By

Thomas G Richardson

'Granda, said Gordon, ‘I’m being bullied at school'

His grandfather smiled down at him, 'Well Gordon you’ll have to learn to take care of yourself. If someone hits you, hit back'

'But Granda he's much bigger than me and he has a gang'

'He might be bigger than you but no bully likes his or her victim to fight back. And that is what you must do. If you punch him a couple of times even if he beats you I'll guarantee he will leave you alone after that and pick on someone else.

I digested this piece of information. Grandfather was always right,

The next time Billy Ratline picked on me he would get a shock. I glanced up at my grandfather’s towering figure.

When I'm as big as you are nobody will pick on me I’11 bet'.

Granddad bent down took me by the arms and swung me high up onto his shoulders, we strolled on through Blue Bell wood His cloth cap perched on his head and a trickle of smoke tickling my nose from his pipe, and I felt very secure, warm and loved. What I hadn’t realised was that my Grandfather’s words would change my life and those of others including my son’s.

On Sunday morning I used to go to church on the school bus. Billy was also on that bus little did he know what a shock awaited him. The worm was about to turn with a vengeance. It was on the way back that Billy always used to pick on me. The bus arrived at the bottom of McCullough Gardens and we all got off. Through the journey he had told me how he was going to kick the living daylights out of me. As soon as I got off the bus he ran at me. My fist shot out and hit his nose more by luck that judgement but the blood was real and he was in shock. I immediately jumped on him and bore him to the ground. I sat on his chest and began to beat his face to a pulp. If a grown had not pulled me off I do believe I would not be writing this story because I think I would have killed him.

I read now of children using guns in some countries (America, Japan and others) to mow down children and teachers alike. I wonder whether those children who did this had been bullied till they could stand it no longer and used what means they had to destroy their oppressors. I know that at various times in my life when I was bullied I certainly felt like killing people but fortunately had no recourse to the weapons that children use today. All I can say is this “If you bully someone and the worm turns you could end up dead”

The person who is bullied often has defects. They maybe disabled, have a different colour skin, a different religion in other words they appear odd to some people. In my own case I was of small stature, had thick lips (today these would be a bonus! People pay to have their lips made thicker how times change) but at that time I was called all sorts of names which I will leave to your imagination as it hurts me even now to think of it. I also need glasses which were two round pieces of glass which a plastic frame which look awful (again there came a time when they were in vogue when John Lennon wore them ( I suspect he was also bullied when young). On top of that I had a bald patch at the front of my head where no hair grew. I use to plaster my hair over this patch with brylcream but when the other kids found out about the bald patch that was another reason to bully the odd looking kid.

I passed the eleven plus examination to go to grammar school in 1952. I was the first and last of my family to do so. And how I wished I hadn’t passed. The bullying started again but this time as well as being odd looking I came from a council estate and was working class. If you are a masochist and wish to be bully try the middle class or upper class they know how to do it with panache they are born to it, it seems to be inbred. Again I turned to my grandfather for advice. He said it was time I took up boxing. I ponder on this and I knew that my best friend George Collins did boxing with the Army Cadets. He said that I would have to join the cadets first but that once I started boxing I wouldn’t have to worry about the army side of it as I would be left alone.

I started to learn to box and had a natural aptitude for it. I progressed rapidly and so did my confidence. We were entered into various contests and I started to win. Soon my school friends knew about it and the word spread. Eventually I won the Durham County championship then on to win the North of England championship. I still have the medals but the main thing was the bullying stopped. Then I lost in the final of all England championship the blows seemed to come from no where. It was my eyesight. My trainer (Cess Ramsey from Shildon Boxing Club) asked me to watch his fist as he brought it towards my face. At a certain point I couldn’t see it and he said my eye sight was not good enough to continue boxing. To say I was disappointed was putting it mildly.

(1207 words 13 Nov 92
further addition 21 June 2005
to be continued