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Tom Plumpton's bio
Born and bred in Birkenhead. Further Education included Art School. Several jobs including Art Aide, BR Guard, HighSchool Librarian, and Civil Servant. Married since 1977. 3 grown up children and 1 grandchild. My big passion is karaoke!
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Tom Plumpton's latest comments
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26th Apr 2023Tom Plumpton commented on:
Art College Life for students and teachersAlthough not exactly the 1960s, I went to Art School from 1970 (so I'd assume not that much had changed). My previous High School had been single-sex, and very strict, so after this, Art School was a cultural shock! Classes were small (around 10-12), and there were very few rules. Smoking was allowed, and lunchtimes were spent in the local pub (often with one or two of the lecturers). It was quite common to be able to disappear for a couple of hours without questions being asked, just as long as the set projects were completed. In fact many of the projects actually needed some outside activity, anyway. The big problem (for me, at least!) was the sudden change from an all-male to male/female environment! The lecturers themselves were very laid back and approachable (being not much older than us), and they'd help to organize the end of term discos. As the Art School I went to was a local one, accommodation was not an issue, so I'm unable to help in that respect.ViewDate:
25th Apr 2023Tom Plumpton commented on:
The 60s ... What did like best about the 60s?As I was born in 1954, I spent the entire 1960s in school. So I missed out on a lot of the iconic "Swinging Sixties" memories (live music, fashion, etc.), but I certainly enjoyed the TV of the era - Gerry Anderson, Dr Who, Hucklebery Hound (and countless others), as well as the comics! However, I think my main memory directly related to the 1960s is the Weekly Shop - the regular Saturday afternoon outing with my mum (and my dad, if he wasn't at work). Every week would be the same routine: bus into town; then walking the length of the main shopping road, going into certain shops for particular items; then, once we'd completed that part of the expedition, we'd head for the main Market; once there, we'd spend about 10 minutes at Eli's (the local version of Del Trotter, with a fresh supply of goods each week!). Then, another few minutes watching the man on the bone china stall effortlessly juggling complete dinner services. Then it would be back to the serious business of shopping. The Market had a good number of butchers and fishmongers, and my mum knew exactly which stall to go to for a particular piece of meat or fish. The past Leon's toy stall (sometimes I'd be lucky to get something!) to the Country Stalls, for cheese, cooked meat and preserves. Finally, off to the bus stop and back home in time for Dr Who! That weekly shop speaks volumes about the difference between the 1960s and the present day. In spite of the distance covered during the shopping trip, and the number of shops visited (not to mention the invariable "chinwag" when my mum met up with someone she knew), everything seemed to happen at a far more leisurely pace back then. Nowadays, the urge is for shoppers to get as much as possible in a single large shop, or do most of the shopping on line. You would think, therefore, that people today would have more time to enjoy life. But sadly this doesn't seem to be the case. Sorry if I rambled on a bit!ViewDate:
25th Apr 2023Tom Plumpton commented on:
Round The HorneThank you for your warm welcome. I found the group via Boom Radio. Looking forward to contributing.ViewDate:
24th Apr 2023Tom Plumpton commented on:
Round The HorneI loved Round the Horne on Sunday lunchtimes (along with The Navy Lark, The Clitheroe Kid, etc.) My favourite characters were Charles and Fiona (the over-the-top romantic actors), and of course Rambling Syd Rumpo's folk songs! -
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