In Physics this morning we wrote up our own notes as Mr. Gess was busy marking papers. In Geography we had to write an essay on the Lake District.

   At dinner time I played football. Nothing else happened all day.

   Tonight I had quite a lot of homework to do.

   My half term averages were as follows:—

   We had a short Geography test during second period this morning & in Maths we also had a “test” which we have had to finish for prep. tonight.

   It was raining in J.T.C. so we did map work. I came home on the 31A bus from town.

   We have been without a fire for a fortnight but we had 9 cwt. of coal this afternoon so I was able to make a fire.

   Mam has been to Kidderminster for the day [to see Aunt Doll and Uncle Bill and Dorothy, and cousin Bill and Ruth] and has not yet returned.

   It is 9.15 and I have spent all tonight doing homework.

   Nothing whatsoever has happened at school today. I got 18/25 for yesterday’s Maths test which was the second best, I think.

   Anyone who plays “foolish pranks” on Mr. Jackson will get the cane from Mr. Gess. I wonder what will happen now? All last week our form room was kept locked as a punishment but operations soon recommenced. Today’s instalment included the pouring of [evil-smelling] carbon disulphide in ink wells. On at least two occasions this term all the desks have been faced the other way.

   When I got home from school I fetched my M.M. and The Listener [from Dorlings] then did homework — French, Maths and Physics.

   Mam & Dad are at the cinema. [They have gone to the Olton to see I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now (U) and Laurel & Hardy in Dancing Masters (U).]

   For once I was early down the village today. The Special Bus hadn’t arrived.

   At school nothing happened, as usual.

   When I got home I cycled to the B’ham City v Huddersfield match. Brennan scored after 33 seconds. In the second half, after Huddersfield had equalised Dailey scored and Blues won by 2 goals to 1. It was not at all a bad game. Birmingham’s record is now:—

P31; W5; L18; D8; For 24; Ag.54; Pts. 18

   Tonight I went to the Olton with Alan [Hiley who lives in Pool Farm Road]. We saw I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now and Laurel & Hardy in Dancing Masters. They were both very good. [The Dancing Masters was made in 1943].

   Before breakfast today Dad and I took Ginger for a run in the park. At Hinckley yesterday Ginger ran a 310 yards trial in 19.50 secs.  31.45 [secs. for 500 yards, which is 32.5 m.p.h. She was 2nd.

   Dad and I have spent all day in the garden again & the path and steps are now complete. Two thirds of the new flower bed has been dug [sic].

   We also took out the old straw [from Ginger’s bed] in the shed & replaced it with new. The straw we burnt on the new rubbish heap.

   Tonight I had some homework today [sic, to do] before I went to bed.

   After Choir Practice at 12.30 today I had dinner and then cleaned my rifle.

   Nothing else happened all day and I spent the evening doing prep. as usual.

   Apart from a Maths test which I didn’t do too well in, nothing at all happened.

   On my way home I got a haircut.

   This afternoon after I had read the Wizard, I did some homework.

   This afternoon I also got out my scout uniform & this evening after I had had tea I went to Cubs. I have got the position now of an Assistant Cub Master, and tonight I took a First Star class.

   I got home for 8.30pm & it is now nearly 9pm.

P.S. Nearly got blown up in Chem: heated Zinc and Ferrous Sulphide!!!

   In Physics today we started on heat. We have finished mechanics & also electricity for this term anyway.

   At dinner time I played football.

   At 2.55pm. we went to Geography Room B to be photographed for our school record (convict?) cards. Unfortunately the process lasted no more than fifteen minutes & we were soon doing French.

   I came home on the S.B. as usual.

   Tonight I have done prep. as usual & blancoed my J.T.C. belt. It is now 8.30.

   In Poetry today [English, first period] I read The Ice-Cart by Wilfred Gibson to the form. [I was embarrassed when Mr. Vaughan asked me why I liked it. I said “it appeals to me” and the boys laughed, but Mr. Vaughan stuck up for me.]

   In J.T.C. we did various [items of] drill followed by field signals revision.

   This afternoon I went down to Athletics Standards. I had a go at the 100 yards & just failed to get the standard. In the long jump I still have to clear another four inches.

   I came straight home through town & went to the Scout Shop [in Dale End].

   Tonight I spent well over three hours doing prep. I also went to the Library & took Ginger for her evening walk as Dad had got ‘flu. Clarice & Julia have also got the ’flu.

   We have reached Chapter 9 in St. Mark in Divinity now [first period, with Mr. Kay]. Mr. Moore took us for P.T. in his gym & amongst other things we did head & hand springs. I can do both more or less (mainly less).

   At dinner time I played football as usual.

   In History we had a short test and in Chemistry we started on Sulphur Dioxide.

   Mam & Dad did not go to the pictures this evening. I spent nearly three hours doing Chemistry, Physics, Maths and French prep. I also took Ginger for her walk. It was 10.15pm before I got into bed.

   Nothing happened at school again today.

   This afternoon I did some painting and went down the village with Mam to get me a new pair of shoes.

   Tonight I read and took Ginger [for] a walk.

   I got up late this morning. After breakfast Reg and Ruth came [Mam’s brother is nearly 23]. I spent some time reading.

   This afternoon I went for a ride to Knowle. At Knowle I turned off down Kenilworth Road until I came to the canal. Here there were five locks. I met a young man here and we carried on along the canal until it went under the Warwick Road and I had to say goodbye. I got a puncture in Knowle & I cycled as far as Solihull with a flat tyre.

   This evening I had a bath & then looked through my Scouts [which Mr. Harvey, who lives at 133, gives me each week; he is the Group Scout Master].

   I got 16/20 for a Physics test today. There was the usual Choir Practice at 12.30pm.

   After dinner I went down to the stores to draw my K.D. [khaki drill].

   In Chem. I worked with Hopkins.

   I came home through town & got Buses Illustrated which gets better with each issue. Both Trains Illustrated & Buses Illustrated are now published every month. [I have joined the Bus-Spotters Club.]

   This evening I spent doing Geography and Physics homework.

   Apart from a Maths test this morning nothing happened. I came home on the 1A bus.

   This afternoon I read all the Wizard and then did Maths & other prep.

   At Cubs tonight I took the pack in a few games & then took a First Star class. I got back at a quarter to nine.

   It has rained continuously since 5.15 so tomorrow’s Field Day at the Lickeys promises to be wet.

   For various reasons I was late arriving at Rubery today for Field Day. I wasn’t long catching up the rest of the Platoon however.

   First we went in fours to stalk a rubbish dump then we did some judging of distances, after which we ate dinner.

   In the afternoon we had to get as close to a ramp as possible without being seen. Next we walked to a bridge about ¾ mile away & we were asked questions about the route we had taken.

   Lastly, having individually “stalked” the bridge, we went along the Railway cutting & wrote a message.

   After the tea in the Dining Hall [back at school] there was a Variety (?) Show.

   I did not go in uniform to school today. In J.T.C. it rained so we [were] instructed by two Army officers on types of cover and sentries, & Rifle 5 and 6. At 12.45 we assembled in Big School to hear about the Naval & Air sections of the C.C.F. for which we are eligible if we pass Cert A. Part 1.

   This afternoon I went in the Five-Mile Walk and got the Open (over 16) & Intermediate Standards. The Open Standard was 60 mins. I think I did it in about 56 minutes.

   Tonight I spent in doing Physics and French.

   In English this morning we finished reading Julius Caesar. In Geography Mr. Whalley gave us a film strip entitled “Britain Fights Sleeping Sickness”. I generally associate sleeping sickness with our History periods.

   In Chemistry we have started now on Sulphuric Acid, about which I wrote four pages of notes tonight. Mam & Dad have gone to the cinema [to see Cary Grant in You Can’t Sleep Here (A) at the Olton]. Bob has also gone out.

   At School nothing has happened again. [It is a regular occurrence].

   I went by ’bus to the match. I could not cycle as I strained a muscle in my leg rather badly today playing football. Blues’ opponents — Man. City — had only two more points [than Birmingham City] so the match was worth four points really. Blues:— Merrick; Badham, Jennings; Dorman, Atkins, Ferris; Stewart, Berry, Dailey, Brennan, Warhurst. Warhurst was making his debut. [He has joined Birmingham City from Sheffield United]. In Manchester’s side were Westcott & Trautmann their German goalie. The only goal, by Brennan, came 18 secs. from the end. Blues’ record is now:— P33; W6; L18; D9; F25; Ag54, Pts21.

   All this morning Bob and I spent mending a couple of punctures, one in each tyre. We took both wheels off to do the job.

   After dinner I helped Dad who was mending the table leg & Clarice and I also took Hound for a run in the park. We hope that in the very near future we shall get all the damaged furniture repaired & re-polished & also get the sitting room done. [The furniture was rescued from 23 Belchers Lane after the house was destroyed in the great air raid of 19th–20th November 1940].

   As it is, the side-board from the sitting room has been moved to Mam & Dad’s room, in place of the tallboy which has gone to Bob’s room. In our room we have got Bob’s dressing table [not his, but the one which was in his room.

   Our council house has three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Mam and Dad have the big front bedroom, Bob sleeps in the small front bedroom over the front door, and I share the back bedroom with Clarice and Julia.

   Downstairs we have a front room which I call the lounge, a back room or sitting room where we have our meals and listen to the wireless, and a kitchen off which is the coal-house. This coal-house is actually the space under the stairs and has boards across the bottom so that, when the door is opened, the coal doesn’t fall into the kitchen.

   When the coalmen call, they usually deliver 10 cwt of coal, scattering coal-dust all over the kitchen, so we plan to have the coal put outside and to convert the inside coal-house into a pantry. We do have a pantry, but stupidly it is on the front of the house next to the front door and faces the staircase].

   As usual nothing much happened at school. In English [with Mr. Vaughan, third period] we have started [Thomas Hardy’s] The Trumpet Major, having finished T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

   I had Choir practice as usual, followed by a school dinner. In Chemistry I worked with Hopkins as usual. I came home on the Special Bus.

   This evening I did prep. & listened to the radio until nine o’clock. I also spent an hour at the Library.

   In History we are doing Parliamentary and Social Reforms from about 1820 onwards.

   At School in the notice-hall glass-fronted cases have been put up, one for each house. I never knew such a large number of cups [and trophies] until I saw the large display of them in the eight cases.

   After School Chadwin & I went into Edgbaston Park to see a few birds. I was pleased to be able to see, apart from a couple of Tree-creepers, a Nuthatch, the first I have seen. I also saw a Wood-Pigeon.

   At dinner time, after I had collected my transport allowance, I went to the Musical Society concert in Big School. The concert included well-known orchestral works & “Tubby the Tuba” sung by Danny Kaye.

   Nothing else happened.

   Tonight I blancoed my gaiters and belt & pressed my trousers. I did very little prep. but listened to the wireless instead.

   In J.T.C. today we had the Docker Cup competition. As usual we were “nowhere”. Pressdee however was runner-up for the individual cup. I came straight home.

   This afternoon I went shopping & then took Ginger for a short walk. Mrs. Palmer came.

   I spent all the evening doing homework.

   My leg is quite a bit better now but I don’t suppose that I shall play football again this season.

   At 12 o’clock tonight the planet Mars will only be 58, 000, 000 miles from the earth — its nearest distance for the next 26 months. At Palomar Observatory in California the Giant telescope will be used to observe the [Martian] canals.

   In English this morning we had a test on Julius Caesar, but in Gym I only succeeded in hurting my leg again. In Geography Mr. Whalley was absent again so Mr. Leeds took us.

   We had a test in History. I missed the Special Bus home so I came home on the 1A bus with Renton & Winrow.

   This evening I had a bad headache so I went to bed at 8.15pm. Mam and Dad went to the pictures. I am writing this on Saturday.

   The School Photograph was taken today in brilliant sunshine on the South Terrace [facing Bristol Road]. The last time a school photo was taken was in May 1948.

   This afternoon Dad and I finished digging up the new bed. We removed at least sixty housebricks in the process. [They seem to have been left over from when the house was built about 20 years ago, or from the air raid shelter].

   During the afternoon we listened to the Grand National, won by the favourite Freebooter.

At Blackpool Blues drew 1–1 & having obtained 6 out of the last 8 points may yet still avoid relegation. Their record is:—

P34, W6, L18, D10, For26, Ag55, Pts22. Manchester City are one point behind with a game in hand.

   Before breakfast this morning Dad and I took Ginger for a run. Afterwards Bob and I went for a cycle ride into the country. Bob took a couple of photographs.

   This afternoon Dad and I spent working in the garden. Dad has planted some seeds — Cornflowers, Shirley Poppies & Lupins — in the new bed, as well as three dozen Gladiolas. The bed should be worth looking at this summer. I piled up the bricks & “transplanted” some grass from out of a flower bed into [what used to be, until the entire garden was changed by the dogs into a mud-heap] the “lawn”.

   Tonight I did Physics & Maths prep.

   As usual today there was a Choir practice after morning school today [sic]. We are mostly rehearsing for the school service, the first of its kind, to be held at Edgbaston Church next Sunday.

   In Chemistry [this afternoon] I worked with Renton and Winrow. In History I wrote two or three pages of notes.

   After school I went to the joint meeting of the Student Christian Movement & Christian Union when The Rev. Bryan Green, Rector of Birmingham, gave a very interesting talk on “What is a Christian?”. [He is very evangelical and in four years Billy Graham is going to preach at his church, St. Martin’s in the Bull Ring.]

   Tonight I went to bed at 8.30pm.

   In second period this morning, History, Counsell [who is going to be a vicar, said something as the result of which] a discussion started about the Parliamentary reforms of 1830. It became obvious, however, that the discussion was going to turn to politics sooner or later.

   For a Chemistry essay on Rare Gases I got 17/20 which is rather unusually good for me just lately. In Maths we are still doing Calculus.

   I came home on the No. 11 [Outer Circle] bus from Selly Oak.

   This afternoon I read a comic, went down the village, took Ginger out and did prep.

   I went to Cubs tonight of course.

   Nothing happened at School today. After dinner I went to an extra parade for Cert. A.

   I came home on the Special Bus and tonight I got my Physics and Chemistry note-books up to date, as well as doing other homework.

   Mr. Whalley was again absent today for Geography so Mr. Copland took us.

   In J.T.C. we did general revision including Rifle 5 and 6 (H.A.T.) and drill. We take Cert A. Part 1 on Monday, all day. I came straight home after school.

   This afternoon I had to go to Jay’s Shop on Coventry Road for Mam, so I cycled. The whole thing took me about fifty minutes. When I got back I did some work in the garden until six o’clock.

   As I had no prep to do I went to bed at 8.15pm.

   In P.T. today we went outside and played football. In Geography Mr. Kay took us.

   In the dinner hour I had another extra parade.

   At 2.30 there was a 3rd Julian Horner Concert in Big School given by Denis Mulgan (Oboe & Cor Anglais) & Katharine Thomson (Harpsichord). Included were Handel’s Sonata No. 1 in C Minor & Bach’s French Suite in E Major, & Sinfonia to Cantata No. 156.

   My end of term averages were: