Back in England and back to reality I needed to get a decent job. I searched the newspapers for teaching positions and started applying. I dressed in my best, spoke confidently and expected to be given the position. To my surprise, I was not successful and this amazed me for having chatted up the opposition, I certainly would not have employed them, so there must be something basically wrong. Eventually, on a trip to Cumbria, after I had been unsuccessful yet again I cheekily responded:

“Do you mind if I ask why I was refused?”

The Headmaster had no hesitation is saying:

“Oh that’s easy. You are Australian and can’t be trusted.”

So that was it! At least he was good enough to be honest and say out loud what the other Headmasters had been thinking.

“Okay”, I though to myself, “Two can play at that game.” From then I decided to see England on interview and then go home. Expenses were always covered when going to interview so I had some lovely visits. I had a great weekend at Lake Windermere, lovely lovely kippers for breakfast on the way up and a lovely hotel. I could tell a young lass was lined up for the job already and sure enough I was unsuccessful and the young lass got the job. No worries. I went to Gravesend which seemed to match its name perfectly, so I wasn’t sorry to be unsuccessful.

I poured over the map of England. There was a job going in Broadstairs where Prime Minister Edward Heath originated from, and I quite fancied seeing Peterborough and its Cathedral on the way. I had it all arranged. I had an interview at Orton Longueville Comprehensive in the morning and an interview at Broadstairs in the afternoon. Nothing could go wrong – or could it?

Mr St. George was the Headmaster at Orton Longueville Comprehensive and he saw straight through me. He was obviously desperate to employ a music teacher. Quite soon in the interview he asked:

“Do you have any other interviews coming up?”

“Er well” I thought it would be wise to admit the truth, after all, it may be in my favour and demonstrate that my skills may be wanted by others

“I have an interview at Broadstairs this afternoon.” With that the headmaster asked:
”What’s the number?”

“Oh-oh,” I thought, adding up the cost of the hotel and sundry meals I had already consumed. I could not afford to cover them myself. I gave him the phone number he phoned and in my presence cancelled my appointment and then offered me the job at his school. “Get out of that one” I thought. So, I would be staying in England after all.

At the acceptance of my first job teaching music in England I had to admit I was a bit thrilled with the prospect. I immediately tried out the hall piano and rushed through Chopin’s Revolutionary Study in a kind of triumphal flourish.

I was to be an assistant to the Head of Department. My first day had moments of fascination. The school had only just been created from an amalgamation of a grammar school and a secondary modern school. …