The Towers had no heating – there were those ‘Cozy Stoves’ and it was my job to carry the coal in scuttles to which ever room we were using.

I remember going to buy chews – Black Jack and Fruit salad- from Higginbothams in the High Street.

In the early days I went to Freshwater to school, to Miss Gloyn’s with Graeme Dillon – still my friend.  Beryl Kearns used to drive us. I had to sit in the front with Beryl; she said it was just not possible to drive us if we were sitting together in the back of the car.

Early Days: John Caulcutt with Charlie Attrill, boatman

Do you remember Charlie Attrill, the boatman here at the Yacht Club?

I used to spend all day with him in his launch. He’d normally have a few lobster pots off here so we’d go potting at 6, and I’d spend all day with him, taking people out. He taught me a lot about small boat handling. It was a happy upbringing if you like small boats, which by God, I did. If you get salt water in your veins at an early age it’s a dangerous thing. I loved every minute of it; just couldn’t fault it.
John Caulcutt. b 1947