Three Diaries
During this period, there were three sets of family diaries. My grandfather maintained a diary until he died in November 1975. Mum restarted her diary in 1975 and kept it throughout this period. Although I thought my teenage diaries were lost, I found them for most of 1976 and 1977.
Mum and Dad
Mum and dad had separated in 1973. During this period, dad lived in London and then Birmingham. He visited us and we visited him. Mum was planning to divorce but this did not happen until later. There were lots of tensions, e.g. over money and interactions with us. These tensions affected other family relationships, e.g. between me and mum, and contributed to mum feeling very lonely.
Weddings and Births
Mum attended Anna Watkins’s wedding in September 1979 and a number of other weddings were mentioned in the diaries. My sister, Tricia, got engaged to Angus Carrick. Grandma and grandad celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Tabitha Elworthy was born.
Grandad’s Death
Grandad died in November 1975. Other people who died during this period included Bertha Seville, Tom Wilson, Eva Evans and Heather Taylor. Mum suffered various illnesses in this period and she had at least three operations.
School in the Late Seventies
At the start of this period, Tricia, Alan and I were all at secondary school, albeit different schools. Tricia was at Norwich High School for Girls and Alan was at Earlham School. I was in my fourth year at Hewett. Liz would have still been at primary school, I think at The Avenues. Tricia left school in 1976 and I left in 1978. Alan and Liz were still at Earlham at the end of 1979.
Saturday Jobs and Other Work in the Late Seventies
My first paid, part-time job was at The Scientific Anglian bookshop and I later worked at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square. Between school and university, I worked in Birmingham, at the Norwich Union during the day and at a pub at night.
Going to University
I and my sister went to university. In 1976, Tricia went to study natural sciences in Cambridge and, in 1978, I went to study medicine in Newcastle. Alan applied for university as he went to Southampton in 1980.
Mum’s Work
Mum did a variety of work in the late seventies. This ranged from running her own typing and duplicating business to secretary to a Methodist church leader to a variety of medical administrative roles including receptionist, medical secretary and practice manager. This section also briefly covers dad’s work and money issues.
Entertainment
Family members were involved in a wide range of entertainment in the late seventies including celebrating birthdays and Christmas; going to parties; going to the cinema and theatre; music and holidays.
Sport
I watched a wide range of sports on TV and in person with a particular focus on football, in general, and Norwich City, in particular.
Religion
Religion played an important part in my family’s life in the late seventies particularly mum’s involvement in St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church.