Week 31: 31st July 1960 – 6th August 1960

Here’s what was going on in the world this week in 1960

• Lieutenant Columbo, the fictional TV detective who would be famously portrayed by actor Peter Falk, was introduced in a 90-minute episode titled, ‘Enough Rope’. Bert Freed was the first to portray Lieutenant Columbo, though actor Richard Carlson (who portrayed a psychiatrist who murdered his wife), received top billing in the episode.
• The Republic of Dahomey, formerly part of French West Africa as French Dahomey, became independent, with Hubert Maga as its first President. In 1975, it would change its name to the Republic of Benin. Similarly, the  Republic of Niger, also formerly part of French West Africa, became independent, with Hamani Diori as its first President. And again, the Republic of Upper Volta, formerly part of French West Africa as French Upper Volta, became independent, with Maurice Yaméogo as its first President. In 1984, the nation changed its name to the Burkina Faso.
• NASA test pilot Joseph A. Walker became the fastest man in history as he flew an X-15 at a speed of 2,196 miles per hour, breaking a record set in 1956 by Milburn Apt, who had been killed while flying an X-2.
• At a dinner at the Swiss Embassy in Beijing, Communist Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai proposed negotiating a peace treaty with the United States, to create “a non-nuclear zone in Asia and the Western Pacific” region. A press officer for the U.S. State Department rejected the idea as “another meaningless propaganda gesture”.
• In response to a United States embargo against Cuba, Fidel Castro nationalized American and foreign-owned property in the nation.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 31st July 1960
A very nice warm day. This afternoon we’ve spent a couple of hours in Bushey Park – Gillian enjoyed the childrens playground! Lots of traffic around the Hampton Court area.

Monday 1st August 1960
Ring Doc. Glover this week re Polio shots. Philip.
Showery day – I’ve done a big pile of washing but haven’t dried any of it. We haven’t been far today – just to take Ted & Jackie for the 2.45 train. Cyril not feeling so good.

Tuesday 2nd August 1960
Quite summery this morning – so much so that Gillian wanted her pool out. However it has been trying to rain since lunch & there have been some rumbles of thunder. Have had a walk to the village. Letter from Joan.

Wednesday 3rd August
I’ve been to the doctor this morning with my aching shoulders! He says its a slight slipped disc of the neck & I’ve lots of tablets to take. Also have some hydrocortisone for Philips eczema. Didn’t feel like work when I got back. Haven’t been out this afternoon.

Thursday 4th August 1960
A hot day – almost like summer. Philip surprised – & worried me a little by bringing back all his dinner. We’ve been up to the village – it was a weary walk. My aches & pains are still with me!

Friday 5th August 1960
A very hot morning. Gillian was able to have her pool out much to her delight. We’ve been up to the village – very hot walk. Wonder if the Taylors & Smiths are ready for their northern trek. Letter from Ted.

Saturday 6th August 1960
Dr Glover. Philips 1st Polio 2.10pm
We’ve had a pleasant Saturday – all except poor Philip who cried a great deal when he had his jab! We went on into L’head and I’ve bought wool to start knitting! Waistcoat for Cyril in bottle green & blue & white for a cardigan for Philip. Wonder when I’ll finish them!!

Week 29 and 30: 17th July 1960 – 30th July 1960

Another bonus two week instalment!

Here’s what was going on in the world this fortnight in 1960

• Congolese leaders Joseph Kasavubu and Patrice Lumumba, unhappy with the United Nations’ progress in pressuring Belgium to withdraw its troops from the former Belgian Congo, added a new dimension to the crisis with an ultimatum: if Belgian troops did not withdraw within 48 hours, they would invite the Soviet Union to send troops to the African nation.
• Thirty-nine of the 43 Belgian Air Force servicemen, on board a Fairchild C-119G “Flying Boxcar” were killed, when their plane struck a mountain near Goma during the Congo Crisis.
• Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first elected female head of government, after her Sri Lanka Freedom Party won a majority in elections in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Mrs. Bandaranaike, whose husband S.W.D. Bandaranaike had been Prime Minister until his assassination in 1959, took office as Prime Minister of Ceylon the next day, and also assumed the jobs of Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister.
• Francis Chichester, English navigator and yachtsman, arrived in New York aboard Gypsy Moth II, forty days after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, setting a new record.
• The first television station in Egypt began broadcasting. After a verse from the Koran was read, United Arab Republic President Gamal Abdel Nasser was shown live, making a speech during celebrations of the eighth anniversary of the 1952 revolution.
• The lunch counter at the Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina, where the “Greensboro Four” had started the first sit-in in January, began service to African-American customers (actually, three store employees) at 2:30 p.m.. Integration of Greensboro’s other restaurants did not happen until 1963.
• Fifteen months after U.S. President Eisenhower had proposed that the Soviet Union and the United States be allowed to inspect their opponents’ missile sites, the Soviets made a counteroffer “to allow international inspection teams to carry out three on-site inspections annually on its territory.” The U.S. and its allies considered the number to be inadequate, but saw it as the basis for negotiations. Actual inspections would not take place until more than 25 years later.
• The Republic of Ireland ended its policy of neutrality with the dispatch of soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Battalion to Africa to join United Nations peacekeeping forces during the Congo Crisis.
• Number 10 Downing Street, the official London residence of the British Prime Minister was closed for renovations expected to last at least two years. Harold Macmillan’s home was transferred for the interim to Admiralty House.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 17th July 1960
We were up with the lark – & Gillian!! – had an early lunch & I went over to see Mum! Left here at 1pm & got back 5.40pm. I didn’t think Mum looked very well – but she seemed fairly cheerful. All well here in my absence.

Monday 18th July 1960
Cyril Foster (birthday).
Cyril has been having a look at a car in his lunchtime – so he told me on the phone. 57/58 Anglia £425 – green. He is going to see it again on Weds. Stormy & windy again today – but the washing has dried. Shall iron tonight as Cyril will be late – going to see his Mum.

Tuesday 19th July 1960
Very heavy thundery showers today – am expecting Valerie tonight just for the evening – she is coming with Cyril – a bit earlier than his usual time I think. Heard from Ted today – he & his girlfriend are coming next Tuesday.

Wednesday 20th July 1960
Stormy again – Cyril is having a half day to go & look at a car – & then he’s going on to see his Mum – so I shall be in suspense until nearly ten o’ clock tonight! Showery again. Mum very bright and looking very much better.

Peggy & Cyril’s Anglia (UXB 765) was, even down to the AA badge on the grille, exactly the same as this one. The £425 it cost them is equivalent to about £9800 today. No wonder they needed a bank loan.

Thursday 21st July 1960
Joan (birthday).
Tonight is the night! Cyril parted with just over £450 yesterday & tax, insurance etc etc & tonight he brings home the car. I don’t expect he will be here much before seven. Windy & showery. Letter from Mur. Very nice car & in good condition.

Friday 22nd July 1960
Another very wet day. Gillian was so excited when she saw the car – she’s been asking all day ‘when is Daddy coming home”. I’ve ironed this afternoon as the thunderstorm kept us in.

Saturday 23rd July 1960
It was nice having the car for a trip into Esher – we were away at 9.10 & back 10.15. Philip went to sleep on the way home so I was able to pop him into the pram straight away & Cyril has gone into the garden for a couple of hours. We left here at quarter past two for Frimley – had a very nice afternoon out at Olive & Franks – called in on Greenies for a few minutes only as the nippers were very tired. Home at ten to eight & children both asleep by 8.15.

Sunday 24th July 1960
Have had another good day out (73 miles) – to Welling – left here at 9.45 – at Eileens 11am! Car runs beautifully. Saw Mum & thought she looks well enough – better than last week. Children have behaved well.

Monday 25th July 1960
Miserable Monday morning with no letters! My fibrositis is still very painful. A better day today – its been warm & windy. Washed, ironed & mowed the lawn this afternoon.

Tuesday 26th July 1960
Ted & Jackie coming.
Ted & Jackie arrived about quarter to four – its very nice having them here – & Gillian has been quite friendly. We have been up to the village & back before they got here. Quite warm today – a bit like summer. Cyril took Paul Mott to Surbiton eye hospital tonight – a boy hit him in the eye with an arrow.

Wednesday 27th July 1960
We slept all right last night – Gillian with Cyril – me with Jackie! Gillian slept for a couple of hours this morning! We’ve all been for a walk in the woods this afternoon. Ted & Jackie have gone out tonight. Gillian had a billious attack tonight.

Thursday 28th July 1960
I was up until the early hours with Philip – and am feeling very tired today. T.G. it didn’t disturb Jackie. Gillian is fit & well after her attack of vomit!! Ted & Jackie have had a day in town. They both looked weary when they came in. We may pop over & see Dick & Phyllis later this evening.

Friday 29th July 1960
Cyril had a day off today & has been to Esher this morning. This afternoon we’ve been to Bushey Park & seen the deer & then on to Richmond Park – it was a nice afternoon out. Seems like Saturday today.

Saturday 30th July 1960
Had an early lunch. We set off for Welling – took the children in to see Mum & we found her looking much better. Had tea with Doris left at 6pm – home at 7.20 Ted & Jackie have been to Kingston.

Week 27 and 28: 3rd July 1960 – 16th July 1960

Another bonus two week instalment!

Here’s what was going on in the world this fortnight in 1960

• The French Grand Prix was held at Reims-Gueux and won by Jack Brabham.
• A bolt of lightning struck a group of religious pilgrims as they carried a statue of the Virgin Mary to the summit of Mount Bisalta, near Cuneo in Italy. Four were killed and 30 injured.
• Aneurin Bevan, Welsh politician, British Minister of Health (1945–51), and chief architect of the UK’s National Health Service died, aged 62.
• Rodger Woodward, a seven-year-old boy, became the first person known to survive an accidental plunge over Niagara Falls. Roger had been a passenger in a boat on the Niagara River, when the outboard motor failed. He fell 165 feet over the Falls but sustained only minor injuries and was released from a hospital two days later.
• The “Congo Crisis” began as the army in the newly independent Republic of Congo mutinied and attacked European civilians after the Belgian commander, Lt. Gen. Émile Janssens, tried to enforce discipline. Europeans fled from Léopoldville where the mutiny started. The Belgian national airline Sabena began airlifting Belgian citizens out of the Congo. Over the next three weeks, 25,711 flew home.
• Police fired on a crowd of Italian demonstrators in Reggio Emilia, killing five people and injuring 30.
• The first UEFA European Football Championship was won in Paris by the the Soviet Union who beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in extra time.
• Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published.
• The Etch A Sketch was first manufactured. Licensed to the Ohio Art Company by French inventor André Cassagnes, it quickly became one of the most popular toys of all time.
• The Pilkington Committee on Broadcasting was set up in the UK to review the state of broadcasting. After two years, the Pilkington Committee concluded that the British public did not want commercial broadcasting.
• British journalist and broadcaster Ian Hislop was born in Mumbles, Swansea.
• Khieu Samphan, editor of the Phnom Penh newspaper L’Observatueur, was arrested and beaten by ten members of Cambodia’s security police. As one author would note later, “There is no telling how many people later paid with their lives for this insult.” Samphan would later help found the Communist Khmer Rouge and, 15 years later as the leader of the revolutionary government, would oversee a program of genocide in Cambodia.
• Jimmy Jones’ ‘Good Timin’ began its three weeks as UK No.1 single. Click here to listen – if you dare.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 3rd July 1960
Our tenth wedding anniversary – & we’ve had five cards!! Warm day – we were up quite early – Philip had a sleep after lunch & then we all went for a walk through the woods to the station for Cyril’s season ticket.

Monday 4th July 1960
Carolyn’s T & A op. (Tonsils and Adenoids)
Disappointed tonight – I thought Cyril would bring home the holiday photos – but they weren’t ready. Mr Mott gave us a lovely trout last night so Cyril had a very tasty dinner tonight. Had the children in bed before Cyril got home.

Tuesday 5th July 1960
Thought we might have heard from Mur today about Carolyn’s Op – but no letter so maybe tomorrow. Its been a showery day – & quite windy this afternoon. We’ve been to the village – the first time since we came home. Its still a dickens of a pill up that hill. Card from Joan.

Wednesday 6th July 1960
Very blustery day – & is to be hoped its better in Dorset for Joan & Fred. Cyril brought home the photos last night – very good. Also the news that he is promoted w.e.f. Monday in his present establishment. Good – no move.

Thursday 7th July 1960
A very rough & showery day, but it warmed up this afternoon. Gillian has been very good all day – we went to the village this afternoon. Have just written to Muriel. Philip didn’t settle very well this evening.

Friday 8th July 1960
Very wet day – haven’t been able to put my washing out – except for a short spell this afternoon. Did some baking after lunch – with Gillian’s help? – Philip has been irritable this afternoon & hasn’t slept at all.

Saturday 9th July 1960
2.5pm Philip’s 3rd Dip etc
Very showery again – hope the Motts have it better than this as they have gone to Bournemouth for a fortnight. Took Philip for his final Dip shot. I left the two with Cyril for an hour & half this afternoon while I went to the jumble sale – Had an enjoyable mooch & bought one or two ‘articles’! Philip very niggly – but he’s gone off to sleep without any fuss. Philip very feverish & fretful during the evening.

Sunday 10th July 1960
Cyril has had a tummy upset this weekend – its a good thing its been wet this afternoon – & most of the morning – so that made him stay in! Philip seems better today – we only went for a short walk this afternoon.

Monday 11th July 1960
A filthy day – very heavy showers. Its been a day of in & out with the washing! We went out to Browns but got caught in the heaviest one of the day! Valerie rang Cyril today – Olive & Frank are on holiday – Letter from Mur – Carolyn went home last Thursday.

Tuesday 12th July 1960
Bad news from Welling today – Cyril’s Mother had a fall on Sunday night – Doris found her at 4.30pm Monday after the neighbours phoned her. Now Mum is in hospital with a broken femur. She has had an operation today & is satisfactory. Cyril is going to see her tonight. Letter from Joan. Olive & Frank came for an hour.

Wednesday 13th July 1960
Very wet again – rained all day. Mum’s condition is satisfactory and she has a reasonable chance. Cyril won’t be going tonight. I haven’t been able to put the washing out at all – had a flood in the kitchen this morning – left the tap running while I was upstairs!

Thursday 14th July 1960
More like a summer’s day today. It hasn’t rained at all (yet – 4pm now) & the sun has been shining, Better news of Cyril’s mother. she is taking a little nourishment & is bright and cheerful. I shall probably get to see her on Sunday (Wrote to Beryl).

Friday 15th July 1960
Will (birthday)
Another warm day – but its clouding over a little now (4pm). Philip has had very little sleep today so I’m hoping he will go off early tonight. No letters & nothing of any import has happened. Cyril’s mother’s condition is entirely satisfactory.

Saturday 16th July 1960
Nice morning – Cyril has gone to Esher to see the bank manager about a loan. The rest of us have been round to Browns. Have written to ask Ted if he would like a holiday here. I wonder if he will reply!! I’ve been doing a bit of baking in the afternoon while Cyril laid the tiles in the bathroom – they look very nice. We’re OK for the bank loan so we can now go ahead & buy a car – Yipee!! 

Week 26 : 26th June 1960 – 2nd July 1960

Here’s what was going on in the world this week in 1960

• The State of Somaliland, led by Prime Minister Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, attained independence from the United Kingdom. The former British Somaliland protectorate united with the UN Trust Territory in the former Italian Somalia, to create the Somali Republic.
• The island of Madagascar, attained full independence from France, with Philibert Tsiranana as President.
• Forty-five miners were killed in an explosion at Six Bells Colliery, Monmouthshire, Wales.
• The Belgian Congo was proclaimed independent by Belgium’s King Baudouin. The new Congolese Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, then delivered an angry speech about colonial rule. Two days later, rioting began, followed by an army mutiny and civil war.
• Lionel Bart’s musical, Oliver!, based on the 1838 Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, opened on London’s West End. It was joined by a Broadway production in January 1963.
• Ghana became a republic, with Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah as its first President. The Earl of Listowel had served on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II as Governor-General of Ghana.
• A Soviet MiG fighter north of Murmansk in the Barents Sea shot down a 6-man US Air force RB-47. Two Air Force officers, First Lts. John R. McKone and Freeman B. Olmstead, survived and were imprisoned in Moscow’s Lubyanka prison. The Soviets announced the capture of the men ten days later. The men were released in January 1961.
• A riot broke out during the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, after a crowd of about 3,000 people, mostly white, were angry about a lack of seating for the concerts. Order was not restored until three companies of the state National Guard were sent in.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 26th June 1960
Had a good nights sleep – and a lazy morning – Joan gave me a shampoo & set – & Cyril gave the car a shampoo! Left at 2.15pm – had a very good trip – arriving here at 5.20pm – its nice being home – we’ve done some of the wash & iron!

Monday 27th June 1960
Ring Dr L this week re Philips vac.
I seem to have been washing and ironing all day long! – but T.G. its all done. The infants have both been very tearful today – must be after holiday reaction!  They’ve gone to bed quite peaceably tho’ – let’s hope they sleep it off. Cyril has been busy re-claiming the lawn!!

Tuesday 28th June 1960
I’m feeling better today now all that washing & ironing is out of the way! Cyril has more or less reclaimed the garden! Gillian & Philip have been better behaved today – & have gone to bed early again.

Wednesday 29th June 1960
Another busy washing day. Fortunately I didn’t have to go to the village – Cyril went & took Gillian. I’ve been to the clinic – Philip has put on a colossal weight again – I’m cutting out his cereals!
Anne came during the evening Brought nice presents for us all from Majorca.

Thursday 30th June 1960
Jacques (birthday)
Philip doesn’t sleep so well in the mornings now – but he’s been quite good & so has Gillian. We went for a walk in the woods – met Mrs. Roberts with her three so we walked together. Cyril’s first day back – but no news of his posting.

Friday 1st July 1960
A damp day – I mean afternoon it was quite hot in the morning but started trying to rain while we were out this afternoon. Gillian went to sleep on the sofa for an hour after lunch so she probably won’t want to go to bed tonight.

Saturday 2nd July 1960
We were up quite early this morning – I put nipper out to sleep then Gillian & I went to Esher. She was very good – left the pushchair at the station. We had a pretty hectic hours shopping as it was very crowded! I made cakes this afternoon – half expected Anne But she didn’t come. I went to bed in the middle of the film as I had a bad headache.

(Looks from this link as if the film might have been, ‘Bronco: Death of an Outlaw’ staring Ty Hardin’. Not surprised Peggy had a headache.)

Week 24 & 25 : 12th June 1960 – 25th June 1960

We missed last week so here’s two weeks together.

Here’s what was going on in the world this fortnight in 1960

• Elections began in Lebanon and for the first time a secret ballot was made available to voters, a reform implemented after the 1957 elections were tainted with fraud. Voting for the 99 member parliament, which reserved 55 seats for Christians and 44 for Moslems, was conducted over four Sundays. Saeb Salam, leader of the Phalangists (Kataeb Party), became Prime Minister in August.
• The eight-month-long strike by the Writers Guild of America ended with a settlement that the writers would later regret, with the right to residuals on old films being given up in return for health and pension benefits.
• Portuguese troops killed more than 600 people in Mozambique as they fired into a crowd who were protesting for the independence of Portuguese East Africa.
• Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins as the killer at the Bates Motel, had its premiere, at two cinemas in New York City, the DeMille and the Baronet.
• In Moscow, KGB Chairman Aleksandr Shelepin secretly delivered a report to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, warning that, according to KGB sources in the U.S., “the chiefs at the Pentagon are hoping to launch a pre-emptive war against the Soviet Union”. Relying on the misinformed report, Khrushchev publicly stated ten days later that the Soviets would use their own missiles if the U.S. attempted to invade Cuba.
• Armin Hary of West Germany became the first man to run 100 meters in 10.0 seconds. He was competing in an event in Zurich, Switzerland.
• Enovid, the first FDA approved contraceptive drug, became available in pill form at pharmacies throughout the United States.
• A fire in Henderson’s department store in Liverpool killed eleven people.
• British racing driver Chris Bristow, aged 22, was killed on the 20th lap of the Belgian Grand Prix when he crashed and was thrown from his car. Four laps later, another British driver, Alan Stacey, aged 26, was killed when he was struck in the face by a bird, causing him to lose control and crash.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 12th June 1960
I’m beginning to think that caravanning is better for older children than two of our age! – we can’t get the nippers off at night. Gillian is still up 9.15!! We’ve had a nice day out – weather only fair we had our tea on Spitchwick Common after a ride round Dartmoor.

Monday 13th June 1960
We’ve had a good day today. An easy morning. Gillian paddled down at the bottom of the lane – in the Avon as the tide was in. She loved it. This pm we have enjoyed the beach at Bigbury – I’ve caught the sun – too windy to bathe. Children gone to sleep all right tonight. Dad & Cyril out for a drink. Bad night with Philip.

Tuesday 14th June 1960
A good day today – quite warm this afternoon we’ve been to Torcross & had a pleasant couple of hours on the beach – then a ride round Dartmouth & home. Gillian loves the beach. They were both asleep by 8pm tonight.

Wednesday 15th June 1960
Very warm today – we’ve been to Kingsbridge – bought fish & chips for an early lunch then went to Bigbury. Lovely on the sands & I’ve had a swim. Gillian loved it – even went into the sea! They were both very tired tonight & went to sleep without a murmur.

Thursday 16th June 1960
A nasty, wet, misty morning. We’ve been out to Kingsbridge & back for an early lunch. We were up & about much earlier today. Been to Brixham this afternoon – brilliant sunshine & very hot.

Friday 17th June 1960
Nice day again today & we’ve been bathing at Bigbury. I’m very pleased that Gillian likes the water – she seems to have no fear of it. I’m burning tonight with the sunburn!

Saturday 18th June 1960
Cyril went off early to do the shopping while Dad fetched the milk & I washed – did a bit of ironing. It looks like being another hot one today – we’ve been on the beach at Bigbury this afternoon & if it hadn’t been for a sea mist it would have been too hot for me. Gillian was in & out of the water like a sea-nymph. Both she and Philip have been very good today & they went to sleep without a murmur

A page from the 1960 family photo album.

Sunday 19th June 1960
Another hottie! – we’ve been out on the moors – gave the beach a miss today as we thought it would be too crowded – and I’m  very burnt. Children very trying this evening. Dad & Cyril gone for a drink.

Monday 20th June 1960
Very hot again – Dad & I walked to the village then afterwards we all went to Kingsbridge. Gillian has been very miserable today – even on the beach at Bigbury. Had another swim – came home earlier than usual to give the nippers an early (reasonably) night. Out for a drink with Dad.

Tuesday 21st June 1960
Have has a very nice day out today – we left at 9.30 & went to Looe via Torpoint ferry – had to wait an hour for the ferry – but it as a pleasant experience – had our lunch en route – then an hour & half on beach – home via Tavistock – Ivybridge (92 miles in all) & a picnic tea on moors.

Wednesday 22nd June 1960
Not so good today – looked promising but we had to leave the beach at Bigbury as it got quite cold – had a cup of tea out & came home earlier than usual.

Thursday 23rd June 1960
Its nearly all over now! We’ve had another lovely day & smashing bathing at Bantham. Even Philip had a little pool to play in. We’ve been very lucky with weatheras there have been heavy storms all over the S.E.

Friday 24th June 1960
Philip woke up early crying bitterly with tummy ache – however he went back to sleep until nearly 8am. Our last shopping trip to Kingsbridge this morning – a fine day – warm enough for a final bathe at Bantham this afternoon. This evening we’ve been busy at it packing!! Hope to leave about 9 tomorrow.

Saturday 25th June 1960
Left A.G. at 8.45am – & had a crawl from Newton Abbot to Bath! However we made up time – children very good & we had a picnic lunch after Hourton. Arrived at Joans at 4pm. Jim & Gail came over – also saw Mick. Joan put my sheets & towels in the washing machine! It was nice seeing them all – we travelled 178 miles. What a blessing that Gillian has travelled without sickness.

Week 23 : 5th June 1960 – 11th June 1960

Here’s what was going on in the world this week in 1960

• An 18-year-old Brooklyn resident called Barbra Streisand began her professional singing career by winning $50 in a talent contest at a Greenwich Village nightclub.
• The first fixed-rate heart pacemaker, designed by a team headed by William Chardack, was implanted in a patient.
• The American Heart Association announced a, “statistical association” between heavy cigarette smoking and coronary heart disease, with heavy smokers having 50 to 150 per cent greater death rate from heart disease than non-smokers.
• Simply Red singer and front-man Mick Hucknall was born in Denton, Manchester.
• The Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was won by Jack Brabham. During the race, Dan Gurney’s car left the track, fatally injuring 18-year old Piet Aalders.
• A BOMARC missile, and its nuclear warhead, caught fire at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Although a liquid helium tank in the missile exploded, and the warhead was melted by the fire, there was said to be no risk of a nuclear blast. The accident did cause a spillage of plutonium, and the contaminated areas were subsequently encased under asphalt and concrete.
• Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538 crashed into the ocean off of Mackay, Queensland, while making its approach from Brisbane, killing all 29 people. Earlier the same day, all 31 persons aboard Aeroflot Flight 207 were killed in the Soviet Union on an Ilyushin 14P. After takeoff from Sochi on a short flight to Kutaisi the plane impacted at Mount Rech in the Caucasus Mountains.
• In Tokyo, President Eisenhower’s Press Secretary, James C. Hagerty, appointments secretary Thomas E. Stephens, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur II, had their car surrounded by an angry mob. They were trapped inside for an hour and a half before a U.S. Marine helicopter rescued them. Eisenhower set off on a tour of the Far East the next day, refusing to postpone his trip to Japan.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 5th June 1960
A very hot Whit Sunday its made us all irritable. Philip couldn’t settle outside. Gillian seems to have a cold, so all in all we haven’t had much of a Sunday!

Monday 6th June 1960
Not such a hot day – thank goodness. Mum & Eileen arrived about 11am – I’d done my washing by then. We haven’t been out – about 6pm Dick & Phyllis arrived & stayed about a couple of hours. Nice seeing them all again.

Tuesday 7th June 1960
Mrs Mott came round this morning & asked me to have Gillian for the day – so company – we all went to the village this afternoon – it hasn’t been quite so hot. I’ve been over to see Mrs Robert’s new baby. She’s lovely.

Wednesday 8th June 1960
It rained all day today – lets hope its getting it over with before Saturday. Gillian surprised me by going to sleep on the sofa for an hour this morning. Philip is being troubled with a cold in his nose.

Thursday 9th June 1960
Hairdressers 2.15.
Cyril collects car 1pm
Its getting very near now!! Cyril collected the beautiful car A55 Cambridge at 2- with Gillian. They shopped while I was done. It poured with rain. Mrs M. had Philip. Been washing tonight.

Friday 10th June 1960
Cyril to Malvern for Dad.
Cyril was away at 8am – Joans 11.45 – Dads 1.30 – left Malvern 2.10 Oxshott 6.10. I’ve had a very busy day & have been taking aspirins & gargling for my sore throat – hope it clears up overnight Cyril has one too. Philip playing up tonight – didn’t go down until 9pm!!!

Saturday 11th June 1960
Holiday begins
Philip was awake from 2am onwards – so we got up & we were on the road at 4.30am! Cooked our breakfast in the New Forest – Gillians pill did the trick – no vomit & she slept on & off most of the way. We brewed up elevenses too & had lunch at S. Brent – not a very nice day. We found the ‘van all right – arrived here at 2pm. Very nice secluded spot. Taking a bit of getting used to – sleeping is a problem – couldn’t get the nippers to settle.

Week 22 : 29th May 1960 – 3rd June 1960

Here’s what was going on in the world this fortnight in 1960

• The Monaco Grand Prix was won by Stirling Moss, driving a Lotus 18 entered by Rob Walker Racing.
• Jane Goodall began her study of chimpanzees in the wild, arriving at Lolui Island in Kenya after her original plans, to go to the Gombe Reserve, were thwarted by a political dispute.
• Television was introduced to New Zealand, as broadcasts started in Auckland on AKTV, Channel 2, at 7:30 pm and continued until 10:00 pm. The first program was an episode of The Adventures of Robin Hood.
• At a concert at the civic hall in Neston, Cheshire, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe and Tommy Moore performed for the first time under the name The Beatles.
• Argentina demanded that Israel return Adolf Eichmann, and asked for reparations for Eichmann’s seizure by Mossad agents in Buenos Aires. The dispute was later resolved by Israel keeping Eichmann, but acknowledging that Argentina’s fundamental rights had been infringed.
• Spandau Ballet founding member Tony Hadley was born in Islington, London.
• Cathy’s Clown by the Everly Brothers was the UK No. 1 single.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 29th May 1960
A very warm day – Cyril has been hard at it in the garden  – I’ve done a bit this afternoon. Gillian is very spotty again from the sun.

Monday 30th May 1960
Had a busy morning – as well as the normal wash I took down the curtains from the front window & washed them – a heavy long job as I ironed them & hung again before we went out. Lovely day.

Tuesday 31st May 1960
Hospital 11am. Philip’s Blood Test.
Welling for the day.
We’ve had a very nice day out – Philip’s blood count has remained at 78% – we had hoped it would have reached 80. The children have been very good – Philip slept all afternoon & Gillian all the way home – in at 8.20.

Wednesday 1st June 1960
Margaret (birthday).
We’ve had a good mornings spend up! Mrs Mott had Philip and at 9.45 Cyril Gillian & I set off for Kingston. We bought lots of holiday essentials – number one being a bathing suit for me. Very nice too. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself. Gillian & Cyril had had enough though. Going over to see Kath Page this afternoon.

Thursday 2nd June 1960
A very hot day – and I couldn’t get the message this morning. I had such a lot of washing etc. After our two days off. Gillian has had her pool out on the lawn. We’ve had a hot walk to the village.

Friday 3rd June 1960
Cyril was off today today – Queens B’day – I went to Leatherhead on the 1.30 bus – it was a bit of a rush. Had a good spend up – bought myself a cheap dress & a couple of buster suits for Philip. Cyril had had enough of the children when I got in at 4.30.

Saturday 4th June 1960
Its bearing down a bit today I’ve been out on the lawn with Gillian but I find it a bit too hot. It was nice not having to go shopping in L’head. – I took the children up to the village early – we were at Cullens for 9am!
Cyril is digging out the front & Gillian has her pool on the back lawn. Philip is asleep. I hope.
Bad night with Gillian

Week 20 & 21 : 15th May 1960 – 27th May 1960

We missed last week so here’s two weeks together.

Here’s what was going on in the world this fortnight in 1960

• While in Paris with President Eisenhower on the first day of a summit with Soviet Premier Khrushchev, U.S. Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates, Jr. ordered a test of the American military alert system. Declassified documents would later show that Gates’s order was misunderstood, and that within half an hour, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff placed troops worldwide on high alert. The American public learned of the alert when Lowry Air Force Base asked police to locate key personnel, and the police asked a Denver radio station to assist.
• Shortly after the Four Power Summit in Paris was opened by France’s President DeGaulle, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev demanded the right to speak, and then delivered an angry tirade, which ended with a cancellation of the invitation for President Eisenhower to visit the U.S.S.R. beginning June 10. The summit ended and Khrushchev did not show up for further meetings.
• The Soviet Union launched Sputnik IV, a five-ton mockup of a manned spaceship, as a prelude to putting human beings into outer space. During the flight the Sputnik retro-rockets fired in the wrong direction, sending the ship into a higher orbit rather than returning it to Earth. It finally re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on September 5, 1962, with a 20-pound fragment landing at the intersection of North 8th Street and Park Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
• At Hughes Research Laboratory in Malibu, California, physicist Theodore Maiman focused a high-powered flash lamp on a silver-coated ruby rod, and created the first working laser.
• Private Buzo Minagawa of Japan, was captured in a jungle on the island of Guam, where he had been sent in 1944 as part of the Japanese artillery during World War II. Through interpreters, Minagawa said that he still could not believe that Japan had lost the war. His companion, Masashi Ito, was found two days later on and both men were welcomed home later that week.
• Nearly 5,000 people were killed by a 9.5 magnitude earthquake in Chile near Valdivia. Based on seismographic data, the tremor was measured as the largest earthquake of the 20th century, being almost three times as strong as the quake that would strike Alaska in 1964. The initial tremor killed 1,655 people, and the aftershocks killed another 4,000. Two million were left homeless, and the shock triggered tsunamis that killed people as far away as Japan.
• Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion of Israel surprised the Knesset with the announcement that, “Israeli Security Services captured one of the greatest Nazi criminals, Adolf Eichmann… Eichmann is already in detention in Israel, and will soon be put on trial here.”
• At the United Nations in New York, U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. displayed a hand-carved replica of the Great Seal of the United States that had been presented by the Soviets as a gift to the American ambassador in Moscow, and the listening device that had he said been discovered inside.
• Ireland’s Grand Canal, connecting Dublin to Limerick, was closed to commercial traffic after 156 years operation.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 15th May 1960
Dull & wet this morning & only a brief period of sunshine so far this afternoon. Philip hasn’t been as happy as he usually is – teeth I expect – again!!

Monday 16th May 1960
Cyril Dental
Ring Dr. Lyttle re Philips 2nd injection.
Doris & Sophia today.
Doris & Sophia arrived at 11.45 – its a lovely day & I’ve enjoyed their visit. We had an early lunch & went into the woods – Doris was thrilled – she saw five squirrels! They left at 7pm.

Tuesday 17th May 1960
Cyril Dental
A duller day today – the sun hasn’t come out very much at all. We’ve walked up to the village. I must get down to some letter writing tonight as I owe Dad Joan & Mur – lets hope the nippers settle! Cyril should be home early from the dentist.

Wednesday 18th May 1960
A dull cold day – I’ve had to put woollies back on the children & I’ve lit the fire – went out to Browns & the phone this morning & again to phone this pm. That’s the extent of our going out today.

Thursday 19th May 1960
Another horrible wet day – v cold – I’ve had to light the fire again – and we haven’t been out at all. I’ve written to Dad this pm. Hoped to write to Mur too but I think I’ve had it as Philip is grizzling. Letter from Remy C.

Friday 20th May 1960
Another dirty day – Gillian is so browned off not being able to go out at all – it hasn’t stopped raining all day. This afternoon “we” made a sponge & some pastry & I was able to do a bit of ironing. Busy letting down another dress tonight!

Saturday 21st May 1960
Philip Dip/Whoop/Tet innoc.
Another dull day but at least its not raining! We’ve taken Philip for his innoculation – he cried this time & from there we went up to the school summer fair which wasn’t terribly exciting – they were certainly on the make as far as money is concerned! Gillian enjoyed a pony ride (1/-!) Phil slept through it all.
We had a bad night with Philip – he was feverish & not at all well.

Sunday 22nd May 1960
A better day today – Cyril has mowed the back lawn and its looking very nice. Philip has slept well this morning after a few his bad night. Cyril & Gillian have been on the bed for a couple of hours this pm.

Monday 23rd May 1960
A fine day – quite warm this morning but a strong breeze this afternoon. I’ve washed two bedspreads! This afternoon we’ve been up to the village. Gillian & Philip have behaved very well today.

Tuesday 24th May 1960
Poor Gillian had a nasty fall this afternoon – flat on her face on the concrete path. She was smothered in blood when I got to her – split lips. I did feel sorry for her. It’s been a hot day – I’ve washed another blanket & defrosted the fridge.

Wednesday 25th May 1960
Another hot day and two more blankets washed. Gillian has been very miserable – crying on & off most of the afternoon. Have taken the radio for repair – been to the clinic.

Thursday 26th May 1960
The hottest day I think. Philip has been very miserable this morning. Thank goodness Gillian has behaved herself. We’ve been for a slow hot walk to the village. Heard Muriel moves to Ripon on Monday

Friday 27th May 1960
Gillian had a very bad temper session this afternoon – because she couldn’t have a second ice cream!! – she threw a packet of marg right across the kitchen! Anyway she calmed down & went to bed early & to sleep. Washed the last two blankets today. Baked a cake for Monday.

Saturday 28th May 1960
Another disturbed night with the infants – makes us feel so tired in the morning. I was up at 6.30 & had my cakes in the oven for 10am Then we went up to the village to meet Cyril  off the Esher bus.
Have made some ice cream – its another warm day. Cyril bought hose & sprinkler for the garden.

Week 19 : 8th May 1960 – 14th May 1960

Publication of this post happens to fall on the first anniversary of the passing of Peggy’s daughter Gill (or Jill, as Peggy shortened Gillian in 1960). Rest In Peace Gill. We miss you xx

Here’s what was going on in the world this week in 1960

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a birth control pill for the first time, as it cleared the prescription of Enovid, manufactured by G. D. Searle & Company, for use as an oral contraceptive.
• U.S. Attorney General William P. Rogers invoked the new Civil Rights Act of 1960 to force the turnover of voters’ registration records in four Southern “cipher counties”, so called because there were no African-American registered voters, despite their large population. The counties affected were Wilcox County, Alabama, Webster County, Georgia, McCormick County, South Carolina and East Carroll Parish, Louisiana.
• The submarine USS Triton completed its submerged circumnavigation of the globe, after an 84-day journey that followed the route of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition of 1519–1522.
• U2 frontman Bono, otherwise known as Paul Hewson, was born in Dublin.
• Four Israeli agents abducted Nazi fugitive Adolf Eichmann aka “Ricardo Klement” shortly after he got off of a bus near his home in Buenos Aires. Eichmann, mastermind of the Jewish Holocaust in Germany, was held captive in Argentina for ten days until he could be flown to Israel.
• President Eisenhower of the United States accepted full responsibility for the U-2 incident, but said that spying on the Soviet Union was justified. “No one wants another Pearl Harbour”, he said, adding that “In most of the world, no large-scale attack could be prepared in secret, but in the Soviet Union there is a fetish of secrecy, and concealment”. Soviet Premier Khrushchev said in a statement that if the United States made further overflights of the U.S.S.R., “this might lead to war” and then added that further aggression would be met “with atom bombs in the first few minutes”.
• A group of 200 students, mostly white, staged a sit-in inside the San Francisco City Hall to protest against the House Un-American Activities Committee, following the example of passive resistance used by African-American protesters to fight segregation. The city police dispersed the crowd with fire hoses and clubs, but the students’ defiance was dramatic. Between 1,500 and 2,000 persons picketed the last session of the Committee’s hearings, and another 3,500 predominantly anti-Committee spectators massed outside the building. As one author notes, “No one had previously dared confront HUAC so brazenly; most Americans were terrified of even coming into contact with the committee.”

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 8th May 1960
Another scorcher – hope its like this for our holiday. Poor Gillian’s face is very spotty from the sun. We had a lie in this morning until quarter to eight – after a disturbed night with the two.

Monday 9th May 1960
Not quite so hot – but hot enough to bring a rash on Gillian’s face – she looked as though she’d got measles. Perhaps she has!!!! Had a parcel of cast offs from Mur today. Very nice too – also letter from Joan.

Tuesday 10th May 1960
Gillian to Neils party
I’ve missed Gillian on the walk today – I wonder if she’s enjoying herself at the party its quite an occasion for her! I’ve washed two blankets today – the spinner is marvellous for them!

Wednesday 11th May 1960
Thunderstorm this morning – but it cleared up enough for us to go a short walk this afternoon.
Letter from Dad- approving the new holiday plan.

Thursday 12th May 1960
I’ve got the days mixed up & written Thursdays entry under Weds!! Weds was a dull depressing sort of day so we didn’t do anything special or go anywhere.

Friday 13th May 1960
Poured in the night & most of the morning. Good for the land! Quite warm this afternoon – we’ve been to the village & I’ve bought Philip a nice Buster suit for the holiday.

Saturday 14th May 1960
Another scorcher. Letters today from Greenie, Phyllis & Mur. Quite a bumper do! Cyril has had a busy day in the garden – he’s cleared a patch & planted some dwarf beans & runners.
This afternoon Gillian & I went to L’head – it was a very hot rushed trip though – I bought Jill & I a pair of beach shoes in Woolworths!! Philip was niggley while we were out.

Week 18 : 1st May 1960 – 7th May 1960

Here’s what was going on in the world this week in 1960

• The ‘U-2 Incident’ began when an American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, entered Soviet airspace ten minutes after takeoff from a U.S. base in Pakistan, at Peshawar. At 9:53 am (0653 GMT), his plane was struck by shrapnel from an exploding Soviet SA-2 missile while he was at 70,500 feet (21,488 m). Powers parachuted and choosing not to commit suicide, landed near Sverdlovsk, where he was captured.
• Dr. Robert H. Goetz, a German-born surgeon, led a team at the Van Etten Hospital in the New York (now the Jacobi Medical Center) in performing the first coronary artery bypass surgery on a human patient
• The European Free Trade Association, founded by Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal, came into being, five months after the Stockholm treaty signed on January 4.
• Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, married Antony Armstrong-Jones (Lord Snowdon) in a royal wedding at Westminster Abbey.
• Leonid Brezhnev took on the ceremonial job of President of the Presidium of the Soviet Union, as Kliment Voroshilov’s request for retirement was granted. Nikita Khrushchev continued as General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and as Prime Minister, positions that would be taken by Brezhnev in 1964.
• Khrushchev surprised the world by announcing that U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, of Pound, Virginia, had been captured “alive and well” near Sverdlovsk, along with film taken of military bases, and Soviet currency. U.S. officials expressed “amazement” at charges that Powers had been on a spy mission.
• In the 1960 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Blackburn Rovers 3–0

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 1st May 1960
I’m glad the visitors came yesterday as it is cold & damp today, Gillian is still tired & has gone to sleep on the bed – I had 1/2 hour too. We had a bad night – teeth I suppose.

Monday 2nd May 1960
Rained all morning – but it cleared up enough to enable us to go round to Browns – now at 6pm the sun is shining so I’ve put the nappies out. I think Philip is having tooth trouble again. Heard from Joan. They got home 11.05pm.

Tuesday 3rd May 1960
Lie (birthday)
We had a very bad night with Philip last night – he was awake from 10pm – 2am! Are we tired today! I could kick myself – Cyril offered to do my shopping but I declined as it was a nice morning I thought we’d go out the pm – but it poured from 2.30 onwards

Wednesday 4th May 1960
Better day today – but inclined to be chilly this pm. We’ve been to the clinic. Philip has put on too much weight – Dr Glover was there today & he has prescribed some ointment for Philip’s sore patches. We walked up to the village afterwards & I feel worn out. Letter from Dad.

Thursday 5th May 1960
A really hot summery day – Gillian & Philip have had to shed their woollies – its been a long hot walk to the village & I’ve had to put the canopy back on the pram! No letters.

Friday 6th May 1960
A Glorious day for Princess Margarets wedding to Anthony Armstrong – Jones. We watched the ceremony on T.V. & the bride was radiant.
We haven’t strayed far this afternoon – only in Weedon. I’ve left all the ironing to do this evening

Saturday 7th May 1960
It made a nice change Cyril not going off shopping this morning – he brought most of the “stuff” home from town yesterday & so he was out gardening soon after 8.30 this am. This afternoon Gillian & I went to Surbiton bought sandals for both of us. Everyone else had the same idea! It was very hot but she was a good girl. Philip behaved well in our absence.