Most people, who have endured secondary education to at least “0” Level , will be sufferers of the clutter book syndrome.

We acquire them, enjoy them and adhere to them to the point of not being able to let them go.

If they have a special importance to us, like Denis’s Drake and Tonson prize, handing them in to the local charity shop is a task we are more likely to bequeath to our off-spring.

I never achieved recognition with a prize for “good work”, though in 1959 Arthur ( new headmaster, Watthey) called me into his office and told me that the Keighley Rotarians, of which he was a member, had “funded” a new prize , the “Rotary Prize” to be awarded for “service above self” and that I was chosen to receive it that Speech Day.

When the list went up in the form room, the other lads wanted to know , “What’s your prize for, Marzy?” I had only an inkling of Watthey’s possible reasons from my recollections so all I could do was tell them the “citation”. Imagine the mickey extraction that followed and the accusations of creeping that I got.

I collected (23-11-59) my prize from the hands of the Bishop of Bradford (later Canterbury), Dr Coggan, and I still have the 2 Penguin Books (“A Book of English Poetry” and “The Centuries Poetry -4- Hood to Morris”) on my shelves – all six and a tanner’s worth. And they’re stopping there!

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-1960

Current location (optional) Nirvana