Tuesday 7th December 1937

I emerged from the class room at the same time as my rather attractive wife, Stella (in the play!) “May I give you a lift home?” I enquired cautiously. “Yes!” she said gratefully, “If you go the same way – Southchurch…” “Oh, I live at Thorpe Bay” I lied. “Have to go through Southchurch in any case.”

On the way I discovered that Stella was 19, was in an insurance office in Town; had to turn out at 6 a.m. each morning; and that her father possessed an SS Jaguar (dashing type of car).