Ralph’s Diary:  February 1938

Tuesday 1 February 1938

Another gale in the night, persisting all day but nice and bright but cold.  Johnny married to Jack Adlard at All Saints (11 a.m.)  Mother, Olive & Mrs. Craze turn out and understand a pretty job.  Very sorry to hear that Mrs. Watson is seriously ill and Denis home on special leave until to-morrrow. 
Fairly busy with usual Tuesday routine.  Do few minutes practise after tea and then, in car, to Wakelin’s for haircut and to Mr. Craze’s for music lesson (not so bad).  Home about 8.15 find Dad alone who, however, goes to Porter’s with a skirt which had been left in car.  Harold to Amy’s, Olive & Ray to Cleethorpes, mother to Mrs. Lister’s. 
Recital of hymns on wireless very enjoyable particularly as on my own. 
No letters received but write to Margaret. 

Wednesday 2 February 1938

Decent weather. 
Ring Norman at dinner-time and arrange to go to Royal to-night. 
Fairly busy.  Go to Burnetts in afternoon and get Ray 50 sheets of cover paper for his library books.  Wash upstairs window at Office. 
Watch back from repair but refusing to go any length of time when worn. 
Do practise after tea, change and Harold then runs me to Royal where meet M.  Saw “Maytime” with Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy.  Passable but the machine very bad and variable. 
Home about tea.  Take dog round square.  Olive & Dad to choir practise, mother has social at school. 
To bed about 11. 
Mrs. Watson still seriously ill. 
Dennis goes back from leave in morning. 

Thursday 3 February 1938

Another nice day.  Very bright. 
Not very busy. 
After dinner Harold & I go in car with dog as far as the bathing-pool and then walk right beyond the boating lake to the sands and back to car.  Very enjoyable.  Took a ball with us.  Home about four after about hour-and-half walk.  Dad and Mr. Bishop go to Reserve match, Ray repairs shed and aviary. 
Practise after tea and arrange to go to Tivoli second house with Dad, Mr. Bishop and Ray.  Book seats early in evening.  Very good show.  Specially good are horizontal-bar artistes and troupe who do acrobatic tricks on a see-saw arrangement. 
Home about eleven, cup of tea and bed half-hour later.  Mother & Olive been to concert at Park St. 
Mrs. Watson no better. 
Received letter from Arthur. 

Friday 4 February 1938

Writing at supper table over cup of tea and scone – 9.45 and listening to Athlone on wireless. 
This has been another very fine and dry day.  Have been busy at office sorting Coupons out all day and have got fed up of sitting down.  Travellers call from Fry’s re Xmas Club and they appear very helpful and suggestive.  Mother to concert at night – Albert Street School.  Olive & Ray to Ritz to see “Victoria the Great”. 
Have bath 7-15 to 45 and then listen to the gruesome play on the wireless.  “Rope” with Ernest Milton.  Sat with light out for about an hour which made it at least more amusing. 
Amy comes in and has bath. 
Not yet heard from Ron. 
Seem to receive very few letters nowadays. 
Got new half-dozen tennis balls. 

Saturday 5 February 1938

Still fine weather.  Hope like this for tennis to-morrow. 
Johnny back from honeymoon.  Had good time and weather.  Fairly busy.  Moderate number of winners.  After leaving at night buy mother a bottle of scent (her birthday) to-day.  Olive came home later also with bottle of scent but fortunately different brand. 
Begin making “pom-poms” for my pierrot costume for fancy-dress on Monday night.  Mother and I make four of them and shall manage with these.  Have cap to make now. 
Have round of darts at night.  Olive has bath.  Dad invited to join Anti-Aircraft Gas Committee or something.  Mr. Wakelin leaves his cycle here as he breaks chain.  Calls on way home. 
Town lose 2–1 at West Brom.  Ginger Hall playing inside forward scores our goal.  Should do well in forward line. 
Mrs Fulljames sends mother some flowers for birthday. 

Sunday 6 February 1938

Unfortunate this morning.  After a good spell of dry weather have a shower this morning about 9-30 which puts “paid” to our tennis.  Arise (but don’t shine) about 10-30 and take breakfast.  Try to paint the Indian of Mrs. Craze’s chair back-cover but rather unsuccessful.  Ray, however, manages to [sic] job very well later in the day.  Do spot of practise before dinner.  Dad goes by bus to Winterton with Mr. & Mrs. Jackson to sing in the “Messiah”.  After dinner Mother, Ray & I go to Mablethorpe in car.  Home after five.  Harold at Amy’s.  After tea go to Norman at shop and then walk together to Crazes where find Mrs. Beales come to find mister.  Norman takes prizes for dance.  From here on to Norman’s house and home after supper about 10.15.  Try on fancy-dress for to-morrow night and then to bed. 
Another day gone. 

Monday 7 February 1938

Nice and fine.  Fairly busy. 
Enid Rae sends a note in to mother saying unable to come to dance to-night.  Got a bad cold. 
Home soon after five and then to practise.  Harold eventually decides to go as a tramp to the dance and gets up very well, well enough to win a prize – set of cuff-links from Christys. 
Get changed into my pierrot costume, Mother as peasant from Bulgaria or thereabouts (costume from next-door) and Amy as Swiss Peasant.  Call at Mrs. Freeman’s on way to dance.  Joe also comes as a tramp.  Very good show of costumes.  Harold & I come home about ten and change into suits and go back again very refreshed and comfortable.  Have a good time, home soon after one but long time going to sleep.  Costumes worn:– Norman – Monsieur Beaucaire, Mrs Olsen – Bulgarian –, Kath Archer – Little Old Lady – Rhoda R – Old fashioned dress with bustle – Mrs. Wilkinson – “Night” – Mrs. Middleton “Juliet” – Miss Marriotts “Quality St. and Gainsborough,– Mrs. Craze – Old lady, Brenda – Kippy — and others. 
Received very welcome & overdue letter from Ron today. 

Tuesday 8 February 1938

A very dull morning especially to get up to after a late night.  No rain, however.  Funeral to-day of six of the crew of the “Leicestershire” who have been brought home. 
Pretty gruesome murder hunt going on in River Severn.  Torso recovered with arms and legs sawn off and missing parts have been recovered by installments.  Head also missing. 
Norman & Mrs. Craze selected two electric fires from Beadle’s to-day.  Called round on way from music-lesson.  One is quite O.K. but the frame of the other is too large and will have to be changed. 
Home 8-30.  Write to Arthur and suggest taking Sunday trip to Manchester to see Harold and him again. 
Also learn of Thursday trip to Leeds which shall have to enquire into. 
Dad goes to Mr. Thomson’s at night and not home till nearly 10-30
Tired and going to bed 10-45

Wednesday 9 February 1938

Showery to-day and dull.  More tired to-day than yesterday.  Not very busy.  Trying to hurry job on to-day re Civil Service and hope to get final particulars to-morrow by writing to the School of Accountancy. 
Mother rather better but not yet O.K.  Had a diet sheet from Mr. Gilliatt yesterday which tabulates the meals she has to have.  This stipulates porridge for this morning so we all enjoyed a breakfast of this. 
Talking to Mrs. Wakelin to-day and she tells me I am getting fatter and fuller in the face.  Hope not as have worried perhaps a little about this to-night. 
Mother to School.  Dad & Olive to choir-practise, Harold to Amy’s and Ray to Bakers’ Association free cinema show at the Central Hall.  Have fire in room so do bit of extra practise.  Get bills from station re trips to Leeds & Manchester.  The Leeds trip not much good but the trip to Manchester seems a good train. 
Ray went to Tower [cinema] as could not get in the bakery show.  – full house. 

Thursday 10 February 1938

Fine but very windy. 
Not very busy in morning and go up to Mr. Craze’s (on bike) to measure up for surround for his electric-fire.  Had cup of cocoa and piece of cake with Mrs. Craze. 
Mr. Bishop comes in about 2-15 for Dad to go to match.  Dad busy trying to strengthen garden trellis against wind but finishes off and Harold & I run them to the match.  Take dog with us and go on to the sands as last Thursday.  Very windy, rough and have a shower before land back at car.  Home 4-15.  Comes over very dull and heavy rain.  Run Olive to Ray’s shop and go to meet Dad from match but miss him as comes home in another car.  All go to Men’s Meeting at night (with Mr. Jackson) in car.  Dr. Martin from Ethiopian League on Abysynnia.  Address read and not very good but question time very good and interesting.  Nice old chap – Dad says like Uncle Tom in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.  Home soon after ten.  Take dog round square. 

Friday 11 February 1938

Fine, not windy, but very cold.  Get Office stove going at about 12 o’clock.  Go to shop in morning to see Mr. Wroot over the Civil Service business and get his affirmation of the advantages of this job.  Almost certain to take this now.  Have to consult Leslie Snelson for advice from an Inspector of Taxes.  Also write to all Chocolate firms reference Xmas Club. 
In afternoon do a couple of posters for Mr. Craze re Dance & Whist Drive on the 23rd.  Call at Aunt Olive’s on way home.  Do practise after tea, have bath and then do two more posters re Dance.  Mother to Mrs. Allen’s.  Olive & Ray to Strand, Amy comes and has bath.  Mr. Rea comes in for tobacco and stays a good half-hour talking to pa.  In bed about ten but come down in dressing gown to enter diary and return again about 10-20

Saturday 12 February 1938

Again very windy with occasional heavy showers.  Very busy in morning but manage to do another Dance Bill – the last.  Have a tussle to cycle back after dinner but get a good blow home.  Walk back after tea to find a lot of winners.  Town beat Birmingham at home by four clear goals.  Harold goes to match and Town apparently overrun the opposition.  Goals by Beattie, (who was signed from Huddersfield in exchange for Hinchcliffe on Thursday) Betmead, Shaw, and Coulter.  In the Cup Arsenal are beaten at home by Preston.  York, at home, beat Middlesborough and Liverpool, also at home, go out to Huddersfield. 
Home about 7-15 and make cup of cocoa.  Hear Skipper Mogg of Grimsby in “In Town To-Night”.  Music Hall as poor as usual.  Play dad a few rounds of darts.  Harold fetches Mother from Mrs. Allen’s.  Olive wins G. Cordingley’s sweep.  Only run two weeks (30/2)
Very high tides at Cleethorpes, Railway line damaged and service suspended. 

Sunday 13 February 1938

Sunday.  Wet again and not able to tennis.  Up about 10-30 and, in morning, play piano a bit and burn design for another tray.  (ballet dancers).  Ray & Harold clean car and chafe me for not helping them.  Dad getting ready for concert on Tuesday and hunting out ‘props’.  About 1.15 Mr. Jackson calls for Dad in car and go to Ulceby for “Messiah”.  Ray & Olive at Ray’s to tea.  After dinner do practise, listen to radio (C.H. Middleton & F.W. Grisewood – very good).  Harold fetches Amy and then go with them in car to Ulceby to fetch Dad home.  Home about 5.30.  At night all except self go to hear Horace Finch, Chas. Long, etc. at the Regal.  Thought was going to have a nice quite night but Geo. Lilly comes in soon after eight.  Play him darts and push-’apenny – losing at both.  Have supper together, take dog round square.  Family home 10-30 and run George home in car.  Very bad day with snow and sleet.  To bed after 11. 

Monday 14 February 1938

Busy today.  Many winners.  Still very cold but dry until night. 
Nothing particular to report to-day.  At night go to Dance as usual.  Snow a bit at night.  Dad goes to Thomson’s (Carr Lane) at night for concert practise and arrives home at 11-45!  Bit late starting for Dance as Harold trys unsuccessfully to mend choke on car.  Pick Norman & Mrs. Allen up and arrive about 7.45.  Talking about Mazurka but they (Mr. Beales) find they do not know it.  Have good time although not many turn up.  Come home about 11, bed half-past with touch of cold I think.  Enid Rea does not come as to-day her birthday and having party among themselves. 

Tuesday 15 February 1938

Not as busy but, I think, colder than yesterday.  Very raw. 
Mother rings Dr. Lavin up in morning as I want examination before definitely enrolling for Civil Service.  Says I can go ‘any time’.  Go up to-night only to be able to make arrangements to be examined on Friday night.  On from here to Mr. Crazes for lesson.  Not too bad.  Mrs. Osbourne comes in while I’m there.  Has had burglars in shop for second time in fortnight.  Only take cigarettes each time. 
Dad to concert in car at Barnetby.  Olive to Ray’s.  Harold to Amy’s.  Mother goes to Mrs. Lister’s but home about 8-30 as remembers has left heat under porridge on stove. 
Ray has sent my dynamo back to Millers for overhaul and now wants 3/2 for repair.  Quibble over this.  Harold pays, without my consent, and then claims the dynamo. 

Wednesday 16 February 1938

Fairly busy.  Nothing particular to report.  After tea do practise and then write to School of Accountancy for cost of text-books.  Olive & Dad go to choir practise but Olive has bad cold and comes home early.  Ray and I begin pulling the staircase to pieces for modernising to box the stairs in.  Only get a few pieces pulled down. 
Mother home about 9-30 and Dad about ten.  Get to bed about 10-30
Shortest report to date I think. 

Thursday 17 February 1938

Fairly fine but not particularly busy.  Traveller from Appleton’s comes. 
Home soon after 1 and after dinner prepare to make, with Ray, another attack on the staircase.  Have a long conference with Dad at the bottom of the stairs as to whether we should cut the knob off the bannister post.  Dad holds his own and the knob stays.  Get this bannister pole boxed in in afternoon. 
Mrs. Parton has operation on eye this afternoon and fairly poorly.  Ray borrows car at five and home after closing shop at eight.  Go up to Norman’s about 6-45 to see him and mother who has been ill.  Home about 8 and finish, with Ray, some of the stairs.  Then have a bath.  Supper, to bed soon after ten. 
Mother & Mrs. Fulljames to Empire to see “Silver Dominoes” (very good).  Dad & Mr. Bishop to pictures.  Mr. Bishop says Geo. going to Russia over salvage trawler. 

Friday 18 February 1938

Very sunny day but fairly windy and cold.  Not particularly busy but take all afternoon to do Tickets for whist-drive and dance run by Mr. C. for Musicians Union.  “Tickets” referred to are Tickets for prizes etc. 
Home soon after five. 
Dennis hoped to get home for week-end but cannot get now. 
After tea did practise.  Ray to dinner & tea and gets some plywood for stairs. 
After practise read “Telegraph” and then go to Dr. Lavin’s for examination re Civil Service.  Find quite fit except for rupture which he says requires operation.  Going to see Mr. Gilliatt about this.  Leave Watch behind and ring about this.  Home about 9-15.  Hear Ghost play on Wireless.  Amy comes in.  All amused about my rupture.  Olive & Ray to pictures. 

Saturday 19 February 1938

Nice day, fairly busy.  Not many winners to-day.  Feel quite fit. 
At night mother goes to Mrs. Allen’s and Harold then fetches her home in car soon after eight.  Listen to Palace of Varieties on wireless.  Herman Darewski chairman.  Fairly good.  Tommy Handley best. 
Paint tray design when come home.  Finish about 9-30.  Ray finishes off part of staircase and give him hand.  Fetch fish and chips for supper on Ray’s bike at 9-45.  Amy comes in at night.  Nothing else to report. 
To bed after 11. 

Sunday 20 February 1938

Fine but dull.  Harold & I get ready and call for Jack Walker to play tennis.  Not up and sends word downstairs that he is not going to turn out.  Ring Jack Cooper up and he won’t bother so have to play singles.  Had a good game – my scores 6–1, 4–6, 7–6 and Harold hurts his ankle in last game so pack up.  Home 1-15
Change after dinner.  Ray, Olive, Mother & Dad go for run in car.  May Armstrong, Mary & Brenda came to tea.  Found Brenda very amusing. 
After tea go up to Norman at shop.  Buy tube tooth-paste – Colgates Dental Ribbon.  Then round to house.  Mrs. Allen fairly well.  Home, after supper, about 10-15
Hitler makes speech to the world.  Anthony Eden retires and under-secretary as well. 
Things seem very complex. 

Monday 21 February 1938

Fine, dry and cold.  Fairly busy and nothing particular to record. 
Do practise after tea then run Dad and Mr. Bishop to Ritz.  Two good pictures & Stainless Steven.  Go from here to Wakelin’s for haircut and home 7-15.  Harold & I then run to Mrs. Allen’s dropping Mother at Mrs. Fulljames’ on way.  So to dance.  Have good time but not many there (24, I think) – Mother comes on later.  Mrs. Middleton does not come as Mr. M. is ill.  Miss Rea was coming but father has an accident and has to stay in to answer the door (i.e. Miss Rea).  Accumulator bursts in Mr. Rea’s face.  Five stitches in lips.  Home 11 and bed soon after.  Rang Leslie Snelson up re Civil Service but get no more help or information.  Hope to enrol to-morrow. 
Received letter from Margaret. 
Wrote to Arthur gives times of trip to Manchester. 

Tuesday 22 February 1938

Perhaps most important entry to date – enrol with School of Accountancy for course for Inspector of Taxes.  Hope this will be a success. 
Fairly fine but wet at night.  Not very busy. 
Do practise after tea from about six.  Colgates chaps in for about half-hour at tea time. 
Go up to Mr. Craze’s for lesson and get on fairly well. 
Come home and do more piano-playing.  Mother & Dad at home.  Dad takes dog for walk to Old Clee.  Mrs. Parton on the mend and has stitches taken from eyes to-day. 
Harold to Amy’s. 
Olive & Ray to Mrs. Parton. 

Wednesday 23 February 1938

Fairly fine and busy.  Nothing particular to report. 
Dance & Whist Drive to-night at Gas Co’s Rooms in aid of Musicians’ Union Benevolent Fund.  Run to Mr. Craze’s about 7 and run prizes to the room from his house.  Back home 7.30 and off again 8 o’clock with Harold, Dad and call for Amy.  Mother goes to School and comes to Dance later on with Mrs. Fulljames.  Have a good time.  Had to come back for dance shoes as forgot these.  All the Yarra crowd turn up in full force and have a real good time.  Trumpet player from Tivoli comes about 11-30 and blasts on his trumpet something terrific.  Spoils the band.  Dad plays whist but does no good.  Mrs. Kiddle wins first lady’s, ¼ ton coal.  Geo. Cordingley doorman, Mrs. C. plays whist.  All stay until finish (including Dad) and home 1-20

Thursday 24 February 1938

Again very fine and particularly fine.  Receive letter of acknowledgement and receipt from School of Accountancy.  Lessons to follow. 
After dinner go up to Mr. Gilliatt’s re rupture and guarantees to cure.  Have to go twice weekly.  Harold & Ray busy on staircase.  Dad goes to match with Mr. Bishop (Reserves).  Take mother for run in car.  Pick Mrs. Swaby and Mrs. Tinsley up when we see them out near Hewitt’s Circus.  Appreciated the run. 
After tea to hear Henry Rose at Mens Meeting.  Record crowd but address disappointing as did not touch on sport.  All about journalism but very interesting. 
Mrs. Jackson stays with mother at night, Mr. Jackson with us.  Home 10-20.  Mr. Jackson has supper and home about 11.  Take dog round square. 

Friday 25 February 1938

Received first lessons from S. of A.  Very interesting and very pleased with them.  Study in afternoon at Office and again at night.  Have dropped piano practice and lessons for time being. 
Nothing exciting happens. 
Geo. Lilly comes down about 7-30 and have an interesting night with him.  Harold & Dad at home.  Geo. out of work at the moment.  Play darts, talk and have some good fun. 
Have bath about 9-30
Geo. stays supper and home about 11 after Geo. & I have attempted to beat Dad in crossword-puzzle race.  Half-inch several words from Dad on the sly and eventually finish by filling empty squared with any letters we can think of.  Dad does find this out eventually.  Amy also in here at night.  Olive & Ray to pictures. 

Saturday 26 February 1938

Fine but dull. 
Johnny does not turn up to-day as has throat bad again.  Her sister (Miriam, I think) collects the coupons in, however, very satisfactorily.  Fortunately coupons easy to make and finished about 7-30.  Home wet through as tippling down with rain. 
Town win at Home, beating Huddersfield by four goals to two.  Gallacher scores his first league goal for Town and adds a second. 
Came home & listened to “In Town To-Night” – heard talking budgie on record – and Music Hall.  Latter fairly good.  Vic Oliver best turn.  Waters sisters also on good form. 
Had fish & chips supper.  To bed about 10-30

Sunday 27 February 1938

As expected too wet for tennis although a very fine day.  Dried up by noon. 
Got up about 10-30 and then studied from 11 o’clock to 1.  Very enjoyable. 
Ray & Harold clean car.  Dad goes to Laceby with Mr. & Mrs. Jackson – more “Messiah”.  Harold, Mother and Amy with self go for run in car in afternoon.  Home 4-30.  Leave Mother at home and then to Laceby to fetch Dad home.  After tea play darts & mess about until seven when walk up to Norman’s.  Rain about 6 o’clock but fair later.  Home about 10-30 after nice evening. 
Dad has a stiffish neck. 
Olive & Ray go to Concert at Regal.  Harold Hemsley & other radio artistes.  Very good but on smutty side. 

Monday 28 February 1938

Still fine.  Johnny comes back to Office.  Write to Margaret. 
Fairly busy in morning but find time for some study in afternoon at Office.  This continues at home after tea.  Ray’s mother on the mend but eye still far from being right. 
At night go to Dance but not many turn up (about 20).  Miss Rea comes with us.  Have a fairly good time but slower than usual.  Norman not too well.  Working too hard with spring-cleaning. 
Home soon after 11 and to bed soon after.  Dad’s neck a bit better.