Figure 1.-- |
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Dad had several shorttime postings when we first returned to Britain. This meant that I sampled more schools. Not being at either of them particularly long and only being about 6 or 7 at the time there is not much to say other than it was always good to be the centre of attention as the new boy,
especially as these schools were not populated by Station Brats (occasionally called Runway Brats) so my lifestyle was something very different. Having a deep tan, blonde hair and (to them) a strange accent all added to the fun. I attended several different state primary schools. My early memories are a liitle vague, but as I began to set them down on paper, more came to me than I expected. For some reason I seem to recall PE more than classroom activities. I started at a state secondary, but was not very happy there so my parents transferred me to a day prep school and then I began to board. My brother and I often were in the same schools, but he began to board at a prep school before I did, so we were separated for a few years.
Dad had several shorttime postings when we first returned to Britain. This meant that I sampled more schools. I wound up attending primaries all over Britain. Not being at either of them particularly long and only being about 6 or 7 at the time there is not much to say other than it was always good to be the centre of attention as the new boy,
especially as these schools were not populated by Station Brats (occasionally called Runway Brats) so my lifestyle was something very different. Having a deep tan, blonde hair and (to them) a strange accent all added to the fun. I attended several different state primary schools. My early memories are a liitle vague, but as I began to set them down on paper, more came to me than I expected. For some reason I seem to recall PE more than classroom activities.
Just prior to this move I was aware that there was an option for me to
attend a private school and possibly board. Many Services children take
this option as it means their education is less disturbed and it gives them
a more stable base. The idea was talked about a couple of times when I was
around 8 or 9 but my parents did not want me away from home and thought
experiencing different places and people was just as good for me. I was not
too keen on giving up the good life and going off to Prep School either. My
brother loved the idea and he started to board after his first year at
Senior school when he had his 12th birthday. He had not liked the senior
school he was at and my parents gave him the choice as he would soon be
getting ready to start his O level courses. The Government provides some
funding to help Service families with boarding fees and also at the time
there was a Government Assisted Places Scheme if you passed the entry tests.
At the time Servicemen were not well paid at all; it was only in the mid 80s
that started to change for the better so there were obviously financial
factors too.
I started at a state secondary when I was 11years ol going on 12. I was not, however, very happy there so my parents transferred me to a day prep school and then I began to board. My brother and I often were in the same schools, but he began to board at a prep school before I did, so we were separated for a few years. This is a little complicated, because a British prep school is really a school that includes the later primary and early secondary years. I will include my time at the prep schools as part of my secondary years as I began at the prep schools a year after I had started at the state secondary. Prep schools were beyond the ability of our parents to afford, but the Government had a program to assist with the tuition for service personnel.
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