Diary Of A Young Wife, 1953

By Jayne Warren - 11/04/2009

 Hazel Wheeler, a youthful octogenarian, has kept a meticulous diary every day of her life since the age of 14. In 1953 she appeared on Woman's Hour reading her diaries about working as a Post Office casual at Christmas, and since then she has published several books and had her diaries adapted for the BBC Radio 4's 'Writing The Century'. Another book, "Diary Of A Young Wife 1953" is due to be published in June 2009. We asked her about her life, her work, and, of course, her diaries...

 

Young Hazel was only fourteen years old when she came across an empty diary in the attic of her parents’ shop in Huddersfield in 1941. She decided to keep a record of her life, and has done so, faithfully, until the present day. She told us: "I would rather die than not write my diary every day. I write whatever is happening straight away - I call it my safety valve."

 

For 46 years Hazel was married to her beloved bus conductor - and Errol Flynn lookalike - Granville, whom she met on Christmas Eve 1949.  At the time, as her diary records, she was trying to evade the unwanted attentions of a would-be suitor who had followed her home from a dance: "A man kept looking at me. I didn't like the look of him. He sat next to me and paid my fare. At the terminus he got off. I sneaked back on to the crowded last bus to avoid him. Conductor's name is Granville Wheeler. He is almost 22. Stayed talking to him until one in the morning."

 

Bonded by "a shared sense of silliness" they never looked back. It was a unique marriage and they had two daughters. Wrote Hazel: "The main reason he won me over was that he was so kind, and had this ridiculous sense of humour. He didn't have any money"

 

Anyone who has lived through the decades she has recorded will be amazed by the juxtaposition of events both international and personal. For example: "Tuesday, December 9, 1980 (aged 53). John Lennon of The Beatles has been shot dead in New York. Got my first Christmas card, from Roy and Vera. Evening: Granville out as usual. I read the papers, watched television and tried on the red velvet dress I’m wearing for buffet dance tomorrow."

 

And: "Saturday, July 29, 1981 (aged 54). Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s. A perfect summer day. Blue sky, cloudless, golden sunshine. Granville and I watched from 8am, crowd scenes and so on, until the ceremony at 11am. Glad the Queen Mother managed to be there, despite her leg ulcer. I telephoned cousin Winney to congratulate her on their Golden Wedding. She acted all important, just because she shares her wedding day with the future king and queen!"

 

One striking theme in her diaries are her recollections of Christmas Eves, which were times that always seemed to produce remarkable happenings for her - including a memorable but innocent moment of intimacy with a young Frenchman, who was "like somebody from The Desert Song in his flowing navy cloak lined with scarlet."  And Hazel can recall that Christmas of nearly 66 years ago with total clarity - just as she can with every other festive season since with equal precision. She even kept all her love letters, and says "looking at them, even now, still enables me to recapture my youth". Sadly, Granville died from lung cancer in 1999, and she recounted his illness in a book called "Death by Smoking".

 

But the diaries also provide a remarkable insight into changing trends, fashions and prices, as she kept a record of all presents given and received since that first Christmas. "1970. Bought a fluffy scarf in apple green for 6/11d and two yards of cloth at 13/11d.  Strange to think that by next Christmas our monetary system will have changed and it will all be decimal."

 

So why has Hazel kept a diary all these years? She said: "A diary keeps people alive. It preserves the essence of them - far more than a photo. And you realise, as you read through them over time, that even the worst problems prove surmountable. And writing keeps the brain active. With a diary, you're never bored  -  and always in good company.

 

"Even if I'm annoyed, I'll just write it down calmly. You see, I've always thought that the pen is mightier than the sword!"

 

 

"Diary Of  A Young Wife 1953" by Hazel Wheeler will be published in 
June 2009 by Amberley Publishing, paperback,  price £12.99. Available 
in all good bookshops or through your favourite internet provider.

 

 

 

Photo -  Hazel and Granville on their Wedding day, 1952