Library

My South African driving licence. The council paid for my lessons as they wanted me to work in Soweto. 

My 1969 diary reveals that we holidayed in Ramsgate swimming at Uvongo beach. I worked on completing my bibliography for my librarianship diploma an index of obituaries in "The Star" 1900-2. It was only in 1970 that I read Trevor Huddleston's "Naught for your comfort" and the poor response "You are wrong Father Huddleston" by Alexander Steward.  I began work at branch headquarters of Johannesburg public library. The council paid for driving lessons much of it on a simulator. I had already driven round Hyde Park corner when I passed first time! I had listened to Dad at dinner each evening talking about the office and I never wanted to work in an office and there I was in an office. Jennifer started by saying the desk was hers.I said No it is mine. I won in the end as she resigned! James Winter was in charge and I was his No. 2 and Essie Aremband was the advisor on book choices. We used to read the new novels as we knew many would be banned. Mostly they were pretty tame! Famously the Government censors had banned Black beauty at one stage! Anything where the colour bar was crossed was suspect. I also used to go on relief to branches especially in the Northern part of the city. Here my student days paid off. In overall charge was Miss Smith an expert on Africana ably assisted by Miss Kennedy whose father had been City librarian. It was an excellent service and great training ground. Lynette and Miss Meg Laver were also working there. I have some amusing letters from her. In June 1969 I played for Mayoral Sunday in Dad's absence.(page 67). I record listening to the BBC proms including the last night and noting that Parry had been reinstated. I only read 38 books in 1969 due to reading magazines and reviews. Theatre good and 6 As at the cinema. BBC plays much better than SABC's efforts. We had a neighbour who played Ravel's Bolero incessantly when I was studying in my bedroom so I used to listen to the radio and records a lot to try and blot out the sound!