On 7th January 1966, I became a teenager and feeling a bit over-confident gave my dad a bit of back-chat, which resulted with me getting a good telling off and saying that I should respect my elders. Although I didn’t know why I should then, I soon found it to my advantage, because they would give me some respect in return, which makes me feel good.

I have found that over the years, some of these older people don’t always show any return, for example; I hold a door open for someone to walk through, or let them pass by standing aside on a crowded part of a path. I don’t even get a “thank you” or any other sign of acknowledgement.

Some may go on about the youth of today being disrespectful Layabouts or Yobs, but if some people would give these young people some respect in return, then there would be more understanding amongst all age groups. This is how I found my self-respect, but that wasn’t without discipline from my parents and learning what was right from wrong, and there are many times now, when I would reflect to my teenage youth, wishing that I had taken my parents advice.

When at school, the “HIPPIE” era was at its peak, with long hair, flowers, way-out clothes and music. That’s right, my parents didn’t approve, especially Dad who was X-R.A.F, so he made me have short back and sides every time I went to have my hair cut.

When I was 15, I started selling my old toys. I had a good collection of Dinky and Corgi cars, and a large layout of Hornby Trains with plenty of rolling stock. The reason for this was I wanted some money to go on holiday and to prepare for the time I would take girlfriends up to my bedroom, (to listen to records on my Mono record player) and feeling rather self-conscious that they might think I was still a kid.

However when I left school and went to Technical college then work; I grew my hair very long and by the time I was in my late twenties, I noticed I was beginning to go bald.