In which I continue my studies at Reading University and visit Swindon to take a literacy test.

Monday 4 June
Tony took me over to Henley this morning to go around the brewery. It was much more interesting than the Simmonds visit. We were taken around by the brewer of all people! He gave us a very good idea of the brewing process. He gave us each a pint afterwards – one of the best I have ever tasted and very satisfying. We reached 70 mph on the way back . Weather is tremendous.

Tuesday 5 June
I read out my paper this morning. Quite successful

Wednesday 6 June
We decided to go to Epsom to see the Derby today. I asked Dorothy Wright if she would like to come and she did. The women went in Johnny's car, I went on the back of Tony's motorbike, Alan went on the back of Brian Flanagan's (the Roman Catholic priest) motorbike while Dick took Brenda on the scooter. It was a really wonderful day. I very much enjoyed the racing although I didn't win anything. The sun was really hot which really made the day. Coming back we were stopped in a traffic jam close to a religious man trying to sell leaflets, Brian said something and left but this was drowned by the noise of the motorbikes. The man thought Brian (who wasn't wearing his clerical collar) was being rude and said to him “One day, my son, you will repent of your sinful ways”. We all met at a pub in Cobham on the way back and came back in convoy although Tony (and of course me too) did go off occasionally to do a “burn up”. We reached 70 mph twice, it's really exciting on that bike. I took Dorothy home afterwards, she's a very nice girl indeed, very warm. There was quite a stur about the accident at the Derby where seven horses fell, one having to be destroyed.

Friday 8 June
We have been to the gravel pits at Burghfield. It's the first time I've ever been out there. Dick took Dorothy while I went by bike. The weather is still very hot indeed and the water is quite warm. It's the first time I've been in since last summer so I took it quite easily. Went for a walk with Dorothy this evening. We went up the river to Tilehurst and then on to the union coffee bar. I've been so busy recently that I haven't had any time to write my diary so that by the time I come to write this entry (Friday 24th June) I have three weeks to look back on.

Wednesday 20 and Friday 22 June
We have been twice to Royal Ascot, Dot and myself going on the backs of Brian's and Tony's motorbikes respectively. The weather wasn't too good on Wednesday but was much better on Friday. We were right by the winning post, a very good position. I didn't win anything on the Wednesday and I was down on the day on Friday, even though I backed three winners (very short odds} This meeting is important for the fashion world and there were many people in our side of the course admiring the privileged few on the other side of the course (the racetrack is quite a good class division). The royal family were there on both days. We saw the Queen and her entpurage riding along the course on Friday. On both days we stopped at the “George” close by Loddon Bridge, to have a drink and play darts. Brian bought drinks because he won about 30/- both days. One way of easing his conscience..

Thursday 21 June
I went to Abingdon to go around Morland's Brewery with Tony. It was quite interesting although I didn't learn a great deal more about the actual process. It was interesting to see the cooper at work, neither Simmonds nor Henley make their own barrels although they both repair them. Morlans also use a special process for brewing the beer from a specially prepared malt extract.

Saturday 23 June
Dot and I went to Windsor this afternoon. We couldn't look around the castle because it is being renovated but we had a good look around the grounds. Before leaving we went for a short trip on the river. Afterwards we went on to Colin Cockshaw's 21st birthday party. It was quite a novelty as his father is a warder in the Feltham Borstall and the party was inside the Borstall itself. The party went on pretty late and we came back Sunday morning after a few hour's sleep. Dot and I hitched back. We were lucky and got a lift from the other side of Staines to Spencer's Wood which is on the Basingstoke road. The weather was excellent and the ride back was very pleasant through the green Hampshire countryside. I went for a swim at Burghfield Sunday afternoon.

Thursday 28 June
I went for a walk with Dot down to Mapledurham this evening. It is a really pleasant little village - almost completely cut off. It is on the Thames, on the Oxfordshire side of the river but is cut off from the main stream. It seems as if the village has almost been forgotten yet it is so close to Reading. We lost our way on the way back and reached Dorothy's digs quite late - even so I was invited in for tea.

Friday 29 June
I had to go to Swindon today for my medical in connection with my job this vacation. I passed the medical with flying colours as I expected I would.  As part of this I had to sort out threads of wool into different colors, some of them were so dirty it was difficult to tell the colour.  This confirmed that I wasn't colour blond.  The big laugh was a literacy test.  I had to write my name on a pices of paper and then had to write the following 17 words:

"A light engine, when on any running line, must always carry a tail lamp in the rear."

Yesterday, one person made 14 mistakes!  I was flabbergasted when I realised what this was all about.

I have been issued with my kit already- trust the Western Region.  Even the overalls are different.  I shall have to get a pair of braces to hold up the trousers.  I was shown the door carrying my overalls with great difficulty.  The man pointed to a tobaccanist across the street and said "Go over there, he will sell you a carrier bag.  I stumbled across to street, barely being able to see over my pile of coveralls.  The door was opened for me by a man holding open a carrier bag!

After the medical I went to the newly opened Railway Museum at Swindon.  The most interesting exhibits, to me, were the four preserved locomotives and the full scale replica of Stephenson's "Notrh Star".  The preserved locomotives are:
3717 4-4-0 "City of Truro".
9400 0-6-0PT 94xx class.
2516 Dean goods 0-6-0 built 1883.
4003 4-6-0 "Lode Star", built 1907
There is only one word to describe the condition of these engines - fantastic.  They are really in wonderful condition with gleaming paintwork and shining brasswork, etc.  I have never seen any engines in better condition.  There is also a very interesting collection of tickets.

Had a trip to Chippenham and from there on to Calne.  Came back via Didcot

Saturday 30 June
I went over to Henley this afternoon with Dot. There were several crews out on the river practicing for the Regatta which starts on Wednesday, but we didn't see any of the elimination heats which must have taken place this morning. We stopped at Binfield Heath on the way back.