The Richard Burton Diaries (27 page)

15 Tuesday
Had a row with Elfed. I dressed up to go but he would not let me go after all. I then went to play football with the boys. 1st we went down Margam then we came to Plough.

16 Wednesday
Went to Cwm and Tom gave me 6d. Sis came up too. Ivor was up there also but he gave me nothing and so I was rather surprised.

17 Thursday
Went down Plough to play football with Sec but they would not turn out. Went to Cymalog this noon and Dill and I had about 4lbs each.
²²⁵
I had more than Dill.

18 Friday
Went up Ponty. Hilda was in Swansea. Daddy bought me a pair of shoes 16/6 although he hadn't been working all this week. He gave me money too. Went to Cach.

19 Saturday
Gave Auntie Win 6d for the Chocolate Club. I am buying an 8/- present for Sis. I went to the Regent to see
Andy Hardy
(M. Rooney).
²²⁶
No one came with me. I will have to find 1/6 a week for Auntie Win on account.

20 Sunday
Went to chapel all day per usual. Our yearly big meeting is on Fortnight Sunday. [...]

21 Monday
Air blitzkrieg still continues over London. At least 3800 people have been killed.
²²⁷
Things have quietened down here at home. – Sis is still grumpy and Elfed still gets his black moods. Walled up shelter.
²²⁸

22 Tuesday
Forgot to say I went to Cach last night. Had a 1/- off Sis for doing shelter. Did not do any today. Just for argument Sis had her ‘navy’ shoes last week and so did Marian. Clearance in a fortnight.

23 Wednesday
I am reading on average about 3 books in two days. Went down Library to change my books and Elfed was shouting because he wanted to read one of them. Not so many air raids lately.

24 Thursday
Walled up shelter again today as one side had not a very good foundation and did
¹
/
₂
the other side. Dad James said it was a good bit of walling. Uncle Charles has not been up our house for ages.

25 Friday
Went down the Co-op for Sis and took all I could. Went up the side in the evening to help Mam James cut out black-out for lamps for the chapel. Elfed said I'll have to wear strap shoes next week for school.

26 Saturday
Went down Co-op again and Brin Phillips came with me. We both went down the Park in the afternoon and we played football. Went to the pictures in the evening.
Hunch-back of Notre Dame
[...]
²²⁹

27 Sunday
Went to chapel all day as usual. Our big meeting next Sunday. Gwilym Rees will be preaching.
²³⁰

28 Monday
Back to school after a fortnight's hols and I wasn't sorry to go back. I worked hard at my homework tonight. Played football down Margam. H. Owen and V Hughes were watching us. They are football selectors.

29 Tuesday
Went to school. My feet fit easier in to the shoes than they did yesterday. as I have corn remover on and I hope they will succeed. I am going to take them off Thursday night probably. Did a lot of homework.

30 Wednesday
Cassie came home yesterday and she is ‘llawn o twang’.
²³¹
I don't think I'll ever get a credit in Welsh and am doubtful if I'll get a pass.
²³²
Of the rest I'm pretty sure. Worked all night at Chem.

31 Thursday
Did heaps of Chem swotting. I think I will swot Geom next week. We had football in the Gym. I had a little fight with Don Parr. – Quite spirited. Gerry Mahoney was there too. Mr Davies came near the end to stop us.

NOVEMBER

1 Friday
Did homework all night. Those corn removers came up trumps and I am now corn free. We are playing Garw tomorrow.
²³³
Mr Davies is not coming so we are having ‘Bumf’ (Mr Evans) Instructions.
²³⁴

2 Saturday
Got up about 20 to 8 o'clock and made arrangements about papers. Went to Garw although it was pouring down and played during drenching rain. We lost a hard game 5–nil. They had a heavy pack. Here hoping for next time.

3 Sunday
Big meeting today. G. Rees gave three beautiful sermons. Could not work today. Working hard.

4 Monday
Last day of the Cwrdd mawr.
²³⁵
I was told that Gwil Rees today was good. I had a row with Sis – she went to cry. She was bad during church this afternoon. We had no football this ‘noon. Nick is now A.F.S. head.
²³⁶

5 Tuesday
Did chem swotting tonight as usual. I am well on in the book now and should get about 70 in chem. I am worried about Welsh. I am afraid I will not do very well in it. Still rather stiff with Sis.

6 Wednesday
Leisan house had a meeting today. I was picked Captain of football in Leisan house. We have a fairly good team. Cliff Owen and I both had equal votes and the chairman Mr Burton came my way.
²³⁷

7 Thursday
Had rehearsal today for the play. I am confident I can play my part well enough. Three girls tried for Queen position. Glenys Hare a form VI girl won and she can do it very well.
²³⁸

8 Friday
Team was picked to play against Maesteg. Roy Vincent in the team as Joe James has dropped out.
²³⁹
It doesn't look as if we will play as it is very wet. Had rehearsal with Burton. Pretty hot work.

9 Saturday
Played Maesteg. We won 7–6. It was a fine match although it poured down. The lead swung from side to side. Brin Phillips and I went to Pictures on Sat night and afterwards to Joe's.

10 Sunday
It seemed that the chapel had about £31 last Sunday which is not bad at all for a small chapel.

11 Monday
Swotted chem all night and did a little English. It is hard work. Watched the cabinet rehearsing tonight and when I was going through the hall saw films.
²⁴⁰
I was 15 years old yesterday. Had 2/-.

12 Tuesday
Swotted English. Did not do so much work as usual. Did my English play. It is very interesting. Mr Wellington came here and stopped me for a bit from going up stairs. Finished about 10.30.

13 Wednesday
Got home early today. I am very worried about Welsh. I am certain that it is going to let me down in Matric. I must try and see what she accents on this term and swot them up.

14 Thursday
Did a lot of Homework. I only want to finish one act of Shakespearean play. (
Twelfth Night
). Played football. I scored. Tommy Mainwaring has a terrific swerve on him. [...]

15 Friday
I had to take John Davies’ part in rehearsal today and so I could not go in to Gym.
²⁴¹
Verdun it seems has come into money (£450) and he left
¹
/
₂
; crown for me.
²⁴²
He gave Sis 10/- for the Bike. I have to take it up tomorrow.

16 Saturday
Left Marian to do the papers. Started walking up with the bike. I was drenched when I got by Cwm. Verdun and I came down Town and he bought a 2nd hand machine. He bought me two mouth organs.

17 Sunday
Went to Chapel. We had special collection (17/-). Total collection was £1 odd.

18 Monday
Played football in the Gym. Only 5 of us there. Did a lot of swotting tonight. I should get a fairly good result at Terminals especially in Chem.
²⁴³
I am still worried about Welsh. I am afraid Geog is not going to be a great help.

19 Tuesday
Did Homework as usual. Mr Burton wanted to see me for rehearsal I thought but he changed his mind afterwards and sent me home. I was glad and did a whack of homework. Glad when exams are over.

20 Wednesday
Had a rehearsal today. Had a good tea when I got home. I have got to learn my words in 10 days. I practically know them so everything will be alright. [...] Swotted a lot tonight.

21 Thursday
Played football in the Gym tonight. We had great fun. Went home and Verdun's wife and mother-in-law were there. Swotted and worked out a possible average. I calculated about 50%. Probably more though.

22 Friday
We are playing Neath tomorrow and I am not confident of holding them as they have a good team. Did a bit of homework but not much. I will do more over the next few days. I played a little on the mouth organ.

23 Saturday
I wore Elfed's hat over to school and Don Parr and I went running around yelling like Red Indians (I found a tambourine). We lost to Neath as I expected by 20 points. Went up Ive's. He is going next Thurs to RASC.
²⁴⁴

24 Sunday
Went to chapel in the noon and night. Had a lend of 1/3 off Sis and paid off my debt of 3/9 to Auntie Wyn.

25 Monday
At first I was not going to take football but I changed my mind borrowed a bike and went home to get my stuff. We had an enjoyable game. We won of course. Did a lot of homework and learned characters of Shakespeare.

26 Tuesday
Did a lot of homework. I had to put the blackout up in the dark and I had to count money for Marian and Nan Morse.
²⁴⁵
Mr Reynolds was seen in school today although he wasn't actually on the job.
²⁴⁶

27 Wednesday
We did revision of Chemistry all (almost) of the afternoon and about 3.15 Mr Burton came in and told us that there was to be an English exam tomorrow and were we shocked.

28 Thursday
Had English exam. I did a fairly good paper. I should get about 40%. I wrote an essay on ‘The Atlantic Ocean’. The exam time table is up. We have History first I think, so I must learn it hard.

29 Friday
Our Ivor should be at his billet by now. I worked hard at Geog all I could today. I have a rehearsal tomorrow. I think I will do well in History and fairly well in Welsh. I am feeling more cocky.

30 Saturday
Had rehearsal today. I forgot my book and had to go back for it. Stayed in the YM for a bit and then went home to get my stuff to play for them.
²⁴⁷
We lost 5–3. I played badly.

DECEMBER

1 Sunday
Went to chapel all day as usual. Went up Auntie's after evening chapel and played with Edwina.
²⁴⁸

2 Monday
School as usual. We had no football today because of rain. Hist is our first exam and I learned quite a bit about it. Mr Burton said to be prepared for a shock about one Lit Paper. Mr Reynolds is back.

3 Tuesday
Went to school as usual. We have a woodwork theory exam. Learned Hist all night. Lord Haw-Haw is talking now.
²⁴⁹
The Greeks are beating the Italians, who are retreating at every step.
²⁵⁰

4 Wednesday
Exams tomorrow. I am not looking forward to Welsh but I am feeling a little better about the result. I did no Hist tonight but let it go. I will learn some tomorrow. We are playing Garw tomorrow.

5 Thursday
Had Hist – I did fairly well although I did not finish I should get about 50. 45 at least. Just finished Welsh – I have done very well in the last 3 questions but in the Trans and Essay hopeless.
²⁵¹
Should get 60%.

6 Friday
Had Chem this morning and it was an easy paper although on the long side. I finished however and I think I had the problems all right. We had Arith. Not so good I will be lucky If I get 60%. We are playing Garw tomorrow.

7 Saturday
I joined the Y.M.C.A. this afternoon.
²⁵²
Paid 6d down. We played Garw and won 8–nil. Thus we avenged our defeat further in the season. It was the first time they have been defeated this season.

8 Sunday
Stayed home all day and tried to swot but I am sorry that I did stay home because I will not do much better after all.

9 Monday
We had Welsh today and indeed it was better than I expected and I think I ought to get about 45% between the two. Had Algebra this morning but I did it badly. I should think I will get about 35%. Geog tomorrow.

10 Tuesday
Had Geography and it was something better than I expected. I have given myself 43% but I shouldn't be surprised if I had more. We had Woodwork Theory and if it wasn't that ‘Bobby’ is a good marker I wouldn't expect much.

11 Wednesday
Christmas only fortnight off but I'm not half so thrilled as usual. We had English today. I wanted to stay home from Phys tomorrow so I stayed home this noon as well to avert suspicion. We have no exam this noon.

12 Thursday
Stayed home this morning but went this afternoon. Took the opportunity to swot up Geom. Confident of a good mark in Geom. Went up the YMCA and had a bit of fun. Col Eynon and etc. Went to see play.

13 Friday
Had geom this morning and it was very good and two of the very things I asked him about came up. I expect 65 at least for Geom. I worked out my prob av: 50%. If I do have this it will be very good.

14 Saturday
Went up YM Pressed my trousers before I went and aired it. Went to pictures tonight with Brin Phillips and Strawb. I bought a pipe for a bit of fun and a smoked it for a bet.

15 Sunday
I was made a member today and I drank my first drop of wine and ate my first lump of bread.
²⁵³

16 Monday
Went to school as usual. I expected some marks but I did not get any. We had films this afternoon and one of them was pretty good. Dillwyn and I went out singing carols and we realized 4/- i.e. 2/- each.

17 Tuesday
Had my History mark (58) and Woodwork mark (43). As I was going home John Davies told me my chem mark was 70 odd. Later George Dear told me I had 50 odd in Lit and 40 odd in grammar.
²⁵⁴