Portland Place: Secret Diary of a BBC Secretary

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as of 03/28/2024 (Details)


Portland Place is the diary of Sarah Shaw for the year of 1971, which she recently uncovered whilst clearing out her loft. Sarah's diary, written while she was working as a secretary for the BBC, describes the life of a suburban girl who certainly wasn't swinging but who was, ironically, not only working on a cutting-edge BBC survey on sex education but also in the throes of an unlikely affair with middle-aged, working-class Irish lift attendant Frank. Sarah talks humorously and frankly about what it was like to be a young working woman at the time as well as life at the BBC during the 1970s and the difficulties of navigating her first romance. She is funny and self-effacing, with a self-knowledge that few attain. Her innocence and naivety are hugely charming, and the diary forms a valuable snapshot of a time not so far away that is now lost to us.

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