Easter 1966

Fifteen years old

I graduated into the working world.

Momentarily I avoided digging roads,

Lifting boxes,

Unloading lories.

I became a messenger for a shipping company

A glorified tea boy.

Bermondsey Street near London Bridge station

I liked the smells of the neighbouring spice warehouses,

Walking round the City of London in the snow

It snowed a lot that Easter.

My youthful feet took me all over the City

From Houndsditch to Ludgate Circus

From office to office

I enjoyed the discovery.

Then there was the typewriter that got me the sack

I had never used a typewriter before.

A trip down the Labour Exchange

And I graduated to lifting boxes

Unloading lorries

In a warehouse.

Frank Bangay

May 05