Thursday

My last day at work passed in a blur.  When I arrived this morning everyone seemed to be more excited than I was.  I was more concerned about what the girls had planned for my last day there as Miss Brown.  I needn’t have worried.  There were no horrible surprises.  In the corner of the office two desks had been pushed together and covered with, what looked like a tablecloth that had been brought from someone’s home.  The centre-piece was a nicely arranged dinner service, a collective present from the whole office.  As the day wore on more personal gifts were added until I became concerned at how I was going to get them all home.  That had been organised for me.  The presents I couldn’t carry would be taken and delivered to my home by two of the girls who lived close by.  It was a good, happy day.

I left the office early burdened down with bags and boxes and couldn’t wait to show Alan what we had been given.  I left the train at East Ham station and turned up at his house, only to be told by brother John that Alan had been home and left again to go to my house.  For some reason John found that immensely funny and was beaming all over his face.  As I was about to leave he said, ‘Here, you’d better take this with you.’ and gave me our present.  One more box to juggle with.

When I got home I found not only Alan but the photographer there.  Neither of us had met him before but we had booked him by phone for the wedding day. Alan had called him from East Ham Station and he had come straight over from his studio in Elm Park. He is the most peculiar little man.  He told us how to stand and went through every pose with us.  (Ladies’ feet look best if held with one heel in the instep of the other foot and the toes at 90 degree angle. I have to tell the bridesmaids.) He was killingly funny and so enthusiastic for his job.

At one point he arranged a pose with me standing in front of Alan and I don’t know what happened when he excitedly said ‘That! Do that on the day!’  As neither of us knew what we had done it would be hard to replicate.

One more day to wait!  It is unbelievable!

3^rd May 1963

Friday

Today was so quiet and peaceful that you wouldn’t believe that tomorrow was THE day.  I spent most of today sorting out more of my things.  Things I would need in my new home/life and things I didn’t want to throw away to leave for mum to keep for me.

Alan came over straight from work and we just talked and talked for ages about nothing in particular.  By the time he left we were ever so excited about tomorrow.

In the evening I watched TV with the family.  All I kept saying was that I didn’t feel any different although tomorrow is my wedding day.  Dad played a final game of dominos with me before we all went to bed.  That was rather sad.  He and I often play a hand of cards or dominos or cribbage before bedtime.

Maureen's Diary Read From Beginning Read Latest Entries