Dens
We also built 'cave dens' in the clay soil at the rear of the main school building. This is where we used to go for a smoke, a fight and where teachers didn't come unless they really had to because it was so muddy. We used to dig out a hole, then use wood or corrugated iron sheets to cover the hole over and then pile twelve inches of clay on the roof. We were secure from teachers prying eyes. In some of the more intricate and well built dens there were fireplaces and chimneys and cooking racks for jacket spuds or anything else we could steal from nearby farmer’s fields or more rarely, the kitchens.
Sometimes we used to have battles between the dens of older boys and younger ones. We would hide in the den and pop a head out to lob a ball of clay or small rock at someone else’s den. They would respond likewise. No one ever got hurt, it was just good dirty fun!
SexI had my first experience of gay sex, or sexual abuse depending upon perspective, at this school. A milk lorry used to come and collect bulk milk from the local farms. The drivers always used the lay by near the end of the school property for their lunch breaks. There was one driver who used to give the boys cigarettes or money. When I discovered this I decided to find out which driver it was and see what I could get out of him. I found out who it was and one lunchtime managed to get to him before any of the other boys. I soon discovered how they made their money or got their cigarettes!!
He told me what the score was. In the hedge by the lay by was a hollow that had been made into a den. We would go there and play and if I was good I too could make money. It happened, and it wasn't too bad, and I made money this way a few times.
As the older boys got to know what I was doing with this man they got me involved in their games in the dormitory and dens. Because of my age (I was only 10 or 11 at this time) the games always ended in their pleasure rather than mine.
Disaster
The school had its own bulldozer and dump truck. This was because they were still developing the property and liked to build their own buildings etc as projects for us maladjusted kids to get involved in. I learnt to drive the dump truck and got the hang quickly. For some reason they wouldn't let us kids drive the Platypus bulldozer though. This must have frustrated me immensely because one Sunday when all was quiet, I think all the kids and staff were in the TV hut watching the Sunday film, I was messing around near where the Platypus was stored and I found myself in the driving seat. I started the engine (the staff always left the keys in the ignition, probably to save them getting lost or stolen), I messed about with the controls and suddenly it started moving forwards. I panicked, where is the brake? Oh heck where is it? Press this, pull that, oh heck where is it? I didn't have time to find it now - I leapt off the dozer just seconds before it plunged into the swimming pool!!
Oh no - that will ruin the swimming gala this year!
Beginning of a criminal
Before being moved out of this school I had my first lessons in crime.
Local houses and farms must have got fed up with us kids from the local school. We were always breaking into their property. Houses, cars, farms, shops, even the local church lost their money box a few times, they all suffered at our hands.
It was usually petty thievery, money or cigarettes. Though, a grapevine suffered at our hands once, heaven knows why!!
I was eleven or twelve at the time and a group of us ran away from the school and broke into a house to steal food, cigarettes and money. We invaded a quarry, in the process breaking into offices, sheds stealing anything and everything. We also demolished a bulldozer by driving it over a huge cliff. We were caught shortly afterwards and I received a 12 month conditional discharge.
I never returned to this school from the court. I was expelled after the court case was concluded and I was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge. I am not sure if I was being a bad influence on the other kids at the school or vice versa, but expelled I was.
After this event I was moved to a children's home near Leatherhead, Canons Court at Great Bookham, for the summer holiday. That holiday, coincidentally was spend in beautiful Torbay in South Devon where I was to later live with my own family. We stayed in what is now called Paignton Community College on the Borough Road site sleeping on camp beds and mattresses on the floors of the classrooms.
After that summer holiday I was then sent to a residential school near Camberley in Surrey.
