1947 July

1947 Nothing but insults from Russians. Workers better off. Begger's Opera. Future as a beer bung maker? Observer 3d.

^{Monday, July 7th}

^{The Russians first of all announced their arguments to the world, refused to agree to the Franco-British proposals and then walked out after threatening the Western Powers.}

1947 May-June

May - June. Dartington. Europe dying while politicians squabble. Plight of intelligentsia. Export rejects. German POW. Marshall's plan. Earthly pleasures.

Thursday, May 1^st

Tuesday was the day Hilary left for his first term at Dartington. Nora took him up to Paddington and he went off in a very crowded coach with a school party. He just missed seeing his cousin Myles, who stayed here last night with his mother on his way back to school. Myles though six months younger than Hilary is somewhat taller. He is, said Molly, a well brought up boy. Implication in her view Hilary could not be so described.

              Most of the holiday Hilary slept in an American army bivouac tent till it was blown down, when he dragged it wet and covered with grass into the sitting room.

              The Moscow Conference has broken down in total failure. Possibly the Russians, believing that soon the U.S.A. must collapse in economic slump and anarchy, are just following these obstructive delaying tactics of set purpose. It is difficult to know. They were offered four-party pact against Germany and a revised treaty with G.B., but in each case they used the offer to add other impossible demands and conditions, so that both projects collapsed. It looks as if we shall, or can, wait no longer. As Marshall says, while the doctors squabble, the patient, Europe, is dying, and we shall go ahead with the organization of a western Germany in co-operation with those who will co-operate.

Letter from Hilary at Dartington, dated April 30th, 1947 (spelling and grammar as written)

Dear mummy and daddy,

I hope you are well. I had quite a good journey down. We got here about four o'clock. Thank you for the letter card. I did not get to no any body on the train. But I have got quite a few friends now. I have discovered that you only go up 

into the middle school if your work is good. We had a french lesson this morning. We have been playing cricket. I did not wake up in the morning and wonder where I was. We are not allowed to go out by our selves until we are in the middle school. I enjoyed the pic-nic dinner. I have made up my mind to work hard and get into the middle school as quickly as I can. We did not stop at westbury so it is a good thing we did not go to westbury. Getting up and going to bed are quite different from long-dene. We get up at half past 7 and go  to bed at 8.00. But people who are over ten can read to half past. My cubicle is very nice. With my bed and table with draw, wardrobe with draws and a radiator. I was lovely to see the sea! We went up to the senior school to day. mrs grant is very nice, every body calls her mary.

With love

HILARY
P.S. Please send me some stamps. 

             

Saturday, May 10^th

              Last Sunday Hilary wrote saying he felt rather homesick and tired; everything was so different from Long Dene. He asked for his tent, so I sent it by rail. Yesterday had a more cheerful letter. He had been swimming and fishing for trout in the Dart, but they had only caught small ones. They also seem to have been playing a lot of cricket.

              Saw a good film, Odd Man Out; the first time I had been to the cinema for six months.

Monday, May 19^th

Having supper by the river with Mary, got stung by a horsefly (I think), felt an itching, so scratched and got some staphylococci (I think) in it, first a boil which by Thursday had developed into a disgustingly painful carbuncle discharging blood and pus. Went to doctor on Thursday as swelling spreading to rest of leg, but to-day inflammation more local.

              Fortunately bees did not decide to swarm when in this condition, but had meeting at Town Hall on development plan for schools on Wednesday night and this week have interview with maths men on Tuesday, sports on Wednesday and I had hoped to go down to Worthing on Thursday. Town Hall meeting had to compete with concert at the Congregational Church, so only got about 40 people.

              Ginger Lane came at weekend, but I was too lame to do anything by limp on terrace. Told me Keeper of Ceramics Dept (at Victoria & Albert Museum), Mr Honey, had started life as boy sorter in the Post Office, been moved to museum and worked his way up from bottom. Now second greatest authority on Chinese pottery.

              Hilary says he goes quite regularly to lessons and we have not had a letter for some time, which is a good sign.

              Ginger Lane, Like Margaret Burton, very bitter about plight of intelligentsia, forced to spend time on routine work of domestic service, while sections of the population devote themselves to dogs and pools, and unskilled labour demands wages that the middle class, impoverished and harassed, cannot possibly pay. Nora says she is beginning to think “the common man” is becoming a bit too common.

              Interesting to see Ginger Lane washing up, however, as an expert he handles the most utility of mugs as if it were Ming. He had been to the Potteries; apparently the hunger for coloured pottery is so great that the theft of pottery for export rivals doing wrong to girls as the most popular activity of the natives.

Sunday, June 1^st

Sports Day was on May 21^st, a lovely day, fine but not too hot, and several records broken. My leg was still very sore with a great black scab on, but got on fairly well. Had intended to go down to Worthing on Thursday, night, but finally went on Friday and arrived about 3.30. Stayed at the Grosvenor Hotel on sea front. Hotel not very full. Paid 1 guinea a day each and food not over much either for that. Worthing full of day visitors in cars, but not at all smart; hardly saw a fashionably dressed woman on the front all the time we were there. Air beautifully fresh and cool off the sea even at the hottest part of the day. A band in the evening in an enclosure which played third rate music, but only charged 6d for a deck chair and music. Went out on the Downs twice, to Chanctonbury Ring and behind Wittering.

Wednesday, June 4^th

Up the valley there is a German POW camp and to-day had a letter from the interpreter asking if some of the men could practice running on the sports track. Plint, the chairman of the House Committee, agreed, so to-night I went up to the camp. The interpreter turned out to be a charming young man from Rostock who had learnt English at a grammar school there. He explained that a few men wanted to run, but they could not run on the roads because they did not have any gym shoes. He was wearing wooden pattens, I noticed. When I left I shook hands with a German for the first time since Frau Paterna came here in 1938.

The last week we have had a heat wave with very high temperatures at night, but to-day it broke with wind and cloud and much cooler.

Sunday, June 8^th

On June 5^th Mr Marshall, Sec. of State, made a speech in which he suggested that the U.S.A. would underwrite a plan of reconstruction for Europe if the European nations would combine to work out one for themselves. He was against assistance on a piecemeal basis as a crisis developed here and there. I hope this opportunity can be taken and that this initiative will put an end to the controversies about federating European democracies as a balance to the power of the U.S.A.

Newspaper headline: “Travel comfort – More room to stand in new railway coaches”.

This week the Indian plan of the new viceroy, Mountbatten, and the Indian leaders announced. Partition into Pakistan and Hindustan to take place immediately and both to have dominion status. The Punjab and Bengal to be divided on the basis of population figures, subject to rectification later.

Thursday, June 12^th

Sciatica seems to be gaining ground on me and am very depressed that I have a return of it at the height of summer. What chance do I stand in the winter. Went up on the Downs yesterday afternoon with Mary and got to Lowbury Camp where we lay among the long grasses in the sun and wind and heard the peewits calling as they wheeled and tumbled over the ploughed land. Perhaps summer has already passed its peak. The pollen has been blown from the grass ears, the nightingale and the cuckoo are not heard as they were. The hay is being cut and the leaves are turning to a darker green.

              From Europe the news is not good at all. The Hungarian communists with the support of the Russians, who have shortly to withdraw their troops under the new treaty, have overthrown the coalition government, which has been in power since the election, by a coup d’etat. The premier, a member of the Peasant Party, has escaped. We have asked Mr Molotov for an explanation, but he has refused one and accused us of interference. The usual tactics, denial and counter charge, as in Persia, as in Germany, as in Bulgaria, etc, etc. The police state in action. We cannot go on like this indefinitely. There is talk of bringing the issue to the U.N.O. If so it will end it and we should be better off with the Russians out than in as far as I can see. At present we are wasting time and getting nowhere at all.

    J.B. Priestley is giving a series of short chats. Took as his topic this week 7d Teas, these teas and all the good things you could get in farmhouses before 1914 for 7d. I have had some of them, or even 6d teas, or eat as much as you could for 1/-. Prices now rising all the time. Went to see the matron of the nursing home on Monday for hernia operation, only to find that since last year the charges have gone up and three weeks in bed will cost me 39 guineas and then the surgeon’s fee in addition. What a way to spend your savings!

Saturday, June 14^th

              “The advent of death is like the coming of a great wind: no man knows whence it is or where it goes. Its visitation is often without reason and its action without intent the understanding may perceive. One thing alone it shews. By his death a man sets a seal upon his life and in the manner of his dying is revealed the strength of his spirit. For the spirit of man is formed in the secret places of his will and shaped by the private utterances of his desires. He himself knows not its ways or perceives the manner of its growth and in life few achieve the full expression of the spirit, compassed about as we are by the world and its implications. But if the spirit is set upon high things then in death it will be without fear, not as the foolish who know not solemnity, but with true courage, dignity and consideration.”

        Officer of Fleet Air Arm, killed July 7th, 1942

^{Sunday, June 15th}

              ^{Nora came back from a visit to Hilary at Dartington. She went by road and did the journey in about six hours, which was good going. Hilary seems to like his new school, but he is very critical of it and compares it with Long Dene. He is obviously finding the junior school work too easy and should be moved to the middle school as soon as possible.}

              ^{Nora bought me a very nice early 19th century chair, most comfortable with sensible back and arms.}         

^{Monday, June 16th}

^{We and the French are to hold talks on the plan of Mr Marshall to help Europe if Europe will put forward a scheme of economic rebuilding. The French have asked the Russians if they would like to exchange views on the subject.}

              ^{Stayed in the house all day with a second carbuncle on my leg – very painful and could hardly put my trousers on.}

    

 ^{Wednesday, June 18th}

^{Still indoors with carbuncle but must get to school to-morrow as staff away. Nora complaining about fruit. Gooseberries 3/6 a pound, then controlled to 9½ d, whereupon they all disappear as if by magic. Either you get fantastic prices, or controlled prices without the goods. You can take your choice. Both thinking of being vegetarians in the next ration period. More cheese and fats in exchange for no meat or bacon. N thinks that meat will be so bad in winter that it would be worth trying. We are raising a dozen cockerels at present.}

              ^{St Augustine’s catalogue of earthly pleasures: The comeliness of the body, the fair harmony of time, the brightness of light, sweet melodies of every kind, perfumes of flowers, ointments and spices, manna and honey, the delectableness of lovely limbs.}

    ^{Another version of the Chinese saying a wife should be the three Cs, a good cook, a good companion and a good concubine. A French woman in a dance, a Dutch woman in the kitchen, an Italian in a window, an English woman at board, a Spaniard in bed.}

^{Saturday, June 21st}

^{Got so fed up with sciatica on Wednesday that decided to go up to London and consult a specialist again on possibility of trying to tackle this rather than hernia this holidays. Felt that to spend a lot of money then to find one self faced with another winter like last no fun at all and to be avoided if at all possible.}

              ^{Russians have not replied to invitation. Some think better not to have asked them. One M.P. said that when Mr Molotov is put on the spot, he kicks. Another pointed out that Russia has paralysed the U.N.O. by the veto, disregarded the Potsdam agreement, flouted and caused to be flouted all those values for which we fought in the war, but the immense power for evil did not come from her strength, but from the fact that Europe was divided and distracted almost to extinction.}

    ^{Speaking of Hungary, Mr Bevin said that opinions ought not to be called conspiracy. He had at that rate been engaged in conspiracy all his life.}

^{Sunday, June 22nd}

^{France is reported to have given a promise that she will act without Russia if necessary at this turning point in Europe’s history – the choice between new economic life and slow decay and death….. Very characteristic that the controlled Russian press had nothing to say about the Marshall offer as they had not been told what the official line was. Cannot say I am optimistic if the Russians do decide to come in. Nor of what effect this would have on U.S. opinion, where the plan is in some quarters supported because Russia is believed to be deliberately creating chaos in order to spread Communism in Europe…… The Central Development Authority could become the Federal Government of Europe. Some kind of economic integration must be brought about to cut across the old lines of national sovereignty, which are completely out of date and belong, as (H. G.)Wells always used to say, to the days of the horse and stage coach.}

              ^{But can we do it? The time is very short indeed and the opportunity fleeting. We are living at a moment like that of a battle when a decision must be reached quickly or the campaign will go down to defeat. This is the only certainty. I wish it was not, but the record of Russia since 1945 is bad and she controls Europe east of the Elbe-Adriatic line. Either full co-operation, or co-operation with those states who will work together in the West.}

              ^{Bees rather a menace and quite a number of children have been stung. Shall have to do something to make them fly up next year. Query, wire netting. Nora stung to-day and face very swollen.}

^{Monday, June 23rd.}

^{The Russians are coming to Paris on Friday. Hope this is a good thing…..}

^{Tuesday, June 24th}

^{Took day off and went to see Dr Stone in Wimpole Street. He advised to go to Droitwich rather than have the hernia operation…. Had lunch at Debenham & Freebody, no queue and much more pleasant that at Fortnum & Mason; had roast beef, new potatoes and peas, strawberry sundae and tea, over 6/-. Had hair cut and went off to see exhibition at British Museum … the best of their collection combed out and these exhibited in the one long Edward VII Gallery…. Then to (Lyons) Corner House at Tottenham Court Road where had excellent tea with strawberry flan and ice cream.}

^{Sunday, June 29th}

^{Molly down for weekend. Worked hard with bees and got well stung, but made three new colonies. Have booked hotel in Droitwich at 6 guineas for three weeks and hope this will be more pleasant than guest house with colonels in 1942.}

^{The Paris conference has started. Its sessions are secret, but it is believed the Russians are saying they must know more about the U.S. offer…. To succeed we need a complete change of Russian policy and don’t think we are likely to get it.}

1947 April

April. Timber shortage. Clothing coupons Irish style. Cousin Stephen Atkins with Burma report. Living dead Chairman of the governors. Miss Hunter back from Paris.

Tuesday, April 1^st

Noticed the first dandelion and celandine

1947 March

March. Thaw at last! Anglo-French alliance signed at Dunkirk. Fitting riding breeches. Henley, Wargrave flooded. School cedar blown down. Miss Hunter to Paris. Weiss family. Cultural import problem.

Sunday, March 2nd

Noticed to-day that the snowdrops in the Chestnut Walk are only just in bud, while in 1940, as I well remember, they were almost over by March 1^st. The nights are frosty, but the day temperatures are higher, so the snow is gradually disappearing - to reveal in some parts the ice underneath.

1947 February

February. Coldest winter; power cuts. Civilization cracking up. Worse than wartime. Potato shortage.

Saturday, Feb 1^st

A week of severe frost and snow here, in other parts heavy falls and drifts. Hilary wrote and said he had been learning to ski, but they were fed up with the cold.

1947 January

January. Shall we see 1930 standards again?  Deadman's dummy. Coal shortage, strikes. Doctor arrested. Canon Crosse. Professional woman's day.  Whalemeat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Saturday, Jan 4^th

Molly came down to stay. Unfortunately we already had a women called Judith staying in the house finishing a portrait of Hilary – a rather odd and peculiar women whom I do not like. Yesterday had a visitor, the new assistant director, going round trying to infuse some hope and enthusiasm into the headmasters after so many years of neglect! Quite a nice chap – gave him a 1 lb jar of honey. Molly still on the lookout for a farm, but cousin Geoffrey Wilson at [?Altarnum, Cornwall] cannot get a tap or a sink put in house as no permit.

              Hilary taken to Maskelyn’s Magic in London, but trains disorganized by coal shortage and late getting home. Extensive train cuts announced this week because of it. Beginning to wonder whether we will ever recover to 1930 standards of living – 1914 we shall never see!

Monday, Jan 6^th

Portrait of Hilary finished, good but flat. The artist then fortunately went back to London, as when not painting she sat right over the fire and kept it off everyone else, so I called her Asbestos Jane.

              Heath came up and told me of funeral superstitions in Henley – his grandfather died last week. The family mourners would not start as there were 9, an odd number, so one was the “deadman’s dummy”. He had to go up to another part of the town and fetch someone else to make 10. When they did start the neighbours rushed up and flung the front door open “to let out the spirit.”

Thursday, Jan 9^th

Got the remainder of the bees carried up to the field with the help of Molly and Donald Heath. A nice warm morning, but colder later. Donald came to tea and we had our usual argument about science, religion and the universe, to which Hilary listened wide-eyed, though what he made of it I don’t know.

              Strike of lorry drivers in London – an unofficial strike - so meat rations short next week.

              Molly thinking to teaching Poles English

Friday, Jan 10^th

Lunch with Mary. Molly left. Nora went up to London with Hilary and saw the much-praised French film, Les enfants du paradis, which she enjoyed very much. A severe white frost at first, then fog, then milder, then rain.

              Molly still looking for a farm in Gloucestershire or West Country. As God did not intend me to be a farmer with this rheumatism, I shall have to extend my bees and chickens (when I can get food again)

              Saw in our local press to-day that one of Henley’s doctors run in for conspiring to commit sodomy at Slough. Rather suspected that he was a homosexual, but think high time law was altered and homosexuals left alone.

Monday, Jan 13^th

Arthritic complaints so subject to the weather. Leg bad yesterday because, I think, of fall in barometer.

              School started to-day, but the painters are still in which makes things difficult. This afternoon old Canon Crosse, the new rector, ex-headmaster of Ardingley, came up to see me. Not an attractive man, rather like a great big blundering bumble bee. His great idea now is to infiltrate into school to teach scripture. Don’t want him at any price, but he is a persistent and insensitive person who will probably be a nuisance anyway. I have no time for the clergy of the Church of England, and have not had since St John’s, Leatherhead, days, of which this chap rather reminds me.

              Nora met Margaret Burton in town. As usual very cynical and disillusioned, still living with her friend in one room; says it does not matter how much you earn you still have to live in one room. Nora stood in a queue for ”damaged apples”. Day of professional woman done, pace Margaret, after earning living professional woman goes home to clean room.

Thursday, Jan 16^th

Warmer weather to-day and glass high. Bees flying in clouds on their new site, but I noticed that a few went back to their old site under the fir trees, particularly one hive, which was odd.              

    The strike of transport workers was called off to-day, but troops have been called in to work, and so men will not be able to start work till Saturday.

     A chap flew in a jet plane to-day from Paris to London in 20 minutes, the time it takes me to drive from Henley to Reading!

Monday, Jan 20^th

Found the first week at school, standing and teaching, very trying to my leg, which does not seem to be getting any better. Cyril Peach came over to tea with the little woman, Miss K. Brett, he is marrying at Easter. Whether he is marrying her for personal reasons or for business reasons I wondered. He is giving up his junior school at Reading, or rather it is giving him up in 1948. Miss Brett has a school for girls aged 5 – 10, so they are going into partnership and will take boys as well.

              Molly and I clipped the wings of a hen we thought roosting out as it rarely came to be fed with the rest, but nothing happened. It did not go in with the rest and disappeared, and we supposed it had died. But yesterday it turned up with four day-old chicks!

              Whale is being sold, though I don’t quite know where, and there is much discussion as to whether it should rightly be sold by butchers or fishmongers and whether you should use fish knives or not. It is supposed to have the texture of strong liver. “Strong “ in what sense?

Saturday, Jan 25^th

On Thursday evening Nora went to Exeter and on Friday she went to see Dartington School. The H.M. (Mr Currie) agreed to take Hilary next term and we shall close with the offer. While Nora away, went to over to M’s, says she loses about six books a week eaten by dogs!

              Had a traveller with an artificial leg to see me. Says he changes his socks once a month instead of weekly. Last saw him before the war, in which he lost the leg by one of our own shells at an A.A. site.

Sunday, Jan 26^th

Light fall of snow and bitter east wind. Did not venture out all day. Some talk in papers of reduction in income tax. Hope so, certainly some kick is needed or we shall never get the production which the government insists is so necessary. People are fed up; they want jam to-day.

              J. L. Garvin died last week. Always remember sitting in the J.C.R. at Keble reading his attacks on the Versailles Treaty. He was then at the height of his power.

              Russians are believed to be in a bad way. There appears to have been a very bad harvest in Ukraine and threat of famine there affecting a larger area than in 1921. The wretchedness of the Russians not due only to after effects of war. The leaders have played their cards with iron faces and fought every inch, but their recent change of front in relation to the democracies arises from their inability to prevent the truth of Russia’s need and exhaustion from coming out. Help is urgently needed from the West and their peoples must be prepared for this.

1946 December

December. Prize Day - Mayor's performance: no school could have a worse chairman. Price of geese. Painful leg. A funny sort of year. Steadily shabbier.

Sunday, Dec 1^st

Damp playing hell with my leg. Today was back to 1942 standard and saw Droitwich looming ahead of me – that miserable little town where I was so unhappy in that August. Copied out speech for prize day.