Tuesday 11 March 2008

Stew and Roger

Stewart and his brother were my dad's mates as he was growing up. They did their apprentiship (electricians) at Strover Street in Sittingbourne. I often hear tales about them. When I was younger I was taken to a huge car scrap yard in Sittingbourne where dad talked for hours with these two burly scary guys (in appearance, they were actually really lovely to me) and came away with newish car parts. It turned out these guys were Stew and Rog.

Years later, the 'boys' sold the scrapyard for millions - literally making their fortunes. Why, I asked dad, if they were your mates, were you not in on this money maker. It seems that dad was away at the time - doing National Service I think, and Stew and Rog decided to leave Stover Street, buy a small scrap of land and start the second hand parts business. Dad was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ahh well - if is such a little word.

Sunday 9 March 2008

Stag nights!

Yesterday, with Laura's impending wedding and the search for a venue, the conversation turned finally to hen/stag do's and I asked Dad what he did for his.

"I went out with Stew and Roger, my mates from Strover Street (where he did his apprentiship)." Then he ammended because mum had intervened "We went in the car to Canterbury to collect the cake first, which we took round to your mum's, then we just went for a drink"

"Why didn't your brother's come?" I asked

"Well it was different times, Victor was away with the Merchant Navy and Charlie and John had different friends. So did Ray (his mate) so they didnt come. We went out every Friday for a drink - we enjoyed a drink."

So really it wasnt a stag do, just a normal Friday night - except they had to collect the cake first, taking Stewarts car all the way to Canterbury!

Why?

Dad quite often reminises about his past but I always forget the details. The girls (and their respective other halves) are fascinated by these glimpses of the past and insist I write them down someplace.

So here they are!