Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1 January 1939 - 31 December 1941 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
There are a number of loose pieces of paper with notes on throughout the diary. These appear to be marking pages used by Muriel Brittain in Fifty Years at Jesus.
10 February 1939 - Took Trevor Jones to lunch. Went to Chapel with F. J. E. Raby [this is the first mention in the diaries of these two men. After they were elected Fellows they became FB's closest friends].
11 March 1939 - Went to the BBC in London. Interviewed for a voice test.
8 May 1939 - Went to the BBC and broadcast a talk on Latin hymns.
15 May 1939 - Went to the BBC and broadcast a talk on the Sequence.
3 September 1939 - "At 11.15am we sat in the saloon and heard the Prime Minister say that we had been at war since 11am".
7 September 1939 - RAF cadets arrived and were quartered in college.
20 October 1939 - Lectured at the Pitt Club as all our usual rooms have been taken by the RAF.
30 October 1939 - Lunched at the Pitt Club instead of in Hall as the College had temporarily taken it over.
7 December 1939 - Pantomime performed at the Guildhall to a huge audience of evacuee children.
24 December 1939 - No midnight mass as the church [in South Mymms] is not blacked out.
13 April 1940 - Received a telegram from Duckworth to say the Master had died last night.
16 April 1940 - Master's funeral. Acted as an usher. The coffin was wheeled on a bier afterwards into every court with family and Fellows following.
28 May 1940 - Elected W.L.H. Duckworth as the next Master and he was duly installed.
2 June 1940 - Was elected Lord Protector of the Roost [for the duration of the war].
8 September 1940 - The great bombing raids on London are taking place every night this week.
6 November 1940 - No 5 The Avenue [the family home] was damaged today [by enemy action].
18 November 1940 - A Short History of Jesus College was published.
29 May 1941 - Had tea with Judo Club and was elected Treasurer.
7 August 1941 - Went to Ely for the enthronement of Edward Wynn as Bishop.
8 December 1941 - Bernard Manning died.
11 December 1941 - Bernard Manning's funeral.
[FB's memoir of this friend Bernard Manning which he wrote later was considered by many to be one of his best books].