Category Archives: Uncategorized

Diary Entry: Moona & I went to Pewsey. Slept Miss King & mealed (sic) Royal Oak. Diary notes: Miss Noyes [aka ‘Moona’] was a friend of KPD’s (they went on some holidays together); She was, like KPD, a Nanny/Matron, and was also at Rossholme. She was with KPD on the latter’s birthday in April 1954, …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 23rd August [1941]”

Diary Entry: We went with Moona to “Lady Hamilton”. Diary notes: “Lady Hamilton” (also known as ‘That Hamilton Woman’ or ‘The Enchantress’) was a British film starring Laurence Olivier & Vivien Leigh, made by Alexander Korda in exile in the USA. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Hamilton_Woman https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4327467

Diary Entry: Left early & I went to stay with Miss Kidner. Diary notes: Miss Kidner was a friend who lived (& worked) in Weston-super-Mare – the first mention of her in the diary is in 1938. Later KPD stayed with her when visiting Rossholme school after having left employment there. Given her previous jobs …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 20th August [1941]”

Diary Entry: We all went to Croyde & I bathed. Diary notes: Croyde is on the coast, not far from Braunton. KPD mentions bathing a number of times in her diaries. It is interesting to speculate on the popularity of a beach holiday during the war: presumably only possible at places like this that did …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 16th August [1941]”

Diary Entry: Went to South Molton with John. Diary notes: South Molton is a small market town inland from Barnstaple. For ‘John’ see the notes for the diary entry of 10th August.

Diary Entry: Went with John Bideford, Hartland, Stoke, Clovelly, Bucks Mills, Westwood Ho! Diary notes: Did John have access to a car (with petrol)? There were not many private cars with petrol in wartime due to rationing which lasted from September 1939 to 1950. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/26/newsid_2502000/2502691.stm

Diary Entry: Went to see Bay & on to Ilfracombe. Diary notes: ‘Bay’ may refer to ‘Hele Bay’ near Ilfracombe.

Diary Entry: John took Janet & I to Morterhoe. Diary notes: Dorothy & John Thomson, along with Janet Langley, appear to have been the friends KPD was staying with at Braunton.

Diary Entry: Went to Barnstaple a.m. Afternoon to Saunton, Croyde, Georgeham & Woolacoombe. Diary notes: Although all quite close together – if one has a car – quite a day of travelling by public transport!

Diary Entry: Went to Braunton. Diary notes: Braunton is about 80 miles from Weston-s-Mare, so quite a long journey, especially in war time. The War, nearly two years old by now, doesn’t seem to have stopped KPD enjoying a seaside holiday!