In which I start at Reading University and begin to watch the activity at Reading General station.

Saturday 1 October
I have had a receipt for the number plate.  I don't know when it will be delivered. I went up the High Street this morning and went to 10 Spur Road to say goodbye to Auntie Edie, Uncle Jim and Trevor.
This afternoon I played for the 'Combe 2nd Colts against Borough Road College - a teachers training college.  They completely outclassed us and they won 18-0.  It was quite a good game and I had quite a struggle in the front row.

Sunday 2 October
I got up early this morning because of the extra hour.  Have been collecting my stuff together ready too pack tomorrow.  I've been burning some of Dad's old trousers.  I'm very surprised he parted with them.  After dinner we caught the train to West Dulwich and walked to Auntie Min's. Its her 81st birthday tomorrow.  She's really amazing.  Auntie Win and Uncle Alf and Auntie Lil and Uncle Bill were there so we had quite a party.  Auntie Min seemed a bit subdued - it may be because of her heart.  Uncle Fred was his same bright self - he keeps on calling me "titch".

Monday 3 October
This is my last day at home for a little while.  I spent the morning packing - we'd jammed everything into one case when we found it was broken so we had to hastily change it all over.  I caught the 4.19 train from Orpington to Waterloo and the 15.24 to Reading.  Mum and Dad came up with me and on to the platform. Mum was nearly in tears.  I don't know why - its not for long.  The journey to Reading was uneventful .  I passed Feltham marshalling yard - nothing much to see though.  I took a taxi to Berkeley Avenue. The house seems very good indeeed.  The two students who are with me seem very friendly.  Went round the town in the evening. (I used the slower Southern line from Waterloo rather than the Western one from Paddington because the transfer in London with baggage is easier - as I became more familiar with the Western line, this became mre promnent in my travels.)

Tuesday 4 October
In getting to the University today I passed over the Reading Central Goods Yard or Coley branch which I later came to know as a fireman.
3219 in Reading Central morning and evening. Had a look at the University buildings today. Went first of all to the main buildings. They are fairly old. Afterwards I went to The Faculty of Letters building in Whiteknights Park. This building is much more modern (opened 1957). My interview with the Dean went off smoothly. I shall be taking politically economy, geography and either philosophy or psychology. After lunch we went down to the Thames. Went to the reception at St David's Hall, it seems quite a good place, though it is a bit crowded. St. Davids Halls was for those living in digs i.e. not in a residential hall.

Wednesday 5 October
3219 in Reading Central morning and evening. Started this morning with a talk about the university in general by the Vice chancellor, Sir John Wolfenden. He gave a very interesting and at times, amusing, speech. After coffee in the Buttery we went on to the central chemistry lecture theater and attended a debate. It was an uproar for most of the time, the reason being that the Rag committee was there in force. The famous long knitted scarf was produced and paraded over the heads of the sitting “froshers”. Have bought a second-hand gown. I look right nit in it. Went to the Froshers hop in the evening in the Great Hall. I managed to dance a quick step.

Thursday 6 October
2212 in Reading Central morning and evening. I have spent most of the day in the Letters faculty. First thing, there was a talk on the “Undergraduate and the University”, after which we had a look at the exhibitions organized by the various societies. I have put my name down for a large number including the Rugrer club, the Sailing club, the Fencing Club and the Mountaineering club. This afternoon we met our tutors and the heads of our departments. Professor Campbell was very friendly and helpful. After this I lost the others and made my way back to the digs at Berkley avenue in quite strong rain. Stopped in most of the evening.

Friday 7 October
Had my first lecture this morning, it was also my first class on psychology. I had to have an early breakfast as the lecture was at 9.00 in Whiteknights. The rest of the day I have had free. I have been into Wantage Hall, it is a red brick house which is built around the four sides of a quadrangle. After dinner at the Buttery I went along to the General station.   It is quite busy.  There is a mixture of Western (Kings, Castles, Halls, Granges and 61xx tanks, Southern Us and N15s, WDs and diesels (locomotives and multiple units).  The fast trains go through the through lines at a tremendous pace, the engines are swaying from side to side and the tenders seem to be going in the opposite direction to the locomotive. Afterwards I went to Whitenights to the meeting of the Letters Faculty Froshers which was addressed by the Dean - the usual pep talk. Went to the meeting of the Fencing Club in the evening. It was quite good - it's more difficult than I thought and it is using muscles I didn't know I had!

Saturday 8 October
Unfortunately I have a lecture on meteorology on Saturday mornings which doesn't finish until 11 o'clock. Worse still, we have to sign our names. After this I went into the town and eventually found my way to the station. The most unusual engine was a Manor no. 7806 (station pilot?). I also saw Warship class no. D827 "Kelly” on an up passenger train. It arrived Reading at 12:00, 20 minutes late. The driver told me that the reason for this lateness was that there had been cattle on the line. They had already made up some of the time and he hoped to make up even more before they reached Paddington. There was a vast number of people in the diesel's cabs. It was running in from Swindon. This took a week. Today was the last day for “Kelly”. Went up to the rugger club in the afternoon and played a trial in the pouring rain, didn't do much.

Sunday 9 October
Had a late breakfast (9.30) and went up to St. David's for an hour or so. It was raining first thing but it soon cleared up and I went for a walk in an area which I hadn't been in before to the north and west of General station. It isn't a particularly salubrious part of the town. After dinner we were going to look at Coley Park but the weather turned nasty again so we went to St. David's instead and saw a football match between Hungary and Yugoslavia, on TV. It was a draw 1 - 1. I must say that Mrs. Beech provides really good meals, we didn't want to move afterwards.

Monday 10 October
My grant came through this morning and I paid it into the bank straight away. I also went to the public library and took out a ticket. It is a very good library and it even has a record borrowing section. Only had one lecture this afternoon, I spent the rest of the time in the library at the University. Tony Challis came back with me to St. David's and we had tea. I really don't know how Mrs. Watkins manages to sell tea so cheaply. After dinner I went to the pictures with Simon. We saw Alfred Hitchcock's “Psycho” at the Gaumont. It was very entertaining. I was scared at one or two parts particularly towards the end.

Tuesday 11 October
A new shunter in the central Goods depot.  0-6-0 tank No.9406 without its smokebox number plate. This has been my working day - experimental psychology, political economy in Whiteknights and the geography and two hours of psychology practical in the main site. The practical psychology was very interesting indeed, we were given a short film and had to make a report. Afterwards we had to answer a questionnaire. It was intended to show the fallability of memory - it certainly worked. Afterwards I went to the public library and took out a ticket- it is certainly better than the Orpington one. Spent a lazy evening up in the Griffin room at St. David's.

Wednesday 12 October
Have only had one lecture this morning, political economy, this was on economic theory. The lecturer, I don't know his name, is quite an old man who wheezes a great deal, but is very amusing in parts. Afterwards I did some work in the students common room. Had dinner in the Buttery and afterwards went to the rugby trials. I played in the “A” game throughout. There were three sessions of 20 minutes each. I was pretty fagged out at the end. This time I was playing with a black shirt. Have stayed in this evening writing letters. I wrote a 10 page Letter to Mum and Dad. I hope they can decipher it.

Thursday 13 October
Have had two lectures today, one in the morning at the main site, the other at Whiteknights. After the first, I went into the town with Tony and bought a university scarf. It is nice and long, the colors are black with two purple bands which in turn have two white bands running down either side. I now have some means of identification. I came back to David's this afternoon and started to copy up my notes into a file I've bought from the students union. Had a rugger training session at 5:00 in the gym - normal stuff. It turns out that Edna (Roy's) from Ossett is at the University - what a coincidence. Have changed my doctors. Did work this evening.

Friday 14 October
Only one lecture today - 9.00 at Whiteknights. Afterwards I came down to David's and did my first lot of washing. It didn't go too badly although at the crucial moment I lost the Life Boy soap. I've been taking out books galore. Two from David's library, and one each from the libraries in the University and in Reading. I am playing in the 4th XV at bracknell tomorrow- I'm a bit disappointed at not playing in a better team. At least it's away. Went to fencing this evening, it was more exciting because we are progressing. Have worn full kit.

Friday 15 October
Had a 9.30 lecture this morning. Although it is bad enough having a lecture on Saturday we didn't have to sign a register, which is a good thing for going home over a weekend. After the lecture I went around the town and found myself at the General station. At Reading General station it is really magnificent to see a Castle going through the station at top speed with a down express of chocolate and cream coaches - the most notable sound being the tick, tick, tick of the crosshead vacuum pump.  The diesels also go through at high speed but they are not so impressive as the steam locomotives.  The 11.45 departure for Paddington (non-stop) was hauled by diesel No. D809. While it is normal for a diesel to be on this train, last Saturday it was a running in turn for D827.
After lunch at the Buttery I went with the 4th XV in the coach to Bracknell.  We played in an R.A.F. establishment.  Our opponents were mainly schoolboys.  yhey put up a good performance but their lack of experience and their small size showed in the score 25-3.  I scored the first try.  The ball was passed to me from a maul near the line with the result that I had about 5-6 yerds to go.  I crossed through with a couple of people around my neck.  Afterwards we had a good old sing song and I didn't get back until 7.45. 

Sunday 16 October

The weather has been very good today.  It has been sunny although, of course, not very warm.  I went for a walk, I am not sure exactly where but I passed Reading West station and fairly close to the Motive Power depot.  In one of the sidings there was an old GWR tender.  It must have been there for many years.  I could just make out the words "Great Western" with the company's monogram in between the two words.  The wording stood out because it had not rusted so much as the rest of the tender.

Monday 17 October
Had a free morning. I went to the public library and spent some time there. Afterwards I came back to St. David's and copied up some notes. After lunch in the Buttery with Tony and Simon I went to geography. We experimented by not wearing our gowns but just carrying them. It went off all right. Spent the rest of the afternoon in the Griffin room, reading books. It started to rain about four and we came home in quite a heavy downfall. At least I have found one good use for my gown, it keeps my books dry. Have spent the evening at home doing some work. Mr. Beech brought in a new type of chocolate for me to try.

Tuesday 18 October
My first lecture this morning was canceled, however I have still had four hours of lectures today. For psychology practical today we did some mirror drawing experiments. I had to trace around a star pattern using a mirror only. On my first go it took me 2 minutes 5 seconds, but I managed to get it down to 17 seconds. Haven't done much this evening. We went down to St. David's and watched TV all the evening.

Wednesday 19 October
One lecture in Whiteknights first thing. Afterwards I went down to David's and collected my two shirts from the laundry in London street. They have done them very well indeed but I think it is very expensive, 1/8 per shirt. I should go somewhere else next time. Did some work in one of the studies at the top of David's until lunch. Afterwards I went with Tommy Williams to Palmer Park where I played with the fourth XV against Alfred Sutton secondary modern school. We won 11 - 0. I had quite a good game particularly taking in the loose. They certainly made us run around.

Thursday 20 October
The weather hasn't been very good today, it has been raining on and off for most of the day and it came on quite hard around 6.00. Have had two lectures today on the main site and one at Whiteknights. Have spent the rest of the time either copying up lectures or reading. Have tried some of Mrs. Watkins bread, butter and jam. It's delicious. The bread is very thick and very new and the butter and jam have to be spread on thickly to get rid of it all. It did some rugby training this evening in the gym.

Friday 21 October
Have worked out a regular routine for Fridays. I carry my dirty washing up to Whiteknights where I have my only lecture at 9.00. Then I take my washing to David's where I have a bath and then rub my things through. After lunch I went round the town with Tony and found a slightly cheaper laundry for my shirts and then went on to the library. At 5.00. To Davids we watched the cartoon series called “Huckleberry Hound” similar to Popeye. The Griffin room was crowded out. Went to the Fencing Club this evening. Didn't learn much new, though I did some parrying.

Saturday 22 October

The weather has been really atrocious for most of the day. There has been almost continuous rain up till about 4:00 and it has been very dull and dark because of the low cloud. It has been misty and to cap it all I think I have a cold coming. After geography practical I did some shopping and went to the General station. The diesel on the 11.45 for Paddington was D828 "Magnificent ", which was still being run in. The engineer told me that the new Swindon built locomotives are tested for four days before they are handed over to the running department. Production at Swindon is at the rate of one every 2 - 3 weeks. There are four more to be built and after that they will build some more powerful ones. I also saw two “700” class engines, no.30308 working an up freight through the Western station and no. 30692 shunting carriages in Redding South. My rugby match was canceled so I went to see the first XV play Southampton. The result was 0-0 although we should have won. Spent most of the evening trying to think up a script for Carouse with Tony and David Cameron.

Sunday 23 October
Didn't get up until 9:00 this morning - had a good lie in. Have written a letter to Jean, I don't really want to but I'll have to in order to avoid a punch up when I get home. Went out into the town this morning in order to find a restaurant for when Mum and Dad come up next Sunday. There is a fairly cheap Chinese restaurant in Chain Street. They are relaying a pair of points in the General station - it was quite interesting. Went to the casting rehearsals for Carouse this evening. Our script is coming on.

Monday 24 October
It has been another bad day as far as the weather is concerned - it's been raining on and off most of the time. Had a letter from home this morning, Mum and Dad are coming up next Sunday for the day. My engine number plate has arrived, apparently it weighs a ton! (this was from Southern loco 32689) .Much too heavy to hang on a wall, I'll have to wait and see. Have had a lecture today and otherwise I have been copying up and reading. This evening we will working on our script, it is nearly finished, I don't know how it will go down - it is very corny.

Tuesday 25 October
My worst day as far as let's just go, what is more I have quite a dash down from Whiteknights to the main site from political economy to geography. Haven't done much this evening. I stopped in and copied up some lectures. Have also written home, the letter contained a list of all I wanted brought up.

Wednesday 26 October
What a day - the rain has been coming down continuously throughout the whole day. All the rugby matches were canceled which was a good thing. Went to the public library this morning to collect my permanent ticket - it is a plastic affair because they use a photographic system of recording the loans. Stopped the whole afternoon in the Griffin room watching the football match between England and Spain at Wembley. We won 4 - 2 in a real mud bath, the pitch was waterlogged. A great filip to British soccer prestige.

Thursday 27 October
Up until about 6:00 the weather was very much improved, we even saw some sunshine for a brief period, but the rain has come down again. I've never known such continuous rain. It seems to be pretty general. There is extensive flooding in the west country - it is reported that half of Exeter is under five feet of water. My bike has come up, it arrived this afternoon by road. I am now much more mobile. Have bought a new nib for my pen - as usual it isn't very good they all seem to need running in.

Friday 28 October
The weather has been very good today. I was preparing to ride my bike up to Whiteknights and stripped the thread of the nut on one of the rear spindles while trying to tighten up the chain. Had to borrow Simon's bike. Took my bike into the town and have now fixed it. I also bought a lock and chain and a Hooter (cost 1/1- what extravagance). Went to a recital of chamber music this evening in the Great Hall given by the Aolian string quartet with Jack Brymer (clarinet) bracket. The three works played were quintet in a major K 581 by Mozart, quartet no. 5 by Bartok and quintet in B minor, Opus 115 by Brahms. I enjoyed myself, I particularly liked the Mozart.

Saturday 29 October
Have had quite a busy day. After my 9:30 lecture which ended 11.00. I cycled home and then took my laundry in and bought some sort of lunch, also by bike. Just managed to get in time to catch the coach at 12:45. I played for the third XV against Old Walcountiansl extra A at Wallingford just to the west of Croydon. It has been raining since 11:00 and the pitch was very muddy indeed. We lost 19 - 0, 3 points being from a penalty because of my foot up (I was hooker). Even so it was a very good game.

Sunday 30 October
I went down to the station to meet Mum and Dad.  They were both very pleased to see me. We went for a walk down by the river and had dinner in the Chinese restaurant in Chain Street.  It was very good especially the chips!  Afterwards we went up to Whiteknights and had a look at the museum then came back and had tea at Lyons.  It had begun to rain by this time and we caught a bus home so that Mum and Dad could meet Mr. and Mrs. Beech.  Mr. Beech took them to the station.  It was good to see them again.

Monday 31 October
Have now got my bike fully operational, I have fitted a dynamo and lights which Dad brought up yesterday. Have booked seats for Iolanthe by Gilbert and Sullivan for tomorrow, it is in the Town Hall. Have done some work this morning. Had geography this afternoon, it was very interesting- meteorology. After this we had tea in the Griffin room and I did some reading. This evening I wrote some letters in the Griffin room and also played a couple of games of table tennis with Tommy Williams. The rain came down again at about 4.00. The whole country will be underwater soon.