8 Sunday (8-358)
1st after Epiphany
We all went to St John's Church and returned at 12:30 pm. We spent the afternoon writing letters.We listened in at 3:30 pm. Tea was over by 5 pm and from then til church we continued our letter writing.
We all went to the card service at Upton Church. The service was very enjoyable and the sermon especially was worth remembering. It was on "The Epiphany"
Another feature of remembrance was a large painting in a side chapel, of Jesus. The Reverend Pat McCormick broadcasted a sermon from Saint Martin in the Fields. It was remarkably clear and was the best the writer has ever heard. We "listened in" again after supper. After that the family retired to bed.
N.H.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
January 7
7 Saturday (7-359)
Full moon 6.8 a.m.
S.R. 8.5. S.S. 4.7
Nora received her bank book. Did housework etc. and then we wrote letters and read. After dinner Iris, Dolly and Nora went downtown. We met Cecil on the way. We bought this diary, which cost us 2/6d, a fair sum but we think it is worth it.
Iris and Nora Hunter hereby have chosen to write their daily life and events down in this book, for the sake of the succeeding generations, who we hope will be able to gain some knowledge of ordinary life in the 20th century. This of course is for the Hunters of future days.
Yours sincerely,
Iris and Nora Hunter.
On this day "Westfield" boasts its first "Wireless set" which was made by Jack. It is three valved and we hope to have good results.
N.H.
Full moon 6.8 a.m.
S.R. 8.5. S.S. 4.7
Nora received her bank book. Did housework etc. and then we wrote letters and read. After dinner Iris, Dolly and Nora went downtown. We met Cecil on the way. We bought this diary, which cost us 2/6d, a fair sum but we think it is worth it.
Iris and Nora Hunter hereby have chosen to write their daily life and events down in this book, for the sake of the succeeding generations, who we hope will be able to gain some knowledge of ordinary life in the 20th century. This of course is for the Hunters of future days.
Yours sincerely,
Iris and Nora Hunter.
On this day "Westfield" boasts its first "Wireless set" which was made by Jack. It is three valved and we hope to have good results.
N.H.
January 6
6 Friday (6-360)
Epiphany
We all arrive down comparatively early. Some of us went by taxi to St. John's. After the service we did some shopping. We went to Paish's and bought another "Yeoman of the Guard" and also "Yale Blues" and "Moonlit Waters", foxtrot. Afternoon we all laid in the dining room. Iris read, Cecil typed letters and found time to make faces at us. Dolly read, Nora attempted doing Latin. Did 15 lines in the end. We had a late supper. After supper Cecil, Dolly and Nora went to the GPO in Union Street. We returned along the sea front and had a very pleasant walk. Had Christmas card from Jessie.
N.H.
Epiphany
We all arrive down comparatively early. Some of us went by taxi to St. John's. After the service we did some shopping. We went to Paish's and bought another "Yeoman of the Guard" and also "Yale Blues" and "Moonlit Waters", foxtrot. Afternoon we all laid in the dining room. Iris read, Cecil typed letters and found time to make faces at us. Dolly read, Nora attempted doing Latin. Did 15 lines in the end. We had a late supper. After supper Cecil, Dolly and Nora went to the GPO in Union Street. We returned along the sea front and had a very pleasant walk. Had Christmas card from Jessie.
N.H.
January 5
5 Thursday (5-361)
Dividends Due
After our strenuous times this week we thought we deserved a "lie in" so we did what was quite an unusual happening. We did not rise until 12:30 PM. Dreadful, but still, we have our excuses.
Instead of arriving down in time for breakfast we just "blew down" in time for dinner. Then to make up for this we went by tram. to Paignton. Dolly Iris and Nora descended from the tram at Savory Road while the others continued. We bought a cake and large biscuit each. We walked along the sea front and then returned by tram. We had a "rough tea" and read until the others returned.
N.H.
Dividends Due
After our strenuous times this week we thought we deserved a "lie in" so we did what was quite an unusual happening. We did not rise until 12:30 PM. Dreadful, but still, we have our excuses.
Instead of arriving down in time for breakfast we just "blew down" in time for dinner. Then to make up for this we went by tram. to Paignton. Dolly Iris and Nora descended from the tram at Savory Road while the others continued. We bought a cake and large biscuit each. We walked along the sea front and then returned by tram. We had a "rough tea" and read until the others returned.
N.H.
January 4
4 Wednesday (4-363)
All of us, excepting Mr. Payton, and including Miss Hamerton, went to the afternoon performance at the Burlington.
It lasted from 3 PM until 5:30. We went upstairs this time and found it and improvement. We saw Harold Lloyd in "The Kid Brother". It was good. Miss Hamerton stayed for tea and we had crackers. After this we retired into the front room and heard some records. Nora broke two records for which we hope she is sorry. They were the "Student Prince" (already broken a little) and "The Yeoman of the Guard". Miss Hamilton has asked the three girls to tea next Thursday.
N.H.
All of us, excepting Mr. Payton, and including Miss Hamerton, went to the afternoon performance at the Burlington.
It lasted from 3 PM until 5:30. We went upstairs this time and found it and improvement. We saw Harold Lloyd in "The Kid Brother". It was good. Miss Hamerton stayed for tea and we had crackers. After this we retired into the front room and heard some records. Nora broke two records for which we hope she is sorry. They were the "Student Prince" (already broken a little) and "The Yeoman of the Guard". Miss Hamilton has asked the three girls to tea next Thursday.
N.H.
January 3
3 Tuesday (3-363)
This was a fine day. The following went for a walk - Cecil, Jack, Dorothy ( Payton ) and Iris and Nora. We took a bus from Castle Circus to a place called "Solomon's Post". The ride was enjoyable. We were disappointed to find no "post" visible. The country was lovely and a good amount of snow was left on the hillsides. From the "imaginary post" we walked back to Torquay via Barton. We had one adventure on the way. We had not walked very far, went to our surprise we found some men trying to get a car out of a snow-drift. Cecil and Jack then set to work and before long the car was driving away from us on a safe road. We all went to see "Robinson Crusoe" at the Theater Royal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was worth seeing.
N.H.
This was a fine day. The following went for a walk - Cecil, Jack, Dorothy ( Payton ) and Iris and Nora. We took a bus from Castle Circus to a place called "Solomon's Post". The ride was enjoyable. We were disappointed to find no "post" visible. The country was lovely and a good amount of snow was left on the hillsides. From the "imaginary post" we walked back to Torquay via Barton. We had one adventure on the way. We had not walked very far, went to our surprise we found some men trying to get a car out of a snow-drift. Cecil and Jack then set to work and before long the car was driving away from us on a safe road. We all went to see "Robinson Crusoe" at the Theater Royal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was worth seeing.
N.H.
January 2
2 Monday (2-364)
Bank Holiday in Scotland
We were full of excitement and prepared for our play.
We rehearsed a little in the afternoon. Instead of having tea or supper we have what is commonly called "high tea".
The play was acted in the kitchen, and as we are told by the audience, I think we might be permitted in stating that it was a success. We hope this was really so. The actresses used the dining room as theirs. Our next-door neighbors Miss Field and Mrs. Tompkins were our only outside visitors. After the play we retired into the "front room" and were given coffee, Christmas cake and the like. We were tired out after this days enjoyment and soon the family at Westfield retired to their comfortable beds.
N.H.
Bank Holiday in Scotland
We were full of excitement and prepared for our play.
We rehearsed a little in the afternoon. Instead of having tea or supper we have what is commonly called "high tea".
The play was acted in the kitchen, and as we are told by the audience, I think we might be permitted in stating that it was a success. We hope this was really so. The actresses used the dining room as theirs. Our next-door neighbors Miss Field and Mrs. Tompkins were our only outside visitors. After the play we retired into the "front room" and were given coffee, Christmas cake and the like. We were tired out after this days enjoyment and soon the family at Westfield retired to their comfortable beds.
N.H.
January 1, 1928
1 Sunday (1-365)
1st after Christmas
Circumcision. New Years' Day
Dog and Establishment Licences renewable
We all went to St John's Church in the morning. Then we went to Chelston Church in the evening. We had no rehearsal, but prepared for our play, "The Spanish Villain" which was to come off the succeeding day.
N.H.
1st after Christmas
Circumcision. New Years' Day
Dog and Establishment Licences renewable
We all went to St John's Church in the morning. Then we went to Chelston Church in the evening. We had no rehearsal, but prepared for our play, "The Spanish Villain" which was to come off the succeeding day.
N.H.
A background to the 1928 diary
A year or so back, whilst rummaging through the many boxes of old letters and photos that make up my family mementos, I came across a diary. At the time I didn't pay much attention to it as the covers were gone and it appeared to be more of an almanac because of the many pages of advertising, tide tables and other data at the start. A gave it just a quick glance and set it aside with the intention to get back to later. Unfortunately, this delayed me in realizing what a little treasure I'd had in my hands.
I've read it through several times now, and each time I find some new tidbit, and it's become the "text" that was missing from many photographs. I'll try to elaborate on this as I go along and add the corresponding pictures wherever applicable.
The diary was actually purchased a week before it begins, but they filled in the entries from the 1st of the year so as to make it complete, but I'll post the entries as they appear in the diary. I may give an explanation if I feel it's needed.
The diary was written by my mother, Iris Maud Hunter, aged 17 and her sister Nora Eileen Hunter, aged 15 during their final year of school in England.
They were born in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, to British parents. My mother was born in 1911 and her sister in 1912. Sometime about the end of WW1 (1918-ish) the family moved to Shanghai, where their father Tobias Hunter was to join his sister's husband in business. The move was a good one and the family prospered. While they were by no means wealthy, they were still able to afford a household staff of Amahs, a cook, and a chauffeur.
As was the norm for the European community, the children were sent to England to complete their formal education. As this involved a lengthy passage by ship, the children were boarded at school and spent their vacations with friends or relatives in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.
My mother and her sister were sent away to school in 1924. Their father and mother accompanied them to England but once they were settled in, they returned home to Shanghai. It would be four years before they would see their father again. It was the last time they would see their mother.
As it was this year, January 1st, 1928 was also a Sunday which I hope will make this all work out.
To any who read this:
Note: March 22, 2017
My mother passed away in 1978 in North Vancouver, BC, at only 67 years of age. Her sister Nora lived to the ripe old age of 95, and died in Laguna Hills, California in 2007.
At the time of it's writing, they were both attending Bournemouth High School, a boarding school for girls in Bournemouth, England. 1928 was their final year after which they would be returning to their home in Shanghai, China.
Prior to the end of the school year, they would be joined by their father, Tobias Hunter (my grandfather) He would travel to England overland by train from Shanghai via Berlin, beginning in mid March and arriving in England some two weeks later. He would spend some time visiting with family and friends and when the girls were finished their schooling, they would return home to Shanghai via ship. During his stay, they would take advantage of the time to see the sights of Europe as best as time would allow.
It was my intention to post entries from the corresponding dates, however due to my late start, and the fact that 1928 was a leap year, the actual days of the week will not coincide from Feb 29th. From that date onward, it will be one day off.
I'll be posting a series of entries together so as to bring the blog up to date but from there, I'll be trying to do it a day at a time. I may post my own observations in the "comments" sections.
The diary is by no means exciting but has given me much insight into the lives of both my mother and my Aunt Nora. It has also become a text, to the many photos which until the discovery of this book, were a mystery. The diary has also opened access to new genealogical avenues and even posed a few new questions.
Though I've read through it several times now, I find that with each reading, more light is cast. Seemingly simple statements, give clear answers to some long lasting questions. I hope to be able to share some of that with the few who take the time to read along.
BHB
I've read it through several times now, and each time I find some new tidbit, and it's become the "text" that was missing from many photographs. I'll try to elaborate on this as I go along and add the corresponding pictures wherever applicable.
The diary was actually purchased a week before it begins, but they filled in the entries from the 1st of the year so as to make it complete, but I'll post the entries as they appear in the diary. I may give an explanation if I feel it's needed.
The diary was written by my mother, Iris Maud Hunter, aged 17 and her sister Nora Eileen Hunter, aged 15 during their final year of school in England.
 |
| Nora Eileen Hunter abt 1925 Iris Maud Hunter abt 1925 |
As was the norm for the European community, the children were sent to England to complete their formal education. As this involved a lengthy passage by ship, the children were boarded at school and spent their vacations with friends or relatives in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.
My mother and her sister were sent away to school in 1924. Their father and mother accompanied them to England but once they were settled in, they returned home to Shanghai. It would be four years before they would see their father again. It was the last time they would see their mother.
As it was this year, January 1st, 1928 was also a Sunday which I hope will make this all work out.
To any who read this:
Note: March 22, 2017
My mother passed away in 1978 in North Vancouver, BC, at only 67 years of age. Her sister Nora lived to the ripe old age of 95, and died in Laguna Hills, California in 2007.
At the time of it's writing, they were both attending Bournemouth High School, a boarding school for girls in Bournemouth, England. 1928 was their final year after which they would be returning to their home in Shanghai, China.
Prior to the end of the school year, they would be joined by their father, Tobias Hunter (my grandfather) He would travel to England overland by train from Shanghai via Berlin, beginning in mid March and arriving in England some two weeks later. He would spend some time visiting with family and friends and when the girls were finished their schooling, they would return home to Shanghai via ship. During his stay, they would take advantage of the time to see the sights of Europe as best as time would allow.
It was my intention to post entries from the corresponding dates, however due to my late start, and the fact that 1928 was a leap year, the actual days of the week will not coincide from Feb 29th. From that date onward, it will be one day off.
I'll be posting a series of entries together so as to bring the blog up to date but from there, I'll be trying to do it a day at a time. I may post my own observations in the "comments" sections.
The diary is by no means exciting but has given me much insight into the lives of both my mother and my Aunt Nora. It has also become a text, to the many photos which until the discovery of this book, were a mystery. The diary has also opened access to new genealogical avenues and even posed a few new questions.
Though I've read through it several times now, I find that with each reading, more light is cast. Seemingly simple statements, give clear answers to some long lasting questions. I hope to be able to share some of that with the few who take the time to read along.
BHB
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