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"Come over here and meet Dave King, "King Beat of the South"", said my friend Dave during a visit to the
"Pure Drop" pub. The "Pure Drop", not far from the Portsmouth Guildhall, was a favourite drinking spot for beatniks. The beatnik
era was coming to a close when I spent a year (early 1960s) at a college that was located in the then Portsmouth Polytechnic
building just behind the Guildhall. I was never a true beatnik but tried to dress like one as influenced by the friend previously
mentioned. Corduroy jackets, combat jackets from the local "beatnik tailors" (ex Government supplies) and jeans with frayed
bottoms were part of the style. The year might as well have been a "gap year" academically but remains an interesting interlude
for me.The "Trad Jazz" revival was underway so college dances ("Snoghops") were blessed by the entertainment of Chris Barber
and Humphrey Lyttleton.
I was 14 when the 60s commenced and a new era had just started for my education. An 11plus
and 13plus failure my parents were determined to see that I had the best possible schooling. I was a choirboy at All Saints
Church and the Vicar had some influence with the nearby Mile End House School (a Private School). With his help, I was able
to gain a place under the Headmastership of Mr Payne. "Clary", as he was called by the pupils, was a strict Head who was driven
by the determination to give his charges the best start. Not shy of weilding a cane, he was at times a fearsome presence in
the classroom. Parents expected no less for their offspring than the discipline and education provided at this school set
behind a Georgian style house in Mile End, Portsmouth. Across the way was the birthplace of Charles Dickens; Dickens' creation
"Dotheboys Hall" and its Master, Wackford Squeers, could at the worst of times in a pupils imagination be his school but that
would be so unfair to Mr Payne and his staff. I made good friends at this small boys only school and am grateful for the efforts
of Clary et al to give us a good foundation in education.
The early 60s saw the emergence of the scooter as one favoured method of transport for teenagers. The
two most popular scooter makes were Lambretta and Vespa (I had a Vespa GS); my friend John lead the way when he had a Lambretta
during the last year of his stay at Mile End House School. John became the unofficial "leader" of the little group of scooter
owners I belonged to that formed during the following years. We were based in Locksway Road, Milton: this phase lasted
only 2 years (we graduated to cars) but when we have travelled down "memory lane", my old friends and I are
surprised that this enjoyable period of our lives lasted only a few years (it seemed so much longer). Happy memories
then John, Malcolm, Alan, Les, John and Norman. Sadly, John passed on in early 2009 after a painful period of cancer. Until
we meet again John!
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"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And
this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good
in everything." ("As You Like It")
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