20090326

Thursday March 1, 1973


Our first month together!!! June and I began this historic day by playing several rounds of cheat quite alone in the common room. I won both games much to her annoyance. She says I do it too well. Groves came in and advised us to stop playing cards as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools was coming round - "somehow", said Groves, "the sight of you gambling might not go down too well". June had a busy timetable for the day I didn't see her until lunchtime.

Sadly we finished the History Syllabus today - and the rest is up to us! The 'A' level comes in the second week in June - three short, hard months to go.

Calamity and disaster! A photograph fell from my wallet and into June's hands. Yes, it was one of Barbara, dated February 18, 1971 inscribed: "To Michael. Much Love. Barbara xxx". June wanted to know all the sordid details. I cannot actually recall why we finished going out together - it must have been around the middle of May last year. It would have been a lot better if June had never seen the photo, but what does it matter. It's not as if I'm two timing her.

In the afternoon high farce indeed. Christine Braithwaite set fire to my Economics essay! I told her to be careful but the thing got out of control and the smouldering essay fell to the floor, burning one of the tiles. That's one of the reasons why I voted against a new carpet.

Linda was not at school today. She is preparing for her holiday tomorrow - she's going to Spain for 5 days. Lucky kid!

We had our usual bus stop liaison, and you've guessed it .....Cadbury creme eggs. My bus came early. Rushed home and had dinner then climbed into the bath and washed my hair. Was suitably spruced up for 7.15 when I set off back to Rawdon. Just June and I at the Emmotts. I arrived at 7.50 and she at 8.10. A quiet night. Sue Crosby and Liz Peddie came in but only came across to say hello. Saw old Ivy, a sweet old girl, but she ceases to be amusing after the first 2 hours. At 10.30 it was back to the bus stop but Peter Hurst came and so June and I decided to wait for the next No. 55 at 11.20. Very romantic. We walked down to the bottom road and sat on the uncomfortable seat. We kisses farewell. I got the 33 Ilkley bus to Guiseley and was home for midnight. Mum and Dad were watching the Lincoln by-election results. Evidently, Dick Taverne, the Democratic Labour candidate won! He was kicked out of the Labour party in October for placing his loyalties with the pro-Common Market men. I bet Harold Wilson is choked. I had my money on Jonathan Guinness, the Conservative.
(The offending photo of Barbara Woodhead is published above)

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Wednesday February 28, 1973

Got up at 7.30 and went to school at 8.30. Mr Rawnsley saw me down the lane and gave me a lift to Rawdon. On arriving at school Linda said June was unwell and would not be coming to school. I was horror struck! How could I go through a day without the company of June? Happily, she arrived later looking beautiful as usual. Groves informed me that I had an interview with Mr Gaunt for 10. I dread going to see him. He's such a ridiculous burke. I went up with Denise and 10. He didn't have anything to say except to wish me luck for Friday's interview. Mrs Lane's lesson was rather interesting: Suez Crisis, and the rise of Harold Macmillan 1957-63, etc. At lunchtime June and I went down to the shops for a couple of Cadbury Creme Eggs and a pound of sugar for the servery. June went without her coat and looked really cold. She laughs when I say she'll catch cold. June has been delightful today. She tells me that she's going for tea with her sister Christine, in Guiseley. On Ings Lane to be precise. She was ready and waiting to leave at 4, but somehow the whole thing slipped my mind and we didn't leave until nearly 4.30 - she had been sitting silently in her duffle coat watching me chatting, instead of pulling me away. A romantic journey together on the same bus for once! --==--

Tuesday February 27, 1973

Susan woke me up at 7.45. For the first hour I felt completely dead to the world - and went through breakfast in a complete daze - much to Mum's annoyance. Went down on 8.30 bus. Christine B and I had our usual morning gossip. Also had a chat with Denise for the first time in about a month. The lovely June arrived at about 9.45 - alas, she and Linda were in silly moods for the greater part of the day. For the first two lessons I revised British politics 1945-51 - for the test at 11.45. The test itself was perfect -well, the first bit was. It said: " a. Account for the Labour victory of 1945, and, b. the Labour defeat of 1951." I woffled on for three quarters of an hour - Mrs Lane will no doubt find space to tear it to bits in tomorrow's lesson. June was still off at lunch - she still is cool towards me.

Princess Anne and Lieut. Phillips are "jumping" at the Duke of Beaufort's pad at Badminton. Not sexually of course, but equestrian jumping.

June and I are back on speaking terms by 2.30. She went off for lessons leaving me alone with Louise and Martin V-B. Later, Dave, Christine Chid, Louise and I messed about in the common room until nearly 4. I did manage to fill in my college application forms and get them posted.

Chris was disturbed when he heard I'd been acting the fool with Louise. But he pulled round when he mentioned that Louise had gone in for the young farmers' Dairy Queen Contest - I made the quip: "Cow of the Year 1973" - we all had a good laugh.

June and I both agreed today that we spend far too much time pulling people to bits over one thing or another. It's either Janet Roots, Louise or some unsuspecting fellow scholar - and our derogatgory comments are only growing worse with the passing days. Poor Janet is said to be really upset about what I have said of her in recent weeks - I should have a guilty conscience. I must now make a solemn promise that never again will I say anything nasty about ____ because really she is a nice natured girl. In fact, if it was not for her ugly face I could quite fancy her.

June accompanied me to the bus stop at 4.30 where we stood hand in hand until the dreaded No. 55 bus came. Louise and Denise were with us. Before we parted June promised not to fall out with me tomorrow.

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Monday February 26, 1973

Awoke at 8. Mum wanted me to find out about trains to Darlington for Friday and was delayed in going to school until 9. Mr Rawnsley gave me a lift to Benton Park. It can't be bad having the Town Clerk of Aireborough Council as a chauffeur! Sat reading the Daily Mail in the common-room. When Princess Anne flew back from her first official visit alone yesterday she went straight to the home of Mark Phillips in Wiltshire. She didn't even go see Mummy and Daddy first. How can the palace spokesman continue to deny reports of a romance? In my opinion, the couple will be engaged before the autumn. They must be in love.

June arrived at school late as usual wearing her pretty red mini-jumper. It always makes her look highly sexy. Generally, the day was really boring. Chris and Louise are ignoring each other. Janet Roots was being bitchy. June did manage to help me with an Economics essay. She even managed to re-phrase some of the sentences in the text-book. You must be sick to death of hearing about June, after all, all diaries have feelings don't they?

Came home at 5 after standing holding hands with June at my bus stop for 30 minutes. Lower sixth lads passing by eyeing her enviously. Thousands are waiting for the chance to sink into June's arms.

JUNE MARGARET BOTTOMLEY SWOON SWOON

For some unknown reason I had to write this. I do suppose that in 20 years time I will accidentally find this diary at the bottom of some old chest and say: "what a perfect fool I must have been." However, I must not look at things from that point of view or I suppose I will never do anything out of the ordinary again. Growing old a great, massive "square".

Dear diary, do forgive me - but I am in love.

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Sunday February 25, 1973

Sexagesima. Got up at 11. Dad gave me the news that the police were planning to raid the Yarnbury and possibly the Emmott Arms tonight - a purge against under-age drinkers. You can imagine the seriousness of the plight I found myself in. What would become of the usual mob if the cops caught them all boozing under age?

Did some homework and had a bath taking me up to teatime. I decided to ring Dave and warn him of the ensuing danger. However, Mum was baking in the kitchen, which made my conversation with Dave very difficult. Mum would have killed me if she had realised that I was divulging police information - Dad would also be in serious trouble if the bosses found out about such a leak. I did manage to tell Dave and he then rang Chris to warn him. I now felt at ease with my conscience. What is the point in allowing people to fall into a trap and commit crime? I was only preventing crime by leaking the information. This "Cloak and Dagger" routine went on until 9 when I arrived at the Emmotts to rescue, June, Linda and Cowie. Previously to this I had been down to see Dave who was doing homework in his bedroom.

On arriving at the Emmotts I rescued them all and we immediately set off on a wild-goosechase around Rawdon. It was extremely cold for walking, but at least it was dry. We went to Rawdon park to play on the swings. Sadly, the Council have removed the swings, so we piled onto a roundabout. After a walk across the park - in the shadow of the big Victorian council offices -June was quite frightened at the spookiness of the place and the darkness. We went into the Off Licence - Linda & I bought 2 packets of marshmallows - she toasted them with her cigarette lighter. June and I also bought Cadbury's Creme Eggs. At 10.15 we all sat in the bus shelter at Rawdon traffic lights. Linda's passion - Andy Graham - passed by arm in arm with Lynda Smith. Chris was with a plain looking girl. He seems lost without Louise - they really should make some attempt to get back together. Dave says they want to do but both are waiting for the other to make the first move. Tomorrow June and I have been going out for 4 weeks. I sneaked my first kiss some time ago, at the school Christmas party on Dec 14, 1972.

They got the 11 o'clock bus. Cowie and I waited for the last number 33. I got home at 11.30. Dad told me they had not raided the Yarnbury or the Emmotts after all, but had done Ringway instead at Horsforth - where Denise and Chid hang-out.
Came to bed at 12.30.

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Saturday February 24, 1973

Mum got me up at 10.30. My interviews in Leeds. Set off at 11 but Mr Rawnsley gave me a lift into Guiseley, and then made my way to the train station - my Leeds train came at 11.15. My first interview with a Miss Cook at Debenham's was quite satisfactory - it lasted 20 minutes. She gave me an application form and told me to come back in July. I spent the next 2 and a half hours walking round Leeds. The large indoor market and the many pedestrian precincts are a lot better than the traffic filled streets. Bought some sandwiches and ate them in the park.I then went to look at the parish church where my great-grandfather, John Rhodes married Christiana Ross in 1890. Quite an elaborate pile.

2nd interview was not quite satisfactory. She said I would need "O" Level Maths before they would accept me. That's out for a start! The afternoon seemed such a drag and I was on the Ilkley train at 4.30.

Once again I was almost starving to death on my arrival home. I ate a large dinner whilst Mum sat by demanding to know the results of my interviews. I told her that they had hardly been successful.

It was on the news tonight, the headlines to be precise, that Marion, Countess of Harewood, who was divorced from the Queen's cousin in 1967, is to wed the Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, whose 1st wife died in 1970. They seem to make a nice couple. However, Lord Harewood has fallen from Royal favour since his re-marriage in 1967 to Patricia Tuckwell, whom Dad always calls "Miss Barnworthy" for some unknown reason. Old Harewood had a son to Miss Tuckwell back in 1964 - they very year before his late mother the Princess Royal died. I wonder if she knew? H must certainly be an embarrassment to the Queen.

Went down to the Chuck Wagon at 7. Pauline has refrained from her usual course of making passes at me. She remains a spinster, and talks even more. Toffer threatens to gag her one of these days. I was home by 1.15. Strange for Saturday nights. Came to bed 2.15.

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Friday February 23, 1973

Awoke at 6.30. My throat was on fire so I went to the kitchen and poured a large glass of orange juice with ice - it was beautiful. I then went back to bed until 7.45. Mum awoke me with a letter from the teacher training college at Middleton St George. - I have to go for an interview on Friday March 2 at Darlington again! Went to catch the 55 bus at 8.20 and a freak snowstorm set in when I walked down the lane. Marian Lister and her son, Nigel (Susan's ex) were waiting for the bus. She told me that Dave was working at the pet shop whilst she took her driving test. (She failed).

The morning was very unlucky from my point of view. I was so unlucky meeting the same bus inspector 3 times on 3 different buses. I decided to use my pass to get to Rawdon and told the bus inspector that I was going to school to do an exam. He fell for it, but said he thought the schools were on holiday, and most schools are on holiday. How was I to know that he would change to the very same bus I and June were to get? He called me a liar and a cheat, and said I wouldn't get away with it again, etc.

We all went to the Magistrates Court in Bradford by 10.30. Mrs Telford was there, coming to gloat at peoples crimes and misfortunes. Passed a very interesting morning sitting next to June in the public gallery. We then went into Bradford Library had had a laugh playing in the lifts.

At about 12.30 June, Janet and I left to get a 55 bus, but Dale persuaded us to go for a drink in a bllody awful pub. It looked like a brothel with girls sprawled over the juke boxes - we left after 10 minutes. Snow set in at 12.40. June and I managed to get a bus to Rawdon traffic lights. It was imposibble to see anything but snow through the bus windows. We laughed at the snow-covered people mounting the bus. At Rawdon June came with me to my bus stop. We drew pictures in the snow. Steve Tate was also waiting with us.

I went at 1.10 saying my goodbyes to June. Dave, Michael Jackson, Ian Morby, P. Robertson, Tat, MM, Christine, M. Price, Michael Attenborough, Mr Ayling joined the party in viewing the Gas HQ in Leeds - very boring. Came home on the 33 bus at 4.30. Dave came with me. Rushed up the lane and had something to eat, the first I'd eaten since breakfast.

Went down to the Chuck Wagon as ususal. Boring evening but the money is all right, and that's what really matters. Nothing else much to say, so that's all. Byee!

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Friday November 2, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas I got up with Samuel at 7 and took him down and gave him a Weetabix and toast which he ate with gusto. He d...