All About Athene

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20th November 1939

It’s all settled, Lettie is joining up and I’m going to be able to move into Mrs Fraser’s in a couple of weeks.  I’ve just got to break it to Mrs Kelly now.  Joan’s invited me over for tea tomorrow night for a proper look at my room.  I’m not mentioning to Gordon that I’m going.  He still keeps popping up when I’m not expecting it, which is very unnerving.

Letter from Susan, Mum asked her to write and advise me about Gordon because she’s no idea what to say.  Apart from that I should never have left home of course.  Susan says that I should move away – and I didn’t even mention anything about Joan’s house in my letter so that shows that I’m doing the right thing.

16th November 1939

Still not been able to shake off Gordon Leon this week even though our shifts have started at different times.  He pops up all over, wanting me to go to the pictures with him but I’d rather take my chances and sit in there on my own.  Tuesday I spent my break having a cup of tea in the buffet chatting to Joan.  He came in and stood a few feet away, staring all the time.  He never said a word, just stared.  Joan noticed and kept on pulling faces which I had to pretend not to notice.  I popped into see her again on my way home and she did seem a bit worried for me.  She thinks I should move, same as Mr Hardy, because being his neighbour won’t help at all.  She’s going to ask Lettie in her house if she is going to join the Wrens and when it will be.

Letter from home yesterday, Belinda is being a handful.  I hope she isn’t wrecking my bedroom.  I hear that some evacuees have lice and fleas so I’m a bit worried for my mattress.  I wrote straight back to Mum to tell her about Gordon because I’m getting so worried about what to do now.

12th November 1939

Last night was one of the best ever.  Joan called for me at 7.30, much to Mrs Kelly’s disapproval, I could tell.  I think she muttered something about Joan’s feet looking like pigs trotters in her high heels.  She is a plump girl but that wasn’t very nice of Mrs Kelly at all.  Then she told me that if I wasn’t back before 11.30 then the bolt would be going on the door.  Then we went back to Joan’s lodgings to collect her landlady and the other girl who lives there – Mrs Fraser and Lettie.  Lettie is thinking of joining the Wrens – perhaps I could have her room if she does.  That would be wonderful because I really like Mrs Fraser. She’s still young and her husband is in the army and she seems to want to live it up while he’s away.  We all had a really good dance though there wasn’t nearly enough men in uniform to go round!  My feet were killing me when I got in  (at 11.15!) but I didn’t care because I was on air.  That’s the first dance I’ve been to where I haven’t had a relative or friend of the family keeping an eye on every move I make!  I want to go out more!

10th November 1939

This morning I went out the back way feeling all pleased with myself for thinking of it and there he was!  He asked me to go to the pictures with him tonight but I refused and luckily I’m going out dancing tomorrow night. Also luckily I’m working different hours next week.

Had a letter from Edith who has little to say but spent 3 pages saying it.  Apparently Mrs Clay has taken on one of the Backhouse sisters to replace me, and is telling everyone how much better she is than me.  Old misery.

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9th November 1939

Been bothered by Gordon twice today.  First off I had the pleasure of his company as I walked to work again.  He seems to wait for me – I reckon he’s listening for the front door going.  So tomorrow I’m going to try sneaking out the back.  Then, after tea, I went out the back to shake the tablecloth because Mrs Kelly’s bread is ever so crumbly.  There I am with just the moon for company and next thing his head bobs above the wall giving me a right fright.  He called out a hello to me like a daft donkey.  I just shook the cloth and dashed back inside calling out goodnight behind me so that I didn’t seem rude.  I think that’s my trouble.  I’m going to have to start being off-ish with him or I’ll never shake him.

8th November 1939

Joan invited me to a dance on Friday, which was the good bit today.  The bad bit was when Gordon walked to work with me.  Luckily it’s only two streets away because he talked all the way there about his mother.  He popped up in the booking hall later on and started staring at me as well.  Mr Hardy moved him on and warned me to watch him and his mother again.  I told him about them being round for tea and I said that I ought to look into moving. 

Apparently they’ve tried to blow up Hitler but it didn’t work.  I wish they’d come and try it with Gordon Leon next.

6th November 1939

I think I’m going to have a bit of trouble with the boy who lives next door.  He’s called Gordon  and he works at the station cleaning up.  He’s not quite right – a bit soft in the head.  It’s just him and his mother Mrs Leon next door and I’ve heard talk that she’s a witch!  Mr Hardy told me to mind that I don’t get mixed up with either of them and that theirs is a very strange household.  Anyway, Mrs Kelly doesn’t seem to think so because she’s had them both round to tea today.  Gordon wouldn’t stop looking at me and tried to touch my hand when he passed me the bread and butter.  I got all hot and bothered and not in a good way.  I’m sure Mrs Kelly invited them round on purpose to meet me.  I shall definitely avoid them in future.

Had letters from home this week.  Susan is going to have another baby.  Fancy having babies in wartime.  I know I wouldn’t.  Mum and Dad have been nagged into taking in an evacuee who sleeps in my room!  She’s called Belinda.

5th November 1939

No bonfire celebrations this year.  I’d be too tired to go anyway.  My boss Mr Hardy says I’m doing alright though and I’m making good progress.  I just need to speed up a bit.  I have a new friend I think.  Joan works in the buffet and she’s always ready for a chat.  When she found out the I was alone in Worth she was ever so sympathetic, and she says that I can go out with her and her landlady and housemate the next time that they go dancing!

30th October 1939

I can’t remember ever being as tired as this before.  Didn’t sleep properly last night – this bed is hard.  My bedroom is at the front of the house and I could hear the station noises all night – much busier than home.  Today at work was tiring too – so much to remember.  I’m sure I’ll be alright when I settle in.

29th October 1939

My first night in my lodgings.  I miss Mum and Dad and my own bed.  I even miss Susan even though she doesn’t live at home anymore.  For two pins I’d run off home again.  But I can’t go back now.  I don’t really want to.  But I miss home.  Mrs Kelly doesn’t seem very cheerful but she cooked a nice tea.  This room is quite small – no room for a desk so I’m having to write this sat on the bed with my knees up.

28th October 1939

This is my last night in my own bed and in my own home. Mum started crying this afternoon and hasn’t stopped yet.  Dad keeps popping his head round my bedroom door to offer me advice.  All my things are packed up ready for the move to Mrs Kelly’s tomorrow, then work on Monday morning – early!   Now it’s come I feel a bit nervous.  I hope it’s all going to be alright.

21st October 1939

What a week!  Mr Wilson telephoned Dad and told him that I could have a job at the ticket office on Worth Station, where they’ve just lost half of the staff to the forces.  He must have been very clever with his words because Dad has agreed that I can go!  Mum isn’t talking to him but he doesn’t seem to mind.  So the rest of the week and this was a total whirl while he got me some lodgings sorted out and I made lists and went shopping.  Dad has been lecturing me on what to expect and what I will be doing every night since we found out.  I’ll be glad to get away and make a start – next week!  It felt marvellous giving Mrs Clay my notice.

I’m going to be lodging with a Mrs Kerry.  She’s a widow and she lives near the station – just two streets away so very close to work.  I’m not going to say much else because she looks like the sort that might read your diary.

11th October 1939

Mrs Clay was a bit off with me today.  A bit sniffy because she thinks that I think I’m too good for her job.  Well I am sure that I’m definitely wasted there but it’s been alright to start me off working.  No news yet.

10th October 1939

I’m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open to write this.  But everything went well today, I even got cornered by a couple of soldiers on the train home.  One was nice looking but the other was all spotty.  I was a bit nervous when I got there, but I spoke to a Mr Wilson who was very friendly and said that they needed lots of young ladies like me to hold the fort.  He says he’s going to speak to Dad quite soon.  I was glad when it was all over though and I went round some shops in Leeds and bought a new smart skirt to celebrate. 

9th October 1939

It’s tomorrow!  I’m catching the 9.30 to Leeds.  In the end I had to tell everyone.  First of all I had to ask Mrs Clay for the day off and then of course she wanted to know why.  Then I thought I’d better tell Mum and Dad before it got back to them and of course Dad will probably see me get on the train.  Nobody seems really pleased about it and Mum’s not happy at all.  Why don’t they understand that I want to do something to help?  I soon got round Dad though.  I told him that it was because of him that I wanted to serve the LMS and what better way to do my bit than to help the LMS out in its hour of need.  He saw my point and has agreed that I can go to the interview.  But I am to accept nothing without consulting him first, after all I am still under age.  I shall have to keep working on Dad’s LMS loyalty.  My clothes are all out ready for the morning and I have bought a new powder compact.

4th October 1939

I’ve been summoned! For an interview with the LMS!  They’re paying for my ticket to Leeds!  I haven’t told Mum and Dad yet.  I don’t know if I should or not.  I’m so excited I can hardly keep it to myself.  Mrs Clay ticked me off today for getting the flours mixed up.  I nearly told her to whistle for her job because I’m sure that the LMS will give me something.

I saw Edith yesterday, she said that now she was safely married she could tell everyone her news.  She’s four months gone and she said that she was sorry if she seemed a bit low at the wedding but she’s having terrible sickness – all day and all night!  I asked her how she was getting on with her in-laws.  She just shrugged and said that they were alright but it would all be better when the baby arrived. 

19th September 1939

Still nothing back from the LMS.  Mrs Clay keeps going on and on about her lad Bob, who says that he’s joining the navy.  I’ve not seen any uniforms yet.  Perhaps I ought to take a trip to Worth, there’s bound to be some there.

16th September 1939

Edith Turner’s wedding today. Her dress was quite loose around the waist- lots of frothy flouncy bits to disguise her figure so I reckon that my guess was right.  Her new mother-in-law didn’t smile once so I’d like to be a fly on the wall in their kitchen.  Poor Edith.  I feel a bit sorry for her now. It’s not her fault she’s a bit dim.  The wedding breakfast was quite nice, although something or other kept repeating on me all day.  I had a dance with Jim Henderson, but he didn’t ask me again and I spent most of the time sitting and talking to people that I hardly knew at school.  When I went to say goodbye to Edith she looked a bit tearful.  I’m glad nobody wants to marry me.  Correction HAS TO marry me.

13th September 1939

I have written to the LMS asking them for a job in the Worth area.  I’ve told them how good I am at Maths and that I grew up on a station helping Dad out.  He was always sending me off on errands in the school holidays.  Mainly to stop me from tormenting the signalmen but I didn’t mention that.  But I told them that I know most of the fares from our station.  I hope that they don’t tell Dad to give me a job here though.  I put the letter in the post on my way back to work after dinner.  I hope they write back soon.

11th September 1939

I asked Mum and Dad over dinner if I could find a job and lodgings in Worth.  They said “What on earth for?”  They can’t understand just how much I need to get away.  I threatened to join the ATS.  Mum went a bit pale and it certainly quietened them down a bit.  Nothing more has been said.

9th September 1939

Dad still saying that he won’t sort me a job out with the LMS because I’m needed at Mrs Clay’s and he reckons that this war will all be over in a few weeks.  He says that our boys will catch Hitler no problem and Europe will all settle down again.  Didn’t he learn anything from last time?  He’s been reading too many Bulldog Drummonds on his day off.

8th September 1939

There’s been a lot of talk this week about people joining up.  It’s got me thinking – there’s going to be loads of jobs going spare if all the lads go off and join the forces.  Mum worked in the last war, they’re going to want us all to do our bit again I’m sure.  I’m sick of being here at home – so this might be my chance to escape.  Edith Turner’s got her own escape planned.  She’s getting married next weekend.  She got to go and live with her in-laws though which seems like leaving the frying pan for the fire to me.  I reckon she’s timed it all wrong.  Unless she’s in the family way which wouldn’t surprise me.

3rd September 1939

WAR!

Well, I wanted something more exciting to happen didn’t I?  It took long enough though.  Is it really two years since I last had something to write about?  Susan got married alright and has a baby which appeared just 7 months after the wedding!  Not such a golden girl then.  But that’s the only difference until now.  City kids have been coming through the station the past few days, I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many trains passing by.  One stopped and a few got off on Friday.  Dad fetched the junior Porter to go round with the disinfectant after them they smelled so strong.  I wonder how long it will last?

3rd August 1937

This diary is pointless.  There’s nothing to write.  I’m going to put it away until something more exciting happens.  See you when Clark Gable comes to town.

2nd August 1937

Fed up of hearing about weddings.  Fed up of working at Mrs Clay’s.

30th July 1937

Not been able to think of anything to write in this diary all week.  I’ve only opened it again today because Susan has announced her engagement to Billy the Butcher.  Mum’s beside herself at the idea of cheap or even free meat.  Dad’s a bit upset that his she’s not marrying into the LMS railway.  I think that’s his dream for both of us.  Or it was at any rate.  Perhaps I ought to make an effort to keep him happy.  Who could I go for?  No.  I can’t think that any of that lot on our station would be any fun.  Dad had better forget it.  I’ve got to be Susan’s bridesmaid.  I dread to think what she’ll make me wear.

23 July 1937

Tried talking Dad into getting me a job at the station.  He is the Station Master so surely he can find me something to do.  But he says that there’s plenty of lads needing work and they have to get any jobs that are going.  Both he and Mum agreed that it would be a waste of time getting anything more than shop work.  I presume they mean I’ll be getting married before too long but I’ve never even had a boyfriend yet.  Edith Turner’s on her fourth now. 

I am bored of Mrs Clay’s. I hate her.

20 July 1937

My first weekend of freedom has turned out to be my last, just as I guessed it might.  Dad popped his head round my bedroom door after he’d got the last train off and told me that he’d arranged from me to start at Mrs Clay’s on Monday – today.  Felt ever so disappointed, I thought that he might at least try to get me on the railways somehow or other.  I couldn’t see any exciting future working for Mrs Clay and I still can’t after today.  Weighing out butter and sugar is even more boring that I imagined.

So I had a blow-out over the weekend and took the train to Worth on Saturday to buy a new hat, then spent Sunday in the park listening to the band with Edith Turner.  Leaving school hasn’t knocked any sense into her.

17 July 1937

In celebration at finally leaving school I’ve been to Sidebottom’s and bought their biggest writing book.  And their biggest bag of toffees.  Now that I am set free into the world I have decided to start a diary.  Perhaps now I will have something to put in it other than “Barbara Morrison was extremely rude” or “I came top of the class in the mental arithmetic test”.  I feel quite excited about everything today.

Introduction

I always make a bee-line for the war ephemera stall at the Yorkshire Antiques Fair.  They put it on four times a year and everytime I go there I find something new for my collection.  I like the postcards and love letters most of all, I suppose I’m sentimental.  I have boxes and boxes of crisp yellow envelopes, bound together with ribbon and string.  One of these days I’m going to catalogue them by date and theme.  Leave a bequest to the Imperial War Museum of something useful for future historians.

I picked this diary up at the antiques fair.  It belonged to someone named Louisa Bradshaw, and she sporadically wrote entries in it between 1937 and 1952.  It’s not a traditional diary - Louisa used a thick notebook to make her records, writing in her own dates.  It ends when the journal does, perhaps she carried it on in a new book, maybe she didn’t.  She had a lot more on her hands by 1952.  Of course, after all those years of use, it’s a bit battered, which is why I got it at a reasonable price.  And Louisa is not famous, she was just another girl caught up in war and I have no idea what happened to her after 1952.  That’s what made this diary all the more interesting to me.

When I got it home, I spent all of the following Sunday reading it.  Louisa wrote neatly and fluently, and she unfolds a fascinating story – one of trains, witchcraft and bus termini.  So here are the edited highlights of Miss Bradshaw’s life and times: