We have started exams in earnest now. Today we had General English, and Algebra & Geometry.

   Today we had our Geography, History and Music exams.

   We had three more exams today: Arithmetic, Scripture and French.

   We finished all our exams today. We had our Essay & Comprehension, and Physics.

   Today was the 34th Annual Boy Scouts Rally at Handsworth Park. We took part in the March Past and Rally of Cubs, Scouts and Rovers. There were also 17 crippled Scouts from the 196 Woodlands Division who came from the Woodlands Hospital, Northfield.

   The weather was not very pleasant — cold and windy — but the park was crowded with people. As usual there were stalls and demonstrations, including one of building a bridge, and I was also able to see several trains as the L.M.S. railway line runs down one side of the park.

   The Band was [left blank] and the salute was taken by the Lord Mayor, Alderman A.F. Bradbeer.

   Edrich today scored 191 at Old Trafford. It is his highest Test innings and included 3 sixes and 22 fours.

   This morning I found that a Magpie moth (Abraxas grossulariata) which I put in my cage had laid some eggs.

   At school I scored a goal.

   England won the 3rd Test by 7 wickets. The last 7 South African wickets fell in only an hour for only 50 runs.

    South Africa 339 (Viljoen 93, Mitchell 80; Edrich 4 for 95) and 267 (Nourse 115, Melville 59; Edrich 4 for 77). England 478 (Edrich 191, Compton 115) and 130 for 3.

   There has been much excitement today over the announcement of the Betrothal of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

   I played cricket this afternoon at the School Field. We beat 1A 2nd XI by 7 wickets.

   Some of the boys at school read Blighty which says on the cover “Britain’s Most Popular Humorous Paper”. I never buy a copy as it is a bit grown-up and costs 6d. But there is a funny joke in this week’s issue:— “What can you do with a £1 note?” Answer:— “You can wrap the meat ration in it.”

   Blighty comes out every Wednesday and today’s issue (dated the 19th which is Saturday) is No. 403. I have worked out that if it has been printed every week the first issue must have been dated 28th October 1939, which is nearly 8 weeks after the War started.

   I played my last game of cricket at Camp Hill this afternoon.

   I went to Cubs as usual tonight and was presented with my 4 years service star and House Orderly badge. I actually joined the 129th Birmingham 1st Victoria Wolf Cub Pack on November 21st 1942 when I was only 7, but my membership only counts from my 8th birthday and I shall be 12 next week.

   I had my last Art periods at school this morning. My year’s marks for 1946–47 were:—

   I scored a goal playing football at dinner time today.

   I am quite sorry to be leaving.

   Mr. Blakeman today gave us an old gramophone and a large number of records for my birthday party. I spent two hours playing them this evening. [Dad has known Albert Blakeman since they were at school together, and Albert was Best Man when Mam and Dad got married on 29th September 1934.]

   At school we have each been given a copy of the Camp Hill School Chronicle, No. 19, Summer 1947 issue. Due to paper restrictions it is eighteen months since the last one came out, so this is the first one I have seen. It has 32 pages with reports of school sports and other activities, and also an article in French, “Les Affaires Anglo-Françaises à Camp Hill” which I can understand!

   The last page has been left for autographs, so I asked Mr. Espley for his, and then Mr. Howe. I asked Mr. Howe if he will get all the other masters to add their autographs too.

   Today was my last day at Camp Hill. Mr. Howe has got all the other staff to autograph my Chronicle:— W.I. Davies, A.J. Mole, S. Hill, P.W. Bates, E.J. Titt, H.F. Warnes, S. Schiach, Wm.W. Drysdale, I.E. Jones, T.F. Rogers, L.M. Hollingworth, E. Smith, H.J. Strachan, A.G. Evans, C.H. Budd, H.G. Smith, M.A. Lebonnois — 19 altogether. I shall always treasure this.

   I also had my School Report [and a Certificate of Merit] to give to Mam and Dad. This says I came 4th out of 29 in May; 4th out of 30 in June; and 1st in this month’s examinations. So I have been placed top of the form.

   In the 3rd Test at Headingley, South Africa were all out for 175. England are 53 for no wicket.

   I had my birthday party this afternoon. We went in the garden, played gramophone records in the house, and had a lovely tea. John and Kipper came, also John Wilkins and Colin Gilbraith. John gave me a ball and Colin a Dinky toy of an army vehicle. [It was given me without the box but I think it is a Reconnaissance Car, 152b. It has a black plate underneath so is most likely a re-issue of a pre-War model, as Dinky Toys started up again in April last year.]

   We had invitation cards for the party, specially printed by Martin Bros. When Kipper knew I was having a party, his father offered to do them free of charge.

   England won the 4th Test by 10 wickets. Hutton scored the winning run with a 6. England 317 for 7 dec. (Hutton 100, Washbrook 75, Edrich 43) and 47 for no wicket. South Africa 175 and 184.

   It has been my 12th birthday today. [I had delightful cards from Clarice and Julia.]

   We are all very excited as we have been getting our things packed ready to go on holiday to Lowestoft. I wrote a composition about last year’s holiday: the following is copied from my exercise book and is part of my 1946 Diary:—

   Lowestoft, a very well known holiday resort, stands about ten miles south of Great Yarmouth. Before the war it had a very fine pier but now it’s in two parts [deliberately destroyed to prevent German troops from landing]. At Lowestoft, one of the most interesting things is the harbour. Early in the morning the trawlers come in with lots of fish. There’s a swing bridge over the river because many of the ships’ masts are too big. Then the bridge swings automatically round for the ship to go through.

   On the north side of the harbour the sea never goes out, and now, instead of a beach, there is a big concrete promenade. The southern part of Lowestoft is called Pakefield. Here on the top of a cliff is an old ruined church with a grave yard about 130 years old. Quite often bones of the people are found. (I found one myself). You can see the stones at the bottom of the cliff. Then there is the Kensington Gardens. It has a lake with little boats called “Scootaboats”.

   If you were to follow the river from the harbour you would come to the curing yards. Here, strange[ly] enough, are mostly Scottish girls. Past the curing yards are the dry docks. Here I saw the trawler “Peaceful Star” which went out with the B.B.C. men to the Dogger Bank broadcasting over the radio.

   About half a mile from the harbour are the Oulton Broads which join the Norfolk Broads. Here you see an amazing number of yachts and pleasure boats with plenty of wind to drive you along as the country is very low-lying and level.

   Lowestoft is a very interesting place.

   The exciting day arrived at last! Today we went off for the second year running, to Lowestoft. Our train left New Street at 9.38am and we didn’t get into Lowestoft until 6.20pm. We were due in at 5.18 but we weren’t in Great Yarmouth until 5.50pm, 62 minutes late. We are staying again at Mrs. Smith’s.

   Today I played in the sea. The weather was fine and warm but the sea was rough.

   The weather is continuing warm but the sea is still rough. The Daily Mirror Yacht Race was held on the Oulton Broads.

   The weather was much duller today and I haven’t been in the sea once. In the morning Clarice, Julia and I entered in the Daily Mail “Sand Design” contest. The sea was calm all day.

   After tea, Dad took us all to the Odeon cinema where we saw Dear Murderer (A) with Eric Portman, Greta Gynt and Dennis Price. [It is a new film, made by Gainsborough, adapted from a West End stage success. Gainsborough Films started in the 1930s and specialized in (or are best remembered for) their costume dramas: Margaret Lockwood starred in some of them, notably The Wicked Lady (1945). The company was taken over by the J. Arthur Rank Organisation which owned the Odeon and Gaumont cinemas.]

   The weather was brighter today, the sea fairly calm.

   This evening we went to the Kensington Gardens. Clarice, Julia and I went on the Electric Boats. It was Mam’s birthday (35).

   Today I have played in sea all day long. I still haven’t learned to swim. The sea was rough and the weather was warm and bright.

   It has been hot today, and the sea rough.

   Back home again! We didn’t leave Lowestoft until 2.10pm today so we were able to spend the morning on the beach. It was very hot and the sea was very rough.

   We arrived home at 9.10pm. Our train stopped at Stechford at 8.40 so we decided to get out there and then, and came home on the Outer Circle 11 ’bus to Acocks Green village.

   The weather has been hot today and after dinner I sat in a deckchair.

   Mam took us all to Dudley Zoo for the day.

   Today I took Clarice and Julia to Small Heath Park for the afternoon and afterwards we went to Heybarnes Park.

   India has been split up into two countries. The new country is called Pakistan.

   This afternoon I went to St. Andrews to see Blues’ practice match. It was a blazing hot day.

   England are playing South Africa in the final Test at the Oval.

   Very hot today.

   Still hot.

   We went to Cannon Hill Park today. The weather is still very hot.

   This morning I went to town and bought a copy of the Ian Allan ABC of GWR Locomotives, 1/6d. This is the 6th edition, checked up to June 1st. There are quite a lot of changes since I got the 3rd Edition in 1944. There are now “County” Class locomotives. These are numbered 1000 County of Middlesex (which I have already seen several times) to 1029 County of Worcester. There are also new “Castles”, 5098–5099 and 7000–7007.

   The G.W.R. has also been renumbering quite a lot of locomotives, including the eleven remaining “Dukes”. 3254 Cornubia is now 9054, and so on. It is a shame that they have lost their original numbers, but it is because there are some new 2251 Class 0–6–0 locomotives which need to be numbered 3200–3209.

   The worst renumbering is of “Hall” Class locomotives which have been fitted for oil-burning instead of coal. There are 11 of these and their numbers have been changed from being 4900s or 5900s to 3900s, all out of order. For instance, 3900–3904 used to be 4968, 4971, 4948, 4907 and 4972 respectively. Then 3950–3955 were formerly 5955, 5976, 6957, 6953, 5986 and 6949.

   Space has been left for us to write in the names and former numbers of other “Halls” as they are converted, but the whole system is a mess. I see (from the symbol ¶ against their names) that 100 A1 Lloyds and 4081 Warwick Castle are now oil-burners, as are also 5039 Rhuddlan Castle, 5079 Lysander, 5083 Bath Abbey, and 5091 Cleeve Abbey but they have not been renumbered.

   Another difference from my 1944 ABC is that Hall-class locos 6916–6959 have now been given names. The last of these, 6959 Peatling Hall and 11 new Halls, 6960–6970, are modified Halls with re-designed boilers.

   We went to Cannon Hill Park again today. The weather is still very hot. The Test Match ended yesterday as a draw.

   England 427 (Hutton 83, Yardley 59) and 325 for 6 declared (Compton 113). South Africa 302 (Mitchell 120) and 423 for 7 (Mitchell 189 n.o., Nourse 97).

   This afternoon I went to St. Andrews to see Blues’ first match of the season against Barnsley. It was a shocking result as they lost 3–2, and no one has ever seen seen any team score 3 goals against Blues in any home match since the War. Unfortunately there was a late change to the side as Southam played instead of Dennis Jennings.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Trigg, Southam; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Goodwin, McIntosh, Dougall, Bodle, Edwards. Bodle and Mitchell (penalty) scored Blues’ goals.

   Blues have been playing cricket during the summer. Gil Merrick is a fast bowler like Tom Pritchard.

   Today I wrote to the Comet for a pen-friend.

   Birmingham City were playing against Coventry City at Highfield Road today, and won 1–nil, Walter Aveyard scoring in the 70th minute. Gil Merrick gave a brilliant performance in goal for Blues. 30,465 people were there.

   Birmingham City beat Plymouth Argyle 3–nil away today. Bodle, Dougall and Aveyard scored.

   We all went to town today.

   Tonight I went to St. Andrews to see Birmingham City play Coventry City. They drew 1–1. Bodle scored for Blues but Cyril Trigg unfortunately put through his own goal.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Trigg, Quinton; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Goodwin, Dougall, Aveyard, Bodle, Edwards.

   Don Dearson was playing left-half for Coventry, Alf Wood was in goal and George Mason centre half. They are both old players and great favourites.

   John and I went to town to see the Model Aircraft Exhibition at Lewis’s.

   I have played football today.

   I went to St. Andrews as usual this afternoon to see Birmingham City beat Luton Town 2–1. Bodle and Aveyard scored for Blues. Over 40,000 were there.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Trigg, Quinton; Harris, McDonnell, Mitchell; Hughes, Dougall, Aveyard, Bodle, Edwards.

   Matt McDonnell was playing his first game for Blues, and Hughes is a new right-winger.

   Syd Owen was playing left-half for Luton, and Billy Hughes left-back. Syd Owen used to play for Blues and I have got his autograph. Billy Hughes was playing for Blues last season but was transferred in July. Why do Blues keep transferring their best players?

   It is a great shock that Blues have now transferred Wilson Jones to Nottingham Forest. He has been playing centre forward for Birmingham since 1934 and is one of my favourite players. I have his picture on a cigarette card.

   [In about ten year’s time I shall come to know Syd Owen’s father very well as he works in the mortuary at Little Bromwich Hospital.]

   We went to Windsor today on the outing from the Mission. Dad took a picture of us by the River Thames, and I took one of Clarice and Julia by the Castle keep. We had a wonderful day.

   I went to Hartfield Crescent Primary School today to see Mrs. Wright and Mr. Olarenshaw. It is over a year since I left there to go to Camp Hill, and now I have left Camp Hill to go to the High School.

   I went to Hartfield Crescent Primary School again today and helped Mrs. Wright with the class.

   Tonight I went to St. Andrews to see Birmingham City play Newcastle United. They drew 0–0.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Trigg, Quinton; Harris, McDonnell, Mitchell; Hughes, Dougall, Aveyard, Bodle, Edwards. Newcastle United:— Fairbrother; Cowell, Corbett; Fraser, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Stobbart, Taylor, Pearson. Fairbrother was playing his first game for Newcastle after being transferred from Preston North End.

   I went to Hartfield Crescent again today and played football there.

   Birmingham City were away to Brentford today and won 2–1. Cyril Trigg and George Edwards scored.

   I went to Villa Park to see the Australia v Midland Counties Rugby match. I especially wanted to see Peter Jacskon, who left K.E.H.S. two months ago and now plays for the Old Edwardians, as he was in the Midland Counties side. [In six years’ time, I shall play just once in the same side as he. He will go on to play for Coventry, England and the British Lions. I shall not play rugger again due to a knee injury.]

   Australia won by a single try scored by McLean early on, so it was a disappointing game.

   Newcastle United beat Birmingham City 1–0.

   It was Julia’s birthday today. She is now 6.

   I started today at King Edward’s High School, Edgbaston. John, Kipper and I, together with Clasper, are all in the same form, as we were also at Camp Hill! Our form is Remove C, and our Form Master is Mr. Copland. He is taking us for English, Geography and History. I am also in Mr. Copland’s House. The other three are Mr. Dunt’s, Mr. Leeds’ and Mr. Burgess’s.

   I joined the School Club today. It costs 5/- but for that I am allowed to take part in all school activities, attend society meetings etc.

   Our form room is No. 149 on the top floor looking across to Bristol Road. [The postcard shows the back of the school: our form room is in the right wing, the two windows nearest the centre of the building. The next two windows are room 148, then 147, 146 and 145.] We go to different rooms for various subjects. After prayers at 9.15am there are four periods in the morning (with a Break after the first two) and three in the afternoon. We finish at 3.45pm, then there are Society meetings to attend if we wish to.

   Gareth Bunn told me it was his birthday (12) last Monday and he is having a party tomorrow at 12 Brecon Road, Handsworth. I told him I can’t go as I want to go to the match.

   I had to go to school this morning. It is six days a week at the High School but we have Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off to play games. We had Maths, English, Latin and Art today. Mr. Traynor takes us for Maths, Mr. Power for Latin, and Mr. Hurn (who is a new master) for Art.

   After dinner I went to St. Andrews to see Birmingham City play Leicester City. They won 1–nil. Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Quinton; Harris, McDonnell, Mitchell; Berry, Dougall, Duckhouse, Bodle, Edwards. Neil Dougall scored.

   I got the Sports Argus as usual tonight.

   I am getting to know the other boys in the form (Rem. C.). There are 26 of us. In seated order they are:—

It is in alphabetical order except that the second column is the wrong way round and Mr. Copland (whom we call Coco) has put Gardner behind me when he ought to be between Duggins and Gilbraith. It is a bit odd [but almost 55 years later I meet Neil Gardner and ask him about this. Neil writes:— “The reason that I finished behind you in class was because Coco failed to call out my name. He, of course, denied this and I think I became ‘Tick’ Gardner for a while, losing the title later to West”].

   We had French and Geography today, with Mr. Kay (who is called “Freddy”) and Mr. Whalley. There are two Geography rooms: Geography Room A and Geography Room B. They are in the downstairs corridor next to the stairs where we go down to the Milk Bar.

   We had Physics and Biology this morning. Mr. Matthews takes us for Physics and Mr. Ballance for Biology.

   I go to school every morning on the Special Bus which runs from the village. It comes from Acocks Green bus depot with its destination blind saying King Edward’s High School, and leaves from outside Walker’s greengrocers at 8.42am. [The picture shows No. 1484, one of 75 Daimlers with A.E.C. engines and Metro-Cammell bodies, which have just come into service.] John and Kipper and I always sit on the treble seat just inside the door. The girls have their own special bus, which leaves a few minutes earlier. It is a shame that we cannot travel on the same bus, but they start school earlier.

   I am learning to speak Latin now. “Discipuli picturam spectate”. The text book we are using is Latin For Today, Book One, by Gray & Jenkins.

   Birmingham City beat Leeds United 1–nil at Elland Road today.

   There was a Philatelic Society meeting after school today.

   It has been Mam and Dad’s Wedding Anniversary. They got married in 1934. We have two pictures of them, one by themselves and the other, with Albert Blakeman (best man) and Lily Cook (bridesmaid).

   The Lord Mayor, Councillor J.C. Burman, visited the school today.