Friday 1 April
I slept quite well next door and didn't wake up till quite late. When I woke up however there was quite a thick fog. This cleared quickly and I spent the morning cutting wood. This afternoon I have some more school work. Bernie has given me six map extracts to study. I have done two so far. I also want to get some math done. Had a letter this morning from WPRFC. They want me to play in a school boys game against Metropolitan Police Cadets on Wednesday. It should be quite a good game. Auntie Win came from the hospital about 8:00 Uncle is progressing satisfactorily.

Saturday 2 April
I slept quite well last night and didn't come down until nearly nine o'clock.  This morning I have done some maths and cut some wood.  This afternoon I played for Combe Junior Colts against Roslyn Park B XV.  Owing to scratching we were only able to field 13  men (they had 14) but we were reduced to 11 by injuries.  Not surprising that we lost but we did quite well really 6-14.  It was quite a tough game but not nearly so good as last week.
I heard Dohnanyi Nursery Variations this evening.

Sunday 3 April
The weather has been very bright this morning, spring seems to be late this year. It was stormy this afternoon although we didn't get much rain. Auntie Win is still staying with us. Nin (cat) certainly doesn't like it, she doesn't like Auntie Win or being kept out of my bedroom. I have done some school work this morning, still a great deal to be done. Had an early dinner so that Mum and Auntie Win could go up to the hospital to see Uncle Alf. He should be out by Wednesday. Played rummy in the evening. We all won our game although I was very unlucky.

Monday 4 April
Another fine day today. I have been cutting some more logs. I did some school work in the afternoon while Mum went to a committee meeting. I didn't know Nin was outside so that she stayed out all the afternoon. When Mum came back she was told off good and proper. When Auntie Win and Dad came home from the hospital they brought news that Uncle Alf was coming out on Wednesday. Only two more days sleeping next door.

Tuesday 5 April
The last game in the fixture list this Saturday. I'm playing for the junior Colts against Old Alleynians B XV. If we have our normal strong team it should be a good match. It has been very sunny this morning and I have been doing some small jobs in the garden. I cut back the lawn for the first time this year. The mower was a bit stiff at first but was better after a little use. I have also fitted up the guttering from the greenhouse roof to the outside tank. I have done some school work this afternoon. President de vGaul arrived today for his State visit. He has been given a very good welcome

Wednesday 6 April
Uncle Alf came out of hospital this morning so I will be sleeping in my own bed again. Auntie Win has given me her alarm clock as she has a new one. I have finished cutting up the wood. I collected. I'll have to go and get some more now. This afternoon Mum and Dad went to Mr Harris's house to tea. He has a very fine house at Pratt's bottom. This morning I received a regional handbook from the Devon and Cornwall YHA group. After reading this handbook I'm looking forward to my holiday even more..

Thursday 7 April
Last term's Elthamian came by post this morning, it had not been printed in time for the end of term.  My photograph is in it with the first XV.It is quite good although the actual quality of the picture is bad.  I am also mentioned in the first XV critiques, "an intelligent player though he lacks fire in the loose".
It has been sunny this morning and I have been working in the garden.  Not so nice this afternoon.  It started raining about 5 o'clock and has been raining ever since.

Friday 8 April
Apparently Dad wasn't in a very good mood this morning. He went to see Uncle Alf after work so I didn't see very much of him, Perhaps it is as well. Had two postcards this morning, one from David in the Lake District and one from John in Cambridge on a British Railways Works course. They seem to be having a fine time in the Lake District David told me what had happened to the others and what they had done “Terry picked up a 16 year old bird in blue stockings from Harwich, but he didn't say what he had got up to.” I've been working in the garden this morning and done some geography this afternoon. I'm nearly finished the work that Bernie has set.

Saturday 9 April
Auntie Margaret came down this morning to show Mum how to do a wickerwork pattern in icing on a cake.  It looks jolly good but one corner was spoilt by jogging.
This afternoon I played the last club fixture of the season.  We had a stronger team than last week and we beat the Old Alleynians B 6-3.  It was a very good game though not as good as the game against King George's House.  I had to collect the beer kitty afterwards.  Its very difficult to extract 2/6d from some of the players.This evening Auntie Pat and Uncle Rich came down, Richard was coming but was “fagged out” after cycling to Tonbridge the day before. He can't be very tough.

Sunday 10 April
Clocks were put forward last night with the result that I didn't wake up until nearly 10 o'clock. Did some gardening in the morning. This afternoon we went to the Kentish times seven-a-sides at Sidcup.It was won by the Old Shooterhillians who beat Charlton Park. This was a surprising result. The holders of the trophy Old Askians, were knocked out in the first round by Old Colfeans 9 - 8 this was perhaps the most exciting game of the tournament, close to the end Colfeans we're leading 8-3 , 'Combe were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Charlton Park and the old boys (Old Elthamians) were knocked out by Woolwich Poly in the quarterfinals.

Monday 11 April
Very nice day today although it has tended to be cloudy. I woke up very late and as I take a long time to cook my bacon and eggs for breakfast I didn't finish breakfast until nearly 11 o'clock. I worked in the garden until twelve when I heard a Symphony concert (Linz Symphony, Mozart). This afternoon I have done some school work. I've done a great deal but there is still a great amount to do. This afternoon we had small news sheet pushed through the letterbox called “Focus on local affairs.” It gives details of future plans of the council good idea

Tuesday 12 April
 I set my alarm clock for 8:00 it went off but I went back to sleep again. I didn't get up until 9:30. I've been thinking about my holiday. I would like to travel by the Southern route from Exeter to Plymouth. It would not be possible to travel this route from London and get to Penzance in the same day. What I would like to do is to leave about two days earlier, hitchhike to Exeter and stay at the hostel there. Next day travel to Penzance and stay at the Lands End hostel. I don't know what Dad will say. I haven't told him yet.

I have a new recording of the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto with Heifitz. It was the best recording that I have heard

Wednesday 13 April
Again my alarm clock did not go off so I didn't get up until 10 o'clock.  Dad was off this afternoon.  He and Mum went up to buy some wall and ceiling paper for their bedroom.  The wallpaper is blue with pink roses - nothing daring but passable.
I went to play for Combe Schoolboys at 5.00.  We lost the match against Metropolitan (most of them were Welsh) Police Cadets by three tries to a penalty (9-3).  It was quite a hard match which they deserved to win.  I had quite a battle with the opposing prop (he was trying to gouge my eyes) - at one point the referee told us to stop it. David came home early from the Lake District in order to play.

Thursday 14 April
My colours blazer came by post this morning, the makers said one and a half to two weeks - it has taken 7 days. The blazer is navy blue with gold braiding. It looks very smart, although I think the braiding gets dirty quite quickly. Mum went to see Auntie Liz this afternoon while I washed Mum's bedroom ceiling down. It's a very hard job, some of the whitewash seems as if it has been stuck on with glue. Still I've only a little more to do. Dad came home about half an hour early, he's off now until Tuesday morning.

Friday 15 April, Good Friday
We've been going full tilt at decorating the front bedroom. We've stripped the walls out and have begun rubbing down the paintwork. The preparation is the hardest job but the electric drill is helping a great deal. This afternoon we went up to Spur Road to tea. Trevor and Uncle Jim had bought an electric coffee percolator. They used it for the first time today and we all watched its first “perk “. They are still experimenting, the finished product was too strong. In the evening we watched television (Hancock's Half Hour) until about 10:00. We didn't get home until about 10:45. I've got a cold coming on I hope it's not too bad for tomorrow.

Saturday 16 April
Went up the road this morning getting some fittings for the front bedroom, a ventilator cover from Sankeys and some electrical fittings from Woolworths. The High Street seems to get more and more crowded on Saturday, it was quite a fight in Woolworths. Dad has been rubbing the paintwork down. I bought that a paint mixer and a countersinking attachment for the drill bits (his birthday next Wednesday). As they may come in handy during the redecorating I've given them to him already. We went up to Auntie Vi's to tea as it is Uncle George's birthday tomorrow. We gave him some miniature bottles of drink, vodka, Chianti and apricot brandy. The Biggs's were there also Uncle Reg and Richard practically ignored us - the attractions of the television. We didn't get home until about 11:15 - we came by bus, it would not have hurt Uncle Reg to have run us home.

Sunday 17th April
We've been decorating all day today, Dad and Uncle Jack have been filling in the fireplace. Uncle Jack is a very good craftsman, he insists on perfection and takes a long time over his work. I've been painting all the day, we finished the undercoat. I have been breaking up the surround from the fireplace in the front bedroom. We were both tired this evening and watched television. There was a good program about Bali - an island in the Polynesian islands. The South African cricketers arrived at London Airport today - there was a small demonstration.

Monday 18 September Easter Monday
A day of mistakes. Although the weather has been fine outside, the best day of spring so far, the atmosphere in the front bedroom has been very black. First of all, while mixing the paint for the final coat, Dad knocked the pot over. After we had got the paint on the right things we started to paper the ceiling. This was the first time we had to try papering a ceiling - and the last I expect. It exasperated me to see the way Dad was doing it. He has the wrong approach altogether. Still we did get it done in the end after much torn paper and bad language. The worst is over.

Tuesday 19 April
Haven't done much at all today. This morning I pottered around in the garden and heard a symphony concert (Beethoven Overture Egmont) while this afternoon I had a bath and did some school work. I have been cleaning my rugger boots in preparation for the lay -off until August or September. Mum is very pleased that they won't be lying around the kitchen. This evening I have been listening to two more symphony concerts - Beethoven piano concerto No. 3 and Mendelssohn Symphony N0 5 on the wireless and the Grieg piano concerto and excerpts from Peer Gynt on the television.

Wednesday 20 April
It has turned out to be a wonderful day, the weather has really been grand, the best weather so far this year. I cycled up to Oakland and stayed there the day. The railway has not progressed very much further except that they are now making the switches. 500 are needed, which means Uncle Reg will make about 2,000 components. This afternoon we went for a long walk around by the Biggin Hill Golf Course and fish ponds. I left at about 8:50, it only took me about 15 minutes to get home. This evening there is more news of a proposed Channel tunnel. The experts have come down in favor of it and all that is needed is government approval.

Thursday 21 April
Another very warm, sunny day today. This morning I have been sawing wood. There is just one lump of wood left - it is a thick knotty piece, I don't know how I will break it up. This afternoon I have been doing some mathematics. About four p.m. I went to bring Mum home from Auntie Liz's. I haven't seen her for some time. She was very pleased to see me. It can't be much of a life for her as she is almost completely blind. Mr. Champion came in this evening to plaster over the recess in the front bedroom. He has made a good job of it. We will now be able to get on with the paper hanging.

Friday 22 April
I went on a hike with the rest of the party, except Terry Wall, who are going in the summer.  We started iat Knockholt station and walked via Chelsfield to Shoreham where we had our dinner in the garden of the "Two Brewers".  I had a pint of Directors Bitter, a very good beer.  After dinner we walked alongside the River Darent to Lullingstone.  We went through Lullingstone Park (Private - but we shut our eyes when we went past the notice). We visited Francis Duke at Hulberry Farm.  He was very surprised to see us as it is very remote. We walked home via Crockenhill.  The five came home and had some tea after which we watched Tony Hancock.  He wasn't so good this week.  Dave Waywell stopped later than the rest and we discussed plans for going to Cornwall by coach.  It will take longer but will be much cheaper.

Saturday 23 April
Went to David's this morning, we went to Lee Green to do some shopping. This afternoon we went to the preliminary round of the Middlesex seven-a-sides at Beckenham. 32 teams took part, the two winners going into the finals at Twickenham. The two winners were Sidcup and London Scottish. London Scottish were by far the best team, they had two internationals playing. Ken Scotland and Shackleton. Scotland looks a very slight, weak player but he is a wonderful tactician. There was an international playing for London Irish - Mcdermott, and an England trialist, Brown playing for Blackheath. 'Combe were knocked out in the first round. We didn't have a very good team, Dennis Ryans was not playing and Bob Brett was trying to hook.

Sunday 24th April
Have been burning a great deal of rubbish and old wallpaper. Dad has finished the wallpapering, it looks quite good. I've had bad cararrh recently, it has given me a very bad headache. This afternoon I have broken up the wardrobe that was in the front bedroom. Now that Dad has built a wardrobe into a recess it is not needed anymore. I'm going to write to a coach company to inquire about the coach services to the West Country. The fare (single) from Victoria to Barnstable is 23/6, it is much cheaper than the train.

Monday 25 April
Had two Castrol charts today - want to B. Britain and one to J. Haydn. Mum thinks it is my friends that are sending them. Anyway Castrol must be fools, I must have had at least 30 now, including eight or nine composers. Mum expected Auntie Margaret down this afternoon, she didn't come but I carried on with school work. This evening I have written to Victoria Coach Station and also to Western National at Exeter about coaches and buses for our holiday. There was a good program on the Third program which compared various recordings of Brahms Violin Concerto.

Tuesday 26th April
Cycled up to Uncle Alf's this morning to do some gardening for him as he cannot do any heavy work at all. He was very pleased to see me and I think satisfied with my work. This afternoon I have done some mathematics while Mum went to her dress making class. There was a performance of the Brahms violin concerto on the wireless this evening, it certainly wasn't the best I've heard. Now I am listening to Gramophone records - Mum and Dad have gone to Spur Road. I've played the Ogden's record of the Mozart piano concerto in A (K488), and my Mulco(?) overture's record - I never get tired of it.

Wednesday 27th April
Last day of the holidays. I have been cutting some logs for Mrs. Champion. Some time ago I brought her back some wood from the Priory. I said I would cut it up and had forgotten it until this morning. Mrs. Champion was very pleased indeed. This afternoon I have cut up and burnt the carpet that was in the front bedroom. It was difficult to cut up but it burned quite well. I think I will be glad to go back to school. I haven't done much at home- except school work and I haven't done enough of that.

Thursday 28th April
Had to get up early this morning to go to school. The old buildings are being much improved by the installation of fluorescent lighting and the library passage is being redecorated. We have lost three more of our form, Pete Jones, Dave Wright and Richard Hugheston - to the prefects. Nothing much has happened today, I had a time table for Royal Blue coaches this morning. There is a coach that gets down to Instow, where there is a hostel, at about a quarter to 7:00 in the evening. The fare is 23/6, much cheaper than the railway. This evening I have watched the first part of King Richard II a series of Shakespeare plays.

Friday 29th April
The work in the old building is such that the library passage is completely blocked, this means that it is a long detour from our form room to the Old Quad. The quickest way is through the third year 6th common room which is out of bounds. We have found out a method of putting the new fluorescent lamps lamps out of action. There is a small knob in between the lamp and the frame. Already there is a notice on our board from the Headmaster saying that the lights are not to be tampered with. I was given a lift part of the way home by the Bradnocks. This evening there was a swimming match between Great Britain and Russia. There was some very good races. At the end of the evening we were ahead.

Saturday 30 April
Have done some school work this morning and also heard Beethoven's first symphony. Dad came home to dinner. He just worked half the day. This afternoon I cycled up to Uncle Alf's to carry on with the gardening. I have done most of it now. Stayed to tea and visited Auntie Vi on the way back. She was very surprised to see me. They were watching television. Auntie Win gave me 10/- and Auntie Vi a bar of chocolate - not a bad haul for an afternoon's work. Somebody has crashed through the railings opposite - the third time in about a month.