For a very short time in the early 60s, our school ran its
own version of Juke Box Jury. I was asked to be a panellist. From memory, I
thought that we were still in the fags - first year at big school and described
at the time as the third form. History reveals otherwise. I must have been in class
MVC, which stood for middle-fifths [and comparative thickos section]. It is now
known as year 10, unless it has changed again.
They played the new Rolling Stones song. I fancy that it was
“I wanna be your man” but it could just have been “Not fade away”. The Stones
were suddenly all the rage amongst the lads who were most fashionable and in
the know. I was neither, but I also felt honour-bound to defend the Beatles
against all comers, so I slagged it off. I was lambasted by my peers and the
audience. I felt thoroughly humiliated, in the way that is only possible when
you are fourteen.
I wasn’t asked again and I wouldn’t have gone near it, had
it ever been mentioned. Though I’ve seen and enjoyed the Stones in concert
since, I remain a Beatles man to this day. I still think that “I wanna be your
man” was a weak song. The Stones had yet to show what they were capable
of.
The railway society met in a different room in the same
building. I felt safer there. I was back in my comfort zone. Trains did not
answer back. In the same year, John Dyer took this picture in Duke Street,
Birkenhead. I should have just gone down to the docks on my bike with my
camera after school, instead of mouthing off.
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