Thursday 20 March 1975
Maths III paper, managed, only got 47. History went over exams. Lunch. Do some art painting noses for daisies in play. Play house Seven a side rugby. Did very well 4-0 against Collingwood, the favourites. Grey win, very pleased. Watched a cricket film, it was rubbish. Welsh Eisteddfod very good. Supper. Watch Tomorrow’s World and Top of the Pops. Mucked about.
Kai: Your diary entry from 20 March 1975 combines school, sport, entertainment, and creative work. Let’s try to unpack it further with some prompts:
Exam Reflections
You mention managing the Maths III paper but scoring 47.
JV: I’d done well at Maths I & II, so there was something about advanced Maths I wasn’t understanding. We were very well taught. Maybe I needed to sit down with the teacher to find a different way to understand it.
KAI: History lessons reviewing exams—did you find it helpful, or was it just a chore?
JV: Despite a lifelong love of history, I can’t recall what it was worth considering for my life. I’m sure it was the Kings & Queens of England, and the stories drifted between the Norman Conquest and Elizabeth I.
Art & The Play
Were you painting noses for daisies in a play?
JV: My spelling suggested ‘noises’; maybe it was meant to be posies?
Art was part of me, but the school considered it a hobby. If, at age 13, I was painting the sets, then I was considered an adult.
Rugby & Competition
It was an inter-house Rugby Sevens tournament, with the Bewick, Collingwood, Stephenson, and Grey houses competing against each other.
Entertainment & Social Life
I was useless in all aspects of Cricket. I blame my father. I never recall him throwing or kicking a ball with us as children.
The Welsh Eisteddfod was on TV. It felt like a large version of the Tynedale Festival, with music competitions, players, singers and poets.
Tomorrow’s World
Raymond Baxter and Michael Rodd. ‘Video records.’ First video disc.
Top of the Pops
Tony Blackburn presented
There were performances from Kenny ‘Fancy Pants’ (Status Quo meets Sweet via Shawaddywaddy), Guys & Dolls, ‘There’s a Whole Lot of Loving’; (Smiley holiday camp schmaltz); ‘The Goodies,’ Funky Gibbon’; The Tymes, ‘Someway Somehow I’m Keeping You’; Barry White ‘What Am I Gonna Do With You’ – danced to by Pan’s People, Average White Band ‘Pick up The Pieces,’ Cliff Richard, ‘It’s Only Me You Left Behind’ Wigan’s Ovation, ‘Skiing in the snow’ Lulu,’ Take Your Mama for A Ride’ The Moments & The Whatnauts,’ Girls’; Mike Reid,’ The Ugly Duckling’ Bay City Rollers ‘Bye Bye Baby’ and The Osmonds ‘Having A Party’.
You end with “mucked about”—was this just lighthearted messing around with friends, or did it involve any particular mischief?
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