'Boy running to escape bullies' (2015) oil on linen, 112 x 81 cm.

This painting depicts an incident from my last year at Holme Hill primary school circa 1949. Cornered at leaving time by a group of bullies who wanted a fight, I proposed an alternative: that I could escape from the school even though they were guarding all the entrances. I succeeded by running through a classroom - a class was in progress - in the neighbouring school Wintringham Grammar School, whose impressive frontage was located in Eleanor St. It is the red brick building depicted in the painting. After I passed the 11 plus exam, I began attending Wintringham. The building dates from 1895 and was designed by the well known Grimsby architect Herbert Charles Scaping (1866-1934). It had a swimming pool and many other facilities. It was once a reason for civic pride and for a time it was used as an art college but, sadly, it is now a ruin.