Della wins the Art Prize and is presented in the newly-renamed Hunter Hall
Della wins the Art Prize and is presented in the newly-renamed Hunter Hall

A visit home to go to the Kimbolton Preparatory Department gala and prize giving ceremony, the first since former Head died and to see Hunter Hall named in his memory. Diana and I were very proud to see Della going up to get a prize and she was given a drawing set and pencils which she will treasure.

Before I left Norfolk, I agreed with Stalham Joinery our requirements for doors, windows and frames for Harnser. Then to collect Steve on my way back to take him out for a drink and to buy some fish and chips so that we were back very late and to bed after midnight.

I had intended to go home first thing to see the Kimbolton Preparatory Department swimming gala but, upon telephoning Diana, she reported that it was raining and, having been to two before that were cancelled at the last minute due to rain, advised me not to go over this morning. As I had a couple of important site meetings at Heronshaw, I took this opportunity and left later, going direct to the school and getting there just in time for the Prize-giving Ceremony.

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I had come from the heat and humidity of the weather in Norfolk but it was cooler in Cambridgeshire and I was quite out of place in my open-necked shirt and casual clothes where others were in jackets and ties. I also had a cold coming on which I had caught from Della. Diana and I were very proud to see Della going up to get a prize and she was given a drawing set and pencils which she will treasure. My dad used to be quite good at drawing and his best sketches used to be of horses heads. It was a touching event, being the first since Mr Archer died, and Mr Reeves got them all to sing the Kimbolton School Song which even Della has learnt by heart. She is very settled into the school and very much part of it.

Afterwards, we all went over from the Lewis Hall to the Prep where their meeting hall was dedicated to the former headmaster and will be henceforth known as "The Hunter Hall". Just in time to pick Debbie up from the main school and then home where I joined them for tea and to play with the girls before driving back to Horning. There, Steven reported to me on the events of the day. Before I had left, I had met up with the rep from Stalham Joinery with whom I discussed our requirements for doors, windows and frames so that he could give me a quote. He was quick to the point that I had received his fax at my office and could then arrange to see him again.

They had got on well in my absence and had started to get up the first sections of the rear stud wall despite having some heavy showers of rain. There was a panic today over the height of the walls and need for some scaffolding so that we could continue and I arranged for some to be built in the morning. Steve called Mary when I got back with the 'phone and she seems much more settled and so was he. I took him out for a drink and for him to buy some fish and chips so that we were back very late and to bed after midnight.