Ray's Memories age 19

The University prospectus landed through the letter box of my shared room in my shared flat in West Hampstead and with it - my magic letter.

You have been offered a place through the UCCA clearing scheme at the University of Stirling to read English Studies..

'Stirling - where's that?' I thought, followed by 'It looks alright - I'll go'

I had planned to read Law at Sussex or Hull the year before. Both had offered me a conditional place if I got three B's at A-level but I had failed my French and got C for English so it was office life for me.

My last job was alright., Temporary Clerk-Typist in Engineering K section at Cable and Wireless Ltd. I had 'gone permanent' which was against agency rules but everyone did it and the restrictive clause$ in the contract of employment couldn't stop us

However I couldn't see me sticking it for life. No matter how many yellow and pink carbons I had to type on top of the white 'original' and how no matter how much Tippex corrector fluid I used,.

My Dad had heard about Stirling

'Stirling - oh yes - that's where they had all the trouble with the Queen' *He also said several times and loud enough for my mother to hear 'Stirling - as far away from here as she can get' 

Poor Vera was so thrilled that I had got in to Uni even though I was a year late. Delia next door on one side and Fiona** on the other had 'only gone to teacher training' However they had both gone locally to Trent Park in Hertfordhire. I am sure that Mrs Barnes and Mr Marshall both enjoyed mentioning Scotland to her.

Naomi Ellman, a good family friend knitted me the first of several warm jumpers and cardigans. She made me a different one each Autumn. Many of the Scottish students' mothers showed their support the same way and AFAIK we all wore our warm woollies***

I still had my handmade blue dress from Mrs Hyams, another good family friend which I thought went alright with my hippy clogs.

Anyway Vera had to buy me something so we went to Brent Cross and I got a winter coat for thirty pounds and a velour bomber jacket from Marks and Sparks. I didn't now have to rely on my second hand heavyweight fur and leather charity shop coat or my Chinese silk jacket from the shop near Notting Hill Gate.

But before I left I had to have my work send off in my lunch hour. It was only right and proper.

They had all warned me about Glasgow even though I wasn't going there. Even though they were all Englishmen from down South or Up North. They all knew all about Glasgow.

''In Glasgow the police walk about in sixes.' 

'And in Glasgow on a typical Saturday night there are at least a dozen murders.'

Yes they knew about the same as me. I had seen pictures of the Gorbals on the Shelter charity posters we  had at school and I knew I was not going there.

And now for the send-off

'Right - get your drinking shoes on'

I had a bag of chips first in the hope that they would line my stomach. Back in the office the chips and not that much booze hit the lined waste paper basket. I was sat in a quiet corner of the office,with my head in my hands and positioned over another lined bin in case any more came out. I managed to swallow a cup of sugary tea and two paracetamol, and when my hours were up they got me a taxi home****

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Domestic puss no more. London try to be cool flat-cat no more. Scottish Wildcat - Yowza!!

My dad drove me to Euston Station, carried my two suitcases and saw me onto the train. He bought me two magazines including Cosmopolitan. I didn't even read magazines.

On the train to Stirling I didn't read a thing on purpose. I stared at everything from the window. Then Maureen who was going into third year got on at Coventry and sat next to me and she told me all about Uni.

*The trouble with the Queen. - The year before the Queen of England had made a ceremonial visit to Stirling to open up one of the student Halls of Residence. A handful of students decided to drink her health right in front of her, swigging their bottles  of supermarket plonk on the Link Bridge which spanned the purpose-built Airthey Loch, which linked the residences with the study buildings. The media went to town on this and there were many repercussions.

** Neighbours' names changed.

*** If not all then the vast majority. Stirling had a reputation for politics but it was not big on image.

**** That's what I got for being 'one of the lads', being as sick as a pig! I was not judged in any way. I am sure that Dave, Phil and the two Rexes put away a good few pints and they did not spew up. 'Drugs - where's the harm'

$ Restrictive clause in the contract of employment. The clause stated that we had to remain as temporary staff with the employment agency and to inform the agency if the company we worked for gave us a permanent job, thus cutting out the agency. We were told it was not allowed. I think that legally if we did inform them that we had done so the agency could then charge the company a penalty. However office temps in this situation simply told the agency 'I've found another job.'

In Scotland the law is different. The clause would be viewed as a seperate contract. It is called a Contract in Restraint of Trade.

I was a office worker in England. In Scotland as part of my English Studies degree I had to take additional options. I did two courses in Scots Business Law.