Young Reg - The School Years !
School was a 10 minute walk away and all my elder siblings had gone to the same school.
therefore it was a given I would go there too - I don't have too many memories of school except for just couple that stand out - on my first day at school I remember Naomi Platt kissed me on the cheek - something in never forgot. I wonder if she is fit now....
In school the only memory I have is being canned, unfortunately not in a canabis infused way - but actually hit with a thin stick. At this point I realise im turning into Dad when I think “You can tell the kids today - but they wont believe you”. The days of corporal punishment are long gone, I do believe however that the threat of pain is a good deterrent - something the youths of today know nothing of.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Carrot and Archie my two closest friends at middle school. Carrot lived at the bottom of my road which meant we saw a lot of each and became good mates. Archie was just a rebel, he didn't have any other friends, he hung around with us two and most of the time , got us in more trouble than we intended too. One day we decided to play ‘army’, a usual pastime of our age group, our fathers had experienced war for real and many documentaries were watched with my dad about war! I firmly remember the black and white series “the world at war” every Sunday afternoon. “All join on for army” was the chant and a small conga developed in the school playground. From there two sides would be made and the battles would promptly commence. A stick was a machine gun and using the greatest in machine gun noises a noise that almost every boy could do in my school , to be honest anyone that ‘joined on for army’ - had to pass the ‘machine gun noise test’ If you couldn't do a rapid fire M15 sound followed by a hand grenade going off - dont join the conga!
During the course of this particular battle I thought it was a good idea to ‘up the anti’ and use actual stones as hand grenades. This didn't go down at all well with the dinner ladies who of course took the appropriate action and sent us to the head masters office where we were ordered to stand outside - where upon he (the Head) would return from lunch, ask us why we were there and as on many occasions give us a stern talking too and send us back to the class rooms with some sort of punishment. Usually cleaning some class rooms at lunch for a week or some lines to do in our spare time. Getting told off was becoming the norm and developing into a sort of game for a few of us. This dinner time was no different and we felt quite pleased with ourselves for this punishment. However while walking the long cool corridors on this particularly sunny dinner time shoving each other into the walls, passing blame from one to the other, we were accosted by another teacher who reminded us that the corridors and school buildings were out of bounds on such lovely days and why were we fooling around in this manor. Im not sure why we didn't tell the truth right then and there - maybe in fear he would escort us himself to the headmasters office and at this stage we were thinking of anything to get out of that situation. So when we had no legitimate reason for being there the teacher decided it would be best if we stay in his classroom and cleaned up the litter, tidied the book shelves and write a few hundred lines that would take up all our break time and therefore waist this lovely days lunchtime doing chores, we of course thought this was a great exchange from what would be an awkward discussion with the head and possibly many more break times used up in such a manor. After tidying the room and now busily doing our lines, the lonely clip clop of heeled shoes broke the silence and as the plump dinner lady peered through class windows, a sickening lump manifested in my stomach. The dinner lady that sent us packing to the Heads office was slowly patrolling the corridor, perhaps on her way to check we had indeed done as she asked.
Clocking our panicked faces as she walked the several windows along the classroom to the door. For a brief moment we hoped she would continue her patrol and walk on by, but alas the knock on the door sent us all into a cold fear. It was obvious what the two were talking about in hushed voices “I SEE” said the teacher looking coldly at us over the shoulder of the dinner lady. “Come with me boys - you didn't tell me you had someone to see”
The headmaster explained that if throwing stones was not serious enough then lying to a teacher and trying to escape any punishment for such an act is FAR greater and therefore gave him no alternative but to request our hands. Sticky palms turned upwards as he collected the long thin cane from behind his desk. The swift sharp thwack left a slight red stripe on each hand. I remember Karl the school hard knock, who had joined into our violent game of army of five boys, crying like a girl as he received his punishment. Maybe it wasn't the pain of the strike but the thought of “what will happen when your parents are told about this” as the head said on more than one occasion while striking the ten palms.
I cant remember any serious punishment I got at home, I was never smacked, although Colin, Jacky and Chris will reminisce of many dinner times where a cane had laid across the lap of my father as they ate. Anyone talking or failing to eat properly would surely feel the full force of this ‘manor making’ tool.
The 7 year gap had chilled my parents a huge amount and no-such weapon was used- although a ‘speed wheel’s track of aprox 1 meter in length was picked up a few times by my mother but I was far to quick and would be at the top of the stairs before she was out the kitchen. A yard stick is a great deterrent for any child to misbehave and although I was never caught the thought of it was enough to send me scurrying to my bedroom.
SENIOR SCHOOL
By the time i was ready for senior school my elder Sisters were dating seriously and within a few years all my elder siblings were married at 20 -21 years old, I suppose it was the norm back then but i think they were forced into leaving the family home by the constant over crowded noisy atmosphere that must have been a daily occurrence.
Senior school was more of a doss than anything else. Boldmere school although in a better part of the Birmingham area was never one of the best performing schools. My senior school years were mainly about survival, there were a few tough lads in my year and I was able to be part of their friendship group by being funny and dossing with them. Adam Hulbert - a giant of a boy and still is, he was huge at school, he and I would sit together in Maths, it was here we would annoy and looking back perhaps bully Clifton Saunders. A swat of the highest caliber. We are in the 2nd from top class in maths and Clifton wanted to better himself, he wanted to become a banker. I wouldn't be surprise if he succeeded. It wasn’t long before he graded up into the top group leaving Hulbert and I to find new prey. It was all harmless stuff though, no physical aggression, Adam just needed to look at you and most would shit their pants. I was glad I had him as a friend. Although he had an annoying habit of picking me up and swinging me around like a rag doll - something he still hasn't grown out of - just last year when I saw him in a night club he shouted “Blakey” putting his pint down and proceeded to swing me about, to the joys of the laughing friends.
School can be crewel at times.
My biggest regret was taking Chemistry as an option, I couldn't grasp it and I felt out of my depth in virtually every lesson, which is why after many weeks Barney and I had a small competition on who could be thrown out of Chemistry the fastest. Up until this particular day the record was held by Barney with a respectful 15 minutes, plenty of time to settle in and cause some sort of commotion and beat that time I thought - but I had thought of a better idea during the previous weeks lesson using the bunsen burners.
The teacher (i forget his name) had no time for me and Barney and I’m sure he would gladly have sent us away for the remainder of the school term if he could, he knew we didn’t like the lessons either. Which was why on one particular day he was a little concerned at seeing both Barney and I at the front of the queue to get into the Chemistry lab. Looking down his nose at the two of us as he un locked the door swinging it open allowing for a small flood of 30 or so teenagers to fill the empty seats. I had a cunning plan dreamt up during the last lesson and it was about to put it in practice, running to our designated seats I grabbed the bunsen burner that sat next to the gas taps and sinks that were evenly placed down the long wooden lab benches.
Quickly I secured the rubber hose of the Bunsen Burner to the end of the coned lab taps that curve downwards towards the white porcelain square bowls.
With the turn of the tap water was sent up in a majestic fine fountain that didn't stop until it splashed against the ceiling in triumph. Gravity peeled the jets spray from the white ceiling sending it to the heads of many pupils, as the first few drops splattered the heads of a few creaming girls the fateful words boomed out throughout the classroom.
“Blakeway GET OUT”
I’d done it - surely an unbeatable record, less than 15 seconds i looked back gloating at Barney as I was expelled to the cold gloomy corridors of the science block.
Proudly I slouched against the bricks and thought how hilarious that must have looked.
To be honest it wasn't long before the joy and satisfaction of the deed moved towards boredom and frustration. I peered around the door to see Barney and all the others busily swatting away, writing inconceivable quotations into books. I was now very bored with almost a whole hour and a half to kill.
Something way up the corridor caught my eye. There in the biology lab was Carrot and crew. Waving furiously while Mr Handcock scribbled on their classroom black board. Handy cock, Hard Cock etc (funny how one remembers some teachers names and not others) was a good teacher, was a bit of a laugh when he wanted to be and I enjoyed Biology but we could only have two sciences and when I chose Physics as my first choice biology was not and option and so Chemistry was forced upon me.
I was intrigued - Carrot and a few mates were becoming me towards their class momentarily stopping the overboard hand gestures to resume working, only until Handy Big Cock was scribbling again and so the see saw of actions continued until i could take no more boredom. I sank to my knees and began the 20 meter crawl passing under the wide windows of my class. Smiling to myself thinking about the expectant faces on Carrot and crew, this will be one to laugh about all the way back to Mayfield road. As I approached the Biology labs door, I gathered myself into a small ball, allowing my feet to be flat on the floor so to raise up to the door window, and give myself a good chance to flick the V’s to Carrot and his cronies while Hard Cock was talking to his class. As I raised myself slowly to the first few millimetres of the clear glass window I could see my class mates waiting for my arrival they were ALL looking towards the door - this is better than I though I said to myself, ‘but wheres Hard Cock” just then rising like the harvest moon came the bald head of Mr Handcock. Within a few seconds there he was full faced starring directly into my eyes. As we straightened our bodies still eye to eye, both with a fixed grin, him with a “aha got you boy” type grin, me with “Oh shit, you ARE still funny aren't you mr HardCock” type grin.
It was Carrot and his mob that were flicking the V’s as I stood face to face with head of Science Mr Handcock as he opened the door. “Can I help you” to the cheers of the rest of the class who had informed Mr Handock of my arrival whilst on all fours coming up the corridor Carrot had announced “Sir - theres a boy crawling up the corridor towards us - Sir”
Handcock had readied himself for the acquaintance crouching by the lab door.
Escorted down the corridor by Mr Handcock I could here the muffled shouts of joy as the biology lesson resorted into mayhem, a number of mates looked on pushing their faces into the window and distorting their noses and mouths.
The Chemistry Lab was quiet as we passed, everyone busily writing in books. A nudge from one pupil to another singled my arrival as I passed the wide windows. Just minutes ago I had cleverly navigated beneath and was on the way to a victorious prank, instead i was walking the long walk of shame. I was now a very welcome relief to the tedious course work. A short knock and a turn of the lab door handle revealed the full truth of the situation. Standing in their white Lab overalls the two teachers discussed the situation.
For a second time I was escorted down the corridors, this time towards the head, this time with two teachers, this time with two classes resorting into chaos. I had managed to relieve both science labs and their frustrated pupils of their teachers - I had I brought freedom to my peers and in doing so caused havoc.
A small voice in my head shouted “you are legend, you are a hero” , another quieter voice whispered “you are a twat and you are in deep Shit!”
The Head confirmed my whispering thoughts and after a long speech on “disrupting not one but two classes, to be thrown out of so many of these chemistry lessons, the misuse of school property etc etc .. it was inevitable - the short sharp thwack was back only this time it really hurt - Mr Dunn was a mean Head. I never got the cane again.
School was a 10 minute walk away and all my elder siblings had gone to the same school.
therefore it was a given I would go there too - I don't have too many memories of school except for just couple that stand out - on my first day at school I remember Naomi Platt kissed me on the cheek - something in never forgot. I wonder if she is fit now....
In school the only memory I have is being canned, unfortunately not in a canabis infused way - but actually hit with a thin stick. At this point I realise im turning into Dad when I think “You can tell the kids today - but they wont believe you”. The days of corporal punishment are long gone, I do believe however that the threat of pain is a good deterrent - something the youths of today know nothing of.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Carrot and Archie my two closest friends at middle school. Carrot lived at the bottom of my road which meant we saw a lot of each and became good mates. Archie was just a rebel, he didn't have any other friends, he hung around with us two and most of the time , got us in more trouble than we intended too. One day we decided to play ‘army’, a usual pastime of our age group, our fathers had experienced war for real and many documentaries were watched with my dad about war! I firmly remember the black and white series “the world at war” every Sunday afternoon. “All join on for army” was the chant and a small conga developed in the school playground. From there two sides would be made and the battles would promptly commence. A stick was a machine gun and using the greatest in machine gun noises a noise that almost every boy could do in my school , to be honest anyone that ‘joined on for army’ - had to pass the ‘machine gun noise test’ If you couldn't do a rapid fire M15 sound followed by a hand grenade going off - dont join the conga!
During the course of this particular battle I thought it was a good idea to ‘up the anti’ and use actual stones as hand grenades. This didn't go down at all well with the dinner ladies who of course took the appropriate action and sent us to the head masters office where we were ordered to stand outside - where upon he (the Head) would return from lunch, ask us why we were there and as on many occasions give us a stern talking too and send us back to the class rooms with some sort of punishment. Usually cleaning some class rooms at lunch for a week or some lines to do in our spare time. Getting told off was becoming the norm and developing into a sort of game for a few of us. This dinner time was no different and we felt quite pleased with ourselves for this punishment. However while walking the long cool corridors on this particularly sunny dinner time shoving each other into the walls, passing blame from one to the other, we were accosted by another teacher who reminded us that the corridors and school buildings were out of bounds on such lovely days and why were we fooling around in this manor. Im not sure why we didn't tell the truth right then and there - maybe in fear he would escort us himself to the headmasters office and at this stage we were thinking of anything to get out of that situation. So when we had no legitimate reason for being there the teacher decided it would be best if we stay in his classroom and cleaned up the litter, tidied the book shelves and write a few hundred lines that would take up all our break time and therefore waist this lovely days lunchtime doing chores, we of course thought this was a great exchange from what would be an awkward discussion with the head and possibly many more break times used up in such a manor. After tidying the room and now busily doing our lines, the lonely clip clop of heeled shoes broke the silence and as the plump dinner lady peered through class windows, a sickening lump manifested in my stomach. The dinner lady that sent us packing to the Heads office was slowly patrolling the corridor, perhaps on her way to check we had indeed done as she asked.
Clocking our panicked faces as she walked the several windows along the classroom to the door. For a brief moment we hoped she would continue her patrol and walk on by, but alas the knock on the door sent us all into a cold fear. It was obvious what the two were talking about in hushed voices “I SEE” said the teacher looking coldly at us over the shoulder of the dinner lady. “Come with me boys - you didn't tell me you had someone to see”
The headmaster explained that if throwing stones was not serious enough then lying to a teacher and trying to escape any punishment for such an act is FAR greater and therefore gave him no alternative but to request our hands. Sticky palms turned upwards as he collected the long thin cane from behind his desk. The swift sharp thwack left a slight red stripe on each hand. I remember Karl the school hard knock, who had joined into our violent game of army of five boys, crying like a girl as he received his punishment. Maybe it wasn't the pain of the strike but the thought of “what will happen when your parents are told about this” as the head said on more than one occasion while striking the ten palms.
I cant remember any serious punishment I got at home, I was never smacked, although Colin, Jacky and Chris will reminisce of many dinner times where a cane had laid across the lap of my father as they ate. Anyone talking or failing to eat properly would surely feel the full force of this ‘manor making’ tool.
The 7 year gap had chilled my parents a huge amount and no-such weapon was used- although a ‘speed wheel’s track of aprox 1 meter in length was picked up a few times by my mother but I was far to quick and would be at the top of the stairs before she was out the kitchen. A yard stick is a great deterrent for any child to misbehave and although I was never caught the thought of it was enough to send me scurrying to my bedroom.
SENIOR SCHOOL
By the time i was ready for senior school my elder Sisters were dating seriously and within a few years all my elder siblings were married at 20 -21 years old, I suppose it was the norm back then but i think they were forced into leaving the family home by the constant over crowded noisy atmosphere that must have been a daily occurrence.
Senior school was more of a doss than anything else. Boldmere school although in a better part of the Birmingham area was never one of the best performing schools. My senior school years were mainly about survival, there were a few tough lads in my year and I was able to be part of their friendship group by being funny and dossing with them. Adam Hulbert - a giant of a boy and still is, he was huge at school, he and I would sit together in Maths, it was here we would annoy and looking back perhaps bully Clifton Saunders. A swat of the highest caliber. We are in the 2nd from top class in maths and Clifton wanted to better himself, he wanted to become a banker. I wouldn't be surprise if he succeeded. It wasn’t long before he graded up into the top group leaving Hulbert and I to find new prey. It was all harmless stuff though, no physical aggression, Adam just needed to look at you and most would shit their pants. I was glad I had him as a friend. Although he had an annoying habit of picking me up and swinging me around like a rag doll - something he still hasn't grown out of - just last year when I saw him in a night club he shouted “Blakey” putting his pint down and proceeded to swing me about, to the joys of the laughing friends.
School can be crewel at times.
My biggest regret was taking Chemistry as an option, I couldn't grasp it and I felt out of my depth in virtually every lesson, which is why after many weeks Barney and I had a small competition on who could be thrown out of Chemistry the fastest. Up until this particular day the record was held by Barney with a respectful 15 minutes, plenty of time to settle in and cause some sort of commotion and beat that time I thought - but I had thought of a better idea during the previous weeks lesson using the bunsen burners.
The teacher (i forget his name) had no time for me and Barney and I’m sure he would gladly have sent us away for the remainder of the school term if he could, he knew we didn’t like the lessons either. Which was why on one particular day he was a little concerned at seeing both Barney and I at the front of the queue to get into the Chemistry lab. Looking down his nose at the two of us as he un locked the door swinging it open allowing for a small flood of 30 or so teenagers to fill the empty seats. I had a cunning plan dreamt up during the last lesson and it was about to put it in practice, running to our designated seats I grabbed the bunsen burner that sat next to the gas taps and sinks that were evenly placed down the long wooden lab benches.
Quickly I secured the rubber hose of the Bunsen Burner to the end of the coned lab taps that curve downwards towards the white porcelain square bowls.
With the turn of the tap water was sent up in a majestic fine fountain that didn't stop until it splashed against the ceiling in triumph. Gravity peeled the jets spray from the white ceiling sending it to the heads of many pupils, as the first few drops splattered the heads of a few creaming girls the fateful words boomed out throughout the classroom.
“Blakeway GET OUT”
I’d done it - surely an unbeatable record, less than 15 seconds i looked back gloating at Barney as I was expelled to the cold gloomy corridors of the science block.
Proudly I slouched against the bricks and thought how hilarious that must have looked.
To be honest it wasn't long before the joy and satisfaction of the deed moved towards boredom and frustration. I peered around the door to see Barney and all the others busily swatting away, writing inconceivable quotations into books. I was now very bored with almost a whole hour and a half to kill.
Something way up the corridor caught my eye. There in the biology lab was Carrot and crew. Waving furiously while Mr Handcock scribbled on their classroom black board. Handy cock, Hard Cock etc (funny how one remembers some teachers names and not others) was a good teacher, was a bit of a laugh when he wanted to be and I enjoyed Biology but we could only have two sciences and when I chose Physics as my first choice biology was not and option and so Chemistry was forced upon me.
I was intrigued - Carrot and a few mates were becoming me towards their class momentarily stopping the overboard hand gestures to resume working, only until Handy Big Cock was scribbling again and so the see saw of actions continued until i could take no more boredom. I sank to my knees and began the 20 meter crawl passing under the wide windows of my class. Smiling to myself thinking about the expectant faces on Carrot and crew, this will be one to laugh about all the way back to Mayfield road. As I approached the Biology labs door, I gathered myself into a small ball, allowing my feet to be flat on the floor so to raise up to the door window, and give myself a good chance to flick the V’s to Carrot and his cronies while Hard Cock was talking to his class. As I raised myself slowly to the first few millimetres of the clear glass window I could see my class mates waiting for my arrival they were ALL looking towards the door - this is better than I though I said to myself, ‘but wheres Hard Cock” just then rising like the harvest moon came the bald head of Mr Handcock. Within a few seconds there he was full faced starring directly into my eyes. As we straightened our bodies still eye to eye, both with a fixed grin, him with a “aha got you boy” type grin, me with “Oh shit, you ARE still funny aren't you mr HardCock” type grin.
It was Carrot and his mob that were flicking the V’s as I stood face to face with head of Science Mr Handcock as he opened the door. “Can I help you” to the cheers of the rest of the class who had informed Mr Handock of my arrival whilst on all fours coming up the corridor Carrot had announced “Sir - theres a boy crawling up the corridor towards us - Sir”
Handcock had readied himself for the acquaintance crouching by the lab door.
Escorted down the corridor by Mr Handcock I could here the muffled shouts of joy as the biology lesson resorted into mayhem, a number of mates looked on pushing their faces into the window and distorting their noses and mouths.
The Chemistry Lab was quiet as we passed, everyone busily writing in books. A nudge from one pupil to another singled my arrival as I passed the wide windows. Just minutes ago I had cleverly navigated beneath and was on the way to a victorious prank, instead i was walking the long walk of shame. I was now a very welcome relief to the tedious course work. A short knock and a turn of the lab door handle revealed the full truth of the situation. Standing in their white Lab overalls the two teachers discussed the situation.
For a second time I was escorted down the corridors, this time towards the head, this time with two teachers, this time with two classes resorting into chaos. I had managed to relieve both science labs and their frustrated pupils of their teachers - I had I brought freedom to my peers and in doing so caused havoc.
A small voice in my head shouted “you are legend, you are a hero” , another quieter voice whispered “you are a twat and you are in deep Shit!”
The Head confirmed my whispering thoughts and after a long speech on “disrupting not one but two classes, to be thrown out of so many of these chemistry lessons, the misuse of school property etc etc .. it was inevitable - the short sharp thwack was back only this time it really hurt - Mr Dunn was a mean Head. I never got the cane again.
