1948-50
I never really settled down properly in Leeds although I can’t now remember why and my diaries are no help. Throughout my two years living in Leeds I spent a lot of my weekend time cycling to Wakefield to meet former school friends, especially Geoffrey Holt who had been at QEGS with me (until the falling-out referred to on the previous page). As a family we often went on the red bus to Wakefield to visit the Autby’s at No 25 Cotton Street. I always enjoyed visiting them because Mrs Autby laid on sumptuous teas with really splendid trifles.
It was Election Day on 23 February 1950, ‘The Great Day has arrived at last’ according to my diary which went on to record that the Light Programme and Home Service combined at 2230 until 0300 to give live coverage of the state of the parties. The following day I noted that by early morning Labour had a 61 seat lead but it diminished during the day. By 2020 it was announced that Labour was in. (It obviously took a lot longer to count the votes in the 1950s than it does these days.)
There had been virtually no mention of music or violin practice in my diaries since I had left Wakefield. I know that I did occasionally get my violin out and play for a while but it was not proper practice. I knew my parents could not afford any proper violin lessons so I didn't ask for them. In early March 1950 I wrote that for the first time I sang alto rather than squeaky soprano during the lesson allocated to the singing of folk songs. I did not record details of any other changes to my body that may have taken place.
My final day at my second grammar school was Tuesday 4 April 1950. I knew it would be my last day at Roundhay but no-one else at school did, not even the Head Master. The school then broke up for the Easter holiday. I left without any ceremony – and, as far as I can recall, without any great regret. We were still waiting to complete the sale of our house in Harehills before we could arrange a date to move to Salford. In the meantime, I continued with my paper round seven days a week in the streets around Harehills. I see from my diary that I was paid 5 shillings (25p) for the Sunday shift and it took me just on one hour to deliver them all. Fortunately, the Sunday papers in 1950 were but a fraction of the size and weight of the Sundays now. On the 15 April 1950 I bought the very first issue of Eagle comic and was mightily impressed. I had never seen anything like it before. What a pity I didn't keep a few pristine copies of the initial edition because today they are worth a lot of money. As it is, I didn't keep a single Eagle although I bought one every week for several years.
We actually moved to Salford on Wednesday 19 April and a week later, once the Easter hols were over, I started at Salford Grammar School.
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