Made in Dunstable

From post-war rationing to bus travel-sickness, from playing tricks on the local tramp in the “Jungle” to chasing outlaws through delapidated prefabs, from conkers and cricket in the park to blackberry-picking on the Downs.

From post-war rationing to bus travel-sickness, from playing tricks on the local tramp in the “Jungle” to chasing “outlaws” through dilapidated prefabs, from conkers and cricket in the park to blackberry-picking on the Downs, and from the author’s favourite teacher of all time at Ashton to the over-powering ‘Batman’ cloaks of the masters at the Grammar School, Dunstable provided them all.

Then there were the family get-togethers and beach holidays, the fun and silly Christmas games with uncles and aunties and cousins, not to mention the Council meetings and ceremonies.

Life then took a very different – and more adult - turn as Dunstable led Roger Parrott to student life in Coventry, in Dunstable’s twin-town Brive and in Paris.

Perhaps the most striking point to come from these memories and research – both of which have been extensive – is just how different life has become in the last 60 or 70 years. Children today, have little idea of life without computers, smart-phones, mass air travel and all the advances in technology and medicine from which they now benefit.

The author explains how this has all led to careers both as a teacher and as an actor.