About the Elephant

Initially these are memories of a childhood that began in 1934 and was largely spent in the village of Gornal Wood in south Staffordshire. They are concerned with that village and other villages round about.
  Being one of those fortunate people who have very clear recollections of their early years (though for the life of me I can’t remember what happened last year, last month, last week, or even yesterday) I am pretty certain that my memories are accurate. However, to be on the safe side I’m enlisting the help of my old friend Nick Harris. We grew up together and he shared a lot of my experiences, besides which he has spent his life scribbling so he knows the ropes and may well be able to round off a few of my sharp corners.
Nick grew up in Sedgley but spent a great deal of time at his Granny’s in Gornal Wood. She lived very close to my own Granny and the two of them were great friends. Nick and I met when we were three or four, eventually went to the same secondary school and shared much of our childhood. So he is well placed to put me right.
  Quite a lot of the names will be changed (to protect the innocent as well as the guilty) but the things that happened, the things I saw and heard, I shall try to tell you about faithfully. Maybe there will be a touch of licence in recorded conversations because I can’t be absolutely certain that I remember such dialogues word for word, but they will be as substantially accurate as I can make them.
  That’s about it really. The views expressed are my own, and I disclaim all responsibility for any misconceptions I may have had and apologise unreservedly for any offence I may inadvertently give, for none is intended.
  The elephant? I’m afraid that there isn’t one, but if I had headed this ‘Foreword’ or ‘Introduction’ you might have been tempted to skip it… I know I would…