The Linton Infants Years - 1978 - 1981

Back in 1977 we moved roughly 16 miles closer to Cambridge. We stayed there until 1987.

In those days the field behind was mowed by a team of local residents headed by my dad. The place has today become unkempt, however through the words and pictures here, I hope that you are able to join me in a trip back to the late 1970's and early 1980's and share some of the fun I had at number 2 Kingfisher Walk.

The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

Two Kingfisher Walk - As it is Today

 

The Tourists - So Good To Be Back Home Again

 

 

Spot the Brown Baby - Summer 1978

 

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

 

              The same scene from behind today

Here is a picture of my first class, almost exactly as it was when I was there. The main classroom building is directly ahead, with the same "conservatory" style add-on as it was when I was there. I can remember almost as if it was yesterday my first day of school. All the children crying for their mums. I remember looking around wondering what the fuss was about!

 

 

 

Here is a picture of of me from about 1979. Many years later a teacher remarked to me, the thing he most remembers about me was my hair. In case you are wondering my head doesn't go to the top of all that hair! In 1979 prejudice against anyone who was deemed to be "non-white" was rife. This extended to certain "grown up" children, and especially the dinner and playground supervisors. 

 

A child of five has no idea what his colour is,  or what his "crime" is supposed to be. My childhood was in many many ways idilic - but sometimes there was another side.

 

These days I would fall into the category "born here." Prejudice goes down the line to the next people; Polish or Eastern European economic migrants. Its a sad fact that some people take out their frustrations about their work and social status on children, but there are a lot of evil people out there. 

 

Mrs Alexander's Class - 1978 - 1979

 

Download 05 We Are Glass

This is undoubtedly where I first began to read and write. At Christmas time we made decorations, and I experienced glue for the first time - not for sniffing I might add. 

 

Mrs Alexander was not the most friendly of teachers, but what she achieved with us has stayed with me for the whole of my life. She was a teacher who aimed high and moved mountains for us all. She is pictured here, back ramrod streight, smiling but a picture of disclipline. I think many children owe her a great debt.

 

The next year I was in the portocabin which was situated behind this building and infront of my first classroom building. I remember one of the girls excluding my from the Wendy-House - I exacted my revenge by sticking my foot out and tripping her up when I got the chance - yes I did get thrown out for that one, I remember the shame and humiliation of that one like yesterday too!

 

The other thing that I remember clearly in the class of 1979 - 1980 was the teacher being a lover of nature. We were never just confined to the clsassroom. That year we were treated to watching chickens hatch, which were stored in the classroom in an incubator. we all waited and waited and finally small holes appeared in the eggs. During the night the small chicks came out, and there they were all fluffy and yellow. I think introducing children to experiences like these show them the power of nature and give them a deep impression of its power.

 

 School Playground

 

Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short

 

As a child I remember I was never afraid to play games with girls as well as boys. We used to play hopscotch, and all kinds of games with the skipping rope. I wasn't bad at any of the games, but one in particular many of the girls would ask me to do. This game consisted of me holding my arms out and a girl either side of me hanging on, while I ran along. I couldn't really see what the point was, but it seemed like they liked the feeling of being pulled along by me! Funny people!

 

My final class 1980 - 1981 was directly ahead in the picture, on the left was the dinning hall/ gym (also where the school photographs were taken). Out of view is the open air swimming pool on the right - I still even have the certificates!

 

Something I remember clearly was the launch of the spaceship Columbia in April 1981. I remember telling my dad that I wanted to see it. He told me to ask the teachers, and sure enough they set up a television so we could see it live from America. It was good of them to allow us to watch it, although not all children were interested. I walked away a happy child, I found the launch inspiring and may have affected me proffoundly. Even now when somebody makes a suggestion - I think carefully why not...? What are the implications for dashing young people's hopes.

 

Sting & The Police - Walking On The Moon

Meet the family 1981

 

Tom Tom Club - Wordy rappinghood (1981)

 

 

Comments

[Sally]

Hey Mr.Stuart thanks for your information about the cradle of knowledge. The pictures of your kingfisher house looks nice and pretty, especially that white out house extension and that garden bench. It looks real nice. When I went to look at my own childhood home it was draped in yellow hazard ribbons, and the cops told me not to go inside because of the lead paint and abspestos roof. But I didn't care! Its nice to return to the childhood home, isn't it!

Your school looks nice too, cottage like. And like you I can't forget my first day, too. This is because they searched my coat on the way out and found that I had borrowed the teachers housekeys. It was a common mistake, but they didn't seem to care. Yea, I will never forget my first day, just like you. I was the only child to ride home in a cop-car, and i was considered the talk of the townfor years to come.

About the prejudices, I mean, I totally understand your meaning. For when they called me gypsy I hadn't a clue what it was all about. My teacher said i should be proud that my dad was a tinker. My mom came in once to give her a free fortune reading, but the teacher declined. The childern thought it was great. But when I painted the teacher's new car with traditonal polish motifs, she wasn't at all impressed, in fact she called the cops.

Your photographs are great fun. It is a pity that I have none to share with you. But we do have a few of my dad in the local newspapwer. he is a minor celebrity around here.

Well I must go now and thanks for the stimulating Blog! What great childhood memories we both have.

Write soon and God Bless!

[Administrator]

Hi Rob! The garden bench wasn't there when we were there 23 years ago! The extension was always freezing cold and full of woodlice. Not a pleasant place to be.

I'll never forget the time I was watching the Goodies and I literally shat myself laughing where I sat and went in there. Or when I went in there feeling something happening down below and this white stuff came out. I remember my mum telling me - don't worry son. Its just a "spunk up" hahaha classic - you can't script this stuff.

Behind the first picture was a many huge trees. In one of them this kid called Garath Padget kept calling people "wanker." I remember calling my dad "wanker" and getting a slap from my mother. I had no idea what it meant - I thought it was just a term of endearment.

I talked about my time kicked out of that mobile, but to be honest in my first year with Mrs Beavis I absolutely remember being kicked out. I mean what the fuck, what was I doing - I was only 4. Racist cunt - bet none of the blond hair blue eyed girls didn't.

One little spastic girl in the playground kept ramming me to show off, and one time I just stood still. Smack she went, into me and then on the floor. That was the rest of my school break face against the wall - in full shame position. A position I became absolutely and unequivocally used to throughout my schooling.

That skinny up her own arse tart in the picture was Mrs Fawlkes. I think she has a little green Fiat 127(I used to pronounce them Flat because I couldn't read the badge). I didn't know much about it, but I could see it was shit.

There were some amazingly odd cars on our estate, all the expected ones; Escort, Cortina, Cavalier, Princess but also a Wartburg and a Moskovitch. I mean where the hell would you get a Moskovich? It was a pale yellow estate one. Looked like a tank.

I should do a blog on the bikes we had. Posh nuts here had a streight Bianchi 5 speed racer, but others had "Tomohawks" "Grifters" or "Choppers" or a "Bomber." If you look where the gate is next to the house, there didn't used to be anything. I used to ride down the hill and straight into the back garden trying not to scrape all my knuckles on the wall. Usually unsuccessfully.

The garden was the best part. Some of the kids didn't like me. But I had a ploy; play with me or get the fuck out my garden. Seemed fair enough to me at the time. I was a reasonable landlord, but no respect and the red card could come out without warning - justifiably so, me thinks.

Loads more stories, perhaps not all printable here - something to do with, nah tell you next time.... ;)

[Sally]

Thank you for your enjoyable comment Mr.Stuart. Your mention of park bench brings back fond memories, too. When I was young my mom and dad often had arguments and my mom would always say "Go back to Park Bench." I and my sisters often walked around the neighbourhood looking for Park Bench Street but we never could find it.

We also had an "extension". Let me tell you about it. Our house was a terraced two-up-two-down. It was in a row of about 50 houses and it was on was on a hill overlooking the car factory. It was easy to go to school because it was all down hill, but comming home was a drag. Sometimes my mom would just squat in one of the empty houses at the bottom of the hill for a few days, she said it was our "extension" house. My dad had lots of "extension" houses, for we often saw him watching TV in many of the other terraced houses. So, yeah, I know all about "extensions".

Yeah we had "grifters", too. In fact my dad was a grifter. When the police showed up at our home they said he was a "grifter" and my mom laughed and said "he aint a grifter he is like Einstein, he's grifted." So we all laughed and the police said, "It's okay, but the grifted grifter needs to go down to the cage for a while." Ha, ha, ha. What lovely times.

There was also a spastic at our school. She could walk with crutches and leg braces. She was kind and loving to me because I used to piggy-back her up the hill. But my brother called her the "bottle-opener". It was very unkind. One day my father said "go and get the bottle opener" and my brother went and got her. My dad was confused, but when we explained the joke my dad had a good laugh. He even opened his beer with her crutch. Everyone remembers this time.

Our garden was not green. It was concerete and full of car parts, bed springs and such. Often the neighours would give us more stuff for free, like fridges and washing machines. They never worked but my dad thought the stuff was great. He said we could fix it and sell it and make money. Sometimes he would give the children ballons for their offerings, Everyone liked our dad.