A focus on family history
Wednesday, 16 June 1937
Mrs E & I called at Australia House for letters, then to Army & Navy Store, looking for a hat for Garden Party. Went into lots of shops, & only 2 hats to go on my head among all the shops. Bought one for 32/ -. Had lunch at Lyons, then went to see Camille at Marble Arch. Good show came back in the rain to dinner. Bought wool and started knitting.
Tuesday, 15 June 1937
Met Mabel to get the dress. Walked about the room to make sure it suited her. Also bought her hat at Jaques. Took me to lunch to Strand Palace, then went up to 6? to see Mrs Jowl, who is very sick, home sick & nervous. Leaving by boat on Saturday, Orford, for Sydney. Doctor says it is through the climate, rather cool & dull today. Got back about 4. Afternoon tea in the bedroom.
Monday, 14 June 1937
Mrs Everett & I went to Aust House for mail, no letters until Wednesday. Walked around, came back for lunch, had rest till dinner time. All the N.Z. went to Savoy dinner for N.Z. had a rather quiet day. Feeling pretty tired.
Strand, London, Greater London WC2B 4LA, UK
26 Bedford Place,
London Borough of Camden, WC1B, UK
Sunday, 13 June 1937
Very wet today, went down to breakfast at 10. Had a real good day, writing letters, tidying up. As it is wet today, can’t go out. Made tea in the room for the first time today. Afternoon tea & supper. Wrote to Em, Rose & Ethel then hot bath & to bed.
Saturday, 12 June 1937
Nice day. Went into S. Row. Bought a pair of satin shoes, feel very sore with walking, 4/11. Came back for lunch. Went to Mabel’s flat at 1.30. Fred, Mabel and I went for a drive to Croydon Aerodrome. Had afternoon tea there then went over the place with a guide. Wonderful place, then back to flat at 7. Mr & Mrs Burtonshaw, boyfriend of Phil’s, to dinner. Finished at 9.30 then played poker & K & K won about 1/4. Had supper, then boy drove me home at 2.30 after a very good day.
Croydon, Greater London CR0, UK
London, Greater London EC1V 3QW, UK
Thursday, 10 June 1937
Went to Australia House, got my card for Royal Garden Party – also ticket for Changing of Colour, free one. Went with Mrs E to Strand Palace Hotel to see Mrs Webb. Had lunch at Lyons. Then out to Cadby Hall to go over Lyons big factory. Largest thing of its kind in the world. 20 miles of swiss rolls made every day, 6,000 employees. Had afternoon tea, came back to dinner. Mrs Webb came down at night and we had a game of bridge.
66 Hammersmith Road
London, Greater London W14 8UD, UK
372 Strand, London, UK
Strand, London, Greater London WC2B 4LA, UK
Tuesday, 8 June 1937
Lovely day went with Mrs Everett frock hunting. Had lunch then to Overseas Club – special cars for Eton College. Lovely drive, very big crowd there. Went all over the place. Lovely afternoon tea, then lovely drive back in time for very late dinner about 8.30 – Mrs Webb came down & we played bridge in the bedroom until after 12 – then walked with her to the bus but she took a taxi back to Strand Palace.
Walpole House, Eton Wick Road, Eton College, Windsor, West Berkshire SL4 6EU, UK
Monday, 7 June 1937
Mrs Everett’s birthday. Called at Australia House for mail, then had a cup of tea. Took coach for Victoria Station to Herstmonceux Castle, a lovely drive of 3 hours into the country Eastbourne way. Went with Mrs Carter. Met Fred, Mabel & Phil, all stayed together, had a great old laugh. Lovely grounds, swimming pool, flowers, band, in fact everything was lovely. Went through some of the castle. Got back to hotel at 9.30.
[Herstmonceux Castle was owned by Major Sir (Herbert) Paul Latham. A Conservative MP, he purchased the castle in 1932 and married Lady Patricia Doreen Moore in 1933. Despite being exempt from military service, he enlisted in the Second World War, however his military career ended in scandal and with him being dishonourably discharged.]
Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1RN, UK City of Westminster, London SW1V, UK
Sunday, 6 June 1937
Fine morning, took bus to Petticoat Lane, 5 of us. Had a good walk around, very funny, cheeky lots of Jews. Came back to dinner, then went with Mrs Everett to visit some of her N.Z. friends in Maida Vale, 9 of us there. Had a very nice time, left about 10.30 then went into Lyons at Tottenham Court Rd and had some tea, at 12 at night. Walked home & had “a good night”.
London, UK
London, UK
City of Westminster, London, UK
Saturday, 5 June 1937
Mrs Everett & I went around the shops. Had lunch then went to the New Gallery [Regent Street] picture show. Saw Wings of the Morning, very nice show. Had tea, back to Hotel and had an early night – feeling very tired.