Olave's diary for 1976 Index
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January 1976
Our grateful thanks to Diane Gosling for the transcription.
Executor for my money when I go
Robert, Mr Raw or
Miss Callaway
Lloyds Bank
Trust Division
83 George Street
Richmond
(Ref Tax /B/35)
Mr R.J.Wickham but Mr Rainey does them from April
Tax address
Inland Revenue sorting centre
[Rushin} Avenue
Kew: Richmond
Sat 1 Jan 1976
[Missing]
Friday 2nd January 1976
Bettie Walker telephoned re Eric[1] in hospital but going to South Africa when well again.
Flat 10
24 Lowndes Street
SW1X 953
Sat 3 Jan 1976
[Page left blank]
Sun 4 Jan 1976
[Page left blank]
Mon 5 Jan 1976
[Page left blank]
Tuesday 6th Jan 1976
Heard from J.M Christie of 2nd Bentley Scout Group (Baby Field, Bentley) that they are building their HQ there are going strong. Sent them money, [?] sent to me from Mr Charles bird who supports scouting well at [possibly something missing at base of page]
Wednesday 7th Jan 1976
Gladys came and took me out for picnic lunch at Pax – a sudden plan. It was so good that the Adams have let it on a 21 year lease to Mr Read – who will run it as a Home for “Retarded Boys” (not delinquents). It will have government money and Read has 2 other schools of that kind in Hampshire. The scouts and guides in the village and are building a hut and raising the money themselves.
Thursday 8th Jan 1976
I gave them £40 – [??] for each of the happy 20 years we had there – the first [?war] gave it to us (Nov 12th 1918) and the second [?war] took it away from us – the government commandeering Pax as we were at [Paxt ?] [possibly something missing at base of page]
[A week missing ! ]
Friday 16th Jan 1976
Maragret and Betsy [?Mountin] to tea always so nice to talk about the good old days od guiding in Scotland. Margaret lived in Glasgow and later moved to London and was Chief of Training Dept and toured Australia.
Saturday 17th Jan 1976
A bad night with the left leg aching for a change and awfully tried all day.
Monday 19th Jan 1976
Helen MCs[ ?] came for tea – going lame and planning to have a new hip put in soon.
Tuesday 20th Jan 1976
Billy Macdonald came for tea and a nice talk about the bible !
Her sons are Andrew (1942) married to Elspeth in 1974 and Nigel (1945) married in 1971 to Betty. Her husband (Trevor) Chartered Accountant on a very big way in overseas capitals.
Thursday 22nd Jan 1976
Betty [Bev] came from London and took me out for a short drive and back for tea. She was going lame and is to have her leg operated on sometime soon.
Friday 23rd Jan 1976
Had photograph of a room in the Scout Museum at east Bridgewater – mass – organised with things about my darling – bought from Eileen Wade by M[?r] Paul which annoyed Guide HQ and Patience very much.
Saturday 24th Jan 1976
Audrey Kingsley Foster came from Hampshire for tea and told me all about the changes since I left – Helen McSwin[?] brought Lyn [?] for tea and to tell me about the success of her tour in South Africa.
Monday 26th Jan 1976
Patience came for tea and to tell me about the new plan they are making to enrol girls into the “Venture Scouts” as they are doing in a lot of other countries – making it all a Joint Movement of both sexes – They have done it in Holland and Sweden and Iceland etc.
Friday 30th Jan 1976
Joan Nevill to tea and brought the fine “tape recording” of the memorial service for “P.B” at Roland House.
February 1976
Sunday 1st Feb 1976
Robert and Patience for tea and played “scrabble” – a good “time passer”
Monday 2nd February 1976
Had the most interesting report from [Inge] Guider in Charge of Our Chalet – leaving after running that lovely place for hundreds of guiders for the last 7 years – now leaving and Isabelle Dufour – Swiss takes over as Guider in Charge soon. Gwen Smith stays on as assistant secretary [Annike] Scholten (Holland) the new chairman.
Tuesday 3rd February 1976
Foggy – but Gladys King came, and we had our picnic lunch by Guildford Cathedral. On coming back I fell down in the stairs – with my leg giving way – No harm done, but a bit shaking !
Wednesday 4th February 1976
A very long wearisome day – not able to write any letters – too weak and feeble !
Thursday 5th February 1976
Wrote to Harry [Tho ?son] to congratulate him on the growth of the SOSSIS (Scouts on stamps Society) of which I am Vice President. They do a lot of exchanging between countries [marking] [th?] Jamboree and Jubilee.
Monday 9th February 1976
Patience for tea. Leg getting worse and walking almost impossible.
Tuesday 10th February 1976
A beautiful sunshining day – but didn’t anything except groan to myself about this trying time of waiting for the longed for end and rejoining my Darling “over there” !
Wednesday 11th February 1976
A weary day – feeling rotten.
Saturday 14th February 1976
Patience for tea and brought her list of people coming to my birthday party – quite a crowd and she plans it all so cleverly.
Monday 16th February 1976
Patience popped in unexpectedly for tea – buying spare scrap book pages.
Tuesday 17th February 1976
Very tiring day – half asleep. Had my hair washed in the morning.
Wednesday 18th February 1976
Jessica Blooman called in unexpectedly bringing orchids from the Guides of Singapore. Read “Grey Mistress” by Joy [Pacher]
Thursday 19th February 1976
Sheila Walker the newly elected Chief Commissioner came to tea – very nice and thrilled with her task.
Friday 20th February 1976
John and Heather, John’s sister Elizabeth [Perreace] and her husband (from Farham) Richard [Dorman], Sir George Sinclair, M.P for Dorking and wife, widow of George [Sawday]. [Auriol], her daughter and [Bernita] Smyth from Australia [etc] – Richard Dorman has left the Irish Guards and taking to making money in the city !
Saturday 21st February 1976
The great Thinking Day weekend – masses of cards and telegrams. Then Dick and June (Hawley) drove me to [Chapel] Farm for a wonderful lunch party – beautifully planned for friends and relations (see opposite)
Wednesday 23rd February 1976
Heard from the new Chief Commissioner for South Africa [Mrs] Medea Hussey, who I had met at conferences in Denmark and Japan and Cape Town. They have moved the Guide HQ from Cape Town to P.O Box 3463, Pretoria and have divided up into more regions.
Tuesday 24th February 1976
Bet called in to say goodbye as she had stayed with Ruth Tuckwell (ex-treasurer of the World Association) who lives in Godalming. I felt awfully tired but wrote some letters to USA.
[Five days missing ! ]
March 1976
Monday 1st March 1976
Muriel [Monica] Williams came with [Mrs] Bracekamp for tea. She drives Muriel about as she – Muriel never learnt to drive and sold their car when [Clare] died a few months ago but stays on in their nice little house near Shere.
Tuesday 2nd March 1976
no entry
Wednesday 3rd March 1976
Betty Baily came from Hampers for tea bringing Peggy Raven-Hill too. I like to keep in touch with those friends I had around me there for such years. Now many have left for same reason as mine – not getting “house helpers”
Thursday 4th March 1976
no entry
Friday 5th March 1976
Gladys King came bringing a picnic lunch and we went up to Winterfold as usual as the view from there is so lovely.
Saturday 6th March 1976
No entry
Sunday 7th March 1976
Robert Came for tea = very busy making their garden nice at Chapel Farm. Has had his [bike] (query more text lower on page)
Monday 8th March 1976
No entry
Tuesday 9th March 1976
No entry
Wednesday 10th March 1976
Patience popped in unexpectedly and helped complete the pages of my scrap book.
Thursday 11th March 1976
Betty Bev came and took me out for a wee drive – with Miss Barber ex-Guide HQ staff now does Trefoil Guild and back for tea.
Friday 12th March 1976
Felt really ill with tiredness and left leg now hurting a bit when I trying to walk – and can hardly move from my chair. A very depressing day.
Saturday 13th March 1976
Jessica and Charlie Blooman for tea – on their return from holiday trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Sunday 14th March 1976
Dear Robert called in – busy doing their garden.
Monday 15th March 1976
Celia [Allrecht] to tea – formerly C.C (County Commissioner) for Surrey before it was divided up.
Tuesday 16th March 1976
Rosalie Hacon for tea – formerly trainer in India in the early days – and Guider in Devon. Great excitement [Mr] Wilson resigning suddenly from being Prime Minster.
Wednesday 17th March 1976
A very bad day with left leg now almost useless and even hurting a bit. Sat and slept all the afternoon and couldn’t make myself walk or write – but read the paper all about Wilson and Princess Margaret ! marriage [….. ] unhappily. I (query more text lower on page)
Thursday 18th March 1976
Felt really ill with my left leg going wrong to add to the bother of the useless right one – so just cannot walk at all steadily without my stick.
Friday 19th March 1976
Joan Neville came for tea and talk about how P.B has left his money to her and lots to the scouts too.
Saturday 20th March 1976
A bad day – just sitting and sleeping a bit and awfully tired – so unlike myself.
Sunday 21st March 1976
Pat Richards came for tea – such a good old friend and lots of nice memories to talk about – having […………] 1913 - (query more text lower on page)
Monday 22nd March 1976
(think this might be a follow on from previous day)
I chose her to go to India in 1921 - and she did wonders there – and again in Transvaal and came to look after me at Hampers during my last lap there. Patience popped in for small moment – doing so much – and so well !
Tuesday 23rd March 1976
A dreadfully long wearisome day – with legs almost painful and unusable !
Wednesday 24th March 1976
The Telegraph photographer came and took pictures of me (in uniform) signing the millionth copy of the Brownie Handbook. I did the millionth copy of the Guide handbook two years ago.
Patience came and brought nice Mrs [Stokinge] her local Guider and two sweet Brownies to give the photographer a propaganda value [………] on Tuesday (query more text lower on page)
Thursday 25th 1st March 1976
Felt awfully tried all day and could not even write my letters – though there several to do. Poor Monica Boatwright had her husband (an ex bishop of Swaziland ) killed in a car accident.
Friday 26th March 1976
Another tedious day – but some nice letters from Katherine Drake (USA) and Bet.
Saturday 27th March 1976
No entry
Sunday 28th March 1976
Patience came over for tea – so [angelic] of her to leave Robert doing the garden
Monday 29th March 1976
Great [fussation] of Princess Magaret having a “legal separation” from Lord Snowdon instead of a divorce. I was at her wedding which was a great mistake – a sorry business which she would do.
Tuesday 30th March 1976
Dressed in World uniform for the first time this year for the Daily Telegraph photographer (see other page – 24th)
Wednesday 31st March 1976
[Dr] Howard Jarred called unexpectedly – and I moaned to him about my afflictions.
Thursday 1st April 1976
Watched the beautiful funeral of “Monty” with full military honours at Windsor – awfully impressive and then his body was buried at Binstead – near [Bentley] – as he lived at the [this/his] House for the last few years – about a mile Pax and where my Darling used to go fishing.
April 1976
Thu 1st April 1976
Watched the beautiful funeral of “Monty” with full military honours at Windsor – awfully impressive and then his body was buried at Binstead – near [Bentley] – as he lived at the [this/his] House for the last few years – about a mile Pax and where my Darling used to go fishing.
Fri 2nd April 1976
A rather miserable day – with my left leg now getting weak & making it impossible to walk about - & standing too – clutching my stick, sinking into my armchair.
Sat 3rd April 1976
Robert called in briefly – Patience having gone to the T.O.F.S (Troops on Foreign Soil) The American Girl Scouts Organisation for the children stationed in Germany - that I went to once for a few days, years ago – near Munich for their Leaders’ Conference.
Sun 4th April 1976
(Page not there)
Mon 5th April 1976
Page left blank
Tue 6th April 1976
Ann Parker-Bowles & Annie Lou Lang to tea – both of them reduced to the ranks - & no longer at the top as Chief Commissioner & Deputy. Annie Lou has become C.C for Berkshire.
Wed 7th April 1976
Miss Gale (Chiropodist) came & did my feet.
Olive & Leslie [Sell] – called in unexpectedly when I was still in bed. He was born on Mafeking day & [mad him] Scout & has attended several Jamborees and organised Bedfordshire very well. He has a huge building business all over the country.
Thu 8th April 1976
Felt quite ill, had a bath,& then sat with eyes shut – could not even read the paper – which anyhow is always very depressing these days.
Callaghan was elected Prime Minister replacing the dreadful [immoral] Wilson.
Fri 9th April 1976
Very wobbly on both legs.
Wrote a letter to Inge Luke who has been Guider in Charge at “Our Chalet” for 8 years – a fine Dane - leaving to go back to teaching for which she trained.
And sent Heather £100 to repay her for the trees that I gave her last year which all died !
Sat 10th April 1976
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Sun 11th April 1976
Page left blank
Mon 12th April 1976
(Not there)
Tue 13th April 1976
(Not there)
Wed 14th April 1976
Gladys King came & took me out for a nice picnic lunch at Winterfold. Had planned to bring Edna [Rellton] from Sydney – but she forgot & went to see the tulips in Lincolnshire.
Thu 15th April 1976
Anstice Gibbs came for tea & talk about Guide World – she was on the World Committee for 9 years - & has been great worker for G.B. & the [Guide] [clu] practically all her life from her schooldays.
Fri 16th April 1976
Bet & Robin’s birthday
Dorothea [Ellingson] to tea – having been to South Africa after having a new hip joint put in last month – now walking well & no pain at all – wonderful operation being done quite a lot.
Helen [McSwinney] having [hers] done this week.
Sat 17th April 1976
Robert fetched me over to lunch at Chapel farm.
They are making it so nice - & improving the garden. Sat out & had tea.
Sun 18th April 1976
Page left blank
Mon 19th April 1976
Page left blank
Tue 20th April 1976
Billy Macdonald came bringing Trevor & picnicked at Winterfold on a beautiful summer day.
Wed 21st April 1976
Called on Kate [Dumpree] – both of us very depressed at the state of the world – wars, riots, strikes, murders, thieving and changes of government and nobody is safe – leading men being kidnapped & left in prison for months.
Thu 22nd April 1976
Page left blank
Fri 23rd April 1976
Josephine Pollock & Mary Connor (her daughter & my goddaughter to tea
Sat 24th April 1976
Page left blank
Sun 25th April 1976
Page left blank
Mon 26th April 1976
Muriel Monica – Williams came with [Mrs] [Truda] [Backna] (her tame [chauffuse who lives at [Albay] – to tea.
Tue 27th April 1976
Left leg hurting a bit & giving out for walking – which is horrid & handicapping.
Wed 28th April 1976
Joan Nevill came (with Wendy) to tea
Thu 29th April 1976
Margaret & Betsy [Martin] to tea
Both legs very bad & could hardly stagger along to the loo - & everything a great effort.
Fri 30th April 1976
Margaret Curtis- [Ather] (New South Wales) to tea. She was the commissioner who invented the “Ice Cream” Fund for me to receive in Australia – 3 years running & I used it (1) For books in Spanish for S.America (2) Doors for places I had “opened”) 3 “Windows” [have] a door in Pakistan, Jamacia, [Kenya , ? ] (N.Wales)
May 1976
Sat 1st May 1976
Robert called in – such a lovely surprise – when feeling very down
Dr Howard [Jared] came & gave me “the once over “.
Sun 2nd May 1976
And today that darling Patience did the same surprise, bringing (cannot see rest of the text)
Mon 3rd May 1976
Max & Edith [Siller] (from Nashua. Hampshire) for tea & gave me as usual an awfully nice [chuch] of English money notes (£34).
Ma[x/d] keen scouter & good friend at most of the Jamborees.
Tue 4th May 1976
Page left blank
Wed 5th May 1976
(Page not there)
Thu 6th May 1976
(Page not there)
Fri 7th May 1976
Blood test from Guildford shows that the diabetes is worsening. The Dr ordered more insulin to be injected – 20 units
Sat 8th May 1976
Felt really ill all day & sat & slept in my chair nearly all day. (? If this Sat or Sun entry)
Sun 9th May 1976
Robert & Patience called after tea – the darlings are so good in (can’t see rest of entry)
Mon 10th May 1976
Higher dose of insulin making me feel ill !
Tue 11th May 1976
Mrs [Turnbull], former “Chief for New Zealand was to come – but slight accident in her car & didn’t turn up
Wed 12th May 1976
2Monty”, was buried lately – back by Farnham Pond – a glorious drive through our beautiful Surrey - & all a surprise treat & enjoyed it all - & patience planned it all so sweetly.
Thu 13th May 1976
Patience came & took me to [Donner}, the dentist at West Byfleet – Luckily, nothing to be done – since I went last 3 years ago from Hampers. Patience planned tea picnic on the Hogs back, & then as a surprise went on to Bentley to look at the newly built Scout- Guide Hut in front of the old school. Then up to the church [of memories & then on (can’t see rest of entry)
Fri 14th May 1976
(Page not there)
Sat 15th May 1976
(Page not there)
Sun 16th May 1976
(Page not there)
Mon 17th May 1976
[Bruggsie] called in on her way to the Carpenter “99th” birthday.
Beryl [Cozens-Hardy] called in by chance too – ex-World Committee Chairman & now Regional 2Chief” for “Anglia” Region.
Tue 18th May 1976
Rita [Bartlett & husband – ardent Guider from Perth (W.Australia) for tea & gave me diamond Guide Badge & £ 61 – celebratory [day] 61 years of Guiding – Met her there in 1931 - & other times too. They own a hotel & are on tour for (can’t see rest of entry on this page)
in Cork – which they plan one day to modernise for their son (a priest) to live in.
C/O Thos Cook
45 Berkley Street
Piccadilly
(this was on next date but appears to be a carry on from previous page)
Wed 19th May 1976
(See above)
Thu 20th May 1976
Mrs Hutson (23 Merrow Court, Merrow Chase, Guildford – 67167) to tea – assist Secretary to Pam [Maslin] of the Surrey Branch of the E.Q.W.L – Had been railways in Kenya in my day – then Sudan. Has children & offered to take me out for a drive any time [fund] & friendly.
Fri 21st May 1976
Sister took blood test for hospital & they find I have too much sugar & increase the insulin injection. Makes me feel awfully tired (I sit half asleep in my chair all day – feeling quite ill.
Sat 22nd May 1976
Felt dreadful all day – and telephoned to get Miss Clare (Chiropodist) to come to deal with my left toe – which has a lump under the nail which hurts & needs dealing with.
Sun 23rd May 1976
Dear Patience popped in - after doing a Conference of Scouts at Gilwell.
Mon 24th May 1976
Felt quite ill all day – from the extra insulin injections & half asleep & unable to think or read – but just managed to write 2 letters – Edith Lynn & Katherine [Make] in U.S.A – both such dear friends - [ ?] stayed with Edith at Knoxville several times & she came [ ? ] to our [?]
Tue 25th May 1976
Heather & John came to tea – having had lunch with John’s sister Elizabeth at Farnham. One eye of Heather’s has recovered, but the second one has gone completely wrong – so cruel and horrible for her.
Wed 26th May 1976
Page left blank
Thu 27th May 1976
That dear kind Billy had meant to bring a picnic – but I wasn’t well enough, we ate lunch together in my room. She is such a good friend & I am devoted to her.
Fri 28th May 1976
Page left blank
Sat 29th May 1976
Jessica & Charlie Blooman for tea.
Sun 30th May 1976
Page left blank
Mon 31st May 1976
Dera Robert came & brought Sally Betty (his mother- in- law) just arrived from Rhodesia – Patience having gone to the Youth Conference at Tel Aviv – where they had some bombs last week.
June 1976
Transcribed by Diane
(I think this all takes place where she was staying near Chapel Farm/Shere)
Tue 01 June 1976
Felt awfully tired & could do nothing but sit with eyes shut all day.
Excepting that Juliet [Pannett] (who paints good portraits and “did” me years ago) came to tea on her way to Chapel Farm & to paint Heather this week.
Wed 02 June 1976
Dear Anne {Denistoun-Sword] came for tea, bringing along Marianne [Schnetzer], from Chicago – on her way to Switzerland. For years she has nursed babies in USA & nun [as] International group of Girl Scout leaders = who have given funds to help guides on the [never] developing countries
Thu 03 June 1976
No entry
Fri 04 June 1976
Income Tax form came & said I had dividends amounting to £1377 – but a total of £4272 – coming in in bits from a number of investments.
British American Tobacco, British Leyland Cars, Tate & Lyle, Whitbread, London & [Provinces] Trust, [J.C.J] etc & pension (£392 - £8.15 per week).
(more below but can not see it)
Sat 05 June 1976
Juliet {Pannet] called in to show me the portrait that she did of Heather, with her “dachs” yesterday – my birthday present to Heather.
[Nin] & John Hardiman (daughter of Oliver Smyth) & daughters called in – Christine (22 in Australia) Prudence (19) Annabelle (18) – saw them when they were little in Melbourne when I saw them there at Xmas time 1958 when staying with Oliver. (written over Sunday space)
Sun 06 June 1976
No entry
Mon 07 June 1976
A long day , wrote two letters – one to Bucks Guide Com (Mrs Kitchener) who wrote & told me of how her Guides had helped the Guides at the [Kami] Leper Village that I told them about when I went on a [furunial] tour of Bucks about 5 years ago (Uganda)
Tue 08 June 1976
Sat in the sun on the roof garden for lunch – a beautiful summers day – country suffering from no rain for weeks & quite a serious shortage of water – very bad for the farmers crops already sown.
Wed 09 June 1976
Felt awfully seedy - & sat doing nothing all day – but [Anstice] Gibbs to tea. She has done guides all her life & was HQ Chairman for a time & attended several World Conferences.
Thu 10 June 1976
Ditto - & leg getting weaker – so use my zimmer even for walking to the “loo” !
Fri 11 June 1976
A nasty turn for the worst in the right leg – up till now it has been feeble – but not painful – Now it suddenly turned painful when moving.
Sat 12 June 1976
This right leg quite painful – could not walk at all without the zimmer.
Sun 13 June 1976
Robert called in after tea – such a comfort. Leg quite bad –
Mon 14 June 1976
A long day - & very worried over this right leg going wrong. Have to clutch my zimmer or a chair & cannot walk without holding onto something.
Tue 15 June 1976
Joan Neville came for tea & watched Ascot on the TV. It was on the June 14th last year that it was “P.B’s” 88th birthday & we had picnic lunch together - & he died on July 13th – just a month later.
Wed 16 June 1976
Right leg playing up & exercised it up & down - & felt very depressed over this further handicap.
Thu 17 June 1976
[Darkie] Toft to tea. She lives fairly near & we had an “old time“talk.
Leg much worse & put a bandage on it to try to make it walk-able. Felt awfully tired.
Fri 18 June 1976
Had a long letter from [“Cigogne Auirod] about Our Chalet where the new “Guider in Charge” is Swiss Isabelle Dufour -& a new Chairman of Committee Annette Sholten from Netherlands.
Sat 19 June 1976
Patience called in for half an hour – so busy and such a darling !
Turned cold and wet
Legs very weak.
Sun 20t June 1976
No entry
Mon 21 June 1976
Heard from Bet that she received a cheque for £100 from Joy Taylor – Mrs Cadbury’s daughter – the money left for me to receive each year as an annual gift in memory of all that did for Guiding for years. I always stayed with her at Wast Hills when I went to [??? ] on Birmingham –
(can’t see lower part)
Tue 22 June 1976
Watched TV the arrival State [Orive] with the Queen & all the ceremonial of the French President Giscard d’Estaing - from the train – red carpet & troops all in uniforms and all beautifully organised for his (& wife’s) four day stay.
Tried to walk about but leg rather painful & sat & waved it about.
Wed 23 June 1976
Wrote three letters. The vicar of Bramley called at tea time.
Thu 24 June 1976
Muriel Clarke to tea & talk about mutual guiding friends. She has lately toured south Africa & was thrilled to see how multi- racial the Guides are – conquering apartheid in its own way – all races coming together for rallies and camps.
Fri 25 June 1976
Had charming letter from [Nin] Hardiman – saying how wonderful I am & what glorious memories I must have to enjoy in this charming Home - & how lucky I am !
She is staying for a bit at 28 Montpelier Place. They had with them Prudence (19) & Annebelle (18) & have two others in Victoria.
(may be more on page)
Sat 26 June 1976
No entry
Sun 27 June 1976
No entry
Mon 28 June 1976
Margaret Turnbull ex Chief Com New Zealand to tea – just given up - & staying with her married daughter (at Beacon House, Meonstoke, Southampton). Had ahd a car smash last month, but mended up completely. Gave her Heathers 1935 diary to take back to N.Z Guide H.Q at Christchurch.
Tue 29 June 1976
Billy Macdonald came to lunch here & then took me out for a little drive around Shere & back here for tea. Brought me a very nice summer dress which fits perfectly & lots of writing paper & flowers – she is the greatest “Giver” always to me.
Wed 30 June 1976
Watched Wimbledon – wonderful players – Very hot day – hotter than ever before.
July 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
Monday 1 November 1976.
[blank page]
Tuesday 2 November 1976.
Billy Macdonald came & had lunch here - and took me out for a wee drive in the afternoon - felt awfully tired and it is such an effort dressing in the morning- and I prefer putting myself to bed each evening - and sleep for two hours- & lie awake a lot of the [night]
Wednesday 3 November 1976.
Patience came for lunch here - and brought me a good supply of stamps to go on with.
Thursday 4 November 1976.
Agatha [Perioune ] to tea , knew her in Rome in 1943 - where her husband (who died there) was British Ambassador at the Vatican, as he represents the Queen the “Defender of the Faith “ he is a Protestant !
She has a son married who has adopted a baby girl. Agatha has [?]
Friday 5 November 1976.
[transcript not sent]
Saturday 6 November 1976.
[ transcript not sent]
Sunday 7 November 1976.
[transcript not sent]
Monday 8 November 1976 .
[ transcript not sent ]
Tuesday 9 November 1976.
[transcript not sent ]
Wednesday 10 November 1976.
Had a grood letter from Grace Wilkinson back in their flat in Malta after visiting Gordon & family in Queensland
Susan the wife &
(1) Melville
(2) Charles
(3) Timothy now big boys.
I am very fond of Grace & shared many tours & Guide events with her at Hapmpers, U.S.A.& [? Last line not visible on transcript] …….
Thursday 11 November 1976.
In the U.S.A. We travelled in her large car with dear Carl Pefler - for weeks after fetching me out of hospital in Prince Edward Island after my heart attack and I called myself “ Mrs Brown” when stopping at towns on our way right across the whole country - ending at Pasadena with the Lockwood.
Friday 12 November 1976.
Patience came to lunch. Beryl Millard was to have come - but had fallen down & wasn’t fit to drive herself all this way.
Saturday 13 November 1976.
Watched the splendid Albert Hall Remembrance Day display - quite superb - with the Queen etc all there - and Ralph Reader conducted singing at the end.
The gymnastics were marvellous - & all so calm and dignified.
Sunday 14 November 1976.
Watched the Remembrance display at the cenotaph with wreaths being laid - & a lovely [?]
Monday 15 November 1976.
[ blank page ]
Tuesday 16 November 1976.
The dear kind Gladys King came & took me out for picnic lunch at our favourite place - the autumn leaves all beautiful & golden.
Wednesday 17 November 1976.
Sheilagh Walker - the present Chief Commissionaire rang up & planned to call in on Friday.
Thursday 18 November 1976.
A very wearisome day, feeling quite ill, with tiredness and just sat almost asleep all afternoon & evening.
Friday 19 November 1976.
Sheila Walker for tea 3.15
She was elected as Chief Comm. in the spring - & has done it for years & is doing well. Unluckily Patience does not get on with her very well - and had herself been up [ ? Last lines not visable]
Saturday 20 November 1976.
It is distressing to me that Darling Patience is not fully used by Sheilagh as she was before by Ann Parker- Bowles, she, as Chief Com. used her a lot for doing meetings as her “Deputy”
Robert & Patience went off for a holiday tour of Egypt with the Cadburys - going up the Nile, [???]
Sunday 21 November 1976.
Entry above overwritten on Sundays page.
Monday 22 November 1976.
Had a lovely surprise gift of £10 from Amy & Bill Hund (from Wagga Wagga 14 Beauty Point Avenue) who stayed with me atHampers for several,weeks one summer - Clarice Warren - from Shire & formerly [?] guider on H.Q. staff called in unexpectedly - now got too old for [last line not visible ?]
Tuesday 22 November 1976.
Dorothy Watson called in with her husband & [?] daughter - knew her before in Kenya & then the Scilly Isles when Bet & I visited them there a few years ago when she was Guide Com.
Joan Nevill came to tea - plus her wee “ Pom” - Wendy - who gave old “P.B” such [ last line not visible]
Wednesday 24 November 1976.
[ blank page ]
Thursday 25 November 1976.
Billy Macdonald came & took me out for picnic lunch up at Winterfold - a beautiful sunny day - & drove round by Abinger Hammer [1]& parked there to watch the little man hit the 3rd clock ![2]
Back for tea - Billy brought lovely flowers from her garden - & then [ ?]
Friday 26 November 1976.
Dorothea Ellingson for tea . Has had a new hip put in and finds it perfectly comfortable.
Had her house burgled last month , when she was working in her garden - & her main gardener too - who lives in part of her house.
Saturday 27 November 1976.
The Swans ( ex Kenya & now Secretary of the Distressed Gentlewoman in London) had their house burgled lately & the growth of crimes of all kinds lately is absolutely frightful - nothing and nobody is safe.
Sunday 28 November 1976.
[Overwritten by yesterdays entry]
Monday 29 November 1976.
Had long talk with Mrs Brown - who has had a leg off & is awaiting a new one - & collects stamps & has a marvellous collection worth over £5000 here and is most interesting about countries which used to be governed by US !
Tuesday 30 November 1976.
My Postal Code number is
GU5 OLB
[1] Abinger Hammer is a village in the Vale of Holmesdale, located on the A25 in Surrey, England. The village is located within the Surrey Hills AONB, approximately midway between the market towns of Dorking and Guildford. The village is named after its water-powered iron forge. Wikipedia
[2] The clock which overhangs the main road portrays the figure of "Jack the Blacksmith", who strikes the hour with his hammer. The clock bears the motto "By me you know how fast to go". The clock was given in memory of the first Lord Farrer of Abinger Hall who died in 1899. The clock represents the iron industry and the role played by the county of Surrey in the industrial past.
August 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
X
Sunday 1 August 1976.
[page blank ]
Monday 2 August 1976.
And I have now been in this one room for three years !
Moving in from my 16 rooms at Hampton - 8 in the annexes & 8 full of my things ! and so lovely to live in, and to entertain members of guide & scout friends - and all my family ! How lucky I was to have that dear.
Tuesday 3 August 1976.
Muriel Clarke came from East Molesey for tea. She was in the World Finance Committee at one time , & went to the conference in Sussex last summer as an “associate”.
Wednesday 4 August 1976.
A very bad day, with the right leg not walking and hurting a bit and getting worse which is quite worrying !
Thursday 5 August 1976.
The same as yesterday.
Wrote to Harry Edwards last week and he replied kindly and telling me not to let myself be depressed !
Friday 6 August 1976.
A slight improvement in the bad right leg & I tried to be content & hopeful. After all I had 1912-1922-1932 to 1941 29 years of bliss with my Darling& then since then 1942-1952-1962-1972 & part 1973( that was 31 years of busy doings & happy life at Hampton I have to [?] to be thankful for.
Saturday 7 August 1976.
A very bad day with the right leg hurting & sat in the arm chair - warming it up & down.
Charlie & Jessica Blooman came for tea - such a nice couple - He did Scouting and she did Guiding before they married - & she is now C.T for Berkshire.
Sunday 8 August 1976.
A bit better today - Patience came for tea.
Monday 9 August 1976.
The leg was better & not hurting - but felt pretty depressed, and not keen to write letters.
Tuesday 10 August 1976.
Anstice Gibbs [1] came for tea & talk about the good old days. She was a guide at school & then Chief Comm. for England , in between Dorothy Codmane & Enid (Lady) Burnham [2] who was so splendid & Mary Birley [3] (Lancs) .
We have been lucky in all our top people.
Wednesday 11 August 1976.
When going into my bed , after supper every evening I read from 8.0 to 10.0 & then go to sleep till 12.0 or 1.0 & then wake & lie rather miserably until the nurse comes at 7.0 & gives me my insulin injection.
Reading a very nice book “ a horseman riding by “ by R F Delderfield published G Hodder & Houghton - a best seller.
Thursday 12 August 1996.
Joan Nevill came for tea - bringing her dear little [?] Wendy -
Friday 13 August 1976.
A bad turn for the worse with my left leg hurting - & hardly able to stand or walk - so with both legs wobbly & painful it was a very bad day.
Saturday 14 August 1976.
Slept well - but legs painful on waking up - & felt all wobbly.
I feel so worried about not being able to walk without a stick or the “zimmer” .
Sunday 15 August 1976.
Dear Robert & Patience for tea& we played “Scrabble” to pass the time !
Monday 16 August 1976.
Heard from Bet about meeting “Rikki” ( Mrs Melville Smith) [4] of Gilwell, who has given lots of things to that grand place - & attended the 1911 Rally of Windsor [5]- & nearly all the Re - unions at Gilwell though now over 80! (Grammore Cottage Painswick Glos )
Tuesday 17 August 1976.
Gladys came to tea, bringing Edna Reston ( from Sydney) unexpectedly. I knew her every time I went to Australia.
Wednesday 18 August 1976.
Dear Beryl Millard for tea & talk. She does such a lot of good guiding for the World Assoc. & for the South East “area” which covers several counties - London, Middlesex. Kent divided into 3 - two Sussex - &, several Surreys, with a H.Q.
[?]
Thursday 19 August 1976.
That dear kindest of friends Billy Macdonald, fetched me out for picnic tea at Winterfold - had expected it to be lunch - but her diary got it wrong. But they telephoned from here, & she came rushing - so generous and takes so much trouble to getting me.
Friday 20 August 1976.
Celia Albrecht came for tea - an old Surrey guider & travels & writes books.
Lives at 7 Winford Heath Drive Walton - on -the Hill
Tadworth.
(Tel. Tadworth 3539)
Saturday 21 August 1976.
The anniversary day
Tuesday August 21st in 1973 that I left dear Hampton & got installed here - by Patience.
Oh what an upheaval,& how sad to say good-bye to all this happiness in this delicious place which has been a family home for so many of all my [ last line not visible on transcript]?
Sunday 22 August 1976.
Saturday entry continued over Sunday.
Monday 23 August 1976.
Legs getting worse & walking almost impossible - without my “zimmer”, and feel very depressed & anxious about it.
Tuesday 24 August 1976.
Dorothea Ellington for tea. She has had a new hip put in, & is wonderfully well.
Has had her house “burgled” when in the garden- & never saw them! They took £25 & some valuable China !
Wednesday 25 August 1976.
Heather & John came for tea -
Thursday 26 August 1976.
Margaret and Betsy Martin came for tea - such dears.
Friday 27 August 1976.
Patience came for lunch- and full of plans for taking me to Gilwell for the 50th anniversary Re- Union next week!
Saturday 28 August 1976.
[page blank]
Sunday 29 August 1976.
[page blank]
Monday 30 August 1976.
Robert & Patience came for tea - & the plans for next Sunday are complete !
Having the local taxi (Neal) to go there for the 50th Re Union.
Tuesday 31 August 1976.
Phyllis Moffat for tea - such a dear good friend.
[1]
Gibbs ,Anstice Dame ,
DCVO, CBE (2 January 1905, in Hertfordshire - 7 February 1978, in Hampshire) was the Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association in the UK for ten years, and vice-chair of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) from 1957 to 1960.
[2] Burnham, Lady Enid-
Hon. Enid Lawson, Baroness Burnham CBE (née Marie Enid Robson; 27 May 1894 – 29 July 1979) served as the Girl Guide Chief Commissioner for England.
[3] Birley ,Mary-
Mary Emily, Mrs. Percy Birley, J.P., Chief Commissioner for England, Girl Guides
Association, and formerly County Commissioner for North West Lancashire.
1930
B-P stayed with Mary Birley, County Commissioner and newly appointed Chief Commissioner at her home in Wrea Green, Lancashire. B-P was attending the scout rally at Squires gate Blackpool Lancashire.
[4] Melville Smith , Betty “Rikki” - grew up in Hong Kong running Cub packs there in 1925 before being involved with Cub packs in Birmingham when she returned to Britain including a group for evacuees in the Second World War before being appointed as HQ Wolf Cubs Secretary after the war. She delivered Cub Leader training at Gilwell Park until 1969 and one of the kit stores was named 'Rikki's Store' after her nickname.
[5] 1911 Windsor Rally
Cambridge District Scout Archive
The newly crowned King George V reviewed 35,000 Boy Scouts at Windsor on July 4th 1911.
September 1976
Olave Baden-Powell's diary for September 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
X
Wednesday 1 September 1976.
[no text picture provided for this date ]
Thursday 2 September 1976.
[ no text picture provided to transcribe]
Friday 3 September 1976.
Eileen Wade bring’s Bill Hillcrest and Carl Buck ( Scouter from California who I have always met over there) for tea.
Gilwell Re-Union.
Saturday 4 Sept - [overwritten with Gilwell Re-Union]
Sunday 5 September 1976.
Left here at 8.0 - picked up Patience at Ripley & got to Gilwell in time for the great “ Art of Worship”- led by Robert in the camp fire circle crammed with 2000 Gilwell men & women- a great sight. Sat in the wheeled chair& gave short talks - & then lunch with Don G[?] etc.
[unable to see last printed line]
Monday 6 September [ Continuation of recording Gilwell Re -Union]
In my wheeled chair visited the wonderful exhibition of things to do with my Darling- beautifully arranged - Then did hand - shaking with dozens of old & new friends.
Then picnic tea on the lawn with a few hundred & then slipped away home- a marvellously well arranged day - by Patience & all the good staff there.
Tuesday 7 September [continuation of recording Gilwell Re- Union]
It was a marvellous great crowd of keen fine men and women with a great happy spirit of friendship - such a mixture of all kinds - a lot of U.S.A. Scouters & there wives had come over for it. Splendidly organised - & so nice being wheeled amongst them. I am so glad Patience persuaded
[? Unable to view last line]
Wednesday 8 September 1976.
I hired the local car Mr Neal - to take me there -& we took his wife too. They had both been a scout & a guide & enjoyed it a lot. (“ Sweet water Close Stanley Green)
Thursday 9 September 1976.
Betty Bev, came at 2.30 & took me out. Lost our way to Frensham Pond & got mixed up with Tilford & Godalming. Back for tea.
Friday 10 September 1976.
Flora Cann called in for tea - we talked about the old days & Hamptons where she came cooked for me that last Xmas there. Made and gave me my “leg muff”that I used here all last winter, lives at Birkenhead.
Saturday 11 September 1976.
Charlie & Jessica Blooman to tea. She is now C. C for Berks having been one of Anne’s “Deputy Chief”. Anne is nowhere Berks C.President & Betty is the President of the region.
Sunday 12 September 1976.
[ page blank]
Monday 13 September 1976.
[page left blank]
Tuesday 14 September 1976.
Joan Nevill came to tea. She had been at the Gilwell Re- Union and it was “P.B”(her husband) who actually found the place for the Scouts,as Mr & Mrs Bois McLaren who bought it meant it to be a camping centre for Scouts of East London - the district that P.B. Was commissioner of.
Wednesday 15 September 1976.
Felt really ill with tiredness - & the left leg is now troublesome & will not walk , & aches.
Thursday 16 September 1976.
Heard that the Cadbury family had again sent me the annual cheque for £100 - left to me in her will , by dear Emmie who was C.C. For Birmingham when I was Chief Comm. who I stayed with often at Wast Hills when I visited friends up there.- several times, & she gave me £100 when I went there last - about a year before she died.
Joy Taylor her daughter was
[ unable to see last line ]
Friday 17 September 1976.
Muriel Clarke for tea. She was on the World Finance Committee for a time,& is now “ World Associate” and as such attended the World Conference in Sussex last summer. Lives at East Molesey- husband has died.
Saturday 18 September 1976.
Felt dreadfully I’ll- with both legs aching.
Big Scout conference happening at Nottingham.
Sunday 19 September 1976.
[ page blank]
Monday 20 September 1976.
Patience came for tea so sweet always to me & so thoughtful.
Tuesday 21 September 1976.
[ page Blank]
Wednesday 22 September 1976.
At last the drought which is so serious breaks with a good downpour.
Gladys King came & took me out to the village to buy some stamps& then tea.
Thursday 23 September 1976.
Carine & Wendy B-P. came over from her home near Southampton for tea - she had had a car smash months ago- but showed no marks on her face.
Friday 24 September 1976.
Bet’s & Gervas Ruby wedding Day - How lovely it was at Pax Hill 40 years ago. They had a great family gathering at Ford Lodge to celebrate the day.
Beryl Millard came to tea - such a good friend.
Saturday 25 September 1976.
Fenella called in with her daughter, to tell me about the great family gathering for Betty’sRuby Wedding.
Sunday 26 September 1976.
Helen McSweeney brought Lynne Joyner down for tea- having recovered from her new hip operation.
Monday 27 September 1976.
Mary Perkins ( my god -daughter) brought her mother Josephine Pollock to call in the morning.
Tuesday 28 September 1976.
Dorothea Ellington for Sir Percy who was tea - & suddenly Bet telephoned from London airport ( where they were seeing Robin & Suzie off to his new job in Hong Kong) & came along for tea bringing Crispen- who came over for the Ruby Wedding with his wife (Orti) [ Ortrud Wiese] & small son. [Eric Ernest]
Wednesday 29 September 1976.
Jill Everett called in [?] in Uganda & then Dar- es- Salaam & now at the “Royal Fare” in London
God daughter stayed with her parents often at Nakuru years ago Varley (her father) is son of Sir Percy who was fully in Scouting at the beginning in 1907- & treasurer to the Guides for years - a gallant supporter of both associations all along and [unable to see last line on page]?
Thursday 30 September 1976.
Margaret and Betsy Martin came for tea & talk- such fun talking of the “ good old days “ of guiding in Glasgow. Had a nice letter from Nan [Bernays]- ex guide com. In Bristol who I stayed with there years ago when she ran Guides - Husband killed [ unable to view last line] Has two [?]
October 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
X
Friday 1 October 1976.
Patience came to lunch, to explain about the taking of photographs at Chapel Farm, for an “I.T.V “ film to be made there about a Brownie who wants to see me, and under a [?] film called “ Jim will Fix it “ ,had an “interview “ with Patricia Green sitting on the sofa asking questions.
[ unable to view last line on transcript]
Saturday 2 October 1976.
See next Friday!
Heard from Agatha Periowne (11 Montagu Square - Telephone 03/9357610 ) who I met first in Rome in soon after the 1st war when her husband was British ambassador to the Pope! Representing the Queen he had to be a Protestant. He died out there very suddenly. She [ last line not visible on transcript ?]
Sunday 3 October 1976
Overwritten with text above.
Monday 4 October 1976.
Hilda (Court) & her sister [Kathrin] [Lessingin] called in for a long family gossip.
Her daughter Monica McLeard is a god- daughter of mine & is a very keen Guide & her mother runs the pack up at Lockhaugh County Durham - just [? Last lines not visible]
Tuesday 5 Oct. 1976.
It is too silly all these changes of names & new divisions of counties.
Half Somerset was made into “Avon” North & South - Hull & bits of Yorkshire & Lancashire etc has become a county of “Humberside” - and Westmorland deleted & becomes “Cumbria”- so Cumberland ceases to be a county on its own- etc. & Wales has changed its English into Welsh names - quite un pronounceable .
Wednesday 6 October 1976.
Billy came with picnic lunch - & brought her husband (Trevor) too - Went up to our favourite Winterfold & it got cold & we moved our lunch table &=chairs out of the wind- & sat quite comfily facing the trees instead of the townly view.
Back for tea- & she brought me flowers & as usual packets of chocolate & books to read. [?]
Thursday 7 October 1976.
Friday 8th
Mrs Lucas (hired a car) took me over to Chapel Farm for the film making - wearing uniform for a change ! Little Patience Green sat by me & asked me questions - all rather difficult to cope with as she whispered & I am going deaf! But the camera men were quite satisfied & too lots of pictures of us together. [ ? Last line not visible on transcript]?
Friday 8 October 1976
[cont]
I didn’t “ do my stuff “ at all well - as I used to face cameras so often & with crowds of Guides & Brownies as audiences. The camera men were very helpful & said that I did my part all right - but I was not “ at ease” and did not say any of the things that I wanted to ! Her mother was there too - & Patience gave us all tea & coped with [ ? No last line ]
Saturday 9 October 1976.
Felt awfully tired & miserable - & not at all satisfied with my performance yesterday & legs very bad - & getting more useless all the time. I find it almost impossible to stand - much less walk - without holding onto my stick or zimmer.
Sunday 10 October 1976.
[ blank page ]
Monday 11 October 1976.
Dear Patience to tea. How splendidly she planned Friday’s doings- and how busy she is with Guides & Scouts functions, and now making this vegetable garden - & eating what is produced already. They have made that place nice and have spent a lot on it & made it very valuable, and it suits them so.
Tuesday 12 October 1976.
Feet hurting during the night - tingling & knees aching - felt very cheap all day.
Wednesday 13 October 1976.
[ page missing on transcript]
Thursday 14 October 1976.
[page missing from Transcript]
Friday 15 October 1976.
Both legs weaker & feet won’t walk !
Roberts birthday in 1936 !
He is splendid & delightful & so clever - doing his money business successfully & doing some fine work for the Scouts & is [?] popular with them .
Saturday 16 October 1976.
A bad night , with feet tingling & very little sleep.
Had a nice letter from Christian - safe there in her little house at Botica ,Lourdes, in Portugal. This is the day her Tom died last year - suddenly with no warning - but he felt old and [ ? No last line visible ]
Sunday 17 October 1976.
[Over written by above entry ]
Monday 18 October 1976.
Gladys King came with picnic lunch & we went to my favourite (Winterfold) with its lovely view for miles across the lovely countryside. Back for tea.
Tuesday 19 October 1976.
Joan Neville came along for tea - with good news of Roland House - celebrating a grand dinner party - & planning to raise funds for enlarging the “ House on the Green”.
Wednesday 20 October 1976.
[ page missing from transcript sent]
Thursday 21 October 1976.
[ page missing from transcript]
Friday 22 October 1976.
Of taking me out we played “Scrabble” .
She is such a fine good Guide friend.
Muriel Clarke came for tea bringing Jane Weekes - ex Com. For Rhodesia unexpectedly I had met her out there & at the Hotel in Drachensburg where we stayed for a week at the end of run [? Last line not visible].
Saturday 23 October 1976.
Had quite a good night, but a very bad day - unfit to do anything but just sat half asleep all day.
Sunday 24 October 1976.
Robert and Michael Cadbury new chairman of the scouts collected me for lunch & tea at Chapel Farm - meeting him & his wife for the first time - & nephew of [ last line not visible ]
Monday 25 October 1976.
He is a very good fine man & charming about his work - a great acquisition, taking over from old Smith (husband of “Mary Drewery” who wrote “my book “!
A very bad day ,feeling quite ill - & just sat half asleep most of the day - couldn’t write.
Tuesday 26 October 1976.
[ blank page ]
Wednesday 27 October 1976.
A bad day ,feeling ill with tiredness.
Read a nice novel by R.F. Deldenfield - one of a series - called “To serve them all my days” .joins the army in the 1st world war ,invalided out & goes to teach in a boys school in Devon called Bamfylde - marries & has twins - the wife & one of them gets killed in a car accident - but the other recovers & he becomes a house - master.
Thursday 28 October 1976.
Heard from the new Guider - in - charge of “Our Chalet” Isabelle Dufour (French), & very good . Had trained as a nurse but had been to “Our Chalet “ to help often.
Friday 29 October 1976.
The newly elected President for the Scouts of U.S.A. Is Arch. H. Monson from Boy Scouts of America New Brunswick.
N.B.08902
Heard from Dorothy Feist that they are coming over next week & want to see me !
Saturday 30 October 1976.
Our Wedding Anniversary - Oct 30th 1912.
He died Jan 8th 1941.
We had almost 32 years of bliss together. So now - I have had 44 years alone - I have not wasted that time - until I had to leave Hampers- & give up travelling & writing & entertaining all my many friends- life [ ? unable to see last line ]
Sunday 31 October 1976.
[ overwritten by yesterdays entry.]
November 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
X
Monday 1 November 1976.
[blank page]
Tuesday 2 November 1976.
Billy Macdonald came & had lunch here - and took me out for a wee drive in the afternoon - felt awfully tired and it is such an effort dressing in the morning- and I prefer putting myself to bed each evening - and sleep for two hours- & lie awake a lot of the [night]
Wednesday 3 November 1976.
Patience came for lunch here - and brought me a good supply of stamps to go on with.
Thursday 4 November 1976.
Agatha [Perioune ] to tea , knew her in Rome in 1943 - where her husband (who died there) was British Ambassador at the Vatican, as he represents the Queen the “Defender of the Faith “ he is a Protestant !
She has a son married who has adopted a baby girl. Agatha has [?]
Friday 5 November 1976.
[transcript not sent]
Saturday 6 November 1976.
[ transcript not sent]
Sunday 7 November 1976.
[transcript not sent]
Monday 8 November 1976 .
[ transcript not sent ]
Tuesday 9 November 1976.
[transcript not sent ]
Wednesday 10 November 1976.
Had a grood letter from Grace Wilkinson back in their flat in Malta after visiting Gordon & family in Queensland
Susan the wife &
(1) Melville
(2) Charles
(3) Timothy now big boys.
I am very fond of Grace & shared many tours & Guide events with her at Hapmpers, U.S.A.& [? Last line not visible on transcript] …….
Thursday 11 November 1976.
In the U.S.A. We travelled in her large car with dear Carl Pefler - for weeks after fetching me out of hospital in Prince Edward Island after my heart attack and I called myself “ Mrs Brown” when stopping at towns on our way right across the whole country - ending at Pasadena with the Lockwood.
Friday 12 November 1976.
Patience came to lunch. Beryl Millard was to have come - but had fallen down & wasn’t fit to drive herself all this way.
Saturday 13 November 1976.
Watched the splendid Albert Hall Remembrance Day display - quite superb - with the Queen etc all there - and Ralph Reader conducted singing at the end.
The gymnastics were marvellous - & all so calm and dignified.
Sunday 14 November 1976.
Watched the Remembrance display at the cenotaph with wreaths being laid - & a lovely [?]
Monday 15 November 1976.
[ blank page ]
Tuesday 16 November 1976.
The dear kind Gladys King came & took me out for picnic lunch at our favourite place - the autumn leaves all beautiful & golden.
Wednesday 17 November 1976.
Sheilagh Walker - the present Chief Commissionaire rang up & planned to call in on Friday.
Thursday 18 November 1976.
A very wearisome day, feeling quite ill, with tiredness and just sat almost asleep all afternoon & evening.
Friday 19 November 1976.
Sheila Walker for tea 3.15
She was elected as Chief Comm. in the spring - & has done it for years & is doing well. Unluckily Patience does not get on with her very well - and had herself been up [ ? Last lines not visable]
Saturday 20 November 1976.
It is distressing to me that Darling Patience is not fully used by Sheilagh as she was before by Ann Parker- Bowles, she, as Chief Com. used her a lot for doing meetings as her “Deputy”
Robert & Patience went off for a holiday tour of Egypt with the Cadburys - going up the Nile, [???]
Sunday 21 November 1976.
Entry above overwritten on Sundays page.
Monday 22 November 1976.
Had a lovely surprise gift of £10 from Amy & Bill Hund (from Wagga Wagga 14 Beauty Point Avenue) who stayed with me atHampers for several,weeks one summer - Clarice Warren - from Shire & formerly [?] guider on H.Q. staff called in unexpectedly - now got too old for [last line not visible ?]
Tuesday 22 November 1976.
Dorothy Watson called in with her husband & [?] daughter - knew her before in Kenya & then the Scilly Isles when Bet & I visited them there a few years ago when she was Guide Com.
Joan Nevill came to tea - plus her wee “ Pom” - Wendy - who gave old “P.B” such [ last line not visible]
Wednesday 24 November 1976.
[ blank page ]
Thursday 25 November 1976.
Billy Macdonald came & took me out for picnic lunch up at Winterfold - a beautiful sunny day - & drove round by Abinger Hammer [1]& parked there to watch the little man hit the 3rd clock ![2]
Back for tea - Billy brought lovely flowers from her garden - & then [ ?]
Friday 26 November 1976.
Dorothea Ellingson for tea . Has had a new hip put in and finds it perfectly comfortable.
Had her house burgled last month , when she was working in her garden - & her main gardener too - who lives in part of her house.
Saturday 27 November 1976.
The Swans ( ex Kenya & now Secretary of the Distressed Gentlewoman in London) had their house burgled lately & the growth of crimes of all kinds lately is absolutely frightful - nothing and nobody is safe.
Sunday 28 November 1976.
[Overwritten by yesterdays entry]
Monday 29 November 1976.
Had long talk with Mrs Brown - who has had a leg off & is awaiting a new one - & collects stamps & has a marvellous collection worth over £5000 here and is most interesting about countries which used to be governed by US !
Tuesday 30 November 1976.
My Postal Code number is
GU5 OLB
[1] Abinger Hammer is a village in the Vale of Holmesdale, located on the A25 in Surrey, England. The village is located within the Surrey Hills AONB, approximately midway between the market towns of Dorking and Guildford. The village is named after its water-powered iron forge. Wikipedia
[2] The clock which overhangs the main road portrays the figure of "Jack the Blacksmith", who strikes the hour with his hammer. The clock bears the motto "By me you know how fast to go". The clock was given in memory of the first Lord Farrer of Abinger Hall who died in 1899. The clock represents the iron industry and the role played by the county of Surrey in the industrial past.
December 1976
Transcribed by Carol Taylor.
X
Wednesday 1 December 1976.
Phyllis Moffat came for tea - such a dear sweet friend, & we “reminisced” about Hampers & my visit to them in Dar es Salam all those years ago.
Thursday 2 December 1976.
Received several Xmas cards from various countries & old friends.
Heard from the newly appointed “Chief Scout Executive” at their HQ at North Brunswick - Harvey L Price - They had a sudden upheaval there and got rid Alden Barber the one I knew.
Friday 3 December 1976.
Legs painful in the night - and felt very tired all day.
Heather & John came all that way to see me for an hour - got here later than I expected at 10.30 - but had coffee at 11.30.
Saturday 4 December 1976.
Dr Joan Martin came from London- such a splendid Guide for years and a wonderful “social” worker , dealing with cripples in Government.
Sunday 5 December 1976.
Felt pretty seedy and decided to give in and stayed in bed all day - worrying about what I shall do if it gets any worse !
Monday 6 December 1976.
A bad night with feet hurting - a new sensation and most unpleasant - but they ceased to hurt after my BATH & I wrote some letters - & had some nice cards from old friends in U.S.A.
Tuesday 7 December 1976.
Patience telephoned that they were back & found a water pipe had burst & drowned the kitchen ceiling.
Patience Hardcastle to tea - a Gilwellian who befriended Peter when he was at Charterhouse and loves all our family.
Wednesday 8 December 1976.
“Darkie” Toft to tea she was the splendid Guide top secretary for years & we had a good talk about those fine people who made the movement grow so well - soon after the war ended in 1945.
Thursday 9 December 1976.
[blank page]
Friday 10 December 1976.
Muriel Clarke came from East Molesey, bringing the World Finance Secretary unexpectedly with her.
Postal code here GU5 0LB.
Saturday 11 December 1976.
Felt awfully ill, and could not even write letters.
Robert & Patience arrived back from their fortnight trip in Egypt, & found their kitchen ceiling broken & the dining room full of water - an awful mess. They had enjoyed their tour & came & told me all [?] .
Sunday 12 December 1976.
Over written with above entry.
Monday 13 December 1976.
[blank page]
Tuesday 14 December 1976.
Gladys came bringing the usual delicious picnic lunch & we set off into the lanes behind this house- through Godalming & parked by the roadside to have our lunch & got back earlier & Gladys went off before dark.
Wednesday 15 December 1976.
Billy had been booked to come, but telephoned that she was smitten with a bad cold.
Thursday 16 December 1976.
Betty Beveridge came after lunch & took me out for a little short drive - so as to keep me going - though I felt awfully tired - as usual.
Friday 17 December 1976.
Beryl Millard came & brought Mrs Notley - chairwoman of our poor Guide club in Belgrave Square - which does not now pay its way & is to be sold. They have arranged to let their members join the good V.A.O (Red Cross) club.
Saturday 18 December 1976.
Grace Wilkinson
P.E.T. Upper Gardens
St Julian’s
Malta.
Gladys King
24 Gloucester Close
Thames Dutton
Surrey
Embenbrook 4571
Sunday 19 December 1976.
Robert came over for a quick “cuppa” - leaving Patience on her own tidying up.
Monday 20 December 1976.
Joan Nevill
Bradshaw
Colley Lane
Reigate Heath
Surrey
RH2 9 DD
Tel Reigate 42570
X card from Irving Feist ( 58 Park Place Newark, New Jersey) that Harvey Price has been given the position of “Chief Executive” of the Scouts of U.S. taking the place of Aldin Barbour [?]
Tuesday 21 December 1976.
Dorothea Ellingson came to tea - always so friendly & reminds me so of staying with her at Blythe(California) on her farm when on the first road tour of U.S. with Carl Pepler.
Frank Gast
P.O. Box 7556
Space 98
[??]
Wednesday 22 December 1976.
Great grandchildren
Gill Clay. 1. Daphne. Aug 18th 1970
2. Rawley. Sept 30th 1971
Robin Clay. 3. Toby. Dec 21st. 1973
4. Anarella. 1975
Nigel - Elaine. 5. Gerard Sept 9th. 1970
6. Olivie. Sept 26th 1973.
7. Adam. Dec 23rd. 1975.
Crispin. 8. Eric. Feb 10th. 1974
Michael B-P. 9. Robert. Jan 6th. 1971
10Alexander. June 25th 1973
11 myles. Oct 10th. 1975
(In Melbourne)
Timothy King. 12 Timothy. May 18th. 1973.
\ Natasha.
Thursday 23 December 1976.
[Above entry runs over both pages.]
[Side entry ]
Christmas Day Saturday 25th
Robert fetched me to Chapel Farm for a big beautifully arranged Christmas party.
Friday 24 December 1976.
Christian
Casual das Pinheirias
Botica
Lowres
Portugal
Margaret Collard
4 Lauriston Road
London S.W. 19 4 TQ
Olive Smelling
Selchow strasse 5
1 Berlin. 33
Agatha Perowne
11 Montague Square
W.1
019357610
Mollie Sinclair
[?? Terrace]
Saturday 25 December 1976.
Grace Wilkinson
P.E.T. Upper Gardena
St Julian’s
Malta
Carl Peplin
303 Queens Drive
Room 537
Toronto
Margaret Martin
7 Line Close
West Clarendon
Guildford
GU4 T U 1
Sunday 26 December 1976.
Max Siller ( Edith)
5 Otterson Court
Nashua
New Hampshire
03060
Came [?]
Monday 27 December 1976.
Gloria D. Scott
President of U.S.A. Girl Scouts ( Negro - at World conference in Canada & England) Very fine person - wrote me a nice letter in reply to message for their great celebrations on March 12th at Savannah ( Juliette Low’s birthplace)
Irving Feist ( & Dorothy)
58 Park Place
Newark N.J.
07102
Tuesday 28 December 1976.
New Chief Com. For South Africa Mrs Hussey
P.O.Box 3463 Pretoria 0001.
ex- Chief Com. For Australia appointed World Chairman at the Sussex World Conference last summer.
Lady Price
57 National avenue
Forrest
A.C.T.
Australia 2003.
Chief Com. For New Zealand Mrs Corkill ( nee Tweed)
5 Bolton street.
[?]
Wednesday 29 December 1976.
Ryman Dowdeswell
Topwriter
Woodbridge Meadows
Guildford
GU1 180
Tel Guildford 76231
Flora Carr - called in unexpectedly on Sept 10th & took photographs of me in my pink dress!
Thursday 30 December 1976.
“C.B.U” money invested in the Leicester Building Society through Heather (about £2000 - which she manages.
Jill Everett (Dr)
God - daughter
5 Cavendish Place
Clapham Common South Side
S.W.4 9 D. L
Secretary of Guides assoc in Australia
Marjorie Wood
7 Wilmot Street
Sydney.
Friday 31 December 1976.
Money received.
Jan Earle Moore (Canada). £ 10
Feb. Pension £103
my investment in World Assoc income annually £46
Feb. Lola Lockwood
April. Pension. £105/95
Max Selbin £ 35
May. Susan Autgarden £50
Rita Bartlett £61
July. Pension. £105-95
Aug. Royalty from Hodder & Stoughton. £21.77
Oct. Pension. £105.95
[ MISSING ] £10
Memoranda
Monday Dec 27th 1976
Dick Whaley took me over to another nice lunch party at Chapel Farm - with Phyllis Moffat and Leonard Blausten & other nice friends & Carine & Wendy B-P still there. Patience manages all the food splendidly & they are the most perfect host & hostess.
[ More Missing ? ]
[1] The creator of the Outspan Hotel in Nyeri, where B-P’s life ended.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Sherbrooke_Walker
