January. Donald Heath. Whitchurch shepherd. Tommy Handley. Awkward encounter at Henley cinema. Charles I centenary.
Went up to London in morning. Met Mary at National Book League and went to Paisa, an intelligent and amusing Italian film of war in Italy, divided into separate episodes dealing with war in Italy – landing in Sicily, the Americans in Naples; in Rome; the attack of Florence; three American chaplains, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish – as guests in a monastery; the partisans in the marshes of the Po delta.
Then to an exhibition of primitive and modern art to illustrate debt to former. Stayed at Green Park Hotel, but now so expensive only for one night! After lunch on Sunday went to see the new fountains and statuary in Trafalgar Square, then on to Elephant & Castle to a monstrous and hideous cinema for a Beecham concert, Tchaikovsky and Delius. Acoustics excellent, seats only 3/-. Much enjoyed Sir Thomas’s superb conducting. Back to Trafalgar Square to see fountains illuminated and Christmas tree presented by Norwegian government lit up. Fountains lovely. Climbed on to plinth to see them, but Christmas tree a bit scruffily illuminated by coloured electric bulbs. Large crowds, masses of cars slowly circling square, numbers of small children on father’s shoulder and hoards of small boys swarming round base of columns. After this came back to flat. A piercing cold night with rain.
On Saturday night went to see farce at the Criterion, Travellers Day, dealing with the shifts of the British in Sweden when at the end of their currency allowance – Yvonne Arnaud in it and excellent fun.
Wednesday, Jan 5th
Went out to Whitchurch and walked through woods with M. Saw shepherd building a cote for lambing, many tits and also some duck. M told the macabre story of a relative of her friend on Sark who was found dead after three days by police. When they arrived body still sitting in chair with 25 cats, some dead, too, and chickens …..even undertakers when summoned had to go outside to be sick.
Thursday, Jan 6th
Hilary and I went by car to see Aunt in new house in Watford. We had a good lunch at the Crown at Amersham, which somewhat compensated Hilary for the boredom of the visit to the old lady, who did not hear anything he said. He looked very grown up in new shoes, corduroy shorts and green tweed jacket.
Friday, Jan 7th
Went to lunch with Marjorie Wilkinson as N. in Oxford. Had a terrific meal and then came back to have Donald Heath to tea. Had become aware of analytical psychology in medical course but found it a shock to his scientific outlook. Did I really think it scientific? Replied he should ask N. Had begun reading Russian novelists as well.
Saturday, Jan 8th
Hilary and Jack Wray to lunch, Timothy arrived about 1.30. She had her hair dyed henna and frizzed. She looked frightful! ”Raddled” is the word! Much talk with Jack about Switzerland….
Sunday, Jan 9th
Some talk of Lynskey Enquiry. “It would not have happened if Attlee had been alive” say wits. Once when Belcher too drunk to appear in House, someone had to read his speech, which began “Things are tight and will get tighter”. Loud laughter.
Teaching not well thought of in Egypt. One man on meeting friend said “Yes, I am in teaching, but do not tell my people. They think I have got a good job playing the piano in a brothel!”
Monday, Jan 10th
Went up to London with Nora and Hilary who are going on to Rita’s. Myself to Swiss Federal Railways to get information about holiday tickets and money, then on to Tate to see David exhibition. Found this rather dull, but the modern English and French pictures on show delightful. Was going to see the Chancery Bequest at Burlington House, but felt so angry at thought of money wasted on buying rubbish and that Tate won’t exhibit them, and to request by Academy that they should be hung has replied, “You want them shown, you show them yourselves!”
Then to Le Diable au corps, a French film about the love of a schoolboy for a woman older than himself, well done, a small but haunting piece of work, (taking place) in the autumn of 1918, self 18 then.
Tuesday, Jan 11th
Spent most of day at school preparing for beginning of term. Very sorry on Monday to hear of sudden death of Tommy Handley and so the end of ITMA, which has cheered and amused us ever since the dark days of 1939 and 1940. “It’s That Man Again” taken from a phrase in headline on the occasion of (one of) Hitler’s speeches.
The Jewish air force, supplied from Communist Czechoslovakia, has shot down six RAF fighters over the Sinai desert on reconnaissance from Canal Zone. The Jewish government cannot control extremists and appears to be double crossing U.N.O. commissioner. F.O. believes that the Arabs are in danger of collapse and anything may happen in the vacuum created. Anarchy and disorder in Middle East an opportunity for Russians. They are being tough. Others see recognition of Israel and full co-operation with U.S.A. as only long term policy and condemn Bevin’s policy as likely to prolong unrest and uncertainty. Trouble is American policy so weak and vacillating.
Wednesday, Jan 12th
School began. It threatened to snow. Weather fine and cold. Started a great campaign to improve dinner organisation and service. Went over to M.
Thursday, Jan 13th
A moving tribute to Tommy Handley at the time of the normal ITMA programme, 8.30 pm, ending with the toasting of the memory of ITMA and the playing of the well-known signature tune. So many people have listened on and off to since 1939 – now in a few hours it has gone – “Such things as dreams are made of”.
Friday, Jan 14th
Hilary and I went down to Labour Office to get passports, a reform by Ernie Bevin and much simpler. Had letter asking if we could take German teacher on an educational reconstruction course for a few days in February.
Saturday, Jan 15th
Went to see Spring in Park Lane, a very popular film, nice dresses, good sets, good looking young man, but was sitting alone and young woman next to me found it so exciting that she began making advances, rubbing her leg against mine and nudging me with her foot and elbow. I think she mistook my age – very awkward, very awkward. Really a headmaster in Henley-on-Thames should be safe.
Sunday, Jan 16th
Ate our chicken. It was very good. Had a bottle of white Bordeaux. Hilary and I split logs of cedar, enough to last a good many weeks I hope.
Monday, Jan 17th
Hilary went back to Long Dene. George Dunn came in to supper. Now a detective constable at Scotland Yard. Talked about famous inspectors and their methods and peculiarities, also of the pub opposite Scotland Yard where they gather for a drink to meet reporters etc. He had been in the pub when the public hangman was present!
Bought a grand piano for the school for £30.
Wednesday, Jan 19th
Went to Whitchurch with M. Walked over to see the sheepcote we saw men building 10 days ago. The shepherd was a very nice man. He had followed his craft for 30 years and knew his family had been for 300. He had three ewes and lambs out in the big enclosure, but, after the flock had been let out to feed, he took us into his maternity home and showed us the newly born lambs with the mothers in separate pens. Most were only a few hours old and one old ewe was just in the process of giving birth. He took a lamb up for us to handle. I gave it to Mary to feel the weight, which was less than we expected. The wool was short and curling like a 'Persian lamb' coat. They were Hampshire Downs and the lambs from grey to blackish. His caravan was smoking away. He said he would be busy for six weeks, getting up every hour throughout the night. He never had half days or weekends, but would not be happy at anything else.
After tea read a book about a Victorian girl who married a captain and became a member of the ship’s crew, and herself became captain when he died and did the China run [The China Run by Niel Patterson].
Reading about drug found to foster growth in normal cells and retard it in malignant cells. The Germans who were researching this promising line of possible treatment were killed in air raids on Dusseldorf – a comment on our state of civilization.
Looking at Toynbee lectures called Civilization on Trial, thrilling in their sweep and range and the detachment of their point of view.
Friday, Jan 21st
Went over to Reading for night….. Came back on 2.40 bus. In evening went to see Anna Karenina with Nora, which was good. Ralph Richardson and Vivian Leigh excellent. Wish I were a reader of Great Novels, but I am not, though reading a small one, The Jacaranda Tree, by H.E. Bates, about the retreat to northern Burma.
Sunday, Jan 24th
Found field mice had got into a (bee)hive by front door, gone up two stairs and made a nest in the roof space by getting up through the feed hole, where they had brought up a family. I took the roof off and examined the nest, which was about the size of a cabbage lettuce. They beat a retreat to ground floor and when I lifted up the boxes they made off. The bees were dead from starvation. Hope I shall not lose any more.
Monday, Jan 24th
Anniversary of our walk on the Streatley Downs nine years ago on a cold windy day in January 1940. There had been a snowfall the week before and it still lay in the hollows and sheltered ditches. The wind whipped our faces and made our noses run. We walked down Lowbury to the railway bridge. As we returned we stood under the lee of a haystack just below the beacon and I took Mary in my arms. We went town to the car very happily, Mary rather bewildered and I rather relieved that she had not rebuffed me.
Tuesday, Jan 25th
A full day teaching, House Committee in the afternoon, and parents of a thief who should really be at boarding school. The House Committee, or rather Sir Cyril Ashford, more than usually frustrating, and a long discussion about administrative quibbles which got us nowhere. The chairman of the House Committee, one of the better governors, having died, am threatened with the ex H.M. Canon – a reverend pachyderm !
Thursday, Jan 27th
Mary’s birthday. Gave her some polyanthus and a box of violets
Friday, Jan 28th
Went down to Roel Hill. Had a large bundle of assorted fish insecurely and soggily wrapped in brown paper. When I got up to collect my things at Northleach, I found that a piece of cod had got into a gentleman’s hat. However, all was well and gentleman got out after me. Deposited at the Puesdown Turnpike. I made my way clutching the fish along the pine wood that borders the road, the constellations hung in the black sky, and the intense cold worked its way up my the legs and my trousers and under my duffle coat. In about 10 minutes Molly arrived.
Saturday, Jan 29th
Went down to Winchcombe in the morning and had coffee after buying mousetraps at the EVW with Pedro, who will not go into town in his working clothes….. Ruth in an endeavour to bring Pedro into the conversation said that the vet had to go into a hospital for an operation, to which he replied, “He has had too many women”. Has a rather one-track mind. On each Saturday he goes into Gloucester and gets drunk on whisky and comes back on the last bus, if there is anyone to put him on it, if not by taxi. He is 25.
Sunday, Jan 30th
The centenary of King Charles’ execution in 1649 and many articles about it in the papers. Went for a walk round the farm in the morning. The sun was shining and it was very pleasant – the chaffinches in flocks in the hedgerows and the catkins out.
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