The Albert Freeman Diaries - 1926
January 2nd
Motored to Northwood to see Mr Abbott re Town Planning and as to map for preliminary statement.
January 4th
Watford Road at Annear's new house.
January 5th
At Scots Hill valuing No 23 Scots Hill for advance under Small Dwelling Act.
Mr Fortnum called re valuation of No 23 Scots Hill. Office till 6.30pm.
January 6th
Phoning Holmes & Co re shops Croxley Green.
January 11th
At Croxley Green Vicarage meeting Baker and Vicar re widening.
Seeing Mr Adams re lamps New Road.
New cemetery site, re validation.
January 13th
Croxley Green Vicarage men removing bank.
Croxley Green housing site.
Croxley Hall farm re diversion of footpath.
January 15th
Going through spec of new road & sewers Croxley Green housing site with Annear & revising same.
January 19th
Croxley Green Vicarage widening with Annear measuring road & seeing foreman as to footings of new wall.
January 20th
Croxley Green Vicarage meeting Baker & Coleman & deciding as to line of new wall, setting out same & levels.
At Chairman's & Mr Dimmock's re housing applications (lists)
January 21st
Housing Selection Committee 6.30pm.
January 22nd
Reading through spec etc for roads Croxley Green housing site.
Dictating letters to selected housing tenants.
January 23rd
At New Road Croxley Green with Barnes leak at No 97.
Phoned Mr Frost re state of electric cable trench bottom of Copthorne Rd.
January 27th
At Nuttfield meeting Mr Cole re repair of private road.
Also meeting Mr Cole with Mr West, Mr Baker at road rear Duke of York as to surface water.
February 1st
At Vicarage widening Croxley Green, Rev Bisshopp agreed to wall being 5'6" high instead of 6ft.
At Dickinson Avenue to inspect road.
February 2nd
At Mill End housing site meeting Mayor & Corporation & Officials from Woolwich.
With Annear on map for Fire Brigade showing hydrants.
February 6th
Watford Road near Red House with Annear measuring widths of road Holmes & Co land.
At Foster's land New Road taking measurements.
Scots Hill House reading meter.
February 9th
At Borough Office Watford, re By-laws.
Town by 1.28 train Taking sample water to Clinical Research.
February 11th
At Dickinson recreation ground Croxley Green meeting Mr Holloway re Pavilion & Lavatory accommodation drainage etc
(Albert is at the new sports ground off The Green, to compensate for the loss of the one taken for the Metropolitan spur link from Moor Park to Watford Park via Croxley Green)
February 12th
At new shops opposite Red House meeting Mr West from County Surveyors office re widening.
At Mill End housing site meeting deputation from Liverpool City & inspected houses under construction.
February 15th
At Goodson's shop Watford Road with Dawe re leakage of water through roof etc.
At Miss Barker's cottage Scots Hill inspecting drains.
Saw Miss Barker re same and she gave orders for necessary work to be done.
Town by 3pm train taking samples of water from tap at Miss Barker's cottage to Clinical Research for analysis.
(Miss Barker, a daughter of Rev Alleyne Higgs Barker, past vicar of St Mary the Virgin church, Rickmansworth, first lived in Brierly Close for many years when the family moved to Croxley Green)
February 19th
At Croxley Mills to test drains.
At Rousebarn Lane - Met cottages. (Abbreviation for Metropolitan)
At Neal & Wise Cassio Bridge (A timber yard on the banks of the canal, now a Marina)
February 20th
At Scots Hill with Taylor re position of lamp near Post Office.
At Dickinson Square with Piddington with meters.
February 22nd
At Scots Hill Taylor men putting up street lamp.
At Austin's cottage New Rd. Repairs not yet started. Dustbins provided.
Meeting District Valuer assistant at Foster's land re valuation.
February 25th
At Scots Hill inspecting RN drainage at Miss Barkers Cottage.
Saw Dr Harvey there who said there was another case of Typhoid there.
(This is most likely the reason for taking water samples to be tested?)
February 27th
Phoning Dr Clark re Typhoid Cases.
March 4th
At Copthorne Rd re drainage of gardeners cottage for Mr Tanburn.
March 6th
At Annear's new house Watford Road.
Seeing Sirett re right of way to allotments etc would not agree to it.
(Richard Annear, - Engineer & Surveyor to R.U.D.C was having a house built prior to his forthcoming marriage)
(Sirett known to have had a dairy herd)
March 11th
At Croxley Co-op re Petrol Licence.
At Croxley Mills inspecting new buildings.
(John Dickinson’s paper mill was undergoing a growth in the paper manufacture and the site was expanding)
March 15th
Seeing Proctor re road works at Croxley Green housing site.
Mr Lomas called re road to Croxley Green housing site & refusal of Drury to allow road across his small holding - Drafting letter to County Land Agent.
March 16th
Ideal Home Exhibition pm.
Mar 17th
Mr Dimmock called re signboard New Rd in front garden - looking up By-laws etc with SAB.
Croxley Green housing site men started sewer.
March 24th
On housing applications & going through 130 application forms, sorting out urgent cases.
March 30th
Called at District Valuer's, St Albans re Foster's land.
April 1st
With Annear on plan of allotments Croxley Green.
April 6th
Office with Col du Cane re houses Croxley Green, & motoring him & Mr Middleton to Met Railway houses Cassio Bridge.
April 7th
With Annear going through plan of allotments at Croxley Green & setting out numbers & sizes.
At Peddles ordering stakes for same.
April 9th
Croxley Green housing site with Annear re fencing for allotments & recreation ground.
Inspecting road & sewer works.
At nos 281, 3, 4, 7, 9, re repairs & dustbins. Seeing Nurse Dixon re same.
April 20th
Deputation from Barnet Rural Council - At Mill End.
(It would appear other local council’s were interested in the R.U.D.C development for social housing)
April 22
Ditto above Douglas IOM showing council houses.
(IOM -As far away as the Isle of Man interested in how R.U.D.C. and Albert Freeman were advanced in building council houses)
April 26
Croxley Green housing site men shaping road.
April 28th
At Mr Little's re Col Woolrych's land.
May 1st
Called at Bateman's re Coal & Railway Strike as to Emergency Committee.
(The General Strike of 1926 was the largest industrial dispute in Britain's history. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) called the strike to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners.)
May 3rd
Chairman re coal emergency order, phoning coal merchants & others re supplies of coal called at several offices re same.
Meeting Mr Little re Town Planning Col Woolrych's land.
May 4th
Strike at midnight last night all trains and buses stopped.
(Albert Freeman spent much time at the gas works etc on coal business)
May 6th
At new allotments with chairman setting out 47 plots, Mr Procter kindly assisted me there again in afternoon till 4 on same work.
May 7th
At Croxley Green allotments with Chairman meeting holders & balloting for plots. Setting out additional ones.
May 8th
At Croxley Green new allotments seeing men at work & interviewing applicants.
May 11th
At office Mr Kingham called re coal for Co- op phoned Mr Stackey.
At Croxley Green allotments staking out further plots, men fencing barbed wire round.
May 12th
General Strike called off. Wireless message at 1.15pm.
(A wireless was the original name for a radio, at the time this was the popular and immediate way of communicating with the public on important information other than by newspapers)
No entries May 15th - June 8th
June 9th
At Croxley Green housing site with Annear re floor levels and various points re buildings with Mr Wilbee.
June 12th
With Col du Cane to Croxley Green housing site inspecting works.
At Handel Festival with Mr Lomas, Crystal Palace.
June 14th
At New Road with Annear measuring Foster's land.
At Standard Range Watford with Annear meeting Williams, Wilbee's & selecting required baths etc for Croxley Green housing site.
(Standard Range an established company supplying a range of equipment)
June 18th
At Yorke Road with Haley re kerb in front of Kerr's garage.
June 19th
At New Road with Annear measuring Foster's land.
At Croxley Green housing site inspecting works - Coal and coke permits.
June 22nd
Seeing Mr Williams re tiles for Croxley Green houses, sand faced tiles cannot be obtained owing to coal strike, accepted machine made for 6 pairs to avoid delay.
Staff outing. Motored to Stoke Poges, Burnham Beeches and Maidenhead, then joined a launch to Windsor. Owing to Jones’ Charabanc having broken down, I took my car and we hired a taxi from Jones. Miss Sharples and I motored to Windsor and met launch. Visited castle etc, trip on Thames home at 8.45pm
(G. Jones and Son, coach builder business in Church Street, Rickmansworth. The family also had a the Taxi Service outside Rickmansworth Metropolitan station for many years. A Charabanc was the name given to early motor coaches)
Motored to Northwood to see Mr Abbott re Town Planning and as to map for preliminary statement.
January 4th
Watford Road at Annear's new house.
January 5th
At Scots Hill valuing No 23 Scots Hill for advance under Small Dwelling Act.
Mr Fortnum called re valuation of No 23 Scots Hill. Office till 6.30pm.
January 6th
Phoning Holmes & Co re shops Croxley Green.
January 11th
At Croxley Green Vicarage meeting Baker and Vicar re widening.
Seeing Mr Adams re lamps New Road.
New cemetery site, re validation.
January 13th
Croxley Green Vicarage men removing bank.
Croxley Green housing site.
Croxley Hall farm re diversion of footpath.
January 15th
Going through spec of new road & sewers Croxley Green housing site with Annear & revising same.
January 19th
Croxley Green Vicarage widening with Annear measuring road & seeing foreman as to footings of new wall.
January 20th
Croxley Green Vicarage meeting Baker & Coleman & deciding as to line of new wall, setting out same & levels.
At Chairman's & Mr Dimmock's re housing applications (lists)
January 21st
Housing Selection Committee 6.30pm.
January 22nd
Reading through spec etc for roads Croxley Green housing site.
Dictating letters to selected housing tenants.
January 23rd
At New Road Croxley Green with Barnes leak at No 97.
Phoned Mr Frost re state of electric cable trench bottom of Copthorne Rd.
January 27th
At Nuttfield meeting Mr Cole re repair of private road.
Also meeting Mr Cole with Mr West, Mr Baker at road rear Duke of York as to surface water.
February 1st
At Vicarage widening Croxley Green, Rev Bisshopp agreed to wall being 5'6" high instead of 6ft.
At Dickinson Avenue to inspect road.
February 2nd
At Mill End housing site meeting Mayor & Corporation & Officials from Woolwich.
With Annear on map for Fire Brigade showing hydrants.
February 6th
Watford Road near Red House with Annear measuring widths of road Holmes & Co land.
At Foster's land New Road taking measurements.
Scots Hill House reading meter.
February 9th
At Borough Office Watford, re By-laws.
Town by 1.28 train Taking sample water to Clinical Research.
February 11th
At Dickinson recreation ground Croxley Green meeting Mr Holloway re Pavilion & Lavatory accommodation drainage etc
(Albert is at the new sports ground off The Green, to compensate for the loss of the one taken for the Metropolitan spur link from Moor Park to Watford Park via Croxley Green)
February 12th
At new shops opposite Red House meeting Mr West from County Surveyors office re widening.
At Mill End housing site meeting deputation from Liverpool City & inspected houses under construction.
February 15th
At Goodson's shop Watford Road with Dawe re leakage of water through roof etc.
At Miss Barker's cottage Scots Hill inspecting drains.
Saw Miss Barker re same and she gave orders for necessary work to be done.
Town by 3pm train taking samples of water from tap at Miss Barker's cottage to Clinical Research for analysis.
(Miss Barker, a daughter of Rev Alleyne Higgs Barker, past vicar of St Mary the Virgin church, Rickmansworth, first lived in Brierly Close for many years when the family moved to Croxley Green)
February 19th
At Croxley Mills to test drains.
At Rousebarn Lane - Met cottages. (Abbreviation for Metropolitan)
At Neal & Wise Cassio Bridge (A timber yard on the banks of the canal, now a Marina)
February 20th
At Scots Hill with Taylor re position of lamp near Post Office.
At Dickinson Square with Piddington with meters.
February 22nd
At Scots Hill Taylor men putting up street lamp.
At Austin's cottage New Rd. Repairs not yet started. Dustbins provided.
Meeting District Valuer assistant at Foster's land re valuation.
February 25th
At Scots Hill inspecting RN drainage at Miss Barkers Cottage.
Saw Dr Harvey there who said there was another case of Typhoid there.
(This is most likely the reason for taking water samples to be tested?)
February 27th
Phoning Dr Clark re Typhoid Cases.
March 4th
At Copthorne Rd re drainage of gardeners cottage for Mr Tanburn.
March 6th
At Annear's new house Watford Road.
Seeing Sirett re right of way to allotments etc would not agree to it.
(Richard Annear, - Engineer & Surveyor to R.U.D.C was having a house built prior to his forthcoming marriage)
(Sirett known to have had a dairy herd)
March 11th
At Croxley Co-op re Petrol Licence.
At Croxley Mills inspecting new buildings.
(John Dickinson’s paper mill was undergoing a growth in the paper manufacture and the site was expanding)
March 15th
Seeing Proctor re road works at Croxley Green housing site.
Mr Lomas called re road to Croxley Green housing site & refusal of Drury to allow road across his small holding - Drafting letter to County Land Agent.
March 16th
Ideal Home Exhibition pm.
Mar 17th
Mr Dimmock called re signboard New Rd in front garden - looking up By-laws etc with SAB.
Croxley Green housing site men started sewer.
March 24th
On housing applications & going through 130 application forms, sorting out urgent cases.
March 30th
Called at District Valuer's, St Albans re Foster's land.
April 1st
With Annear on plan of allotments Croxley Green.
April 6th
Office with Col du Cane re houses Croxley Green, & motoring him & Mr Middleton to Met Railway houses Cassio Bridge.
April 7th
With Annear going through plan of allotments at Croxley Green & setting out numbers & sizes.
At Peddles ordering stakes for same.
April 9th
Croxley Green housing site with Annear re fencing for allotments & recreation ground.
Inspecting road & sewer works.
At nos 281, 3, 4, 7, 9, re repairs & dustbins. Seeing Nurse Dixon re same.
April 20th
Deputation from Barnet Rural Council - At Mill End.
(It would appear other local council’s were interested in the R.U.D.C development for social housing)
April 22
Ditto above Douglas IOM showing council houses.
(IOM -As far away as the Isle of Man interested in how R.U.D.C. and Albert Freeman were advanced in building council houses)
April 26
Croxley Green housing site men shaping road.
April 28th
At Mr Little's re Col Woolrych's land.
May 1st
Called at Bateman's re Coal & Railway Strike as to Emergency Committee.
(The General Strike of 1926 was the largest industrial dispute in Britain's history. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) called the strike to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners.)
May 3rd
Chairman re coal emergency order, phoning coal merchants & others re supplies of coal called at several offices re same.
Meeting Mr Little re Town Planning Col Woolrych's land.
May 4th
Strike at midnight last night all trains and buses stopped.
(Albert Freeman spent much time at the gas works etc on coal business)
May 6th
At new allotments with chairman setting out 47 plots, Mr Procter kindly assisted me there again in afternoon till 4 on same work.
May 7th
At Croxley Green allotments with Chairman meeting holders & balloting for plots. Setting out additional ones.
May 8th
At Croxley Green new allotments seeing men at work & interviewing applicants.
May 11th
At office Mr Kingham called re coal for Co- op phoned Mr Stackey.
At Croxley Green allotments staking out further plots, men fencing barbed wire round.
May 12th
General Strike called off. Wireless message at 1.15pm.
(A wireless was the original name for a radio, at the time this was the popular and immediate way of communicating with the public on important information other than by newspapers)
No entries May 15th - June 8th
June 9th
At Croxley Green housing site with Annear re floor levels and various points re buildings with Mr Wilbee.
June 12th
With Col du Cane to Croxley Green housing site inspecting works.
At Handel Festival with Mr Lomas, Crystal Palace.
June 14th
At New Road with Annear measuring Foster's land.
At Standard Range Watford with Annear meeting Williams, Wilbee's & selecting required baths etc for Croxley Green housing site.
(Standard Range an established company supplying a range of equipment)
June 18th
At Yorke Road with Haley re kerb in front of Kerr's garage.
June 19th
At New Road with Annear measuring Foster's land.
At Croxley Green housing site inspecting works - Coal and coke permits.
June 22nd
Seeing Mr Williams re tiles for Croxley Green houses, sand faced tiles cannot be obtained owing to coal strike, accepted machine made for 6 pairs to avoid delay.
Staff outing. Motored to Stoke Poges, Burnham Beeches and Maidenhead, then joined a launch to Windsor. Owing to Jones’ Charabanc having broken down, I took my car and we hired a taxi from Jones. Miss Sharples and I motored to Windsor and met launch. Visited castle etc, trip on Thames home at 8.45pm
(G. Jones and Son, coach builder business in Church Street, Rickmansworth. The family also had a the Taxi Service outside Rickmansworth Metropolitan station for many years. A Charabanc was the name given to early motor coaches)
G. Jones and Son, Coach builders. Pre 1914. Church Street, Rickmansworth. (© Three Rivers Museum Trust)
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G. Jones and Son. Coach builders and motor engineers. Church Street, Rickmansworth. (© Three Rivers Museum Trust)
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G. Jones, Coach builder. Church Street, Rickmansworth. (© Three Rivers Museum Trust)
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Church Street. Rickmansworth
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June 23rd
With Annear on plans of new houses.
Lavatory, recreation ground.
July 6th
At Croxley Green allotments men erecting fences.
At Croxley Green housing site.
July 7th
At Croxley road back of church seeing Post Office phones engineer, re damage to cable, found it was nothing to do with U.D.C.
July 8th
Allotments.
Housing site Mr Williams with concrete tiles, suggested using them, promised to show Col du Cane.
July 14th
Allotments fence complete.
July 15th
Seeing Col du Cane re tiles for Croxley Green housing site. Williams called later re same hopes to get Bedford tiles very soon and make up with Excel.
August 4th
At Universal housing office re tenders for gas at new cinema.
At Abbots Langley, Annear’s wedding back at 5.
(The new cinema mentioned was the Picture House, Rickmansworth. On entering the High Street from Scotsbridge past the Catholic Church and under the railway bridge the cinema was immediately on the left. On the first floor of the building there was a ballroom and tea lounge, with windows overlooking the High Street. The Picture House opened on 12th March 1927 and closed on 22nd June 1963).
Albert Freeman attended Richard Annear’s marriage to Dora Hill at Abbots Langley. They lived in Abbots Langley and initially had a new house built in the Watford Road and then ‘Langley’ Green Lane, The Green. Richard Annear worked closely with Albert for many years on the growth of the district, including Croxley Green. Dora died in December 1975 and Richard February 1976)
August 20th
Croxley Green seeing Nurse Dixon re housing applicants.
August 31st
Mr Young called re garage at back of house next Harvey Road, Croxley Green.
September 3rd
At Croxley site at Goss's job new shops, Watford Road re drains.
September 9th
At New Road seeing Mrs Thorpe re house Springfield Close, told her it would not be ready till Saturday at 12.
With Annear on plans of new houses.
Lavatory, recreation ground.
July 6th
At Croxley Green allotments men erecting fences.
At Croxley Green housing site.
July 7th
At Croxley road back of church seeing Post Office phones engineer, re damage to cable, found it was nothing to do with U.D.C.
July 8th
Allotments.
Housing site Mr Williams with concrete tiles, suggested using them, promised to show Col du Cane.
July 14th
Allotments fence complete.
July 15th
Seeing Col du Cane re tiles for Croxley Green housing site. Williams called later re same hopes to get Bedford tiles very soon and make up with Excel.
August 4th
At Universal housing office re tenders for gas at new cinema.
At Abbots Langley, Annear’s wedding back at 5.
(The new cinema mentioned was the Picture House, Rickmansworth. On entering the High Street from Scotsbridge past the Catholic Church and under the railway bridge the cinema was immediately on the left. On the first floor of the building there was a ballroom and tea lounge, with windows overlooking the High Street. The Picture House opened on 12th March 1927 and closed on 22nd June 1963).
Albert Freeman attended Richard Annear’s marriage to Dora Hill at Abbots Langley. They lived in Abbots Langley and initially had a new house built in the Watford Road and then ‘Langley’ Green Lane, The Green. Richard Annear worked closely with Albert for many years on the growth of the district, including Croxley Green. Dora died in December 1975 and Richard February 1976)
August 20th
Croxley Green seeing Nurse Dixon re housing applicants.
August 31st
Mr Young called re garage at back of house next Harvey Road, Croxley Green.
September 3rd
At Croxley site at Goss's job new shops, Watford Road re drains.
September 9th
At New Road seeing Mrs Thorpe re house Springfield Close, told her it would not be ready till Saturday at 12.
New Road, Croxley Green
September 28th
At new cinema to see foundations.
(Rickmansworth)
October 16th
At Croxley to see Mrs Holloway - Gonville Ave re notice to give up house. At Mr Dimmock re same At Mrs Beaumonts New Road telling her she can have 7 Gonville Ave.
October 23rd
Called at Sportsman re petrol pump.
November 11th
Croxley Green housing site with Annear & Barlow setting out footpath diversion & arranging for repair of paths by 18 houses let.
November 12th
At Watford Road meeting Mr Barber re drains and gullies to take water from Yorke Road. Also at Sportsman re widening.
November 17th
Tyler away moving into Springfield Ave.
(Mill End)
November 18th
At Sportsman Croxley Green meeting Benskin’s surveyor re alteration to road.
November 27th
At Yorke Rd meeting Simmons re cutting trees on Mrs Catesby's land & fir tree on school lawn.
At No 2 Gonville Terrace re ceiling part fallen down in sitting room.
November 30th
Yorke Road men felling fir tree in front of school house.
December 14th
Nuttfield, inspecting stable used as dwelling by Andrews the gardener.
Meeting Mr Skeins re same.
At Gravel Co, wooden houses canal side, found men building 2 rooms on one, - wrote Gravel Co re same.
December 18th
Seeing Col Woolrych re cemetery. He said his principal objection to taking his land was that Rickmansworth funerals would have to pass up the Green. Gathered that if road from Scotsbridge to site could be made, he would not object.
Phoning Chairman re interview with Col Woolrych.
(Interesting the objections to the proposed cemetery site in Loudwater Lane, was that the funeral cortège would have to cross The Green, and be in view from Col Woolrych’s home now at Parrotts Farm. He is proposing that a new road be built that would divert this, and by having a separate route it would appear he would not have to observe these events)
December 21st
At Yorke Rd widening & footpath by recreation ground & through Foster's land, Barlow & men putting on ashes.
December 28th
Called at Col Woolrych re cemetery site.
At new cinema to see foundations.
(Rickmansworth)
October 16th
At Croxley to see Mrs Holloway - Gonville Ave re notice to give up house. At Mr Dimmock re same At Mrs Beaumonts New Road telling her she can have 7 Gonville Ave.
October 23rd
Called at Sportsman re petrol pump.
November 11th
Croxley Green housing site with Annear & Barlow setting out footpath diversion & arranging for repair of paths by 18 houses let.
November 12th
At Watford Road meeting Mr Barber re drains and gullies to take water from Yorke Road. Also at Sportsman re widening.
November 17th
Tyler away moving into Springfield Ave.
(Mill End)
November 18th
At Sportsman Croxley Green meeting Benskin’s surveyor re alteration to road.
November 27th
At Yorke Rd meeting Simmons re cutting trees on Mrs Catesby's land & fir tree on school lawn.
At No 2 Gonville Terrace re ceiling part fallen down in sitting room.
November 30th
Yorke Road men felling fir tree in front of school house.
December 14th
Nuttfield, inspecting stable used as dwelling by Andrews the gardener.
Meeting Mr Skeins re same.
At Gravel Co, wooden houses canal side, found men building 2 rooms on one, - wrote Gravel Co re same.
December 18th
Seeing Col Woolrych re cemetery. He said his principal objection to taking his land was that Rickmansworth funerals would have to pass up the Green. Gathered that if road from Scotsbridge to site could be made, he would not object.
Phoning Chairman re interview with Col Woolrych.
(Interesting the objections to the proposed cemetery site in Loudwater Lane, was that the funeral cortège would have to cross The Green, and be in view from Col Woolrych’s home now at Parrotts Farm. He is proposing that a new road be built that would divert this, and by having a separate route it would appear he would not have to observe these events)
December 21st
At Yorke Rd widening & footpath by recreation ground & through Foster's land, Barlow & men putting on ashes.
December 28th
Called at Col Woolrych re cemetery site.
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1925
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1927
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