Diary Entry: Bike ride with Win. Quarmby. Diary notes: Win. [Winifrid?] Quarmby was a friend, probably a colleague from the A.T.S. As she liked to do, KPD got out to walk or cycle whenever she could.
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Diary Date: 10th August [1943]
Diary Entry: Theatre – Sandy Powell. Diary notes: Sandy Powell – a British comedian from Yorkshire – was well known in the 1930s & 1940s, esp. for his catch phrase “Can you hear me, mother”? More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Powell_(comedian)#Death Part of a programme for a later visit of Sandy Powell to the Theatre Royal, Chester.
Diary Date: 9th August [1943]
Diary Entry: Went to Rossett Y.W. With Benny. Diary notes: Rossett is near Wrexham. Benny – probably ‘Benny Longmuire’ – was an A.T.S. colleague.
Diary Date: 8th August [1943]
Diary Entry: Had tea & supper Mrs Morgan. Walked round walls. Diary notes: Visiting Chester and Mrs Morgan again, and KPD takes the opportunity to have a walk.
Diary Date: 7th August [1943]
Diary Entry: Changed sump oil to H.D.30. Went to Chester for night. Tea Mrs Morgan. N & J.Ps. Wedding anniversary. Diary notes: If the ‘H.D.30’ is a vehicle, full identification isn’t clear. Does anyone know better? Mrs Morgan was a friend KPD often dropped in on. The friends who had a wedding anniversary don’t seem …
Diary Date: 6th August [1943]
Diary Entry: Went to Trentham C.O.D. Near Newcastle-under-Lyme. Break & lunch Nantwich. Diary notes: ‘C.O.D.’ means ‘Central Ordnance Depot’. This was a return trip of just under 80 miles, assuming the ‘Trentham’ mentioned is the one near Stoke-on-Trent, which seems likely due to the other places mentioned.
Diary Date: 3rd August [1943]
Diary Entry: Went to Royalty. Diary notes: Although it isn’t certain, this probably refers to the Royalty Theatre in Chester, since demolished. KPD mentions going there on a number of occasions, especially when she was serving nearby. For more details on the theatre, see: https://www.chesterwalls.info/gallery/royalty.html A photograph showing the inside of The Royalty in the …
Diary Date: 1st August [1943]
Diary Entry: “Insanity Fair” – got up by company. Diary notes: “Insanity Fair” – may refer to journalist & political writer Douglas Reed’s 1938 book, one of the first to point out Hitler’s megalomania, or perhaps a modernised version of ‘Vanity Fair’? Another small mystery!
Diary Date: 31st July [1943]
Diary Entry: Went to tea Mrs Morgan. Diary notes: Mrs Morgan was a friend she often met with during the way years. She seems to have lived in or near Chester.
Diary Date: 30th July [1943]
Diary Entry: W/S inspection. Went to Royalty. Diary notes: ‘W/S’ in military terminology usually means ‘War Substantive’ , but I wonder whether here it refers to the ‘Work Shop’? Although it isn’t certain, this probably refers to the Royalty Theatre in Chester, since demolished. KPD mentions going there on a number of occasions. For more …
Aunt Pamela's War 