A Tough Choice for a Young Boy.

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When I was at junior school, probably aged nine or ten, we were quizzed as to what we thought we would do for a living when we finally left school.

At that age it was not really a career decision, but I remember all the girls wanting to be nurses and secretaries, and most of the boys wanted to be engine drivers and things like that.

I remembered all this, because the class laughed

when I said I wanted to be a chef!

Well, it never came to pass.

At Grammar school, there were again discussions with career advisors, and being good at Art, I thought I would get into ‘Stage set design’ or maybe ‘Book illustration.

“There’s no demand” they said,

and “Certainly no money to be made.“

“ The future in in technology and especially electronics.“

I enjoyed the art classes. You always enjoy things that you are good at.

Whilst sorting out old photographs from my Grandmother’s house, I found a sketch that I had done when I was nine.

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Granny had kept it all those years.

It was done in ’ball-point’ pen and for a nine year old, not bad, considering that you could not rub out any mistakes, as with pencil.

At Grammar school, we had proper art classes, and guess what?

I was always coming ’top of the class’.

I still have many of my drawings and illustrations from those days.

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Bernard - class 5 a1

Here's a few. I hope I don't bore you.

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And for 'Grey Fergie' lovers -

(complete with rusty staples, at the top.)

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And for any up a Welsh Mountain?

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Moel-y-Myddfa or is it Molly Mithfa?

But my favourite subject was birds.

(in those days - only the feathered ones!)

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Sorry, there are no chickens.

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Close up of the above, Golden Eagle.

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A page of Tits.

(this is not 'page three' by the way!)

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A Peregrine Falcon.

And finally - the dreaded exams!

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Illustration Paper I - Art O Level - 1959 Wed 24th.

Object Drawing Paper III - Art O Level - 1959 Thur 2 July.

Guess what? I passed.

I was torn between what I enjoyed

and what seemed at the time,

the sensible subjects to study.

I opted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Well, that choice got me to university and into a well paid job, but I often wonder what would have happened had I decided to take the ‘arty’ route?

In 1968 I ended up here at Taplow Court,

a 'stately home' next door to Cliveden.

It was the home of

'British Telecommunications Research Ltd.'

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Of course I had to do a picture.

A 'scraperboard' from 1968.

I was there for nearly 20 years.

Perhaps I'll write up about them one day.

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