Barnsbury Boy - Robert Kirkwood - 1958-1965
Robert Kirkwood
Mr Neath, the R.E. teacher, (just before he died) told me that Cohen was eventually thrown out of teaching for violence towards kids. He attacked me with 6 rulers around my face for objecting to a low mark for some classwork which wasn't finished. Not sure if that punishment fitted the crime.
Cohen and Co. beat us up because the laws in Britain allowed them to do so. We were the only kids in Western Europe being punched, slapped, rulered, slippered, caned, etc., (even my mother-law, who is Italian and 87, was surprised that this was allowed in Britain since it was banned in her country at the beginning of the 20th century). Did it harm us? Well if it did, we would be the last to know. It would perhaps be best to ask our wives and kids.
Other aspects of Barnsbury life have certainly had their effect. I still hold the top of the salt and pepper in case someone has unscrewed it. I huddle over my food like a wild animal in case someone nicks my sausages, and I rush my food in order to get the only second portion in the oven. I suspect that being regularly beaten up by adults has had some sort of impact, like the ring of Petherick on my skull.
Mr Neath, the R.E. teacher, (just before he died) told me that Cohen was eventually thrown out of teaching for violence towards kids. He attacked me with 6 rulers around my face for objecting to a low mark for some classwork which wasn't finished. Not sure if that punishment fitted the crime.
Cohen and Co. beat us up because the laws in Britain allowed them to do so. We were the only kids in Western Europe being punched, slapped, rulered, slippered, caned, etc., (even my mother-law, who is Italian and 87, was surprised that this was allowed in Britain since it was banned in her country at the beginning of the 20th century). Did it harm us? Well if it did, we would be the last to know. It would perhaps be best to ask our wives and kids.
Other aspects of Barnsbury life have certainly had their effect. I still hold the top of the salt and pepper in case someone has unscrewed it. I huddle over my food like a wild animal in case someone nicks my sausages, and I rush my food in order to get the only second portion in the oven. I suspect that being regularly beaten up by adults has had some sort of impact, like the ring of Petherick on my skull.