Went down to Cannock Mill this afternoon, and was told that old Mrs. Pulford had died only an hour before. Poor old man, he will be very lonely now, with his deafness. [Mr. Pulford was the last miller to own Bourne Mill].
All the wooden palings along the south and east sides of the Recreation Ground have now been removed last week, and it is an enormous improvement. The place now looks like one of the smaller London commons, and looks vastly better. I cannot imagine why the Parks Committee has done this, but no doubt it was for some quite different reason than to improve the amenities of the place.
Tonight reading Arnold Bennett’s “Journal”, of which I have only read parts before. Read most of the night, and ate a hot meat pie (horse?) at 4 a.m. Sunday.
8th January 1942
Corporation Grading Scheme out now. I don't think the Museum staff will do much good in it. I know Hull is determined to leave me out if he can, as he considers me to be quite unqualified. Miss Oldfield, by virtue of a Manchester degree, is of course qualified.
6th January 1942
Went over to Boxted this evening, and had supper with the Roses. Cycled back in brilliant moonlight. They are both so much happier now that he has this orchard job. What a blessing to be able to do any good turn at all.
EJR had found Stuart Rose a job with the War Agricultural Committee at Fordham Orchards.
EJR had found Stuart Rose a job with the War Agricultural Committee at Fordham Orchards.
5th January 1942
[War Agricultural] Committee Meeting at Birch. Nothing much of importance. Sometimes at these meetings I feel I must burst.
EJR was not always in agreement with the policies and practices of the Essex War Agricultural Committee!
EJR was not always in agreement with the policies and practices of the Essex War Agricultural Committee!
4th January 1942
Weather cold and wet, but determined to go over to Rushbury’s as I had decided to do so. Cycled by way of Langham, and called at the ancient Priory Farm, on the North side of the Black Brook valley, now a gaunt ruin. The timber framing shows it to have been a fine house, of a most interesting plan, a main hall with side aisles. Three men were ferreting at the back of it. I think one of them was young Halsall.
Got over to Rushbury’s in the dry. He [Sir Henry Rushbury] was rather too pompous for my liking today. Talked of going to York next week, doing official paintings for the War Office. Promised to bring back a full report of York Museum.
No interesting talk, just a lot of hot air. He is very critical of the Government but so is almost everybody. Cycled back by 6.30, and went on duty at 8 o’clock.
A selection of Sir Henry Rushbury's wartime paintings can be viewed in the collections of the Imperial War Museum. His visit to York in 1942 led him to depict a wartime street scene in Stonegate which has recently been exhibited at York Art Gallery.
Got over to Rushbury’s in the dry. He [Sir Henry Rushbury] was rather too pompous for my liking today. Talked of going to York next week, doing official paintings for the War Office. Promised to bring back a full report of York Museum.
No interesting talk, just a lot of hot air. He is very critical of the Government but so is almost everybody. Cycled back by 6.30, and went on duty at 8 o’clock.
A selection of Sir Henry Rushbury's wartime paintings can be viewed in the collections of the Imperial War Museum. His visit to York in 1942 led him to depict a wartime street scene in Stonegate which has recently been exhibited at York Art Gallery.
3rd January 1942
Mrs. Stuart Rose rang up this morning, and asked me to meet them at tea this afternoon. Carted a load of wood up from Bourne Mill, and then went to meet Penelope Belfield at Port Lane, when she brought her little pony in to leave with me. She is joining the WRNS on Monday.
1st January 1942 - New Year's Day
For some reason I do not feel quite so surprised to find myself still alive as I was on this day a year ago. My luck has held well, and although this disastrous war becomes daily more disastrous, that extraordinary good fortune which came to me on January 1st last year [when EJR was invited to join the Essex War Agricultural Committee] still maintains.
I am in a good job, one that I enjoy, still in and about my beloved Museum, and still owning dear Bob. The prospects are admittedly not good. Today I am “de-reserved”, and am liable for military service at any moment, although I hope the Executive Committee will ask for my deferment. Hull is determined to get me out of the Museum if he can. Even my War Agricultural Committee work is not quite so good as it was, as the new Office Manager at Writtle [the Essex War Agricultural Committee's Headquarters] is likely to cause serious trouble. Such a pity when we have got on so well at Colchester this last year.
The Museum is in a bad way. Hull is worse than ever, and is getting more uncertain every day. He is now more and more withdrawing within himself, not speaking to Poulter or I for days. Poulter becomes daily more morose. The whole place is in an indescribable state of filth.
My parents keep fairly well, although old age begins to tell on both. This terrible cold weather is bad for them.
Went out this morning with Nott, looking through the iron yards at the Hythe for stout chains, suitable for pulling out trees. At St. Botolph’s Corner I saw an old fashioned bullock cart on four wheels, quite an obsolete type. A few sometimes come to Ipswich.
I am in a good job, one that I enjoy, still in and about my beloved Museum, and still owning dear Bob. The prospects are admittedly not good. Today I am “de-reserved”, and am liable for military service at any moment, although I hope the Executive Committee will ask for my deferment. Hull is determined to get me out of the Museum if he can. Even my War Agricultural Committee work is not quite so good as it was, as the new Office Manager at Writtle [the Essex War Agricultural Committee's Headquarters] is likely to cause serious trouble. Such a pity when we have got on so well at Colchester this last year.
The Museum is in a bad way. Hull is worse than ever, and is getting more uncertain every day. He is now more and more withdrawing within himself, not speaking to Poulter or I for days. Poulter becomes daily more morose. The whole place is in an indescribable state of filth.
My parents keep fairly well, although old age begins to tell on both. This terrible cold weather is bad for them.
Went out this morning with Nott, looking through the iron yards at the Hythe for stout chains, suitable for pulling out trees. At St. Botolph’s Corner I saw an old fashioned bullock cart on four wheels, quite an obsolete type. A few sometimes come to Ipswich.
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