My granddad died in 1983. For the previous 20 years, he kept a diary, recording his day as a farm worker and then through his retirement. We are lucky enough to have his notebooks, all the entries in block capitals, often in pencil. He always tells us about the weather, sometimes about what is going well at the allotment. We get updates of how Liverpool are doing and the occasional political thought. He suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, was always in pain, but you would never know from these entries. My mum once described him as a contented man. Who knows, really, but certainly, there is something soothing about these entries. So I thought I would share them with you. We have a few years to cover so buckle up.
Moved down the ward a bed today and Sam moved to the end of the ward out of sight. Nell, God bless her, came again tonight. How I longed to go home with her. But with God’s help, it shouldn’t be long now*.
(*I never heard Granddad say a prayer or really mention God at all, so this is interesting.)
Got moved today into hut six, along with the others. Nell and Dot came tonight. Also Ted Williams and Atfield. Things go on just the same in this ward as the others.
Not a very good night last night for sleep but leg seems to be doing ok, thank God. All the family came to see me this afternoon. Also Miss Robb. Her friend had the same op.
A day of heavy rain. Dot and Jane came to see me this afternoon. They both looked lovely. Nell was at Fellowship sale and Ron went to Burnley to watch Liverpool play.
(Liverpool won, 1-5, including a hat-trick from Roger Hunt)
A day much the same as the others. Three more blokes went home today, leaving only six in the ward. Nell and Ron came tonight. All is well at home but it seems an age until I can go.
Leg feels better today, thank God. Day follows day and each day some one gets discharged so my time will come. Nell came tonight, God bless her. Gave her 19/-* collected from work. Get a perm.
(* not sure if this is 19/- for £9. Quick Google suggests a perm might have cost £2 in 1964, so neither seems to make sense)
Saw Partridge this morning. Got to stay in bed until fortnight today. Have a walking plaster on. It seems a hundred years away but I suppose it will pass. Please God it’s ok.
Another red letter day. Went to theatre to have stitches removed and new plaster on. As well as having clamps tightened. Got a bit of pain in it again. Nell never came tonight.
A frost this a.m. I believe. The day much the same as the rest. Terry Downes got beat.* Ron brought Nell in to see me. All is ok at home. The time goes very slowly and it seems ages to wait.
* World title, light heavyweight fight in Manchester against Willie Pastrano. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round, while reportedly well ahead on points, and Pastrano retained his title. Downes then retired, and had a number of acting roles, as a thug, including appearing in Derek Jarman’s “Caravaggio”.
Still the same old routine. Leg progress slow but sure, I hope. Nell came again today. Got bless her. Also Dot, Ron and Jane. Jane came in for a bit.
My Granddad is Keeping Busy 