Pompey Lad: Part One - Growing Pains - 1954-1960

Pompey Lad - Part One 1954 - 1960Growing Pains is the second book in a series of memoirs about growing up in the city of Portsmouth after World War Two. We join George in 1954, when Roger Bannister breaks the four-minute mile barrier, meat comes off rationing, and the big musical hits of the year include I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus by the Beverley Sisters and Norman Wisdom's Don't Laugh at me 'cos I'm a Fool.

Times are changing, but the country's leading naval port is still struggling to recover from the death and destruction brought about by wartime bombing.

The story of the pains and pleasures of coming of age in Portsmouth or any city as the Swinging Sixties loom and teenagers are invented makes for a sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious and always entertaining read.

A truly honest account of a young man's life, his struggles with adolescence and keeping up the appearance of being tough.

Keep an eye open for the next installment of George's memoirs Pompey Lad II - The Rock'n'Roll Years

Extract from Pompey Lad - part one: "I'm not doing it down here," she said as she bit into her saveloy. My fishcake and chips lay wrapped on the grass beneath the big elm tree by the far gate. The chip shop had a good reputation, but I was too nervous to think about eating. Humps 'n' Bumps Hilda put the last piece of saveloy into her mouth and got to her feet. I followed her and we stood face-to-face as she leaned back and hiked her skirt up with practised ease. I gulped, considered my options, and reached for my zip with trembling fingers. It was literally all over in a matter of seconds, and I think she must have got far more satisfaction from her saveloy than my clumsy and so brief performance.