Shelley the Lifeboat Labrador by John Periam Page B

working at the Fayrness Hotel so it was useful in the days of hand written hotel bills when it came to checking out after a business trip!  I have lots of fond memories in their company and they were very good the Shelley. Paul sadly passed away later due to a brain tumour. 
     
    Back at The Faryness we had an excellent dinner and stayed up for a while but the antics of the night before soon caught up with us and an early night beckoned. It was a pity as I knew many at this establishment and with its wonderful outlook over the English Channel it was always a nice place to have a late nightcap. The rooms made up for everything and Jack and Peggy loved their one night there.  Shelley had her normal place beside my bed in the room I always had which was situated at the top of a round tower on the corner of the hotel at the front.  As I went to sleep I remembered that I had also locked myself out of my room at this hotel and spent a night sleeping in the linen basket with Shelley. However I decided not to remind her.
     
    Next day it was a slow drive back to Shoreham giving Jack and Peggy the chance to see some of the beautiful Kent countryside. We stopped off to give Shelley a run unaware that there was a pond nearby – yes you have guessed it - poor Peggy had a rather muddy dog next to her for the remainder of the journey. “Let’s put it down to experience’” she said with a smile to which Jack replied, “Nice to meet so many people and John has got some first class friends out there.”
     
    On this occasion I must say I had to agree with them both. Thinking to myself at the same time how important in life it is that one can share ones pleasures and friends with others.                                                                               
     
     
    End Chapter Twelve
     
     
     
    MAD DOGS AT BODIAM – CHAPTER 13
     
     
    When I lived at Boxley near Maidstone as a child I attended Vinters Boys Secondary School. I did not enjoy my school years and given the opportunity to get into work at the first opportunity I did just that working at ‘The Kent Messenger Newspaper’ as a trainee reporter.  During those years I made friends with a Graham Beames who lived nearby.  I also spent a lot of time at Boxley House with my other good friend Willie Marr-Johnson (who I mentioned earlier).
     
    I won’t go into detail about my trainee report days other than to say it was an experience and a learning curve. My only claim to fame was that I worked in the same office as David Wigg who was to become a highly respected celebrity writer later in life.  Bert Charlton was the editor and a taskmaster and my pay was £3 a week. At times my frustrations turned to tears but it stood me in good stead later in life!
     
    Graham was a character and used to do things that many of us would never dream of doing such as climbing the tallest tree he could find right to the top or driving at speed on his homemade soap box.  They were the days of no computers and one had to make their own entertainment out of the most mundane things. It was a wonderful feeling as well as one of life’s experiences.  I remember doing a paper round at 6am in the pitch dark walking down long country lanes whilst still feeling safe.  We used to visit Willie at Boxley and take out their Labrador walking for miles along the North Downs in all types of weather.  Nothing was a problem and each day was a fresh adventure and challenge (watch out Huck Finn) I used to say to myself.
     
    I was in the local church choir and when I was confirmed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury we had a parish breakfast. My only sausage when prodded by my fork jumped onto his plate. He ate it saying “Bless you my dear boy and thank you for small mercies.”
     
    Here I am now some 30 years later driving in my car to Bodiam with Shelley to visit Graham whom I had not seen for well over 15