In 1958, Kate is 79 years old and Alys is 74 years old. Eva is 49 years old and Philip is 45 years old (Alys and Dennis’ daughter and son). James is 20 years old (Eva and Teddy’s son) and Eve
(Eva and Teddy’s’ daughter (my mother)) is 18 years old.
This Diary Belongs to:
Name: Katharine Boyd
Address:
12 Grove Road
Northwood
Middlesex
and
119 Bickenhall Mansions
Baker Street
London W.1.
Telephone: Northwood 1356
Welbeck 6522
In event of accident please notify:
Dr Embleton
St Helen’s Hospital
Ipswich 77251
or 5 The Rest, Crag Path, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Telephone: 380
Northwood
1st and 2nd Alys 119 Bickenhall Mansions.
Wednesday 1st January 1958
Damp, drizzly, mild.
Alys phoned re. Eve’s Chelsea Arts Club Ball. Met Mrs Hill (BHN). Phoned Eva. Walked to Post Office for car license. Knitted on dark jumper. Mended things. “Scrapbook for 1908”.
Eva 119 Bickenhall Mansions,
Eve 119 Bickenhall Mansions and Alys 4th.
Thursday 2nd January 1958
Fair.
Mrs Bearcroft cleaned out kitchen store. Alys phoned. Eva and Eve in at 1.30 re. no television. Eva told Mrs Hill. Walked to get butter and salt. Mended clothes. (Blocked nose all week). “The Leg Up”, Pamela Gems.
Friday 3rd January 1958
Fair. Cold.
Phoned Alys at 119 Bickenhall Mansions. Met Mrs Hill, 1½ leg mutton. Alys in Colliver Fisher 12.45. Alys to shops after lunch. Put BHN on concrete. Red suitcase disappeared!!!! Search. Phil arrived 7.45 from Ipswich. Sausages. Talk. “Joyce Grenfell”. Phil found suitcase on bed! Wrote Kitty.
Saturday 4th January 1958
Dull, cold.
Mrs Bearcroft late. At 10.15 Alys, Phil and I in JLN to London Airport (Phil drove). Phil off in B.E.A. Viscount plane with Mr Charters to Majorca (Palma, la Cala). Alys drove to Northwood. Then I took her to station 12.45. She to 119 Bickenhall Mansions. I shop; lunch 1.45. Quiet p.m. “Tristram”, “Miss Roach”. Joan Matheson.
Memo:
3rd Phil drives here for supper.
2nd Eve and John, television commercial 8.30.
4th Phil to Majorca, London Airport 10.45.
Sunday 5th January 1958
Rain, then fine. Milder.
Up late, Coals and paraffin. Alys came (Teddy‘s car), about 12. Hot mutton and Fropax peas. Wrote Lucy and Ernest Vernor Miles (£37.5). To pillarbox. “Wolves”, James Fisher and Geoffrey Grigson.
Monday 6th January 1958
Rain, fine later.
Mrs Bearcroft (her grandson, Ron‘s born). Alys to shops in rain. Tore up letters. Mrs Hill made curry. Jonquil Antony on “Mrs Dale Looks Back 1948 – 1958”, 10 years. Walked round block. Slept on bed. “The Clerk’s Story”, N. C. Hunter.
Tuesday 7th January 1958
Fine.
Alys to meet Mrs Hill. I walked to Boots for book and pens, Rawlinson’s. Lift back, strangers. Rest. Alys wrote to Phil and met Eve. “Take It From Here”.
10th 119 Bickenhall Mansions.
Thursday 9th January 1958
Showers.
I did washing. Alys did washing vests. I walked to get fish. Alys baked lunch. Alys p.m. JLN. I ironed. Oeufs au jus in mushroom sauce. “Radio Link”, Bevan and 4 others.
Friday 10th January 1958
Showers.
Postcard from Phil. Alys took me to station. 119 Bickenhall Mansions. Shopped. lunch. Paid rent. Rest. At 4 to Evans and Lewis’ for wool. None right. To 11 Chandos Street. Steer on inventories and small house people 17th and 18th centuries. No slides! “Any Questions?” Eve slept at 12 Grove Road.
Saturday 11th January 1958
Showers, fair on whole.
Mrs Kertin cleaned 3/6. Out to Selfridge’s Sale. Only got wool for cardigan. “Fish sticks!” Cleaned windowsills. 4.6 to Northwood, walked up. (Phoned Lois 2.45). “Autumn Fire”, Irish play.
Memo:
7th Laundry.
8th R.A.I.
8th Card from Phil.
10th B.A.A. 4.30 smaller houses, Steer.
Alys and Eve 119 Bickenhall Mansions 14th and 15th.
Sunday 12th January 1958
Fine, cold.
Filled car lamps and BHN on charge. Wrote Frank Horscroft. Ays in JLN to fetch Eve (Teddy and Eve to Aldeburgh; trailer). Grilled steak and tomatoes. Eve to Belize Park to earn 8/- (back at 6.15). To post (Alys’ insurance too). Knitting and talk of St Martin’s Art School. Omelettes and tomatoes.
Monday 13th January 1958
Fine. Cold frost.
Alys took Eve to station 9. Mrs Bearcroft, my room. Washed vest. Alys met Mrs Hill. Alys to Gas Co. twice re. lighter for gas stove. Eve back 7.40. Oeufs au jus, mushroom.
Tuesday 14th January 1958
Dull. Finer p.m.
Alys took Eve to station and to Quarters and Gas Co.for lighter. Mrs Bearcroft did Alys’ room. Alys walked to station about 11.40 (for 119 Bickenhall Mansions). I walked to shops 12.15. After lunch, oeufs au jus, BHN to get Seville oranges. Cut up 2lb. Washed my hair. Kippers. “Nothing”, Henry Green.
Wednesday 15th January 1958
Dull. Phoned Alys. BHN to shops. Got bacon gammon (Mr Raven) 10/-, 2lb. Met Mrs Hill. At 2.15 began marmalade. Made 8lb in 2 lots (pressure cooker) till 5.30. “The Hungry Spider”, Selwyn Jepson. “Take It From Here”. Alys phoned 9.10.
