A canal trip; the Falklands Fallen – remembered; a visit to Swithun Wells School; Sherborne House – 50 years old; woodworm in the furniture; orchids on Shawford Down; Gran is sent flying; farewell Josie; Gran flies a kite, and Grampa – not well.
Gran has joined several coach tours, mainly to the West Country, in recent months, organised through her Club. She enjoys noting the passing scenery and wayside flowers but is often frustrated by stops for refreshments and shopping. She usually wanders off on her own at these times.
On June 12th 1985 there is a half-day outing into Berkshire, which includes a canal trip:
We went over a level crossing towards Hampstead Marshall where the Kennet and Avon Canal was our stopping area… Our barge, the Avon, was awaiting us and after we embarked, I learnt that it was purpose-built for these excursions but on the traditional narrow-boat principle though now is a motor barge and not horse-drawn as originally… The windows were large with seats all round and a little shop and bar at one end. I bought a little ribbon plate for Ruth, a thimble with our barge on it for Sue, a booklet, “On the Kennet and Avon” and a biro for myself.
There is much more besides, in her description of her day, and Gran seems keen to mention the names of those involved in managing the operation of the boat – “Anne Head, who served in the shop”, “Wayne Fowler helped us to disembark and Bob Butler, the owner, said ‘Goodbye’ to us”. She ends the day’s notes with: “I was home at 7.30 ready for a meal after this soul-satisfying trip. I did not finish writing up this account as it took a long time to check the Latin names of the flowers”.
June 14th:
I heard part of the Dedication Service for the memorial of those lost in the Falklands War and the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a most moving and inspiring address about “Memories”… The Service was in St Paul’s Cathedral and the simple granite memorial stone with the lists of the Fallen was placed in the Crypt and unveiled by the Queen. Prince Andrew, who served in the Falklands and survived, placed a wreath at the foot from the Falkland Islanders.
And:
I started to unpick my jacket made forty-eight years ago from Welsh wool from the Pandy Mills at Penmachno Cwm. I intend to hank and wash it to get out the wrinkles and then re-knit it into a new garment!
“I spent a truly delightful and enjoyable afternoon”, she writes on the 18th:
Mrs Stott called for me at 1.30 and took me to the Catholic School, to which the Kingston children first went, to talk about the wild flowers of Chandler’s Ford, to the children of her class. There were forty of them and I took some of my paintings to show them. First I talked to all of them together and then put the paintings on tables in the staff room and they came in small parties to have a closer look and to ask innumerable questions. Some went to fetch paper and pencils to make copies of them. It was a joy to be with such well-behaved boys and girls, who opened doors for me, let me enter first, and then thanked me when they left for another party to come in. Two of the girls even made me a cup of tea.
And four days later:
A lovely and heart-warming surprise arrived in my front porch this evening. With red covers inscribed in gold, “To Mrs Goater, with thanks from Class 8 Swithun Wells School”, were letters of appreciation from all the children who were present when I went to talk to them on Tuesday. Some had wished me a Happy Birthday next month and some had hoped I enjoyed the tea and chocolate biscuits!
Gran, in her turn, writes them a thank-you letter on the following day.
There is less mention than usual of the tennis at Wimbledon this year. It is much disrupted by rain but on June 26th Gran enjoys this:
… I was able to watch, on television, the day’s main shock – the defeat of one of the favourites to win, Max [sic] Wilander, the Swede, by an unknown Jugo-Slav with an unpronounceable name, who, in reply to the cheers of the crowd when he won, bowed to each section in turn. A delightful lad.
On June 28th there is a reason for celebration at the school attended long ago by Gran’s children, Barry and Jane:
… I attended the party at Sherborne House to launch Miss Wise’s book about the first fifty years of the School, which was founded by her Mother. I felt rather the Ancient Grandmother as Margaret Bishop was the only other person near my age, but many ex-pupils of Barry’s time made themselves known to me. I bought a copy of her book, which Miss Wise signed for me.
Barry himself, and Jane Elizabeth arrive at The Ridge late that evening and Gran writes the next day:
Barry and Jane E., having discovered an infestation of beetle in the bed in their room and in the backs of the wardrobe and dressing-table, Barry broke up and burned the bed, but I hope to get the backs on the other furniture replaced! The afternoon made up for the trauma of the morning! Barry took us to the New Forest, a most exciting event for me after such a long time.
Barry and Jane Elizabeth had driven south partly to undertake a sad visit to a great entomological friend, and Gran records it thus: “A quiet and uneventful day after Barry and Jane Elizabeth left soon after 8.30 this morning to go to Cirencester to see Ronnie Demuth, who is dying of cancer but had expressed a wish to see them”.
Of course, Gran’s own friends are ageing, and showing signs of it too. After a brief visit by Tommy and Bob in early July, she notes that “Tommy seems very frail but is cheerful as always”, and also:
Mary Harding called to return a book I lent her. It was lovely to see her again after such a long time but I was sorry to hear that she and Frank have been very poorly since Easter with a virus, poor Mary twice and collapsing with a temperature of 100°, and having Tim, Jill and grandchildren to stay when she was not fit to cope with the extra work. I hope all will be better soon.
Discovering from a friend, Mrs McGhinn, that Julian features in The Sun newspaper on July 5th, Gran calls in to her home to see it and reports:
There was an article about the unfair distribution of the Athletics Fund, the top runners being given large sums to appear in races and those lower down given so much less. There was a photograph of Julian looking extremely angry as he spoke of this unfairness, backed up by many other athletes.
As I left her bungalow I noticed about ten plants of Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) in her front border and pointed out the orchids to her. She had no idea what they were and was delighted to know.
Gran notes the Wimbledon tennis results at this time, sorry that Chris Lloyd loses the Ladies’ Singles Final to Martina Navratilova, “making it four times in a row for Martina”, but excited about “Boris Becker, the seventeen year old German [who] won the title, the youngest ever champion, winning against Kevin Curran after a final of enormous quality”.
“A lovely and satisfying afternoon”, she notes, of some time spent botanising locally on her own, on July 12th:
I took a ‘bus to Southdown Road and walked along the foot of the slope from Shawford Down to the bypass looking for orchids… The chalk slope was most exciting! I have never seen so many Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) in so small an area and there was a large emergence of Marbled Whites, which I have not seen here before.
She lists other flowers seen: Yellow Rattle, Harebells, Cathartic Flax, a few Fragrant Orchids, Spotted Orchids, a Broomrape, Eyebrights, Hop Trefoil, Rest Harrow and a number of other chalkland species – “all this within the space of one hour!” she writes enthusiastically.
She has much news to report on the 16th; some uplifting, some sad and some unpleasant:
A nice surprise this morning was a phone call and then a brief visit from Pat (née Littlecott) and her son Christopher [visiting from Canada], who had recently stayed with Jane… It was really lovely to see Pat after losing touch for several years and she has not changed a bit. They went on to look at the Lake and then to see Mrs Hoskins.
One sadness today: Susan Pettit, daughter of M.S., after years of suffering and operations for arthritis, which culminated in her being in a wheelchair, died on Sunday.
M.S., we have been told earlier in the journal, was the first girlfriend of Norris, Gran’s brother. We are never enlightened as to her full name. Gran continues:
An unpleasant experience this afternoon but it could have been worse! Walking past the Lake to go to the surgery with a request for a repeat prescription, I was sent flying by a boy on a bicycle – the riding of which is supposed to be forbidden round the lake area. I fell heavily, cutting my hand and knee but not, fortunately hurting my hip. The boy, to his credit, was much concerned, helped me up and asked if I were alright. I told him he was very naughty and should not have been riding his bicycle and he said he knew and was sorry!
When I reached the surgery I asked if there was anywhere I could wash my hand and knee and I was put in the charge of the nurse, who washed and dressed the cuts, and the receptionist insisted on giving me a cup of sweet coffee and a chair to sit on… I shall, no doubt, be stiff tomorrow but am lucky to have got off so lightly.
Ruth came in later for a chat. She goes away on Saturday. It was a very pleasant evening, which I took quietly, seeing “Wildtrack” and other television programmes, and reading.
Book 220
Gran reports another moment of sadness on July 22nd, her eighty-first birthday, when:
I had to put Josie, the Budgie, out of her misery. She had been very poorly for a long time and had now lost her balance and kept falling off her perch. I hated doing it but it was for the best.
Daughter and grand-daughter Jane and Katie, in Chandler’s Ford for a few days, drive Gran and Gramp to Farnham to see Julian, Sue and family on the 23rd. Gran writes this:
Sam and Anna were adorable as ever and we sat in the garden until Julian, Katie, Sam and I went to the park to fly Sam’s new kite. The wind was just right and the kite soared to a great height with no effort from the ground. We all had a turn at holding it and I had never thought that, at 81, I should really fly a kite!
A few days later, at seven o’clock in the morning, grandson Rob and his Dad, Barry, arrive at The Ridge to transport both grandparents to Bushey, Gran writing, “Observations were impossible as we sped along, mainly on motorways”. Number 22 Reddings Avenue has undergone some changes, clearly approved of by Gran: “The extensions to the house are a great improvement and have given Barry a much needed study, of course, full of moth cabinets and book-cases, amongst which I shall be sleeping!”
Next day:
This evening we played some whist but the day’s excitement came at 8.30, when Barry saw a Humming-bird Hawk-moth fly past the sitting-room window and we watched it for some time hovering round the Jasmine outside the front door. It was a first record for the garden and the first I had seen for a long time.
The obligatory visit to Hilfield Park Reservoir takes place, Gran getting soaked by heavy rain, her “… mackintosh no longer waterproof” but delighted to record a range of waterbirds, and, “In the hide, divested of my wet mac, Barry gave me his pullover as I had cold arms and hands so I was soon warm and comfortable”.
On July 29th, I find the shortest entry, so far, for a day in her journal: “Three words sum up today! Rain, cards and some television!” And, back in Chandler’s Ford on the first day of August, she writes:
Something of an upheaval later when the man came to take out wood-wormed backs of wardrobe and dressing table in the spare bedroom and another to service the gas fire in the dining room but they were jobs well done.
There is continued frustration, rather than concern, over the declining health of husband Bill at this time, Gran clearly annoyed that carefully prepared meals are spurned, and that Grampa refuses to allow her to speak to his doctor to discuss the situation. She does find something uplifting to write though: “The brightest spot of the day came this evening when there was an excellent programme on television to commemorate the eighty-fifth birthday of our much-loved Queen Mother”.
However, Gran returns home after a visit to the Bank and the Chemist on August 6th to find:
… Dad shivering and shaking and very cold. He, of his own volition(!) phoned to the surgery and later Dr Charlwood phoned to say he would call in on his way home. I suggested bed with hot water bottles and this was accepted. Dr Charlwood came just after seven o’clock and said the patient must go to hospital tomorrow for some treatment…
An ambulance, on the following morning, takes Grampa to Winchester Hospital, “for tests”. Even as late as August 13th, though, when Gran phones the Hospital for news of his condition, she is told that no results of the tests have arrived and that there are still more tests to come. On the 15th, still with no test results, she receives news that Grampa can come home and go again to the Hospital as an out-patient in September, and “then go to the Clinic for treatment if necessary”.
Gran is incredibly frustrated and suffering somewhat from an unavoidable lack of family support: Barry and family have been preparing for, and undertaking, an expedition to France and Spain, and Jane, with Katie, has been on a short holiday in Canada. But she is relieved on the 15th: “Joy of Joys”, she writes, “Jane phoned, home from Canada and she and Katie both well and had a wonderful time.”
And, at last, on August 18th, after Grampa has been home for three days: “Dinner was a success today and my patient ate it all up for the first time in months, with something like enjoyment”. More good news recorded at this time is that Rob has passed his A levels and will be going to Manchester University, that Katie has got her degree and, on August 21st, that:
Post brought a letter from Andy to tell us that he and Judy, who have known each other from schooldays, were engaged on Saturday, choosing the Lake District, special to Andy, to achieve it. It was made official on Sunday, on Jane’s Wedding Anniversary.
Article series
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 1)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 2)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 3)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 4)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 5)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 6)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 7)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 8)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 9)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 10)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 11)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 12)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 13)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 14)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 15)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 16)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 17)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 18)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 19)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 20)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 21)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 22)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 23)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 24)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 25)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 26)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 27)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 28)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 29)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 30)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 31)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 32)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 33)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 34)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 35)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 36)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 37)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 38)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 39)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 40)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 41)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 42)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 43)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 44)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 45)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 46)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 47)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 48)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 49)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 50)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 51)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 52)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 53)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 54)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 55)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 56)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 57)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 58)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 59)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 60)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 61)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 62)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 63)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 64)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 65)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 66)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 67)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 68)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 69)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 70)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 71)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 72)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 73)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 74)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 75)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 76)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 77)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 78)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 79)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 80)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 81)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 82)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 83)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 84)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 85)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 86)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 87)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 88)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 89)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 90)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 91)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 92)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 93)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 94)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 95)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 96)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 97)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 98)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 99)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 100)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 101)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 102)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 103)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 104)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 105)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 106)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 107)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 108)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 109)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 110)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 111)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 112)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 113)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 113)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 114)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 115)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 116)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 117)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 118)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 119)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 120)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 121)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 122)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 123)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 124)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 125)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 126)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 127)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 128)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 129)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 130)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 131)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 132)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 133)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 134)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 135)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 136)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 137)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 138)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 139)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 140)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 141)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 142)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 143)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 144)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 145)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 146)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 147)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 148)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 149)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 150)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 151)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 152)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 153)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 154)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 155)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 156)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 157)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 158)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 159)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 160)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 161)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 162)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 163)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 164)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 165)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 166)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 167)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 168)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 169)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 170)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 171)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 172)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 173)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 174)
- Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 175)
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