We all went to the B.S.A. Tools Exhibition at Marston Green this afternoon.

   Charlton Athletic 1 Birmingham City 1. Garrett scored.

   We put the clocks back an hour last night.

    I collected 3/6d Cot-Fund this afternoon.

   We had a Rugger practice this afternoon.

   Bolton Wanders 0 Birmingham City 0.

   In Scripture this afternoon I collected 3/9d.

   Mam took us to the Ideal Homes Exhibition at Bingley Hall this afternoon. We did not find a Blue Star.

   I went to St. Andrews to see Blues play Liverpool. They lost 1–nil.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, McKee; Stewart, Dougall, Trigg, Garrett, Edwards. [I did not realise that I was seeing George Edwards’ last appearance for Blues. In December he will be transferred to Cardiff City for £12,000.] The attendance was 43,000.

   I got up to see the eclipse of the moon last night.

   I collected 3/8d Cot-Fund in Scripture this afternoon.

   It has rained a little today.

   In Prayers this morning the Choir sang God Liveth Still.

   I went to Villa Park this afternoon to see Aston Villa play Charlton Athletic. Villa won 4–3. Birmingham City lost 1–nil to Blackpool at Farm Road. [Did Frank Broome play?]

   Today I collected 3/9d Cot-Fund.

   I wrote to the London Cigarette Card Company Ltd., enclosing a Postal Order for 1/6d for sample cards of Birds and Animals.

   I sent a letter to the Birmingham Mail about pocket money.

   I received a letter from the London Cigarette Card Co. Ltd. this morning. There is a 3d stamp on the little packet as it weighs more than an ordinary letter. The cards they have sent me are:—

• Gallaher’s Dogs (Sept.1936), 2 of a series of 48 (Nos. 36, 47)

• Gallaher’s Dogs (1934) 2/24 large cards (9, 10)

• Gallaher’s Dogs (1934) 1/24 (5)

• Godfrey Phillips Our Dogs (1939) 1/30 (11)

• Godfrey Phillips Bird Painting (1938) 1/50 (45)

• Forecasta Racing Greyhounds (19 — ) 3/25

• R.S. Challis & Co. Ltd. Wild Birds at Home (1935) 2/36 (7, 19)

• Abdulla & Co. Ltd. Feathered Friends (1935) 5/25 (4, 5, 12–14)

• John Player’s Aviary and Cage Birds (Aug. 1933) 1/50 (37)

• John Sinclair Ltd. Champion Dogs (1938) 3/54 (45, 51, 54)

• B. Morris & Sons Whipsnade Zoo (1932) 1/25 (16)

• B. Morris & Sons Animals at the Zoo (1924) 2/50 (36, 46)

• CWS British and Foreign Birds (1938) 1/48 (42)

   There are 25 cards from 13 different sets. I don’t much like the 1934 Gallaher’s Dogs with the yellow background, and the Forecasta Racing Greyhounds are not cigarette cards at all, but I think I shall try to get the complete set as there may be one of Ginger’s ancestors. I love the Abdulla Feathered Friends cards as they have gold borders and exotic colours, and the R.S. Challis cards “issued with Baldric cigarettes” show birds’ nests and eggs and are very pleasing.

   I went to see Birmingham City play Derby County but they lost 1–nil. Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Stewart, Dougall, McDonnell, Garrett, Edwards. Attendance 52,159.

   As usual I collected the Cot-Fund. It came to 3/- today.

   I went to Scouts tonight.

   At School today we received the gramophone record we made of the School Song with Jerusalem on the other side. It was recorded in Big School on July 22nd.

   The Birmingham Mail has published the letter I wrote last week on “Schoolboys’ Pocket Money”:—

   Dear Sir

   I agree with your correspondent, Geoff Peters, in rejecting the idea that 2s. is enough pocket money for a teenage schoolboy. When our parents were young one could buy a quarter of a pound of sweets for approximately 2d., two oranges for 1d., ice-cream ½d. and 1d. and it cost 1d. to go to the cinema.

   Compare these prices with those of to-day. Sweets cost at least 6d., in fact anything up to one shilling per quarter. A visit to the cinema, with a good seat, is also one shilling; ice cream costs at least 3d.

   Supposing a boy receives two shillings a week, he either goes to a football match or cinema. Thus 1s. 3d. is spent, and by the time he has bought his quarter of sweets, he has little left of his two shillings. If he wants to buy any books for his hobbies, he needs at least one shilling more. Yours etc.,

      BRIAN D. WILLIAMS

      Acocks Green

   As it is Half Term Holiday next Monday I collected next week’s Cot-Fund in English this morning. It came to 4/1d.

   Today was Guy Fawkes Day. We have had 67 fireworks.

   Today was our Half Term Holiday, also Poppy Day.

   Arsenal 2 Birmingham City 0

   Raining.

   Half Term Holiday. Played football this morning.

   We have had an extra day’s holiday in honour of C.I.G.S. Gen. Sir William Slim.

   I went to Scouts tonight.

   We returned to school today.

   [The Birmingham Mail has published a reply to my letter about schoolboys’ pocket money.]

   I collected an extra 2/- for the Cot-Fund this morning.

   I went to St. Andrews as usual this afternoon to see Blues play Huddersfield. They won 1–nil, their first win since 25th September and their first goal in six matches — but it was scored by a Huddersfield player (Hepplewhite) putting through his own goal! It was Slater’s first game for Blues.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Badham; Stewart, McKee, Slater, Bodle, Laing. The attendance was only 35,000.

   I collected 3/4d Cot-Fund this afternoon.

   I went to the Natural History Society meeting this afternoon after school. The subject was “Bird Life in Edgbaston Park”. As many as eight species of ducks have been seen there lately.

   Man Utd 3 Birmingham City 0

   There was thick fog today. We did not arrive at school until 9.30am. I collected 6/6d for the Cot-Fund.

   School ended at 3.0pm. The Special Bus left at 3.15pm. I arrived home at 3.40.

   It was still foggy this morning, but much clearer by midday. I came home through town and bought a copy of The Observer’s Book of British Wild Flowers, 4/6d. I borrowed this book from the Library recently and wanted to get my own copy.

   Tonight I went to Scouts as usual.

   The fog is continuing.

   I went to see Birmingham City play Sheffield United but they lost 2–1. It was the smallest crowd I have ever seen at St. Andrews, only 25,000 were there. Blues had two new players, Hall and Roberts, and Hall scored their goal — the first by a Blues player in 8 games! I do not know what has happened to them as in September they scored 5 away to Everton and 4 at home to Manchester City, but only 10 in the other 17 games.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; McDonnell, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Stewart, Dorman, Hall, Bodle, Roberts.

   After we got back from the match we listened to the football results as usual, and checked the pools coupon to see if we have won the Treble Chance, and found I have won us a prize on Vernon’s 12 Results, getting 9 out of 11 right! The other match was postponed. Everybody is doing Vernon’s or Littlewoods pools hoping to win the Treble Chance. [Our win amounts to only 5/-d and we shall soon give it up.]

   Today was Field Day.

   The fog seems to have gone now. We had our Geometry, Art and Latin exams today.

   We had our Art, Algebra, Essay, Latin, English Grammar and Geography exams today.

   Today we had Physics and Art exams. There was a Choir rehearsal at 2.0pm.

   We had Art, History and Arithmetic exams today. Our French exam was postponed. In English I collected the Cot-Fund, 3/-.

   I went straight from school to Villa Park to see Birmingham City play Aston Villa. Blues won 3–nil! John Berry came into the side as right winger, so Jackie Stewart played inside right. He scored twice and Harold Bodle got the other. The attendance was 61,632.

   Aston Villa:—

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Berry, Stewart, Dougall, Bodle, Roberts.

   We had our Chemistry exam today. The French exam was again postponed. [As the ink isn’t flowing very well and I have to “press on” to make it write, this is the last Diary-entry I shall make with the Fisherbond Pen-Pencil. I have used it on the “Addresses E–I” page to note three telephone numbers:—

The letters are the first three letters of the district. SHI is Shirley, SPR is Springfield, and SEL is Selly Oak

   As no one in the road is on the telephone, I can only phone from the telephone box in the middle of the traffic island at the junction of Shirley Road, Olton Boulevard East and Wetherby Road. It costs 2d to make a call. One lifts the receiver, listens for the dialling tone, inserts two pennies in the box then dials the number. When the person answers, we press Button “A”; if there is no reply, Button “B”, then the money is returned. For long-distance calls we have to dial “0” for Operator and give them the number.

   The only people we know who are on the telephone are Mr. & Mrs. Moore at 54 Ulverley Green Road, Olton, Birmingham 27. Mr. Moore works for Premier Electric at Keeley Street, and also runs the Mission where we go on Sundays.]

   I collected the Cot-Fund as usual but it only came to 1/- as a lot of the boys did not want to give anything.

   I am learning to play Chess and have purchased the “Twin” Portland Chess & Draughts Board which, folded, measures 6 5/8 x 5¼ ins. and is portable. It is manufactured by Robinson & Sons Ltd., and comes from Chess, Sutton Coldfield, World Chess Specialists. One can use the board to play on on the ’bus, or to remember the positions in an unfinished game on a proper board. I played Donald Tipper at school today and won.

   I am learning about Chess from The Boy’s Companion, edited by B. Webster Smith, which I had for Christmas about three years ago. On the back of the board I have written in red ink the moves in the “Laird and Lady” game of Draughts. It is named after Laird and Lady Cambusnethan where the 5th move is 9–13. We play Draughts at home with a set of “Checkers” which I had as a present from the Americans when they came over in the war.

   We had our French exam today so they are now all finished.

   I joined the J.T.C. this morning. I am in 11 Platoon in “C” Company. Batson is my Lance-Corporal. Mr. Leeds (Major) is the Commanding Officer and Mr. Buttle (Lieutenant) is the Officer commanding “C” Company. Mr. Moore (“Sarge”) is Regimental Sergeant Major.

   I went to St. Andrews this afternoon to see Blues play Sunderland. It was a goalless draw, very disappointing after last week’s win at Villa Park.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Berry, Stewart, Hall, Bodle, Roberts. The attendance was only 29,000.

   We had a bumper Cot-Fund collection this afternoon, £1 12s 9d which made up for last week. I have collected £3 14s 7d this term.

   It is Clarice’s 9th birthday today. It has been pouring with rain all day.

   After I got home I listened at 5.15pm to the School broadcast in “Children’s Hour” on the Midland Home Service.

   It was the Musical Society Concert tonight. Raining again.

   It was the end of term today. We had a Carol Service from 9.15–10.0. In J.T.C. the Docker Cup was won by 4 Platoon.

   Went to town this morning. It was Speech Day for the upper school.

   I went to St. Andrews this afternoon to see Blues play Wolverhampton Wanderers. They lost 1–nil. Apart from the 3 they scored against Villa, they have scored only 2 goals in the last 11 matches — and one of those an own goal.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Berry, Stewart, Dougall, Bodle, Roberts. The attendance was 48,000 today as there were so many Wolves’ supporters.

   I went to Hartfield Crescent School this morning to see Mrs. Wright and Mr. Olarenshaw. I did a few jobs and helped with the class. I have always wanted to be a teacher.

   My school report has come:—

It is the worst report I have ever had. I have always been excellent at Maths. Last year Mr. Traynor said I was “very good indeed”, so why does Mr. Craig say I am “very weak”? If I still need to “master elementary mathematics” why was I placed in C2 and not C6?

   An odd thing happened. We recently had Logarithms for prep. but on our way to school on the Special Bus John and I found we had completely different answers. John asked how I had worked them out and, using my method, arrived at exactly the same answers. So when we handed in our prep it was identical.

   John is very good at Maths, so when Mr. Craig asked him how he had managed to get all the answers wrong, John explained the method he had used without (so far as I can remember) telling him it was my fault. Does Mr. Craig think that I sit next to John so that I can copy his work? Is that why he has such a low opinion of me?

   I went to Hartfield Crescent Party this afternoon.

   Went to town this morning. I went Carol singing tonight.

   The Christmas issues of Adventure (No. 1253) and Hotspur (No. 636) were on sale today, with the titles and story headings suitably covered with snow, and a ”Dog-Team Derby“ game on the cover of Hotspur.

   For Christmas I have had The Observer’s Book of British Grasses, Sedges & Rushes from Mam and Dad.

   Dad and I went to the match to see Blues play Newcastle United. They won 2–nil. Trigg and Roberts scored. 42,000 were there.

   Birmingham City:— Merrick; Green, Jennings; Harris, Duckhouse, Mitchell; Berry, Dougall, Trigg, Bodle, Roberts.

   Newcastle United v Birmingham City. Blues lost 1-0.

   I played football this morning.

   This afternoon Mam took us to the Olton to see Kelly the Second (U), a comedy with Patsy Kelly and Charlie Chase, and The Lone Wolf in London (A), a detective film. They were both very good. There have been about a dozen Lone Wolf films since 1935 but this one came out last year. The Kelly the Second film was made in 1936. I expect that Patsy Kelly being in it is just a coincidence.

   Went to Cannon Hill Park and Selly Oak Park today.

   Looking through this Diary I see that I started using the “Addresses O–S” page to keep a list of the books I borrowed from Acocks Green Public Library. I have two tickets, one for fiction and one for non-fiction, and have two books out at a time, usually on pond-life, birds or astronomy etc. Unfortunately I have forgotten to record most of them. Those I have listed, together with the Library Number are:—

Sea Shore by Rev. Theodore Wood, J 591.92 W7
Observer’s Book of British Birds, by S. Vere Benson, J 598.2942 B35
Hero of Crampton School, by G. Forsyth Grant, J 48 G5
Chums at Last, by G. Forsyth Grant, J 48 G2
The Beresford Boys, by G. Forsyth Grant
Observer’s Book of British Wild Flowers

   [The books are very old. Mrs Forsyth Grant was born in Edinburgh in 1858 and died in 1926 aged 88. Her maiden name was Annie Gregory. The Boys at Penrohn was published in 1893 by W.P. Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell, who also published The Hero of Crampton School in 1895, and Burke’s Chum 1896; Chums at Last was published by Nelson & Sons in1899, and The Beresford Boys by W.P. Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell in 1906. Mrs Grant contributed to many journals, including Boy’s Own Paper and Vanity Fair.]

   Played football today. There was a Hotspur as usual but no Adventure until next Thursday.