| my life so far |
| the early years It all began in June 1970. Actually, strictly speaking it began in the autumn of the previous year, but I don’t want to go into all of that right now. June 1970 was a month of great change and, for some, great sorrow. England lost the football World Cup. The Beatles broke up. And E.M. Forster, one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, passed away. On the other hand, I was born, so perhaps it didn’t turn out too badly after all, eh? Little is known about my early years growing up in Yorkshire, England, but my Mum recalls that I was a happy child, constantly laughing and chortling with innocent joy. Or perhaps it was those Benny Hill episodes that used to screen back then? Who knows. What I am sure about, though, is that my brother Andrew already knew he had a duty to teach me that life isn't all sunshine and laughter. At least, this would explain the punching and the hitting whenever my Mum's back was turned. Well, I'm not sure I've learned my lesson even now, but at least he can say he tried his best. The photo below, which I think dates from 1974, will show you what I mean. Note the cheeky smile on my young face, in spite of the deadly Vulcan "nerve grip" being expertly applied to the back of my head (partially obscured by the front of my head). Growing up in Yorkshire wasn't all pain and suffering, though. From ages 4-9, I attended Crossflatts First School, now closed but hoping to welcome me back some day in its new guise as an old persons' home. There I made friends and had my first kiss, with my third year teacher (no, not really, just with a girl in my class). I also developed a love of music, and joined Bingley Parish Church Choir, singing my enormously oversized head almost off its pencil-sized neck as I performed to astonished audiences across Britain and Europe. I also brought home a bunch (swarm? gaggle? herd?) of trophies from singing competitions (my proudest moment: winning an event for which I was the sole entrant). And, I fell in love with "the beautiful game" of football. At nine years of age, I passed the entrance exam to Bradford Grammar School, and began my education in a wide variety of subjects, ranging from Latin to Divinity - topics I still use on a daily basis even now. They were happy days, as this photo of me with my father and my two brothers (Jonny and Andrew) taken on Christmas Day 1981 clearly demonstrates. There was only one real fly in the ointment at that time, but after the ear reduction operation had left me looking more normal, the "Dumbo" nickname soon disappeared and I was able to make friends again. More good news was to come when my younger brother's alarming outbreak of pre-pubescent facial hair also cleared up. Then, in late 1982, six months before my thirteenth birthday, our lives changed forever... (what was this change? to find out, read on...) |
| My Homepage (Click here to return to the start - but don't expect to pass go, or to collect $200) ------------------------- Hobbies (These are a few of my favourite things) ------------------------- Career (Afraid to ask what it is I actually do? Then step this way) ------------------------- All About You (For those friends and family members with the courage to find out what I really think of you) ------------------------- Links (Not the large cat, silly - that's a "lynx" - but some of my favourite websites) |
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| everything you wanted to know about me - and much, much more |
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