1st July 1973
Went to Papplewick lido. It was really hot in the morning but we went in the afternoon when it was a little cooler. We went to Calverton first but it was full up. Anna and Mart came and brought her American friends . We left about 6 then Pete and I went round for Hodgie at 8. He had only just got in as Mops car had broken down on the way back from the lido. We went up for hank and out to the Robin Hood and the Plough and back to Hodgies until about midnight.
2nd July 1971
Had double biology while Jocie had tennis which meant we could watch the girls from the biology lab. I spent all lunchtime walking round the school with her and then her and Jackie came up at night. We lounged around on priory field and went back to the famous garage with Bert. (Obviously obsessed with Jocie in the aftermath of Trev Pinders party!)
3rd July 1971
Famous school trip to Scarborough for the day with no educational value whatsoever – excellent! We got there at 11.00 and sunbathed on the beach until 3.40, ignoring totally the advice of keeping out of the sun over the hottest period at midday! Then we walked around town and visited the local museum, library and archaeological sites – actually it was the fair, amusement arcades and shops. To show we were real day trippers I even bought a hat and keyring. We left to go home about six and sang songs all the way back. It was a bit of a disaster day for some – Jonno got sunstroke and spent the next week coloured pink from the sun and the layer of calamine lotion his mum put on him. And Bert broke his teeth playing football but I’m not sure whether these were his false teeth or his real ones!
4th July 1973
Ollie came down in the morning – he’d been down to the labour exchange to see if he could get a job at the same place as me (picking tomatoes in a market garden at Lambley) but they’d all gone. Then Pete came and we went up to school on his bike. We went to see about his chemistry books, saw Lisa and Gabbie and then went off down to the shop. Jim skived off school in the afternoon and we went up to Carlton Forum to see Jean and then back down to school to meet Gabbie. At night we went down to Gabbies. Trev and I went swimming (she lived at Lowdham Grange borstal and the families of the staff could use the outdoor pool in the evenings) while Jonno watched. Bert and Whiff turned up as well.
5th July 1975
We were at Knebworth! Had breakfast at the campsite and got into the festival site by 08.30 – who says students can’t get up early! Most of the bands weren’t that good but Pink Floyd were excellent. Quadrophonic sounds with speakers about a quarter of a mile apart, a hundred foot video screen above the stage, a flyover by a spitfire, fireworks and lighting effects. They did all of Dark Side of the Moon and some new stuff from Wish you were here. It was absolute chaos getting out though.
6th July 1974
We were at Buxton – one of the forgotten Festivals but it was excellent one. The weather was still a bit dull and the bands had to be good to better Mott the Hoople who we’d seen last night. We went into Buxton and bought some beer and food. National Flag were first on the bill but they were rubbish. Then Strider who were excellent – they’d obviously decided this was their big chance and played a blinding set, culminating in tipping their extremely large Hammond organ off the stage. No more encores then! Trapeze were average – all I remember about them is the bongos player. Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers were excellent and memorable for bringing out the first bit of sunshine all day, spookily as Roger Chapman was singing “My friend the sun”! Lindisfarne were good and then Humble Pie who were excellent and lived up the their reputation as the loudest band in the world. At last the Faces – nowhere near as good as their gig last year at the Free Trade Hall but worth seeing. I spent most of the festival standing on two Party Seven cans to keep out of the mud, but it did give you a better view!
7th July 1972
Went to Kew Gardens for a biology field trip but we were more impressed with Wembley Stadium which we passed on the way! Actually were probably most impressed with the fact that, of the 14 students from Frank Wheldon who came with us, 13 were girls (rather momentous for Pete as he later married one of them!).Yvonne Goolagong lost to Billie Jean King in the womens singles!
8th July 1972
We went to a nation union of school students dance. Lindsay Osbourne was there (obviously made an impression on me as it’s in my diary!). Somehow we got involved in setting up the NUSS – going to meetings, handing out leaflets etc. The group were quite good – I think they were called Trouth.
9th July 1971
A bit of a quiet day whichever year you look at! Spent the evening with Jocie in the garage. We did go down to Fionas as it was a Friday night but she wouldn’t let us in!
10th July 1976
A long awaited for summer reunion from Manchester University at Jenny’s farm at Newstead Abbey. (Long awaited as this was the summer we had left University so I missed them all!). We were camping there – got up at 8.00am and had coffee and then went strawberry picking although we ate more strawberries than we picked of course! Me and Mike drove into Nottingham and bought him some new trousers from Broad Marsh, then headed back off up to Mansfield. When we got back everyone was on the lawn playing tennis. Gilly gave us a guided tour of the farm after Simon and Mary had arrived and we went down to the pub for chicken and chips. (This was pretty much all the food that pubs sold in the seventies remember! )There were then some family issues – Gilly was crying because her mum said she couldn’t come to the pub with us and Judy stormed off because she’d already committed to babysitting and couldn’t come out with us that night. We found time for swimming in on of the private lakes in Newstead Abbey grounds with Judy, Gilly, Mike, John and Kev, and then Judy went off babysitting. Me and Mike went to the station to pick up Dekka, then to the Salutation. There was always a blurred line between University friends and school friends so Jonno, Tats, Geoff and Bert arrived, and then Don, Jenny and everyone from the farm. Bumped into Ellen Dawson as well. We stayed at the Sal for a while, then the Trip to Jerusalem then off to West Bridgford for a Chinese and back to Eds for coffee. We got some bottles in and went back to the farm for another party. This was the famous night of waltzing round the lawn at 3.00 am, chasing polar bears I the bushes and weeing on cats! No…..you had to be there!
11th July 1973
This must have been a pretty quiet day as the most exciting thing in my diaries was a search for hot peas! I was at work in the daytime picking tomatoes then went for a drink and to Gabbies at night. Afterwards we went to the Nags Head at Woodborough for some hot peas but there was a wait of about three quarters of an hour for them. Now you know how it is when you get the urge for mushy peas? Well you southerners won’t of course, but the northerners will… We went to Calverton chippie and they were shut, then all the way to Mapperley top, just for peas and chips!
12th July 1971
Wow…all change! In time honoured fashion of sixteen year olds Paula told me that Jocie no longer wanted to go out with me, while simultaneously telling Trev that she (Paula) no longer wanted to go out with him! She also told me she wanted to go out with me! At the same time we met Anna’s French penfriend, Christine, for the first time, and I think its fair to say I probably wanted to go out with her! She obviously made quite an impression as I can still remember her address even now, and this was over thirty years ago. So if anyone out there knows Christine Marchou who lived at 32 Chemin de la Pelude in Toulouse, get her to email us!!
13th July 1974
Went into town with Bert in the afternoon. At 4.15 we were sitting in the Old Market Square, presumably at the left Lion, as that is the traditional meeting place, when a beautiful girl came up to me and kissed me. This was a shock and doesn’t happen very often, but it was Francoise, one of the French exchange students from Toulouse who visited our school every year. Her and her sister Christine kept in touch with me for years even though I hadn’t been part of the group that visited Toulouse – Christine was Anna’s penfriend. We persuaded them all to go to the Boat that night. They all did come down and saw a band called Gypsy who were quite good. All the French were still more into pure rock and roll – I think they would have preferred Fumble!
14th July 1974
Went to the Imperial on St James St for the first time to see Cisco. The diary says “they were a bit crap but it was good fun!”…Hmm I guess they grew on you as I spent most Sunday nights there after that. It was a good party atmosphere as it was full of people from school including all the French exchange crowd and Gabbie and her friends.
15th July 1971
So this what your average 16 year old did on a Thursday. I skived off school and went into town. I bought a poster of the Beatles to put on my bedroom wall and a pair of cord trousers which were obviously trendy then! We went to WH Smiths to look at all the records – that’s where we used to learn the lyrics to T Rex songs, by reading them in WH Smiths from the album covers. They were indecipherable from listening to the songs on the radio! In the evening we hung around in the garage and on Priory playing field.
16th July 1971
Went to school and walked round. I think this must have been in that space after O levels when you have not really got anything to do! The girls had a record player in the gym so we went in there but got thrown out. We then requisitioned a record player in room 2 and played all Johnno’s records. Smithy’s (Mr Smith who was a very small music teacher and found it very difficult to keep control of kids who weren't interested in music…well, classical music anyway!) car was thrown down the bank. I don’t think we’re talking toy car here, and we’re talking very big and steep bank, but I can’t remember whether it remained in one piece, although I do remember a car in the middle of the playing fields at the bottom! At night I packed my case ready to go on holiday to Caister!
17th July 1973
Lisa's party. Gabbie was at Lisa's all day and I got a lift there with John Panter, Jackie, Lindsay and Gillian. It was miles away about 2 miles past Oxton village. Best party for ages - we spent most of the night talking to the french exchange students. Christine's sister Francoise was there and Bert Olly and Wiff came. Found out about Sally Millers party. Feeny was drunk and for some reason was being battered about a bit by Gabbie and Bert! Met Margaret's brother and he seemed a good bloke. The hooligans from Colwick who go to the tech got thrown out with no car and it was about 12 miles home. Alison Ducket lent me a couple of albums and is giving me a single she doesn't want
18th July 1975
Went to the Golden Diamond at Sutton in Ashfield to see Nutz. Arrived early and hung out with Dave, John and Keith for a while. Played John and Dave at table football a few times. They were brilliant as usual - not at table football, the gig! Went up the motorway afterwards for a coffee and for some reason ended up sitting in the park as we didn't want to go home.
19th July 1973
Christine rang up and told us all the French were going up to the Forum. We were going to go to a party if we could find one, but couldn't! We decided to go swimming instead so collected Tats, Trev, Bert and Coral and went up to the Forum. Christine gave us french kisses, so to speak. Francoise was there - Christine asked me if Bert wanted to go out with her sister! We left them at the Forum and went swimming down at Gabbies - it was freezing! We went in the social club at Lowdham Grange for a bit and met Alison in there. Trev and Bert went to the Plough and back to pick us up about 11.00 but they were in bad books as Coral had to be home for 10.30.
20th July 1974
Knebworth Festival! Got up early and bought some drink from Stevenage - by the time we got in the festival site it was packed. Tim Buckley came on first and was a bit crap. The weather was fantastic - everybody was sunbathing with practically nothing on. Alex Harvey was good, followed by Van Morrison and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The Doobie Brothers were next and were excellent and then the Allman Brothers played a 3 hour set, with bonfires burning and flares going off. We bumped into Tats and Bert at about half past Mahavishnu!
h3>21st July 1973I was supposed to go and see Gabbie sailing but it was raining and we had been falling out a bit so I gave it a miss. In the afternoon Olly rang about going to see Webby so I went round to Mops and persuaded him to come. Mop, Olly, Bert and I went to see him in hospital - he is still there after he and Bert got knocked over on the Hoveringham road on the last day of our exams. Bert was supposed to go and meet the french at 2.00 and it was 4.00 by the time we got out of the hospital. It was raining so we thought they would be gone. I rang Di Healis up and it turns out that Francoise had been waiting for Bert all afternoon. We met her at the Forum at night and took her for a drink with us, to the Plough and the Marquis.
22nd July 1972
Geography field course. It was raining a bit but we still went out. We walked down to Grasmere by road and looked at the village and Wordsworths grave and cottage. We went in the cafe that overhangs the river and had some dinner and watched the trout and the chaffinches. Bought some home made gingerbread. Walked along the road to some trees next to Rydalwater and had the rest of our dinner - it was still raining and getting faster. We watched some blokes fishing and the day was livened up by Ian Dawson threatening to smash Gregs head in! We walked back up Loughrigg Terrace about 90 miles an hour because it was now lagging it down with rain! We got back to field study centre and found it was filling up with girls - people were queuing to get in as they were all half drowned. There was a particularly attractive girl in a blue t shirt and a mickey mouse badge, who became known as Mickey Mouse and an absolutely beautiful girl in red. We finished the washing up in record time so we could get back to the dinner table to carry on taking to them. We played Pit with them, which is some card game that was great for cheating! She turned out to be called Penny Harris and yes, I can remember her address even now! Sudliche Munchnerstarsse, 8022 Grunwald - Munich! So if you know her, get her to send us an email! We went off to but postcards and wrote them together while the others were playing cards. After that we went off for a walk to see if we could find the lake. We climbed over a wall to a small rise in the hill and then back up to the youth hostel which was just about to close. We met Mop and Susan and Mick on the way back.
23rd July 1972
Geography field course. Went down for breakfast and talked to Penny, then went to get my stuff ready. She came to find me on the balcony and we swapped addresses. We walked to Grasmere but the boss had made a mistake with the buses and there wasnt one until 11.30. We sat in the square waiting and Penny and her friends arrived so she sat with us while we waited for the bus. We caught the bus up to Wythburn church and walked up a steep streambed for a while. We had to walk for miles up into the clouds and had dinner at the top of Hellvellyn. The clouds were patchy and we kept getting great views of Red Tarn and Striding Edge although it was like Piccadilly Circus at the top. It was far easier coming down and I walked on my own for a couple of miles and cooled my feet in the tarn. Tats, Mop and Ian caught up with me. We walked down the main road into Grasmere trying to get a lift but didnt have any luck. We got ice creams at Grasmere and walked up the hill. We eventually got back pretty early - there were lots of girls there again but none to compare with Penny! We had thunder and lightning all night and the lights went out every time there was a flash of lightning. We talked to some girls known as Leeds Lulus for quite a while. Mr Ward and Ian Dawson made the mistake of dropping off to sleep first which meant that Ian was dressed up with a cigarette in his hand, a sock over his arm, and a rude book over his head!
24th July 1973
Hodgie came round in the afternoon and we were walking to Dons when we met Mick Culley at the corner of Burlington Rd. We stopped to talk to him and then Grat caught up with us so we sat down there and talked all afternoon. I did nip round to my grannies to put some coal on the fire as she had gone to skegness for the day. Remember coal! We then went for Francoise and up to the Nags Head at Woodborough then the Cherry Tree at Calverton and finally to the Marquis as usual. After that we took Francoise to the youth club and went with the rest of the french lot to the Chesters. Jim Casey and Geoff were there as well. Afterwards we went up to Hodgies and had toast and coffee until about midnight.
25th July 1973
We set off to Matlock Bath about 9.30. Parked the car next to the station when we arrived and had something to eat in a little cafe, then we walked up the side of the river with all the illuminations and up to the top of the cliffs. It started raining so we headed for the amusement arcade and spent most of the day in there playing table football. We had a walk up Abrahams Heights and managed to lose Hodgie but found him again. After another game of football in the arcade it was time to go home again! It was Rosie Lawtons party at night. We stayed over and got in at 9 the next morning
26th July 1974
A bit of a non party day! We went to somebodys party up Southdale Road but Fusters wouldnt let us in, even though everyone who was arriving was telling him we were OK. His mum and dad were there. We gave up as we had another party to go to but Mop got lost so we never did find where we were supposed to be
27th July 1974
This was the famous night of Pernod at Grats! We went to the Boat and took half of the french reunion group with us. It was supposed to be Trapeze who had been at the Buxton festival with the bongo player but they didn't turn up. This was fortunate for the French as they were replaced by Fumble who were a pure rock and roll band and this was what all the french people were into! Afterwards we went to Grats with Penny and Hilary. His mum and dad were away so we were drinking gin, whiskey and pernod. I seem to remember Grat crawling around the bushes at one point and when I woke up at 6 am I found I was still at Grats! I drank water the next day and got drunk again and was still filing things wrongly all day two days later at work!
28th July 1973
In the afternoon I walked up to Berts and we caught the bus into town. We met the french at the square and took Christine up to see Webby in hospital as I wont be able to see him for three weeks at least. He seems to be getting on OK. We went back to the square and met Mop who had just missed us up at my house and Berts. We went up to Selectadisk and Bert bought Relics. Then we went back to the square and said goodbye to Christine and Francoise as they are going home to France. At night we went up to Grats party. Gabbie and I fell out big time and when her dad came to collect her he took her as far as the bottom of Darley and then she jumped out of the car and ran back up the road crying to me.
29th July 1972
Trev came for me at 6.30 and we caught the bus to Caister. We got there a bit late because of traffic jams but early enough to go to the sing song and on the beach!
30th July 1977
Jennys engagement party. Woke up with a hangover. Phoned Jenny and met the lads in the Flying Horse at lunchtime. We went up to Newstead Abbey in the afternoon then up to Mansfield for a chinese tea, followed by the Little John. We had a good dance at the party and a singalong to Grahams guitar while laying on the lawn at Gosford farm. Judy wasnt very friendly! I slept in a tent with Simon, his brother and Tony.
31st July 1976
Went in to work in the morning to earn a bit of extra money. In the afternoon Bert came round and we went to town. We had a walk round the clothes shops then went to see Morris at Debenhams and bought loads of stuff from his department. At night after a lot of arranging and messing about we went to Hanks cricket club dance. Greg was there as well. It was 50 pence to get in with free food and a bar till one, and the disco was reasonable. Me and Jude made quite a few friends. Hank drank a bit and spent most of the time sitting in the kitchen drinking black coffee until we got thrown out about quarter past two. We took Jude home and got into trouble as her mum was up waiting for her at 3 am.
