I went into the Junior school and at the age of about ten I became seriously ill with appendicitis . At this time I first learnt of the ignorance and lack of understanding of some people . I was in the classroom and had some severe stomach pains and was bursting to go to the toilet . The teacher refused to let me go, so, in desperation I ran out of the classroom and dashed down a flight of iron stairs to the toilet . I can't remember whether I was disciplined for this disobediance . The following day it must have been obvious to my parents that I was quite ill so I was kept off school . That night I slept in the bed with my parents . I was hallucinating and can still remember to this day the horrible and hideous creatures I saw climbing and writhing all over the walls and ceiling . At about two o'clock in the morning my father realised that he must get me to the hospital so he dashed round the district looking for a taxi . Eventually, finding one he whipped me off to the Children's Hospital in Myrtle Street.

I was operated on almost immediately, because of the danger of the appendix bursting and causing peritonitis, which in those days was an almost certain killer . In the early recovery days I must have started singing and the nurses must have liked my voice and encouraged me to sing .

When I was discharged from hospital I was still bedridden so a bed was set up for me in the Parlour . I had a number of glass tubes sticking out of the wound in my stomach which were to drain off any poison from the appendix operation . After about three weeks a District Nurse came and took out the tubes and the stitches and covered the wound with a dressing . I was longing to get out of bed so my father helped me out and when I was at the side of the bed I found I couldn't stand let alone walk ! I was supported and helped around the side of the bed until I got some strength back into my legs . Today you are encouraged to get out of bed as soon as possible after an operation to prevent bed sores developing, also pneumonia and loss of strength in the legs . I was soon able to dash about and do most things that kids did .

I mentioned earlier on about the grid in the middle of the front doorstep. Well one night a school friend of Stan's who was learning to play the violin had arranged with Stan to come to our house and show us how well he could play. A couple of evenings later a knock came to the front door and my father went to answer but there was nobody there . It was a winter's night and it was dark . Anyway shortly after we were alarmed as we heard someone coming up the cellar stairs . My dad went to the cellar door and this violin playing school friend of Stan's appeared covered in coal dust and looking somewhat shaken .

The hole in the front doorstep had worn and he had somehow managed to tip the lid out of position and had fallen into the cellar ! After a wash and a dusting down he got the violin out and started to scratch away on it, he was terrible ! Stan had hidden behind a newspaper and was in silent convulsions of laughter . I could tell that from the way the paper was shaking . We all said he was very good and he went on his way proud and none the worse for his experience !
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