When I won Wimbledon

I was thinking recently of my school days, how good they were and the friendships I made. Just a few memories of mine aged 10-14

When I won Wimbledon.

School friends were good friends.

Craig Woodland.....

Or Woodie as we called him.

He was my best friend.

Born just days apart in the same hospital.

Lived in the next street.

At school we were rival athletes.

I usually beat him in the 100 yd sprint

But not always, and had to be at my best.

He came around most Saturday nights to our house.

We played Subbuteo.

He was Liverpool..I was Man United.

We also played snooker on a 6’ by 3’ table

In my front room.

 

Rob Mcdonald.....

Wasn’t sporty

Except that we did both represent the school at rugby.

He was prop and I was full back.

I enjoyed playing tennis against him ‘cause I usually won.

He was bright.

He knew a lot of stuff like names of World War 2 generals.

He was an artist. Always being commended.

We played chess against each other

At home or even in class when teacher wasn’t looking.

 

Peter Jefferies.........

His dad was the village butcher .

So I would pop in now and again

 carrying a tennis racquet,

 pass the freshly cut lamb chops or beef steaks.

I’d ask if Peter could come out today.

What I meant was ; could we play tennis on his grandad’s  tennis court?.

Grandad owned a large house about a mile away

 With a tennis court at the side. Lawn tennis.

And that’s where I first won Wimbledon.

 

Steven Tyler........

Don’t know why were friends at all really.

‘cept he’d let us all come round his house on Wednesdays

 when his parents were out.

We’d pretend we were in a band and

bang on upturned tins with knitting needles or sticks

as we listened to the latest pop records on his tape recorder.

When we got bored with this we just roamed around the house

playing hide-and-seek , hiding in cupboards or under piles of coats.

I don’t think we were friends for long.

 

Alan Marshall.............

 Lived in the next village, a twenty minute walk away.

His parents owned a detached house with a garden

that seemed to go on for ever.

There we escaped, made dens, climbed trees

 and picked and ate gooseberries.

 

David Hurst........

We were both members of the ‘I-spy’ gang

complete with cards, secret signs and spying.

Often I’d get invited in to play cards with his family.

Pot- rummy, I think.

They’d always give me a few pennies to start with

 and seemed  to make sure I always left with money in hand

 and a few sweets.

 

Then there was

Susan !!!!

I suppose I fancied her.

I think she liked me.

She sat behind me in class

And would dig me in ribs with a pen for answers.

And she once brought in a packet biscuits just for me.

Yes, a nice girl.

It nearly broke my heart when she failed her 11+

and ended up at a different secondary school to me.

 

  School friends were great friends.

 

 

Author's Note

I was quite surprised that I could remember so many names and characters from so long ago. I just wanted to jot down the precious memories I still had.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I love little treks to the past like this. When we were new, the world was ours to embrace with arms wide, experiencing all that there was with unbridled zeal. Some of my friends from that time are gone now, but they still live on in memories. Thanks for the trip back.