16th February 1948.  I left school, aged 16,  and started at Marconi's Wireless Telegraph  Company aa a Craft Apprentice.  I had announced my intention of leaving in the summer, so had been moved to Economics 6 as a temporary measure.  My decision was greeted with some disappointment, as I was a Foundation Scholar, and had great prospects, they said, for an Open Scholarship to Cambridge.  But I had decided instead to go for a Marconi Apprenticeship, and my mind was made up, in spite of all attempts to persuade me to change my mind!  At the same time, I enrolled in the London BSc degree course at what was then the Mid Essex Technical College and School of Art, and committed myself to do the course on the basis of Day Release and evenings.  

 July 1947.  We sat the Oxford School Certificate in the Bean Library.  It was a hot summer, and I remember playing table tennis with Gordon and Ian at the home of John Tyler in between exams.  His parents had an upholstery  business at the top of Junction Road, and there was plenty of room for a table tennis table. I don't remember doing any swatting for the exams - we just took them in our stride, and we were so well taught that the exams were no problem for us.   I was in Science 5, and there was a great mix of subjects Maths, English, French and Latin, as well as English Literature, Chemistry, Physics and Geography.  We got the results in August, and I still have the certificate. 

July 1946

 Here is a photograph of the boys of Brentwood School, taken in July 1946.  I was in Upper 4, and recognize, even after all these years, several of my contemporaries.  There are Gordon Hardy and Ian Horan, my special friends, who I have kept in touch with until their recent death.  So there is no-one left for discussions of those days, thinking of the masters who impressed me, taught me so much and made me what I am today humanly speaking.  The fearful Hector Higgs (Latin) 'Get up on your hind legs laddie' - to translate a passage of Latin in front of the class, that is.  No future confrontation I endured in my career in Industry, (and there were many!) struck me with such fear!  There was M, Jacottay (French) 'I give you five verbs'  Etre, Aller, Pouvoir etc.  I still remember something of them!  There was Wally Waldron (Geography) who was said to have been tortured during the First World War, and was likely to push you into your desk and shut the lid on your head if you displeased him!  And so I could go on!  Looking at the photograph, I can still recognize Thorogood, Alleyn, Houghton even now.   They were happy days, and I was privileged to have such an education, due to the not insignificant sacrifices of my parents.

 1945 The end of World War 2.  I was 13, and I remember being on holiday at Hayling Island, and looking across to Portsmouth.  I could see a blaze of light - all buildings were lit up, which had to be in darkness during the War!  A great time of celebration!

 1943.  1943 was my Year of Destiny!  I came top of my class in Standard 4 at Junction Road School, much to the delight of Mr. (Bill) Occomore.  He called me his 'Peerless Pupil' but I guess he was risking giving me ideas above my station!  He cycled each day from Harold Wood to give us kids the benefit of his wisdom, including how to set out a letter properly!  I've found that ability very valuable in the years that followed.   Later I came to know him more closely, as after his retirement he was ordained, and kindly sent me donations towards my outreach work at the Essex Show in later years.  Joyce and I visited him at the St. Francis Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower, near Romford, when he was dying from cancer.  I will of course explain later how Joyce came into my life, but you'll have to wait until 1958 for that. Maybe 1958 was my Year of Destiny!

1943 was notable for the fact that my sister Jean and I were taken on holiday to Kingstanding, Birmingham, to stay with Aunty Lily, my Dad's sister, Uncle Olly and my three cousins, Cicely, Ivy and Pat.  We were very lucky to have a holiday in those War years! I remember kicking a ball in their back garden, and it smashed a bedroom window.  I got a clip round the ears for that!  Serves me right - I was probably showing off to Cicely, as I think I fancied her!  Here we are playing in the local park.

• I don't have  much memory of Uncle Olly, but I think he was usually  sitting in the corner of the room, apparently a bit the worse for the wear for alcohol! 

So I sat the 11plus, and also the Foundation Scholarship for Brentwood School.  I was successful, and gained a Foundation Scholarship, which meant that all my fees were paid.  But there were lots of extras - shirts with Eton collars, school cap, blazer with Brentwood School badge, football boots, cricket boots, etc, etc.   So my parents forked out for all this, and I'm sure there were many sacrifices to enable me to get this great start in life.  My Dad came with me for the interview with Jimmy Hough the Headmaster, who was quite a fearsome guy, but also very kind   I remember he said that he prefers playing cricket with a hard ball, as it's easier to catch (so he said!)  He could wield the cane very effectively, as I found out later!

Here's a picture of the school, taken in 1955 

So in September 1943, I appeared in Middle 2, under the watchful eye of Mr. Ashbee, known as 'Basher' Ashbee.  He had a wooden leg, as a result of his  service in World War 1.  We had regular tests of all subjects. and the results were read out to the whole class, so everyone knew who was on top, and who was lagging behind.  Once he read out the list starting with Harrison, and then said 'sorry I read it the wrong way up!' Harrison was bottom  of the class, so everyone knew, and Harrison had a red face!  That sort of treatment wouldn't be allowed today!

WARTIME MEMORIES

I was 7 when the War started in 1939, and I do have some quite vivid memories.

Sleeping in the Anderson shelter at the bottom of the garden. This had bunk beds, and was a bit damp.  It was lit rather inefficiently by a torch bulb mounted on a board, powered by a lead acid accumulator which was also used for the radio (wireless!)

Sleeping in the Morrison shelter in the front room. This was a 'double decker' so you had to climb up if you were on the top deck!

Listening to 'In town tonight' on the radio on Saturday evenings.  'Once again we stop the roar of London traffic to see who is  In Town Tonight'  

Going down to Milton Road to visit my Grandad.  We used to play dominoes, and I would go with him to Woodman Road woods, pushing his barrow, which carried the canes cut from the wood, and used for the peas and beans which he grew in his garden.  

Grandad's barrow was also used for collecting horse manure for his garden.  This was conveniently dropped on the road by passing horses - no cars in those days!  I remember Partridge's the Baker in Junction Road had a horse-drawn cart for delivering bread (I suppose!) So that's one possible source of horse manure, but I'm sure there were others.

We often had air raids, and many houses were bombed, as we were quite close to the railway.  My Grandad wasn't afraid, as his faith was in God. He used to quote Psalm 91 verse 5 'You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.'  He used to say this was his air raid shelter.

Going to church on Sundays with my Mum and Dad and sister. Our church was hit by an incendiary bomb, and some of the rooms were burnt out.  But the church itself was saved.   

Going to Junior CE (Christian Endeavour)  led by Miss Ong, who taught us the Word of God, and brought us slices of apples and oranges.  She said I was her 'right-hand man' !  It was my job to introduce the visiting speaker. Here is a picture of our group, taken I suppose by Miss Ong.  Even though it was war-time, we seemed happy enough! 

 1937 STARTING SCHOOL   I started school at Crescent Road Infant School aged 5 in 1937.  By this time we were living at 19 WarleyWood Crescent, one of the Hospital houses, so it would be OK to walk to school. I don't remember much about those early days, but I remember a teacher called Mrs Joslin, and the Headmistress was Miss Yull.  What I do remember is that there was a plaque on the outside of the school with the caption 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' The Bible Proverbs 9 verse 10.  The school is still there, and is now a day nursery, so the plaque is still there for all to read!

I then progressed up the road to Junction Road, where I attended South Weald Council Mixed School, later Junction Road.  My first report in Summer 1940 was from Miss Grundy.  She said 'John is intelligent and well-advanced in most subjects for his age; but his handwriting is very poor.'  She was right about the handwriting!

 Here is a nice photograph, taken I guess on the day of their engagement.

Today I'm looking back to 21st. June 1930, the day of the marriage of my parents.  Victor Edward Lancaster and Ethel Ada May Radley were married at Trimley St. Martin Parish Church, Suffolk. The service was conducted by the Rector Rev I J I Banks, and the witnesses were Alfred Radley Ethel's father, and Frank Hayter, friend of Victor.

 

 6th May 1936.  My younger sister Jean Margaret was born at 23 Coptfold Road, Brentwood, Essex UK.  Coptfold Road is now a multi-storey car park !  I have memories of nightmares, in which I woke up and was scared of the reflection in the  mirror across the room, presumably a dressing table.  Then someone came and hung a blanket over the mirror and I was OK.  I also remember going to Woolworth's in the High Street, and I couldn't see over the counter.  I remember talking about the coming baby's little fingers and toes!  These are memories of my life as a four year old before the Second World War.  My Dad started as a nurse at Brentwood Mental Hospital in 1928, two years before he was married to my Mum in June 1930.  I 've got a picture of their wedding, so I'll look for it and post it soon.

 

1932. The story starts on 18th April 1932, when I was born at 40 Crown Square, Crown Street, Brentwood, Essex UK.. As you can see, it's still there.

Here's a picture of me as a baby, taken at Bennett and Blunkell's Photographers, Kings Road, Brentwood.  What a bonnie bouncing boy!  I was told this picture was displayed in their window!

I was baptised as an infant at Brentwood Weslyan Methodist Church, Warley Hill, on Sunday June 9th 1932. Here is the certificate

I was placed on the Cradle Roll of the Methodist Sunday School on July 16th 1932.  Here is the certificate.  As you can see, I was well and truly signed up!

 Hello this is John Lancaster from Chelmsford UK. I'm starting a new venture - a BLOG to write about my life and various adventures I get up to.  Once I get this set up, I'll start by telling my story from the beginning, so WATCH THIS SPACE!

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 3rd. September 1939  So it's 3rd September, the Anniversary of the day World War 2 broke out in 1939, 81 years ago.  I was 7 at the time, and remember a lot about it. The first thing I remember is standing at the top of the stairs at home, and seeing the roll-up black-out blind across the window