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! 

Europe 1968

January 1965 we went by steam train to East London and the car went on the train as well. We stayed at Palm Springs Kidds Beach Ann and I sharing a room. I mention trips to the cathedral and Rhodes university at Grahamstown. I derived much pleasure from reading the BBC Listener magazine and was most upset when it was discontinued. I had grown up with "The Eagle" and general knowledge comics. Our next door neighbours at Palm Springs were the Brookes a Pentecostal minister and they had 5 daughters whose names spelt Hope and Joy. Hazel, Olwyn, Pauline, Elwin and Joy.
On 7 June 65 I record hearing the Voice of America broadcast of the landing of James McDivitt and Edward White the second man to walk in space. In July I took part in a church census of Mayfair.  I seem to have had lunch with Felicity quite often - she was on the History of Art course with me. We went to the art gallery to see St Thomas by El Greco and the attendant told me people stuck chewing gum on the pictures! I did a talk on ecumensim for the youth fellowship.
1965 ended with me working at Orange Grove CNA and a good carol service at St Mark's.
1966 was memorable for the visit of Robert Kennedy. He said

Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant Reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and 32 year old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal. "Give me a place to stand," said Archimedes, "and I will move the world." These men moved the world, and so can we all.

”

The notable phrase "ripple of hope" came shortly thereafter:

“

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice. He sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance." This was at the University of Cape Town and I was astonished to find these words near his grave in Washington D.C. I appear not to have my diaries for 1966 and 1967. I think that about this time I first encounterd Maurice Sherman, His brother was a music critic and Maurice had a large collection of records, I would go to his flat in Yeoville and we would listen to music with the scores from the excellent music library in the City. He introduced me to Bruckner, Mahler and Wagner. Mum and I would go to SABC orchestral concerts. On one occasion Anton Hartman attempted to conduct a Bruckner symphony. It was so slow that it beat all recordings we knew for length and a lady dropped a box of mint imperials in the slow movement. Maurice and I got the giggles and had to leave - a merciful release! On one occasion he put his arms round me. I did not lke this at all as I had been obsessed by T.E.Lawrence who refused all bodily contact. The Shermans were Jewish but I do not recall much discussion about religion.

On page 79 Dad introduces Dean ffrench-Beytagh. I have his book and I met him later on Westminster bridge in the 70s. He was then at St Vedast Foster Lane - something of a failed character I think. He goes on to talk about the 7 week 1968 trip to Europe. I have my little book with notes from this trip plus Mum's diary. We visited 15 countries Angola, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland and France. page 80 mentions the Salzburg concert with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Karl Bohm with Daniel Barenboim playing the Brahms piano concerto no.1 This was the moment I knew I had to be in Europe. The SABC orchestra was very poor and the conducting by Anton Hartman truly awful. Edgar Cree did his best and the audiences were willing to accept anything. I had a great time in Paris. My day in London 18th August   featured the National gallery, Tate gallery, meeting Alan and Rosemary Hall, Proms queue too long so went to Swan lake at Royal Festival Hall.
In 1967 I read 75 books mostly English literature for the degree but a smattering of books about nature, royalty and history. In 1966 it was 64. In 1968 I read 62 including 9 set books.
The trip to Europe seems to have been unsettling but also galvanised me to save up. By staying at home I was able to save. Having completed my degree I began an honours degree in English with the University of South Africa by correspondence. I did not find this easy despite Michael Leighton Fr John's son who was a university lecturer in English. I did eventually complete the degree. I only read 38 books in 1969. This was the time that I worked as a student at Johannesburg public library. I had done an aptitude test which came out with librarian or university lecturer as top careers for me. I loved working in the library meeting the public and helping people find books and information. This experience stood me in good stead when I went to work there full-time. In the meantime I returned to Wits to do a postgraduate diploma in librarianship. This was solidly based on the British system. Ranganathan bored us but we learnt a lot. This was when I met Lynn Stagg again - I first met her in 1965.

My graduation on 1st April 1967 B.A. and Lynette Stagg graduated with me. 

In 1967 I wrote to "The Star" newspaper about the SABC's ridiculous habit of translating the titles of musical works into Afrikaans. It was published but there was no change of policy.