Tuesday 1 March
Mum's birthday today, I gave her some lavender soap - there have been many little scraps of paper around the house with "lavender soap}on them. I have now heard from the last hostels. We have now booked at all the hostels. All I want now is the train fare! Bernie was annoyed with me again today because I didn't agree with him over automation. I later proved I was right by asking
Musgrove who is a bit of an authority on the subject. I think that there will soon be another party- I hope Chris comes.

Wednesday 2 March
We have been given news today of a terrible earthquake Agadir in French Morocco. As far as is known 3,000 have been killed and about another 2,000 people are still missing. Bernie has now agreed that he is wrong about automation. For our art period oday we were shown some surrealist paintings. I can't understand some of them but some of the coloring is magnificent. I particularly like work by Salvador Dali. I stayed after school today to watch the film "Marty in the Gym". It wasn't much although it was very well made and the acting was good. Didn't get home till about 8:30.

Thursday 3 March
I missed the bus this morning, it was early.  I saw it but couldn't do anything about it.  When I arrived at school there was a Morris Minor 1000 Traveller outside the form room.  It turned out it was Peter Gregory's parents'.  He has just passed his test and this is the first time he has driven to school.  After school he brought me home, along with three others.  
During music today we had the Hebrides Overture and Pictures from an Exhibition by Mussorgsky (arranged for orchestra by Ravel).  The overture was a very good recording, the best I have heard (Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra)  It was the first time I have heard the Mussorgsky and I enjoyed it.

Friday 4 March
During a double maths period this morning George Higgins was doing some work on the board for the whole one and a half hours. He took 42 minutes to do one problem and then it was only right because he looked at the answers and fiddled his working. For our current affairs lecture we had a talk by J.P Mason Esq. J. P. The talk was entitled "The Courts", it was very interesting. After school I played football for a little while - halfway through the ball burst so we had to borrow another. I went to the library on the way home and didn't get in till about 6:15. When I arrived home there was a telegram waiting for me I was quite anxious until I opened it " Match tomorrow transferred to home - Judge ". I'm very glad because it won't cost me so much.

Saturday 5 March
I had a letter today from the CME&E (Brightion) giving details of two classes of locomotive (classes A12 and D3X).
When I arrived at the club this afternoon I found that our fixture against Merton and Morden Colts had been cancelled.  However, I managed to get a game for the Extra B XV against Thomas Cooks A XV.  It was a draw 6-6 and the game wasn't much, there was quite a bit of fighting.  
This evening we went into the Champions' birthday party.There were twenty of us.  Spent most of the evening playing Escalado.  I wasn't too late getting to bed because I have injured my back.

Sunday 6 March

Haven't done much at all today, did some school work this morning, my back injured in the match yesterday is a bit stiff, good job it's not any worse. This afternoon I have been listening to the wireless, the railway program and the symphony concert, Overture "Oberon" Weber and Beethoven's 2nd Symphony. Have been sawing some wood to ease my back. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down this evening, they brought Dad a self- preparing screwdriver. We saw the Crazy Gang on TV at the Palladium. This evening I have had violent stomach ache- something I've eaten I expect.

Monday 7 March
My stomach ache was even worse during the night so that I haven't been to school today. I stopped in bed this morning and got up about 3:00. It's been very boring, I've been playing some of my records. This afternoon I have done an economics essay about the exchange rates of currency. This long distance walking craze seems to have really caught on. The latest thing is a race from John O'Groats to Land's End, organized by Billy Buttlin. About 1,000 people are taking part, the leader is about halfway.

Tuesday 8 March
Still away from school today although I feel much better now. I got up about 11.30. Jean Ogden cut her head open this morning at school, she went to casualty but is all right. This evening I watched a performance of Brahms violin concerto on television  (London Philharmonic conductor John Pritchard, solo Isaac Stern). I've always considered Brahms hard to listen to but as I know this work quite well, I enjoyed it very much. The first movement was quite good but a bit thin. The second movement was very good, there's something magical about it, the third movement was played verry well indeed, Stern's technical ability is amazing.

Wednesday 9 March
Back to school today, I've only been away 2 days but in those 2 days everything seems to have gone mad. It's the school's Refugee week, our target is £200. Everybody is running competitions and raffles in aid of the Refugee Fund, even Bernie's been selling homemade coconut ice. This evening I heard the Beethoven Violin Concerto for the first time, in spite of our wireless which was crackling for a good part of the first movement. I quite enjoyed it, the last movement especially which was a very gay tune quite unusual for Beethoven.

Thursday 10 March
So far our Refugee Fund has reached £144 which is very good indeed for 3 days. Today there was a competition organized by the upper fifth "Guess how far Mr Soper can kick a rugger ball", what will they think of next? It seems that a rag organized by the sixth form to be held in Eltham on Saturday is at last on, we have at last got police permission. I won't be taking part in this because I am playing for 'Combe "B" XV at Maidstone. It is a long way to go just to play rugger. Auntie Pat and Uncle Reg came down this evening, it's raining quite hard now. They are going to have a model Railway Club in their shed. What a carry on!

Friday 11th March.
The Refuge fund is reaching fantastic heights. By yesterday we had reached our target of £200 and we collected £96 today, in a school of about 450 boys. For our current affairs. We had a talk by a person from the Trades Union Congress. He was a typical trade unionist and some of the talk was laughable, for instance he compared trade union restrictive practices with the British Medical Association. After school we had an illustrated talk on the Pacific islands, it was very interesting and the lecturer, an exRN commander who kept the interest. This evening it has been raining quite hard and it is getting foggy.

Saturday 12 March
I went down to play rugger at Maidstone.  I had some time to spare at St. Mary Cray station and this gave me the opportunity to observe the line after modernisation.  Most of the traffic was electric multiple units (6 cars to Ramsgate, 4 cars suburban, 2 cars to Gillingham and Maidstone).  In the hour I was there there were only two non-electric passenger trains (both boat trains), one pulled by a Battle of britain Pacific and the other hauled by Derby-Sulzer diesel electric locos D5000/4.  There was one freight pulled by D5010.  There is now very little steam at all.
I reached Mote Park Maidstone without mishap.  It is a very nice place set in wonderful country.  We lost the match 3-15 (3-3 at half time).  The main trouble was that their scrum was very heavy and their wings were very fast.  I caught the 7.45 back from Maidstone and arrived home just after nine.  Both ways I travelled in electric stock which is comparatively new (about a year)) and I was surprised at the way the riding of the bogies has deteriorated.  The journey down was bad enough but the up journey was atrocious.  They would not have passed the "threepenny bit test".

Sunday 13 March
When I came to do my economics essay this morning I found that my essay book was at school, it hasn't to be in till Tuesday so I can do it tomorrow. It's very annoying though. This afternoon I listened to Beethoven Symphony Number 8. It's the first time that I've heard it all the way through and I like it although the last movement was not played very well. The John O'Groats - Lands End race has been won by James Musgrave who finished at Land's End early this morning, he has won £1,000 but it has cost him £250. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down this evening.

Monday 14 March
It turned ut that the rag held in Eltham High Street in aid of the refugee fund was quite successful. I would like to have seen Terry Wall in a pram pushed by Colin Bishop, drinking beer through a teat. We now have about £340.  Paul Thompson came to school about 12 o'clock very jubilant.  He has passed his driving test.  There is going to be a show at school next Saturday.  I think I will ask Christine to have come.  I have done my economics essay which I ought to have done yesterday.  Mum went to a Whist Drive this evening, she didn't win anything.

Tuesday 15 March
I had a card from "Combe this morning. I am playing for the second Colts on Saturday against London Scottish "B" XV, it should be quite a good game. It has been a wonderful day today, the sun has been quite warm, spring is really on the way. Taffy turned up to our science period today only about 10 minutes late - wonders will never cease. I expect it is the spring in the air, we were meant to be talking about relativity but I don't think we actually touched it. I phoned Christine up today to ask her to come with me to the concert on Saturday. She said she would. Auntie Edie and Uncle Jim came down this evening.

Wednesday 16 March
Because of the working to rule on the the buses my bus this morning was canceled. The next bus was full so I had to wait 20 minutes for a bus. There was a £19,000 bank raid yesterday at the Midland Bank, Mottingham. This morning there were notices in the village offering £1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the bandits. Two men have been detained; one from Crofton Road, Orpington and one from Chiselhurst Road, Grove Park. Some excitement! This evening I have been writing my "Mind and the Supernatural" essay for the head, it should have been in by last Friday. I've been writing a lot of trash with much padding.

Thursday 17 March
My bus was late again this morning, had to wait 20 minutes in the cold at the Cricketers. I'm going to school later tomorrow. For our music period today we heardd Elgar's "Enigma Variations", (Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra). I'm getting to know these variations now but the tunes or themes seem to be very disjointed, certainly different to Mozart. It was the senior cross country after school, I didn't stay to watch because Paul Thompson came to school in his car and gave me a lift home. He seems a better driver than Peter Gregory and has more confidence.

Friday 18 March
I tried to box clever this morning by leaving home 20 minutes later.  Unfortunatekly the wrong bus was cut so I still had to wait a long time. It didn't matter much because I have two PS periods first thing.  At break this morning we had the first XV photograph.  It took some time changing afterwards with the result that I was 20 minutes late for maths.
After school I helped at the TFS lecture on the Roman city of Verulaneum (St. Albans).  Some of the slides were very good.  At 6.15 we saw the Film Society's film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". Although it was a musical I enjoyed it, some of the dancing was excellent.
The last steam locomotive for British Railways "Evening Star", was completed at Swindon Works.

Saturday 19 March
Did an essay this morning on world population. I don't think Bernie will like it very much. Went up to Goddington to play for 'Comb but London Scottish be didn't turn up. We played a game of sevens, we lost. England won the Calcutta Cup by beating Scotland 21 - 12 at Murrayfield, this means that we have also won the Triple Crown and have at least drawn the championship with France. Had to dash home from rugger and caught the 5.59 from Orpington to Petts Wood and met Chris at 6:30.The "Sort of a Show"  wasn't too bad, it seemed like organized chaos. Some of the sketches weren't too bad but some were very poor. I think the best part was called "Imagination" with three tramps. Christine seemed to enjoy it anyway.

Sunday 20 March
The sun shone brightly this morning although the wind was very keen. The roads have been busy, people have been taking the first opportunity to get out into the country. I have been working in the garden this morning, Dad is putting a mirror in the door of the bathroom. This afternoon I heard the program "On Railways". There was a very good description of the brunch from The Mound to Dornoch in Scotland. Have been continuing my "Mind and Supernatural" essay, it is now ten days overdue. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down this evening.

Monday 21 March
My bus did come this morning. It was a good job that I went at the normal time because the other bus was again cut out. The general opinion on the show on Saturday was that it was very good although members of the cast tell me that the number of people who spoke their lines wrong was terrific. I am now listening to the second movement of Beethoven Symphony number 2, I've heard the first movement before but it is too early to form any real opinion. I seem to be hearing more and more music nowadays.

Tuesday 22 March
I was shocked this morning to read a report of the terrible riots in South Africa in which many Africans have been killed in Sharpville near Johannesburg. 66 people were killed and 186 injured. There have been demonstrations, (particularly from LSE) outside South Africa house in Trafalgar Square. The trouble is supposed to have been caused by the passes all Africans have to carry. Had a card today from 'Combe, I am playing for the second Colts on Saturday against King George's house. I hope they don't scratch. The last three matches have been altered because of scratching. This evening Mr Champion came into watch the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on TV .

Wednesday 23 March
The weather has been fine today, the sky has been very clear, but it has been cold morning and evening. It has been cold in school because the central heating system is out of action caused by a leak in one of the radiators in our room. This evening it was being repaired. This evening I watched the football match on tv. Football League versus Scottish league. It was a hopeless game to which the football league won 1 - 0. The goal was scored by Hooper. The players seemed to lack the basic skills of the game. No wonder British football is in a bad way!

Thursday 24 March
Have had the usual lazy day which I have come to expect on Thursdays. Five private study periods followed by music (Sibelius 2nd Symphony) and economics. As it is near the end of term I haven't much work to do which means that time has tended to drag. Coming home this evening Nick Martin gave Pete Jones and myself a lift from Chiselhurst. He has a very ancient Ford which rattles and shakes like anything. His brakes weren't much good and he was steering around the manhole covers. Still he got us home, Nick seems to be enjoying himself at Oxford. Auntie Margaret and Uncle Jim came down this evening- most unusual.

Friday 25 March
House dramatics this afternoon. Carey was first. I didn't think too much of it. The Chalmer's one was quite good but it went on too long, it all seemed to hinge on calling everybody beautiful. Livingstone's play was the pseudo-intellectual "The Room" by Pinter. Nobody understood it. It was a bit queer, the acting was not too good. I thought the Moffatt play was the best. It was well acted and was nearly as pseudo as Livingstone. Auntie Edie has stayed the day with us. She talks all the time.

Saturday 26 March
I played for Combe Junior Colts against King George's House (a YMCA) team  The result was a 3-3- draw.  It was a very good game, the best of the season probably.  It was hard fought but there was no dirty play. I had quite a duel with the opposing prop as to who was to bind under whom.  Afterwards I got into conversation with one of their players, a Hungarian who came over after the revolution.  He was very interesting to talk to.
Dad came in about half an hour late this evening because of the trains. Later on Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down and took Mum and Dad for a ride around Westerham.  I stayed home and read and listened to the wireless (Prokofiev Symphony No. 1).

Sunday 27 March
I've been cutting some more logs this morning, they are used up as fast as I can cut them. Went to the club seven asides at Goddington. It was quite entertaining and there was some good rugby. Six teams from the club took part, the competition was based on a league system with the handicap which evened up the sides. Thaus when the first V11 played the 6th V11, the latter started 15 - 0 up. There have been some more violent demonstrations in Trafalgar Square today. They have also been some protests against Sir Oswald Mosley.

Monday 28 March
It's being a terrible day today, we have had rain continuously for the whole day. It will do the gardens some good, they were getting very dry. This year's election competition was won by Siys, I thought Collins was the best but the judges thought otherwise. It was very boring anyway. Because of the rain a prefects versus school football match had to be canceled. More trouble in South Africa it seems that the racial riots are even more serious than was at first thought. Mum won a teapot and cozy in a raffle at her meeting today.

Tuesday 29 March
Llast day of term. Pete Gregory came to school by car and, as he came my way gave me a lift. It is still raining (t rained the whole day without stop), it's been raining continuously since Sunday evening. As it is the end of the term school finished at about 10.30. When I got home mum told me that Uncle Alf has had an accident. He is not seriously hurt although there are three broken ribs. It wasn't his fault apparently, somebody rammed him. Have been doing some school work and reading Dracula. It's a very exciting book - I'm dying to know the ending.

Wednesday 30 March p
First day of the holidays. Mum went with the WI to Tunbridge Wells so I was on my own for the morning, Dad was off this afternoon. I have been doing some geography map work - Snowdonia. I've also been reading Dracula, it's very well written, an exciting book. Auntie Win came down to tea, she seems very upset. Uncle Alf is coming along all right but the car is a total wreck apparently. One of the most surprising withdrawals announced in April Trains Illustrated is that of Eastern region 4-6-2 no. 60501 "Cock of the North". This was one of the engines originally built as a 2-8-2.

Thursday 31 March
Took the dogs out over the Priory with Peter this morning. We brought some wood back - more work for me. Our back garden's getting like a woodyard. This afternoon I have been doing some more geography. Roy and Pete dropped in unexpectedly about 4.30, they didn't stay long. Doreen came in with the news that AuntieWin was coming to stay with us until Uncle Alf came out of Hospital. She worrieswhen she is on her own. I'm having to sleep in the Ogden's front room. Seems bloody silly to me - she will worry just as much in my own room as she will in her own. Auntie Win came down with Dad about 8:00. They had been to see Uncle. He is getting better. Talk about the life and soul of the party. It's being so cheerful as keeps her going. She was talking all about her operations saying it would be better if she had died. I was glad to get out.