109 June 1969

I was pleased with the table top I’d made at school. Twelve square feet of formica-topped plywood, neatly finished with black edging was something to be proud of, even if it did take eight months. Mam was chuffed when I told her it was finished, but how was I going to get it home to Crundale Road?

‘Get David to help you carry it,’ said Mam.

My brother Dave, an Upbury Manor first year, met me at the craft block after school. Carrying it was easy to start with. Crossing Canterbury Street was hazardous at the best of times and timing was crucial if we were to avoid the kind of mishaps seen in The Plank. We made it, but the magnitude of the task dawned as we shuffled our burden down Trafalgar Street. Taking a breather and swapping ends at regular intervals, my brother and I huffed and puffed down Gillingham Road, along Livingstone Road, Canadian Avenue, Cornwallis Avenue, Beechings Way and all the way home, where Mam was ready and waiting with a screwdriver.

When Dad came home from work he ate his dinner at an upgraded, extra large dining table.

‘Gerard made a good job of it, didn’t he?’ said Mam.

‘Mmm,’ Dad grunted, through a mouthful of dinner.

Romance

A brief encounter with Lindsay Hawkes had put a warm glow in my heart. I yearned to talk to her again and maybe invite her to the pictures but Lindsay was a popular girl who always had friends around her.

Clearly, I’d have to catch her after school. Until I had the required funds it didn’t much matter, but I could do some reconnaissance in the meantime. When the bell sounded to end the school day I didn’t join the usual stampede. Instead, I dilly dallied; deliberately eating up the time my mates would wait at the gate before going on without me. The plan worked perfectly. There was so sign of them when I stepped out on Marlborough Road but Lindsay was there, a little way ahead with Ann Howe, her best friend.

At a leisurely pace, the girls turned down the alleys that led to Vicarage Road. From there they crossed Canterbury Street and set off down Trafalgar Street. I’d seen them walk that way before but it was their next move that interested me. Together they crossed Duncan Road and turned down Gillingham Road.

I reached the same spot a couple of minutes later. But when I turned down Gillingham Road I saw Ann in the distance... alone.

Blast!