Saturday, 11 September 2010

My book!

Lots of authors release their books about this time of the year for the Christmas market, I am no different. Also, a number of writers serialise parts of their books in national newspapers. Here, I would like to give you just a taster of my life story.
I must warn you, there are a number of upsetting incidents that could have the more emotional of you in tears.
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I grew up in Bristol, you may know that it was one of the cities targeted by German bombers, my parents would discipline me by saying "If you are naughty, the nasty Germans will come and get you". With that sort of threat I was a well behaved boy. You have heard the phrase "a sheltered unbringing" ~ mine was ~ mainly in the Anderson shelter, occasionally the bus shelter.
(I originally wrote "sheletered upbringing" but that was a spelling mistake).
I thought my parents were kind, their first thought was of my welfare and I recall them putting me on a steam train at Horfield, with my gas mask, a small leather case with my belongings and a name tag around my collar (of a name I didn't recognise ~ Tony Hobden).
I was alone and lost when the train pulled into Temple Meads, a kind railway porter took me to one side and I explained why I was there. He pointed out that it was 1953 and the war had been over for 8 years.
A sibling of my mum's recognised my picture in the Evening Post and started to look after me. The smell of chewing tobacco, naval tattoos on arms, army tattoos on the navel, grey stubble on the chin bring back memories of these times, I imagine most people have aunts like that.
To follow:
Bullying in school, how lucrative it became.

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About Me

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My first 21 years were in BRISTOL, Monks Park until I was 18, 3 years at Redland Teacher Training College then off to the bright lights of London for 10 years. Living in Horfield from the early 50s my dad took me to Eastville to watch the Rovers regularly, the first team mainly but often to see the reserves as well. I joined the supporters' club in the mid 60s and was membership secretary of the junior club, eventually taking over as chairman after the famous Gordon J Bennett left. In 1969 I moved to SE London to start my teaching career.I taught at Crown Woods, Eltham and Thomas Tallis in SE London and the next 27 years at Lake Middle School on the Isle of Wight. My main subject was mathematics and I taught a lot of PE concentrating mainly on football. Whilst in London I played football for Ramsgate, Faversham Town, Carshalton Athletic and Corinthian Casuals. My wife bought a half share in STROLLERS beach cafe in 2006 and I spend a lot of time with the customers. Viewing some of the pictures on this site will give you an idea of how I spend my leisure time.

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