Week of 19 August 1946

Monday, 19 August

47 Hamilton Terrace - Little Gillions

I got my hair waved whilst Lil did a repack. We lunched at Abbey Rd. Mabel came out to tea but returned at 6 o'clock and GH arrived about half an hour later, and after a drink took us off in his car, dropping us at about 7.30 at Little Gillions where Mr and Mrs John Parsons are putting us up for the night. We are in the lap of luxury, sherry, a very nice dinner and sumptuous bedrooms. Mrs Parsons turns out to be a daughter of the late Lord O'Neill of Shane's Castle.

Tuesday, 20 August

Little Gillions - Imperial Hotel, Exeter

GH called for us at 8.15 and by 8.30 we were all ensconced in his very comfortable 14 HP Vauxhall. Arrived at Exeter at 3 o'clock having had our elevenses by the roadside and lunch at the Dolphin, Honiton. A lovely drive by way of Marlow, Reading, Kingsclerc, Amesbury, Wincanton and Honiton. Very pleased with our hotel. Comfortable rooms. Good dinner. Rang up May Henderson afterwards [?] and then walked up to the Washington Singer Hall for the opening reception.

Wednesday, 21 August

Imperial Hotel, Exeter

A wet morning but the rain stopped before we walked up to the Singer Hall, after a good cooked breakfast. I had a bad night and Lil has started a Boil!! Conference opened with a silent fifteen minutes conducted by Rab [?] Coulson of Under River Sevenoaks, after which we moved to the big hall for the lecture by Dean Matthews and Prof. Ritchie - very interesting.

Back for lunch. Lay down afterwards and slept till teatime!

Very interesting evening session.

Thursday, 22 August

A fine day and interesting morning lectures from Dr Westmann and Brigadier Tovil [?]. May Henderson came to lunch - very ill and sad. She drove Lil and me to the cathedral afterwards and we bussed back here for tea.

The evening discussion again was delightful.

Friday, 23 August

Delightful lecture from L.A.G. Strong and an interesting one from Professor Denis Saurat.

I felt very tired and slept most of the afternoon. It turned into a lovely evening - the best yet. Eric Howe and Mrs Thompson came to dine with us, and afterwards he drove us up to Read Hall where he is staying, and we walked down to the Conference via the gardens. A very interesting evening discussion.

Saturday, 24 August

Two very interesting lectures from Olaf Stapleton and Bishop Neill on The Religious View Point.

Went down to the Cathedral in the afternoon and tried for a room for May Henderson at the Clarence Hotel but nothing doing.

A disappointing discussion at the Conference but redeemed by a very lovely end by GH.

Lil's boil not too good.

Sunday, 25 August

Spent a restful morning in the hotel. In the afternoon GH drove Lil and me to the Conference Garden Party given by Dr Joyce Partridge at Lympstone Grange near Exmouth. A lovely place and a quite super tea out on the terrace. GH also drove down Mr Lawrence Hyde, a member of the Conference whom we had not met before and whom we all liked. A restful evening and early to bed.