21st May 1944

Sunday
Strong N.W. wind.  Went to Colchester, to lunch at home.  Father a good deal better, but Miss Payne very gloomy and depressing.  Unable to do justice to a very good lunch, as felt sick.

This afternoon went to Dedham Miss Walshall and Sgt Merrill there.  After tea to Lawford, and bought some eggs, then cycled back to Dedham and Langham to Lt Rivers.  Everybody very busy and disinclined to talk so did not stay long.  Heard that Nancy, the Australian, had been down to say goodbye, as she expects to go to France with the Quaker relief people “soon”.  Being reluctant to go into a prohibited area, she went to Nayland, to Phoebe Pickard’s, and Dodo Rose went down there.  Phoebe has been forbidden by the Colchester Police to use the Public Library, but I think she intends to do so.  She was very foolish to ask them, in any case.  Actually it is understood that the Nayland and Wiston people can go into Colchester for shopping, and there is no physical reason to stop them, except that occasionally on Sunday evenings a policeman stands on Nayland Bridge and checks identity cards.

Heard at Dedham that A.J. Munnings, the new President of the Royal Academy and his wife, are staying at the “Sun” [in Dedham], in complete defiance of orders concerning prohibited areas.  They had been to Sissons’ and were in great form.  Possibly he intends to go back to Dedham one day after all.

The artist, Sir Alfred Munnings, lived at Castle House, Dedham but the house was requisitioned during the war.  Castle House is now open to the public as the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum and is well worth a visit.  CP

Clouds tonight, and few ‘planes before midnight.