I think I was one of the few pupils that became a close friend. My mates used to call me a `bum lick` etc etc but it wasn`t a point scoring thing.

It started out when I became friends with Matthew (youngest son) who was the same age as the rest of our class. Cut grass for the animals, helped at the farm, camping by the all weather pitch, basically became best buddies. Not only was it fun in my spare time but I boosted my pocket money each week years later (think I got 50p an hour!) at the same time. Much of the workload was coming from Mr P and I think he was most thankful as most of us remember his long hours, working each day either in his office, activities, showers, walking his dogs etc.

He used to get up in the early hours (probably around 5 or 6am) and rest at the end of the day at around 2am, day in, day out! Don`t think many of us would hack that sort of pace for very long, I certainly couldn`t.

His dogs were his companions much of the time. Starsky: he was getting on a bit when I knew him, Heidi: she always seemed to be on heat 24/7! Anyone remember trying to get passed the Head`s office door would understand! She tried to take chunks out of my leg on several occasions!

I remember Mr Peaster as a close friend which seemed to have been brought on my the initial activities with Matt and these friendships helped me settle into the daily routine and provide variety during my spare times!

The news of his death hit me quite badly, probably harder than most ex-Q`s because of the friendship which had developed over the years and will remember him, probably for the rest of my life.

I expect most would agree that the experiences at school play the biggest part in what we have all become today.

Rest in Peace!

 

Justin Cooper.