(Fifty years ago: Thursday, 29th April 1976, Sedbergh, Winder House, age 14)
Five-Year Diary: I wanted to wake up early to read about the Tolpuddle Martyrs for a test, but sleep overwhelmed me. Had we been left to chat late into the night? Probably. This is despite the natural light that is eager to wake us. The dormitory has high, ward-like windows running the full length of two walls, and as the mornings get lighter, we have to jam towels into the lower panes to block the light.
English: the test used a multiple-choice or Q&A sheet. I did well, scoriI’m15/18.there’s
French: I’m told there’s no redo for tomorrow, and we do Mécanismes for an essay.
Maths: I got 32/35 in the test.
At break, I have two cheese sandwiches.
There is no German test, luckily, though there is German overwork.
Latin: I do sentences and work back, scoring 14/20, which is good for me. I usually get single figures in Latin.
Everything is about rote learning. I haven’t yet worked out a strategy for it—whether to write things out repeatedly or simply start on the page. I don’t recall testing myself; perhaps that felt tthat ‘sorious, but that’s the way to do it cleanly. Loke learning lines for a play.
Games: I have played cricket. Batting is useless, but I bowl two overs, take one catch, and get one wicket. I swim afterwards—a reminder that sport can be pleasurable. I had expected to be swimming, not playing cricket. My training has gone to pot—there is none.
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