September 1971 - I arrive at Romsey School for the initial staff meeting. A cocky upstart from Liverpool - this should be a breeze ? I already had had an initial meeting with a great tour from Steve Williams and an intro from Mike Harvey. I pull up an a small baldy guy with a full strength fag on the go . He stands there with his hands on his hips and his braces and shirtsleeves ! Am I seeing things he is rearranging / scratching etc ? I was taught well - always make friends with the caretaker !! I parked the trusty Midget and approached Old Baldy ! Can you tell me where to go mate ? The guy dragged on the coffin nail and coolly blew smoke in my direction ! What you here for ? Oh Im the new PE guy I said with confidence ? The small guy looked me up and down and calmly said with a deep nicotine drawl - you got any sense Nipper - I would F*** off back where you came from !!! It does knock you back a bit ! Rude so n so methinks but there you go! Did my staff meeting and all seemed well - apart from that little baldy guy. Some caretaker him ? So what do you do - drive out to the local hostelries. The Bear n Ragged Staff looks a pleasant place. God - you go in the bar and who stands peering over the bar other than Baldy !! What a choice of pub ? What do you want Nipper - and mines a pint ?? What - who is this irritating little git ? My first meeting with Percy Cudmore - once seen never forgotten. I asked him what was like to be the caretaker at Romsey School - the response was you stupid f****** w******* I teach test***** drawing. The mouth dropped open and so my education really did start. I enjoyed many great times with the aforesaid baldy old git - sadly none more so than three days before he left us all bruised and battered from board rubbers etc Romsey Hospital was the venue and I had taken Percy a pack of four cans ! Well open the F**** things you stupid Scouse Git - is that all you have brought me ??? Somethings never change? When it was time to go - the Sister - possibly Hatch - said it was time for me to go ! Thats right Percy said - get that silly *****er out of here he only brought me 4 cans !!! Cuddie - an absolute legend and a privilege to have known him as a colleague and a friend. He taught me loads - he taught a load of people loads. My long lasting memory of this man was remonstrating with a 16 year old youth in Wembley car park who foolishly had spat on the Buddens coach !! Percy pinned this kid and told him in no uncertain terms to lick it off as this was a Romsey Coach and was not going to be spat on ! You didnt mess with Cud !!!!!
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 19:09:02 +0000
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