Schoolboy, Servant, GWR Apprentice by David Wilkins

Author:David Wilkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780750983334
Publisher: The History Press

Mendip Lodge viewed from the rear gardens. (Date unknown, Stan Croker Collection)

We arrived in town all right and put in several hours sightseeing and then walked down the dock-side where we met up with a boatman and asked him as to the whereabouts of the Enterprise. ‘She’s berthed farther down the river,’ said he, ‘Row ’ee down to her for eighteen-pence?’ We accepted his offer and off we went, till later the old chap ceased rowing and said, ‘She must have gone out on the last tide, for she ain’t here now.’ Sam said, ‘Then we’ll go back.’ But the old pirate replied, ‘I shall want another shilling to take ’ee back.’ When Sam demurred he contended that we had only engaged him to take us to the Enterprise and he thought we were going on board. Rubbish, of course, but as be showed no sign of starting back without being paid the shilling, he got it, for we were late as it was.

On our arrival back by train at the Junction, we found the last branch train had gone, so instead of a four mile walk from the branch station, we now had to do a ten mile walk from the Junction.13 As neither of us was familiar with the road (for remember there were no bicycles then to enable one to take long rides and familiarise oneself with the countryside) this was a desperate situation. We had been on our legs all day but started off in pretty good spirits. After a hour’s walk we came to a parting of the road and Sam insisted that we should take the turning to the left hand but my homing instinct told me very decidedly that he was wrong and, as neither of us would give way, we parted company.

I plodded timidly on, all on my own in the darkness. I could see just enough to keep on the road and that was all. Another half hour’s trudging and I was getting really doubtful as to whether Sam had not known best, for I could not yet discern any familiar landmark. Then, to my great comfort, there appeared a cottage close to the road with a light in an upstairs window. I knocked loudly on the door and the lighted window was opened. A man’s face appeared and he very irritably said, ‘What d’ye want?’ I said, ‘Am I on the right road for Langford?’ He barked out, ‘Straight on,’ and slammed the window.

Now, this wasn’t at all satisfactory, for what was ‘straight on’? He couldn’t have known which way I had come, so ought I to turn back and follow in Sam’s tracks or continue my own course? I was afraid to rouse him again and decided to carry on. Another half hour and to my joy I recognised the outlines of a farmhouse with outbuildings and was sure I was nearing home. Arrangements had been made for me to sleep in Sam’s room that night on our return and although I was so weary I went on past father’s cottage to the big house.

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