This morning I got up at ten o’clock and then went shopping as usual after breakfast.

   This afternoon I did some homework and then took Ginger for a walk to the park.

   This evening I went to the Library and got a bird book and a book for Dad as well. Then I called for Alan [Hiley] but he was out, so I took Hound for her evening walk as far as Tyseley bridge. On the way I saw a wild swan flying S.E.

   I again went shopping this morning then I took Ginger for a walk. We went down York Road and she pulled me into the race-course, making quite a fuss when she couldn’t go in.

   I have been watching the Thrush’s nest continually. The hen bird is still sitting but I haven’t seen its mate for several days. Either the birds are nesting late or this is a second brood; the latter is unusual for Mistle-Thrushes though.

   This afternoon I went to the Library again.

   Tonight I went to Cubs. We did work after a few minutes of football. I stayed to do some P.T. with the Scouts for a while afterwards.

   I got up fairly early this morning. At about eleven the chairs from the sitting room arrived having been “reconditioned”. They look nice now. Winny came so we went for a short walk.

   After dinner we cycled into Solihull and walked in the field where Bob and I went last Sunday week.

   Tonight I went to Scouts and passed my Tenderfoot badge.

P.S. Heard the cuckoo most of the afternoon.

   Back to School, work and cricket, prep. and wickets. Well prep. anyway. As usual we went to form rooms for first period. Mr. Whalley, who has been in hospital, is back again.

   In J.T.C. those of us who have stayed to enjoy the hospitality of the Army and Basic Sections cleaned rifles then did rifle drill.

   This afternoon I played cricket in the House practice at Eastern Road. I scored four not out and bowled one maiden over. Kipper scored fourteen (n.o.). We came home together on the 1A.

   Tonight I have done Geometry prep.

   I just managed to catch the S.B. today. I forgot my Gym Kit.

   At dinner time I played football. Otherwise nothing happened.

   When I got home I fetched my Meccano Magazine and Listener [from Dorlings].

   This evening I cut some of the “lawn” then did some prep. for an hour. Mam and Dad have gone to the cinema, of course [to see Old Mother Riley’s New Venture (U) and Jungle Man (U) at the Warwick].

   As we have done most of this year’s Chemistry but have rather too much Physics [still to do] we are going to have an extra period of the latter and one less of Chemistry. [Mr. Gess our form master takes us for both].

   I missed the S.B. this morning unfortunately but I was not late. After prayers I went down to the Headmaster’s study but the Head was absent. I worked with Winny in Physics and I came home via town with Winny and Hop. [Trevor Hopkins].

   This afternoon I was in charge of the six and one reserve who took part in the District Championship. Mr. Winters was there and I helped him as an adjudicator. St. Gregory’s won with 79½ out of 83 and we were second with 68½. The competition took place at St. Gregory’s Hall, Coventry Road.

   Today was the end of the football season & Blues finished bottom, their record being:—

P42, W7, Dr14, L21, For 31, Ag 67, Pts 28.

   After breakfast this morning I read the newspapers and then went out to take Ginger for a short walk. Yesterday Ginger was 3rd in 30.80, running with a badly cut toe which is now being kept bandaged.

   This afternoon I planted some more turf and Dad and I re-seeded parts of the lawn.

   This evening I have done some Physics homework.

   At School today we carried on reading “The Trumpet-Major”. After morning school there was Choir practice as usual. I worked with Hopkins in Chemistry.

   [Last period we had History with Mr. Osborne as usual. It is the 5th anniversary of VE Day].

   I came home on the S.B.

   Tonight I did prep. including some in advance so that I shall only have Maths to do tomorrow. (I am down to play for the House 2nd XV).

   The School XV opened their season on Saturday with a match against the Staff. They were all out for 65 and the Staff had an easy ten wicket victory by getting 68 for no wicket.

   As usual we had a Choir practice followed by House meetings after Prayers.

   In Regional Geography we are studying Europe now, having finished with Great Britain for the time being. In History we are still doing Social and Parliamentary Reforms.

   Third period was Physics instead of [the usual] Chemistry. In Maths we are doing Geometry.

   Our 2nd XI match v Burgess’s was cancelled owing to heavy rain this morning. The weather cleared up in the afternoon however.

   Tonight I went to Cubs & then Scouts. I am in charge of all the Troop’s Gala tickets this year.

   It has been hot today, so hot that I decided to eat my lunch outdoors instead of in Room 57. I can’t really see that it matters where we eat our sandwiches.

   After prayers I paid a visit to the Headmaster [Mr. Howarth] to get permission to leave school at 3.30pm on Friday as I have another B.B.C. audition.

   I played football at dinner time. In the afternoon we did a précis in English.

   After school the form team played V.S. at Eastern Road. We hired Wheatley & Bayley from V.B. Batting first we scored 63 for 6 dec. (I did not bat) then five V.S. wickets fell quickly. We won in the last over, their last wicket falling at 6.30 for a total [space left].

   In J.T.C. we have started training for Cert. A. Part 2. The section that I am in is supposed to take the exam at Easter 1951 but I hope to be able to take it at Christmas instead.

   This morning after drill we were shown how to use Light Machine Guns (Brens).

   This afternoon I went [to the County Ground, Edgbaston] to see the School play Warwicks. Club and Ground. The latter batted first & scored 177 for 5 dec. (Christiansen 52 n.o., Bannister 38). School lost 3 wkts. for 18 but Homer & Revill got together, Homer getting 51. The match ended in a draw at seven o’clock with School 116 for 4 (Revill 34 n.o.). A good game!

   I caught the S.B. at Shaftmoor Lane today.

   In English [with Mr. Vaughan]we have started on John Galsworthy’s Strife. In Gym we played Netball [Basketball] and Skittleball in the playground.

   At dinner time I went into the field adjoining the school. It was hot out, and in the past two days the trees have blossomed forth into full leaf. I noticed a couple of Starlings’ holes.

   We had a History test this afternoon,.

   I left school at 3.30 & arrived at the B.B.C. Studios in Broad Street at 4.0 exactly for an audition. I shall be reading a short story in “Mid. Mag” on June 10th (D.V.).

   Tonight I did prep. for two hours.

   At school our form room is being used for Higher School Cert. and is out of bounds now, as well as Mr. Gosling’s & Mr. Osborne’s rooms. Today’s French period was in Mr. Sacret’s room (48).

   I worked with Hopkins in double Physics and came home with him via town.

   This afternoon Dad and I went shopping down the village, then tonight I worked in the garden until nine o’clock.

   This morning I read and went out to help Dad in the garden.

   After dinner I finished cutting the front law with the mower.

   I went to look at the nest again. The bird was still sitting but there was only the one bird there; actually, I haven’t seen the pair together since I discovered the nest on April 18th, though I haven’t kept watch for more than ten minutes at a time. The eggs have probably, in fact should have hatched by now.

   As usual nothing much happened today.

   After Prayers we stayed behind to hear Mr. Biggs tell us about the French exchange visits.

   I worked with Hopkins in Chemistry. I came home via town.

   The turf for the lawn arrived today and this evening Dad and I spent in putting in some sixteen square feet of turf.

   I missed the S.B. today: it went three minutes early and Kipper missed it as well. We weren’t late though.

   In Regional Geog. we have started Norway. History was in Room 148 [Mr. Parry’s room, my form room last year].

   At 1 o’clock Chadwin & I went into the field & saw a cuckoo. We got within five yards of it.

   Mr. Hall kept us in for ten minutes at 1.30 owing to no little noise on Saturday.

   This afternoon I played in my first House cricket match v Dunt’s II. Dunt’s batted first & got 78. I ran one batsman out. We got 18, my contribution being 18 less. I was caught.

   I went to Cubs as usual. I came back with £5 10s (mostly in pennies) and 22 empty rally [ticket] books.

   I managed to catch the Special all right this morning.

   I have had two net practices today. firstly a House practice at 1 o’clock and an “under 15” practice at 4 o’clock.

   I had quite a bit of prep. to do so I didn’t go to Scouts. After I had done my homework I helped Dad do some more turfing. [I have been following the instructions on one of my cigarette cards, No. 18 in W.D. & H.O. Wills’ “Garden Hints” issued in January 1938. As I looked at it while doing the job and then put it in my pocket, the card has got dirtied and creased and the corners scuffed. This is very obvious when I put the set in an album 52 years later.]

   At school in J.T.C. we did the same as last week.

   I came straight home and read the Rover and Wizard this afternoon and also took Ginger for a walk. Mrs. Palmer came at three.

   Tonight Mam & Dad have gone to see Jolson Sings Again at the Olton. [It is a follow-up to The Jolson Story which came out in 1946 and has been so popular]. I have just finished my prep.

   The Thrush’s eggs have now hatched. I saw one of the chicks tonight but the parent birds were out, probably getting food for their young.

   In English today we went into Big School & each of us recited the “Once more into the breach” speech from Henry V. Counsell, Chadwin and Gardner will represent the form for the O.E. Recitation Prize.

   In Gym we played in the playground again.

   At dinner time I played football.

   This afternoon I had a History test.

   I came home on the S.B. and did prep. from 7.0pm to 9.45 before going to bed at ten o’clock.

   At school this morning we started on Light in Physics.

   This afternoon I cycled to Trevor Hopkins’ [143 Queens Road, Yardley] for tea & met Mr. & Mrs. Hopkins for the first time. All being well I shall be going on holiday with the Hopkins for a fortnight to Bude in Cornwall in August. Another friend came to tea.

   We played cricket in the park first with a man who “joined in”. He bowled a full toss, a fast ball which hit me just below my left knee-cap. I now have a very distinct souvenir of the occasion.

   After a very nice tea we played Cricket and “Golf” and then “Pit”, a card game. I got home just before 9.30.

   This morning I tidied my cupboard and wrote a couple of letters.

   After dinner which included Pork — the first we have had for years, Dad and I did more re-turfing until rain stopped play. I then did Chemistry and Physics prep.

   After tea I listened to the wireless and played with my Chemistry set.

   I was late starting out today so got on the 31A where I met Hunt. [Ian Hunt, who is in the Lower Modern Languages Division, lives at the bottom end of Olton Boulevard East, No. 302, and the 31A passes his door]. We then went to school together & got there on time.

   Third period was Chem. instead of Physics, then as Mr. Gess was taking Practical Chemistry in H.S.C., 5th & 6th periods [normally double Chemistry] were Physics. First we had Mr. Traynor in Lecture Room 2, then Mr. Ballance in the Biology Lab. We spent both periods writing.

   Later I came home on the S.B.

   Tonight I did several preps. including a History essay.

   It has been a fine warm day today.

   This morning I met Donald Tipper in the village at 8.25 and we went on the 1A bus and then through Cannon Hill Park. It was again a beautiful day and we enjoyed the walk.

   In History I got an impot. together with Renton for fighting in class.

   I could not play for the House 2nd XI v Leeds partly because the swelling on my leg & the bruise have not gone down & also because I should not have been able to go to Cubs tonight & I had some prep to do.

   At Cubs tonight I passed a cub on his 1st Star & gave out vouchers. Earlier we had played football.

   I caught the Special this morning.

   In Regional Geography we had Mr. Buttle as Mr. Benett was absent.

   I played football at 1 o’clock after dinner outside the Milk Bar. We are not allowed to use room 59 now to eat our sandwiches. English was in room 60, French in 175, and History in room 174, due to the H.S.C. exams.

   After school I had an Under 15 net practice. Unfortunately I get worse instead of better.

   Tonight I have done homework including an English Essay.

   In J.T.C. I am now in 5 Platoon. We did some drill today & then it rained so we went indoors and did map reading.

   I came straight home & spent all the afternoon & most of this evening doing prep. I had a bath before going to bed.

   The Mistle Thrushes & their family have now left their nest but I still see them in the vicinity of the oak tree. This evening I saw one bird perched on the tall lamp post nearby.

   In Gym today we did not go outside. In Geog. Mr. Whalley showed us a film strip about weathering and denudation.

   I played cricket instead of football today and scored 4, 0, 4, 0, 0, 6, 2. Nothing else happened all day.

   It is 8 o’clock now. Mam & Dad have gone to the cinema as usual as usual [to see In Old Los Angeles (U) and Shoot to Kill (A) at the Warwick], and as it is Half Term tomorrow I am going to bed early.

   My half term averages are:—

   I stayed in bed until about half past nine this morning. Later on I took Ginger for a walk.

   This afternoon Mam & Dad went shopping so Ginger and I listened to the Derby. Galcadour won by a head from the favourite Prince Simon & Double Eclipse was third. Afterwards I took Ginger for a walk down the village.

   After tea I did homework then listened to “His Unguarded Hour”, a play in Saturday Night Theatre.

   Petrol was de-rationed today so there will be more cars than ever taking the road for Whitsun.

   I got up first this morning to make a pot of tea. After breakfast and in the afternoon as well, Dad and I worked in the garden. The lawn, newly re-turfed, doesn’t look so bad now, and the part we seeded three weeks ago is growing well. All the beds are set out now: Dad did the front bed this afternoon. Dad also crazy-paved the path.

   This evening I played cricket on the field [the strip of land between Victoria Road and Olton Boulevard East] and then did homework.

   Today [Bank Holiday], Aunt Doll, Uncle Bill, Dorothy and Cyril [from Kidderminster] came to visit us. It was the first time I had seen them since 1946. What a lot of things have happened since then! They arrived at about 11.30 and we had dinner at twelve.

   During the afternoon I spent over an hour writing Physics and History notes. Later we all went for a walk through the [Fox Hollies] park.

   After tea I helped with the washing up and then we played some gramophone records before our guests left at eight o’clock.

   This morning I took Ginger for a walk as far as Tyseley and back.

   After dinner I cycled to Bromford Bridge where Birmingham Races were being held. It was a typical racing scene:— thousands of people and hundreds of cars, buses & coaches. I actually saw the last two races from a piece of waste land that overlooked the course & I could see the winning post easily. I had my binoculars with me [Grandad’s actually].

   After tea I played cricket in the street with the boys until nine. It has been a beautiful day & the sun has shone continually.

   At school today nothing happened apart from a Physics test.

   At dinner time playing in the playground I scored 0, 0 and 0 but took six wickets with twelve balls (including hat trick). I also spent a few minutes at House nets.

   At Bradford there was a Test Trial. The Rest were all out for 27. Laker took 8 wickets for 2 runs — probably the best bowling ever in first class cricket. England scored 229 (Hollies st. Spooner b Berry 4). [Eric Hollies and Dick Spooner both play for Warwickshire].