{"id":747,"date":"2024-05-30T15:40:15","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T15:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/?page_id=747"},"modified":"2024-06-29T14:51:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-29T14:51:32","slug":"mystery-man-diary-january-1957","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/?page_id=747","title":{"rendered":"\u201cMystery Man\u201d Diary January 1957"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tuesday, January 1st<\/strong>
A busy day at the office. I went up on Local. Did the Bank of England stuff OK but got into a muddle with the forms. I did 5 \u201cbatches.\u201d I came home on the bus today. On the way, I tried to think up a plan for next Tues. Thought of several, but still uncertain. Maybe I\u2019ll have a brainwave during the week! Quite a good \u2018Gun Law\u2019 on T.V. this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, January 2nd<\/strong>
Heaviest day I\u2019ve known yet at New St. No complaints about the Local, but when we listed the local at the end of the day it just would not balance. I did not leave the office till 6.10pm. John Hodgens told me that when he was new to the bank & Mr Powell told him off for making a mistake, he said, \u201cI didn\u2019t do it on purpose, but if I\u2019d wanted to baffle you, you\u2019d never have found it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, January 3rd<\/strong>
A fairly busy day. Local went perfectly, but had a bit of bad luck with batches – nothing serious though. N.F.U. (National Farmers\u2019 Union) letter came today concerning rebate on cartridges for pigeon shooting. A lot of red tape. I don\u2019t think there is much hope but I have replied. Bought record of George Formby singing \u201cCleaning Windows.\u201d I have made up my mind to go through with it on Tuesday next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, January 4th<\/strong>
Once again the Local went perfectly. I did 7 batches today – record so far. I bought a record down Snow Hill called \u201cA Sky Blue Shirt & A Rainbow Tie.\u201d(1\/-) I got home at 6.30pm. At present I am reading \u201cA Day To Remember\u201d by Jerrard Tickell, hoping to pick up a tip or two – I must form a definite plan beforehand. I AM going through with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, January 5th<\/strong>
Local did not go so well today. Home at 2pm. I went into Hopwas Wood with the gun. Had 2 shots – got nothing. I was fascinated by the impenetrableness of \u2018Rookery Nook\u2019 & made up my mind to find a way in. Went to the Grand to see Broderick Crawford in \u201cBig House, U.S.A\u201d and also \u201cCanyon Crossroads.\u201d I am still thinking about next Tuesday and plucking up my courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, January 6th<\/strong>
Tregaskiss kicked up a fuss about me shooting in the wood – I am now limited to Saturdays. We all went for a walk in the wood this afternoon. I saw Billy & Nellie today. I put a film in the camera & took some photos on the hillside. I wrote to the \u201cShooting Times\u201d tonight in praise of fox-shooting.
The day after tomorrow is Tuesday!! Tonight I finished \u201cA Day To Remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, January 7th<\/strong>
When I walked into the Bank this morning I saw that I was down for Early Post. I was told to make arrangements for getting here earlier in future. I went in cash wagon to Bank of England with \u00a31,000 000. Colin Flemming went on Local. Had lunch at the Kardomah. We didn\u2019t finish till 6.30 as some of the stuff wouldn\u2019t balance. Local was first to balance. I am now awaiting tomorrow and have no definite plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, January 8th<\/strong>
My greatest disappointment! The Local played awkward when we came to list it, & at quarter to five I was 10\/9d out. I had hoped to catch the 5.15 train but at that time I was 10\/- out. The 5.50 train was now my last hope, but I did not leave the Bank until 6.10pm. So all my hopes fell through \u2013 until next week, of course! Mr Loughead told me, \u201cThey do the dancing \u2013 I do the drinking!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday, January 9th<\/strong>
Had a bit of trouble with a \u201ccome-back\u201d of Saturday\u2019s local. A good day otherwise \u2013 Local practically \u2018fly-balanced.\u2019 Carroll Lowe (blonde) paid me plenty of attention today & I walked to the bus stop with her. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m interested though. I\u2019m ready for next Tues \u2013 can\u2019t wait!!! I did my Book-Keeping Correspondence Test tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, January 10th<\/strong>
Local went very well indeed. Colin went up to the Clearing house. Barbara Brown pulled up Ann Hopkin\u2019s skirt & shouted out that I had done it. Very amusing indeed! Today was the slackest day so far this year \u2013 I got the 4.40pm train. Carroll Lowe gave me a photo of herself today \u2013 but I\u2019m waiting for next Tuesday. Miss Brewster came & gave me a Book-Keeping lesson tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, January 11th<\/strong>
Went up to the Clearing House with Colin & brought the cheques back. Got my photographs. Today has been rather uneventful but peaceful. I did 6 batches today & was fairly successful all round. I am looking forward to a nice quiet weekend after all these early mornings (Early Post 8.30am) & most of all to next Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, January 12th<\/strong>
We went shooting to Eric Sansome\u2019s today. On the way we saw a man lying in the road with his bike on top of him. Another man was bending over him. We stopped and I got out to see if they wanted any help. The man said, \u201cIt\u2019s OK, mate, he\u2019s just had a drop too much to drink & he\u2019s fallen off his bike.\u201d We shot a hare but it had a suspicious-looking growth in its side so we gave it to the roadmender. Tonight I went to the pictures to see John Wayne in \u201cThe Searchers\u201d [and] also Elizabeth Montgomery in \u201cThe Siege.\u201d Roll on Tuesday!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday January 13th<\/strong>
Church (11am). Went down to Tamworth with Grandpa. Ran into Fred Emery & Sid Faulkner. In the afternoon I went to see Billy Wilkins. He told me about Arthur\u2019s hat & said he would let me have the address to send for one. He said he went shooting in the wood with Fred Cole on Thurs \u2013 they shot nothing. Ken Price saw them but said nothing. I then went round to see Coles. Arthur has heard all about the parcel I sent Coles at Xmas. He says, \u201cIt must have took him all night to do it up, because it took her all next day to undo it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday January 14th<\/strong>
At 12.10am this morning I was awakened by a loud crash & a scampering downstairs. We all thought it was burglars & came onto the landing. We whistled Mac but he didn\u2019t come. Daddy & I crept down the stairs with the sword-stick \u2013 the guns were in the hall cupboard. We got the guns & opened the kitchen door to find a section of the doorpost lying across the floor & a heap of plaster. Mac had got shut in & had tried to get out!!! Best Local yet, today. We were late finishing though owing to a difference in Country I. Went to the post with Carroll Lowe. She says I\u2019m cheeky!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday January 15th<\/strong>
I went up to Mrs Winfield\u2019s tonight. I have had to alter my plans slightly. Di works at Wallbanks and Cynth did not come tonight as she had too much homework. I had a very good evening. I think next week will be the climax. I had lunch at Lewis\u2019s with Mummy, Lance & Grandma today \u2013 Local went very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday January 16th<\/strong>
I am looking forward to Tues \u2013 more so now than before. The Local went well again today. At 3 o\/c this afternoon the inspectors arrived \u2013 now trouble will start! Today I bought a record of Victor Sylvester & his ballroom orchestra playing \u201cPaper-kisses.\u201d I don\u2019t know who I am more interested in \u2013 Cynth or Di. Time will tell. I mustn\u2019t be too slow though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday January 17th<\/strong>
The Local went very well indeed again today. The inspectors are quite decent, but are a nuisance all the same. I had a haircut in Batt\u2019s today \u2013 the barber who cut my hair thinned it out a bit \u2013 I am annoyed about it. Had a Book-Keeping lesson from Miss Brewster. I am still thinking of Di and Cynth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday January 18th<\/strong>
Local went well again. Today has been fairly peaceful. In the lunch hour I went into W.H. Smith\u2019s & looked through their Valentine\u2019s cards. I got the 4.42 train today & went into the Bank and waited for Dad. Mr Dyne was telling me tall stories of when he was at New St. I am simply longing for Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday January 19th<\/strong>
I went for a walk round Hopwas wood with the gun today. I did not have a shot, but saw plenty of jays and carrion crows. On the way back I ran into the Dales pinching wood. I went to the pictures to see Gregory Peck in \u201cMoby Dick.\u201d I am dying for next Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday January 20th<\/strong>
I saw Billy today. He told me that the girl I am keen on is Diana Stanton. I now have a good excuse to talk to her. I have been in a restless mood all day thinking about her. Roll on Tuesday. In Tamworth this morning I saw Sid Faulkner & Fred Allsopp. A good play by Guy de Maupassant on T.V. tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday January 21st<\/strong>
I am now on Country I. At New Street Station today a red-bearded man came up to me & said, \u201cDon\u2019t you remember me?\u201d I said I didn\u2019t & he said he left Wrekin in 1949. His name is Roll. He travelled with me as far as Water Orton. We had a nice chat about the old school. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I have everything fixed now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday January 22nd<\/strong>
A terrible day. Country I & II would not balance. Did not leave office until 6pm. Rang Grandma to say I should not be home till late & went straight up to Miss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday, January 1stA busy day at the office. I went up on Local. Did the Bank of England stuff OK<\/p>\n

Continue reading\u201cMystery Man\u201d Diary January 1957<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-747","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=747"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":848,"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/747\/revisions\/848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guynsmith.com\/1\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}