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Andrew Dando was the six-year-old milk monitor for Simon’s class at Welton Infants. He was a large, olive-skinned boy, with unkempt black hair. He was taller and stronger than the other children. His job was to carry in the crates of milk from outside the front of the school, to the classroom at morning break. All children had to drink a bottle of milk a day. One third of a pint.

There were lots of welfare improvements in the years after the Second World War and they continued into the sixties. PE for all children was one. All the children had to do PE in their pants and vests, boys, and girls together. The teachers were obviously not properly trained for this. The lessons consisted of jumping up and down, sit-ups and press-ups which only a couple of children in the class could achieve. Even Simon, who loved sports and physical activity found the lessons dull. The embarrassment of running around in pants and vest didn’t help. Five days wearing the same white pants should never be seen at the top of a gym rope.