MARY'S DIARY
A year in the life of a Buckden school girl in 1937
​Mary Cawcutt lived at 19 Vine Cottages (opposite Copes Close) with her mother Annie and father John (usually called Jack). Jack was a carpenter working locally with Buckden based Geo Page Builders (later Smiths). Annie came to Buckden from Steeple Bumstead in Suffolk to become housekeeper for Bowtells living in Perry Road, prior to marrying Jack in 1918. Mary was born June 16th 1924. In 1937 she was 12, becoming 13 in June. She had an older sister Lottie (born March 28 1922) who started in service following leaving school at 14, in 1936, as a housemaid at Diddington Hall, the home of Noel Thornhill.
​
Mary and Annie in 1936
Transcribed by Angie Bruce
JANUARY
1 – Fri : In the morning I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out. In the afternoon I went to Mrs Hensons.  Â
2 – Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the morning, also in the afternoon for a ride in the pram.
3 – Sun : In the morning I went to Sunday School and Chapel. Lottie’s long Sunday.
4 – Mon : We started school after a fortnight’s holiday. Lottie came home for one hour after tea.
5 – Tue : I went to school all day. Lottie came home in the afternoon. A sunny and windy day.
6 – Wed : I went down Miss K Cowlings to see the Primary’s presents for the school treat.
7 – Thur: I went to the Primary’s Sunday School treat and had tea and played games with them.
8 – Fri : Lottie came home in the afternoon. Mrs A North came in the evening and had a game of cards.
9. – Sat : I went out in the evening to Mrs A Copes and stopped for a good while and played with Verna Parren.
10 – Sun : Rene Briggs a great friend of ours came to tea. Mum and Dad walked back with her.
11 – Mon : I went to school all day. Dad busy working making two coffins.
12 – Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon and brought Lily Pett, her friend, with her.
13 – Wed : I went to the Sunday School treat and had a good time. I won a bar of chocolate.
14 – Thu : Mum and I walked back to Diddington with Lottie in the evening. It was nice in the moonlight.
15 – Fri : I went up The Phoenix with Mum and watched men casting lead to recover St Mary’s church roof.
16 – Sat : Mum and I went up the street in the afternoon. We went to Bowtell’s shop.
17 – Sun : Mrs A Harding and her 2 sons Dennis and Ted, came over about four and went back about 10pm.
18 – Mon : Mum was queer all day so she stopped in bed. It was a very nasty day, raining practically all the time.
19 – Tue : Lottie and her friend Lily came over in the afternoon for a while.
20 – Wed : I went to school all day. Mum went to the Women’s Meeting in the afternoon.Â
21 – Thu : It was Lottie’s half day. We did a little bit of the scrapbook. She went home by herself as it was still light.
22 – Fri : Miss R Glidewell came to tea and stayed the evening. Auntie Lizzie came in after tea and played cards.
23 – Sat I went up to Mrs J Henson’s, Stirtloe in the afternoon. It was nasty and wet in the morning.
24 – Sun : I went to Sunday School and Chapel. Lottie came home for a little while in the afternoon.
25 – Mon : The floods are out at Offord. They are fairly deep. Lottie came home in the afternoon.Â
26 – Tue :I went to school all day. Mum and Auntie Lizzie went for a walk in the afternoon.Â
27 – Wed : I did a little sewing in the evening and then we all had a game of cards together.
28 – Thu : Lottie’s half day. Grandad and I walked back with her in the evening.Â
29 – Fri : It was a nasty day and the roads were slippery. In the evening it snowed.
30 – Sat : There was a good deal of snow about but in the evening it rained and washed all the snow away.
31 - Sun : Lottie’s long Sunday. It rained in the evening so Dad went on his bicycle back with her.
FEBRUARY
1  – Mon : I went to school all day. Lottie came home for a little while in the afternoon.
2 -Â Tue : I went to school all day. Mum and Auntie Lizzie went for a walk in the afternoon.
3 -Â Wed : I had my photo taken at school. Dad went to Offord to do some work.
4 – Thu : Lottie’s half day. Mum and I walked back to Diddington with her in the evening.
5 – Fri : Mum and Auntie Lizzie went to a concert at The Rifle Range for the Church Roof Fund.
6 – Sat : I went round the village collecting for The National Children’s Home. Mrs Bowtell responsible.
7 – Sun : I went to Sunday School and Chapel. Lottie came home in the afternoon for about 1½ hours
8 – Mon : I went to school. It was raining nearly all day. Dad doing repairs at The George Hotel and the Vicarage.
9 – Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon. Miss Payne came in the evening and had a game of cards.
10 – Wed : Lottie went to a Ball in Cambridge at The Dorothy Cafe hotel. She went with a party from Diddington Hall where she is a housemaid.
11 – Thu : Lottie’s half day. Auntie Ada Cook and Uncle Frank came in the evening. Mum and I walked back with Lottie.
12 – Fri : A nice and sunny day. Lottie came home in the afternoon and went to a concert at night.
13 – Sat : I took The National Children’s Home envelopes to the head one – Mrs Bowtell. The total amount was £2 5s 0d
14 – Sun : Lotties half day. She came home in the afternoon and Mum and I walked back to Diddington with her.
15 – Mon :I went to school all day. Mum busy washing. At dinner time I rinsed some of the clothes.
16 – Tue :Mrs Morris the housekeeper at Diddington Hall wrote to say Lottie could not come home for a week because the butler had Scarlet Fever.
17 – Wed :I went to school. It was Games afternoon. Mum went to a Women’s Meeting.
18 – Thu : I went to school to fetch a library book and stopped and helped Miss Payne clear up.
19 – Fri :I went to school all day. Mum went to Auntie Flo Cooks in the afternoon and I went when I came out of school.
20 – Sat : I went into Mrs Parren’s at 6pm to listen to Gracie Fields singing on the wireless.
21 – Sun : Irene Briggs a friend of ours came to tea. Mum and Dad walked to Stirtloe with her in the evening.
22 – Mon : I went to school all day. Mum did her washing and got some of the clothes dry.
23 – Tue : Mum and Auntie Lizzie went for a walk in the afternoon. After tea Mum and I went and fetched some moles.
24 – Wed :Mum, Dad and Grandad went to Cambridge as Dad went to see a skin specialist. He went last year.
25 – Thu : I went down to the school at 6.30pm and helped Miss Payne with the library books.
26 – Fri :I went to school all day. It has been raining most of the week.
27 – Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the morning. In the afternoon Mum and I went to a jumble sale at the Baptist Chapel.
28 – Sun : When I awoke I found the ground and trees all covered with snow.
MARCH
1 – Mon : Lottie came home in the afternoon after a fortnight away. In the evening we had a game.
2 - Tues : There was an election so we had a holiday from school. Mr Bell and Mr Mann put up and Mr Mann got in.
3 - Wed : I went to school. We had games in the afternoon. Mum went to a concert at the Baptist Chapel in the evening.
4 - Thu : Lottie had her half-day. I went to school and helped Miss Payne with the library books. Then Mum and I went back with Lottie.
5 - Fri : A cold day. Miss R Glidewell came to tea. Auntie Lizzie came in after tea for a game of cards.
6 - Sat : I did not take the baby out as it was rather cold. I helped Mum with her errands.
7 - Sun : A lot of snow fell in the night. Grandad and I went to Chapel. Mum did not go as she had a bad headache and was sick.
8 - Mon : I went to school all day. Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while.
9 - Tue : I went to school. Mum and Auntie Lizzie went for a walk in the afternoon.
10 – Wed : Mum went to the Chapel to cut up bread and butter for a local Preacher’s tea.
11 – Thu : I went to the school library. Lotties half day so Mum and I walked back to Diddington with her. It was rather wet.
12 – Fri :Mr H Cook lent us a dartboard. Dad, Grandad and I had a nice game of darts.
13 – Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out. Grandad went on the train back to Haverhill in the afternoon.
14 – Sun : It’s Lotties long Sunday. It rained most of the day. Mum and I walked back to Diddington withg Lottie.
15 – Mon : I went to school. Lottie came home in the afternoon. In the Fens the Gt Ouse is trying to burst its banks.
16 – Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon from 2.30 to 4.30.
17 – Wed : It was Mrs Williams Sale so Mum and Dad went up to have a look at the articles for sale.
18 – Thu : Lottie’s half day. I went along to the library to help Miss Payne. We did not go back with Lottie as it was moonlight.
19 – Fri :I went to school. Mum went on her bicycle down to Mrs Worley’s (Lone Oak) who lives near Buckden Station.
20 – Sat : Took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the morning. In the afternoon I went to Miss Glidewell’s to tea.
21 – Sun : Lottie came home in the morning as it was her short Sunday.
22 – Mon : Lottie came home in the afternoon. Uncle Will Stoneham was very ill. He has been in bed all week.
23 – Tue : Uncle Will passed away at 7.30pm at the age of 57. Dad and Auntie Lizzie were with him when he died.
24 – Wed : I went to school. Lottie came home in the afternoon. In the evening I went out to play.
25 – Thu : Lottie did not have her half day. We break up from school for a week as it is Easter.
26 – Good Friday : I saw Uncle Will in his coffin. In the afternoon I went to the funeral. There were a lovely lot of wreaths.
27 – Sat : Lottie and Mum went to Huntingdon as it’s Lottie’s half day. Mum bought her a watch for her birthday tomorrow.
28 – Easter Sun : Lottie’s long Sunday. She had her friend Joyce into tea as it was her birthday.
29 – Mon : Mum, Dad and I went into Auntie Lizzie’s for tea. In the afternoon I went to see two weddings.
30 – Tue : Auntie Lizzie and Auntie Dorrie came into tea with us but did not stop the evening.
31 – Wed : I went for a walk with Auntie Dorrie. In the evening I went to the cemetery with her.
APRIL
1 – Thu : It was Lotties half day so Lottie, Mum and I went to see Mrs Henson in the afternoon.
2 - Fri : I went to tea with Rita Bayley who lives at Mrs Lofts. I had a very nice time.
3 - Sat :Lottie came home in the morning for a little while. Auntie Lizzie and Auntie Dorrie came in to tea.
4 - Sun :Lottie came home in the morning. Auntie Lizzie and Auntie Dorrie came in to tea.
5 - Mon : We started school after a weeks holiday. Lottie came home in the afternoon.
6 – Tue : Irene Briggs, a friend of ours, came in the evening to see us. We walked back to Stirtloe with her.
7 - Wed : I went up to Mrs Hensons in the evening. Lottie came home from 6.45pm until 8.30pm.
8 - Thu : I went to tea with Miss Payne and I had a very nice time. I went to school with her after tea to help give out the library books.
9 - Fri : Rita Bayley and Doreen Chandler came to tea and they stayed until 7 o’clock.
10 – Sat : Lottie came home in the afternoon until Sunday night. We all went into Auntie Lizzie’s for tea.
11 – Sun : Lottie and Auntie Dorrie went to the Baptist Chapel. Lottie went back home by herself.
12 – Mon : I went for a walk with a school friend, Muriel Richardson, in the evening. Lottie came home for an hour.
13 – Tue : Rene Briggs came down in the evening for a little while. We all had a nice game of cards.
14 – Wed : I went out in the evening for a game with Muriel Richardson, with our balls.
15 – Thu : I went to the Rifle Range to see a play given by the Operatic Society called Yeoman of the Guard.
16 – Fri : Lottie came home for a little while in the afternoon. I went out with Muriel Richardson in the evening.
17 – Sat : It was Lottie’s half day. Her and Mum went to a play at The Rifle Range called Yeoman of the Guard.
18 – Sun : Lottie came home for a little while in the afternoon. Rene Briggs came to tea and stopped for the evening.
19 – Mon : I went out in the evening across the fields and I found a bunch of cowslips.
20 – Tue : It was a rainy day. Mum started to spring-clean the back bedroom. Dad helped her to scrape the walls.
21 – Wed : It was sports day at school and we had a nice game of ball in the playground.
22 – Thu : I went down to the school and I helped Miss Payne give out the library books.
23 – Fri : Lottie and her friend Lily Pett came home for a while in the afternoon.
24 – Sat : Lottie had her half day so Mum, her and I went out for a walk this afternoon. Dad went to Bedford on business.
25 – Sun : It was Lottie’s long Sunday also the Chapel Anniversary so I was out nearly all day.
26 – Mon : I went to the tea at the Chapel as it is the custom then after tea we go to the service in the Chapel.
27 – Tue : Dad and Mum busy spring-cleaning. Tishy the cat had 4 kittens but Dad drowned them.
28 – Wed : Mum colour-washed the middle kitchen and prepared the things ready to colour wash the back kitchen.
29 – Thu : I did not go to school in the afternoon as I did not feel well. In the evening I felt a lot better.
30 – Fri : Lottie and her friend Lily came over in the afternoon. I had my photo taken with the cats.
MAY
1 – Sat : It was Lottie’s half day. We went out for a walk across the fields in the evening.
2 - Sun : Lottie came home in the afternoon. Irene Briggs came to tea and we went out for a walk.
3 - Mon : I went down in a car to meet Auntie Lizzie which she hired to fetch her from the station.
4 - Tue : I went into Auntie Lizzie’s to sleep for company as she is now by herself.
5 - Wed : Mum and Auntie Lizzie went down to Mrs Worley’s near Buckden station.
6 - Thu : We had a holiday from school. Lottie had her half day. I went down to the library.
7 - Fri : I went out to play in the evening. Mum and Dad colour washed the bedroom.
8 - Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the afternoon and again in the evening.
9 - Sun : It was Lottie’s long Sunday. We could not go out as it rained all day.
10 - Mon : I went to school. It was a nice day. I went out for a walk to see the decorations round the village.
11 – Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon and she bought me a lovely big lead pencil.
12 – Wed : We celebrated the Coronations of their majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
13 – Thu : I went down to the library to help Miss Payne give out the library books.
14 – Fri : I won 6d at school for writing a composition. Miss Payne gave me a coronation model. We broke up from school for a week.
15 – Sat : Lottie had her half day so her, Mum and I went to Huntingdon. In the evening we went to Diddington to see fireworks.
16 – Sun : Lottie’s short Sunday. Miss R Glidewell came to tea. We went for a walk after tea.
17 – Mon :Dad took the partition down in Auntie Lizzies and I stayed to help him do it.
18 – Tue : Mum did her washing. Lottie came home in the afternoon from 2.45 until 4.30pm so I did notgo out far.
19 – Wed : Mr P King, a great friend of mine passed away. He was hurt in the war and had to lay on his back.
20 – Thu : Lottie had her half day. We went up the street and Mum bought me a new coat.
21 – Fri : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the morning. In the afternoon I went up Mrs Hensons.
22 – Sat : It was a wet day. Auntie Lizzie came home. Her sister Ada and Jimmy brought her back in their car.
23 – Sun : It was Lottie’s long Sunday. Her and I went to Diddington to see Mr King’s grave.
24 – Mon :I went to school. In the evening I went out with a school-friend.
25 – Tue :I went with Dad to Mrs Andrews to repair some windows. There was a very bad thunderstorm in the night.
26 – Wed : Mum was busy spring-cleaning the front room. It rained a lot in the afternoon and evening.
27 – Thu : Lottie had her half day. Iwent down to the Library in the evening.
28 – Fri : Mum and Auntie Lizzie went up the cemetery. I helped Dad do a few odd jobs.
29 – Sat : Mum, Dad and I went to Robinson’s to see about getting me a new bicycle.
30 – Sun : Mr J Cobbold came to dinner and tea. Jessie Haynes and Irene Briggs also came to tea.
31 – Mon : Mum and Dad bought me a Hercules Safety Model bicycle from Robinsons. It was £4 10s 0d.
JUNE
1 – Tue : I went out on my bicycle for a ride to try it for the second time.
2 - Wed : Mum and I went down to see Mrs Worley at Lone Oak on our bicycles.
3 - Thu :Lottie had her half day I went down to the Library in the evening.
4 - Fri : Mum and I went for a ride to Offord Darcy and we had a nice time.
5 - Sat :In the afternoon Mum and I went to Huntingdon. In the evening we went for a walk.
6 - Sun : Lottie’s long Sunday. Mum, Dad, Auntie Lizzie, Lottie and I went for a nice long walk.
7 - Mon : I went to Diddington on my bike. I called at The Hall and I went to see Mrs King.
8 - Tue : I went to school. In the evening I went out for a ride on my bicycle.
9 - Wed : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out from 6.30 – 8.30pm , in the pram.
10 – Thu : I went down to the Library and helped Miss Payne with the Library books.
11 – Fri : Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while. I went for a ride in the evening.
12 – Sat : Lottie had her half day. Charlie came from Haverhill on his bicycle.
13 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. Auntie Lizzie’s niece and nephew, Dorrie and Tom, came.
14 – Mon : I went to school. Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while.
15 – Tue : Mum went to Bedford with Dorrie and Tom in the car. She had a nice time.
16 – Wed : It was my birthday (13!). I had 9/6d in money and nice presents. Miss Payne came to tea.
17 – Thu : Lottie and Mum went with Dorrie and Tom to Wicksteed Park.
18 – Fri : Lottie came home in the afternoon. I went to school.
19 – Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the morning. In the evening I went to a fete at Stirtloe.
20 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. WE went for a walk in the evening.
21 – Mon :Lottie came home in the afternoon. I went out on my bicycle.
22 – Tue : I went to school. In the evening I went out.
23 – Wed : I played with the other school girls up the Vineyards, a nice game of cricket.
24 – Thu : Lottie had a half day. I went down to the library in the evening.
25 – Fri : I went to school. In the eveningI went out on my bicycle.
26 – Sat : Mum and I went to Huntingdon on our bicycles. Lottie came as far as Brampton with us.
27 – Sun : Irene Henson came to tea. In the evening we went for a walk round Diddington.
28 – Mon : I went out with my friend’s sister Ruby on our bicycles in the evening.
29 – Tue : I went over to Mrs Hensons with Joyce Richardson in the evening.
30 – Wed : I was not very well in the morning so I didn’t go to school. In the evening I went to Diddington on my bicycle.
JULY
1 – Thu : Lottie did not have her half day. I went to help Miss Payne with the books.
2 - Fri : It was a nice day. I went out in the evening for a ride on my bicycle.
3 - Sat : Lottie came home for a fortnight’s holiday. Her and Mum went to Huntingdon.
4 - Sun : Lottie, Mum and I went to Chapel in the morning. In the evening we went for a walk.
5 - Mon : Lottie went to Haverhill by the 3.10pm train in the afternoon for a holiday. Mum went to the station with her.
6 - Tue : It was a nice day in the morning. In the afternoon and evening it was raining.
7 - Wed : It was our Sports Day at school but the grass was wet so we had a game in the yard.
8 - Thu : It was a nice day. Mum and Auntie Lizzie went to the cemetery. I went to the library.
9 - Fri : I went to school. It was a wet day. Miss Glidewell came down in the evening.
10 – Sat : It was hot, a very nice day so I did not go out very far.
11 – Sun : I went with Auntie Lizzie to Grafham Rectory to Rose Glidewell who works there.
12 – Mon :In the afternoon I went to Stirtloe to see Mrs J Henson as we had a half-day from school.
13 – Tue : In the evening I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the pram. I also went to the Feast.
14 – Wed : Mum went with Auntie Lizzie to the Flower Shop. We had a new sofa from Elphicks.
15 – Thu : It was a hot day. In the evening it thundered and we had some rain.
16 – Fri : I did not go out very far. I had my bath in the evening and had my hair washed. (There was no bathroom at the cottage and the toilet was at the bottom of the garden without connection to mains drainage),
17 – Sat : Lottie came home after her holiday. Auntie Fanny Hocklife came with her. Lottie went back to work at night.
18 – Sun : I went to tea with Jessie Haynes and we went for a walk in the evening.
19 – Mon : Mum did her washing. I took Auntie Fanny for a little walk.
20 – Tue : In the evening Mum and I went on our bicycles to see Rose Glidewell at the Rectory.
21 – Wed : It rained in the afternoon. In the evening Mum and Auntie Lizzie went to the cemetery.
22 – Thu : Lottie had a half-day and she went out with her friend Madge Baxter.
23 – Fri : it was a nice day. I went to school. Mum went up to Mrs J Hensons.
24 – Sat : It rained in the afternoon. In the evening Mum and I went to Huntingdon.
25 – Sun : Rose Glidewell came to dinner. We went for a walk with Billie and Ruth, visitors staying with Aunt Lizzie.
26 – Mon : Mum did her washing. I went out for a ride on my bicycle in the evening.
27 – Tue : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out in the evening, then I went for a walk with J and L Haynes.
28 – Wed : I went to Brampton Feast in the evening with Billie and Ruth on bicycles.
29 – Thu : Lottie had a half day. She went out with Madge Baxter. Mum and Auntie Fanny went to Mrs Hensons.
30 – Fri : I went out in the evening with Billy and Ruth across the fields.
31 – Sat : Mum and I went to Huntingdon. Billie and Ruth went to stay at Sandy.
AUGUST
1 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. We went for a walk in the evening.
2 - Mon : Dad was working all day making a coffin for Mrs Gale and Mr T Haynes. I had a goldfish.
3 - Tue : Auntie Lil and Uncle Albert came on their bicycles from Haverhill. (A return trip of about.. 75 miles)
4 - Wed : Lottie had a half day so they went down the river for a picnic.
5 - Thu : Auntie Lil, Uncle Albert and Mum went to St Neots. Auntie and Uncle went to see the quads . (see Sep 2).
6 Fri : Broke up from school for 5 weeks. Uncle Albert, Auntie Lil and Mum went to Huntingdon.
7 - Sat : We all went to the fete at Diddington Hall, except Dad and Auntie Fanny.
8 - Sun : In the evening we all went for a walk round Diddington.
9 - Mon : Auntie Lil and Uncle Albert went home on their bicycles. Charlie went down the river.
10 – Tue : Mum did her washing so I helped her for a bit. Charlie went for a ride round St Neots.
11 – Wed : I took Floss Malletts baby Sylvia out in the morning for a ride in the pram.
12 – Thu : I did not go out very far. Lottie and Charlie went out for a walk in the evening.
13 – Fri :It rained nearly all day. I played with Marie Putman in the barn.
14 – Sat : Charlie went back home on his bicycle. I did Mum’s errands in the morning.
15 – Sun : We had the parson – John Cobbold to dinner and tea.
16 – Mon : I took Dad’s lunch up Perry Road where he is working finishing a house.
17 – Tue : I went up the cemetery with Mum and Auntie Lizzie to cut the graves.
18 – Wed : Lottie came in the afternoon. Mum and Auntie Lizzie went to Mrs H Worleys.
19 – Thu : I went to St Neots on the bus. I went in the church and the cemetery.
20 – Fri : Mum and I went to Mrs J Hensons, Stirtloe, in the afternoon.
21 – Sat : I did Mum’s errands then I went out for a ride on my bicycle.
22 – Sun : Rosa and Maud Landreth, Will Watts and Dorothy came to tea and stayed until 6pm.
23 – Mon : I went down the river walking with a girlfriend in the evening.
24 – Tue : Mum, Auntie Fanny and I went to Lone Oak to tea with Winnie Rees and the children.
25 – Wed : Mum and I went to Huntingdon in the morning on our bicycles.
26 – Thu : I went out with a girl named Kathleen Clark, who was staying at Mrs Oliver Baxters.
27 – Fri : I went out with Kathleen Clark in the afternoon and in the evening.
28 – Sat : I went with Mum, Dad and Auntie Fanny to the cemetery for a walk.
29 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. I stayed with Auntie Fanny while the others went for a walk.
30 – Mon : I did not go out very far, I took Dad’s lunch up Perry Road and did some weeding in the garden.
31 – Tue : In the evening I went over the fields with Muriel Richardson, blackberrying’.
SEPTEMBER
1 – Wed : In the morning I went blackberrying. In the evening I went to Mrs J Hensons.
2 - Thu : Mum, Lottie and I went to St Neots. Lottie and I went to see the Miles quads. They were lovely.
(Continued at back of diary – named Ann, Ernest, Michael and Paul). We paid a shilling each.
3 - Fri : I went blackberrying with Muriel Richardson in the afternoon. Mum and I went to the cemetery later on.
4 - Sat : Mum and I went to Haverhill by train. We left at 3 and arrived at 5.40pm.
5 - Sun : Auntie Lil, Mum and I went to (Steeple) Bumpstead. We went to Bower Hall. (Where Mary’s grandfather was still or had been, head gardener).
6 - Mon :We went down Aunt Carries. We saw some tanks go through.
7 - Tue : We went to Haverhill cemetery and then we went to see Uncle’s sister Gladys.
8 - Wed :Mum and I went to see Tom Rawlings, then we went to Bumpstead.
9 - Thu :We went for a walk down the town and round by the Recreation Ground.
10 – Fri : We went to Haverhill market and up to Aunt Carries.
11 – Sat : Mum and I came back after a good holiday. We stayed in Cambridge quite a while.
12 – Sun : Auntie Lizzie and her sister Mabel came in after Chapel for a while.
13 – Mon :Auntie Lizzie and Mabel went away in the afternoon on a coach to London.
14 – Tue :I went over to Diddington Hall to see Lottie. I went upstairs to her room.
15 – Wed : It was not a very nice day. Sis Richardson and Mary came in to see us in the afternoon.
16 – Thu : Lottie had a half-day. She went to see her firend in the evening – Madge Baxter.
17 - Fri :It was a wet day. It thundered in the afternoon. I did not go out far.
18 – Sat :Dad, Mum and I went to Huntingdon. Dad went to see the opticians.
19 – Sun : Lottie came out from 3 to 8.30. Mum and Dad went a little way home with Rose Glidewell.
20 – Mon : I started school after 6 weeks holiday. It was not a very nice day.
21 _ Tue : I went to school. Lottie came home in the afternoon for 2 hours.
22 – Wed : It was the wedding of Miss Gundry. Mum and Lottie went. It was a very pretty scene. (Now Mrs Moore)
23 – Thu : Lottie had her half day. I went down to school to help with the library books.
24 – Fri : I went to school. Mum and I went for a walk. The cat brought a moorhen home!
25 – Sat : I took Mrs Dudley’s baby out. Mum and Dad went to Huntingdon.
26 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. Mum, Dad and Lottie went for a walk.
27 – Mon : Mum and I went blackberrying. Willy (The cat) went out fighting and was hurt.
28 – Tue :Lottie came home. Mrs Henson and Irene came down. I went blackberrying.
29 – Wed : Mum, Lottie and I went to see Miss Gundry’s presents. We had a piece of wedding cake. ( I saw the bride’s wedding dress)
30 – Thu : Lottie had her half-day. I went to the Library in the evening.
OCTOBER
1 - Fri : I went to school. Mum and I went blackberrying down Van Dieman’s.
2 - Sat : We went to the cemetery in the evening. Mr Adlam came with Dad’s new glasses
3Â - Sun :I went to the Chapel in the morning and Sunday School.
4Â - Mon : The big rabbit died of old age so we have no rabbits now.
5 - Tue : Mum caught her first finger on her left hand in the mangle. She squashed it!
6 – Wed : It was Games day at school. We went up the playing fields and played rounders.
7Â - Thu : Lottie had a half-day. I went to the Library and helped Miss Payne.
8Â - Fri : I went to school. Miss Payne gave me an ink-pot. An old one.
9Â - Sat : I went blackberrying in the morning then I helped Mum by doing the scrubbing.
10 – Sun : I went to Sunday School and Chapel. Lottie had a long Sunday.
11 – Mon : Mum did not do any washing. I washed the stockings and rubbed the skin off my fingers!
12 – Tue : I went to school. Mum went up the cemetery to tidy graves.
13 – Wed : Miss Nell Strain, who is housekeeper to Mr Rogers of Little Staughton, came to dinner and tea.
14 – Thu : Lottie had a half-day. Mum and her went for a walk. I went to the library.
15 – Fri : Auntie Flo Cook came round in the afternoon to see how Mum’s finger was.
16 – Sat : Lottie came home from 3 – 9 o’clock. Her and Mum went to Huntingdon on bicycles.
17 – Sun : Lottie came home from 2 – 9.30pm. I went to Chapel. They went for a walk in the evening.
18 – Mon : I went to school. Dad went to Eaton to work. Mum did washing.
19 – Tue : Lottie came out in the afternoon. Dad went again to Eaton to work.
20 – Wed : We had games in the playground at school. Mum went to a Women’s meeting.
21 – Thu : Aunt Fanny went away after a nice long holiday. Mum and Lottie went with her in Robinson’s car.
22 – Fri : I went to school. Mum went for a walk with Rose Glidewell.
23 – Sat : Mum was not very well so I did the work and was rewarded with ½ lb of chocolate.
24 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday, I went to see Mrs A Cook.
25 – Mon : Lottie came home in the afternoon. I washed the stockings. Mum did the other washing.
26 – Tue : Mum went to Eynesbury to a Women’s Meeting. I went to school.
27 – Wed : Mum went to the Chapel Anniversary. It was a wet day so we had games in school.
28 – Thu : Lottie and Mum went to St Neots. I went to the Librbary to help Miss Payne.
29 – Fri : Lottie came home. Miss Glidewell came in the afternoon for a little while.
30 – Sat : I went to tea with Miss R Glidewell and stopped the evening.
31 – Sun : Irene Briggs came to tea. Miss Glidewell came in the evening.
NOVEMBER
1 – Mon : Doreen Chandler came to tea. Maurice Milner sent me 4 new threepenny pieces. (Maurice later became Mary's brother-in-law, marrying Lottie, seven years later, in 1945).
2 - Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while. Rose Glidewell came as well.
3 - Wed : Lottie came home. I stuck some scraps in my scrapbook.
4 - Thu : Lottie had a half-day. I went to the Library to help Miss Payne.
5 – Fri : We had a half-day from school as it was a scripture exam. I went to the bonfire!
6 – Sat : I did the errands in the morning. In the afternoon I kept house while Mum went for a lay down.
7 - Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. Rose Glidewell came in the evening.
8 – Mon : I went to school. Mum did her washing, It was a nice day.
9 - Tue : I went to tea with Doreen Chandler and stayed until 9.30pm.
10 – Wed : Mum went to the Women’s meeting in the afternoon. I went to school.
11 – Thu : I went to a service in the church in the morning for armistics.
12 – Fri : I went up Mrs J Hensons about 12 noon.
13 – Sat : Doreen Chandler and I went to Ida Leadens for tea. We stayed till 8 o’clock.
14 – Sun : Rose Glidewell came to tea. Mum and her went to Diddington Church in the evening.
15 – Mon : Lottie came home in the afternoon. I went to school. Mum did her washing.
16 – Tue : I did not go to school as I was sick. It was a very foggy day.
17 – Wed : Lottie came home in the afternoon. I started to knit a pair of gloves.
18 – Thu : Lottie had a half-day. I went to the library to help Miss Payne.
19 – Fri : Mum went for a walk with Miss R Glidewell to Diddington.
20 – Sat : Lottie came home in the afternoon. I did the errands in the morning.
21 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. Mum was queer so I did the work.
22 – Mon : Mum did the washing. I did some knitting in the evening.
23 – Tue : I went to Miss Evans to see her Christmas sale of cards and calendars.
24 – Wed : I went to the Wesley Guild with Joyce Richardson in the evening.
25 – Thu : Rose Glidewell came to tea. I went to the library with Miss Payne.
26 – Fri : Mum went for a walk with Rose Glidewell. It was a very foggy day.
27 – Sat : Mum and I went up Mrs J Hensons in the afternoon.
28 – Sun : Lottie had a short Sunday, Mum and I went to Chapel.
29 – Mon : Mum did some washing. I went to school. Lottie did not come home.
30 – Tue : Mum went for a walk with Rose Glidewell. Lottie came home.
DECEMBER
1 – Wed : Mrs J. Dorrington, a woman who lives near us, died. She was 30. She leaves a husband and 3 children.Â
2Â - Thu : I helped Miss Payne at the Library. Lottie had a half day.
3Â - Fri : Rose Glidewell came to tea and she stopped the evening.
4Â - Sat : Mrs Dorrington was buried. She had a nice lot of wreaths. It snowed a lot.
5 – Sun : We had a lot of snow. Mum and I went to Chapel.
6 – Mon : Mum did her washing. I went snow-balling in the afternoon.
7Â - Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon until 4pm. I went for a walk.
8Â - Wed :Â Mum went to the funeral of Martha Baker (65) who lives with Mrs Dawkes.
9 – Thu : I went to the library. Lottie did not come home. It snowed.
10 – Fri : I went to see Miss Glidewell when I came out of school.
11 – Sat : Mum and Lottie went on the 11.30 train to Cambridge and came back at 5.40pm.
12 – Sun : Lottie had a short Sunday. Mum and I went to Chapel.
13 – Mon : Mum did her washing. Lottie came home in the afternoon.
14 – Tue : Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while.
15 – Wed : In the evening Dad, Mum and I iced the Christmas cakes.
16 – Thu : Lottie and I did some Christmas shopping. I went to the library.
17 – Fri : Mum did not go out. I went to see Miss Glidewell at Dinner time.
18 – Sat : Mum, Rose Glidewell and I went to Huntingdon. The shops looked nice.
19 – Sun : Lottie had a long Sunday. Mum and her went to Chapel in the evening.
20 – Mon : I went to school. We rehearsed a school concert.
21 – Tue : We had a concert at school. Mothers were invited to come.
22 – Wed : Lottie came home in the afternoon for a little while.
23 – Thu : We broke up from school for a fortnight for the Christmas holidays.
24 – Fri : Mum, Dad and I went to Haverhill by train for Christmas.
25 – Sat : We had a nice time. Auntie Lil had company and we had dancing.
26 – Sun : Charlie, Sheila, Brenda and I went to Sheila’s Auntie Gladys to tea.
27 – Mon : Auntie Lil, Mum and I went up the gallery in the Town Hall and watched a dance. Sheila and Brenda sung.
28 – Tue : Dad, Mum and I came home from Haverhill on the train after a very nice time.Grandad came back with us from Haverhill.
29 – Wed : Lottie came home this afternoon for a little while; about an hour.
30 – Thu : Lottie had a half day. We did not go out very far.
31 – Fri : Mum and I went out for a walk. We went up to see Mrs J Henson in the afternoon.
The Cawcutt Family
A treasured family photo of The Cawcutts outside their home (19 Vine Cottages, Hunts End, Buckden). It shows Mary's father (John a.k.a. Jack) as a youngster as yet 'unbreeched'. He was born at Vine Cottages (1884) and lived there his entire life, passing away in the same room in which he was born in 1966. In the photo he leans on his mother, Martha (nee Stoneham, died 1916) . His sister Lottie was two years older than Jack. Â She died of peritonitis at 21. John Cawcutt (senior) died in 1893.
Mary
Taken in August 1937
Carpenters Shop
Carpenters Shop, 63 Church Street, Â Buckden (site now occupied by a relatively new house (1970s) opposite The Hoo, second property on the left as you walk west along Church Street from the Green)
Of George Page Builders of Buckden
On left Mr J. Cawcutt, Buckden
On right Mr J. King, Diddington.
Lottie
Taken at the outdoor swimming pool in Haverhill in
July 1937.
Lottie
Lottie With her bike in 1937 at Diddington Hall, where she was employed as a housemaid