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| John Barker - now from Australia |
| March,
2006 Hello Michael, I am an Old Centaur for the period up to October 1950 when my family carted me off to Adelaide, South Australia. It was before the School Cert. exams and I had turned 15 in July that year. This year I will be making my 7th trip to the homeland, and making contact (hopefully) with some of my classmates, and others, at The Jonty Farmer on the 1st.Tuesday in September. Haven't been to the JF before but I think it's on Kedleston Road - somewhere. Since learning of your website about 2 years ago, I have a look in on a regular basis and enjoy the contributions. My memory (thank The Lord), is still very good and I enjoy the memories. Not of "Corky" Coates I might add, as he was an awful bully towards me, and I had very ginger hair in those days (he would focus on me with eyes that floated upwards to his left - very strange!) People like Ron Cook, Messrs. Grimley, Poole, Topliss, Hanson, Hawkesby (to a degree), Chapman etc., and of course "The Boss" -- Mr Swaine. I am not sure that I would agree with a recent contribution by a Ted Harrison regarding Mr Swaine. I believe that The Boss was a man of exceptional integrity and utterly fair. I write as one on the receiving end of the cane he kept in his little strong-room. I cannot imagine how a student (Frank and his cronies) could operate under the Swaine regime. Not credible; he would have been dealt with. References to The Boss and attitudes to students in exercise sessions also not credible. I know that this was 50 plus years ago but Mr Swaine was a very upright man. (Ted Harrison did tell me later his words were too strong and not fair. He toned them down. - Ed) I read with humour about the "fag ash custard" at our camp at Whitby. It was always a great trip, and very exciting when we spotted "a namer" when we changed trains at York station. Saw "The Flying Scotsman" one year--I think 1947. The train from York to Whitby was a funny little thing and not very fast. One of the other "culinary" stories was a concoction made up by our catering staff and named CofTeCo. It was only just past war's end and nothing was wasted. So the remains of Coffee Tea and Cocoa were all mixed up together and became CofTeCo. We drank the lot, as boys of that age will. A couple of other memories come to mind from the Whitby camps and that concerned one of the catering staff who was young and pretty. All of the lads had a crush on her and she handled it beautifully. On a final night we always had a concert, and on this occasion this lovely young thing sang for us "Among my Souvenirs". She did it so well and brought the house down! At these concerts there was always a sing-song, and one popular item was "The Quartermaster's Store" and sung with great enthusiasm. This particular night there was included a verse covering "The Boss" and he took it with great humour and a broad smile. It went something like - There was The Boss, The Boss, having a great big toss in the store, in the store. There was The Boss, The Boss, having a great big toss in the Quartermaster's Store. My eyes are dim I cannot see etc etc. Some days earlier Mr Swaine did not show the same humour towards me when I was displaying a treasured photograph to some of my friends in the tent. I had fallen madly and deeply in love with Jean Simmons after seeing her in the Blue Lagoon. I wrote to her studio and received a 6x4 photo autographed "Sincerely Yours". The Boss took the photo from me, gave me a lecture about "Painted tarts" and said that future display would attract a painful punishment, holiday or not! I took his advice. Must close for now. John Barker. www.jwb@senet.com.au
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