大象传媒

These days, for most children the chance of a school trip abroad is taken for granted but then it was quite uncommon. When it was announced that there would be a visit to Norway in the summer of 1938, this 14 year-old persuaded his parents to find the fare they really could not afford and my name was added to the list of applicants. There was only a limited number of places and the list became oversubscribed. Our wise headmaster decided that the fairest way of choosing who should go was to give priority to the oldest pupils.

My pal, Geoff was the youngest to be included. He is four months older than me. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be too disappointed, Tom,鈥� they promised, 鈥測ou will be at the top of the list next year鈥�.

There were no school trips as war threatened in the summer of 1939.

I still have the souvenir paper-knife inscribed 鈥淥slo鈥� that Geoff bought me and this year I hope to get him one when I make the promised visit just 66 years late.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.