Keep Smiling...Keep Shining, Monday, December 11, 2006

Dear Fellows,

Most of us first met Pete in September 1952 but it was not for some nine months later that I first uttered a word in his direction. To be precise it was at 9.15am. on the 2nd June 1953. This is not because I had never noticed him, quite the reverse; sad to report: He and I were not birds of a feather.

Even a quick glance at his photo in George's Strand School site would reveal a fellow filled with a quiet Joy of Life. "Keep Smiling...Keep Shining", the last words he wrote were his watchwords, throughout this and I would not wonder, many previous lives.

Anyone who has read a few of my letters over the past four years will have noticed a touch of the absurd, reminiscent of Michael Wharton (Peter Simple) of the Telegraph and Jeffrey Bernard (who was often "unwell"), Low Life correspondent of the Spectator. Both these chaps were notorious Depressives. It took years for me to recognise this quality in myself.

A while ago, I found in my fathers desk a twee pink and blue book in which was recorded:
"babies first words". That's me. The words were: "Oh dear".

Poles apart from Pete whose first words could have been: "Keep smiling..."

Ah yes, my First Word to Pete. A group from the school who had won the distinction of lining Elizabeth's Coronation route to The Abbey were assembled outside Tulse Hill station. Pete was some fifty yards away with his mother. To attract his attention, I called him. At the crucial moment I forgot his name (still happens) so shouted: "Oy"!

Did the trick.

Now whenever I visit the Holland Tringham, the local Wetherspoon Public House to which Pete and I repaired (love the word) whenever he visited me and is now indelibly associated with him in my mind, I sometimes get the urge to try a shout.

If it would bring him back. I would, I would! And happily risk disbarment.

All the best,
Neil