In which I continue at Eltham College.  While taking my A level exams I manage to get away on a short cycle trip.

Wednesday 1 June
There was an athletics match versus City of London school this afternoon. I had a P.S. last period so I went and watched it. We lost all three age groups. Sport at our school seems to be on a downgrade at the moment. Macky (Mr. McIver) is very annoyed at the moment because somebody moved his water jars used by the boys painting on the grounds. He suspected the sixth form straight away and there are rumors that he is going to keep the whole sixth form in - or try!

Thursday 2 June
Weather is still continuing fine. We won the senior cricket match that started last Tuesday by 8 wickets, in spite of Dave Wright's underarm bowling. Some of the boys are going camping down at Brighton in the last week of the exams. Charles Smith is going down by car on the Thursday, after the last economics exam. I think I'll go with him. Macky, did try to keep the upper sixth science in but unfortunately only two people turned up. I don't know what he will do now. Probably make a stink about it.

Friday 3 June
Half term.  The holiday started after morning school.  I stayed to dinner, Dave Waywell was coming up to London with me but McIver kept the science form in. This has been the hottest day so far this year.  I took the train to Waterloo and walked across the river to the YHA shop in John Adam street.  I bought a sheet sleeping bag and a "dri pac" to dry out wet shoes.  I also bought a Kent badge for my rucsack.
There are some alterations being made at Hither Green motive power depot, possibly extending the diesel depot.  I saw two of the new Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon dieselsNos. D6501 and D6506.  There were also several of the Doncaster built electric locomotives (E50xx series) in the yard.  Steam was still very much in evidence. 31692 on empty carriages at Grove Park.

Saturday 4 June
Certainly the right sort of weather for Whitsun. It's been hot all day. Did some revision this morning and also some this afternoon. I've been booking the hostels for our cycle tour. I've written to Holmbury St. Mary and Arundel. They should not be full up. The roads have been very busy, the busiest Whitsun on record. Peter came down this evening, he's staying with the Champions for the holiday. He just bought a motorbike, it is just a plaything.

Sunday 5 June
The hottest Whit Sunday since the war. We stayed at home but Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down this evening. Have started to get my knees brown, and I've been walking around without shoes to harden off my feet. Saw part of a football match in Hungary between Hungary and Scotland. The result was a 3-3 draw, the best performance a home team has put up for ages. At one time Scotland were 3 - 1 up but Hungary just managed to equalize in injury time. We were very disappointed.

Monday 6 June
Went by bus to Gravesend for the day.  We had our dinner on the Pilot Boat pier, arriving there just after high tide.  Saw four of the new diesel powered Sun tugs (Sun XIX-XXII)  The Serbiston (Frank C. Strick & Co.) wasmoored just downstream.  I don't know what it was doing there, probably just waiting for the next tide.  In the afternoon I went across on the ancient ferry to Tilbury while Mum and dad walked along the promenade.  The area around Tilbury is very bleak.  The station was practically deserted exceptfor an 0-4-0 diesel mechanical station pilot (D2225).  There were two Metro Cammel two car diesel units in one of the overgrown sidings.  Nothin much interesting in the shed, 2-6-4Ts (LMS and BR design and WD 2-8-0s - no other types of engine.  The coaching stock is very drab also - a very dirty brown-maroon.  I don't think much of the LT&S section. I passed the electrification storage depot which was piled high with ready-made track waiting to be laid.  The overhead wires have been put up along part of the Southend line. A little over a year later I was firing steam engines on this line!
It started to rain at about 16.00 and we came home as quickly as possible.

Tuesday 7 June
Half term holiday. I've been doing school work all day, economics in the morning and geography and maths in the afternoon and evening. This morning I heard a Symphony concert - Elgar – Cockaigne Overture, Haydn Symphony No. 95 and the Galanta dances by Kodaly, didn't think much of the Kodaly. My little finger still not healed up. It seemed to be going slowly until about Thursday when it turned black and went septic again. It is getting better now but only very slowly. Mum and Dad were going up to Spur Road but as Mum felt tired they decided not to.

Wednesday 8 June
Back to school again - it has rained all day without stop. It cleared at about 7 o'clock. Saw Bernie today for the last time before the exams. We had “knob - twiddling” a film strip on glacial landforms and lakes. The photos I took on my birthday have come out, they are quite good. I tried Gratispool of Glasgow- they give a free film when the other one is developed and enlarged. Seven family groups came out, postcard size. Had a reply from Arundel Youth Hostel confirming a booking on the 24th of this month.

Thursday 9 June
Although it didn't rain while I was going to school it has rained most of the morning and part of the afternoon. Have had the usual slack Thursday- the Head told us a story about an Englishman a Scotsman and an Irishman (though not as “pithy” as most such stories of this type!) Sod played most of Sibelius second symphony- I quite like it. The first test match has begun at Edgbaston. We won the toss and batted first, at the close of play the score was 175 for 3, very slow scoring indeed.

Friday 10 June
Rained very hard halfway to school and I was soaked. They have started burning off the road surface of Chiselhurst Road just before the bridge - about time too, it's the worst stretch of road in the district. My last school day today as my exams start next week. I don't come to school during the exams and it will probably be chaos after the exams. In the test match we were all out for 292 and South Africa have made 114 for 5. Statham and Trueman have done very well indeed.

Saturday 11 June
Dad's day off, he's been working in the garden most of the day, in between the frequent showers. I have been revising most of the day and listening and watching the test match, we're not in such a good position in our second innings. Heared a concert on the wireless this evening- the Light program, Light Music Festival - Cavallaria Rusticana (Mascagni), part of the Meistersingers (Wagner). Watched a film on TV about a gambler - Victor Mature.

Sunday 12 June
Another unsettled day - we haven't had much rain but it has been very cloudy and windy. Heard a concert this morning - Mozart first horn concerto and Serenade for Strings by Elgar. This afternoon we went up to Spur Road. Auntie Ting and Uncle Bert (from Tonbridge) and Auntie Floss were there - I haven't seen them for at least three years. We had quite a good time- I'm pleased that Uncle Jim keeps Manns (Red Barrel) pale ale in his fridge. I'll have to go again. Trevor is in Norway.

Monday 13 May
At home today because of the exams. My first exam starts tomorrow afternoon. Haven't done much today. Have been revising general world geography and also listening to the test match, South Africa are in quite a strong position, they need 190 to win with seven second innings wickets in hand. This evening I helped Dad put the door on the shed, my bike won't get so wet when it rains now. Dr.. Barbara Moore, who is walking across America, has been knocked down by a car, she's not seriously hurt.

Tuesday 14 June
Had my first advanced level exam this afternoon. It wasn't too bad geography I. The O.S. map extract was Ingleton so I had a little knowledge of it. The other question was a rainfall map of the London basin. Cycling over there my left crank snapped off just below the pedal. Fortunately I was by Dunkery Road so I free wheeled to school. I had to walk and free wheel home. Roy came in just before dinner and Mum asked him to stay to dinner. It was obvious he wanted to stay but it took us some persuasion before he eventually agreed.

Wednesday 15 June
Have had the whole day off. This morning I've been revising in the garden. Dad was off this afternoon. We replaced the broken crank in my bike and have been putting up the gate posts for a gate at the end of the garden. It's possible to have a gate there now that we've moved the shed. Dad has plans for converting the sitting rooms into a dining room and the dining room into a sitting room. He's also got plans for decorating both of them before Christmas.

Thursday 16 June
Quite a nice day today, this morning I worked on my bike, altering the gears and tightening up the chain. Went to school this afternoon to take geography II. My bike didn't break down! The paper was a very stiff one - nothing about the deserts and very little about rivers or coastline. I don't think I've done very well, I've messed at least one question up. I think I must have some sort of hay fever, I've been sneezing my head off, but I've never had it before.

Friday 17 June
Had the day off. Did some school work this morning and took the dogs up to the rec to meet Mum coming home from her job. This afternoon I cycled up to see Dave Wright about the holiday. We started talking and I didn't leave until nearly 4:15, so much for his revision. It's been very hot today at least into the lower 80s. I hope it keeps like this for our cycling holiday which starts next Thursday. Have had a letter from British Railways this morning about a shed permit I have applied for. I have to fill in a form.

Saturday 18 June
A really wonderful day, the sun has been scorching down had it not been for a belt of light crowd that came over about midday. I have been doing a great deal of revision for Monday (maths I and geography III), the right weather for revision. My knees are getting quite brown now. Kent are working wonders. They skittled Sussex out for 69 at Tunbridge Wells and are over 200 for 3 (Colin Cowdrey 107 not out), can't think what's got into them. Wednesday - Kent bowled Worcester out for 25 and won on the first day.

Sunday 19 June.
Another gloriously sunny day today. Have been hard at revision all day in the garden mostly. Dad is modernizing the dressing table in their room. It will look quite nice when it is finished. Have heard some good music today - Carnival Overture (Dvorak) and Schubert's Symphony No. 5 this morning and Mozart's Symphony No. 39 this afternoon. We had tea on the front lawn, it was just cool enough to be bearable. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf came down this evening. They were very brown after their week at Axemouth.

Monday 20 June
Have had exams all day. Maths I was not as bad as I had feared - I think I have passed on that paper but there is still tomorrow's paper to come. Geography in the afternoon was also quite reasonable. Two of the questions, Switzerland and Queensland, I had practically done before and I have done one on Sweden which was very close to the wording. The fourth question I did was one comparing the coastlines of New South Wales and Western Australia. There is excitement in the boxing world because Floyd Patterson is trying to regain the world heavyweight title.

Tuesday 21 June
Floyd Patterson knocked out Johannsen and so regained the world's heavyweight Championship. I have been at home this morning. The weather is still keeping fine, it's been scorching for nearly a week now. I went to school this afternoon to take the second and last maths paper. It was much worse than the first one and I haven't done very well. It remains to be seen if I did well enough on the first one to scrape a pass. Auntie Edie and Uncle Jim came down this evening.

Wednesday 22 June

I spent most of the morning packing my saddlebag ready for meeting Dave Waywell at 17.00. He was 40 minutes late due to a burst tyre.  We cycled to the hostel at Kemsing via Chelsfield, Shoreham, where we had tea, and Otford.  The hostel is a Victorian manor house with a wonderful view over the Vale of Holmsdale.  There were four American boys in the hostel - three from Colorado and one from Detroit.  This evening Dave and I went for a walk around Kemsing village.

Thursday 23 June
Kemsing - Westerham - Godshill - Redhill - Dorking - Holmbury St. Mary
There was a terriffic thunderstorm before we left the hostel.  The Americans came part of the way with us, one came to the hostel at Holmbury. This is a hostel that has been built for the purpose. It is set in wonderful wooded country (pine and oak) about amile from the centre of the village.  The church is set on the side of Holmbury Hill, an Iron Age fort which has been planted with pine trees.  We went into the village local where we talked to some of the local people.  The publican had a 3½ pint glass.

Friday 24 June
Holmbury St. Mary - Ewhurst - Rudgwick -Billingshurst - Pulborough - Arundel - Climping - Arundel
We left the hostel early and made quickly for the coast. Just before Arundel, Dave hit the kerb, came off and buckled the front wheel.  He went into Arundel on my bike to buy a new wheel while I took the old one off.  Afterwards we cycled through Arundel to the sea at Climping via Littlehampton.  We had a swim and went back to the hostel via Ford.  The warden is a very jolly Yorkshireman.  We had a sing song in the games room afterwards.

Saturday 25 June
Arundel - Clapham - Washington - Steyning - Poynings - Hurstpierpoint - Ditchling - Lewes - Alfriston
Rather a dull diay.  Bought our dinner at Steyning.  The ride was uneventful until just after Ditchling where Dave's back axle gave out.  He took it back to a shop in Dirchling where he found out that it had been broken in the crash yesterday.  The weather brightened up after dinner and it was quite pleasant cycling through Lewes and on to the hostel.  There are more people at this hostel, mainly out for the weekend, although there are two who are going round the world - this is their first day, and it does not seem so friendly as the others.  we went down to the village and had a drink at The Star, a Trust House. Outside there is a three hundred year old figurehead taken from a wrecked ship.
Sunday 26 June
Alfriston - Eastbourne - Cooden - Hastings - Guestling
Dave's back axle is still playing up and as it is a Sunday we have not been able to go to a cycle shop so we have been cycing slowly all day.  I left Dave at Polegate to go to Eastbourne to buy a pair of swimming trunks.  I met him at Pevensy station and we stayed on the beach at Cooden until about 16.30.  I was terribly sunburnt.  Today has been really sunny.  Between Pevensy and Cooden we saw a P class 0-6-0T painted in original colours and numbered 323 on the tank in large numerals. (This was being delivered to the embryonic Bluebell line).  Went for a walk and finished up at the White Hart.
Monday 27 June
Guestling - Rye - peasmarsh - Newenden - Bodiam - Hawkhurst - Goudhurst
Left Guestling at 09.00 and cycled to Rye where Dave took his bike to a shop.  We had to wait 1½ hours to have the bike repaired. Rye has many cobbled streets, one of which was under repair.  The town is set on a hill which rises out of the marshes.  Although there are many old buildings there is much new construction.  We cycled to Bodiam castle which has a magnificent moat covered in water lillies.  From there we cycled to the hostel at Twyssenden Manor, arriving at 17.00.  The part where we slept was 500 years old although some parts are only 300 years old.  There are many dark passages and oak beams.  As well as a Common Room there is also a Quiet Common Room with panelled walls and a huge fireplace.  We looked for a secret passage - without success. There is a whipping post in the Members Kitchen. We went for a walk in the evening.

Tuesday 28 June
Goudhurst - Horsmonden - Tonbridge - Sevenoaks - Orpington
We left the hostel at 09.30.  Goudhurst is a very pretty village with a pond.  At Horsmonden I went to the station and asked for a platform ticket.  The booking clerk gave me a Southern Railway one and stamped it with the station stamp, an iron one which is over 100 years old.  There was also a signal post with two arms facing in opposite directions.  Had dinner close to River Hill and arrived home at about 15.00 - just before a heavy downpour.
We were amazed at the number of foreigners we have met.  Altogether we met 4 Americans; 2 South Africans; 1 Swede; 3 Germans; 1 Austrian and 2 Italians.

Wednesday 29 June
Went up to see Roy Bennett this morning. He came off his bike last Tuesday week. He has been in hospital but came out last Monday. He was quite pleased to see me. His right side of his face has been cut up but there are no bones broken luckily. This afternoon I have been writing up my diary for the holiday. I kept it in a small notebook so I didn't dirty this one. Mum went to a W.I. birthday party at Cudham this evening.

Thursday 30 June.
Haven't done much today, done some revision for economics. My Trains Illustrated came this morning. There is an interesting article on continental timetables - they seem to be much easier to read than a British ones. I also had a book come by post from Penguin Books. It is a complete list and description of their publications - very helpful if I had any money. Semi-finals at Wimbledon - both of the British women in the ladies' singles have been knocked out, although there are still two British in the men's doubles- Davis and Wilson, the British Davis Cup players.