This just slices me up. Simultaneously inspirational and unnerving. As a lifelong fan of Bowie, I’m suddenly not sure if suburbia was my gestation pod or if my working class mates at grammar school were the true rebels who (mostly white) from the same streets nearby pushed me onto a vicarious escape path. Only a few made orbit. I was enthralled and confused and find myself still desperate to create despite my health issues. Maybe because of them. It’s now hard to decide through the haze. Thanks for your determination and insight. ⚡️
I have just finished & enjoyed Buddha of Suburbia, thank you.
Regarding the school being a shithole, although I was at a school up the road I knew several of the teachers at your school by repuation, and met a few through a friend at the school. It surprises me you do not mention the charismatic drama teacher, Paddy Moore. He was fascinated by experimental theatre and yoga, taught himself Ancient Greek, and started a club in which he would teach boys Ancient Greek after school, as far as I could tell entirely innocently: he really cared. I sometimes saw him, wrapped in a sack-cloth army surplus greatcoat, riding his moped to school up Croydon Rd, passing that dangerous crossoads where another feisty teacher, head of history Kerridge, died crashing his old Rover. Paddy was the most interesting of several engaging characters on the staff who must have been present at least as far back as the year the school was renamed.
I remember mr lane and his production of Billy Budd!-
Interesting- thanks john
This just slices me up. Simultaneously inspirational and unnerving. As a lifelong fan of Bowie, I’m suddenly not sure if suburbia was my gestation pod or if my working class mates at grammar school were the true rebels who (mostly white) from the same streets nearby pushed me onto a vicarious escape path. Only a few made orbit. I was enthralled and confused and find myself still desperate to create despite my health issues. Maybe because of them. It’s now hard to decide through the haze. Thanks for your determination and insight. ⚡️
I have just finished & enjoyed Buddha of Suburbia, thank you.
Regarding the school being a shithole, although I was at a school up the road I knew several of the teachers at your school by repuation, and met a few through a friend at the school. It surprises me you do not mention the charismatic drama teacher, Paddy Moore. He was fascinated by experimental theatre and yoga, taught himself Ancient Greek, and started a club in which he would teach boys Ancient Greek after school, as far as I could tell entirely innocently: he really cared. I sometimes saw him, wrapped in a sack-cloth army surplus greatcoat, riding his moped to school up Croydon Rd, passing that dangerous crossoads where another feisty teacher, head of history Kerridge, died crashing his old Rover. Paddy was the most interesting of several engaging characters on the staff who must have been present at least as far back as the year the school was renamed.
Beautifully captured. Thank you.