Figure 1.--.

I have been fascinated with reading about the experience of others on the HBC pages. I find especially interesting the accounts from others who were boys at about the same time I grew up. Both the acoounts of other English HBC contributors as well as those from other countries are fascinating. It's funny how boys remember some common experiences even though in different countries

Jonathan (England)

Jonathan's memories are of a similar period to my boyhood yet in the suburbs of London. I have it flagged from way back because I have (as usual!) a memory of going out to that sort of house visiting with my Mum. His back garden reminds me of my Mum's friends and there is a place out there called Ruislip Lido we went to a couple of times. Anyway I shall try to remember to write at bit about this. It links in with our playclothes and shopping at the market too so I will try to get round to it.

Eric (America and Italy)

Eric's writings are very interesting too especially because being abroad he seems to wear clothes that most American boys never would have. I found it amusing when he wrote that his Dad found some proper American style shorts (Canadian?) which were longer than the Italian ones they had been wearing and so he and his brothers didn't burn the backs of their thighs on the hot plastic seats of the camper van like they had before they got those shorts. I recall telling you that the same used to happen to us when we came back to my Grandfather's car after it had beeen parked up for a while in the Summer. We three boys used to all jump up when we first got in to the car and sat down and my Grandfather found it amusing. My Grandmother and Mum thought that we were exaggerating - but it really used to burn. Because we never had a car at home we never got used to it so we always had the same experience when we went up there in Summer - you never learn. It must have been even worse in Italy which I am sure has hotter Summers than Yorkshire! It's funny how boys remember some common experiences even though in different countries - but that sort of thing does tend to stick in your mind!

Bill