school
The school system changed in our area the year I was to go to secondary school. Whereas the year before I would have taken the "Eleven Plus" and gone to the Grammar School five miles away, now I would have found myself in the worst Secondary Modern in the county. Both being involved in Education, my parents weren't keen.
My Grandfather stumped up the cash to send me to Kings School Grantham. It wasn't a swanky Public School, it was basically a Grammar School in a market town with a small boarding school attached, largely filled with sons of RAF parents.
It was a hard seven years and seemed a bit like a prison term. Although we could all see the advantages educationally, going back on Sunday evenings was bleak.
I was in Big Dorm for a year, a 21 bed dormitory without curtains and heating that seemed to be on for a few minutes a day in midwinter. I have a vivid recollection of everyone lying very still in their freezing cold, concave horsehair beds dating from Isaac Newton's time, trying not to move into the colder parts. You could see everyone's breath condensing in the moonlight.
On the upside, there was a strong bond between groups of boys and I think I learnt independent thought, fairness and how to get on with people.
I was also immediately exposed to Pop Music. When I arrived the Sixth-Formers were pumping out Heavy Metal. Soon afterwards we were in the Dayroom "freaking out" to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Sabbath and Curved Air. After being surrounded by JS Bach and Radio 4 it was a revelation.
Although pianos were definitely not cool in the early 70s, as time wore on I became an asset for our House in the school music competitions.