(39) ' My Teenage years and Tony Lucas'

[Ken]

 

I was with an old friend called Tony Lucas in the cafeteria of Harvey's department store, the biggest of Guildford's many large high street shop's.  We were both in our teenage years and Tony was sitting down at one of the tables as I stood in the queue, filling my tray with the various items of food we required.  I was watching him as he sat there, happy and relaxed, in front of him was a large bag full of twenty or so 45' rpm single records he had just purchased.  Harvey's record department had a massive sale on of thousands of new but out of date record's that were being offered at ridiculously low clearance prices and Tony was taking full advantage of their offer.  The only stipulation was that once sold, no exchange or refunds would be allowed under any circumstances.  What Tony didn't know was that as he selected the records he wanted, and added them to an ever growing pile he wished to buy, I had been surreptitiously exchanging the bottom ones for other recording's, records that were not of his choosing.  As I slowly advanced in the cafeteria queue, I was watching and waiting for the moment when Tony decided to open the bag and look at the bargains he had just purchased.  I knew he would do this for all people do the same, including me, I still do, particularly when I've made purchases from a second hand book store.

As predicted the moment came, and in the middle of the long queue I started to chuckle.  I saw Tony look in satisfaction at the first record, and watched as he turned it over to read the details of the B side.  My chuckles increased as he did the same with the second record, and then he was onto the third, which was one of the records I had swapped.  I saw a look of puzzlement appear on my friends face which increased as he looked at the fourth.  By this time I was almost at the point of payment in the queue and I was openly laughing at Tony's expression, to the bewilderment of those queuing with me.  I watched as Tony quickly checked through all the records he had purchased, to find only two were of his choosing.  He then looked up to see me shaking with mirth as I paid for my tray of food, and realisation as to what must have happened spread across his, far from amused, face.  

The loud words he shouted at me as I started walking with my tray towards our table were similar to 'Bar Steward', and then he was charging down the stairs on his way to the record department.  I was laughing out loud as I attempted to carry the tray to our table but by the time I got there most of my tea, and much of Tony's coffee, had slopped onto the tray.  I drank what remained of my tea and ate my food alone until Tony re-appeared.  He was no longer annoyed, for after he had explained at length about the warped sense of humour of his strange friend, the record shop manager had let him exchange the records.  Tony vowed he would think of something to pay me back, but I can say that so far, after the passing of almost fifty years, he has failed to do so!

Another teenage memory of my old friend Tony Lucas occurred in the winter of 1964 at the time when The Dave Clark Five were No.1 in the pop charts with 'Glad all Over'.  Tony and I had spent the evening on the sprung dance floor of Harvey's,  the same above mentioned massive department store. To village folk like us the sprung dance floor was the very latest innovation and one could actually feel the floor move as one danced.  I found this rather unsettling considering we were on the fourth floor of the building, even more so when the entire dance crowd stamped their feet when Dave Clark's big hit was played.  The chorus of the song went like this, "And I'm feeling, ** Glad all Over", and at the ** every one gave two almighty stomps with their feet, matching the drummers two huge drum beats.  The whole sprung dance floor would shake at this point and both Tony and I were convinced the whole building would topple over, somehow our teenage brains found this concern highly amusing.  

We were amused again later that evening when after the dance was over, Tony and I returned to what was then the Tunsgate car park.  We were not aware that two policemen were watching our antics as we both reached a car and got in the back seat together.  It was in that position that they found us when some minutes later they knocked loudly on the car's windows and insisted we get out.  As we did so I whispered to Tony that they must think we're a couple of Homo's, the nicer word, gay, was not in common parlance back in 1964.  As I was answering the two police officers as they questioned us on what we were up to in the back seat of a car at 1am on a Sunday morning, the laughing beer we had consumed all evening continued to make Tony constantly giggle.  It would be no exaggeration to say the officers were not amused and Tony's annoying behaviour did nothing to make them listen kindly to my explanation.  I began to envisage a trip to the Police Station for until the law changed in 1968, anyone suspected of homosexual behaviour could be prosecuted.  

However, salvation came in the form of Tony's parents when they arrived at what was their car.  Mr. Lucas, Tony's Dad, was the security chief of Harvey's and he was responsible for ensuring every one had left the building after the dance had ended.  It had taken the best part of an hour for him to do so and to secure the store's alarms etc, and we had just been innocently waiting in the back seat of his car for his arrival and our lift home.  Mrs Lucas, a formidable woman of the Stevens clan, berated the Officers for even questioning our innocence and told them they had dirty minds.  I watched them as they dejectedly walked away and with Tony still chortling with alcohol induced laughter, we all got into Mr Lucas's car and he drove us the five miles home to Shamley Green!

I enjoyed many good times with Tony Lucas in my teens and early twenties, and he always displayed great confidence in my ability to solve any problems that existed on our nights out together.  I recall him telling me of one occasion that occurred when I was not with him that was to severely test my ability and it went thus.  Tony had been threatened by a crowd of strangers led by a frighteningly large chap who had grabbed him by the shoulders, knowing much worse was about to follow Tony wisely decided flight was his only option.  To make this possible he used a shock tactic and he proceeded to stub out the cigarette he was smoking on his adversary's cheek.  In the confusion that followed Tony sped a hasty retreat, not only from the dance hall but from the area itself.  When he proudly told me of this event I not only told him he was stupid, but warned him of big trouble should he ever meet up with these people again.  He reliably informed me that as the trouble had occurred many miles away in another town, there was little to no chance of that happening.  But it's a small world and needless to say, Tony Lucas was very wrong!

Fast forward a few weeks to a dance at the Guildford Civic hall which Tony and I were enjoying.  We had separated for I had met a red haired beauty called Hilary who, to my amazement, was enjoying my company, so much so she had informed me she would drive me home when the dance ended.  I had really struck gold, a lovely girl who laughed at my humour and HAD A CAR!  It was while dancing with her that Tony tapped my shoulder, "I've got a problem", he said, his face ashen.  He gestured from left to right at a large group of aggressive looking roughs.  I rightly assumed that the big one in the centre, whom I vaguely recognised, had recently been burnt on the cheek with a cigarette.  "They came by coach", my friend informed me, "twenty against one isn't fair", he added.  Later I pointed out to Tony that twenty against two are not exactly good odds either, but at that time my thoughts were on survival.  I honestly can't recall the words I used to persuade the big man to forgive and forget, but I can well remember the red haired beauty telling all of us, at length, that fighting never solved anything.  I listened to her words with wonder for I realised the yobs were taking notice and when my offer of a pint to the big chap was accepted, I knew the danger had passed.

We have all changed since those days and in the decades that followed I came to know the big chap quite well.  He was one of a fighting gang called 'The Borden Boys' and in time some of them grew up and ceased their mindless fighting.  The big chap I had vaguely recognised on that night of potential danger I recalled I had served with football boots in Jeffery's spots shop.  One could say I purchased his friendship that evening with the future discounts I promised to give him on all the sporting goods he bought.  I did so first in Jeffery's and later in many of the Supasports shops.  I grew to truly like the man.  The red haired beauty soon tired of me and she and her car went their own way.  However, I remain forever grateful for her words of wisdom spoken to a bus load of yobs, those words helped save Tony Lucas, and perhaps me, from a certain kicking.  I haven't seen Tony for almost two decades and, in truth, we may have little in common now.  But I'm the first to admit that during those formative years I counted him as one of my closest friends and the many happy teenage memories of our exploits together still give me pleasure                    
   

[Ken]

This is a tale of my teenage adventures with Tony Lucas, a close friend of yesteryear.  It illustrates both my sense of humour and how my'gift of the gab' helped me escape from dangerous situations.

[Someone]

He's still living in shamley green if you wan to go see him , 3 garden close.