1949

   The first thing I did this morning was to take down all the 1948 Calendars and put up the new ones. We had more than usual this year.

   I washed up and went to get some [horse-]meat for the dog [Ginger, our pet greyhound] on Stratford Road. It started to rain when I got back home & soon the rain turned to snow. A cold wind had been blowing all morning.

   This afternoon the rain had not stopped so I stayed indoors and listened to the Bristol Rovers v Notts C. match.

   Grandad came this afternoon.

   Sir Malcolm Campbell died today at Reigate, aged 63.

   It was dull this morning and it rained a little. I did not go out at all but I sorted amongst some of the photographs.

   After dinner we went to the Mission. I played Crib [Cribbage, with Dad] for half-an-hour before I went to bed at 9.0.

   When I awoke this morning the sun was shining and there were many starlings, sparrows and blackbirds singing in the garden. I read Birds of the Grey Wind by E.A. Armstrong for an hour. It is a beautifully written book and I really enjoy reading it. [It was a Christmas present from Mam and Dad.]

   I was surprised when I found it was 10.30 when I got up. Mam had gone to town but the breakfast was ready.

   I was out all morning with Ginger. We had dinner at about 2.0 and I stayed in this afternoon. It has been a lovely day although it has been a little cold.

   I woke up this morning to find that snow had fallen. What a change to [sic, from] yesterday, though I thought it was cold enough for snow.

   After breakfast, having been down the village beforehand, I cleared the snow away from outside the house.

   I played out all afternoon, and I went on down the village to try to get a pair of Wellingtons — in vain.

   After tea I went to Scouts [on the 44 bus from Acocks Green village to Baker Street, Sparkbrook]. We played Billiards and Snooker from 8.15 to 9.15.

   The snow has very nearly gone now. I went to town this morning to go to the [Birmingham] Mail offices [in New Street].

   After dinner I went out to play.

   I listened to Children’s Hour, when a new drawing competition was announced. I shall probably send in an entry. Anyway, I spent two hours on a picture tonight.

   Prince Charles made his first journey today, to Sandringham.

   It is a lovely day, the sun is shining — all the snow has disappeared. I spent another two hours on my picture this morning. I hope I won’t have wasted my time on it when I finish.

   After dinner I went out to play.

   When we had had tea we all went to the Olton Cinema to see Vivien Leigh, Kieron Moore and Ralph Richardson in Anna Karenina — a good film, though not for children. [I am not yet 13½, Clarice is just 8 and Julia is 6. We were all very upset when Vivien Leigh stood on the railway line to kill herself.]

   Together with this film was [a “full supporting programme” consisting of] a Disney cartoon — Donald’s Ostrich and two other films, one about Gannets.

   Mam went to the [Midland Nerve] Hospital this morning so we went to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery where we spent the morning. We arrived back at 2.30pm.

   I am writing this diary at 8.15pm. Mam and Dad are at the pictures [they have gone to the Warwick to see Margaret Lockwood and Vic Oliver in I’ll Be Your Sweetheart (A) and Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney in The Wolf Man (A)]. I am listening to a play on the radio.

   It has been cold today, a high blustery wind blowing most of the time. This morning I went to fetch some meat on Stratford Road.

   We had dinner at 12.15pm. Then I went to the Birmingham City v Leicester City 3rd Round F.A. Cup match at St Andrews. B’ham City team:— Merrick; Green, Quinton; Harris, Duckhouse, Badham; Berry, Dougall, Trigg, Bodle, Roberts. Leicester team:— McGraw; Jelly, J. Harrison; W. Harris, Plummer, King; Griffiths, Revie, Lee, Scott, Adam. Score 90 minutes 1–1; after extra time 1–1 (Roberts and Revie scored). I came back with Grandad who stayed till 8.0pm.

   After breakfast this morning Dad and I took Ginger for a run in the park. It was quite a nice day, not too cold.

   This afternoon I played out for an hour or so and then this evening I played Crib until 7.45pm. I am just going to bed.

   Tommy Handley died today aged 55. [It was a terrible shock to hear this on the six o’clock News as we had listened to him in “ITMA” in the afternoon.]

   This morning we went to town and got me a new pair of shoes and a pair of J.T.C. boots.

   We had a light dinner and then I played out for an hour and a half.

   I am just going to listen to the last instalment of the “Malinders”, a very good radio serial, and play a game of Crib.

   I went to town this morning after I had been down the village three times. I had to go down a third time because I hadn’t got any ration books for the meat.

   This afternoon I went down the village again and afterwards I played out.

   Tonight I went to Scouts as usual. We had Map-Reading and then P.T. I thoroughly enjoyed the map-reading probably because I knew almost all of it.

   It has snowed a little during the night. This morning I tried on my J.T.C. uniform with my new boots, and packed nearly all of the school books in readiness for tomorrow. I also tidied up all my other books etc., in the tallboy [in my little bedroom].

   After dinner I decided to clean the shed window. Then I went out with Ginger for half-an-hour, played out for a bit and then came in at four.

   I am sitting at the table at nearly 8.30pm. I shall go to bed in a minute. I had a bath earlier this evening.

   “Wakey wakey” I thought as I stirred from my sleep this morning. Bother!

   I got up quickly and dressed in my uniform. I must say I felt a bit queer as I walked down the village [wearing it to school for the first time.

   It is my third year at K.E.S., my second term in Upper Middle D, and first term in the J.T.C. as I have joined late.

   There are 23 of us in U.M.D.: Adams, J.D.L., Birch, R.J., Clare, M., Dale, J.S.F., Davies, J.A., Fisk, P.R., Harris, A.W., Hollingworth, D.C., Hopkins, T.M.T., Jennens, P.A., Mendelssohn, R.G., Morant, J.A.T., Morris, D., Pressdee, J.T., Rainbow, M.J., Roberts, W.R., Sanders, C.R., Smith, R.V.B. (who is the Second Master Mr. E.V. Smith’s son), Summerton, J.M., Tipper, D.J., Trafford-Willey, P.C., Trayhern, J.E. and myself. Mr. Parry, our form master, takes us for English, History and Divinity.

   Clare, Jennens, Roberts, Sanders and I are all in Mr. Craig’s Maths set, C2. The others are: Adcock, C.S., Bennett, A.V., Bray, J.A., Brown, N.C., Child, G.H., Duggins, R.K., Edwards, C.M., Edwards, J.C. Hignett, J.B., Hudson, J.S., Maund, J.K., Phillips, C.J., Phillips, J., Robertson, D.L., Rowley, C.J., Stokes, J.E., Sutton, M.J., Wheatley, O.S., Winrow, J.R.]

   We were issued with fixture cards and pads first period this morning. We did mostly drill in J.T.C.

   I got home for 2.0pm and did my art prep after dinner.

   I played “Crib” from ten to eight till half-past eight this evening.

   Nosmo King the comedian died today. His real name was Vernon Watson.

   I am writing my diary as usual this evening at 8.30pm. Mam and Dad are at the pictures [the Olton, to see No Orchids for Miss Blandish (A) and Punch and Judy (U)].

   This morning I was a little late starting out for school so I caught a 31A ’bus to Shaftmoor Lane and got the Special Bus there.

   Today in Gym my team won 76% of the various relays, etc. Mr. Parry was not at school today. In the English period we wrote an essay. Mr. Copland took us for History in my old form-room [No. 149].

   I caught the K.E.S. ’bus home as usual. I did my prep from 7.30 till 8.15pm. I only had French and Maths to do.

   Today I had to run every bit of the way down the village to catch the special ’bus. At school we had to write another essay during our English period. In Chemistry we started a series of experiments on Nitrogen. I was home from school early.

   Clarice and Julia went to the B.S.A. party. Mam went to town, and Dad was out most of the time. I stayed in and listened to the Huddersfield v QPR match.

   Tonight I went to the Library to renew two books and renew my ticket. I brought a book for myself which I read for the rest of the evening.

   This morning I finished reading my library book Grim Work at Bodlands by Gunby Hadath. It was quite a good book. I enjoyed it.

   For nearly all the morning I played outside and we took Ginger for a run in the park.

   During dinner we noticed a pair of Robins, the first I have noticed in our garden this winter.

   This afternoon we went to the Mission where Mr. Ron Tilsley was the speaker.

   I played “crib” for an hour tonight.

   Nothing particularly exciting happened this morning. House meetings were held at 10.30am. We did our own experiments in Chemistry. Mr. Parry [our form-master who takes us for English and Scripture] was still absent. Mr. Nicholson took the Scripture period so I did not take the Cot-Fund as usual.

   I caught the special [’bus] home, did some prep. and then went down the village to fetch a pair of shoes [from being repaired at the cobbler’s]. When I got home again I finished off my prep.

   I caught the special as usual today. At school we started on a new series of experiments on heat (Physics, 1st period).

   After school I stayed for a game of football and arrived home at 2.15pm.

   This afternoon I finished my picture and sent it off. I stand about as much chance of a prize as the man in the moon.

   At Scouts tonight I suggested that there should be an hour at least of P.T. or games, and work on alternate weeks

   Nothing extraordinary happened at School today. Mr. Parry is back at school now. I did some more work on my oil painting. I don’t think much of it at present.

   After school I went down to the stores for some “Blanco” but they were closed. Anyway, I succeeded in missing the “Special”. I wasn’t much later getting home [but I wish I had gone to the Musical Society instead as the distinguished singer Mr. Arthur Cranmer, and his son Philip Cranmer who was our Music master until just over a year ago, were performing the song-cycle Maud].

   This evening I spent some time on the Programme for the “UMD Variety Show” which I hope will take place next June. It all depends.

   This morning I got the K.E.H.S. special [the girls’ bus] at Shaftmoor Lane.

   We did our own experiments in Physics as usual. We had half-an-hour of Map-Reading first in J.T.C. Following that an officer of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment instructed us in Rifle Drill. It was none too warm even though the sun was shining, because a cold wind was blowing continually.

   I played football after school.

   At 6.30 we all went to the Warwick Cinema to see [Michael Denison in] My Brother Jonathan and a Laurel and Hardy film — both very good.

   Nothing worth recording happened at school today. I came home on the special bus as usual.

   Tonight I have been doing prep nearly every bit of the time. Ginger is lying by the settee. Mam and Dad are at the cinema [they have gone to the Olton to see Glenn Ford in The Mating of Millie (A) and Devil Ship (A)}. I am going to bed in a minute — it is now 8.45pm.

   Nothing happened at school today, though we had our usual Maths test.

   After dinner, Mam and Dad went to town. John [Maund] brought his Hornby Dublo Electric Train round and we played with it nearly all afternoon. We also played Crib.

   After I had fetched the Sports Argus [from Dorlings in Greenwood Avenue] I went to the Library and got two books.

   It was quite a nice day when I got up, though there was a wind blowing.

   As usual we took Ginger for a run in the [Fox Hollies] park. I played outside for the rest of the morning.

   This afternoon I sorted out the waste paper and this evening I played “Crib” with Dad.

   It is nearly 8 o’clock now, so when I have had my bath I am going to bed.

   It was raining when I set out for school this morning.

   In our Geography period we finished studying Canada and started on the U.S.A. In Chemistry we experimented with four Nitrates. I went to Choir practice as usual. In Scripture period I collected Cot-Fund [5/- this week] and afterwards I read out details of the Variety Show.

   When I arrived home I wrote to the London Cig. Card Co. Ltd. [at 30 Wellesley Road, Chiswick, London, W.4], and went down the village to buy the stamp. I did prep. later.

   I went down the village earlier this morning so that I could get the Wizard, but every copy was sold so I was unlucky.

   After school I played football until 3.15pm or thereabouts. I was home for a quarter to four.

   I have been doing prep. for some time. I had a lot to do including a painting so I did not go to Scouts. While I was painting I listened to a Third Programme play — “The Trial and Execution of Charles I”.

   Apart from Latin, History and Geography tests nothing particular happened at school today. I went down to the stores during the dinner hour to get some “Blanco”. I came home on the Special.

   This evening I blancoed two pairs of gaiters, my belt, and polished up my boots so as to be all ready for tomorrow.

   I managed to get the Rover and the Hotspur before I caught the bus this morning.

   I did not go in the Choir Gallery this morning because someone told me that the Gallery was not being used owing to the School Play tonight, Friday and Saturday [Shaw’s Saint Joan with G.F.B. Laughland as Joan]. Actually he was wrong.

   In J.T.C. I practised “Order Arms” etc., and afterwards we had map-reading. I came straight home via town.

   This afternoon I did homework. Dad and I took Ginger for a run in the park at 4.30pm. This evening I played “Crib” and packed my satchel.

   This morning we did not use the Choir Gallery. The Removes and Shells did not go into Big School for prayers. I came home on the Special Bus.

   When I got home I found that my cigarette cards for which I wrote on Monday had arrived. The set [of Racing Greyhounds] includes “Mister Mutt”, a Grandfather of Ginger.

   This evening I took a stock list of my Cig Cards. I have 828 cards from 43 different sets. I have 5 complete sets and another 4 with all except 3 cards or less missing.

   [The 5 complete sets are:— Gallaher’s The Navy (1937), a series of 48; Army Badges (Jan. 1939), 48; Aeroplanes (1939), 48; Wild Flowers (1939), 48; and W.D. & H.O. Wills’ Garden Hints (Jan. 1938), 50.

   W.D. & H.O. Wills’ Roses (Jan. 1936) 31/50; Wild Flowers (Feb. 1936) 21/50; Association Footballers (Nov. 1939) 45/50; and John Player’s Boy Scout & Girl Guide (1933) 45/50.

   There are also odd cards from many other series:—

   Wills’ Life in the Royal Navy 4/50; Air Raid Precautions 10/50; Life in the Tree Tops 7/50; Railway Engines 3/50; Speed 1/50; Dogs 11/50; Old Inns 13/40; Garden Flowers, New Varieties, 2nd series 33/40 large cards

   Player’s Birds and Their Young 42/50 (poor condition though); Film Stars 16/50; Flower Culture in Pots 22/50; Radio Celebrities 10/50; Curious Beaks 15/50; Natural History 7/50; From Plantation to Smoker 7/25.

   Carreras’ Film Stars 4/50; and Homeland Series 5 cards of a series (total not stated)

   Churchman Wonderful Railway Travel 1/50; The Story of Navigation 3/50;

   De Reszke Real Photos of cats and dogs, 18/27

   Godfrey Phillips Film Favourites 9/50

   Senior Service Bridges of Britain 38/48

   Westminster Tobacco Co. Ltd. British Royal and Ancient Buildings 3/48 — but they are not numbered!

   They make a wonderful collection and give us great delight every time we look at them. The cards are all in packets, mainly “Park Drive” and “Wild Woodbine” and a few others. Dad is not a smoker, but Grandad and Fred (Dad’s brother) are, so I suppose they saved the cards, and Dad gave them to me. The packets are kept with lead soldiers and some other “treasures” in a small blue suitcase which I seem to have had all my life.]

   It is 8.30pm. Mam and Dad are at the Cinema. I am at the table. Ginger is lying on the hearth.

   At school today we had Chemistry and Maths tests.

   After dinner I went to the Library and at about 5.00pm I went to the Guild Social at St Andrews Street with Clarice and Julia. Mam and Dad arrived half-an-hour later. We had a very nice tea there. Afterwards we played various games until 9.30pm.

   I got into bed at about a quarter past eleven. I felt very tired.

   This morning Dad and I took Ginger for a run in the park. I thought she ran faster than ever.

   This afternoon we went to the Mission where Mr. Wheeler was the speaker.

   Tonight I completed some Chemistry notes.

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   Nothing particular happened at school. We started on trigonometry in Maths. In Scripture I collected 4/- Cot-Fund and dealt with the Variety Show.

   When I got home I did prep and then wrote a letter to the Mail. I wonder whether it will be published?

   I am listening to The Man in Black [the first of a new series which I have been greatly looking forward to, introduced by Valentine Dyall.

   Tonight’s story was Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson. The programme used to be called Appointment With Fear, and I listened to it on Tuesday nights at 9.30pm after I got back from Cubs. Valentine Dyall has a very deep voice and introduces the programme each week — “This is your story-teller, the Man in Black, bringing you another … APPOINTMENT WITH FEAR!” Just to hear him say that sends a shiver down my spine, and some of the stories are terrifying!

   The first series of Appointment with Fear began on Saturday night 11th September 1943, and a second series on Thursday 6th January 1944. The third series began on Sunday 13th March 1944, and the fourth on Thursday 5th October 1944. There was a fifth series, consisting of six repeats, from Tuesday 11th September 1945, followed immediately by a sixth series on Tuesday 23rd October 1945. The seventh series began on Tuesday 26th March 1946, the eighth on Tuesday 25th February 1947, and the ninth on Tuesday 14th January 1948. So tonight’s programme has begun a tenth series.]