Many readers will relate to schooldays of the more recent past as they turn to David's experiences at North Road School from 1968 - 1972. He recalls a succession of variously respected and terrifying teachers, one of whom bellowed at 7-year-old David at their first meeting: 'I didn't like your father, Owen, and I don't think that I am going to like you.' David’s account mentions many of the teaching staff such as Betty Walker, Ruth Staples, Sam Harris, Jim Hooley and the likeable Alex Furness.

In the hands of most teachers, the cane was far more impartial than words, until the advent of a more liberal headmaster George Mycock who favoured the slipper. One or other weapon will have left its mark on quite a few of today's parents and grandparents. Many will recognise descriptions of classrooms with cast-iron radiators and lines of desks furnished with inkpots, and dipstick pens with metal nibs. Some may share memories of buying a weekly National Savings Stamp; school dinners and puddings with pink custard; and lollipop ladies armed with an ambiguous 'Stop Children' sign. David also details his love for the harsh winters and the snow ball fight they had on Fairfield Common.

David mentions dozens of former pupils by name, along with parents, staff and dinner ladies. He reels off the titles of rival gangs and the games they played (for year’s one boy pretended to be a Bristol bus) and dares to name the girl who gave him his first kiss.