Television
Grandad sometimes noted what he saw on television and, where these were current affairs or major events, see Chapter 97, or religious services, see Chapter 90, they are covered elsewhere.
Opening of the Severn Bridge
Grandad sometimes watched more detailed programmes linked to particular events. For example, when the Severn bridge was opened in September 1966, grandad noted that the BBC had a programme on in the evening which gave details of how the bridge was built which grandad found very interesting.
Liz Appeared on TV
In June 1969, my sister Liz appeared on TV on 16th, 18th, and 20th. Initially, I could not recall why but I vaguely remember her appearing on Anglia TV’s “Romper Room”. This appeared on Anglia television from 1964 to 1976 and was hosted by Miss Rosalyn with different child guests. It appears that that was shown on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4.35 to 4.55pm but, on Tuesday and Thursday, there was “Plupp and his Friends” and “Hubble Bubble” respectively. This would explain why she was on TV on 16th, 18th and 20th but not 17th or 19th.
Miss World
In November 1969, grandad noted watching the Miss World contest from the Albert Hall and he noted that Miss Austria won.
BBC2 in Colour from Talconeston
In September 1967, BBC2 started broadcasting in colour from Tacolneston and grandma and grandad went to visit the transmitter with Linda and Clarence Reeve, see Chapter 92.
Visiting ITV Studios
In May 1968, grandma and Eva went with a ladies’ trip to the ITV studios in Norwich, see Chapter 90.
New TVs
In October 1967, mum and dad had a new TV on rental at a cost of 8/11 per week. Grandad went to see it two days later and noted that it was a Philips 23” screen.
In December 1968, Ken Bell got a new Bush television set fixed. For details of Bush, see Chapter 64. Ken had bought the TV the previous day from Panks of Norwich.
Panks
In the 1960 and 1967 Kelly’s Directories, Panks were listed as a television rental company located at 22A White Lion Street which was later occupied by Timpson’s and then Shoecare. There is similar information in the Kelly’s Tradefinders for 1970-71 and 1971-72. There is an excellent photo of this on the Norwich Remembers Facebook Group.
TVs Malfunctioning
In terms of televisions as pieces of equipment, there were times when they malfunctioned. For example, in March 1966, mum noted that Hubbards collected the TV and that they brought it back a couple of days later.
Radios
Radios were still popular during this period and they were getting smaller and more portable. In June 1965, grandma took her portable radio to Halfords for a new battery, see Chapter 93. In May 1968, grandma and grandad gave Tricia £2 towards the cost of a transistor radio for her tenth birthday, see Chapter 92.
Tape Recorders
The diaries contained quite a lot of entries about tape recorders during this period and, certainly at the beginning of this period, they were still the reel-to-reel type although cassettes were just starting to be available at this time.
Amy Bought a Tape Recorder
In January 1966, Amy bought a tape recorder while visiting Norfolk, see Chapter 93,
Grandad Took His Tape Recorder for Repairs
That same day, in January 1966, grandad took his tape recorder to a firm in Norwich for repair. But, he got it back the next day with the firm advising him to send it to Philips. So, Tom and Amy took it to Nottingham on the basis that there was no Philips shop in Norwich. They brought it back the next month. Fisher’s had charged them £1 18 3.
Secondhand Philips Battery Tape Recorder
In February 1967, grandad noted that a man and his son brought him a secondhand Philips battery tape recorder to see. Presumably, the repairs mentioned above satisfied grandad for a year or so but, by this point, he seems to have been looking for a replacement. However, he decided not to buy it. They wanted £16 for it.
A Small Tape Recorder
That same month, grandma went with John into Norwich to get details about a small tape recorder. I think this was probably a cassette player.
Later that month, grandma went to Suttons, see Chapter 93, in Norwich and bought a Japanese tape recorder which worked on battery and mains. Grandad noted that it was 24 guineas and they received a discount of 3¾ shillings, which I assume was 3/9.
A Box for the Tape Recorder
Also, in February 1967, on the 27th, grandad made a box for the tape recorder but did not finish it. The next day, he went to Dixons to buy some hinges and a catch for the box.
A Transformer for Amy’s Tape Recorder
In April 1967, grandma went into Norwich with John. She bought a transformer for Amy’s tape recorder. It cost £5 with a discount of 2/3.
A Box for Amy’s Tape Recorder
On the 19 April 1967, grandad went to Dixons to order some wood to make a box for Amy’s tape recorder. He started making it on the 20th and finished it on the 24th.
Using the Tape Recorder
In May 1967, grandma took her tape recorder to a house meeting in Norwich where she was speaking. In April 1968, grandma went to visit Miss Gotts in Taverham and she took her tape recorder with her.
Photography
In terms of photography, grandad noted, in July 1965, that Amy bought a Kodak Instamatic and, the next month, she also bought a slide viewer, see Chapter 93.
Slide Shows
At the start of this period, grandad had a slide projector, screen etc., see Chapter 84, and they got a lot of use out of these.
1965
In January 1965, they gave a slide show to Ron, Betty and the children. But, the lamp blew when the projector was switched on. I am not sure exactly what they did but grandad said they had a demonstration with the tape recorder. In March 1965, they had a show of grandad and Ron’s slides. Grandad noted that people from 168 came and Tom, Amy and Eva were also there. In August 1965, grandad showed photos to Edna and Sylvia Bust.
1966
In August 1966, grandad noted that they put on a picture show. That same month, grandma went to an afternoon meeting at Mrs Noble’s and took their viewer and some slides. In December 1966, grandma hosted the ladies meeting at their house and showed them some “films” of Kirkby.
1967
In March 1967, grandad noted having a picture show. That same month, he arranged his photos so that he could find them more easily. In June 1967, they had a picture show of photos of Tunisia taken by Linda Bell. In July 1967, Ron took Mrs Collins, Graham and Caroline Douglas, grandma, grandad and Minnie to see flowers that had been given at the time of his wife Betty’s death. Grandad noted taking a photo of them. In September 1967, we had a slide show of early pictures of Tricia, me and Alan. In November 1967, grandma gave a picture show at chapel. She had taken various pictures of the ladies over the summer.
1968
In August 1968, Tom and grandad took grandad’s projector and screen to Mrs Noble’s for a ladies meeting. Grandma was showing pictures. In September 1968, grandad went to the Bells to see pictures grandma was showing of Linda and her friend’s trip to Spain. In December 1968, grandma bought a coloured film from Dixons. That same month, Rev M Parker gave a slide show of colour photos of USA and Palestine (Holy Land). Grandad considered these very good.
1969
In January 1969, Drayton Ladies Meeting was held at grandma and grandad’s, see Chapter 90. Mrs Cooper brought some photos of Africa. Grandma showed them and Mrs Cooper described details. They did something similar two weeks later. Grandma showed photos of Wales and Cornwall that Mrs Noble had brought. In June 1969, mum showed her slides of Iona to grandma and grandad. She borrowed Rev Parker’s projector as grandad had no bulb for his. In September 1969, they had a slide show of Linda Bell’s photos and mum showed her pictures of Iona to Drayton’s Ladies Meeting using grandad’s (new) projector and screen. That same month, grandad made a ten-inch stand for his projector and he finished painting this a couple of days later.
A New Projector
In September 1969, grandad got a new lamp for his projector and, in October 1969, he bought a new projector, a Gnome 300. Gnome were a company based in Wales that produced a range of photographic equipment .He got this from Coleman and de Carle. They allowed him £10 for the old one and he paid £15 11 9. He kept the bulb, from the Aldis, that mum had bought at Dixons the day before for 35/3. On 10 October 1969, he took the projector back to have the magazine slide adjusted. For more details of grandad’s old Aldis projector, see Chapter 84.
Films
Sometimes, but less often, family members also watched and showed films. However, sometimes, it is not completely clear whether grandad is referring to showing slides or a film.
One example of a film was in November 1965 when grandma, grandad, Tom and Amy went to Ron’s for a moving film show. Also, in November 1967, grandma, Amy and Miss Cooke went to Mile Cross Ladies Meeting to see a film on the Holy Land. Ron Douglas took them and brought them back. In June 1969, a man from the Deep Sea fishermen showed a film at chapel, see Chapter 90.