He then gave his own interpretation and understanding of why the Russian Revolution happened. Lookin

For me it was art, literature and history at school. My three favourite subjects. Drawing and painting interested this works and inspired me. I could kinda disappear into my own world. Back then it was all about gaining knowledge, ideas and new things I could learn about. My other place I would disappear in was the local library. Delving into various fictional worlds and then moving

to the politics and history sections. So many books, the length and breadth of the library sections upon sections of books to explore.
The sticking point for me regards to literature was Jane Austen. I couldn t get my head around her work, and I had to as I was studying Pride and Prejudice for O Level. Inevitably my lack of interest in Austen got me kicked out. My then teacher was a Austen fan, a rank Tory to boot. He didn t like me and I didn t like him. Mutual loathing. He enjoyed patronising and undermining me in a rather tedious and sexist manner. To this day when I pick up an Austen novel I think of those awful days being taught by him. It s like some strange aversion therapy. this works Austen = sickness to the gut. No doubt it is very unfair to Jane Austen and I really should get over this and give her a fair chance.The day came to leave his class and I did feeling hopeless and a failure. I was now shunted to another English Lit class taught by this guy, Nick Mills (or as in school parlance…Mr Mills but I will refer to him as Nick). He was this big hulking six footer, not fat just hefty. I had already been taught English Language before by him. Entering the classroom after being unceremoniously kicked this works out he told me he was surprised to see me.
Going from Austen and the poetry of Betjeman to social and political realism, for that was Nick’s speciality, woke me up from my slumber. I liked Shakespeare (Macbeth) and the poetry of Wilfred Owen. But now I was studying Animal Farm (Orwell), An Inspector Calls (Priestley), Kes (Barry Hines), Whose Life Is It Anyway (Brian Clark), along with the poetry of Linton Kwesi Johnson. Unfortunately, the books I studied were all by men (women only existed when I studied this works A Level Literature…but that’s another story about a former drink soaked leftie teacher).
As part of English Language O Level I had to write discursive essays and this would initiate discussions in the classroom. this works One subject was on whether the UK should re-introduce capital punishment. Back then, as still now, I am opposed to capital punishment. Out of about 30 in the classroom around this works 5 of us opposed it. Nick was unimpressed with the classroom pro-hanging lobby.
He explained his position of the subject, Cards on the table, I oppose the death penalty . He mentioned miscarriages of justice, how wrong execution this works is, the barbarity of state murder. He very much opposed the death penalty. My estimation for him increased dramatically.
Every Friday he would bring in a film video usually this works social and political realism (one week was the class s choice unfortunately it was always the lads who ended up choosing some macho Hollywood crap like Rambo!). We would watch If , Kes , Equus (I had to get my mother s permission to watch this X film, she hesitated in signing the bit of paper and had to remind her I had seen it before this works when younger and if she didn t sign it it would be ridiculous as I knew what it was about). I looked forward to Nick’s choice in films.
As someone at the time whose left-wing ideas were burgeoning

and developing I found Nick’s teaching a beacon of hope. It spurred on my interest. Unlike previous teacher, he really did encourage me. Sometimes we would chat briefly at the end of the class about Orwell, especially, and Animal Farm. Orwell s interpretation of the Soviet Union, the characterisation of Snowball and Napoleon, Stalinism and Trotskyism. I liked these chats because I felt like an equal and that someone was interested in my views.
I learned about the Spanish Civil War and Orwell s Homage to Catalonia. I checked out as many books I could on Orwell from the local library. Nick also brought us some 20th century history books to give us some political context about the Russian Revolution. He thumbed through the pages and started reading the chapter on the Russian Revolution. Eventually he slammed the book down in disgust on the desk remarking, Who the hell wrote this, Margaret Thatcher this works !! I was at school during the height of Thatcherism….
He then gave his own interpretation and understanding of why the Russian Revolution happened. Looking back I do wonder which Trot group he belonged to…..Though I knew he was a union rep for the NUT.
As part of my O Level Language course I had to pass an oral exam, where I had to speak in a one-to-one setting with a teacher for 10 mins. Come the day, it had to be said (from discussions I had with others about their 10 mins talk) there was a definite gender division. Boys talked about their favourite foot