Timeline 1950s . Location Lapworth , Warwickshire.
I was shipped out to the family home after being "hatched" in a nursing home / maternity home in Edgbaston. My elder brother , Rob , was at Amesbury prep school at the time prior going to Pangbourne Nautical College. My father had returned from the war and I saw little of him as he was either endlessly drinking and socialising or setting up a successful business - he had many influential friends in various spheres and actually did very well in life between drinking bouts . Looking back now father appeared to be a bit like a cross between Mr Churchill and "Lucky" Lucan.
My dear mother was the mainstay of the family home - a wonderful woman of aristocratic heritage and independent means ( which father used a lot!) . I suppose we would have been known as very comfortable.
Being the elder brother - Rob played some of the usual tricks that older brothers played . I received a well used £1 note from my aunt at Christmas ( a lot of money then) which Rob persuaded me to swap with a shiny new 10 Shilling note! Probably the worst was when he took me shooting with his trusty 4/10 at about seven years old and got me to piddle on an electric fence - God that hurt! That said he was also very kind and I got my first "White Fiver" from him when he was paid off from his ship when he was with Harrison Line of Liverpool .
The family dog at the time was Bill , a lovely British Bull Terrier, who father wanted to mate so a "match" was found and Bill was despatched to the breeder at the correct time - sadly nothing happened so the mate , Jane, was sent to us when she came into season next time in the hope that Bill would perform on home territory.. Bill and Jane were in the gardens and brother Rob went out to see them and witness them firmly tied "arse to arse" in coitus and ran inside - "Mummy Mummy come quickly something terrible has happened to Bill and Jane" - mother witnessed the event and said "It's alright Rob - they are just playing cricket!!!!"
They were happy days and I attended the local pre-prep school Hurst House where I spent a considerable amount of the time tied to the chair as I was , I am told , rather naughty and my mother used to collect me and Miss Franey would say "Oh hello Mrs Saunders - I will just go and untie him!" Another feature of school these early days was having to be right handed only - the poor children that were left handed were always "on the ropes" and if they refused to become right-handed there was always what we called " The Kaggy Handed Belt" an unpleasant looking affair where your left hand was strapped to your waist by means of the belt. Standing in the corner wearing the Dunce's Hat and being locked in the stationery cupboard were other features of this early life! Imagine that these days !
I never did mind and it became just part of everyday life as did the continual round of boozy cocktail parties at the house . I recall my father's 40th Birthday party when the FIRST guests left after about three days and there was still a houseful after a week! Arthur Potterton the local provisions merchant used to trundle up the drive in his ancient Ford 8 van several times a week on these occasions bringing more booze! It was at this time that I gained my love of classic cars as I used to visit the twenty odd cars in the drive , sit in them for hours and dream! Some "Old School" people had pre-war Derby Bentleys , Alvis Speed 20s and the like and some had spanking new Aston Martin DB2/4s , Jensen 541s etc.
We had a happy little band of household staff including Mrs P , the housekeeper , Ivy and two outside gardeners Dolphin , and Polly (who was very earthy - as mother put it!) . Polly once came into the back kitchen and announced "The dogs have all had a good turnout and Butch (the Boxer) has passed a sock - do you want me to run it under the sink Mrs Saunders?" Needless to say my mother declined the offer and sent it to the dustbin!
So next on the agenda after these days when the sun always seemed to shine came prep school , the cane , Rugby & Cricket - more of that later!
I was shipped out to the family home after being "hatched" in a nursing home / maternity home in Edgbaston. My elder brother , Rob , was at Amesbury prep school at the time prior going to Pangbourne Nautical College. My father had returned from the war and I saw little of him as he was either endlessly drinking and socialising or setting up a successful business - he had many influential friends in various spheres and actually did very well in life between drinking bouts . Looking back now father appeared to be a bit like a cross between Mr Churchill and "Lucky" Lucan.
My dear mother was the mainstay of the family home - a wonderful woman of aristocratic heritage and independent means ( which father used a lot!) . I suppose we would have been known as very comfortable.
Being the elder brother - Rob played some of the usual tricks that older brothers played . I received a well used £1 note from my aunt at Christmas ( a lot of money then) which Rob persuaded me to swap with a shiny new 10 Shilling note! Probably the worst was when he took me shooting with his trusty 4/10 at about seven years old and got me to piddle on an electric fence - God that hurt! That said he was also very kind and I got my first "White Fiver" from him when he was paid off from his ship when he was with Harrison Line of Liverpool .
The family dog at the time was Bill , a lovely British Bull Terrier, who father wanted to mate so a "match" was found and Bill was despatched to the breeder at the correct time - sadly nothing happened so the mate , Jane, was sent to us when she came into season next time in the hope that Bill would perform on home territory.. Bill and Jane were in the gardens and brother Rob went out to see them and witness them firmly tied "arse to arse" in coitus and ran inside - "Mummy Mummy come quickly something terrible has happened to Bill and Jane" - mother witnessed the event and said "It's alright Rob - they are just playing cricket!!!!"
They were happy days and I attended the local pre-prep school Hurst House where I spent a considerable amount of the time tied to the chair as I was , I am told , rather naughty and my mother used to collect me and Miss Franey would say "Oh hello Mrs Saunders - I will just go and untie him!" Another feature of school these early days was having to be right handed only - the poor children that were left handed were always "on the ropes" and if they refused to become right-handed there was always what we called " The Kaggy Handed Belt" an unpleasant looking affair where your left hand was strapped to your waist by means of the belt. Standing in the corner wearing the Dunce's Hat and being locked in the stationery cupboard were other features of this early life! Imagine that these days !
I never did mind and it became just part of everyday life as did the continual round of boozy cocktail parties at the house . I recall my father's 40th Birthday party when the FIRST guests left after about three days and there was still a houseful after a week! Arthur Potterton the local provisions merchant used to trundle up the drive in his ancient Ford 8 van several times a week on these occasions bringing more booze! It was at this time that I gained my love of classic cars as I used to visit the twenty odd cars in the drive , sit in them for hours and dream! Some "Old School" people had pre-war Derby Bentleys , Alvis Speed 20s and the like and some had spanking new Aston Martin DB2/4s , Jensen 541s etc.
We had a happy little band of household staff including Mrs P , the housekeeper , Ivy and two outside gardeners Dolphin , and Polly (who was very earthy - as mother put it!) . Polly once came into the back kitchen and announced "The dogs have all had a good turnout and Butch (the Boxer) has passed a sock - do you want me to run it under the sink Mrs Saunders?" Needless to say my mother declined the offer and sent it to the dustbin!
So next on the agenda after these days when the sun always seemed to shine came prep school , the cane , Rugby & Cricket - more of that later!
I briefly attended Hurst House before Arden House & left when the school closed in 1964.
ReplyDeleteWere you the same vintage?