In which I continue my studies at Reading University.

Tuesday 1 November
Had the expected hectic Tuesday although the rush between political economy and geography isn't so bad now that I have a bike. There was a terrific thunderstorm during psychology this morning. Went to a performance of “Iolanthe” this evening at the Town Hall. It wasn't too bad but it could have been much better, particularly the male chorus. Even so it was very enjoyable.

Wednesday 2 November
The weather has been better today, there has also been some sun although the wind has been very bitter. I had an early dinner and went by coach to Culham College.  The ride was interesting.  We went up the Thames Valley which is very picturesque.  Owing to the heavy rains which we have had recently the Thames has flooded its banks and was at least twice its normal width.  The game was a good one but we (3rd and 4th XV) had to play their 1st XV and lost 29-0.  We stopped for two hours at a pub on the way back.

Thursday 3 November
Have had two lectures today. Went into the public library with Johnny Marsh this morning. It turns out that he is also mad on railways so I have at last found a companion. This afternoon I attended the matriculation ceremony. After a brief speech we went up in front of Sir John Wolfenden, Vice Chancellor and he shook our hands in turn and welcomed us into the university. After this I signed the matriculation register and have now been admitted to the membership of the University

Friday 4 November
Had most of the day free as my only lecture is at 9:00. Spent most of the rest of the morning washing my clothes and cleaning my rugby boots. This afternoon was spent working solidly up in one of the studies in David's though I did come down at about 4:30 and watched Huckleberry Hound at 5.25. I think he's nearly as good as Popeye. Spent the evening indoors copying up some psychology practical notes and also adding to my Southern Railway locomotive notes. I now have a much larger access to books of all kinds and this is reflected in the number of books I have read.

Saturday 5 November

After geography this morning I went down to the Genral stationI saw three more Warship class diesels this morning but perhaps the most surprising wa the appearance of a County 4-6-0 No. 1024 on an up train terminating in platform 1. Have been lazy this afternoon and stopped in the Griffin room most of the time watching the television.  There was some very good wrestling between an Englishman and a Spaniard, the Briton finally winningg in the last round by two pinfalls to one. It is Guy Fawkes night and we turned up in force for the procession by Halls to Whiteknights. When we arrived at Whiteknights the fighting broke out.  The object was to get our banner on to the fire while at the same time we were to stop other Halls from getting theirs on.  We got into a group. linked arms and charged the other Halls.  The mud was very deep and my trousers are plastered up to the thighs.  Afterwards i got a ride on the bonnet of a Land Rover to the gates of Whiteknights and we went back to Davids (Hall) via the Vice Chancellors house, Wantage, Wessex and Andrews (all Halls). I've cut my little finger during a scuffle with some girls from St. Georges (Hall).

Sunday 6 NovemberHave been doing some repair operations this morning- I washed two pairs of socks caked in mud and also a pair of plimsoles, after last night. I shall have to brush the mud off my trousers. Afterwards I went for an hour's cycle ride in the country to the southwest of Berekley avenue, I'm not quite sure where I went, but it was in the Kennet valley. There are signs of extensive flooding on some of the lanes although the waters have gone down now. Some of the corners were quite dangerous through the presence of mud.

Monday 7 November
The weather is still very bright due to a slow moving anticyclone. But it's very cold even more so on a bike. Have taken my trousers that I wore on Saturday into the cleaners. I'll never get them clean otherwise. Have been copying up some lectures and I also wrote a letter to Auntie Min and Uncle Fred. I had forgot completely about them until Mum mentioned them in her letter. Auntie Win and Uncle Alf have given them their old television set. Spent most of the evening playing table tennis with Tony and Dave. I even managed to beat Dave in two games.

Tuesday 8 November
It has been very cold today, as is normal with the anticyclone after a few days, it has become misty and has continued all day. It's particularly drafty around the legs on a bicycle. In psychology practical today I had to learn groups of nonsense syllables, some were very easy (High Association value) but others were very hard bracket, some I didn't manage at all. I went to the JCR today- it is the first one I've been to, it was quite interesting. Wrote the weekly letter home because I might not have the time tomorrow. Afterwards I went down to David's and had a few games of table tennis.

Wednesday 9 November
It started off very cold this morning but it has become warmer during the day and isn't too bad tonight - of course rain is forecast. The big news of the day is that Senator Kennedy has become the next president of the U.S.A. by a narrow margin. I played for the 3rd XV against King Alfred's College 2nd XV and lost narrowly by 6-3.  If only we could get together as a team we would do much better. Went to a Symphony concert at the Town Hall this evening. The Reading Symphony Orchestra played Fingal's Cave Overture (Mendelson), concerto for the two pianos in E-flat K365 (Mozart), soloists were Cyril Smith and Phyllis Sellick, the Carnival of the Animals, (Saint-Saëns ) and Symphony Number 1 in C opus 20 (Beethoven). The orchestra was much better than I inspected. The first half wasn't too good but the second half was very good indeed. There was some humorous parts in the Saint-Saëns . After the second section an egg was presented to Cyril Smith. The Beethoven was really first class, particularly the first and third movements.

Thursday 10 November.
The cold weather has gone for the time being and it was quite nice this morning but we have had a few heavy showers. Have had the usual two lectures today and have done the washing which is usual for Thursday. I Iwash myself and then my clothes. I tried the bath in the basement of David's, it is better because I can have it deeper and there are no drafts. Have been given a list of essays to do for British Constitution - one has to be done by the end of this term. Stayed in this evening doing work and I also wrote a letter to Terry who has started at Southampton.

Friday 11 November
Have been into Patrick's hall for coffee. It isn't too bad. Martin Jones invited me into his room which is covered with posters from travel agencies. We talked for quite a long time mainly about music. Went down to General station from 1.00 to about 2.30, haven't been here at this time before. It's quite an interesting time. Just before 2:00 there were quite a few goods trains waiting to go into the up yard at the west of the station. Both Tony and Simon have gone home for the weekend so I am on my own - it does have its advantages, if anything I get more food.

Saturday 12 November
After geography practical I went down to the station as usual. It was very interesting. There were three Granges, none of which I had seen before. I also saw a 2-8-0 (28xx class) and an old chocolate and cream bow ended coach which had windows in the end, it may be a converted slip coach. Played for the third XV against Abbey A XV at Palmer Park. It was a very good game, the best I've played in up here, which we just lost 6 - 3. Have stayed in this evening doing work and listening to the wireless.

Sunday 13 November
I went for  cycle ride round to Southcote Junction.  I saw three trains in the space of 15 minutes (and just missed another). Two passenger trains, one from the Newbury direction hauled by a 2-6-2 tank and one from the Basingstoke direction hauled by a Hall 4-6-0.   I also saw a down goods train hauled by a 2-8-0  which consisted of bolster wagons  of rails and sleepers.  Coupled into this was a diesel mechanical service locomotive No. PWM653.  (this was presumably headed for the Theale Permanent Way Depot).  There was  a ballast wagon turned over on its side in a siding opposite the signal box.

Monday 14 November
Have actually had my haircut this morning, the first time in at least six weeks. I feel quite respectable now. Have bought a David's Hall tie - it is green with small Welsh Red Dragons (Griffins). Went to a meeting of the Political Society at Whiteknights. Earl Atlee actually addressed us on world government and unification. He seemed to be quite doddery and I wondered if he would make the top step but he was very coherent in his speech and was very good indeed. He is quite a wit and he managed to answer back some of our questions very cunningly.

Tuesday 15 November
Usual heavy day today, although it doesn't get tiring. We didn't do any experiments in Practical Psychology today but rounded off all of the previous ones. Watched Railway Roundabout in the Griffin room. Haave spent the evening up till about 9:30 copying up my psychology notes, although during part of the time I heard Elgar's Violin Concerto in Music to Remember.

Tuesday 16 November

Played for the 2nd XV this afternoon because several of the 1st XV players are injured.  We played Royal Vetinerary College 2nd XV and won 16-3 (surprise, surprise) It was rather a scrappy game. We scored 13 points in the first tem minutes and from then onwards we tended to rest on our laurels. Wrote some letters this evening and went up to David's at about 8:00. Watched TV from 9.15. One of the most surprising things is the sudden death of Gilbert Harding, I was very shocked indeed

Thursday 17 November
Good Old English weather again, it rained from before 8:00 right up to about 5:00 non-stop, and then again in the evening. The sky has been overcast for most of the day and it has been quite miserable. Had a game of tiddlywinks this afternoon. I didn't do too well but still I can't have played for about ten years so it's not surprising really. Went to a recital in the Great Hall this evening given by the Aeolian string quartet with Gwynne Edwards. Three Works were played, two Mozart quintets (in G minor K515 and in D Major K593) with Bartok's quartet number 6 in between. It wasn't so good as the last recital but still very entertaining. As usual the Bartok was hard to understand but the K515 didn't seem to be up to Mozart standard. The last work I enjoyed the most.

Friday 18 November
Weather started off badly again, it was very cold and also raining this morning but things did improve later on so that it was quite sunny around dinner time. I had a lecture at Whiteknight's at 9:00 and then I did my washing this morning and some work this afternoon up till about 4:30 when I had tea in the Griffin room with Tony and Dave and watched Huckleberry Hound. Went to the dancing club this evening. It wasn't half as bad as I expected. I have learned the rudiments of the quick step. Didn't get to bed until quite late.

Saturday 19 November
After geography this morning there was an advertising stunt for Carouse in the Butts. Dave Stockwell was trying to auction some of his harem- it finished up in chaos.

Nothing special at Reading General - it was foggy until about 13.00.  A WD 2-8-0 was on an up freight and two 28xx class 2-8-0s on down freights.  It is quite interesting watching a WD get a long train of wagons in motion.   This particular one, No. 90174, was very clean.  It started off very slowly although the coupling rods soon seemed to be revolving at a great rate because of the small driving wheel diameter.  Soon, the characteristic "clank" was accompanied by a rush of steam with each piston stroke.  The crew received a signal from the guard when all the slack had been taken up, then a hoot on the whistle and they were away full tilt. Played for the 2nd XV this afternoon.  We were overwhelmed 27-6.

Sunday 20 November
Weather again terrible, it has been raining on and off for most of the day. After writing a letter to Auntie Vi. I dodged out to see a 2-8-0 on a relaying train (at Southcote Junction?) - of course, it didn't come through.  All I saw, in just under half an hour  was one King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 30772 which I must have seen at least thirty times at St. Mary Cray and Orpington. Went out to Prospect Park for a little while this afternoon and watched some football but the rain came down so I sheltered in St David's. Spent the evening in David's - I was only half awake for most of the time.

Monday 21 November
Miserable day today with a fair amount of rain. Have spent most of the morning in David's doing some work. Had a very interesting lecture this afternoon on clouds. It is a subject which I've wanted to learn more about and now I know a little about cloud formation and types. Parry showed some very good color slides. I had tea in the Griffin room. Have written a letter this evening making final arrangements for going home this weekend. Went up to David's later on in the evening.

Tuesday 22 November
Nothing exciting today - it's been the usual five lectures (four subjects). Both Budden and Miller were bad today. How Budden can start talking about the Bank of England control over member banks and finish up talking about the Exchange Equalization account just mystifies me. We did a very straightforward experiment in Psychology about drawing a line 3 inches long. Went up to Whiteknights this evening to a showing of the film “Women of Rome” with Gina Lolabrigitta, it was quite good although the quality of the film was poor and there were subtitles.

Wednesday 23 November
Budden was bad again today. He started off talking about International trade, talked about the terms of trade, and finished up talking about monopoly and free competition. I was to have played for the third XV this afternoon but I was transferred to the second XV at the last moment. We played University College London and lost 6 - 0. It was quite a punch up. I've got a lot of bruises on my shins and a bruised foot. The coordination with the hooker went better this time. Spent most of the evening in the long room.

Thursday 24 November
Have been getting ready for going home tomorrow although really there's not much to get ready. We had the normal rain on Thursdays, it seems to rain most Thursdays. Have had two lectures. It didn't have my normal bath today because I'm going to I'm going home tomorrow. Went to the library this afternoon and spend some time in the reading room, came back to David's and watched Popeye. Went to the dancing club this evening where I nearly learned to dance the tango.

Friday 25 November
I had an early breakfast and went up for an early lecture.  Afterwards, I came back, collected my kit and started to hitch along Berkeley Avenue.  My first lift took me to the other side of town and after 5 minutes I got a lift which took me to Harrow and Wealdstone.  I caught a train to Charing Cross and arrived home at 2.15.  Mum and Dad were pleased to see me although the cat didn't take much notice.

Saturday 26 November
At Orpington.  Went up the road this morning to see about a National Insurance Card and also to help Mum bring back some shopping from Cooper's Supermarket which only opened last Thursday - Mum saved 15/- in all. I spent much of the morning cleaning up  my number plate from withdrawn E1 tank engine 32689.  It is very sooty and greasy but it will be better once I have cleaned it up.