could have been a road atlas. It cost 21 shillings and was a later version of one mum had bought grandad for Father’s Day in 1955, see Chapter 68.
