Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1st January 1938-31st December 1938 (Creation)
Level of description
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1 item paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Richard Herbert Sutton was born on the 19th August 1918 in Hong Kong with his family later moving to 31 Beccles Road, Great Yarmouth. Richard's father, H. Sutton, was a silk merchant. From January 1926 to April 1930, he attended Gorleston prep school, before moving to Gresham's school in May 1930, where he was editor of the school magazine.
In 1936, he became a history exhibitioner, before coming up to Jesus in 1937 to study history. In his third year, he also studied law. According to his tutorial file, Richard's strength of character was praised highly by the College's academic staff, particularly his 'good spirits' and 'hard efforts'. Although tall at 6ft 4, with a build described as less than robust, he was involved with various sports including rowing, hockey, and tennis.
Outside of sport, he had interests in poetry, writing some himself, and public affairs. A Conservative, he was active in the College Debating Society. Richard was also awarded a travel grant in May 1938.
Richard suffered from various medical issues and, although not serious, they had an impact upon his studies. In 1937, he suffered from eye problems, requiring a Certificate in Case of Illness to allow him to stay at home for much of his first term. His condition improved, although the eye problems returned in November 1940. While part of the Officer Training Corps (O.T.C) in the last term of his first year, Richard suffered a riding accident whilst on a parade that resulted in a broken arm. This left him unable to sit for his preliminary examination for History Honours in June 1938. Despite this, he still managed to obtain a 2:1 in June 1939 of the Historical Tripos.
On 10th February 1939, Richard signed up for active duty for the war. He became a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, serving in Italy from 1943, but was wounded at Anzio, in March 1944. After the war ended, he joined the Civil Service.
Unfortunately, he became fully blind in 1961 but judging from his tone in letters to the college, he remained in good spirits and wit. Richard died on 22nd October 2002.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This item explores Richard's daily life as a student of Jesus College. He works hard as a student but often finds his attention wandering during lectures, Saturdays being the toughest days where he has three lectures in a row. This is also the year where he suffers from a riding accident and injures his shoulder, something that is reflected in his handwriting. In a wider global context, we see Richard's political awareness as he makes several references to the German occupation of Czechoslavkia.
13th January - Asks about joining the Union so asks Beckingsale, the Jesus representative, about it.
16th January - Visits Ely Cathedral, although he is not allowed inside so he leaves quite unimpressed. Additionally, notes a desire for lots of children.
25th January - Manages to catch a rare appearance of the Northern Lights over Cambridge.
30th January - The Fifth Anniversary of Hitler's coming to power. Richard wonders how long the effects will last.
Feburary 1st - Comments that he feels overwhelmed by the workload.
10th Feburary - Goes to the OTC Headquarters to get bits of his uniform.
11th Feburary - Goes to riding school, which is his first experience riding a horse. He thinks he managed to do quite well.
18th Feburary - Visits the Fitzwiliam again.
21st Feburary - Anthony Eden resigns from government. Richard thinks that this is a severe blow to the government and that Eden shouldn't have resigned. He also believes the opposition will make political capital out of this.
22nd Feburary - CUSCs hand out leaflets attacking Neville Chamberlain, to which Richard believes they are wrong so he gets someone to promise an emergency meeting of the CUCA.
12th March - Notes that the papers are full of Hitler's latest coup (the Anschluss).
17th March - Goes to Manchester.
18th March - Visits Manchester Ice Palace where he skates quite successfully.
21st - Visits Manchester Art Gallery.
26th March - Takes a trip to Wales.
30th March - Back at home, listens to 'The Countess Dances' on the wireless.
12th April - Loses in a spelling bee at the Pier Hotel in Yarmouth.
14th April - Gets new glasses.
7th May - Falls off his horse and crashes his shoulder on the ground.
8th May - Taken to Evelyn Nursing Home.
17th May - Sir Kimpsley Wood is appointed a Minister. Richard is pleased with this.
22nd May - Notes that the press is full of news about German soldiers on the Czech borders.
13th June - Allowed to leave Evelyn.
24th July - Compares notes on moustaches with his friend Langley. This, combined with numerous mentions of shaving across the entries, suggests Richard had a moustache.
17th August - Watches 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'. The theatre was packed with children. Comments that he found it excellent and that the animation looked like real people.
1st September - Begins travelling to Manchester and then Scotland with his friend Roger.
11th September - Refers to the international situation worsening.
12th September - Listens to Hitler on the wireless but notes that he didn't have much to say.
17th September - Returns home.
18th September - Mentions 'the crisis' still ongoing.
19th September - 'Kidlet's' 17th birthday, which we find out makes her three years younger than Richard. Comments that 'Hitler has got his own over Czechslovakia'.
24th September - Comments that war seems closer than ever and thus dominates conversations everywhere.
27th September - Richard's mother noted to be fitting schoolchildren with gas masks.
30th September - Expresses great relief upon hearing that the Czechs accepted the Munich agreement and that he feels great sympathy for them.
7th October - Eager to return to Cambridge.
12th October - Welcomed to the CUCA by attending a committee meeting. Meets P.B. Hagne and Lord Granby, as well as M.R. Raymen, the Senior Jesus representative.
17th October - Sad to hear of Lord Stanley's death, as he was one of his favorite ministers.
20th October - Rides a horse again, although he felt confident, except at the canteen.
21st October - Attends inaugural Conservative meeting.
October 28th - Partakes in a game of hockey versus Trinity Hall, in which he wins 2-0.
3rd November - Hosts a coffee party that goes well but he overestimated the numbers.
11th November - Attends the Poppy Ball with Nurse White, who is from Evelyn.
15th November - Holds another coffee party/meeting.
20th November - Collects money from the freshers for the Conservatives Association.
28th November - Votes for MacRobert at the Union election.
3rd December - Hosts another party.
4th December - Gets elected to the CUCA committee.
The memoranda at the end of this item has some interesting notes. They include stressing the need for art to be political, a woman's place and the refusal to accept a Socialist Government.