Six neatly filled note-books as follows: July 1945-April1947 (approx. 130 pages); April 1947-November 1947 (approx. 90 pages); November 1947-April1948 (approx. 108 pages); April 1948-August 1948; August 1948- (approx. 64 pages); No year: begins November 24th.-ends Monday 26th December (approx. 250 pages: a short-hand notebook); Notebook used as a scrapbook, filled with related cuttings from the press. Covent Garden closed throughout the war: these diaries therefore cover its reopening with a galaxy of stars, with occasional comments also on other productions and lectures around London. The writing is neat throughout, and the entries appear to be written by an admirer who is close, and has continual access to the front of house, with occasional meetings with the dancers. She does not give her name, but she refers throughout to being there with her mother, who is perhaps an employee. She makes frequent comments, both on her personal encounters and on the dancers, eg Margot Fonteyn, Ninette de Valois, and Moira Shearer. The diary opens describing a short speech made by Ninette [de Valois], describing her pleasure at being able to reopen the ballet, and thanking the company, describing [Miracle in the] Gorbals, and Promenade. It goes on to make detailed observations on each night’s performances, and how the respective leading roles performed. June 16th ‘Mummy told Fred about the rumour about him and Massine not being on speaking terms. Massine was a quiet and reserved sort of chap. She suggested that they should come out together one night. He said if that were the case, he wouldn’t be working there. “I’m not like that you know”.” June 18th. ‘At the Duchess. H. said if we’d been in front tonight we should have seen a good performance’. Later, there is a reference to Red Shoes: July 3rd ‘On his way in Bobby said “hot”, (which mummy didn’t hear) as he signed a girl’s book….”When are you going abroad? Abroad? Monte Carlo for the film”. They’ve been there and come back again. She asked when he’d be in the ballet again…July 22nd 1948. The premier of Red Shoes. As the manager refused to allow people to queue, we went in and saw it through three and a half times…The film was very interesting, made with intelligence and artistry. Such details as making the balcony on which Vicki and Julian first meet the one from which she leapt to her death added to the effect…The classical snippets in the film seemed unduly altered, but the all too short extract from Sylphides, with Bobby and Moira was perfect…her acting was surprisingly good and lacking in that self-consciousness which often spoilt her work in the ballet. Bobby was often rather like himself as the premier danseur…We saw Bobby and Mrs Helpmann sitting in the second row of the circle. Moira looking lovely as ever sat in the middle of the front row.