Memory Lane 29

November 2025. "They’re Off" by John Cannon

We all knew maths was important although we were not all to the same level. Perhaps it was for this reason that Dick Knowles and I, fellow members of the 1966/67 Form 4b, devised our scheme to enhance the form’s arithmetic ability. We created a horse racing betting school.

Neither Dick nor I nor probably most of Form 4b really understood odds. I did understand a sweepstake, as Phil Goulding had won with the Foinavon ticket during the school’s Easter rugby tour to Ireland. Phil, Tommy Roscoe and I had gone on the tour with the seniors as they were short of players. As juniors we were given very strict instructions by Pete Cahill about what we should not do. However, the senior boys introduced us to many new experiences in Dublin’s bars and clubs. They also ran the Grand National sweepstake.

With my newfound knowledge and Dick’s administrative skills we opened a Form 4b sweepstake. Our first task was to find a race with lots of runners – the 2.15 Catterick on Friday. Our second task was to find enough members of Form 4b willing to give us one shilling for their stake to cover all the horses. The latter was not difficult. With horses allocated and “owners” recorded all we had to do was wait for the race. This took place during French with Mr. Smith. The going was hard.

Mr. Smith took a firm, one might say vigorous, approach to discipline. On that Friday afternoon no doubt Mr. Smith wanted a quiet time. I have the impression that speaking, even French conversation, was banned but the class was excited and restless throughout the lesson. There was much muttering. There was much checking of the clock. There were many glances around the room as the excitement grew. Mr. Smith’s temper hotted up.

Tony Silver, one of the first to sign up, was sitting or rather fidgeting in the back row. He probably didn’t notice that Mr. Smith was leaning against the back wall less than an arm’s length away. Tony’s focus was on the clock, he was holding his mount on a tight rein, he was approaching the starting line. 2.15 arrived. “They’re off,” Tony shouted, and his head nearly was from the backhand delivered instantaneously from the Smith right arm.

Corporal punishment was in its heyday from Basher Clark’s cane, through Big John Balson’s slipper and Archie Thompson’s strap, to informal swipes on a Friday afternoon. However, Dick and I and the rest of Form 4b, including Tony, were undeterred. The sweepstakes went on throughout the term but perhaps with just a little more care and quiet at the starting times.

John Cannon 1963 – 1970

(first published November 2025 in Newsletter 10)