"Harry’s horoscope for this week said moody. I’m beginning to believe in the stars..."
Mum's diary from July 1962
After my dad died in 2010, my sister was clearing out his house – the house we grew up in – and found a small suitcase in the loft.
The case was full of stuff that Mum, who died in 1999, had saved, but had never mentioned. Letters, cards, postcards, photos, programmes from shows, even things like dry cleaning receipts from when she lived in America in the early sixties.
I’m going to write about it all.
Mum’s 1962 Diary
Sunday July 1 1962
To Chester in the car with Brian. Called at Mo’s, no reply. Had coffee in our coffee bar, it brought back very pleasant memories.
Stayed in with Brian and Dad
Monday July 2 1962
1 1/2 hours late for work.
Paid £36 balance to Yeawards.1
Essoldo Birk. with Harry to see Lonely Are the Brave, Kirk Douglas. Almost lost the back wheel on the way home.
Thursday July 5 1962
Neptune with Harry. Had a great time.
Letter from Katie and papers from Yeawards.
Dot rang.
Friday July 6 1962
Went for a run in the car with Brian, through Chester, Wrexham and Malpas on to a place called Barton then lost. We actually got lost about 6 times in all. Arrived home 12.45am.
Saturday July 7 1962
Went to Brian’s, playing records until 4pm then to get my eyes tested and order new glasses.
Had a game of golf on the crazy course with Brian, Barb and Walter. Brian bought fish, chips and peas and we went back to Barb’s for supper.
Sunday July 8 1962
Big event: I cleared, cleaned and tidied my bedroom.
Went for a run with Barb and Brian. Had shrimps then coffee in Park Gate.2 Brought lots of strawberries home for tea (first this year) (strawberries not tea).
Game of golf on the Harrison Drive course (80) then back to Barb’s for supper. Brian and I went for a run in the car after supper. I forgot my key and Brian had to climb over the wall.
Monday July 9 1962
Work UGH !!!
Gaumont with Harry to see HMS Defiant with Dirk Bogarde. Not bad.
Letter from Pat.
Tuesday July 10 1962
Ted phoned.
Went up to Barb to bleach her hair.
Stayed til 11.15pm playing records with Barb, Walt and Brian.
Wednesday July 11 1962
Stayed in with Harry. Any comment would be superfluous.3 Harry’s horoscope for this week said moody. I’m beginning to believe in the stars, although come to think of it moody would describe him any week.4
Thursday July 12 1962
Stayed in at Harry’s.
Friday July 13 1962
Bought dress and bag. Dave Larney gave me a lift to work in his Zephyr. Fab.
Met George Matthews on my way down to the boat. COR!!5 (It must be meeting old flames week.)
Went to Rhyl with Brian. Had a walk round the fair a couple of goes on the dodgems and the big dipper then home.
Saturday July 14 1962
Went for a run with Brian, through Southport on to Preston.
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Can’t find anything about Yeawards. I’m assuming it was a travel agency.
I used to love going to Parkgate for shrimps as a kid. Would love to do it now actually.
Every time I hear this word, I remember Peter Duncan on Blue Peter pronouncing it superFLUous and Mum scoffing.
Of the two of them, I’d say Mum was much moodier.
Cor!!
This was really Brian's week