"Steve Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:21:19 -0600, David Buttery
wrote:

When I first went to school (in 1980) the *vast* majority of pupils
walked, and most of those walked unaccompanied by their parents. My
family had one car, and my dad used it to go to work, so I got a lift
only very rarely (even in 1981-2!). In larger towns, fewer families had
cars at all, and almost everyone got a bus to school.

I'm a lot older than you but I still remember my first day at school
in 1952. At four years old I was considered old enough to walk the
half mile. No families had cars, there was no school bus, nobody was
driven to school and even the kids who lived two miles from school
walked all the way. Only wimps turned up with a parent. The weather
didn't make much difference. If we were snowed in and had to dig our
way out we were late! One day I remember we could walk to school in a
straight line because everything was frozen, including the lake. Some
people just don't believe me when I talk about the winters we had in
those days.

Can you imagine that now, children being allowed to walk
to school across a frozen lake?
--
Col

That's your excuse for everything isn't it, being dead!

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:28:52 -0000, "Col"
wrote:


Can you imagine that now, children being allowed to walk
to school across a frozen lake?

In around 1960 we were playing on the ice and the police drove their
Land Rover out towards us to get us to safety. The ice could support a
car but it made some interesting noises.

It was such fun. We kids had no sense of danger.

Steve

In article ,
Steve Wolstenholme writes:
In around 1960 we were playing on the ice and the police drove their
Land Rover out towards us to get us to safety. The ice could support a
car but it made some interesting noises.

It was such fun. We kids had no sense of danger.

Nor did the police, apparently! Of all the daft things for them to do!
--
John Hall Weep not for little Leonie
Abducted by a French Marquis!
Though loss of honour was a wrench
Just think how it's improved her French. Harry Graham (1874-1936)

"Col" wrote in message
...

"Steve Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:21:19 -0600, David Buttery
wrote:

When I first went to school (in 1980) the *vast* majority of pupils
walked, and most of those walked unaccompanied by their parents. My
family had one car, and my dad used it to go to work, so I got a lift
only very rarely (even in 1981-2!). In larger towns, fewer families had
cars at all, and almost everyone got a bus to school.

I'm a lot older than you but I still remember my first day at school
in 1952. At four years old I was considered old enough to walk the
half mile. No families had cars, there was no school bus, nobody was
driven to school and even the kids who lived two miles from school
walked all the way. Only wimps turned up with a parent. The weather
didn't make much difference. If we were snowed in and had to dig our
way out we were late! One day I remember we could walk to school in a
straight line because everything was frozen, including the lake. Some
people just don't believe me when I talk about the winters we had in
those days.

Can you imagine that now, children being allowed to walk
to school across a frozen lake?
--

No, as it is a bloody stupid thing to do.

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:58:30 -0000, "Adam Lea"
wrote:


Can you imagine that now, children being allowed to walk
to school across a frozen lake?
--

No, as it is a bloody stupid thing to do.

Part of growing up is doing bloody stupid things. It's sometimes called
having fun.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.

Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:58:30 -0000, Adam Lea wrote:

Can you imagine that now, children being allowed to walk
to school across a frozen lake?

No, as it is a bloody stupid thing to do.

No because it doesn't get cold enough, for long enough, to freeze lakes
deep enough, to get ice thick enough to take the weight.

Haven't seen a frozen lake let alone one with thick ice for decades. Last
time must be the mid 70's. Earlswood canal reservoirs. We have family
pictures from '63 taken on the frozen *River* Avon at Stratford-on-Avon.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"Steve Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:21:19 -0600, David Buttery
wrote:

When I first went to school (in 1980) the *vast* majority of pupils
walked, and most of those walked unaccompanied by their parents. My
family had one car, and my dad used it to go to work, so I got a lift
only very rarely (even in 1981-2!). In larger towns, fewer families had
cars at all, and almost everyone got a bus to school.

I'm a lot older than you but I still remember my first day at school
in 1952. At four years old I was considered old enough to walk the
half mile. No families had cars, there was no school bus, nobody was
driven to school and even the kids who lived two miles from school
walked all the way. Only wimps turned up with a parent. The weather
didn't make much difference. If we were snowed in and had to dig our
way out we were late! One day I remember we could walk to school in a
straight line because everything was frozen, including the lake. Some
people just don't believe me when I talk about the winters we had in
those days.

Steve


Walk, I bet you had shoes, you were lucky, when I was a lad ... :-)

Will.
--

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:21:19 -0600, David Buttery
wrote:

When I first went to school (in 1980) the *vast* majority of pupils
walked, and most of those walked unaccompanied by their parents. My
family had one car, and my dad used it to go to work, so I got a lift
only very rarely (even in 1981-2!). In larger towns, fewer families had
cars at all, and almost everyone got a bus to school.

The school I attended from 1948 to 1953 was just over a mile from home.
There was no public transport, no school bus, my parents had no car and
so I walked. When I learnt to ride a bike (I was a late developer), I
cycled. Bad weather never closed the school.

I frequently think that we're progressing backwards.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.

Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather

The school I attended from 1948 to 1953 was just over a mile from home.
There was no public transport, no school bus, my parents had no car and
so I walked.

Same here for my junior school, except the dates are about 10 years or
so later!


I frequently think that we're progressing backwards.


I think a lot is down to all this choice we apparently all want.
Parents now choose a school miles away, which they have to drive to,
in the rush hour, adding to congestion, global warming, pollution,
obesity (through not walking to school) etc etc. In the old days if a
school was poor, you had an incentive to try & get something done, now
you just change schools.

I remember when you dialed directory enquiries (there was only one
number) it was free, and you even got the right number! Now you have a
choice of 2,456,678 numbers, they all charge, and the chance of
getting the right umber is frankly minimal.

I even remember a time before that D'Savary maniac destroyed Land's
End by that pseudo-Roman concrete monstrosity he was allowed to
construct. In the old days there was a hotel, Bar, an ice cream kiosk,
the 1st & Last house, and a bus shelter with a corrugated iron roof.

Then there was the legendary Skewjack Surf village. www.skewjack.co.uk/
history.html

Those were the days.

Grumpy old man
Penzance

"Graham Easterling" wrote in message
oups.com...
The school I attended from 1948 to 1953 was just over a mile from home.
There was no public transport, no school bus, my parents had no car and
so I walked.

Same here for my junior school, except the dates are about 10 years or
so later!


I frequently think that we're progressing backwards.


I think a lot is down to all this choice we apparently all want.
Parents now choose a school miles away, which they have to drive to,
in the rush hour, adding to congestion, global warming, pollution,
obesity (through not walking to school) etc etc. In the old days if a
school was poor, you had an incentive to try & get something done, now
you just change schools.

I remember when you dialed directory enquiries (there was only one
number) it was free, and you even got the right number! Now you have a
choice of 2,456,678 numbers, they all charge, and the chance of
getting the right umber is frankly minimal.

I even remember a time before that D'Savary maniac destroyed Land's
End by that pseudo-Roman concrete monstrosity he was allowed to
construct. In the old days there was a hotel, Bar, an ice cream kiosk,
the 1st & Last house, and a bus shelter with a corrugated iron roof.

Then there was the legendary Skewjack Surf village. www.skewjack.co.uk/
history.html

Those were the days.

Grumpy old man
Penzance


You were lucky to live in such a nice place, when I was a lad :-)

Will.
--