Trevor Williams

I went to Roxeth Manor from 1951 until 1956. I lived in Exeter Road and would walk to school via Malvern Avenue and Kings Road. My most vivid memory was walking past the bakery on the corner of Kings Road and Eastcote Lane. The smell of hot bread was irresistible and if I had money I would buy a loaf of hot bread and devour it before getting to the school which was only about 100 yards from the shop.. My memories of school are pretty vague but I recall a teacher named Mr Marchant. I think he lived in Kings Road and had a big flag pole in his front garden flying the Union Jack. I also recall another teacher who was a POW and put his survival down to drinking Milk.
I was born in a small village in Essex where the educational standards were far behind Middlesex. Taking the 11 plus exam was optional and my name was not even considered. However we moved when I was 10 to Rayners Lane because of my Dad’s job so he could commute to London and I was put in Roxbourne Primary School where the exam was compulsory. I hadn’t even been taught half the stuff in the paper and naturally failed.and was put in 1C or D at Roxeth.. I owe a lot to the school because by the time I got to the 4th year I was in 4A. After that I stayed for 6th form and went in the Commercial class. That was great as there were only 2 boys. Gordon Blackmore and me. When the class did sports we were told to ride our bikes or play tennis.
Out of school my pals were all kids from my street. Eden Raine, John Conant, Dereck Ellis and Pete Squires. I wonder where they all are now.  Many times all our families would holiday together in caravans at Sandy Bay near Lyme Regis and brilliant times they were. As we got older we were given a caravan to share. I leave the rest to your imagination but will say we were starting to notice there was a species called girls.
I joined the boy scouts at the Methodist church in Harrow. The 14th Harrow and eventually became patrol leader of the Owls. Amazing how much you remember once you start. I still have a photo of me in those stupid hats a la Baden Powell. It was only my ears keeping it off my nose. I also recall putting on the rucksack ready for a potholing trip to Somerset and falling backwards because it was so heavy..
I did a paper round for a shop near Rayners Lane Station. My route took me almost to Field End Road. On Saturdays and Sundays I got a job helping the Milkman in Harrow. They had horse and carts and the boys would wait outside the gate for the milkmen to come out and they would pick their boy. The chap who delivered on the hill to Harrow School would always pick me. I recall one day I was dying for a pee and he said in the Army they always did it up against the nearside rear wheel so I did and he drove off. When you’re that age you embarrass easy especially in front of all those posh kids.
I also played football for Eastcote. The only people I can recall are Terry Hester (Mac), Frank Newman and Dave Higgins. The pitch was near the Clay Pigeon in Field End Road but we were only the second or third team and and later we had to find another pitch which turned out to be at Uxbridge swimming pool. We were still called Eastcote  and I cant remember why we had to change pitches or how we got there as we were all to young to have cars.
After leaving Roxeth I went to Kilburn Polytechnic to study Economics and Accountancy.
I am now retired and spend 6 months of the year (the summer LOL) in Beverley in Yorkshire and the winter 6 months in Thailand where I also have a house.