My Life by Lionel Graves. (Page 28)
At first I cycled out to Lindridge daily, but then using the money I had sent to Mum each week and which she put into savings for me my gratuity from the forces and a donation from Dad to make up the difference. I bought a blue BSA 250cc motorbike from Copes of Dudley and that made travelling easier.
The first time I met Mr. Nicholas (Old Nick) the Headmaster he put me in front of the Senior Class and said “Give them a lesson”. Luckily my Education Corps training helped and I stumbled through a description of a journey through France. Old Nick had been a sailor serving in motor torpedo or gun boats in the Channel during the war. The school was all age, the Head took the senior 12-15, I had the Juniors 7-11's and a Mrs Ballenger taught the Infants.
She and Old Nick fought like cat and dog and I was perched uncomfortably in the middle, she finally resigned, either to retire or go elsewhere, I can't remember. Nicholas was so mad at her he was going to do nothing for her leaving. I thought this was not on so organised a collection from the parents for a card and a small gift. He was furious and went for me so I just argued back. After that there was no more trouble and we got on OK. His wife came in to teach the Infants, keeping it in the family. Once when she was away I had to take the Infant class, one girl about 5 years old went stroppy and crawled under the table screaming. I hauled her out and she bit my hand, so I put her over my knee and smacked her bottom, child psychology, there was no trouble afterwards. I was unqualified, uncertificated and only paid £5 a week but just had to manage, luckily I was at home.
During this time I had met another demobbed soldier who had served in a tank regiment in Germany, after the war, called Percy Mallen and also with another two Ron Froggart and Ashley Shuker we used to go to local dances, by cycling, or in Percy's Austin 7 or on my motorbike to Tenbury, Ludlow, Cleehill, Kidderminster or Leominster. Once we went to Ron Froggart's his sister Dulcies 21st party at their farm and Josie Mole was there, we drank too much Benedictine and while bicycling home about midnight down a steep hill with a brook running over the road at the bottom, I skidded, lost control of the bike and flew off, breaking my glasses, I remember lying in the road hoping Josie Mole wouldn't run over me. Perc had been in front and ran back through the brook to pick me up. I managed to remount and finally got home. I had to get up at 6.45am to cycle to school feeling a bit fragile, to add insult to injury an owl flew out of a hedge and nearly knocked me off the bike again. A few days later one of the senior lads came up to me on the playground and said “Sir, is it right you were drunk the other night and fell off your bike”... “Rubbish”, I replied, “It was only an accident.” Josie Mole had been talking and the news had got round like wildfire. I bided my time and waited until a little later when the smart alec lad misbehaved himself, as he was sure to do, and I gave him such a clobbering, he knew and I knew what it was really for, there was no more trouble.
Jean had a couple of friends from Bristol University, Mike and Paul who were coming to stay at Longfield. They had been working on a farm and Perc and I were supposed to meet them at 7.30pm at a pub in Worcester. Perc was the most unpunctual person I'd ever met and it was nearer 9pm before we got there. When we arrived there were these two disreputable looking characters who had obviously sunk a few pints whilst waiting, one with a red beret with holes in it, gnawed by rats it transpired and we greeted each other like long lost brothers, never having seen them before. A few more drinks were called for and then we moved to another pub, the Packhorse where they had this jukebox continually playing, “Ghost Riders in the Sky-An old Cowpoke came riding by one dark and stormy night”. A bouncer came up to us saying “we don't want any trouble from you lot”. After more drinks and several choruses of Ghost Riders we finally started home for Tenbury about midnight. The Austin 7 stalled going up Clows Top, it was always breaking down and Perc used to open the bonnet look at it, the engine, close the bonnet and it would start. This time he made us all get out and push before he worked the usual magic. Finally however we reached Longfield and found Jean, Mum and Dad still sitting up waiting for us, they had been singing hyms to pass the time, very aptly. Paul had flaked out over the last furlong and we had to carry him in, managing in the process to drop him where he cracked his head on the stone floor, but he only smiled a beautific smile, my memories after that are a bit vague.
1950
Lindridge C. E. School Football Team. Self left. Old Nick right.
Testimonial.
Email: Lionel Graves (lionel@graf-tek.com).
Copyright ©2000-2008 L. Graves. All Rights Reserved.
