Thomas Calladine (c 1819-1878)

There are places I remember all my life ... ... the crossroads of North Street and Station Road, a stone's throw from the site of my first home, where -- in the pre-Chalons Way Era -- stood the Erewash Hotel, Starr and Brookes carpet shop, Wright's the gent's barber, and Wards the butchers who supplied the Tuesday tea of shop-made faggots for most in the neighbourhood. ... Little Dustpan, which I walked up and down on my way to and from Chaucer Infants' school, and then the Junior school, to hear the wise words of Ma Gormley and Mr Bateman, Polly Virgo and Jack Syson. ... the sardine tin that was Doug's Coffee Bar standing in the corner of the Market Place, next to the Church Institute where my mates and I would meet to listen to Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly, Beatles and Kinks, Yardbirds and Fleetwood Mac (Mark 1), Dylan and Byrds, after a hard day's graft at the Grammar School (Mark 3) listening in a different way to Gibbo and Kenny Bettle, Ma Selby and Mr Shaw, Derek Akers and Dilys Gough, Max Payne et al. ... the old Buffalo Head pub in Durham City where I spent my first of several visits preparing for a next-day admissions interview (successful) at the University up the road. ... the Student Refectory at Nottingham University where the food prices were too high and the queues too long so that between lectures the pinball machine was cheaper and more attractive than eating. .. and despite it all, my formal education did provide me with some academic success to allow me many years of dishing it out to others.