....

I know there's a lot of these but we look so angelic I couldn't choose between them

Growing up was on a 50's built council estate with, maybe, not the best of reputations but we were OK and never seemed to run into any problems.

The 3 of us went to the local Castle Hill primary and junior schools and all passed out 11+'s to grammar schools, Carol & I to Lady Edridge and Phil to John Ruskin. Never was established where we got our brains.... some suggested Mum & Dad..... Umm !!

But talking about them, here they are, Sally and Frank .....

Aah, can see now where we get our good looks

Now that bit about our good looks is not just my view. It's official and here's a photo below as proof. This is me when I won a big baby competition.. no I don't mean I was a big baby.....

..... and I'll get in first before Phil does.... 'What on earth were the opposition like?'

Holidays were to a caravan in Bognor every year until the early 60's when there was a huge adventure to Cornwall.... you'd have thought we were going to the other side of the world !!! Mind you up till then we travelled everywhere en famille in a motorbike and sidecar and I was even maliciously accused of having a big bum then.... although I suppose something kept pushing that sidecar window out for Dad to chase after down the road....

Here's a couple of early holidays

Getting older, but oh dear, we don't look too pleased about it do we. That's Nanny Chapman with us, Mums mum ... you'll hear more about her in 'Further back'

Now you see that dog with me above... well here she is again, a very important influence in my early years

This is Cindy... my first dog , otherwise known as Obedience Champion Lassies Pride. Yep, an all consuming hobby that certainly kept me out of any mischief in my teenage years. She also took the pair of us to Pinewood to appear in the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'

Now this next photo I don't remember at all but it's rather a nice one of me and me old Mum so I thought it deserved inclusion

And I think I'm going to finish this section where I suppose I finally grew up,... starting work at Queen Mary College, slap bang in the middle of Mile End Road in the heart of Londons East End.... wonderful place, wonderful years... but they're my memories. Here's 2 of the best friends you could ever have had.... Ray and Doug