27th March 1943

Saturday
Poulter attended the sale of the Doctor’s books at Hodgson’s on Thursday, but bought nothing.  They made over £600.  The fine Morant which belonged to Philip Hills and contained Morant’s portrait made £6-10-0.  He does not know who bought any of them.  So ends the old Doctor’s library.

Called for a cake at the café but was told that Rose was ill.  Had half a mind to go down and see her, but did not. 

Sun came out this afternoon, so after doing stable chores I had tea in the town.  There do not seem to have been any attacks during these last few days, although weather conditions have been ideal.

Back to Lawford by 6.  This evening writing, and reading a life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, extraordinarily interesting.

Felt depressed that another week has gone, and yet I achieve nothing.  The weeks go by so fast.

Fine tonight, and several planes about at exercise.  When I looked out at 10 o’clock the sky was brilliant with searchlights.

Noticed that troops have left the motor repair depot at Parson’s Heath, and a lot have moved out of Dedham as well.  Nothing but very young boys of 18 and 19, wearing new very ill fitting uniforms, in the streets now.

Met Harris of Fordham and a man with two Suffolk stallions, all decked out in coloured ribbons, frothing over their bits, and calling shrilly to one another.  It was a fine sight, and it is not often you see two stallions like that together.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Catherine

The Doctor's books that sold for £600 is the equivalent of £23,167 today. It's a pity Rudsdale doesn't note in his diary how many there was and what kind. Seems an impressive amount of money for a sale during the war!

Mike Dennis

E J Rudsdale said...

Hi Mike,
Thank you for this information - that is a considerable sum for the Doctor's books, especially in wartime. Unfortunately Rudsdale does not mention any more details about the sale but from what we know from his diaries about the Doctor's books that were saved and returned to the Castle Museum ie - William Wire's Diary and 18th and 19th century books on the history of Essex - this was certainly the contents of an antiquarian's library. Some of the Doctor's books were inherited from his father, Henry Laver, also an antiquarian, so this must have been quite an extensive collection. Best wishes, CP