20 December (post 20 Dec) From GDP/1 AM AM was born in 1937 and grew up in Cumbria. She kept a detailed diary during her teenage years and her early twenties, covering her final years at school, and her first job doing secretarial work in Edinburgh. 20 December 1952 My report came today and seems pretty hopeful regards the prefect business. “AM is making good progress in every way” written incidentally by the C [a teacher]. I think it’s about the best report I’ve ever had – even games was quite good! J, S [friends of the diarist] and I [...]

11 December From GDP/8 John Leeson John Leeson (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. 11 December 1847 Mother got worse on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday + Wednesday. We had Sir James Clark to see her on Thursday who said there was great danger. She was very quiet + composed all day and wished all of us to go to bed at ten of’clock. She also made Nurse go to bed, who got up at 11 of’clock to give her the medicine when she [...]

From GDP/8 John Leeson John Leeson (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. The regular arrivals and departures of servants pepper these diaries. 4 December 1847 Monday – Jane Plours left Mother’s service + she was without a servant on Tuesday + Wednesday and had to do all the work of the house. Wednesday evening – Ann Brown, Uncle Day’s old servant came to live with us. Thursday – Mother taken ill with a cough + cold – kept her bed on Friday, [...]

From GDP/59 - CW CW (1903-1989) was in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. We also hold the diaries of his parents, ref. GDP/57 and GDP/58 respectively. W  later wrote a memoir of his wartime experiences, a part of which, dealing with the presentation of a medal, is reproduced here. On my return I found I had been awarded a BEM for services on the Hermione and was sent to Buckingham Palace to receive it from King George VI. I had rather an embarrassing experience, as I arrived at the gates with my wife and young son, a [...]

17 November (to Post 15 November) From GDP/8 JL JL (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. In this entry, he shows particular interest in Italian Unification (although confusing King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia with the novelist Victor Hugo) and the progress of the Second Opium War in China. He also notes the burial of the Earl of Dundonald – better known during his naval service in the Napoleonic Wars as Lord Cochrane. 17 November 1860 Mrs. L dined with Mrs. Gordon [...]

From GDP/27 DDB DB (1903-1987) was curate at Saffron Walden, Essex, when this entry was made in his diary. Here, he describes the service held marking the tenth anniversary of the armistice at the end of the First World War. 15 November 1928 Armistice Day seems to be as popular as ever. It was rather wet here but kept fine for the morning ceremony. There was the usual open air service at the Cenotaph, which this year was broadcast. Most of churches by request of the Abp.[Archbishop of Canterbury] (who resigned the foll. day) amended their times to allow for [...]

3-5 May  From GDP/58 - Mary Ann Williams (née Prout) Mary Ann Prout (1861-1923) grew up in Cornwall. Here, she records illness and death among the children in the family of her future husband, James Bennetts Williams (whose diaries we also hold ref. GDP/57), as well as her feelings when her offer of help did not meet with the results she had expected. Wednesday 3rd May 1882 Father went to Perran today. Mother went down to Post Office to send a Telegram to Mr Bunt and J.B.W. told her that he received a Telegram from Bristol saying that Laura is [...]

21 August  From GDP/52 GF GF (1901-1982) was a young barrister in London at the time this diary was written. Here, he records a session with a session of ‘table-turning’ similar to a Ouija board when he was on holiday in Axminster. 21 August 1926 I came over here this afternoon to stay for a few days with the C [family]. Bathed in the morning with the V [family] and P who is with them. The sea was roughish & the bathing good. Lazed all the afternoon and then took a bus here. Mrs L is here, but Major L [...]

3 October  From GDP/30 WK WK (born 1932) was a reporter on the ‘Times’ in the 1950s. He was on the proving flight of the De Haviland Comet 4 airliner, which marked the first regular jet-powered trans-Atlantic passenger air service. Here, he gives his impressions of New York the day after his flight. 3 October 1958 Visited very briefly UN bldg., and met EB, our N.Y. corr. Heard a few words of a debate. Then we (i.e. Comet party) were entertained to lunch in Overseas Press Club. P.M. 2 of us (who hadn’t seen NY) were taken round on a [...]

8 September From GDP/30 WK WK (born 1932) grew up in Hampshire. He kept a diary from the age of nine, in which he recorded the daily happenings in his life. Here, he describes his sister’s stay in hospital with appendicitis, and a trip to the cinema. 8 September 1948 P [the diarist’s sister] had her appendix out today. Doctor B came round this evening and told us she was alright. Dad, Mother and I went for a walk in the afternoon. Cinema in evening to see a stupid Noël Coward film “Brief Encounter” and film of the new forest [...]