Category Archives: Uncategorized

Diary Entry: Went to “The Gentle Sex”. Diary notes: ‘The Gentle Sex’ is a 1943 GB black & white romantic comedy; it was directed by Leslie Howard (his last film) and starred Joan Greenwood and Lili Palmer among others. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gentle_Sex By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44654840

Diary Entry: Sat in park. Called Mrs Morgan after tea. Diary notes: This was a Sunday, and KPD seems to have enjoyed a day off. Mrs Morgan was a friend she often met with during the way years.

Diary Entry: Night at Chester. Diary notes: No indication of where KPD stayed, or who with.

Diary Entry: Ensa. Colchester Rep. Coy. “The Farmer’s Wife”. Diary notes: “The Farmer’s Wife” was a romantic comedy play, and also a 1928 British silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is unclear which the ENSA show was that day. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farmer%27s_Wife_(play) And (film) – this is the ‘Press book cover’:-

Diary Entry: Convoy – lovely – Llangollen, Carwen Bala. Ruthin Mold. Diary notes: This could have been as much as 141 miles. KPD obviously enjoyed the trip through north Wales – plus (perhaps) good weather.

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. For more details on the theatre, see: https://www.chesterwalls.info/gallery/royalty.html Inside the Royalty Theatre

Diary Entry: On duty drove late transport. Diary notes: Again, no real details. Late presumably meant driving after dark – more difficult in the time of the blackout.

Diary Entry: On duty. Diary notes: For some reason KPD thought it worth saying that she was ‘on duty’, but not what she did, or where she went.

Diary Entry: Good Ensa. Younkman’s band. Diary notes: Nat Younkman (aka ‘Youngman’) played in the UK from the 1930s under a variety of names, playing a variety of Russian, Jewish, Gypsy and Hungarian music. https://www.britishpathe.com/video/youngmans-band-issue-title-whats-in-a-name/query/musicians https://yiddishstage.org/russians-cossacks-jews-the-russian-imperial-singers-unmasked – see footnotes Photo of Nat Younkman from a concert at the Leicester Home Life Exhibition.  The Younkman Band …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 16th July [1943]”

Diary Entry: Called on Mr & Mrs Simpson. Left Berk[hampsted] after lunch & met Gertrude in Watford – had tea with her. Back to Gresford. Diary notes: Gertrude was a friend KPD saw frequently – being mentioned in the diaries from 1933 to 1977 (as Gertrude) and 1986 (as Trudie). It is interesting to note …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 15th July [1943]”