David is an author of fantasy novels and a writer and producer of rock music. The site provides information of his creative works and has a regular blog of news of his latest work and insights into his life and past.
Somewhere in the mist of time there was a boy with a love of holidays and adventures based on the world that Enid Blyton created. I know that her work … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Secret Coves, Caves, Smugglers, Boat Trips and Lighthouses. Childhood on the Yorkshire Coast.
I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy my time at Harehills CP School. Apart from the caretaker sending me to see Mr Wilson for chasing around the cloakroom, they were … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Stainbeck Preparatory School, Harehills County Primary School, Dip Pens, Inkwells, Pea Shooters, Learning to Write. Happy Times!
For most young people it will strike them as hard to imagine, but in the 1960s and 70s music was a major part of a teenager’s life, in a way … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Piano Smashing, 78s, Singles, Vinyl LPs, Reel to Reel and the Cassette Tape – The Music Era.
Youth clubs were all so well and good, but eventually we progressed beyond them and one local attraction was North Leeds Cricket Club. Now I never played cricket there, but … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – High Ho Silver Lining Always Got Them on Their Feet. – Summer Nights and the Icy Kiss of Winter Frost. Discos at North Leeds Cricket Club!
For many this may seem to be a very dry topic for my latest tale, but in previous memories I have shared how cars changed the way we lived, how … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Telephones, Phone Boxes, Letter Writing and Postcards. Communication Changes over the 1950s to the 1970s.
My mother must have finally passed her driving test by the time I was sixteen as when my birthday came in December 1971 she paid for me to have driving … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- My Adventures Learning to Drive and Taking the Driving Test. 1971 Harehills, Leeds.
I have spoken about the early cars that the family had: the Austin, the Ford Prefect and these were followed by an Anglia, Cortina, Mini and various Escorts. When my … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Cars, Learning to Drive and Other Adventures (Part 1)
As I have said before, there were certain advantages of me having an older brother, one of which was his being at university. My brother was at Durham University at … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Pop Culture, Pipers, Chablis, King Crimson and Yes, Wild Nights at Pete’s Cellar and Leeds Poly 1960s and 70s.
My memories of childhood are all good ones, with the odd bit of trouble thrown in, but my teenage years were a much more extreme time in my life. I … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Teenage Years, a Time of Passion, Extremes and Hair!
After spending all my adult life in teaching I find it hard to fathom some of the things that we did to some of the teachers at Roundhay School. I … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’- Oh Dear! Did I really do that at Roundhay? The bad and not so bad behaviour of teenage boys and the winds of change.
There were a number of occasions when I got in trouble at school, but luckily for me they were either not very serious or I just wasn’t found out. I … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – “He’s just a very naughty boy!” Trouble at Harehills C. P. School and Roundhay School, and the Astoria Nightmare.
I think I was allowed to work on the Christmas Post from about sixteen, but the jobs were casual and the number of days you worked depended on how busy … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Holiday jobs – Christmas Postie at Harehills and Sorting at the Queen’s Hall, Leeds.
