Reference
Z1606/12
Title
Personal diary labelled 'vol. X'
Date free text
31 March 1955 - 17 March 1965
Production date
From: 1955 To: 1965
Scope and Content
Volume focuses primarily on domestic life in Bedford at 66 Marlborough Road in the early 1950s. There are some pencil annotations/corrections in Leah's hand. Diary also includes annotations and calculations on inside back cover. Much of the content revolves around descriptions of the weather, obtaining, preserving and preparing food, cleaning the house and working at the allotment or garden. Frequent references are made to events held by the Literary Society, Archaeological society, Folk Dance club and Rambling club, as well as persistent health problems with teeth, shoulder, hands, stomach and heart palpitations.
Includes:
Account of Easter Sunday (12/4/55)
Jim recovers from pneumonia (5/5/55) Thoughts on upcoming General Election (29/5/55)
Holiday to Hunstanton (26/6/1955)
Folk dance summer festival in Wrest Park Gardens (2/7/55)
Kempston flower show held in Addison Howard park (13/8/55)
Folk dance festival at Ickwell Bury (11/9/55)
Holiday to Bournemouth (25/9/55)
Thoughts on impact of the Second World War on other countries, Japan and Australia. Relfects on her own wealth relative to these countries.(19/10/55)
Account of Christmas Day 1955 (26/12/55)
Bedford vs Woolwich Arsenal football match (7/1/56), (9/1/56) and (13/1/56)
Reflections on aging (23/2/56)
Demolition begins on W.H Allen's with clock tower (6/5/56)
Jim moves out, contemplating loneliness (30/5/56)
Thoughts on childhood , specifically the religion her family followed - The New and Latter House of Israel (19/7/56)
Holiday to Swanage (22/9/56)
Comment on "Suez crisis" of 1956 (1/11/56) (3/11/56) (5/11/56)
Jacqueline's wedding day 15/12/56)
Account of Christmas Day 1956 (30/12/56)
Comment on Britain dropping the "H-bomb" and further discussion of the "Suez crisis" (18/5/57)
Holiday to Swanage (28/7/57)
Jim gets engaged (23/9/57)
There is additional annotations and three further entries dated 1959, 1963 and 1965
A page has been inserted into the back of the diary which reads "1973 - I am afraid that in the last two volumes I don't show up very well, especially so much grumbling at Jim. He is quite a good brother really. LA"
Level of description
item