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Document : 1421
Title    : Diaries of William Young: 1952
Author(s): William Young

Copyright holder(s): Mary J Price

Text

JANUARY

New Year finds us at the home of my wifes family, 4 [?]Kilgour[/?] Avenue.
We are waiting until our house at Balsusney Rd. is repaired. 
Weather quite mild & we spend the New Year quietly.
New baby doing fine. 

1 TUESDAY
Rain & sleet today. I stay in with Kiddies after visit to Dad in forenoon.
R.R beat E. FIFE 1-0 at Methil. 

2 WEDNESDAY
To R.R.V. Q of South draw 0-0 after fine game. 

6 SUNDAY
Go to see Mary O'Leary at South St. She is very grieved over Nellie's
death. God be with her. 

11 FRIDAY
Scullery floor lifted & re-laid.

12 SATURDAY
Cath & Mary with very heavy cold
Mary has touch of bronchitis.

13 SUNDAY
Baby baptised Caroline Elizabeth Young today by Fr. Docherty in St. Maries
Catholic Church

14 MONDAY
Start to paint new upstairs bedroom at home Pa Hep. supplies paint a nice
cream.

15 TUESDAY
Still painting.

16 WEDNESDAY
Still painting. 
Mary better. 

17 THURSDAY
Painting.

18 FRIDAY
Painting. Am I tired? Weather very cold. 

19 SATURDAY
A very busy morning. 
Now the drains are lifted 
what a mess. 

20 SUNDAY
To eight mass
Painting again all day. 
Freezing hard all day & no heaters.

21 MONDAY
Painting 2nd coat front Room. No heat. 

24 THURSDAY
Snow today heavy. Finish painting meantime D.G.

25 FRIDAY
Again snow heavy in morning. Heating plugs fixed D.G.

26 SATURDAY
Snowing heavy in morning but Scottish Cup-tie goes on. R.R V. Hibernian. A
draw 0-0 Raith miss many chances. 

27 SUNDAY
All of us down at house today feels like home again. Snow all over. Plumber
the hold-up. 

28 MONDAY
Snow & plenty of it. We get a blizzard at 1:pm.

29 TUESDAY
Bathroom fixed. Hope to get home Thursday. Get bill from joiners £200 now
for the pay out if we've got it!

30 WEDNESDAY
Bath still out although cistern fixed looks like week-end before we are
down. Plumber held up through burst pipes. 

31 THURSDAY
Bath in place. 
Home tomorrow Deo Gratias.


FEBRUARY

1 FRIDAY
We are back Thank God. Cath & kids move down in afternoon. 

2 SATURDAY
Plenty work to do in house today. Curtains fixed: bath cleaned. Door
repaired etc. etc. 
And plenty work for months to come!

3 SUNDAY
To 10 Mass then back to getting house tidy. Group Committee in evening. 

4 MONDAY
To Lathalmond. Snow & ice still holding but signs of a thaw. Raith beat
Hibs 4-1 in Cup replay at Tynecastle. 

5 TUESDAY
Fail to get ticket for Hearts V Raith Cup match. Jimmy R. comes to rescue
with one for me. Thawing rapidly. 

6 WEDNESDAY
To Lathalmond. Thawing here. News of death of King George VI reaches
nation. R.I.P.

7 THURSDAY
Country in mourning. Thaw continues but hush of hail in evening. 

8 FRIDAY
Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II. Long live the Queen!

9 SATURDAY
To Tynecastle with J.R. to Hearts V Raith. Hearts won 1-0 after scrappy
game. We are nearly crushed to bits first 20 mins of game. Tynecastle no
more for me! Trains are good and J & I have good dinner at B. R. canteen. 

10 SUNDAY
To 8 Mass & Communion. Weather still frosty. 3 pm Benediction with
Catherine. She loses gloves. To Mary C's at night. Nice talk. 

11 MONDAY
To Lathalmond. Still cold. 

12 TUESDAY
In house at night. Can't get on with jobs somehow. Jessie down. 

13 WEDNESDAY
Do small jobs in house.

14 THURSDAY
I am lazy in house. Wish I had more time & a tool shed or work room. 

15 FRIDAY
King George VI funeral today R.I.P. 22 at Scouts. The attendance is still
good. 

16 SATURDAY
I pay Littlejohn & most of Bogie & Nicol. Now we are broke!

17 SUNDAY
To 8 Mass & Communion. Much milder today. The bairns enjoy a walk in
forenoon 
to Ma Hepburn in afternoon. 

18 MONDAY
To Lathalmond. Weather still mild. 

N.B. Phone Weir. 

22 FRIDAY
21 present. Good meeting. 

23 SATURDAY
Cath gets a present of £200 from Dad!
God is good after all! I get cupboard nearly finished. 


MARCH

5 WEDNESDAY
Fathers of Scouts meet. A Good Meeting & most fruitful. 
N.B. 1 p.t. milk. 

12 WEDNESDAY
Whist Drive 5th H.Q. 7.30. pm.

19 WEDNESDAY
Mothers of Scouts meet. Not so good as fathers do. 

22 SATURDAY
No fishing yet. Working all day on flooring upstairs. 

23 SUNDAY
To St Columbas for Mass & Communion. Mary O' not present. 
Laying linoleum in evening. 

24 MONDAY
The rooms are finished upstairs, now for the furnishings!

29 SATURDAY
Scouters meet Kinghorn. N.B. ask about Raith. 
Not a bad meeting. 
Meet new D.C. seems a decent sort. - Mr. Nicholson. 

30 SUNDAY
Snow & sleet showers all day & bitter cold. 


APRIL

3 THURSDAY
Anniversary Day of our Wedding. Four years of happiness. 

4 FRIDAY
24 present at Troop. Must get Young assistants for summer time. 

5 SATURDAY
Welsh gives me idea of money to pay on house app £200 yet. 

6 SUNDAY
Cath ill with a wrenched back. Comm with Scouts morning. To Park in
afternoon with Catherine & Mary.

7 MONDAY
Off work to help in house. Feel frustrated because Dad seems to be doing
all the work in the house. Doctors verdict rest with pills & ointment. 

8 TUESDAY
Again at home. Cath a little better. Her Mum & Phem down in afternoon.
Plant some seed potatoes. 

12 SATURDAY
All day filling in holes & making bathroom ready for painting.
To Easter vigil in church in the evening. What a splendid ceremony. I
enjoyed it fully and felt strangely light & reborn again. 

13 SUNDAY
A grand day for weather. I paint the baththroom. 

14 MONDAY
At last we move upstairs. Fine to know that we have acheived our objective.


16 WEDNESDAY
To Links Market in evening. Not bad. Too see Joe. Mary O' left. What a
disappointment. 

18 FRIDAY
Small turnout at Scouts only 14 but all P.L's missing. 

19 SATURDAY
To Links Market with Cath Catherine Mary & Dad. They do all the
roundabouts. Mary gets a fright on the bumper cars. Catherine unperturbed
goes to circus with Grandad. We help in fainting case at least Cath does. A
good day.

20 SUNDAY
No word of camp site so wash down scullery after dinner. Finish at six. Out
at night & contact youngsters to help with food.

21 MONDAY
Rain showers this morning. Start to paint scullery. 

29 TUESDAY
Phone Butler

30 WEDNESDAY
London Philharmonic Orchestra - Halls. 
Excellent. 
Dad & I. Sir Adrian Boult conducts. 


MAY

3 SATURDAY
To E. Camp (P-Ls)?
2 PLs & 2 Seconds go to Falkland I go up with them. It is most cold. I
doubt if they will enjoy it. I walk over hill road to Leslie & get sore
feet!

4 SUNDAY
Communion Day. Not a good turn out. 

5 MONDAY 
Painting scullery. 

7 WEDNESDAY
Fishing? 

9 FRIDAY
Feel fed-up with Scouts. They are all very young & need a lot of
discipline. PL's falling down again. 

10 SATURDAY
A.G.M. District. A fine meeting leading to a very successfull social &
dance in Drummonds. Only wish Cath had been there. 

11 SUNDAY
Confirmation. Cath is confirmed today. I watch the family. It is a
pleasure. 

12 MONDAY
Get tackle ready for Tiel. 

13 TUESDAY
Fishing Tiel tonight. Cast keeps on getting mixed up. Am real Ham-handed to
begin with. 

14 WEDNESDAY
Lovely weather. Summer is here and life is good. 

15 THURSDAY
Again a grand day. 

16 FRIDAY
W. Gowans down to give a hand with Scouts. 

17 SATURDAY
W. E. camp (?)
Up Loan with Hawks to coach them for Forsyth Trophy. [?]Dan[/?] [CENSORED:
surname] won't come. What a queer fellow he is to be sure. 

23 FRIDAY
A good turnout of Scouts. Willie Gowans good with them. 

24 SATURDAY
[NOTE: First line scored out] Visit RAF (Leuchars) (?)
Forsyth Trophy. 
We come in last as usual but not much between Troops. 

30 FRIDAY
To Pathead Sands. Both Jimmie & Willie present & give a fine hand all
round. 

31 SATURDAY
Patrol to Falkland Seagulls. 
Fine day. 
Clean out Hut afternoon. What a lot of junk!


JUNE

1 SUNDAY
Communion Scouts. Heavy rain today. Patrol at Falkland washed out. 

2 MONDAY
Holiday
Go fishing to Cullaloe. 
Again no fish and I am a wee bit disheartened after all the trouble. 

5 THURSDAY
[NOTE: line scored out] Holiday (Fishing?)

6 FRIDAY
Carfin today. A grand day. 

7 SATURDAY
Cut hedges morning 
to Park afternoon with kiddies Cath joins us with Caroline. 

8 SUNDAY
Annual Pilgrimage Dunfermline St. Margaret. 
A grand day & a fine example. Scouts to the fore everywhere. 

14 SATURDAY
County Flag Cup 
Working Patrol ages not to exceed 90 yrs of 6.
Garden Fete.
To Charlie Grant's wedding not to mention Pat Fealy
We enjoy ourselves. 
Kids a treat. 

20 FRIDAY
Feel groggy all day. 

21 SATURDAY
Raining cats & dogs. Jimmy Willie & I go to Cupar to fix up camp site &
Traders all ok. Nice tea Station Hotel.  

22 SUNDAY
Again feel bad after 10. am Mass. Take to bed in afternoon. 

23 MONDAY
Stay in bed & call Doc. Diagnoses after effects of flu - Rheumatic Pains
too bad. 

24 TUESDAY
Still feel as if I had been hit with a sledge-hammer. 

25 WEDNESDAY
Cath wonderful. She must be tired running up & down stairs but she never
complains. 

28 SATURDAY
Family Holiday to Elie. We postpone holiday till Monday. I go & see Doc. in
evening. He says I can take another week. Gives me O.K. to go to Elie. Fix
work! 

29 SUNDAY
Quiet day. We are busy packing in evening. 

30 MONDAY
To Elie with 2.16 train. A nice run. Kids excited. Baby likes the journey
like an old 'un. Cottage adequate without being pretentious. 


JULY

1 TUESDAY
On Sands all day. Weather fine but a little windy. 

2 WEDNESDAY
Raining a little. Not a day for sands. So off we go to Elie & Anstruther.
Nice walk around, & home for a late supper. 

3 THURSDAY
A good day. Building harbours & lazing.

4 FRIDAY
Another grand day. The kids enjoy the donkeys. 
Walk to Kilconqher in evening. 

5 SATURDAY
Sands morning. 
Shopping in Elie afternoon. 

6 SUNDAY
Dad Phem Jan & Elizabeth arrive. Elizabeth mad on water. I travel home
after a good week. 

7 MONDAY
Doc gives me all clear: I spend the day clearing up housing inspection with
Burgh C. 

8 TUESDAY
To work. Feel fine but not to keen for heavy stuff yet. Miss Cath.

9 WEDNESDAY
House is quiet without youngsters. Scouts in evening. 

10 THURSDAY 
Take a special bus from Rosyth to Elie get off at Kilconquhar walk rest.
Kids surprised to see me. Home with Mum & Dad Hep.

11 FRIDAY
Scouts present in full force preparing for Camp. 

12 SATURDAY
Go along to collect family. Thank God we are all together again. 

19 SATURDAY
Annual Camp. Arr. Cupar 11 am. Lunch & tents up by 2. pm. Camp nearly
complete by 4. Boy takes pains in stomach. Have to send for doctor. He says
no danger. 

20 SUNDAY
To 9 Mass. All at Communion. Doc calls. Boy OK. Begin Raft afternoon. Boy
goes home to Bowhill. Frs Payne & Docherty arr. with Miss Kennedy. 

21 MONDAY
Grand day for weather. Again the raft in morning. Wide Game afternoon.
Found £6 in wallet in evening. 

22 TUESDAY
The raft is completed in morning. To Sugar Beet factory in afternoon. No
time to try out raft. 

23 WEDNESDAY
Prepare camp for visitors. No bathing. 
Visitors arrive a beautiful day. Sports go well. 
Mr McCabe calls evening. 

24 THURSDAY
We try out raft. A great success only snag no photo of same. 
To St. A. in afternoon. Good fun at Step Rock. 

25 FRIDAY
Nature hunt in morning. No time for bathing. Free in afternoon. Collect
12/- reward from Police for [?]homeless[/?] wallet. 

26 SATURDAY
A terrible day. Our new recruits show up here. No idea of breaking camp.
Even older ones are lazy. Eddy & I get it all to do. We arrive home an hour
late after missing 2 trains. 

27 SUNDAY
Feel aches & pains today but otherwise 1st class. 

28 MONDAY
To work. I dodge around house. 

29 TUESDAY
Camp Profit may be about six pounds. 


AUGUST

1 FRIDAY
To Tiel for an hour. No fish but explore burn up to Hole Mill - excellent.


2 SATURDAY
First day off
Bank Holiday - 
- Terrible day
We are marooned by a cloud burst in afternoon. Cath & the kids take it
well. 

3 SUNDAY
To 8 Mass. I take Catherine on ferry. Burnt - Granton. She doesn't like it
at first but recovers to enjoy the trip. 

4 MONDAY
Again a bad day. Cath takes Catherine & Mary to Burntisland in afternoon
while I take baby for a walk. To Picture show evening. 

5 TUESDAY
A full day beginning work. 
To St. Margarets. Sands Camp in evening. 

6 WEDNESDAY
To Parochial Rooms. Only 8 turn up. Come home early. 

7 THURSDAY
Cath at Pics. Stay in house, play Piano latest gift from Dad to the girls.


8 FRIDAY
Visit to Camp at Balbeardie rained off. 
Dumfs troop have to pack up. S. M. ill & rain in torrents. 

9 SATURDAY
Norman & Bett here from Bedwyn. Meet them & go to Methil with Norman & Dad
Hep. to see E. Fife V. Q.O. South. Raining elephants. We can't get into
Stand so we sit in Cafè watching T.V. but rain keeps on. 

10 SUNDAY
To 8. Mass. We go to see Chipperfields Procession of 16 Elephants through
town. Kids highly delighted. Clean up in garden in evening. Cath busy
cooking.

11 MONDAY
To Lathalmond. 

23 SATURDAY
Raith V Dundee League Cup Match. 
Raith lose 2-1 after hectic game. 
General opinion that ref. lost the game for Raith. 

25 MONDAY
Dad Hepburn goes to Bridge of Earn Hospital for operation for rupture. 

27 WEDNESDAY
To Pics. The Card at the Rio. We get the "dinero" del Pueblo. 

28 THURSDAY
To Carl Anderson - to ask about Piano Lessons. He accepts but doesn't hold
out a lot of hope! Here goes to confound the critics. 


SEPTEMBER

1 MONDAY
Start Piano Lessons

12 FRIDAY
15 present. Fr. Byrne brings news that a party of French Scouts are in
town. Would like if we could make move to entertain them. 

15 MONDAY
We contact French Scouts at Smeaton hut Fr. Frank. Tommy & self very
hospitalibly entertained. Bond of Faith as well as Scouting obvious. 

17 WEDNESDAY
To presentation to new Priest 1st from Kirkcaldy Fr. McKee. French Scouts
arrive & create a great impression. They enjoy dance - we come up the road.


18 THURSDAY
Singing French marching songs in line abreast. 
Troup entertains. French late by half-hour.

19 FRIDAY
Programme haywire. We try our best but I feel our welcome is inadequate.
Probably imagination. 

20 SATURDAY
Day with family. I see Dad Hepburn home again after being in Hospital. He
is looking well. 

21 SUNDAY
A Happy day. Dunkirk & St. Maries Troops at Mass together. 

22 MONDAY
We visit Kinnoul Monastry by bus taking Fr. Bellus French chaplain. We
enjoy ourselves in a very cordial atmosphere. 

23 TUESDAY
Cath & I entertain the leaders to supper. Last night. A splendid evening.
Fr. Frank comes along to make this an outstanding success. 

26 FRIDAY
Bid goodbye to Dunkirk Scouts. Thanks for providing an interesting,
entertaining & educative interlude. 

27 SATURDAY
To see Raith V. St Mirren. Terrible show. Raith beaten 1-0 and we pay 2/-
admission fee from now on. Like things in general. More money for poor
quality goods. 

28 SUNDAY
A nice walk in the country with Cath & the bairns. We pick blackberries and
eat them!

30 TUESDAY
Dad is presented with a nice fireside chair from workmates. He retires
Friday. 


OCTOBER

1 WEDNESDAY
P.L's present. Good show on Scout test work. 

3 FRIDAY
22 present despite Potatoe picking. We arrange Wide Game for tomorrow. 

4 SATURDAY
Dad Retires today
Wide game X for [?]Amazon[/?] a great success. Three Patrols battle for
possession of point X (Three Stones). Good Scouting work seen here. Troop
is improving. 16 present. 

5 SUNDAY
Troop Communion Sunday. 4 present & 5 Cubs. This is a bad show & contrasts
with the large attendance yesterday. 

7 TUESDAY
P.L's on Wed. a success. 
Videc not present. 

8 WEDNESDAY
Tragic rail crash on Tues 7th at Harrow. 105 Dead in Triple Train crash. 

10 FRIDAY
24 Present at Troop. This is fine. 

11 SATURDAY
Usual crowded Saturday. To football. R.R V Dundee in afternoon. Weather
very mild and sunny. 

12 SUNDAY
To 10. Mass. Out with Cath & children afternoon. We have a rare walk. How
proud I am of them. Weather colder. 

14 TUESDAY
Bad toothache. 
dewdrops
Frost overnight. 

15 WEDNESDAY
3 P.Ls & 6 recruits present all pass Tenderfoot with exeption of Whipping.
Deo Gratias. 

16 THURSDAY
Weather still mild. Rain early today. Show troubling us in Group. 

17 FRIDAY
Teeth again troubling. Invest 6 tonight. Good show after 3 weeks in Troop.


18 SATURDAY
To dentist have molar removed. Plaster front wall in afternoon. Get cold in
gums. Have to retire for two hours in agony. Recover for Supper. Ought to
have known better. 

19 SUNDAY
To 8 Mass. Catherine & Mary demonstrate Sailors Horn Pipe seen at dancing
display Adam Smith Halls. 

20 MONDAY
East wind. Not cold. Cloudy. 

25 SATURDAY
To meet 3 PL's on hike give them instructions. Cath not well so come back &
take children out. Children at Playground delighted with Caroline. Rain
comes on so home with Catherine carrying Caths umbrella. 

31 FRIDAY
Get Ken for show. Must try to get new songs.


NOVEMBER

1 SATURDAY
Mass at 8 & Communion. Stay in & paint kitchen cupboard. Cream paint
doesn't take but by afternoon the failing light makes it all one!

2 SUNDAY
Day retreat for Scouts by Fr. Leonard - very good man. A real success this.
Silence not observed but boys will be boys. 

3 MONDAY 
Prepare for Newcastle trip. McAll. says it will only be a day's job. 

4 TUESDAY
To Newcastle for survey job at Helburn on Tyne. Raining on arrival - good
journey. Fix up at Hotel nice place - homely. Plenty of commercials. 

5 WEDNESDAY
Job at Helburn goes with a swing. Scotsmen at Hotel keep the fun going. 

6 THURSDAY
Are held up by rain; here till Saturday. To New Theatre tonight with
Commercial from Huddersfield. 

7 FRIDAY
Get the job finished satisfactorily I hope. To Cathedral for evening
service. Big place. 

8 SATURDAY
Buy presents before leaving 11.20am. Comfortable, easy journey. 

12 WEDNESDAY
Dad ill with stomach trouble. Rehearsal poor. 

13 THURSDAY
Doc gives Dad a chemist shop to himself. 

14 FRIDAY
Dad easier. 24 at Troop. Quite a good night. Youngsters keen. 

15 SATURDAY
Usual Saturday morning rush. To RR V Motherwell 1-1 a good game. Raith
inside men terrible. 

16 SUNDAY
To 10 Mass. Dad worse today. Call Doc. No food for a day or two. Stay in
with him all day. 

17 MONDAY
Catherine showing off gym dress. She is getting big. Lathalmond today. 

18 TUESDAY
A good day. Not a lot to do. 


DECEMBER

19 FRIDAY
Gang show. Not a large audience but they enjoy it. 

24 WEDNESDAY
Mary & Caroline in bed with Bronchitis. Cath bad as any. 

25 THURSDAY
Midnight Mass packed out. 
Quiet Christmas with kiddies in bed. 

26 FRIDAY
A House of illness.

27 SATURDAY
Mend scullery door & attend to children. Help Cath. 

28 SUNDAY
Cath takes earache pretty bad with it. 
See Doctor as soon as poss.


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Information about document and author:

Text
Text audience
Adults (18+): Males: Audience size: 1

Text details
Method of composition: Handwritten
Year of composition: 1952
Word count: 3260

Text publication details
Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Series of diaries from 1940s to 1980s

Text setting
Private/personal: 
Text type
Diary: 

Author
Author details
Author id: 1032
Forenames: William
Surname: Young
Gender: Male
Decade of birth: 1910
Educational attainment: Civil service (technical inspector qualification)
Age left school: 12
Upbringing/religious beliefs: Catholicism
Occupation: Civil Servant / Technical Officer
Place of birth: Kirkcaldy
Region of birth: Fife
Birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif
Country of birth: Scotland
Father's occupation: Linoleum Worker
Father's place of birth: Kirkcaldy
Father's region of birth: Fife
Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif
Father's country of birth: Scotland
Mother's occupation: Housewife
Mother's place of birth: Kirkcaldy
Mother's region of birth: Fife
Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif
Mother's country of birth: Scotland

Languages:
Language: English
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: At work / at home
Language: Scots
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: At home