Week 32: 7th August 1960 – 13th August 1960

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

• The Bluebell Railway, in Sussex, England, began regular operation as the first standard gauge steam-operated passenger preserved railway in the world. It’s still going.
• Côte d’Ivoire (also referred to as the Ivory Coast), formerly part of French West Africa, became independent of France, with Félix Houphouët-Boigny as its first President. Similaraly, the Republic of Chad, formerly part of French Equatorial Africa as French Chad, became independent, with François Tombalbaye as its first President. And there’s more: the Central African Republic, formerly Ubangi-Shari in the colony of French Equatorial Africa, became independent, with David Dacko as its President.
• Echo 1, the first communications satellite, was successfully launched by NASA. Weighing 137 pounds, Echo was a 100-foot-diameter (30 m) Mylar balloon, inflated after it reached orbit when the Sun’s heat converted powders inside the balloon into gas. A pre-recorded message from U.S. President Eisenhower was transmitted from Goldstone, California, bounced off of Echo, and received at a station in Holmdel, New Jersey. The largest satellite launched up to that time, Echo was big enough that it could be seen from the Earth as it orbited at an average altitude of 1,000 miles.
• USAF Major Robert M. White set a record by flying an X-15 rocket plane to an altitude of 136,500 feet (26.85 miles or 41.6 kilometers), besting the mark of 126,200 feet set by Iven C. Kincheloe in an X-2 in 1956.

And here’s what was keeping Peggy busy:

Sunday 7th August 1960
Welling pm.
We went over to see Mum this afternoon. Found her sitting up & quite cheerful. Had some fun coming home. We ran into floods!! – terrific lot of water in the Kingston-Surbiton area. Had to wait awhile before we could get through. Home 8.20.

Monday 8th August 1960
Surprise letter from Rob today saying they may be paying us a visit tomorrow. I’ve sent a telegram suggesting they stay overnight. Warm day – & no more rain – yet! We’ve been for a walk to the village. Letter from Father too.

Tuesday 9th August 1960
3.30. Rob & May haven’t arrived yet – I’m feeling disappointed I shouldn’t be at all surprised to hear they haven’t been able to find us. A warm day, but showery. We’ve been to the village & back without getting wet.

Wednesday 10th August
Rob & May arrived about 3.30 yesterday afternoon & went back – in wet weather at 3pm today. Nice seeing them – & RJ. Gillian had a bad night  – over excitement & consequently is very touchy this afternoon.

Thursday 11th August 1960
It has rained now – without ceasing for two days & I’m  heartily sick of it – it’s difficult keeping the children happy indoors all the time. We’ve been upstairs for a couple of hours this afternoon. Philip is niggly – teething. Cyril has fibrositis in his back.

Friday 12th August 1960
Thank goodness its stopped raining & we’ve been able to get away from the four walls for a spell! Have dried the washing & been out for a short walk. Philip not quite so troublesome today.

Saturday 13th August 1960
Cyril & Gillian went into L’head this morning – Cyril had to buy a pair of flannels. We set off for Welling at quarter to one & made pretty good time. Found Mum quite cheerful although Doris says she has a thrombosis on her knee. We left Fairwater at 6.15 – home at 7.3 – no floods or wrong turnings! Children have been very good. We did a bit of shopping in Welling.

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!!