Accompanying Debbie to Kimbolton for her Preparatory School Entrance examination and collecting her later to find her happy, chatty and comfortable with her day but she competes with 59 candidates for 40 places! 52 dead bodies are found and 80 people are still unaccounted for after the Herald of Free Enterprise capsize with no immediate explanation but with many harrowing stories of tragedy but also of bravery
A good night and was already awake when Di brought the morning tea. Della came in to my bed to keep me company and was a little charmer. A cold morning, as a start to a cold day and the curtains were billowing from the south east, as the wind strength rose. Rather a long while showering and so was the last down to breakfast. Decided that we would drive Daniel to Kimbolton first thing this morning, so that we could take Debbie at the same time for her Prep School examination. We managed to get the family ready and loaded up and set off a little later than Daniel would have liked. Still a bit early for Debbie, but were not the first to arrive on that score. Were taken into the Lewis Hall, which is a galleried theatre and we took our places, sitting with the other parents.
I had taken Daniella in as well and she was very good, keeping quiet as the Headmaster, Mr Donaldson, addressed the multitude. He called out the children in several groups for the test and then informed us parents what to expect. The papers would be marked and the resulting offers for Kimbolton School places posted by 5.00pm Tuesday next. The outright winners would get offers to be accepted by 18th March 1987 and others the benefit of a reserve status. If all of these successful candidates did not accept the places by the due date, the school would feel able to offer places to those on the reserve list, otherwise, unsuccessful candidates would get the ‘not this year’ message. In Debbie's age group, 59 candidates were competing for 40 places. For a year older, 18 candidates were competing for 15. It will, therefore, be an uphill battle to get Debbie in. Left her there and myself and the girls drove to Bedford to bide our time and do a little shopping, after our morning coffee. Left it late to get back, as they were out earlier than 11.30, but Debbie was quite happy and chatting to a friend that she had made. I was pleased that she had no fears of the school or the exam, but a little disappointed that she had not taken my advice and spent time checking her paper afterwards, instead of putting her hand up immediately she had finished. I fear that the poor interview and special tuition of her prep school competitors, that she will not be successful. Collected Daniel, had lunch at the Sandy Happy Eater and then came home for an afternoon’s sport on the TV. England’s rugby team went down heavily to Wales, in a poor and bad-tempered match. Then tea in front of a log fire (after putting the ducks away) before my journal and preparations for our evening visit to the theatre. The ducks laid 3 eggs last night and two the night before. The river is up, with the water highly coloured with flood sediment. The news today, and all day, was of the ferry tragedy. There now seems to be no evidence of a collision and the reasons for the capsize are a mystery. The latest figures account for some 400 rescued (though many injured) and 51 are found as dead bodies and another 80 unaccounted for. There are many harrowing accounts of the victims being separated from their friends and loved ones.