This morning I went shopping down the village, then I went with Barry Harvey, Kenny Gray and Brian Holliday to the Midland Red ’bus depot at Bearwood. I am collecting Midland Red ’bus numbers as well as Birmingham ’buses.

   The weather wasn’t very good today so after dinner Mam took us to the Warwick. We saw Come Out Fighting (A) and Some More Tomorrow (A).

   Today, Good Friday, I had a letter from the Midland Red. After dinner I [unfinished]

   Birmingham City drew 2–2 at Newcastle United.

   Today I went to see Birmingham City play Fulham at St. Andrews. Blues won 2–1. There were 4 changes from the team printed in the programme.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Jennings (not Trigg), Hughes; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Goodwin (not Mulraney), McIntosh (not Dougall), Hall (not Massart), Bodle, Edwards. Hall (on his first appearance) and Goodwin scored their first goals for Blues. About 30,000 were there.

   Scorers for Blues this season (excluding today):— Trigg 19, Mulraney 10, Bodle 9, Dougall 6, Edwards 6, Jones 5, Mitchell 3 (penalties), Duckhouse 2, Harris 1, McIntosh 1, Dorman 1, Dearson 1. Cyril Trigg is brilliant, but would get a lot more goals if he could always play centre forward instead of right back. Dave Massart has scored 16 and Wilson Jones 13 for the Reserves.

   Today’s programme contains an appeal by Mr. Leslie Deakins for Blues’ supporters to join Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Frank Mitchell plays for them.

   Easter Day. We went to the Mission as usual.

   It was Easter Bank Holiday Monday today.

   This afternoon I went to St. Andrews to see Blues play Newcastle United. There were again 4 changes from the team printed in the programme (I think they must have printed Saturday’s and today’s programme at the same time).

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Trigg, Hughes; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Goodwin (not Mulraney), McIntosh (not Dougall), Hall (not Massart), Bodle, Pimbley (not Edwards).

   Newcastle Utd:— Swinburn; Cowell, Corbett; Harvey, Brennan, Wright; Milburn, Bentley, Stobbart, Shackleton, Pearson.

   Blues won 2-nil. Harold Bodle and Cyril Trigg scored. The attendance was 43,000, the biggest since December 28th.

   I played football with the boys today.

   After dinner today, Mam took us to the Olton to see Enchanted Forest (U), about a young boy who learns about nature from an old man in the forest, and Just William (U), the Richmal Crompton character whose adventures we enjoy listening to on the wireless. They were both very good.

   Today we went on the 1A ’bus to Cannon Hill Park. I caught a Stickleback.

   Today’s weather readings were: Maximum 57 degrees, Minimum 40.

   This afternoon we went to Cannon Hill Park again and I got another fish for my aquarium.

   This afternoon I went to St. Andrews to see the A.T.C. International match between England and Scotland. Birmingham City were away to Bury but lost 3–nil.

   The weather was hot. During the day I ate three ice-creams.

   Double Summer Time began today. The clocks have gone forward another hour, so we are now two hours ahead of the sun, and it will still be light at 9 o’clock. From 24th February 1940 we never went back to the proper time — we were on British Summer Time all through the War until 7th October 1945, with Double Summer Time in operation in 1941 (4th May to 10th August), 1942 (5th April to 9th August), 1943 (4th April to 15th August), 1944 (2nd April to 17th September) and 1945 (2nd April to 15th July). This was to help the farmers.

   The practice of putting the clocks forward an hour started in the Great War (21st May 1916) and has continued ever since. Last year we had British Summer Time from 14th April to 6th October but there was no Double Summer Time. I see from this Diary that the sun rises this Friday at 5.0 and sets at 7.0, but that is obviously Greenwich Mean Time.

   We went to the Mission as usual.

   Mam took us to Dudley Zoo for the day.

   It is the last day of the Easter holiday.

   Tonight Mam, Dad and I listened to the big fight for the Heavyweight Championship between Joe Baksi and Bruce Woodcock. Baksi won in the 7th Round.

   The Summer Term started at 10.0am today.

   In games today we played cricket at the School Field and I played for 1B 2nd XI against 1C. Price and Perry are Captain and Vice-Captain of our 1st XI. I scored a goal playing football.

   I went to St. Andrews as usual this afternoon and saw Blues beat Luton Town 1–nil.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Jennings (not Trigg), Hughes; Harris, Turner, Mitchell; Goodwin, McIntosh, Dougall, Bodle, Edwards. Jack Goodwin scored his 2nd goal for Blues. 30,000 were there.

   My Diary says “Summer Time should begin (S.T. Act 1925)” but it began last Sunday.

   We went to the Mission this afternoon.

   Princess Elizabeth was 21 today and she made a speech from Cape Town.

   My dinner tickets this week are:— 2008–2012

   Dad had a letter today asking me to go for an interview with the Head Master at King Edward’s High School on Friday next week (May 2nd).

   I wrote a letter to John for my English exercise:—

   My dear John,

   I am writing to you to find out whether you could come for a little excursion on Tuesday next. I thought it would be a good time for us at Yarningale on the afternoon. It’s lovely out there just now. We walk about thirteen miles from Hatton Station. You will quite likely be able to add some wild flowers to your collection. We can have a fine time on the common and we can go a different way home along the Grand Union Canal where we can do a spot of fishing. So don’t delay in letting me know. The train fare [from Acocks Green and South Yardley] is 1s 4d return. By the way bring some sandwiches etc., and we’ll stay for tea.

   I will close now as I want to send this by the next post. So Au Revoir.

   Yours sincerely,

      Brian.

   Mr. Howe gave me 8/10 for my letter to John.

   The Royal Family left the Union of South Africa for England today. They have been away since.

   Today we completed our match against 1C 2nd XI. We won by an innings and 3 runs.

   Charlton Athletic beat Burnley 1–nil in the Cup Final today.   Birmingham City beat Plymouth Argyle 2–nil away.

   I started learning to ride my bike today after tea, with Dad holding it upright while I pedal.

   This week my dinner tickets are 2299–2303

   I practised on my bike again today.

   As usual I practised on my bike again today.

   I went to Cubs as usual. I have now gained my Second Star. I have done everything except for making a model.

   I rode my bike by myself today.

   This morning I sent a letter to the B.M.M.O. (Midland Red).

   As one of my favourite hobbies is train-spotting I have chosen Railways as the subject for my latest essay:—

   About one hundred years ago, there were no railways at all. Since 1835 railways have grown considerably, Several companies started their own railways. Colliery and coal-mine railways were started. In the early 1900s there were about 250 different railways. So it was decided in 1923 to join them into four big companies, i.e. the GWR, LMS, LNER, SR.

   Then there was the building of the railways. Viaducts and banks had to be made. In many cases a tunnel was needed to go through a hill or high land. Then, when the railways were going well, the adopting of the narrow gauge took place. Wood was needed for sleepers. Also iron for rails, though for a time they too were of wood.

   The railway’s uses were for passengers as well as goods and minerals. When railways began, many people would not trust them. In those days (a century ago) there were trucks with a few seats in for third class coaches. Second class ones were a little better, while the first class coaches which could have been the best were right behind the engine, so that there were clouds of smoke round you.

   And now with our extensive railways which have grown from the Stockton & Darlington Company, we intend even greater things for the future, — perhaps atomic power will be used or jet-propulsion. We cannot answer that question yet so we must wait till the time comes.

   Mr. Howe has used his red pen to underline “you” at the end of the third paragraph, and written “I was not there”. But he has given me 9/10. And I am still using prepositions to start paragraphs with.

   This afternoon I went to the High School for my interview with the Head Master, Mr. C.R. Morris. I had to wait in a tiny room with one or two other boys and their parents before I went into the Headmaster’s study.

   Mr. Morris asked me what I wanted to be etc. [and I told him, a doctor, which is what Mam always tells everyone I am going to be], and I had to read from a book containing rather a lot of French, but I think I read it intelligently.

   I showed Mr. Morris all my school reports. I feel confident of the outcome of the interview — I shall know the result early next week.

   This afternoon I went to St. Andrews to see Blues’ last home match of the season against Bradford P.A. They won 4–nil. Harold Bodle scored two.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Jennings, Hughes; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Goodwin, McIntosh, Dougall, Bodle, Edwards. There were only 23,000 there. Harold Bodle scored two, Neil Dougall one, and Frank Mitchell scored a penalty.

   Spion Kop, which is still in ruins after the war, is going to be repaired in the summer.

   I played football at school as usual today and scored a goal.

   When I had done all my homework this evening I took my football down the park [Fox Hollies] and I had a game with the boys. [The map shows my route.]

   1A, 1B and 1C went swimming at Moseley Road Baths this afternoon. I was very nervous as I cannot swim. When we got changed I was the only boy wearing a full-length costume and I was very embarrassed because it is orange and black and everybody laughed. We were divided into two groups and those who can swim went to the deep end. The rest of us were standing about and Mr. Titt said the boy with the red costume was to walk down the steps and into the water, making swimming movements with my arms, with everybody following me.

   The war ended two years ago today.

   I have written a short story in my English exercise book today, and included the date as I remembered that it is two years since the War ended.

   Although it is peace-time now, everything is still rationed — bread (4¼d a loaf), milk, butter, margarine (which Mam buys as it is cheaper), cheese, cooking fat, bacon, eggs, meat, tea, sugar, jam, marmalade, sweets and chocolate. We can get potatoes though (7lb for 4½d), and packets of dried egg, also tins of sardines or grade 3 salmon if we have enough points. (I have cut the fishes off the labels and stuck them in my scrap book.) There is also tinned fruit, and we always have an apple and an orange for Christmas.

   Clothes are in short supply and have a black Utility label inside, and it is also difficult to get furniture. Fortunately, we still have some of the furniture from Belchers Lane, rescued after we were bombed out on 19–20th November 1940. There is a jagged hole in the front of my wardrobe caused by a piece of shrapnel.   

   Mam and Dad received a letter from King Edward’s High School this morning. I have won a King Edward’s Scholarship to the High School. [It is one of six awarded and I am due to receive a Silver Medal.] It will be the fifth school I shall have attended. I went to Sladefield Road school for a few weeks in the Autumn of 1940 — I seem to remember going for a fortnight mornings, then a fortnight afternoons — until we were bombed out. For a short time we lived at Kathleen Road, Hay Mills, and I went to Redhill Road school; then, after we moved to Acocks Green, I went to Hartfield Crescent until July last year.

   This afternoon Dad took us all to the B.S.A. Party at Marston Green.

   Birmingham City drew 1–1 away to Nottingham Forest.

   We went to the Mission as usual.

   I got my dinner tickets for this week, 2844–2848

   It is Don Dearson’s birthday today — he is 34. I have seen him play for Blues many times: he is one of my favourite players and I was disappointed when he was transferred to Coventry City for £6,000 in February. There is a cigarette card of him which I should like to get. [It is No. 14 of W.D. & H.O. Wills’ Association Footballers, November 1935.] He was born in Ynysybwl, near Pontypridd, and played for a junior team at Llantwit Major before joining Barry Town. He was transferred to Birmingham City in April 1934 and has also played many times for Wales, especially during the War. One of the men I see at the match was telling us how he saw Don Dearson miss a penalty at St. Andrews when he was playing for Wales against England in a Wartime international, about 5 or 6 years ago.

   George Edwards and Billy Hughes are also Welsh internationals, and everybody says Gilbert Merrick is sure to play for England as he is the best goalkeeper in the country.

   Tonight I went to see Blues reserves play at St. Andrews.

   I have written an essay to finish my English Exercise Book:—

   Birmingham is situated about in the middle of England and also the centre of the ‘Black Country’. Birmingham has over one and a quarter million inhabitants for it is the second largest town in the British Isles.

   Birmingham is crowded with shops and people, railways and buses. The streets are filled with shoppers. All is in a great bustle of noise and the buses and trains go continually to and from the city. Great buildings tower up above the ground. Factories are giving off noise and din as machines, materials and other [things] are being made. So many things are happening even now in the great city of Birmingham.

   Besides the factories mentioned the city has its gasworks as well, for gas must be supplied for the 1,250,000 people. And then in the town there is the University. And schools are found all over the great area of Birmingham. At parts of the city, though, newspapers are being printed. Libraries are found in the city (in each district almost). Lastly but not at all least B’ham has its own grand Cathedral and churches for those who wish to go to such places on Sundays. The whole of B’ham seems to be working.

   But when one gets away into the outer districts he can see quieter districts and even fields occasionally. Here things are different. There is not half as many factories with their big machines. But in the shopping centre of all these villages as they might be called, are, once again, the shops. The grocer, greengrocer, butcher and another great array of shops and people are to be seen.

   But at last the night comes. Shops close. People go back home and the eerie darkness falls. But the street-lamps do their work.

   Mr. Howe has given me 8/10 for this essay, but he says that it is “weak” to start sentences with “but”, but I had not realised that I had done so.

   This afternoon I went to see Birmingham City Reserve Team play at St. Andrews, and heard the result at Millwall:— Birmingham City 2 Millwall 0. McIntosh and Dougall scored.

   We broke up today for the Whitsun holiday.

   I went to the Reserves’ match at St. Andrews this afternoon.

   It was Whit Monday today, also Queen Mary’s 80th Birthday.

   Birmingham City won 3–nil (Bodle 2, Dougall) away to Newport County. [The team was:— Merrick; Trigg, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Faulkner, McIntosh, Dougall, Bodle, Edwards.] Unfortunately they have finished only 3rd so have missed promotion to the 1st Division.

   Mam took us all to Dudley Zoo today.

   Today we all went to Cannon Hill Park.

   Dick Barton finished today.

   It has been very hot today. This afternoon I went to see Blues Reserves play Preston North End in the Central League. They won 2–0. Aveyard scored in the second half, and Faulkner just before the end. It was a very good game.

   Birmingham City Res:— Wheeler; Trigg, Jennings; Shaw, Devey, Pimbley; Faulkner, McIntosh, Aveyard, Bodle, Edwards. Except for Aveyard (a new player) they have all played at least once this season for the first team, and Trigg, Jennings, McIntosh, Bodle and Edwards regularly.

   I got seven autographs afterwards, of Dennis Jennings, Ray Devey, Alex McIntosh, George Edwards, Neil Dougall, Matt McDonnell and Wally Quinton, all written in pencil in my autograph book.

   Manchester City and Burnley have won promotion to the First Division. Blues were 3rd, but they beat Manchester City 3–1 on November 9th. Blues’ record:— P42, W25, L12, D5, For74, Ag33, Pts55. Blues’ goal scorers:— Trigg 17, Bodle 15, Dougall 9, Mulraney 8, Edwards 7, Jones 5, McIntosh 3, Duckhouse 2, Mitchell 2, Goodwin 2, Dearson 1, Hall 1, Harris 1.

   A new serial has started called The Daring Dexters. It is about a circus. It is not as good as Dick Barton.

   I went to the High School this afternoon for the Admission Ceremony in Big School.

   I have started having Boy’s Own Paper.

   1A, 1B and 1C went swimming again today at Moseley Road Swimming Baths. I still cannot swim. I forgot my towel. While I was waiting for someone to finish drying themselves and to lend me theirs, I suddenly found myself drowning in the deep end. I do not know how I came to be in the water. All the other boys were in the cubicles, so nobody saw me struggling in the water. I do not know how I got out.

   Playing football today after dinner I scored three goals.

   Scored 1 goal

   In the First Test Match at Nottingham, South Africa were today all out for 533. Eric Hollies and Tom Dollery were playing for England in the 1st Test Match at Nottingham today. South Africa were 376 for 3 at the close.

   South Africa were today all out for 533, their highest score in any Test. Melville scored 189 and Nourse 149 — their stand of 319 (made in 4 hours) was the highest in any Test Match for the 3rd wicket, and the highest by South Africa for any wicket. Melville’s 189 was the highest score by any South African player in a match against England.

   England were 154 for 2 at the close of play. Hutton made only 17 and Washbrook 25, but Edrich and Compton have put on 106.   

   I scored a goal at school today.

   At Trent Bridge England collapsed. Compton was caught at slip off the second ball of the day and, by lunch, they were all out for 208, 325 runs behind.

   After following on they were 170 for 4, still needing 155 to avoid an innings defeat. Then Yardley joined Compton and they added 108 before the close of play. England still need 47 to make South Africa bat again.

   The Test Match ended in a draw. England made 551 in their 2nd innings (Compton 163, Yardley 99 (!), Evans 74), leaving South Africa to score 227 to win in 140 minutes. They made 166 for 1.

   Melville (189 and 104 n.o.) is the first South African ever to score two separate centuries in a Test Match. Compton and Yardley’s 5th wicket stand of 237 is the highest for any Test in England. It has been an incredible match.

   We went with the Mission today to Church Stretton in Shropshire. We walked along Carding Mill Valley and saw the Light Spout. Walking back along the path I twisted my ankle. The weather was not very good.

   I made a barometer today. I got the idea when looking through my cigarette cards [actually No. 1 in Wills’ Household Hints, a set of 50 printed in September 1936]. I got a vinegar bottle and a jam jar, half filled the bottle with water and then poured in some of my red ink to colour it, then I put the jam jar over the bottle and turned them over, letting the water flow into the jar until the level in the neck of the bottle was about an inch above that in the jar. If the water level rises in the neck of the bottle it shows that the atmospheric pressure has increased, meaning fine weather, and if the level goes down, the pressure has decreased, so we shall have rain.

   I got my dinner tickets as usual this morning, 5873–7.

   First period this afternoon Mr. Howe gave us our Dictation exam.

   I scored a goal at school today.

   I have dismantled the Barometer. I couldn’t tell whether the water was going up or down and in any case it is evaporating. I have also tried forecasting the weather by hanging up some of the seaweed we got from Lowestoft. If the seaweed is wet it shows it has rained.

   I am not having any more school dinners after tomorrow, Mam says I can take sandwiches instead. I had to ask permission from Mr. Rogers and he said, “Oh, you are one of the fussy fannies, are you?”

   We had our Reading examination at school this morning. It rained, so we had no cricket today and I came straight home from school.

   This afternoon I went to the County Ground to see Warwickshire play Cambridge University. It was an exciting day’s play as Warwickshire lost half their side for only 19 runs. Hill was out for 1, then Ken Taylor for a duck. Then Blues’ player Frank Mitchell also got a duck, Fantham scored 7 and Peter Cranmer only 4. Jimmy Ord got 14 but was then caught behind the wicket for 14. Warwickshire were all out for 77. The highest scorers were Hossell 22 and Robbins 15. Bailey took 5 for 32 and Griffiths 5 for 42. The Cambridge University wicket-keeper Mischler took 5 catches.

   In their 1st innings Cambridge scored 139 (Pepper 34, Insole 28, Willatt 26, Bailey 17 not out).

   I scored a goal at school today.

   At Edgbaston Warwickshire lost to Cambridge University by 8 wickets. Hill got 104 and Ord 55 but they were all out for 207. Bailey took 5 for 80 and scored 17 not out and 7 not out. [This is T.E. Bailey, who will become a great England all-rounder.]

   Mr. Warnes gave us our Art exam in 3rd and 4th period this morning.

   It was John’s 12th birthday today. He is 36 days older than I.

   England won the 2nd Test against South Africa at Lords by 10 wickets. The scores were England 554 for 8 declared (Edrich 189, Compton 208, and 26 for no wicket; South Africa 327 (Melville 117, Nourse 61; Wright 5 for 95) and 252 (Mitchell 80, Nourse 58; Wright 5 for 80).

   The third wicket stand of 370 by Edrich and Compton is a new world record. Compton has now scored 436 in three Test innings against South Africa.

   We again had no cricket today due to rain so I came straight home from school.

   I went to the County Ground to see Warwickshire versus Northamptonshire this afternoon. Northamptonshire made a good start but then collapsed, losing 5 wickets for 9 runs, and were all out for only 80. Eric Hollies took 6 for 24 and Pritchard 4 for 30. Warwickshire scored 123. Peter Cranmer scored 30, Tom Dollery 28, Eric Houghton (of Aston Villa) 22.

   My Garden Tiger moth (or Woolly Bear, Arctia caia) has laid some eggs on one of the plants in my cage.

   Warwickshire beat Northamptonshire by 6 wickets. Northants scored 215 in their second innings, and Warwicks scored 176 for 4 (K.A. Taylor 56 n.o., Houghton 41, Dollery 26). Hollies took 11 wickets in the match and Pritchard 8.