Clinton Rogers: First jobs, life in the sixties and the internet

I was about 14 and I used to work for a Wellington[1] butcher. In those days his shop had its own mini abattoir. And that’s where my delivery bike was stored.

So I have memories of climbing over dead sheep to wheel my bike out and get ready for my round. Or was that just a nightmare? I never thought this was odd/disgusting/a health issue.

What would the Health and Safety folk make of that now? It was fun being a child of the sixties, at least most of the time. But isn’t it a wonder that we survived at all.

We would often play outside all day unsupervised, climb trees, light fires. We didn’t need a pre-arranged appointment to visit friends. “Just be home before it gets dark,” we were told.

Our parents allowed us to play “cowboys and Indians” in the woods with pellet guns and fearsome looking bows and arrows (or maybe they just didn’t know)! When I was 16 I bought a moped and told my parents I was going to ride it to London to see my brother. They didn’t try to stop me.

They just pointed out that a moped wasn’t allowed on the motorway. So I took the A roads – eight and a half hours on a 49cc moped. Great fun.

How different it all is today. Times have changed, dangers have changed – or maybe we just think they have. I don’t know.

I do know this. According to a family survey, 73 per cent of 7 – 12 year olds can surf the Internet unsupervised but 42 per cent aren’t allowed to play alone in the park, for fear of the perceived dangers. But what about the dangers online?

Aren’t they more real and more serious?

What do you think?

If you wish to contact Clinton, you can email him at [email protected].

References

1. ^ Wellington (www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk)