“Nig came round in the afternoon”
What? You were maybe expecting more?
Yes, this 1975 diary is getting off to a lacklustre start isn’t it?
Maybe I should use this lull in the proceedings to do a brief “cast of characters” primer for the years ahead?…
Nig could probably be described as my best mate at this time. He lived just around the corner, and we spent loads of time in and out of each other’s houses.
Via Nig I also got to know other Fair Oak lads like Malc (later my best man) and the four Martins (P,P, T, & R)
Tim was someone I worked with at Lancaster & Crook supermarket. He was the other main member of my (now,sadly defunct) “band”
Nobby was my very good mate from Nursling. He will be mentioned a lot through 1975 and beyond. He attended many of the same classes and courses as I did at Barton Peveril.
Other people from Nursling and Rownhams who I palled around with included Norm, Rickie, DA, Smutters, and Judy & Gina (the Butler sisters)
In my Art classes at college I was good friends with Nobby, Niles, Derek, Sarah & Paul D. Our Art tutors were Tessa D’arcy Orders – an adorable “hippie” lady – and Roy Godfrey – a somewhat haphazard and eccentric tweed-wearer who was always pulling his socks up. (In a weird twist of fate in the early 80’s, I would not only end up employing Mr Godfrey’s son for a company I was running at the time, but I would also date his rather delightful daughter for a few months)
During my Technical Drawing classes I mucked about with (again) Nobby plus Tony, Bob, Mick & Nigel (not to be confused with Nig). Our tutors were Mr Brown (who always smelled of cigarettes) and a firm, but fair, belligerent Scotsman by the name of Bill Pollock. Many of us also did a “Technical Studies” class – the basis of which I can’t remember (metalwork? woodwork?) – where we were taught by Mr Whitfield.
It’s hardly worth mentioning my English Lit classes. Except to say I was tutored by a stiff-collared very strange man called Archie Benham whose face went BRIGHT red and who would visibly shudder with barely contained rage anytime a student pissed him off. I was one one of those students.
In order to remember one of those tutor names I had to refer to my old school reports which reminded me – and you may find this as funny as me – that I also took typewriting classes! Something else I wasted my time with at college obviously?
All these people and more will appear from time to time as this diary unveils its dirty little secrets.
Excerpts from a 70's Teenage Rock Opera 
We come/came from Nursling – we weren’t no posh gits from Rownums. I demand a retraction on behalf of the Nursling two! The others were from across the tracks. Sort it out! :op
Your concerns have been suitably addressed! Sorry you weren’t posh.
i was taught by Bill Pollock in 76-78, i was a right pain in the arse, but he persisted with me, and i would say he’s the reason why i got through – belligerent yes, but i owe him!