1st June 1944

Thursday
Dull, and cooler.  No ‘planes about all morning.  Engledow ‘phoned again about Mrs. Allen.

Heard today that nearly 400 gallons of milk from the Tey district were wasted on Monday through being left on a lorry all day in the boiling sun.  The transport of milk is now undertaken by the Milk Marketing Board, which takes no precautions whatever to safeguard the supplies.  The farmers have no redress at all, and have the milk sent back to them.  It cannot be made into cheese because neither the Milk Marketing Board nor the farmers have the means of doing so, the art having been quite lost in Essex.

Called at home this evening, rain just beginning, making everything smell fresh and sweet.  To Holly Trees, and collected some more papers from Benham.  Then to Boxted, and at Mile End saw there had been a confirmation, the little girls in their veils and white dresses running across the churchyard from the church to the schoolroom.  The Bishop of Colchester came out, and got into a small green motor-car with a woman driver.

Glorious sweet peas in the garden at Woodside, glistening after the rain.

Had supper, listening to the ‘Itma’ show on the radio, then cycled over to the Observer Post at Boxted, to report there. 

E.J. Rudsdale had now been called to undertake Royal Observer Corps duty.  A full description of the Observer Post near Boxted and Great Horkesley where he worked is given in his book. E.J. Rudsdale's Journals of Wartime Colchester.  The Observer Post can still be seen today.  CP

 

 

Noticed some hay cut and cocked at Holly Lodge.

Bed 11.30.  Quiet light, although clouds had come over.