"I was introduced to Mr. Turner, the teacher, as the new boy from Nottingham. He looked around the class and decided to sit me next to a boy named Brian Brown. He'll look after you, he said..." I chose to tell this story about Brian because I think long-standing friendships are so very special. Brian has been my best mate for 52 years. It amazes me! Forty-three years ago he introduced me to Patricia, who soon became my wife and very best friend. Infact, she came along to the sessions with me and told tell her story too. Inside Lives has been so interesting. I never thought I'd be able to write and edit a story like this. It sounds so polished and professional. I was born in 1938 - which makes me 65 years old. My wife Patricia and I have lived in Alsager, Cheshire for the past 36 years. We raised our children there and have become the proud grandparents of three.
I've a small workshop where I make toys such as electric cars; pedal cars; rocking horses; dolls houses and the like. I also enjoy making music - playing the piano and organ
I was told we were going to move house at the age of thirteen when I thought the rest of my school and social life was mapped out before me.I was devastated. I protested. I can't leave my school friends, the church choir, scouts, and Topper my beloved horse, no way. The move from East Retford in Nottinghamshire to this place called Newcastle under Lyme was made in the summer of 1951. My world had ended. "It's called progress, son". My father had been made Managing Director of the Silverdale
Co-Operative Society. "Progress, son". September came and a new school with it. When I first saw it I was not impressed. Very old building, with windows like a church. Looked like Victoria had built it herself. Orme Boys, no girls. What next? I was introduced to Mr. Turner, the teacher, as the new boy from Nottingham. He looked around the class and decided to sit me next to a boy named Brian Brown. "He'll look after you", he said. At playtime I got chatting to Brian. We had a lot more in common than I thought possible. We lived in the same direction. He could show me a short cut, round past the Westland Girls school and down the forty steps. That was no shortcut. He said he was head choirboy at St Andrews. I told him I'd been a chorister too. He said "come with me on Sunday" so I did. Scouts was the same. We became schoolboy friends overnight and also throughout our teens. Our friendship never waned or faded. It was Brian who introduced me to my wife Patricia. We were each other's best man at our respective weddings and have also spent holidays together. We've laughed until our sides ached, and now we grow old together. That must be true friendship. It's over 50 years since Mr Turner picked Brian out as someone who'd look after me - he made the right choice. | 
