We moved away from London before I reached the grand age of two and I spent the next ten years growing up in Luton. My sister Pamela and I went to Denbigh Primary School.

I well remember Mr Lyons and his "smacky bottom club" (not politically correct these days, but what is?), and the book that he read out to us. It was called The Magic Door, and I have a story to tell you about that…