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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: londonscorpion on Sunday 13 May 18 11:05 BST (UK)
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On this forum I recently posted under the heading “Shorthand transcription”. This asked for help with the translation of shorthand passages in my mother’s 1935 diary and met with such an enthusiastic response that I am now encouraged to put up the 1936 diary. Although there is less shorthand, I will be posting the whole year to provide context to help with the translation. Anyone who wishes to look at the 1935 diary will find it here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=791433.0
Here are the pages for Jan 1 to Feb 29 1936.
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Forgot the files!
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Good afternoon. Just announcing my presence & downloading!
Regards
GS
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Evening GS. Hope you enjoyed your trip.
I'll start with the first 2 weeks, as first is a short one -
1936
January
1st Wed - Imps party. Be at Joyce's house as near as 8 as possible. Met Jimmie Sinclair.
2nd Thurs - blank
3rd Fri - Bubbles broadcasting at 9.30. Dramatic Society. Don't forget to take two shawls.
4th Sat - Going to Edgware. Also to Mrs Painters. Saw Jimmie Sinclair. Get dog licence. Peggy coming to London.
5th Sun - Going to St Marys.
6th Mon - Joyce ringing. She didn't. Peggy rang me. Officially engaged. Mrs Rogers' baby born.
7th Tues - blank
8th Wed - blank
9th Thurs - Aileen Marson. Going to see Vicky at the Garrick. Having dinner at Pop first. Lunch with Joan at 1. Meet her outside Bouverie House.
10th Fri - Madge's birthday. Ring Madge. Jerry coming over for weekend. Hair washed.
11th Sat - Going to see Anna Karenina. Greta Garbo. Hairdressers at 9.30. Appointment with Mr Penn, Murex Welding Processes at 11.30. Saw Jimmie Sinclair. Wigs coming to tea.
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Evening RT. Here's the next week:
12th Sunday - Going to see Mrs Rogers and new baby. Peggy coming to tea. Ringing Bubbles at Cardiff.
13th Monday - Maurice's birthday. Meet Madge at Charing + at 6.15. Saw Maurice.
14th Tuesday - Joyce coming round in evening. Go to Rothbergs about tickets. Ring up Bertram Mills.
15th Wednesday - H.G.S. Imps.
16th Thursday - Dress Rehearsal of Baa Baa Black Sheep.
17th Friday - Magdalen Players Baa Baa Black Sheep at 8. Selling programmes. Jackie staying week-end.
18th Saturday - Same as 17th. B.D., Jackie & Reg coming to tea.
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19th Sun - Going to see Mrs Rogers in nursing
20th Mon - King George V died
21st Tues - blank
22nd Wed - May be going to Joyces
23rd Thurs - Bertram Mills Circus with Madge. Ring Madge. Go shopping with Jerry. Meet Babs.
24th Fri - Social at Dramatic Society. Meet Madge at 6.15 at Charing X
25th Sat - Going to Bertram Mills. Didn't go.
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25th Sat - Going to Bertram Mills. Didn't go.
I do wish she'd expand a bit on why these appointments are missed! ;D ;D
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26th Sunday - Going to church and then to Kathleen's.
27th Monday - Golders Green Imps. Meet Madge at 8.45 a.m. (?) at Westminster.
28th Tuesday - blank
29th Wednesday - H.G.S. Imps. Jim there. Went to Childs Hill.
30th Thursday - blank
31st Friday - Ring Madge. Saw Maurice.
1st February Saturday - Theatre 'Somebody at the Door' Comedy. Meet Madge & Jackie at Charing + at 6.30.
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February
2nd Sun - blank
3rd Mon - blank
4th Tues - Hendon Imps
5th Wed - Lunching with Jerry. Ring Phil.
6th Thurs - blank
7th Fri - Going to see Wilf. Dinner with Jerry. Jerry coming to stop weekend.
8th Sat - Hairdressers at 10.15. Going to see 'Peg of Old Drury' and 'First a Girl'. Jessie Matthews, Anna Neagle and Cedric Hardwicke.
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9th February Sunday - Maurice came round in morning.
10 Monday - Golders Green Imps. Meet Noreen by Pritchards at 8.45. Jim there.
11 Tuesday - Ring Joan. Jimmie ringing between 12 - 1. Appointment with ....... meeting him outside at 6 o'clock.
12 Wednesday - H.G.S. Imps.
13 Thursday - blank
14 Friday - Jimmie ringing. Nellie coming
15 Saturday - Ginger Rogers in "Top Hat" at Ambassadors.
Can anyone help out with the gap?
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11th Tues - Ring Joan. Jimmie ringing between 12-1. Appointment with ........ Meeting him outside at 6 o'clock.
14th Fri - Jimmie ringing. Nellie coming.
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Ah, RT, so he's a Jimmie rather than a Jimmy then.... ;D Thanks for that.
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Think she spells it Jimmie later on.
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16th Sun - Bubbles coming home. Be at Paddington at 2.55. Nita(?) with her. Stopping week.
17th Mon - blank
18th Tues - blank
19th Wed - Went to Brent Bridge
20th Thurs - Meet Madge at Charing X at 6.15. Went and saw Virginia Bruce in 'Here comes the Band' and 'Gay Lady'
21st Fri - Olympia and White City. Didn't go.
22nd Sat - Went to Brent Bridge
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23rd Sunday - Nita leaving King's Cross for Newcastle at 6pm.
24th Monday - Saw Fairbanks Jnr in "Man of the Moment" & Virginia Bruce in "Lieutenant Daring R.N.". Nita in it.
25th Tuesday - Going to flicks, see day previous
26th Wednesday - H.G.S. Imps. Jimmie there.
27th Thursday - blank
28th Friday - Reunion Supper at St George's College at 6.30. Meet Madge & Joan at 6.0 outside Benn's.
29th Saturday - Had an amazing time. Maurice & Phil came to tea and went out in the evening to Hertfordshire then came back to Brent Bridge. Maurice was terribly sweet. Simply topping time.
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29th Saturday - Had an amazing time. Maurice & Phil came to tea and went out in the afternoon/evening (not sure which as she tends to use same outline for both) to Hertfordshire then came back to Brent Bridge. Maurice was terribly sweet. Simply topping time.
Possibly evening if they came round to tea and then went out?
Think the blank on the 24th is Virginia Bruce.
(Maurice seems to be back on the scene).
Wonder who Nita is?
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I looked on the cast list for the film and there is no Nita or Anita; maybe she was an extra. I'll check to see if there's any info online of where it was filmed.
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There's a Nita Croft who pops up quite frequently as an actress. She was born Annie Pycroft in 1902 in Yorkshire. Looks to have married a Joseph Watson in 1920. In 1939 she is living with Frank Marshall in London. States she is divorced. Her occupation is a travelling actress. She died in Ealing in 1987 as Nita Marshall.
No indication that she was in Lieutenant Daring R.N. though.
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A possible then RT - travelling actress is probably someone who worked in rep, which would explain why she went up to Newcastle after her London visit. How fascinating!
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Pure speculation ;D
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I see that on the 9th January she is meeting someone outside Bouverie House, and on 28th February she is meeting outside Benn's, so presumably she is still working at the publishing house.
On the 11th January, she refers to Wigs coming to tea, so Wigs is a person. Another mystery solved!
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Not quite sure how to reconcile "selling programmes" with "Dress rehearsal"on 16 and 17 Jan. Maybe the Dress rehearsal is just a reminder.
Good to have solved the Wigs mystery, but I have no idea though who this might have been.
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Here is March 1st to May 2nd.
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1st March Sunday - They both came round again* asked to take Bubbles out. I was very upset. Shall not be in a hurry to put myself out again for Maurice. He will ask for me when he wants to see me.
* This refers to Maurice and Phil, I assume.
2nd Monday - Ring Noreen. Forgot. Hairdressers at 6.30 as soon after as possible.
3rd Tuesday - Lady Benn dance. Had a very good time.
4th Wednesday - blank
5th Thursday - blank
6th Friday - Noreen ringing.
7th Saturday - blank
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You just beat me to it GS.
8th Sun - blank
9th Mon - Golders Green Imps
10th Tues - Committee meeting. Meet Nellie and Noreen at Royal Oak at 8.15.
11th Wed - Hollywood Ball at Brent Bridge. HGS Imps
12th Thurs - blank
13th Fri - Debate 'Cinema is detrimental to true drama'
14th Sat - blank
There's not much shorthand and a number of blank days.
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I think our poor diarist is feeling rather fed up about Maurice blowing hot and cold all the time, poor girl.
15th Sunday - Taking dog for a walk.
16th Monday - blank
17th Tuesday - blank
18th Wednesday - blank
19th Thursday - Going to Noreen's place.
20th Friday - White Cargo. Off. Not going. Dramatic.
21st Saturday - blank.
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22nd Sun - H.G.S. Ramble, Golders Green 10.
23rd Mon - Noreen ringing.
24th Tues - blank
25th Wed - Grandma's birthday. Daily Express offices. Going to see 'Dominant Sex'.
26th Thurs - blank
27th Fri - blank
28th Sat - Mr Charles, hairdressers 10.45
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March 29th Sunday - Going to church.
30th Monday - The Two Mrs Carrolls at Garrick. Very good. Elena Miramova & Hugh Miller.
31st Tuesday - ring Noreen.
1st April Wednesday - Palladium 8.45. put off. Meet Noreen at Golders Green at 7.45. Saw Joan Crawford & Brian Aherne in I Live my Life. Uncle Frank died.
2nd Thursday - Going to Noreen's place in evening.
3rd Friday - Went to see A....... Day.
4th Saturday - Daily Mail Ideal Homes Exhibition.
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5th Sun - blank
6th Mon - blank
7th Tues - H.G.S. Committee meeting. 9 Ambrose Avenue, NW11
8th Wed - Dennis birthday. Last session at H.G.S. Easter party.
9th Thurs - blank
10th Fri - Jerry coming over. Percy coming.
11th Sat - blank
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12th Easter Sunday - blank
13th Easter Monday - blank
14th Tuesday - blank
15th Wednesday - Madge ringing
16th Thursday - Going to Noreen's place. Maurice came round.
17th Friday - St Albans Hall, Golders Green
18th Saturday - Sold flags for Church Army
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19th Sun - Noreen coming to tea. Went skating. Maurice went down road.
20th Mon - Meet Noreen at Golders Green at 8.45. Golders Green Imps. Met Dennis, very first time we actually spoke.
21st Tues - Dennis waiting for me at Golders Green.
22nd Wed - With D. Meeting Madge at usual spot.
23rd Thurs - With Dennis.
24th Fri - With D. Divisional Dance at Brent Bridge.
25th Sat - With D. Hairdresser. Going to Dance at Edgware.
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26th Sunday - H.G.S. Ramble. Waltons, Golders Green Underground 10.15.
27th Monday - blank
28th Tuesday - Noreen's place. Saw Maurice on the way there. With D.
29th Wednesday - with D.
30th Thursday - with D.
1st May Friday - with D. Dennis came round in the evening. Went for a walk.
2nd May Saturday - Meet D at G.G. for 'Tale of Two Cities'. D. came round in morning. Meet at G.G. at 2.30 instead. Saw Jack Buchanan in 'Come out of the Pantry' & 'A Fire has been Arranged'. D. came back to tea. Had a marvellous time.
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Here's the poster for one of the films.
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I wonder if we'll find out more about Dennis?
She does like her films ;D
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I wonder if we'll find out more about Dennis?
She does like her films ;D
Looks as if Maurice has a rival! That will teach him. ;D ;D
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At the beginning of the 1936 diary are some names and addresses. One is Mr. D. R. Read, 9 Corringham Road, Golders Green. His first name is Dennis ;D and his date of birth is 8th April 1919, the same date mentioned in her diary.
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I am glad that Maurice has a rival - fancy two guys turning up at her house and asking to just take Bubbles out. That really is a pretty poor show. I do hope she gets over her crush on Maurice - the rest of us can see he's stringing her along, I am sure.
I find it interesting that in most cases, everyday stuff is in longhand but references to Maurice, and now Dennis, are in shorthand.
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I find it interesting that in most cases, everyday stuff is in longhand but references to Maurice, and now Dennis, are in shorthand.
Possibly to keep it private in case her parents read the diary?
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Or possibly Bubbles?
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Perhaps Maurice will come back on the scene now, especially if he thinks someone else has caught her interest ::)
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Maurice does seem fickle though; she goes out in the car, he is very sweet to her, she has a lovely time. And then the lads turn up to take Bubbles out, and presumably leave our diarist standing on the doorstep chewing the corner of her hankie as they all drive off into the distance, possibly tooting the musical hooter as they go. Still feeling somewhat outraged on behalf of our diarist. ;D
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Here is the file for 3rd to 30th May. A bit more shorthand meat here.
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Let me kick off then, with the first week:
3rd May Sunday - blank
4th Monday - With D. Golders Green Imps. Meet N. at clock tower at 8.45. Also with D. at Imps.
5th Tuesday - With D. Ring Madge.
6th Wednesday - With D. Palladium. Ring Madge.
7th Thursday - with Dennis.
8th Friday - Meet Madge at usual spot. With Dennis.
9th Saturday - Bought new shoes.
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Morning ;D
I posted first week at same time as you GS. Have deleted. Will carry on with second week.
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Whoops sorry, RT! Will do Week 3 after you've posted Week 2; nearly finished transcribing it.
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10th Sun - Going to tea with Dennis. Had a marvellous time. Met his father and aunt Went for a walk on the Heath.
11th Mon - with Dennis.
12th Tues - with Dennis. He seemed a little odd but it is probably my imagination. Going to Noreen's place. Rang Dennis up in the evening.
13th Wed - Ring Madge up. With Dennis.
14th Thurs - with Dennis.
15th Fri - with Dennis. Meet Madge at Charing X at 6.15.
16th Sat - Going to Polly Dance with Dennis. Calling for me at 6.45. Had a simply marvellous time. Dawn Cross was there with her boy. Did not speak with them. Left by 11.45. Got back home about 12.30. Sorry when it was all over. Dennis arrived for me exactly on time.
A couple of blanks and unsure of names - can you help?
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I read it as Polly Dance too, RT. Not sure about the name though. Your suggestion looks as valid as any I can immediately think of!
About to post Week 3. Gosh, that's a busy week, makes me tired just reading about it!
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17th Sunday - Going to Coventry to see Peggy. Train leaves Euston 11 o'clock. Meet Madge Charing + at 10.15. Staying night.
Arrived in C. at 1.15. Peggy met us. Went and had dinner with her then went into C., saw the church of the three spires and where Peggy works. Came back through Memorial Park, had tea, went for a drive to Kenilworth and saw the Castle, came back through Leamington, saw Spa and Jephson Gardens, then back to some supper and home again. Arrived at Euston 11.0 and home at 11.45.
18th Monday - Ring Noreen. Meet Grandpa outside Benns at 1 o'clock.
19th Tuesday - Meet Madge usual spot 6.15. With Dennis.
20th Wednesday - With Dennis. Noreen coming round. Can't come, going to her place.
21st Thursday - With Dennis.
22nd Friday - With Dennis. Noreen's birthday. Concert at Central Hall, Westminster. Meet Madge at 6.15 Charing +. Appointment with Crews Bureau 1.40. Meet Joan
23rd Saturday - Bubbles' birthday. Went and saw George Brent in 'Special Agent' & Nancy Carroll in 'After the Dance'.
Footnote: Not sure about how long the Coventry trip lasted: she states she will be staying the night, the writing covers the space for both Sunday and Monday, and is continuous, without any further mention of an overnight stay.
No idea of the name of the person she was meeting on Friday, even though it's in longhand.
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Polly Dance - Polytechnic?
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10th Sun - Going to tea with Dennis. Had a marvellous time. Met his father and aunt. Went for a walk on the Heath.
12th Tues - with Dennis. He seemed a little odd but it is probably my imagination. Going to Noreen's place. Rang Dennis up in the evening.
My suggestions for the gaps.
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Polytechnic was my thinking also.
As for the name of the person she is meeting - I thought it says 'Crews Bureau' ! Maybe job hunting?
(on the 25th - which I haven't posted yet - she is ringing for an appointment with Balfour Beattie)
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24th Sun - blank
25th Mon - Meeting Joan. Ring for appointment with Balfour Beattie & Co. With Dennis.
26th Tues - Meeting Joan at 1.15 at Aldwych. With Dennis. Ring Noreen.
27th Wed - Committee Meeting. Meet Noreen 8.20 Royal Oak. With Dennis.
28th Thurs - with Dennis.
29th Fri - Meet Joan 1.45 at Aldwych Tube. See previous week.
30th Sat - blank
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I also thought Poly as in Polytechnic - I suppose they had them in the 1930s? I've amended my transcription for 22nd to add 'Crews Bureau'. No idea where I got a 'Mr' from there, as it's in longhand! ;D
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Reading the 18th, I think it is Benns rather than Blums.
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Thanks LS - I'll amend that. I had intended to go and have another look at that but forgot. Strange that I can read the shorthand better than I can the longhand! ;D
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Here is May 31st to June 27th.
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Good morning everyone. Here's the transcription of Week 1. A few gaps, so I'd appreciate it if RT or any other shorthand writers would like to have a go at filling them in.
31st Sunday - Dennis came to tea. Went to Communion. Went for a walk with Dennis about six miles all round Mill Hill. He left about 8.30.
1st June Monday - Went and saw Paul Lukas & Heather Angel in the "Three Musketeers" and Dick Foran in "Song of the Saddle". Dennis came round while I was out and asked me to go up to the heath to the fair. So rang him up and went to his house.
2nd Tuesday - Dennis not coming up this week at all. On holiday from .......... Meet at Charing +
3rd Wednesday - Ring Noreen. Maurice at home when got back from ringing. Took us for a spin, had a friend with him, Frank. Went to Hertfordshire. Had a good time.
4th Thursday - Ring Madge. Rang Dennis up, told him about previous night, did not seem too pleased about it. Wrote to him.
5th Friday - Imps Flannel Dance, Brent B. Meet Madge 6.15 at Charing +. Cancelled. Meet Noreen, M & B at 8.15.
6th Saturday - Going to see "Follow the Fleet" with Dennis. Meet him at Lido at 3 o'clock. He came back today. Had marvellous time. Jerry came over.
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Could the fair at the heath refer to Hampstead Heath?
Why doesn’t she tell Maurice to get lost? Poor Dennis, as soon as he is away Maurice appears!
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I think the name of the friend (on the 3rd) could be Frank. Apart from that I'm struggling with it too.
I said Maurice would be back as soon as she found someone else to interest her.
7th Sun - Went to Church in evening, then for a walk with Mummy. Met Ruth from Imps.
8th Mon - with Dennis.
9th Tues - with Dennis. Ring Noreen.
10th Wed - with Dennis.
11th Thurs - with Dennis. Noreen coming round.
12th Fri - with Dennis.
13th Sat - Went to Watford in morning with Peter and Bubbles. Called Dennis. Had a marvellous time. Went to Dennis' place for tea. Also had a marvellous time there.
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I think the name of the friend (on the 3rd) could be Frank. Apart from that I'm struggling with it too.
I said Maurice would be back as soon as she found someone else to interest her.
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I did, after much deliberation, transcribe the name as Frank, then saw that she, Noreen "M & B" met up on Friday 5th, so assumed that this was Maurice and same friend. Consequently left a query on the friend's name on 3rd. But on reflection, she could have been with Noreen, Bubbles and Maurice on the 5th since good old Maurice seems to be playing them off against each other.
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Just realised what one of the gaps is in Week 1:
3rd Wednesday - Ring Noreen. Maurice at home when got back from ringing.
I had thought it said 'ringing' but was thinking of bell-ringing which seemed unlikely as she hadn't mentioned it. And then a moment of clarity - they probably didn't have a phone in the house and had to go to the public phone box at a pre-arranged time to phone the other party. I remember hanging around phone boxes in my early teenage years, waiting for phone calls. But that was in the 1960s, not the 1930s! ;D
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Just realised what one of the gaps is in Week 1:
3rd Wednesday - Ring Noreen. Maurice at home when got back from ringing.
I had thought it said 'ringing' but was thinking of bell-ringing which seemed unlikely as she hadn't mentioned it. And then a moment of clarity - they probably didn't have a phone in the house and had to go to the public phone box at a pre-arranged time to phone the other party. I remember hanging around phone boxes in my early teenage years, waiting for phone calls. But that was in the 1960s, not the 1930s! ;D
That makes a lot of sense, I was wondering why she keeps putting reminders to ring people, if she had a phone in the house she’d just call at any time. I did the same GS, and wasn’t it frustrating if you got there and there was a queue? You never knew whether the other person would wait. Then of course there were the times when you called and a stranger answered.
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Here we are now with Week 3:
14th Sunday - blank
15th Monday - with Dennis. Madge ringing.
16th Tuesday - with Dennis. Committee meeting. Rang Dennis up in afternoon.
17th Wednesday - with Dennis.
18th Thursday - with Dennis. Dennis came. Met him at Leicester Square at 6.15. Went home with him, he came to my place after dinner went for a walk.
19th Friday - with Dennis. Going to see Wilf. Caught in storm.
20th Saturday - Going to have ........ Meet Jackie at Vic 9.30. Tennis Party Noreen's Place 2.15. Did not go. Dennis going to Tattoo*. Had a letter from Dennis.
* This could have been the Aldershot Tattoo which was on at the time. Here's a clip from Pathe News about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLuQxpzjDsg
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21st Sun - Dennis coming to tea. Had a marvellous time. Went out in Peter's car for a drive. Dennis kissed me, first time. Introduced to David Lee ?
22nd Mon - with Dennis. Lunch with Joan.
23rd Tues - with Dennis. Going to supper with Peggy.
24th Wed - with Dennis. Meet Madge at Charing X at usual time and place. See 26th. Going swimming with Dennis. Went to Finchley. Dennis coming to dinner.
25th Thurs - with Dennis. Going to see Leslie Banks, Richard Dix and Madge Evans in 'Tunnel' and Arthur Riscoe in 'Public Nuisance No. 1' Met Dennis G.G. at 7.45.
26th Fri - with Dennis. Meet Madge Charing X.
27th Sat - Air display. Dennis coming round after lunch. Daddy's birthday.
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Look at this little bit of history:
"The Spitfire was introduced to the public on 27 June 1936 at the RAF Hendon air display."
So our diarist was there on the very day that people first saw the Spitfire flying in public. Little did she - or they - know at the time what a decisive part it would play in the future of the United Kingdom.
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Brilliant stuff GS and RT.
I am just wondering though why all the "with Dennis" notations, even on days when there is another mention of Dennis as on Wed 24th June. Any ideas?
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I took it to mean she is still going out with Dennis ('with Dennis') - not always in his company.
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I agree with RT, measuring the length of their relationship. Maybe she was feeling vulnerable having been messed about so much by Maurice. Also, there might have been some kind of etiquette about how many dates a 'nice' girl went on before the first kiss. I believe there was a lot of pressure pre-WW2 for girls not to appear 'fast', so could be something to do with that. Or maybe there was a certain number of dates before one could be considered 'going steady'.
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Understood - and it makes sense.
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Dennis R Read was a Research Chemist. He lived at 9 Corringham Road, Hendon - is that near where our diarist lived?
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Goodmorning all.
Here are the images for June 28th to August 1st.
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Morning LS.
GS not around today, but I'm going to give it a go. Will be back later.
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JUNE
28th Sun - Uncle Arthur's birthday. H.G.S. Ramble Chicken Run 10 o'clock. Dennis going to meet me at his house. Had a very nice time. Rather depressed. Would have been rotten without Dennis.
29th Mon - with Dennis.
30th Tues - with Dennis. He got out T. Court Road, seemed rather funny. Ring Noreen.
JULY
1st Wed - with Dennis. Mummy's birthday.
2nd Thurs - with Dennis. He came round in evening. Went for walk.
3rd Fri - with Dennis.
4th Sat - Hairdressers at 10.30. Trim and set. Going to tea with Dennis. Went and saw 'The Melody lingers on', Josephine Hutchinson, and Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in 'It happened One Night'.
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5th Sun - Went to Circus (it's that word again)
6th Mon - with Dennis.
7th Tues - with Dennis.
8th Wed - Hairdressers as soon after 6 as possible. With Dennis.
9th Thurs - Visit to Zoo ? With Dennis.
10th Fri - with Dennis. Dance. Had a marvellous time. Met Joan ......................................... (outlines good but can't make them out). Went home by taxi. Won marvellous bunch of flowers. Met Dennis outside station Corner House at 7.30.
11th Sat - Dennis came round in evening.
GS - help needed!
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12th Sun - Jerry coming over. Dennis coming to tea. Ring him up.
13th Mon - with Dennis. Michael's birthday. Phone him.
14th Tues - with Dennis. Came round in evening. Went and saw Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout in 'Give us this Night', Franchot Tone and Bette Davis in 'Dangerous'. Had a marvellous time. He brought birthday present with him. Lunched with Joan.
15th Wed - with Dennis. Birthday. Meet Madge at 10.10 Charing X.
16th Thurs - with Dennis.
17th Fri - Not on tram. Did not see Dennis.
18th Sat - Dennis going to have tooth out. He rang me up. Went to tea in afternoon. Had a marvellous time.
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19th Sun - Reg and Jackie coming to tea. Also Dennis. Had a marvellous time.
20th Mon - Peggy's birthday.
21st Tues - Rang Dennis up.
22nd Wed - blank
23rd Thurs - Dennis rang up. Result of his exam. Passed.
24th Fri - Dennis rang up and came round. Went to see Claud Hulbert in 'Wolfs Clothing' and Jack Holt in 'Dangerous Waters'. Dennis came home with me. Left about 12.15 a.m. Had a marvellous time. Celebrated his exam success.
25th Sat - Dennis having tooth out. He rang me up. Went to dance at Brent Bridge Hotel. Had a marvellous time.
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26th Sun - blank
27th Mon - blank
28th Tues - Committee meeting. Ring Nellie up. Not going.
29th Wed - Ring Madge.
30th Thurs - blank
31st Fri - Meet Madge at C.X. at 12.10. Raining too hard. Dennis coming to dinner. Went to see 'Soft Lights and Sweet Music' and 'The Return of Jimmy Valentine'.
AUGUST
1st Sat - Dennis goes away. Meeting Dennis and his father at ............................. at 9.45. Went and saw Warner Oland in 'Charlie Chan at the Circus' and Betty Ann Davies in 'She knew what she wanted'. Went to Edgware in evening.
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Good afternoon - I'm back again. Gosh, RT, you've been busy!
10th Fri - with Dennis. Dance. Had a marvellous time. Met Joan ......................................... (outlines good but can't make them out). Went home by taxi. Won marvellous bunch of flowers. Met Dennis outside station Corner House at 7.30.
I think I have a bit of that blank: Had a marvellous time. Met Joan ............ Billy and a girl from the office there.
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Those were the days when you went to the cinema and watched two films weren't they, and then stayed on and watched them again if you wanted to? ;D
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With Pathe News in the middle and possibly a cartoon too!
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Advertisements for local businesses during the interval in the hope that you would maybe go to the local café/coffee bar for a drink after the performance.
The National Anthem was always played at the end of the evening with some people trying to get out before it started.
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Ah yes, had forgotten that thing of people sneaking out before the national anthem. I do remember when I worked in the theatre in the late 60s/early 70s that the national anthem was always played before each performance, with everyone standing. Seems curiously outdated now.
To be fair, when I - in my youth - rushed out to avoid the national anthem at the end of a cinema performance, it was always because I had a bus to catch. The alternative was to stand for HM and then walk four miles home.
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I'm sure she understood ;D
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I am sure you are right! ;D
It is interesting - as commented previously - how often our diarist goes to the cinema. I suppose with no television, there was little stimulus at home, other than the radio. Incidentally they broadcast a lot of the old comedy programmes on Radio 4 Extra, and goodness, they are dire. Can understand why young people were anxious to get out of the house.
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Goodmorning all.
Here are the pages for August 2nd to 29th.
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Good morning LS and RT and all. I'll take the first two weeks, as there's not much in Week 1, RT, to save any confusion!
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August 1936
2 Sunday - blank
3 Monday - Percy came
4 Tuesday - blank
5 Wednesday - Saw Noreen
6 Thursday - blank
7 Friday - blank
8 Saturday - Shirley Temple, John Boles, Karen Morley 'The Littlest Rebel' & 'Panic on the Air'. Percy came.
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9th Sunday - blank
10th Monday - Holidays start.
Going down to Salisbury. Had a marvellous time. Dennis met me, went home, then for a walk, swimming & to play tennis. Saw Charlie Chaplin in 'Modern Times'.
11th Tuesday - going back to H. Went rowing in morning up river. Had a marvellous time. Afternoon went for a picnic. Godleigh. Had a most marvellous time. Dennis said he thought he loved me.
12th Wednesday - Jerry ringing. Mr Webb & his family came, entertained Dorothy & Margaret. Went to Edgware with Mummy.
13th Thursday - Went & saw Will Hay in 'Where There's a Will' with Gina Malo & 'The Preview Murder Mystery' with Reginald Denny. Rang D's father.
14th Friday - Went to Golders Green shopping with Mummy & Bubbles.
15th Saturday - Dennis goes to Germany. Percy came.
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Morning :)
16th Sun - Bubbles going to Folkestone. Went Mill Hill Swimming Pool.
17th Mon - Wrote to Dennis.
18th Tues - Barnet Police Court 10.15. Saw 'Love before Breakfast' Carole Lombard. Jean Muir, Gene Gerrard in 'Faithful'.
19th Wed - Lunched with Uncle Jerry.
20th Thurs - blank
21st Fri - Ring Dennis' father.
22nd Sat - Dr. Reid operation. Ring Dennis' father. Meet Jerry G.G. at 11. She stayed all day.
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Dennis said he thought he loved me.
:-* :-* Ahhhhh!
Why is she ringing Dennis's father I wonder?
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Why is she ringing Dennis's father I wonder?
Maybe to find out how he is? Too expensive to ring Germany ...
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I wonder what he was doing in Germany. Seems like he and his father moved to Salisbury beforehand.
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23rd Sun - Meet Bubbles at G.G. at 11.30. Comes home from Folkestone. Saw Rochelle Hudson, Alan Kent in 'The Country Beyond'. Victor McLaglen and Freddie Bartholomew in 'The Professional Soldier'.
24th Mon - BD's birthday.
25th Tues - Committee meeting. Lunch with Joan 1.15.
26th Wed - Lunch with Jerry.
27th Thurs - blank
28th Fri - Meet Mummy and Daddy at Charing X at 6.30. Had tea there. Went and saw 'Yes Madam' at Chiswick Hippo.
29th Sat - Went and saw Otto Kruger, Leonora Corbett, Francis Lister in 'Living Dangerously'. Mary Astor in 'So we got married'.
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At the end of the 1936 diary there is an address for Dennis in Germany:
Dennis R. Read, Hirsch Hotel, Todtnau, Baden, Germany
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Check out this link: http://www.sbo.de/praeg/
Hotel has been run by the same family for 150 years.
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Didn’t she talk about Dennis passing an exam, so perhaps he was a student and had gone to Germany for a holiday? By 1939 he was a research chemist, so must have had qualifications.
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Of course, the Olympic Games which Hitler used for propaganda purposes occurred in August 1936, but that was in Berlin. Unless of course they had events elsewhere in Germany.
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Goodmorning to all on this happy, happy day.
Here are the pages for August 30th to October 3rd.
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Good morning LS and everyone. Just downloaded. I'll start with Week 1, RT, to save us both working on the same week simultaneously.
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No part of the games in 1936 can I see in Baden-Baden but there was a golf tournament held there just before the games. The Great Golf Prize of the Nations. Adolf Hitler donated a trophy and was eager to present it to a victorious German team.
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That's interesting, thanks for adding to the picture we are painting.
And speaking of which, off we now go with Week 1 of the month. Plenty of gaps, I am sure, in both shorthand transcription and reading the longhand, so any suggestions would as ever be appreciated.
30 August Sunday - Dennis back from Germany. Met him at Victoria at 2.40pm with his mother and Miss Cooper. Went to W then back to tea with Dennis. He brought me back a ring.
Bubbles goes off to Clacton.
31st Monday - Jerry not at office.
1st September Tuesday - Lunch with Joan. Ring Noreen.
2nd Wednesday - Jackie's birthday. Ring Madge. Lunching with Jerry.
3rd Thursday - blank
4th Friday - Hairdressers. Jerry coming to stay weekend.
5th Saturday - Miller Tennis Tournament. Met Dennis G.G. at 12.20. Poured with rain. Dennis and I had a little tea(?). Went back to his place ................... Introduced to his Granny. She did not like me.
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Dennis back from Germany. Met him at Victory at 2.40pm with his mother
Victoria? As in the station?
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Week 2
Sunday 6th Sept - H.G.S. Imps.
Monday 7th - N. ringing? 2nd week's holiday. Dennis ringing, went to pictures with him at Amb. Park. Walter Huston, Peggy Ashcroft in 'Rhodes of Africa', Anna Neagle in 'Limelight' with Arthur Tracey.
Tuesday 8th - N. ringing? ....... & Wilfs. Was a very nice do.
Wednesday 9th - Auntie Jennie. Had a nice time.
Thursday 10th - Madge's mother being married. Going to wedding, meet car at 2 at Hornchurch. Noreen rang up.
Friday 11th - Going to Nellies. Went home about 10.30, arrived home at 11.30.
Saturday 12th - Dennis coming to tea about 2 o'clock. Had a marvellous time. He rang up in morning. Said he could not come before about 4. I can not always make him out.
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Dennis back from Germany. Met him at Victory at 2.40pm with his mother
Victoria? As in the station?
Whoops, typo! ;D
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Boat train I suspect
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13th Sunday - Eileen coming to tea. Meet her at Ashley Lane at 2.45. End of holiday.
14th Monday - Ring Madge also Noreen.
15th Tuesday - blank
16th Wednesday - Noreen rang up.
17th Thursday - Going round to Noreen's. Went and saw June, Dorothy Ward & Douglas Bying in The Magicians of Charlot (?). Saw Sally, Arthur & Percy. Dennis rang up.
18th Friday - Saw Joan. Jerry leaves Benn's.
19th Saturday - Jackie put off indefinitely. Riviera express leaves Paddington 10.30. See Jerry off. Had photograph taken.
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20th Sunday - blank
21st Monday - blank
22nd Tuesday - Speed test with Mrs Hoster 10.30. With Dennis. Ring Joan.
23rd Wednesday - with Dennis. Meet Madge 6.15 Charing +. Went & saw Chas. Lawton, Clarke Gable, Franchot Tone in 'Mutiny on the Bounty' and Maureen O'Sullivan and Henry Fonda in 'The Moon's Our Home'.
24th Thursday - Lunching with Jean but to ring if not con. Had to interview Mr Johnstone about post. With Dennis. Things not too good. Meet Joan 6.00.
25th Friday - With Dennis. Met me at 8.30 at B.B. Had a good talk. I definitely broke it off.
26th Saturday - Went to Sally's to tea. ....................... Percy there. Denise and Bob came.
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Back online ;D
5th Saturday - Miller Tennis Tournament. Met Dennis G.G. at 12.20. Poured with rain. Dennis and I had a little tea(?). Went back to his place ................... Introduced to his Granny. She did not scare me.
Could it be?
...........Introduced to his Granny. She did not like me.
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27th Sun - Went to Wiggs in evening.
28th Mon - blank
29th Tues - Bad cold. Stayed at home. Went to C.T.
30th Wed - Stayed at home. Noreen rang up.
OCTOBER
1st Thurs - blank
2nd Fri - Went to supper with Noreen. Mummy saw Dennis.
3rd Sat - blank
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Welcome back RT. I agree with your amendment for 5 Sept now I am home and can look at the outline on a large screen! I couldn't get close enough to see whether that was a hook or a diphthong ;D
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So, no more Dennis :( Wonder who her next beau will be? ;D
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Well yes, RT, I was just about to comment that our heroine had dumped Dennis. I did think she was cooling off a bit though, since there were no 'with Dennis' side annotations. Perhaps the ring he bought her back from Germany scared her off.
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Perhaps 'Granny' had something to do with it ??? and he was only 17.
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I think she was on the rebound from Maurice anyway - and he seems to have left the scene doesn't he?
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Poor Dennis. :'(
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I wonder what Jerry was doing, leaving her job at Benn's, and going off on the Riviera Express. Sounds incredibly exciting.
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Was that too late for when younger, wealthy people went off to do the tour of Europe?
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1936 doesn't seem a particularly good time for a young woman to go off to Europe by herself. We obviously won't know what she was doing or what happened to her, but presumably she would have been back in England by 1939.
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Do we have a full name for her to see whether she returned and married?
It's really sad isn't it that these young people are going about their lives, quite unaware of what horrors are going to befall them 3 years later?
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I agree, Jan. With the benefit of hindsight we know that dark clouds are gathering on the horizon, and that the people who populate the pages of these diaries will find their lives turned upside down within the space of three years.
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LS posted a list of names in the 1935 diary. Jerry is the diarist's cousin Marjorie, living in Penzance in 1939 with her father, mother and sister. She is a shorthand typist.
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If it's the right one, I think I've found her travelling backwards and forwards to Sierra Leone, where she is living in the 1940s and 50s. At one point she gives her occupation as a teacher. Date of birth is the same as in 1939.
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Goodmorning,
Here are the pages for October 4 to November 7.
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Afternoon ;D
OCTOBER
4th Sun - Going to see Bubbles at Leicester. Had a very nice time.
5th Mon - Saw Dennis. Shoe and Leather Fair.
6th Tues - Shoe and Leather Fair.
7th Wed - Committee meeting. Went home with Norman. Ring Wilf.
8th Thurs - Went up with David Lee.
9th Fri - Farewell dinner. Leave Benns. Meet Madge Charing X 6.15. Shoe and Leather Fair. Meet Madge outside 5.45. Coming for week-end.
10th Sat - We went and saw 'Tale of Two Cities', Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allen and Donald Woods. Also 'Trapped by Wireless', Lew Ayres and F. Rice.
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Sunday 11th - Went to church in evening.
Monday 12th - Start new job.
Tuesday 13th - Meet Joan 6.15 Charing +. Had tea at Strand Corner.
Wednesday 14th - Ring Jackie. With David. First Imps meeting. Door 8.0. Dennis there.
Thursday 15th - blank.
Friday 16th - Meet Jackie at Charing Cross 6.15. Tea at Strand Corner House. Saw Dennis in Piccadilly.
Saturday 17th - Going to see Jessie Matthews in 'It's Love Again' & Paul Muni in 'The Life of Louis Pasteur. Hairdresser 6.30.
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18th Sun - Ring Joan.
19th Mon - Went up to Benns, then to Strand Corner for a chin wag.
20th Tues - Joan ringing.
21st Wed - Lunching with Jackie and B.D. 1.15 Charing X ?. Going to Wilfs. Meet Mummy 1.15 Piccadilly.
22nd Thurs - Lunching with Jackie and B.D. 1.15 Charing X.
23rd Fri - Nellie coming for day.
24th Sat - Joan coming to tea and dinner. Went and saw Shirley Temple and Guy Kibble in 'Captain January', and Robert Young and Betty Furness in 'Three Wise Guys'.
Not a lot of shorthand - nothing to keep private I suppose :)
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Seems to be a week missing LS:
1st November Sunday - blank
2nd Monday - 'Rookery Nook' Fortune Theatre.
3rd Tuesday - blank
4th Wednesday - blank
5th Thursday - blank
6th Friday - blank
7th Saturday - Poppies at Orpheum? Tea with Jacky. Went to dinner, she came and called for me at the office. Off completely.
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Oh yes, I didn't even notice.
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Goodmorning all,
That's not like me. I rechecked and lo, the missing page - attached herewith.
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Here is November 8th to December 5th.
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Good morning LS and everyone. I've quickly transcribed the missing week. Will look at following week later when RT is online:
October 25 Sunday - Went to Sally's in evening. Babs came.
26th Monday - blank
27th Tuesday - Ring Jackie
28th Wednesday - 9.5 Imps. Ring Madge.
29th Thursday - Meet Jackie Charing + at 6.15 if not time to get to B.s.
30th Friday - Conservative Association meeting.
31st Saturday - Going to see Wilf.
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Morning ;D Just going to download.
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NOVEMBER
8th Sun - Bubbles comes home. Went and saw Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in 'Rose Marie' and 'The First Baby'.
9th Mon - blank
10th Tues -blank
11th Wed - H.G.S. Divisional Night.
12th Thurs - Meet Joan 6.10 Strand. Lunching with Jackie and B.D. Meet Wardie and Jackie in evening. Went to Strand Corner H.
13th Fri - Meet Madge 5.45 Strand. Went and saw Freddie B and Dolores Costello in 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' and A. Hepburn and F. March in 'Mary of Scotland'.
14th Sat - Going to see Wilf.
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15th Sun - Percy and Arthur came round in evening.
16th Mon - Lunching with Connie, 1 at Dover St. She didn't turn up.
17th Tues - Meet Joan Charing X 6.15. Cancelled.
18th Wed - Lunching with Wardie 1.10 Strand Corner House.
19th Thurs - Lunching with Jackie and B.D. Strand Corner House 1.15.
20th Fri - Had extended lunch hour so went up to Benns. Benns fairly bad.
21st Sat - blank.
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22nd Sun - blank
23rd Mon - Going skating. Meet Joan at 6.15 Horne Bros. Lunch with Wardie?
24th Tues - Madge ringing.
25th Wed - H.G.S. Imps
26th Thurs - Going out with Jackie in evening. Lunch with Jackie and B.D.
27th Fri - blank
28th Sat - blank
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29th Sun - blank
30th Mon - Skating 6.15 Joan S. Lunching with Wardie. Had 1-3.30 for lunch. Went to Benns.
DECEMBER
1st Tues - Meet M. Coventry St. Corner H. 1.5.
2nd Wed - blank
3rd Thurs - Meeting Madge? Lunching with Jackie and B.D.
4th Fri - Meeting Jackie.
5th Sat - Charles 3.30. Meet Madge Charing X 12.30.
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Back from my travels! Had a look at the gaps, RT, and I think on the 15th it is 'Percy and Arthur'. On the 20th the gap could be either "Benns fairly bad" or "Been fairly bad". She is pretty good with her vowels, so I am inclined to go for the former. What do you think?
On the 1st Dec I think it says "Meet M. Coventry Street Corner H(ouse) 1.5." Surely this can't be Maurice still lurking in the undergrowth?
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I think you may be right GS. Here is a link to several pictures of the Lyons Corner House at the junction of Coventry street and Rupert Street in Piccadilly, including one in the 1930's.
https://flashbak.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-lyons-cornerhouses-and-their-nippy-waitresses-35186/
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GS
Think you're right about Arthur and Benns.
As to the 1st December, I thought 'St' was abbreviation for 'Strand'. Having another look I can see 'M', so going with your view, but I suppose the 'M' could refer to Madge. We'll have to wait and see if Maurice has returned!
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What an interesting link, LS. I can remember my mother talking about Lyons' Corner Houses, I think they were very fashionable in their day.
RT, I agree the M could refer to Madge; let's hope so because she's far less trouble than Maurice!
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And here are the final pages for 1936.
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DECEMBER
6th Sun - blank
7th Mon - Jack ringing.
8th Tues - blank
9th Wed - H.G.S. Xmas Party. Lunching with Jack. Hyde Park Corner 1 o'clock.
10th Thurs - Lunching with Wardie and B.D.
11th Fri - Skating?
12th Sat - blank
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13th Sunday - blank
14th Monday - Skating. Meet Madge, .... 5.40. Wardie, Jackie & Gwen 6.15.
15th Tuesday - Saw Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Reynolds & Robert Taylor in 'The Bride Walked Out' & Lupe Velez in 'Gypsy Melody'.
16th Wednesday - blank
17th Thursday - Lunch with B.D. & Wardie.
18th Friday - Been very slightly under par.
19th Saturday - Percy & Charles 4 o'clock
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19th Saturday - Percy & Charles 4 o'clock
Could that be -
19th Saturday - Perm. Charles. 4 o'clock
I thought it meant Charles, the hairdresser.
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20th Sun - Bubbles goes to Shanklyn. Went and had a look at Petticoat Lane.
21st Mon - Lunch with Jackie. Maurice came in evening.
22nd Tues - Lunch with Jack.
23rd Wed - blank
24th Thurs - Lunch with B.D. and Wardie.
25th Fri - Going to Wigs in evening.
26th Sat - blank
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27th Sunday - Jackie & Reg coming. Maurice & Phil may come.
28 Monday - blank.
29th Tuesday - blank.
30th Wednesday - Lunch with Jack.
31st Thursday - Lunch with Wardie & B.D.
1937
1st January Friday - blank
2nd Saturday - Going to see 'Swing Time', Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire.
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It looks as if Maurice and Phil are back. Maybe, then, the M on the 1st December was Maurice.
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Looks likely doesn't it, LS. Didn't take him long did it!
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Thanks to everyone for their help, especially GS and RT. I hope to meet you all again soon.
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Thank you for sharing this LS and thank you GS and RT for all your hard work transcribing it, I really enjoyed reading it. What a pity that the diaries didn't go on into war time, that would have been a real insight into life in London!
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I have so enjoyed transcribing the diaries with RT; thanks for posting them LS, its been utterly fascinating. I really felt involved with the story, particularly as we know the historical background, and what her generation would be facing shortly after the second diary ends.
Regards and thanks to our anonymous diarist, and to LS for entrusting her words to our transcribing skills.
Kind regards
GS