In which I continue at Eltham College

Sunday 1 May
I went on a coach outing to the bulb fields around Spalding today.  We went up on the Cambridge road and had coffee at Cambridge.  Engineering work was in progress at Bishops Stortford and there was an electrification train hauled by a Sulzer diesel and a 4-6-0 at Harlow.  From Cambridge the land became flatter until it was proper fen land. We hit the bulb fields at Cowbit.  At Crowland there is a very interesting "three pronged" pack horse bridge.  We had dinner at Ramsey.  The bulb fields were very disappointing as there was not the splash of colour that I had been expecting. Apart from the bulbs there is very little to see as the land is flat as far as one can see except to the north-west of Spalding where the Lincoln Wolds are just discernable to the west.  We came home via Peterborough, Huntingdon and Hertford.  We reached Orpington just before 23.00.  A very interesting and enjoyable day in which we covered over 300 miles.
Monday 2 May
Had Bernie today for the first time this term, we spent some time arguing about the origin of a pebble that Pete Gregory had picked up on the beach. The library passage is still out of use so we use the illegal room seven. We followed Bernie through after school, it was a good thing we did because we met the Headmaster coming the other way - he thought we were with Bernie. I cycled to school today for the first time, it was quite enjoyable, even with my old jalopy it is still quicker than by bus, and I am saving five shillings a week

Tuesday 3 May
I have seen something today that I have never seen before and never will again.  It rained quite heavily this afternoon and Peter Gregory  was worried because he hadn't brought his cycle cape.  Dave Wright jokingly offered him his prefect's gown which Peter accepted.  We saw him cycling therough Mottingham village with this gown on back to front to keep the rain from his chest and inside out to keep the outside clean.  
Mum has got a job, light housework one morning a week.  She says the money will help a great deal.

Wednesday 4 May
The weather has been good today, it has been warm with some sun. We have hardly had any spring this year. I hope we have a good summer. I have decided to apply for a Short Works course for this summer. There are two courses that interest me, a textile firm in Nottingham and a branch of University in Glasgow. Both of these have free travel and accommodation.

Thursday 5 May
I have been in swimming twice today. Once before dinner and once after school. The water was very warm, just right for a hot day like today. I haven't been swimming since last holiday. I can still remember how to although I was very tired afterwards. The second time today was the first time that I have been in legally for some years/

Friday 6 May
Princess Margaret was married today and we all had a holiday.  I went on a cycle ride with several others.  We started out an hour late because Peter Gregory had a puncture before we reached Green Street Green.  We had dinner at a pub (The Windmill) at Weald - the beer wasn't much.  After dinner we went on to Tonbridge and took out some boats, I was with John and Dave Waywell.  The weather was really marvellous.  The sun shone all day.  We didn't leave Tonbridge until 6.30.  On the way back we stopped at the White Hart (Ind Coope) at the top of River Hill.  I had a brown and a pork pie.  The beer was one of the best I have tasted.  I arrived home at about 8.30, very tired.

Saturday 7 May
The weather has been even better today. It has been near chaos in London because of the Cup Final crowds and the crowds that have come to see the decorations for yesterday's wedding. I have finished doing uncle Alf's garden this morning. This afternoon Pete Gregory came down to see the Cup Final. It was a very poor match that Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3 - 0 (v. Blackburn Rovers). We had to get our own tea. Afterwards we went down to the fair in the meadow off Cray Avenue. I didn't win anything, neither did Pete. He didn't leave until after 11:00.

Sunday 8 May
Another good day today which has caused traffic jams along Constitution Hill and the Mall. Dad and Mr. Champion are busy cementing the front doorstep. It is going to be in tile red cement pointed and black. There is still a great amount to be done. I watered the garden this afternoon while Jean she stood by the fence. I let her have it - she was quite annoyed, I can't think why! There has been a great deal of trouble recently over an American plane which was shot down recently over Soviet Russia on an alleged spying mission. This may create a bad atmosphere in the forthcoming summit conference. The hot weather is bringing out the wasps, have killed two..

Monday 9 May.
Not so nice today, it has still been warm but very close as if a massive great thunderstorm is brewing up. It is quite misty this evening. I can hardly see the trees at Cray Rec. It's might be a good thing if we did have some rain because the ground is very dry. Farmers are fearing for their crops already, especially vegetables. Have been swimming today, the water is very warm indeed like bath water. I think we shall get some rain tonight, everything is quiet although the birds are still singing. There has been heavy rain in London.

Tuesday 10 May
The rain that I expected last night did not come and today has been even warmer,. I was “number twiddler” again this morning, that is I operated the projector in geography. We are now revising geomorphology, in particular. This evening I have heard the first broadcast performance in this country of Mendelsohn”s Concerto in A for two pianos. It was discovered in the East Berlin music library about 10 years ago.

Wednesday 11 May
More fun in geography today. Have been to see the Head today about Voluntary Service Overseas. If I don't get to University this year I might go overseas for a year on this scheme, it seems very inviting. Dad went to Wembley today to watch England play Yugoslavia, the result was a 3 - 3 draw. It is raining this evening, it is certainly what we need. Roy has passed his driving test at the second attempt.

Thursday 12 May
It was raining heavily this morning although it stopped for long enough for me to cycle. I have been reading the latest newspaper “The New Daily”. There were some suggestions for safety. In order to prevent headlong falls people should walk downstairs backwards, people should wave a white flag before crossing the road and there should be an overall speed limit of 10 miles per hour. I cannot see this paper getting very far with suggestions like this. It is anti-communist and socialist but it is non-political!

Friday 13 May
It has certainly been raining, it rained all morning and part of the afternoon. It wasn't too bad for me to cycle but there were large ponds in both the Old and the New quads. The senior house cricket matches were canceled although the rain stopped by about 2.30 and the sun has been shining quite strongly. The gardens look much better now, the last couple of days rain has sunk in properly. There was a new series of programs on BBC this evening on the Roman Empire. Last summer I saw them taking film for this program at the excavations at Lullingstone. I don't know when this part will be televised.

Saturday 14 May
A really fine sunny day, quite a change from yesterday. This morning I have been cutting the grass on the bank, I also took some empties back to the off license and bought a pint of stout, my favorite drink. I'm sure I'm a Mackeson type. Watched a rugby league Cup Final this afternoon. Wakefield Trinity beat Hull 38 - 5, (7 - 5 at halftime) Although Hull were easily beaten they weren't out classed and played some very good football although the Wakefield back division was far superior. Hull were handicapped by an injury to their hooker who had to go off just after halftime.

Sunday 15 May
I has been rather overcast today although quite warm. This morning I have done the first of my revision essays for economics. Dad and Uncle Jack have been carrying on with the front steps. They had done the top one and have laid the foundations for the other two. They are finished in red cement lined in black. Previously there have only been two steps, the third will make a great deal of difference. I heard the railway program this afternoon, there was an interesting talk about diesel multiple unit trains.

Monday 16 May
The summit talks started today in Paris - and nearly ended! Mr. Kruschev has made a great amount of propaganda over the American spy plane incident. On top of this Russia has just launched a 5 ton sputnik with a dummy man inside. This has boosted Mr. K's prestige and he has refused to talk until America has given Russia a public apology for the spy plane episode. Mr. Eisenhower has refused to do this with the result that the talks have been practically sunk before they have got underway. It has been quite pleasant today - the sun broke through the clouds about midday. Saw film of the England v Spain soccer match in Madrid on Sunday - we lost 3 – 0.

Tuesday 17 May
Heard the surprising news today that one of the prefects (CD) has been de-gowned for not going to chapel on Sunday - he took a girl out instead.  There was a notice on the Head's notice board which simply stated "-- has ceased to be a prefect". We don't like this at all and all day we have been working out how to voice our opinion.  We want to vote him the Bayard Prize.  The Head is certainly very unpopular at the moment.
In the evening I heard a symphony concert on the Home Service - Elgar, Introduction and Allegro for Strings; Mozart, Bassoon Concerto; Britten, Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell

Wednesday 18th May
The anti-Porteous) campaign has certainly got underway. This morning somebody moved the head's chair in chapel from one side to the other. He didn't notice this until he went to sit down with the result that he had to stand up all through the reading. There have been many plans like this just to annoy him but nothing big. Chris Daltry's dethroning has certainly sparked off a riot, but this might just be an excuse to mess about. I've been in swimming at lunch time and I am gradually improving my strokes although I still find it tiring after a few lengths. Saw the finish of the European Cup final in Glasgow. Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7 - 3 it was perhaps the best match I have ever seen. The Madrid team were magnificent, the rails the real stars were di Stefano and Puskas.

Thursday 19 May
It has been raining all day today, really miserable. Five private study periods in a row did not make it any more cheerful either. In music we heard except from Faust and some intermezzi (Cavaliere Rusticana, La Traviata and El Pagliacci,) . Not very many people turned up to this period and Mr Davies asked who used to sit in a certain seat. Smith replied “Nobody Sir but he's not here today!”. Bernie had a turnout today and there were many books and leaflets on the floor of the central Hall which he didn't want. There were lots of little boys milling around all trying to get the best books- chaos.

Friday 20 May
Another miserable day today, it has been raining continuously for about 24 hours. It stopped, thank goodness at about 4.30. I wore my cup to school, it was a good job no masters saw me. I was going to stay to the Film Society tonight but very few of my friends were, and as it was raining I decided not to. It would have been better if I had stayed at school, I've had a dust up with Dad about a form saying whether I stay at home or go to school during the exams. It got around to the same old thing - going to University or going to work. If I knew where to go I would leave home as soon as I could. I saw the Mortimer Wheeler program which included shots of the Lullingtone excavations. I think I saw myself.

Saturday 21 May
At least we've had no rain today- no sun either. Dad has been home all day and we have been clearing up the bottom of the garden. We've taken up the shed and put it up at the right angle to the old position. We've also made it smaller so that there is just room for my bike and the mower and a few other oddments. The workbench is now in the greenhouse. It is much better in there and there is more room to work. Mom has been out quite a bit setting flags for cancer research. This evening the Biggs's and Auntie Vi and Uncle George came down.

Sunday 22 May
I did an economics essay this morning and heard Bach's Brandenburg Concerto Number 3. After this I helped Dad in the garden. We are moving the compost heap behind the shed. While pushing the barrow up a ramp over the concrete fence, I slipped and grazed the little finger on my left hand. It is quite a deep cut, I thought I would see the bone at first. However Mrs. Ogden has washed it and put a dressing on it - I think it'll be all right now. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf have come down, the first time for about a month.

Monday 23 May
News this morning of a series of violent earthquakes in Chile. Over a thousand people have been killed and still 500 missing. The earthquake has caused tidal waves to spread out over the Pacific causing damage to the Hawaiian Islands (500 killed), Japan (1000 killed), Australia, New Zealand and Alaska. It is not known what damage has been done in the many hundreds of islands in the Western Pacific. Nothing much has happened today, School seems to be all the same nowadays. This evening I saw the Haarlem Globetrotters on TV. They are a wonderful team and also very amusing, Meadowlark Lemon was extremely good.

Tuesday 24 May
Mum went down to Lullingtone today with the Women's Institute to meet Chris Chataway in connection with the World Refugee Appeal. Mum had to give him the St. Mary Cray contribution (£31-10-0). Afterwards they sat in the lawn by the lake and visited the church. It has been a wonderful day, the sun has been out all day. Mum and Dad went up to Spur Road this evening. Mr. Ogden came in to watch a program on research into the brain. Film was actually shown of an operation on the brain of a patient under a local anesthetic.

Wednesday 25 May
Another warm day today. Dave Waywell has asked me to go hosteling with him during the exams. It will have to be in the first week of the fortnight I have between the maths and the economics. I would very much like to go but I don't know what Dad will say. I've spoken to Mum and she seems to think it's a good idea. Mum said she would speak to Dad first in order to soften him up. Mum has been collecting up her boxes from the Cancer Research Campaign.

Thursday 26 May
Dad asked me if I would like to go hostelling during my exams. Mum has done a good job. We are thinking of cycling down to the coast at Arundel and coming home via Eastbourne, Hastings and Goudhurst. This evening I watched the senior cricket house match between Carey and Livingstone. Livingstone were all not out by 5:10 for 33 runs. I didn't wait to see us win but we certainly ought to. It's been even hotter today - probably the hottest day so far this year. My little finger isn't healing very well. I've got to keep it covered.

Friday 27th May
Went to a meeting of the Geographical Society after school. There was a very interesting talk illustrated by some good slides on an American Journey. The slides, particularly those of the Grand Canyon, we're very interesting. Afterwards I went with David back to his house to tea and then on to a meeting of the Northwest Kent Inter-Schools Discussion Group at Bromley High School. I quite enjoyed it although it ended up in chaos. The meeting broke up at about 8:45 and we went round to the White Heart in Bromley High Street. Got home about 10.45.
Note.
Railway Tavern Bromley- Ind Coope- beer warm.
White Heart Bromley High Street - Courage and Barclay.

Saturday 28 May
Had three birthday cards this morning because there isn't a post tomorrow. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf sent me a postal order for 7/6. Have been doing some school work, revising Northwest Europe. I've also been overhauling my bike. The front lamp didn't work but it was only a loose connection from the dynamo. I think I've stopped the saddle from creaking. I have found out that the family are coming down to tomorrow, Mum wasn't going to tell me but thought better of it because I might have left some work over.

Sunday 29 May
My birthday today. Richard has given me a map of Cornwall, the Ogdens a very nice coloured shirt and David a green cravatt. Apart from this I have had £6-2-6. Some of this will go toward a sleeping bag (Y.H.A.) but most of it will go towards my holidays. This afternoon the Biggs and Auntie Vi and Uncle George came to tea. I had a jolly good birthday cake - chocolate with walnuts and chocolate icing. Afterwards Richard and I went over to the Priory, it has been changed a great deal. At present there is little water in the ponds.

Monday 30 May
I received a letter from Auntie Min and Uncle Fred this morning. Enclosed was a postal order for 4/- and 4 3d stamps. I think that of all my presents I value this one the most because they can only just afford to live without sending me money. Auntie Min cannot get out very much now and it is quite difficult for her to write a letter. Its been another sunny day. Nothing special has happened. Played football at diner time. Drew 3-3. I scored the flukiest goad I have ever scored. The goalie kicked the ball out. It hit me and rebounded back into the goal.

Tuesday 31 May
Weather still holding, haven't had any rain for quite some time. According to reports one of the boys in the Junior school had had one of the top of his fingers knocked off while trying to field a cricket ball. My little finger is taking a long time to heal up. I did it a week and a half ago and it has only just started toheal up. Taffy didn't turn up for pur weekly science period today - and he gets paid a sixth form bonus! Syd Bennet came down this evening for a little while to discuss the maps we will need on our holiday..