Martin’s diaries are moving

Martin Dove’s daily diaries will, from now on, be published on the Facebook page...

I L.O.V.E. SCARBOROUGH =)

Thank you for reading.

16th January 1961

Monday 16th January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

Had usual lessons at school.
Doctor came.
Dad got up at night.

—-

Another home visit from the doctor, these days you’d have to wait two weeks just to get an appointment to visit them at the surgery.

15th January 1961

Sunday 15th January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

Barry and Eileen came round.
Played Newmarket with dad in bed.
I won 4 and a half pence.

—-

My dad was still poorly.
Newmarket was my favourite card game, which we played a lot as a family, and always for money!
(4.5d is worth around 70p in 2020)

Saturday 14th January 1961

Saturday 14th January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

Albert came round.

Doctor examined me.

Played H H H with dad.

—-

My grandad was called Albert, but I also had an uncle Albert, so I guess that this was my uncle.

Still can’t remember what was wrong with my dad, but maybe it was contagious, if doctor was examining me?

H H H was Hancock’s Half Hour, the board game. 

13th January 1961

13th January 1961

Friday 13 January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

DEB NIGHT.
Freeman came, played Cluedo, Hancock’s Half Hour and did card tricks.

—-

My first DEB NIGHT of the year, and the highlight of any week.
DEB stood for Dove’s Entertainment Bureau, which basically was games night at my house. I had loads of board games, and friends were regularly invited over to play.
Hancock’s Half Hour involved wandering round East Cheam and Railway Cuttings, looking for work or beer, or Sid James.
Great fun, but I no longer have the game.
Freeman was John Freeman, a close friend, who tragically died in his twenties.

12th January 1961

12th January 1961

Thursday 12January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

Put name tags on all clothes.

Uncle Frank, Reg, Bernard, Aunt Mary and Doctor all came to see dad.

—-

Do children today still put name tags on their clothes?

Dad still poorly.

11th January 1961

11th January 1961

Wednesday 11 January 1961
Martin Dove (age 12)

At gym we got a new pair of gym shoes.

Doctor didn’t come.

—-

I presume the doctor was coming to see my dad.

Dr Adamson was his name.