Have been to bed and just got up again. Wish I were not so nervous. Had just settled down to go to sleep when I heard heavy gun-fire in the distance and got up. Jean was asleep and was cross at being awakened, she is not nervous now I am pleased to say. She has not dressed, but curled up on couch and gone to sleep. I have dressed as otherwise I feel so cold. It pours with rain, fire was nearly out but is beginning to flicker again so hope it burns up. Perhaps I ought not to have mended it, but I feel so shivery and may want a cup of tea before going back to bed, tho’ tea like coal is not too plentiful, in fact if it were not Father’s week for tea and sug[ar] ration for W.Bx I should be on the rocks before next month’s rationing came in. In any case shall have to be careful. We are heavy tea drinkers. Must start to give Jean more cocoa this cold weather but she does not take sugar with tea and will want sweeteners in cocoa. I get sweetened milk for Father’s porridge, it lasts a week, perhaps Jean could use some in cocoa. Rene has cut up most of her cake and sent it out. A queer custom. Mrs Mid[dleton] has given them a pair of beautiful vases expensive too but am afraid Rene has bad taste to prefer a lovely modern jar tho’ less valuable given her by the Hillsdons.

Occasional gun-fire and continual bumping of the tide. Almost wish I had stopped in bed. Skegness had her most severe raid last Sat night Oct’. 24^th about 9.45. One 2,000 lb. bomb and a lot of cases of incendiaries caused a lot of damage to property and some casualties. Only 1 civilian but Services lists are not published. There were at least 2 funerals of more than one RAF. Poor boys and poor other boys who are there for training, some young and nervous they will be afraid when the siren goes. It sounded on Sat (yesterday) morning but the “all clear” soon went. Have heard the raiders were at Canterbury again yesterday. We brought down 9 so judge there were a lot. Expect Ron has been to Yeadon Thur. to Sat. He was due back 8.a.m. today if he got off. (Fire has burned up beautifully, I ought to go to bed but will stay up a bit longer.) Don’t know if it was EMBK [embarkation] leave or not. I did not go. He does not seem able to tell us anything now in his letters and they don’t seem very cheerful to me. Perhaps he will be able to tell Emmie and she let us know. Miss West caught Jean coming out of Chapel this morning, she gave her 10/0 for Ron to buy a saucepan or something. Very nice and unexpected. I have put it in his letter.

We had half of Rene’s rabbit today. They killed one of those T[om] had from us and it was too big for them. When they want another rabbit dinner they can have one of our young ones. They are ready in about a month or 6 weeks from now. Have let Frank’s have a bag of potatoes as I think we still have as many as we shall want. 7/0 bag. Chrysanths coming on well, another week of calm unfrosty weather would see the best of them out. Those I brought in are coming out well. Have a few later ones in shed, and one that is just coming into bloom. I think it is one of my own, a pure white, but not quite sure yet. (Kettle singing and bright little fire, everything quiet, shall soon go to bed.)

Rose still lingers unless she has passed away to-day. Ciss expects to go to M. Ward this week. Percy Tyler died last week, only Flossie and her father left now. First Aid lectures started again now. Rene went Friday. Well it did not cure her last year but I am pleased she is keeping it up. They came down between showers this afternoon for the vases from Mrs M[id]. Father called for them on Fri as they were rather fragile to cycle with from Addlethorpe tho’ they [Rene and Tom] were cycling with them to-day. Hope they got home in fair weather, they intended going to chapel but don’t think they would venture as they got wet thro’ last Sun. night. Father fetched John Walker from Sk. station last night 10.15.and took him back to catch 6.44. Willoughby to-night. [Mr] Paul did 3 hours 8 to 11 for him last night. Cook (old misery) brought some liver in after dinner which I cooked for his supper. He goes without meals and gets all fussed up until he doesn’t know what he ails. Thinks he hasn’t time to get anything.

Reportedly, on October 24^th 1942, a large bomb fell on Park Avenue and Scarborough Avenue and others were dropped, with 12 deaths, 61 injured, 10 houses demolished and 300 damaged. (See ‘Skegness at War’, Marjorie C Wilkinson, Cupit Press, Horncastle 2007, p 13.) However, no civilian deaths on that date were listed on the Skegness War Memorial Roll of Honour.

Miss Nellie West, a colourful local ‘character’ and accomplished singer, Mrs Hipkin’s sister, lived at ‘Little Hanby’ near the Vicarage. They were believed to have been related to Lord Addison (see 21 Jan. 1942) and may have been connected with the family previously at Wests’ farm, later Hallgarths’, opposite (see Village Map).

‘M. Ward’ refers to Louth Infirmary Maternity Ward where Ciss had a child which was stillborn.

Percy Tyler was Flossie’s elder brother. Their father was Will Tyler. The family lived in half of ‘Ashleigh Villa’ near Tylers Bridge. Flossie had attended the village school at the same time as Rene.

John Walker was probably the Royal Artillery captain (later, major) who had moved to the area earlier in the wartime.

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After tea Sunday night. Father has just gone on patrol. It is so stormy I don’t suppose he’ll be very long. Jean is “blacking out” upstairs before settling down to finish her homework. It is rather early but so dull we have the small light (40 watt) on. Cook is writing a letter, he came after breakfast and stayed all day in spite of an invitation out to tea with one of the gunners whose wife is at Hallgarth’s.

I did not get up until 2.30 as I am in the grip of my old enemy. Am just beginning to hope it is not bronchitis too, have had enough of that. I kept off it tho’ until after the wedding for a good thing. It went off very nicely on Wed (Oct. 21^st) and incidentally Father’s birthday. Rene looked very nice in her deep red satin crepe dress with navy hat and shoes and cream gauntlets with bouquet of roses, lovely ones too from G. Young’s. Jean’s pale blue dress with net frills and net cap with coloured flower petals was quite a success worn with long gloves and the white shoes she had for Ron’s wedding. Her bouquet was cream and bronze chrysanthemums. Also from G.Y’s. The cake was excellent and in spite of being short of icing sugar looked very bridal. Mr Lamb lent his own vase of flowers for the top. It was gorgeous and almost too much for the cake. Emmie lent her bells and H[orse]-shoes and she also sent camera complete with film which was greatly appreciated as there were no official photographs. It was bright and sunny so hope they turn out well. Mr. Hillsdon the best man was very pleasant but had to return on 2.15 bus as they were “flitting” on Thursday. Wedding was at 11 o’ clock.

Rene and Tom on Wedding Day with May and Bertram John Hillsdon

There were a lot of people at the church. We were a little late as Evison was late calling for me. No confetti until we got out of the churchyard and then Mrs Short was waiting with a bagful which made it seem more weddingy. We had no one but the best man to the breakfast. Had ham and tongue cooked at home and a very nice trifle. Pineapple, sp[onge] cakes pt [port] wine jelly and egg custard. Then B[rides] cake with orange wine and coffee, but Jean and I had tea as we don’t like coffee. Afterwards Mr Hillsdon sang and Jean played as Mr H bluntly informed Tom that he could not sing to his playing by ear. They sang various things, amongst them “Lord of all being”. Ron could not get after all, to our great disappointment. To-day we have had a telegram to say he is going to Yeadon on Thursday night. Hope there is a letter to-morrow. I wonder if it’s his draft leave. John Meldrum is on draft. I said I would go to Y[eadon] if he [Ron] did not get home but I shall have to improve a bit if I do. Will wait and see if he is getting home at all.

Poor Rose has had two operations and they are afraid there is no hope of her recovery. Tom goes back to work tomorrow. Rene came and cooked dinner today. She will be here as usual tomorrow I expect. Hope I am better, am weak as I was pretty bad from Thursday dinner to last night but my breathing is easier. Lot of planes last night. We just got in bed last night when bombs shook the house. We got up but no more fell near. They were at Sk[egness] and we hear there were several casualties but don’t know anything definite. We sent Ron some B. cake on Wed. and regist[ered] it as Jean sent choc. some time ago which he never got, so she said she would register cake if she had to pay for it. He got it Thurs. morning. Had a letter from Vic yesterday and also one from Sybil. Frank [Adams] is on land somewhere, she does not know where.

George Aaron Young, ex sub-postmaster, in Hogsthorpe, almost certainly supplied the wedding flowers from his beautiful garden which was especially renowned for its roses. He was a member of the Home Guard.

Mr Bertram John Hillsdon was Tom’s work colleague, at accountants Mountain and Jessop, in Skegness.

Mrs Short, here, was probably of the family who lived in one half of ‘Ashleigh Villa’ (following Mrs Mason and Miss Riggall – see 21 Apr. 1941), although there were others in the village.

John Meldrum, a friend of Ron, was serving in the RAF. The family house had been near Ashleys’ bungalows, accessed off Anderby Road, and was later the home of Walter and Eva Banks (see 21 Oct. 1941) following their marriage.

Rose, here, was May’s sister-in-law, George Hill’s widow (see 2 Feb. 1941).

The next Diary entry (1 Nov. 1942) contains more detailed reporting of the Skegness bombing on 24th October.

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Father got all the potatoes home and to G.ma’s yesterday, a good thing too as there were heavy showers in the night. It was very stormy when Jean went to school, after 3 weeks holiday, but cleared later and was fine and sunny all day but very windy. Heard from Ron. He hopes to get home on Tue night and go back Wed from Sk[egness] at 5.30 pm. Emmie has gone back to Yeadon and doesn’t expect to get to the wedding as she has had so much time off. We had our photos taken on Tues. so hope they turn out well. Phyllis F came to us in Sk. and we brought her case home but could not bring her as Mrs Balding sen[ior] and George were with us. Jean went to Joyce’s for tea and came home on 6.15. bus’. Ph[yllis] came for tea yesterday, her baby John 17 months now is a lovely boy, not shy and very friendly. Before we finished tea, Keith and Marian came and Colin after them. Rene had made a sponge sandwich and I got a new scone from Blanchard and we ate the small cake made off Rene’s wedding cake. What a job it is finding something to eat. Some days we should have no cake at all so it was rather fortunate. Mary sent Ron’s wedding present a glass salad bowl and servers, glass too. I shall be pleased when Emmie has got it, the servers look so very breakable. Miss Brown came on Tues. morning and brought two blue and white plates and 2 soup plates very old at least 150 years. They are for Rene and Ron so they will make the choice when Ron is here tho’ Miss B. said Rene was to have first choice. Have made Jean’s old gym dress into a skirt, as it was so short. It is very fragile. Am getting on fairly well with her B.M. [bridesmaid's] dress. Rene has given her the butterfly wing ring to her great delight. Rene’s ring has come. It is heavy 18 ct. gold with diamond chips in a claw setting. T’s mother values it at £12. I am pleased she has it.

Father is on watch until 2 a.m. so we are going to bed. It is getting increasingly difficult to know what to get for dinner. Butcher calls once a week. We finished up mutton on Tue., Wed. Rene brought sausage, and to-day Father and Rene had bacon and ½ a sausage with turnip and pot. and I had a small piece of meat pie, a 4^D one. We had a jam pudding and a Quaker oat pudding to make out with. To-night Rene has managed to get a little cooked ham and tinned chopped ham “Spam” so we shall have to do with that tomorrow. Mr Hall sent 1 lb farm butter today also 3 oranges, 11^D but large sweet ones, they seem worth the money.

Phyllis, née Faulkner, mother of baby John, was the sister of Ralph, Herbert and Maurice (see 9 Feb. 1942).

Mrs Balding senior was the mother of carpenter Billy Balding (see 21 Apr. 1941) whose eldest son George was a Boys’ Brigade member.

Mary Hill, here, was the wife of Will’s brother Charles. This Mary should be generally assumed unless otherwise stated or obvious from the context.

Miss Mahler Brown, an elderly spinster, lived in ‘Alexander Cottage’, opposite Fairfield Farm access, on Sea Road between the village centre and Tylers Bridge (see Village Map). Her brother was Eardley Brown (see 31 Jan. 1941).

‘T’s mother’ the valuer of Rene’s ring, is a mystery since the mother of ‘Tom’ (Mr A) had died in 1919 but it is possible that May intended to refer to Tom’s first wife, who had died in 1940. Otherwise ‘T’ may not have meant ‘Tom’.

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Well, I’ve taken the tonic or most of it and it has given me a good appetite and I feel almost back to full strength again. Must get those capsules when we go to Sk[egness] on Tuesday afternoon. We went last Mon. and Rene chose a deep wine red dress, heavy crepe, satin-lined, and navy hat. She is having navy shoes. I saw a pair of soft cream kid gauntlets on Keightley’s counter and asked the price. Only 8/6 so Rene had them. They look very bridal. Jean’s dress is blue with white net frills. I want to make her a little cap too if I can. I have strained my hand again and it is stiff. I can’t write very easily. I wrote to Ron and Emmie this morning. She is at Wansford. I have written to [sister] Emily tonight. They have moved to Roxholme near Sleaford. May [one of Emily’s daughter] is with them. Her husband is at Lincoln. “Tom” [‘Mr A’] came after tea. He had preached at Ingoldmells this afternoon and been to Mrs Mid[dleton] to tea. He stayed until 8 o’ clock had a cup of tea when we had supper (Father went on watch at 8 ) then went home, so Rene did not have to go back. It has been cold but fine all day and rather windy. Yesterday it blew a gale.

Jean and I went to Trusthorpe Fri. and found summer had gone and it was autumn. The wind was icy, we could easily have done with our winter coats. Aunt Jet gets worse in mind tho’ well in health. Amy seems worn out as if she is just carrying on in a maze. I am wondering if she will keep on without a break-down in health or nerves. Fred is busy money-making. Ken has left school and been working on the farm all summer. He looks all boots and long arms as he has grown taller and come through his coat sleeves about 6 inches. Wonder how long he will be as keen on work. Amy let me have 1lb tea and gave me 1 doz eggs. The flavour is so different when the hens have good corn to feed on. Father has finished digging potatoes but there are a few to pick up yet. He won’t sell many as they are only about £4.10. a ton or 5/0 a bag so we may as well give them to the pigs.

Wansford was the site of the RAF camp near Peterborough.

The Mrs Middleton mentioned was probably one who lived in Addlethorpe, adjoining Ingoldmells. Another Middleton couple lived in South Road, Chapel St Leonards. (See East Lincolnshire and Village Maps.)

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Dull grey morning again, but as it cleared yesterday, it may do so again today. I have just made a batch of bread the first for some weeks. The yeast smells vile. I made it with white flour but don’t think it is very good. It all powders down on the top when exposed to the air as if it had been sieved. It makes me wonder if it is full of mites or something. Also it is so “rotten” when mixed it won’t bear lifting and my father always said it was poor flour if the dough would not hang together. He was a baker at one time and they had to lift a great binful of dough, out of a bin, close the lid and put the dough on it to make into loaves. It was a tiresome job if it would not hang together then. Dr Menzies just given me a call. Good thing I was up, and not up to the neck in bread making. I have set it to rise. He says my chest can take care of itself now, but I must have a tonic, then I am to take halibut liver oil capsules.

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Events seem to crowd upon us thicker and faster. I caught another cold and am only just getting well again. This week I really begin to feel able to work again and cleaned all the bedrooms today and bath-room and stairs. Harriet and Ivy came this afternoon for a few minutes. Ivy is getting quite plump again. Told us news of Annie. All very pleased. We told her our news of Rene’s wedding which is to be 21^st Oct. if all is well (Father’s birthday).

Ron was home last week from Mon until Friday night. Emmie came on Sun. night until Sat morn. It slipped by like the elvers slipped thro’ my fingers when I was a child. We strove in vain to grasp the hours and keep them. He came to Peterboro’ from I.O.M. 3 weeks ago and this was probably embarkation leave. It was so nice to see him again. We saw so little of him in Aug. and had so looked forward to this leave. We had a quiet day with him on Friday. They did not go out and we sang a bit in the afternoon, Emmie and Jean playing the piano. His favourite hymn “Lord of all being” that he used to sing at school and “The Church’s one Foundation”. Emmie bought him a bible (with illustration) and a belt with purse and we all gave him a writing case, not just what we wanted but what we could get. It was 8/6. We had collected about 2lbs choc which we packed in a tin for him to take away if he goes soon. He may get again to us or to Emmie’s. If possible he will come for the wedding which is to be very quiet. We took him to Sk[egness] station to catch 5.30 train and sent him off with a smile. Emmie is very brave. She said she once saw a woman in great distress saying “Goodbye” and her husband was so upset, that she made up her mind to shed all her tears at home and send Ron off gaily.

The new friends made in war-time (I don’t mean cook particularly) are one of its great compensations. Our outlook is broadened and our prejudices softened and we learn to give and take more and see the other’s point of view. Mrs Brown came for the day on Monday. It turned out wet and Father took her home in the car. She was very affable. Ron and Emmie went to see her while they were here. Had a letter from Emmie Tues. Must answer it. She arrived home a little before 4 o’ clock. A tedious journey as she left here at 8 a.m.

The news was of niece Annie Faulkner’s pregnancy. (See 9 Feb. 1942.)

Elvers are young eels. May’s descriptive prose reflection ‘Elvers’ recalled a childhood experience and related it to her more recent thoughts.

Ron was briefly stationed near Peterborough before being posted abroad.

Rose Brown, Eardley’s wife, was probably meant here (see 31 Jan. 1941).

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We returned from Yeadon on Tues 28^th [July]. We left there at 9.a.m. went to Leeds by bus’. Mrs R[ussell] went with us which we thought very kind. We picked up Joyce Coulston by the bus’ stop. She had been staying with an aunt at The Woolpack Inn. The train was in the station so we got in at once as they are so crowded. We had a quick journey to Alford only changing at Doncaster and Grimsby and no waiting anywhere. Arrived home about 3 pm. At Alford we heard the news of raid on Sk[egness] so Father went to Watch Box to find out exactly which streets were bombed and we were relieved to hear it was not near Coulston’s. We did not tell Joy[ce] until then. Her parents and [her] Grandma came in car for her after tea. She is a very capable girl to take out anywhere.

I was not very great the next day but between us we prepared Wed and Thurs for the Boswells arrival at tea time on Thurs. Four of them this time. Mr and Mrs and Aubrey and Doris a daughter, a very nice girl. They are very little trouble but I was ill two days, so poor old Jean had to work most of her holidays as I had to go to bed on the 12^th two days after they went and was there a week and only got up a few hours daily for another week. Am not very strong yet but bronchitis better. Cook has just gone, he came in for fish and chips. A heavy shower delayed Aunt Eff so Father missed his as he went on W[atch] at 8.p.m. It was a stormy sunset but is fair now. Rene was here during the shower. Jean is nearly asleep so must wash up and go to bed.

Joyce Coulston, Jean’s friend, had travelled by train to Leeds with the Hill family in order to spend a few days with her aunt in Yeadon.

When Skegness was bombed on 27th July 1942 the following civilians were killed: Mrs Chadwick, Mrs Kirk, Mrs Shaw and daughter Florence: See Skegness War Memorial Roll of Honour.

The Boswell family was staying at ‘Lenton Lodge’ as paying-guests.

Many years previously, Frank and Eff Raynor had a fish and chip business in the village. On this occasion Eff, on bicycle, had probably collected fish and chips, as a favour for the family, from ‘Joey’ (actually Edgar) Elliott’s shop in Hogsthorpe. (Irene Elliott, Joey’s wife, was in the Red Cross.)

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More than a month since I wrote in my diary. I had just written this one line and then in came Cook to sit and smoke a cig. He sat down and found he’d left them in his billet upstairs. In a joke he asked Jean to fetch them but her “No I won’t” was quite decisive. He thinks he’ll “away to bed” as Father is on watch until 2 am. He never stays long if Father isn’t here. He is most careful of his reputation! Jean has been to Life Brigade, Sprogg is wandering round so Jean has taken him out, to go to bed. I was changing into my slippers to-night and put my stockinged foot on the mat and got a sting from a wasp. Have applied the blue bag and it is easier. Jean was stung on the leg this morning. It is cool tonight, won’t be too hot on top of the Point on C.G. duty to-night. The W.Bx is in a state of transition from the original site to the Point and in the meantime the C.G.’s share the telephone with the military in a bungalow and watch on the bank from a beach hut. Hope the weather is not very stormy until it is up again.

After the wedding ceremony we had the breakfast in the school-room or hall belonging to the New Scarboro’ Chapel. Everyone admired the cake. It was a very nice breakfast, they were fortunate enough to get a caterer to undertake it. Ron said a little speech and Emmie too. Vic was quite serene when he made his, and spoke very nicely and Joan did well too. All the Yorkshire people were very nice but we hardly saw Ron as they went to catch 6 [p.m.] train at Leeds. He and Emmie too looked very happy and Ron seems to be very popular with them all. When they had gone we went back to Copt Royd St and lots of the others came too. They are all so friendly and we enjoyed the evening. I helped Mrs Russell pack Vic some sandwiches as he had to go back Sat. night and also some cake for the boys in Ron’s old billet at Binbrook. We slept at Mrs Russell’s on Sat night and Rene and Jean went to her sister’s, Mrs Emsley’s. Father and I went to The Park with Mr R. on Sunday morning. It was a bit drizzly but lovely when the sun came out. In the afternoon Rene and Jean went a walk with some girls on Otley Chevin moors. It was hot and they were tired but enjoyed it. I think Fa and I and Mr R had a nap but Mrs. R was busy getting a lovely tea ready. We had one of her famous Yorkshire puddings for dinner. They are delicious. In the evening we all walked in the Park again.

When we were dressing on Monday morning the siren blew. It is a weird and eerie sound. It was the first time I had heard it except in the far distance. We hurried down but soon the “all clear” went. When we got home we found Sk[egness] had had its severest raid with several people killed at the time we heard the siren at Yeadon between 8 and 9 Mon morning Jul 26 [actually 27th], 42. It sounded again in the night but we did not have to get up. Rene heard it and called to Mrs Emsley to ask if they were getting up and she said in her soft friendly voice, “No, love, that’s the “all clear”. Jean never heard either. On Monday Mr. R went to work and Mrs R took us to the mill. It was most interesting, and they were very kind in the mill and one man took us nearly all over it. Even Mrs R had not been in some of the rooms. After dinner we went by bus’ to Ilkley. Mrs R Mrs E and Addie came too and walked up the hill out of the town on to Ilkley Moor. I was able to walk quite a long way and the air was so pure and lovely quite a different smell coming over the moors, to our sea air. Mrs R and [Mrs] E and I sat on the moors not far from White Wells where we could see across to the Hydro and from there, there were lovely views all round right across the valley with Ilkley straggling down into it, to another range of hills or moors opposite and a slight mist rolling in and out amongst them. Father, Rene and Jean went with Addie right to the top and round the “Cow and Calf” rocks, they picked some heather which was just beginning to bloom and also some bilberries which they ate, then Addie (who ate them too) remarked that the sheep walked on them. I never imagined them growing so near the ground. I thought they grew on bushes! I gathered some heather too. We found no white heather. Mr R says most of the white is bleached by covering where it is coming in bloom, but I expect there are a few odd bits that grow naturally. It is easy to realise how people can be lost on the moors now I have seen them, and to realise also how a plane can crash into the hillsides in the mist if it gets too low in the valleys as the Sunderland did in Scotland last month when the Duke of Kent was killed and all the rest save one, who may recover.

The original site of the Coastguard  ‘watch box’ was north of ‘Lenton Lodge’. It was being moved southerly to ‘The Point’ (see Village Map).

The Russell family home was in Copt Royd Street, Yeadon, near Leeds.

Mrs Clara Emsley was the sister of Emmie’s mother, Mrs Russell.

Mrs Addie Russell was the wife of Dick Russell, Emmie’s cousin.

The severe bombing raid on Skegness, on Monday 27th July 1942, is referred to more fully in the next Diary entry, dated 5th September 1942.

Prince George, Duke of Kent was killed when an RAF Short Sunderland crashed in poor visibility near Dunbeath, Scotland, on August 25th 1942.

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Well, our visit and the wedding is over. It will be a green oasis in this desert of war. The Russells are exceedingly nice people, and the relations and friends all so kind and homely. We felt at home at once tho’ their furnishings make ours look old and shabby I’m afraid. Yet I don’t think I should be afraid to have any of them here, they are so unaffected and nice. They went out of their way to give us a good time after the wedding. It was a fine day after early rain and the sun shone on the bride and everyone else. Also the wind was very slight. Vic and Ron arrived on the Friday night, Vic about 7 and Ron about 8 o’clock. Ron in his hurry left his attaché case in bus’ so had to phone to Leeds about it. He recovered it from there Sat. morn. so we did not see him again until in church. Vic and he were seated at the right side and Vic glanced carefully round, then Ron turned and smiled very happily at us. Mrs R, Father and I sat together in front regardless of etiquette. She thought it would be nicer and indeed it was. Father and I would have felt lost by ourselves on one side of the Chapel and all the Russell clique on the other (their numbers are legion) tho’ Emmie being the only child there was no one in the immediate family to sit with her. Joan, the chief bridesmaid was a lovely girl and Rene, she and Jean looked very nice in their green dresses. Jean walked behind the bride as the other two were older and taller. Vic turned out to be a very nice fellow, not shy, but not at all forward. I think everyone liked him. I should think he would be tired the way he ran about and looked after Ron and entered into all that was going. It is 11 p.m. now so more another day.

[The following note was written at the head of the next available page, presumably before the next dated entry was written:]

“False. The type so well named by the French as fausse because it meant, not false to any love or ideal, but quite simply and fundamentally incapable of any verity or truth.”

That was the word or expression old Mrs Wilson (Cootes housekeeper) was wont to use. “Fausse as a cat” she would say, and it was meant to imply exactly what the French meant. I recognised the word at once when I read it in Time of Gold by Diana Patrick. I knew her meaning was not the English false but she always pronounced it fawse and I thought she meant to say false. I wonder how she came by it.

Vic Morrall was Ron’s best-man at the wedding.

Joan Smithhurst was Emmie’s chief bridesmaid.

Permission for publication of the wedding photograph was given by Donald Pickles on behalf of photographer Lawrence Pickles’ family.

Diana Patrick was the pseudonym of British author Desemea Wilson née Newman (1878-1964) whose books were published between 1919 and 1943. The Time of Gold was published by EP Dutton, 1932.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Have written to Ron and Amy before I got up this morning, humouring my asthma as I want to be well at the end of the week. Rose about 11 o’ clock. We only cooked potatoes as we were having cold ham for dinner, some from Stow’s (cooked) and some Swifts chopped ham from a tin, very nice but not like a Sunday dinner. However I have salted our very small joint of beef and shall cook it to take on Fri. as I can’t depend on getting anything more in time. Must take bacon too and eggs if possible. Shall get a lot of things together tomorrow and see how to pack them. I have written too to Emily since I got up and we have had supper and Father is “away” (as the Scottie cook says) to the WBx. Amy sent me 1lb tea yesterday she had promised to let me have, by Edie Crow. She also sent £1 for Ron and Auntie J[et] sent 10/0. Rene got a lovely little coffee set (by Wedgwood) yesterday. We are giving it to Ron and Emmie. Shall give them another present later. Hope we can take coffee set (deep orange and cream with flower sprays, a bargain at 12/6 in these times). I think coffee pot is worth 7/6. If we can’t take all we shall take a piece to show them. I really think I am beginning to look forward to our visit a little tho’ I don’t like meeting strangers much. I think we shall like the Russells tho’.

Wedgwood Coffee Set - Wedding Present

Ted Brown called this afternoon with Bessie and Eric. Bessie was not in uniform. She looks older somehow this time and not so lively but she had been meeting a strong wind so was tired perhaps. Is still at Coventry. Mrs B not too well.

Rene came home on Jean’s cycle. She took it last night, it was too rough to cycle here but wind was behind her going back. We hoped to have peas for dinner to-day but they fill so slowly. Rene says the black-currants are ripening fast. We shall have a busy week but hope not too heavy. We have tried to plan not to have too much left to do. Have not had fire in room to-day nor been in. It was too chilly without and I did not want more work than necessary this week. It has turned dull again tonight hope it does not mean more rain, bottle half up.

Mrs Fletcher came in for a few minutes on Thursday. She had come for the day, and had dinner in Skeg[ness]. She had been to churchyard and was going back on 2.15 bus. She is so plump and grey, almost white with little curls all round. She looks quite 60 tho’ she is only 52 or 53. Says she is ready to come back to Chapel but don’t think she will want to while her mother lives. It poured with rain but she had umbrella and mac and did not seem to mind. Oh dear! I dread the thought of “flitting” again, but one is never sure in someone else’s house. Still it is too soon to worry about that at present. Should think we are alright until the war is over.

Went to Sk. on Fri, hope we shall not have to go again before going away. Got Father wht. shirt, socks and tie, Jean a vest. Also I got a tin of Grate Polish 4½^D paste only one tin each. Rene had lent me her tin of liquid polish this week as I had none for so long. Father has soled and heeled Ron’s shoes ready for the wedding and blacked my walking shoes so I can wear them with my costume and save my best black ones a bit.

Father told Cookie we would give him a few new potatoes for himself today so he said would we cook them and he’d fetch them! There is a Jew amongst the R.A.s. He is a hairdresser. He has brought scissors and comb and cuts the fellows hair 6 ^D a time and now makes up hair cream 1/0 a bottle. He offered Cookie h. cream at 9^D a bottle but Cookie is a Scot. He had some of his own and said “Anyway if I had it at 9^D he’d always be round the cookhouse for something.” When Jew meets Scot, nothing doing! He has just been round to fill his lighter with Father’s petrol and to beg old papers for the fire, also to bring stale bread for pigs. Jean has gone to bed, I shall wait a bit as my breathing is pretty bad tonight.

The wedding present coffee set was made by Wedgwood & Co and not by Josiah Wedgewood. The Company was founded by a distant relative of Josiah but not as noteworthy.

Mrs Fletcher was the owner of May and Will’s rented home ‘Lenton Lodge’ (see 16 Dec. 1940).

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?