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Secret Diary of a 1970s Secretary
Secret Diary of a 1970s Secretary is the diary of Sarah Shaw for the year of 1971, which she recently uncovered whilst clearing out her loft. Working as a secretary for the BBC at the time, Sarah's diary 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 only 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.
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 only 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.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2015
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45 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Shaw
3 books1 followerOn leaving school I trained as a secretary and worked in London through the 1970s, for the BBC and various other companies.
Later, I moved into librarianship and recently retired from working as Librarian at a Cambridge college.
Later, I moved into librarianship and recently retired from working as Librarian at a Cambridge college.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 9, 2017
Well, this was nothing remotely as I expected!
The title made me expect a diary involved mainly with Sarah Shaw’s working life as a Junior BBC secretary for the School Broadcasting Council (SBC) during 1971 when she was 19. If the book/diary had kept purely to descriptions of her working day it would have been extremely dull. But this was anything but a dull book (a solid 4 star marking from me).
Shaw had a tough start to life, losing her brother and her mother before she was in her mid teens. She has a difficult relationship with her dad who clearly loves her but tries to dominate and control her life and they clash constantly. She gets on pretty well with her mother in law, enough to confide in her as she might a mother.
Living in a Woman’s Hostel during the week (smelling of disinfectant and boiled vegetables), and travelling home to her family at weekends, she is clearly bored and frustrated.
Ironically, bearing in mind her job deals with the burgeoning BBC sex education films being shown in primary schools, she’s as green as grass when it comes to the facts of life. She uses the leaflets and also ‘erotic’ poems borrowed from the local Library to try and gain some knowledge.
However, soon someone comes into her life who will improve her knowledge no end – Frank the lift man, Irish, short, handsome and cuddly. Not to mention married, a father, a grandfather and over 40 years older than her! Maybe it is Any Port in a Storm time but Shaw convinces herself that they have a connection. They certainly do connect: mainly in the basement! And often during working hours.
If Frank had been caught touching a secretary it would have been instant dismissal. Sometimes I wondered if I should I feel uneasy about such a massive age difference and a man in his sixties behaving this way. But Sarah was always a more than willing partner and looking back at this time in her life she has nothing but gratitude for Frank and all he gave her – not just the sexual experience she longed to have, but also the love and kindness he showed her.
The title made me expect a diary involved mainly with Sarah Shaw’s working life as a Junior BBC secretary for the School Broadcasting Council (SBC) during 1971 when she was 19. If the book/diary had kept purely to descriptions of her working day it would have been extremely dull. But this was anything but a dull book (a solid 4 star marking from me).
Shaw had a tough start to life, losing her brother and her mother before she was in her mid teens. She has a difficult relationship with her dad who clearly loves her but tries to dominate and control her life and they clash constantly. She gets on pretty well with her mother in law, enough to confide in her as she might a mother.
Living in a Woman’s Hostel during the week (smelling of disinfectant and boiled vegetables), and travelling home to her family at weekends, she is clearly bored and frustrated.
Ironically, bearing in mind her job deals with the burgeoning BBC sex education films being shown in primary schools, she’s as green as grass when it comes to the facts of life. She uses the leaflets and also ‘erotic’ poems borrowed from the local Library to try and gain some knowledge.
However, soon someone comes into her life who will improve her knowledge no end – Frank the lift man, Irish, short, handsome and cuddly. Not to mention married, a father, a grandfather and over 40 years older than her! Maybe it is Any Port in a Storm time but Shaw convinces herself that they have a connection. They certainly do connect: mainly in the basement! And often during working hours.
If Frank had been caught touching a secretary it would have been instant dismissal. Sometimes I wondered if I should I feel uneasy about such a massive age difference and a man in his sixties behaving this way. But Sarah was always a more than willing partner and looking back at this time in her life she has nothing but gratitude for Frank and all he gave her – not just the sexual experience she longed to have, but also the love and kindness he showed her.
July 10, 2019
The 1971 diary of Sarah Shaw, working as a BBC secretary at the time, uncovered whilst clearing out her loft. The only full year she kept a diary, this describes the life of a suburban girl who 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.
As someone who’s kept a diary since 1981 (when I was 12), I enjoy reading these and especially relate to the humdrum routine of life which quickly becomes apparent - the similar names that keep popping up, the occasional mention of dinners and the thoughts and plans for the future which never seem to quite materialise. With this, Shaw is writing of an era I don’t know but she captures it well, of a London moving into a new decade where things were on the cusp of changing, though none of the widely talked of things (such as the capital being a swinging city) make much of an impression on her. It’s also interesting in the attitudes it reflects - Sarah wants change but doesn’t quite know how to get it, her Dad (and others) are locked in a mindset that is decades out of date and the workplace is shifting. More, it reflects the way young women were supposed to behave (and still probably holds true), with the activities of Frank - who is much, much older than Sarah (even more than the original age he tells her) - coming across as quite creepy at times. I won’t spoil it for anyone but when things finally happen, it’s not what she wants and the fall-out is familiar to those of us who’ve longed for something (unrequited love, perhaps, or more) for years only to find when it happens it changes everything for the worse. With a coda that reflects the sadness of time passing, it does end with a sense of hope, that Sarah finally found what she was looking for though, ironically, none of it was with her when she wrote the diary. An interesting read, for those intrigued by both diaries and the early 70s, I’d very much recommend this.
As someone who’s kept a diary since 1981 (when I was 12), I enjoy reading these and especially relate to the humdrum routine of life which quickly becomes apparent - the similar names that keep popping up, the occasional mention of dinners and the thoughts and plans for the future which never seem to quite materialise. With this, Shaw is writing of an era I don’t know but she captures it well, of a London moving into a new decade where things were on the cusp of changing, though none of the widely talked of things (such as the capital being a swinging city) make much of an impression on her. It’s also interesting in the attitudes it reflects - Sarah wants change but doesn’t quite know how to get it, her Dad (and others) are locked in a mindset that is decades out of date and the workplace is shifting. More, it reflects the way young women were supposed to behave (and still probably holds true), with the activities of Frank - who is much, much older than Sarah (even more than the original age he tells her) - coming across as quite creepy at times. I won’t spoil it for anyone but when things finally happen, it’s not what she wants and the fall-out is familiar to those of us who’ve longed for something (unrequited love, perhaps, or more) for years only to find when it happens it changes everything for the worse. With a coda that reflects the sadness of time passing, it does end with a sense of hope, that Sarah finally found what she was looking for though, ironically, none of it was with her when she wrote the diary. An interesting read, for those intrigued by both diaries and the early 70s, I’d very much recommend this.
March 30, 2022
I find it difficult to review this or choose the number of stars. This book wasn’t what I thought it was going to be – it’s not really a diary of a secretary, more a diary of a 19 year old girl who just happens to be a secretary. The work at the BBC does get a mention most days, but it’s the flirtation – and more - that forms the main story. I found it disturbing.
On completing the book, I think it is fair to say Sarah had issues. She lost her mum and her brother when she was very young, her father was uncommunicative and he doesn’t come out of the book in a good light, that’s true, but it’s no more than he deserved. There is no wonder that Sarah made some bizarre choices when it came to partners.
On one hand, the book is great fun. Chronicling a 19-year-old girl’s launch into independence and freedom, it’s interesting to read about her trips out with friends, shopping, visits to the pub, cinema, theatre and to talks and lectures, too. These last two are things I wish I had done more of myself at 19, rather than just studying and student union bars. It’s more or less a direct transcript of what a diary would contain.
Having said that, I was astonished that Sarah would get into such a relationship in the first place, attempt to justify it, and actually discuss it with her stepmother on a regular basis! I am imagining the scenes if I had gone home and told my family I was mucking around with a married man 42 years older than myself. It felt completely inappropriate and uncomfortable. Though the comments she makes about her love interests are similar to things many girls would probably write but the guys would be more or less their own age. She also spends far too much time on being felt up when she should be working. In addition to this, she goes on two holidays and manages to fall out with her friend and get involved with another, married, 45 year old man on a week away. I guess the question is can I look past the distaste of the central relationship in order to objectively judge the book?
“Everything I am with [him], both the reality and the dream of being with him, is what is important to me now. It is right for both of us at the moment. It has its incompleteness, but it isn’t a lie or sordid” … Oh yes it is.
I’m ambivalent about this one. She’s either very confident or very stupid for outing herself and the man in question. I really liked the insight into the early 70s which, of course, I don’t remember. She mentions T.Rex’s Jeepster (I have a framed picture disc of it on my wall) and The Group by Mary McCarthy (one of my own book choices) which helps me relate to her in a small way. But for her romantic choices I thought she was out of line and off the wall, and I don’t buy her justifications for a relationship with a man with a sick wife and old enough to be her grandfather, either. It’s ridiculous.
I’m going to read her other book which really is about office life in the 1970s to get a more balanced view.
On completing the book, I think it is fair to say Sarah had issues. She lost her mum and her brother when she was very young, her father was uncommunicative and he doesn’t come out of the book in a good light, that’s true, but it’s no more than he deserved. There is no wonder that Sarah made some bizarre choices when it came to partners.
On one hand, the book is great fun. Chronicling a 19-year-old girl’s launch into independence and freedom, it’s interesting to read about her trips out with friends, shopping, visits to the pub, cinema, theatre and to talks and lectures, too. These last two are things I wish I had done more of myself at 19, rather than just studying and student union bars. It’s more or less a direct transcript of what a diary would contain.
Having said that, I was astonished that Sarah would get into such a relationship in the first place, attempt to justify it, and actually discuss it with her stepmother on a regular basis! I am imagining the scenes if I had gone home and told my family I was mucking around with a married man 42 years older than myself. It felt completely inappropriate and uncomfortable. Though the comments she makes about her love interests are similar to things many girls would probably write but the guys would be more or less their own age. She also spends far too much time on being felt up when she should be working. In addition to this, she goes on two holidays and manages to fall out with her friend and get involved with another, married, 45 year old man on a week away. I guess the question is can I look past the distaste of the central relationship in order to objectively judge the book?
“Everything I am with [him], both the reality and the dream of being with him, is what is important to me now. It is right for both of us at the moment. It has its incompleteness, but it isn’t a lie or sordid” … Oh yes it is.
I’m ambivalent about this one. She’s either very confident or very stupid for outing herself and the man in question. I really liked the insight into the early 70s which, of course, I don’t remember. She mentions T.Rex’s Jeepster (I have a framed picture disc of it on my wall) and The Group by Mary McCarthy (one of my own book choices) which helps me relate to her in a small way. But for her romantic choices I thought she was out of line and off the wall, and I don’t buy her justifications for a relationship with a man with a sick wife and old enough to be her grandfather, either. It’s ridiculous.
I’m going to read her other book which really is about office life in the 1970s to get a more balanced view.
November 7, 2019
Didn't really enjoy this for a number of reasons. First and foremost I felt it was pretentious and not really about anything. Secondly it wasn't what I thought it was and thought it was more going to be about Sarah Shaw's work at the BBC. Instead it turned it to some kind of tawdry, gossipy account of her "love affair" with a man old enough to be her dad if not her grandad. The way it was written didn't really paint the participants in a good light and Sarah herself, Frank the lift man and her father especially don't come over particularly well. Frank comes across as a predatory manipulator but Sarah isn't much better and she always mentions her father in a poor light and the way he is written within the main body of the book is incredibly negative. It is only in the afterword of the book that she tries to justify his actions by saying he was grieving. I don't think I would recommend this book as I don't think it fulfils what is supposed to do.
March 17, 2017
I read this recently and didn't get what I was expecting at all - and probably all the better for that. It's a rather startling diary of a year in the life of a young woman breaking free of home (and the friction that that entails) and starting a new life living and working in London at - you've guessed it - the BBC in Portland Place. A key subject strand is the slow unfolding of an unexpected and unconventional relationship - which I'm still not sure quite what to make of. It also deals with hostel living in the early 70s. Since a friend lived in a London hostel (same one?) about 10 years later, I've recommended this to her. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in the workings of the BBC, the 70s and city life
February 6, 2018
An intriguing diary, but not nearly as compelling as I had hoped. I guess I was looking for a bit more historical detail -- stuff that would take me back to the weird and wonderful decade that was the 1970s.
And, as other reviewers have mentioned, it was often downright disturbing it was to read about the relationship between Sarah and Frank. (Ugh. Just ugh.)
My favorite parts of the book were the introduction and the afterword. Maybe what I was secretly craving was a memoir as opposed to a diary.
And, as other reviewers have mentioned, it was often downright disturbing it was to read about the relationship between Sarah and Frank. (Ugh. Just ugh.)
My favorite parts of the book were the introduction and the afterword. Maybe what I was secretly craving was a memoir as opposed to a diary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2018
An unusual book, in that it was written years ago by an 18 year old. Oddly compelling, I was drawn into the story.
I have to commend Ms Shaw for her talents years ago, and for her confidence to release this now. I appreciate the modest way she describes her coming of age.
I find myself wishing I had kept up with all those blank diaries my dear grandma gave me. Just like when I read the dream journal of Wendy Ortiz and regretted not recording my dreams.
I have to commend Ms Shaw for her talents years ago, and for her confidence to release this now. I appreciate the modest way she describes her coming of age.
I find myself wishing I had kept up with all those blank diaries my dear grandma gave me. Just like when I read the dream journal of Wendy Ortiz and regretted not recording my dreams.
September 12, 2024
4⭐️
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, considering my mum was only 9 in 1971. It took me a couple of months worth of diary entries to get into, until the characters became more established, but I was surprised at how invested I became. I was disappointed that more national and global events didn’t make it into the diary, but Sarah was only 19 and did come across as too naive to worry about such things. I was very undecided about Frank as a character.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, considering my mum was only 9 in 1971. It took me a couple of months worth of diary entries to get into, until the characters became more established, but I was surprised at how invested I became. I was disappointed that more national and global events didn’t make it into the diary, but Sarah was only 19 and did come across as too naive to worry about such things. I was very undecided about Frank as a character.
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December 19, 2020I had read this book but the title had changed from 'Portland Place'. Just as well I borrowed it from the library and I hadn't bought it!
September 1, 2019
I decided to read tis book because of the title and the cover. I thought the title was very intriguing and all of a sudden I felt myself wanting to know more about this so-called secretary. The cover is just stunning.
I went into the book without knowing what I was going to find.
It is literally a diary, day by day, month by month, about Sarah Shaw, who worked for the BBC when she was 19.
Despite her age, I thought Sarah was quite mature and, although she didn’t have her whole future ahead planned, she made way better decisions that me when I was 19.
Although there are entries about work, workmates, family matters, friends, days out, holidays and so on, the main focus of the diary is Frank, a lift man who works in the same building and who she fancies a bit.
There were a few things that made me think: Oh My God. Others were uncomfortable to read. Other were unthinkable of nowadays but then, I reminded myself that this diary was written almost 50 years ago, and understood the situation.
After a few months in this secretary’s life, I got a little bit bored. The most interesting thing for me was her love story and, to be honest, I found it a bit weird for a few reasons.
I think I expected to find a bit more of behind the scenes life and gossips about the BBC.
Overall, it was a book that entertained me and I enjoyed reading but I will probably never read it again.
I went into the book without knowing what I was going to find.
It is literally a diary, day by day, month by month, about Sarah Shaw, who worked for the BBC when she was 19.
Despite her age, I thought Sarah was quite mature and, although she didn’t have her whole future ahead planned, she made way better decisions that me when I was 19.
Although there are entries about work, workmates, family matters, friends, days out, holidays and so on, the main focus of the diary is Frank, a lift man who works in the same building and who she fancies a bit.
There were a few things that made me think: Oh My God. Others were uncomfortable to read. Other were unthinkable of nowadays but then, I reminded myself that this diary was written almost 50 years ago, and understood the situation.
After a few months in this secretary’s life, I got a little bit bored. The most interesting thing for me was her love story and, to be honest, I found it a bit weird for a few reasons.
I think I expected to find a bit more of behind the scenes life and gossips about the BBC.
Overall, it was a book that entertained me and I enjoyed reading but I will probably never read it again.
December 26, 2017
This book taught me what a Kunzel cake is and reminded me of Merrydown cider. It made me glad that my career began in the 90s rather than the 70s. It demonstrated nicely how far feminism has come. It also made me smile with its innocence. It's a beautiful coming of age story by a spirited woman who while experiencing some difficult life situations doesn't get defined by them. "Is life like a lift?" wonders the author at one point. This is exactly the sort of thing you'd think if you spent a lot of time in a lift flirting (and more) with the operator.
April 21, 2015
I can't recommend this enough. I expected to enjoy the depiction of an early 70s BBC office and indeed it was brilliantly drawn, but it's also a warm and funny memoir of a romance and I loved it. My only doubt is how a year's diary, found in an attic, could just happen to follow such a splendid story arc. I hope a publisher picks this up soon!
December 22, 2017
I read this book in less than 24 hours, as I so eager to find out what happened and loved the 70s feel to it. I only gave this four stars, because the book did make me feel uncomfortable. Basically, a sixty-odd year old man grooms a nineteen-year-old girl. This is the BBC in the 70s, remember. Make of it what you will. I expected it to be a story of historic abuse, but it is, in fact, a love story. Or is it? I wasn't so sure. I thought Frank was simply a dirty old man taking advantage of an innocent young girl. An interesting read, nonetheless.
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