I’d made my decision so on Thursday I turned up for my viola lesson and gave my teacher the good news, she was delighted.
How does a nearly 16 year break something like that to his parents? The only thing to do was talk to the one Master that I completely trusted. The man who’d been my Form and English Master since Second Form.
My fear was that if I simply went home and announced the idea, my parents would just dismiss it as a fantasy and that would inevitably degenerate into a violent confrontation.
Smiling, he pointed out that the most ardent supporter of the whole grand scheme was likely be my Headmaster who frankly didn’t like me.
There was a reason for this antipathy but it’s a story all by itself, one that I will tell because it’s another good example of just how confrontational I could be especially if I was in the right.
All I’ll say here is that I could imagine him being very keen on a proposal that would get me out of his school. I made an appointment to see him.
I arrived outside his office ten minutes ahead of the appointed time having been very careful to obtain written permission from the Master who’s lesson I was missing, I didn’t want some self important prefect finding an excuse to cause friction.
My uniform was immaculate and my hair was neatly combed, I’d even made an extra effort in polishing my shoes the previous evening. At the superficial level I was a model pupil.
Sure enough the Headmaster wasn’t just supportive of the idea, he was positively enthusiastic. It’s a strange feeling to bring someone so much pleasure by telling him his school’s inadequate for a gifted pupil.
It never occurred to me while we were talking that this plan could fail and that he and I would somehow have to plan for another two years of personal confrontation.
He agreed to liaise with Dartington, get all the necessary forms from the local authority and ensure that anything needed from school was forthcoming. My part was to get my parents’ permission.
I waited until an evening when both of them were available and it was just us in the house, not as easy as it sounds. Then I took a very big breath and put the proposal forward.
The anticipated refusal didn’t happen, all they wanted at that point was information. I’d got the prospectus ready for them and told them that the Head knew all about it so all they had to do was contact him.
When Mum understood the full implications, that I’d be going to boarding school a long way away, she was a little unhappy but I suspected that was a normal maternal reaction.
I hastily reassured her that I did love them but this was such an important opportunity for me to do the one thing that really mattered. I might have been exceptionally good (allegedly brilliant) at some subjects but music was different, it defined who and what I was, I stood up and announced
“I’m a Musician”
They promised to consider the idea, warning that they’d be looking very carefully at all the details. Then they set one non-negotiable condition, I had to pass all my O Levels, absolutely no exceptions.
Satisfied that I had a real chance at my dream I kissed them both, said “thank you” and went to my room to study, although I’ll admit that I did take time off to dream for a little while.
My goodness!
The first meeting of the Escape Committee!
Even now the whole thing seems a little surreal for a 16 year old of my generation to have had so many people tied up in a plan like this.
Possibly the weirdest part was Mr Fisher (the Headmaster after Luke) actually being on my side but probably for all the worst motives.
I will never dare to say that I had a boring childhood!