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Graham Mumby-Croft
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Autobiography.
The next day we attended the’ Passion Play’, what I had not anticipated was that it lasted all day with a break for lunch, and was, of course, all in German. It was though quite unique and a spectacle, but it was somewhat of a relief when it concluded. We then continued to a very nice hotel located above the town of Solbad Hall, which had a small outdoor pool. It was also within an easy walk of Innsbruck, a very attractive Austrian town which was just a pleasure to wander around. We also had good weather; our fellow tourists were a very friendly crowd, so we had a very good holiday. At that time, you could only bring back half a litre of duty-free spirits, but it was cheaper to buy a litre bottle. So Leonard bought a litre bottle I think of Rum; he explained he would drink half before we got back. I do not think it had anything to do with the drinking but might have done, as he landed heavily on one end of his bed and the leg broke. We fixed it for the last night. When we left next morning, the bed was virtually propped up with matchsticks
UNIVERSITY – LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
I had decided I would study accountancy at university, but then discovered I would still have to study the full accountancy syllabus, which took four years and take their exam; but any degree would for some reason reduce the study period by two years. So, I decided I might as well do something more interesting like social sciences. In my second year I became a little disillusioned within the university, so started looking for a career in the social area. I applied for the Probation Service, but they stated they were not interested until I had completed my Degree. So, I decided to soldier on and complete my degree. I was on special leave from E&A so could return there at any time, so resolved that was the best option, and I could take my time looking for an alternative career. So, in September I returned to E&A and had to start studying law and accounts on half-day release on a Friday at the City of London College. I could not fathom the point of double-entry bookkeeping as the civil service did not use it. I enjoyed the law, and the lecturer in accounts put up with me. As he lived in Nottingham at the weekend, when I knew I was scheduled to go on the audit there, I asked, and he cordially agreed to give me a lift there. I had applied and been accepted at Birkbeck College, London to study for a master’s degree in social psychology by evening study. I happened to be there when the news broke about the assassination of President Kennedy. The study stopped for the rest of the evening as we were all so shocked.
At the end of the first year at the City of London College, there was an exam in both subjects, I decided to fail the exams so then I would have to repeat the first-year studies and not move onto the second year. The rationale was that I could then concentrate on the master’s degree. For the Law exam, I wrote a critique of communism as I thought it fun. As it turned out I achieved the lowest marks ever in both exams, and my bosses knew I was just back from university, I was quizzed by my boss, he plainly did not believe my story. I was then summoned to see his boss; he was not convinced either so then I was summoned to appear before the Auditor Director-General himself. I was not impressed by him, nor was he with me as he didn't believe me either, so in almost desperation he leaned over his desk and sternly said ‘Boys from Chatham School do not behave in this way.’ I then knew his background, but also what I did not expect was that an old boy network actually operates in the civil service.
Being back in A&E, Sports Day cropped up again, so I attended and aimed to do my best to score as many points as possible for my Department, so I entered every event. I remember in the 800 meters’ walk, when I passed someone who was supposed to be athletics competitor and had expected to win, saying I must be cheating to pass him, I just shouted back, no, my Mum always walked very fast! By the end of all the events and scores added up, my Department had won the Day against the other 8 Divisions. I had also amassed more points as an individual, that entitled me to be awarded the Victor Ludorum Cup by the Director-General of E&A himself and he would then buy me a drink. When he saw it was me, there was a bit of a kind huddled conversation, and the cup was passed to the Deputy Director and no drink was offered. My name was, however, inscribed on the cup, so I remained a thorn in their flesh!
young ladies in this group I did quite fancy; However, that was not the one that did write to me. That was Donna Hasbrouck who I could place, but as she sent several photos of herself as well as very flattering and endearing letters that was no problem. So, I decided to continue the correspondence whilst it lasted. I decided it was too good an offer and that I would go to the USA to meet up again. That was not to take place until 1968, so I will return to it.
The first post I applied for was for a research post as an assistant in the social studies department at Leicester University. Only a very bright young man from Aberdeen University and myself were called for interview, I felt pleased to have been called, but was not overly disappointed as I well appreciated that the other candidate was better than me. I then applied for a research post at the Home Office which concentrated on studies in Criminology. The interview went quite well; as it drew to close the Chair of the panel took off his glasses and sat back, and said ‘Mr. Duncan, I am now speaking out of my role, so what I have to say you can completely ignore should you wish. I think you might have fitted the role for which you applied, but listening carefully to all you have said, may I suggest that your skills might lie more in the practical application of theory than the pure theory itself. Have you ever thought of joining the Prison Service?
I thanked him as I felt I had been offered good advice. By coincidence, the Home Office advertisement for ‘direct entrant trainee governors’ which only appeared once a year came out the next week. So, I applied and was accepted. The bonus I had not known was that I remained a civil servant and was only changing departments, so my pension contributions just continued with no hitch and if I did not settle in the Prison Department I could revert to E&A for up to 2 years. So, I could not lose. The problems I had faced with finding accommodation in London or commuting were gladly to come to an end. The real loss was that I had to relinquish my studies at Birkbeck.
Mother, you never really understood why I joined the Prison Service, but you taught us to listen to good and wise advice, as above. It opened up for a career where I found I had much to offer, and it also provided a world of opportunity that I could never imagine………….To be Continued
As I had reverted to commuting from Ramsgate, so my days were long, getting up at 05.30 am on most mornings and not getting home until almost 23.00 some nights. Mum decided that it was too much, and we should look into moving nearer to London. The family had close connections with Whitstable, so the hunt started there. A pair of semi-detached new houses were on sale for £3,300 just within our price bracket in Grimshill Road. It backed onto the Whitstable football pitch, and we were screened by a hedge and not overlooked. With my savings and a mortgage of £2,200 from the Halifax at 6.1%, we were able to proceed with the purchase and moved there eventually on the 18th of January 1963. We had waited for the removal van we had arranged from 9 am onwards; when it had not arrived by 10.30, we phoned up and were informed they had overlooked the booking but would immediately arrange to find a van and crew. So, by the time we had
unloaded at Whitstable and made beds we were too exhausted to eat and all too glad to get into bed. We eventually sold the Ramsgate house on 14 February 1963 for £2,800. When the trains were running on time this reduced the previous two-hour journey time by 40 minutes each way, which made a big difference. I was still paying over £12 a month out of my net income of just over £50 a month; so it was expensive even then. It was a reasonable walk to the station, and I could buy a paper at a newsagent by the station. (It is of note that trains from Ramsgate on that line still take 2 hours some 60 years later!) I planned and laid out the virgin garden, mainly to grass, but with a vegetable patch at the bottom. Leonard took the lead in us erecting a garage to the side of the house, and he connected an electrical supply. It was more for storage space and a workshop. Mum was very happy here as we had other relations in Whitstable, and she often looked after June’s children when they were young; Uncle Les would also come round and play with them in the garden.
Some years on Mum, unfortunately, had a Stroke, she recovered reasonably well, but lost the strength in her right arm, over which she got rather frustrated and a bit bad-tempered at times. As we were now both away, Uncle Les had joined her and they had holidays together. I had not realized at the time how much this was appreciated by my cousin June and husband Max.
They had moved to a very nice bungalow overlooking the golf course, but they had three growing sons, and her father had moved in after his wife died, so he was taking up one bedroom, so they were very tight for space. To make life easier for mother it was decided to sell the house and purchase a bungalow in Tankerton. This was finally finalized despite the difficulties being created by the seller, and they moved in on the 4th of July 1972. The property had been unoccupied for a while, so the garden needed quite a lot of attention. As it did for the next several years as Mum was not up to it and was one of the first tasks I had to do whenever I could get to visit.
I happened to meet up with a couple of ex-residents of New College who rented accommodation near the college and it emerged that they had a spare room, so I agreed to join them and moved in. I was using a borrowed bed, but they wanted me to move my own furniture in. I managed to stall for a bit, as I knew I would be moving on hopefully. Earlier in the year my love of Coventry Cathedral had persuaded me to enrol on a week of study and worship being run by the Cathedral staff. It was very stimulating, and we had free run of the Cathedral buildings. There happened to be a leader and about 20 young Congregationalists’ from Connecticut in the United States of America also on the event. They were then off on a trip to Europe. I became quite friendly with them, and remember I joined some of them who had arranged to see a local production of the opera, ‘Madame Butterfly’ by Puccini. We also exchanged addresses. I was in the flat in London, the two flat mates were away, and late evening there was a knock on the door. When I opened it there was the whole of the USA group plus bicycles. They explained that they had been delayed and could not return the hired bicycles that night nor had they anywhere to stay, could I put them up? I was slightly aghast, but felt obliged to help; so, all 20 odd and the bicycles all entered the flat and they squatted for the night where they could. I was relieved the next morning when they all left, but they said they would keep in touch and write to me. When my flat mates returned, they somehow picked up on what had occurred and were not too happy about the situation. As matters had moved along a bit on the work situation, I knew my stay there was limited. One of the
