MICHAEL ALAN WARRINGTON
Nelson House, 1954 - 1963
For some inexplicable reason I suddenly felt compelled to contact the Old Shorhamers web site and check out what was on there and who I remembered from my time at the Old school at Pond Lane in Shoreham. Only John Scadgell, Chris Wynne, Tony Partridge, Piers Pragnell, Peter Creasy and Frank Sandell came to mind (actually saw Frank on one of those antique programmes recently) John having been a very good friend during my time at the school. There are not many stories from ex-pupils during my era so this rather long piece may refresh a few memories for some and be of interest, I hope, to many others.
I was adopted at the age of 4 (yes 4!), to what can only be described, as a couple with two very differing personalities! My adopted mother being very dominant and controlling and my father a very passive, calm man with poor health conditions. I tell you this as it will have a bearing on stories I tell here. One of the odd conditions of my eventual adoption was that I was to go to ´people who could provide me with a private education ´. And I have to say my adoptive parents carried out these wishes to the letter. My first proper school was Miss Kayes’ Broadwater Preparatory School at Thomas A Beckett, Worthing - a walk away from home in Northfield Road where my father had a corner shop. Miss Kaye called us ´little rats ´when we misbehaved!! My second school was Goring Hall-a fine building with lovely grounds - now a private Hospital. I enjoyed a year there before ending up at Shoreham Grammar. By that time we had moved to East Preston where my father had purchased a piece of land and built a bungalow. I was to live there until my first marriage.
As a young boy of 9-10 years of age it was quite an adventure at first going to school on the 8.19 London Victoria train to Shoreham. What parent would now allow a young boy of that age to go to school alone on a train?? My first form teacher was Miss Brady. The Irish lady who ruled with a rod of iron - very firm but fair. She always had a square shaped ruler made, I would assume of some hard wood that certainly stung when we had to put our hands out for punishment! One day she was called to the Heads Office and whilst the unattended class buzzed around some bright wag threw her stick up into the open loft void in the class ceiling, never to be seen again. No one owned up to Miss Brady! I remember Mr Marsh (Slimey - not because he was but because when he talked a little piece of white slime would appear at each side of his mouth UGGH!!). He was Form teacher in my next year as well as English and Music - singing those traditional English & Welsh songs, Jerusalem and Men of Harlech. Oh yes and The Marseilles for some reason. I guess to see who had the best voices for Chapel Choir? Oh yes, morning prayers were in the school chapel across the road. Hymns sung to music played on an old pump organ. What fun some of us had when Tricky Curtis was playing the organ and we stopped pumping half way through and the music died!!! And Tricky would say “Keep pumping, what you doing??” Cowboy Kennedy, our school padre, would conduct morning prayers - a man who did so much for the school, and was instrumental in ´saving ´it!!
Other school teachers I remember fondly were, Mr Lewis-Geography who also took the CCF on a Thursday - more of that later, Mr Bennett, Mr Lewis-French & Art, Mr Wills (who also arranged the school trips abroad and scouts). Mr Shell-History, Mr McClaughlin-Maths - never got my head round much of the more advanced stuff!! Mr Thomas-Middle school English and ex-ballet dancer, who could throw a board duster with the accuracy of an exocet missile! Also Mr ´Soapy ´Wright - lovely man, Soapy because of Wrights Coal Tar Soap! We did pull his leg to the extremes sometimes, poor chap! But Mr Curtis I remember with some affection as he took me under his wing when I was going through difficult times. He sussed out my mother. I used to have extra Maths and he came to our house for tea and studies. I remember him trying to tackle my mother one day and told her that my problems were as a result of me being afraid of her and her bullying! She was very indignant about this and retorted ´You are not afraid of ME ARE YOU, Michael?´ Noooo Mum!! That said it all!
The first few years at the school were good for me on the academic side and I did well, but I was under so much pressure at home from my mother as she had such high expectations and when I under-performed, life at home was pretty grim! I had good friends at school in John Scadgell, Piers Pragnell and Tony Partridge and we used to spend time at each others’ houses. But John lived up at High Salvington in a big house, his father having the Scadgell Furnishers shop in Montague St. Worthing. I used to cycle from East Preston to John’s house and we would often spend the day exploring the Downs and playing in the chalk pits - happy days.
As the years progressed, my studies seemed to go downhill. I was not that happy at home and in order to prevent further unhappiness, I began to lie to my mother about how well I had done in my studies until one end of term, I had such a bad report that I felt I could not face the truth and the agony of her nagging and unpleasantness. I decided to run away from home. Term had finished at midday and on the way home on the train I finally made my mind up. My mother worked until three at the local hospital so I had time to get a few clothes, my P.O Savings book, stuff them into my bicycle saddle bag and off I went to Leicester to see my grandmother!! YES Leicester - 186 miles on a bicycle at 13 years of age. I arrived 24 hours later to a relieved grandmother. The police had already been and gone, but it was supposed I had gone to my old place before I was adopted in Locks Heath Hampshire, so police resources were concentrated down there! I stayed for the Easter holidays up with my grandmother and aunts in Leicestershire until my return by TRAIN to Sussex. And the first words my mother said on my return? 'You have decided to come home then?’ Nothing much really improved after this episode. Of course Mr Bruder, The Head at school and others knew my predicament and what had happened. I remember the sports master (forget his name) saying ‘You must be fit Warrington, cycling all that way. We expect great things of you in Sport this term’. Yes I loved sport at the school at the lovely grounds down the road. I did not excel, but X-Country was good for me. I remember breaking the ice in February going across several streams off the Steyning Road by the old Beeding Cement Works. I usually came second behind Peter Pellett! Could never beat him! Footy was good - played on occasions for Nelson.
CCF ( Combined Cadet Force) - I joined at 13 years of age having a uniform rather too large for me, but took to it like a duck to water - LOVED it. My REAL father was in the RAMC Corps until his retirement and was Camp Adjutant at the Chelmsford Barracks. So maybe it was in my blood. Later in life, I was able to get all my father’s full Army Records - interesting stuff!!
CCF day was Thursday and we did many things which today would not be allowed - Health & Safety! Carrying 303´s across the Downs on exercise with blank ammo, having the keys to the school armoury where many guns were stored--.22´s--.303´s Lee Enfields--Sten & Bren Guns etc. We had our own small .22 range behind the School Chapel which we used frequently and firing at the church weather vain! .303 days up at the open Steyning Range on the Downs. Remembrance Day Parade at St Mary´s Shoreham and Summer Camps. The most noteable being my first at Borely Camp at Aldershot. 4000 cadets under canvass and Sunday Parade with Montgomery taking the salute! Other camps at Thetford, Norfolk and St Martins Plain, Folkestone. I ended up a Sergeant and loved all those great times of team building and reading and understanding an Ordnance Survey Map - how many can do that today?
I left Shoreham with only 2 ´0´levels and went Worthing College of Further Education to gain more and also a further year studying Institute of Chartered Secretaries Course. Did not get my full Diploma as one had to pass all five subjects - failed Accounts!
My first job was with Westminster Bank in Rustington and I was there for 6 years, by which time I was married. My wife did not want children and although she worked at Lloyds Registrars, she wanted her own horse riding stables. After much deliberation and sheer disappointment of both sets of parents, we gave up our jobs and started a business at Castle Goring, just outside Worthing. I quickly learned to ride properly and competed at many shows, including Hickstead in the International Arena. After 11 years, we parted and went our separate ways. For me it was a bit like ´snakes & ladders ´ - I was at the bottom of the ladder once more! But I picked myself up, got a job at the DHSS (which I loathed), but I got experience back in the REAL world and found myself working as Manager in a local Estate Agents, for another 6 years. Things changed again and I had met lovely Wendy and was married for the second time, living in Rustington. Estate agency changed with Insurance Companies getting in on the act. I then found myself working for Friends Provident at Portsmouth. After a difficult 18 months studying, passing all the necessary exams and also getting business, I struck a rich vein of business and ended up Top Advisor in the company and was promoted to Executive Financial Consultant. During those years, I was fortunate enough to go on many corporate events, including a visit to Zimbabwe, Borneo and Rio de Janeiro.
I retired from FP in 2004 and got a part time job in a garden centre - no pressure and I loved it. Wen and I eventually decided, as my son was out here with his partner and our lovely granddaughter, to come and live in Southern Spain - Salobrena, south of Granada. We have been here 5 years and enjoy the relaxed style of living in an ´old town house ´overlooking the Med and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. We have three sons and three lovely grandchildren.
No apologies for the long screed. I hope you found it interesting and anyone who remembers me please e-mail me.
Peace & tranquility be with you all and your families.
Mike Warrington
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