John Barker 1993

I am delighted at this opportunity to introduce myself by means of the 'President's' Column, not least that it enables me to recall earlier and very happy days.

My school days were 1957 to 1964, a period which we are told saw England launched into the 'Swinging Sixties. I am non-plussed by some opinion which lays the problem of current society at the feet of liberal and irresponsible 60s youth.

Having searched hard to recall my own contribution, I am not convinced. Wearing my first pair of winklepickers to the school dance was fairly liberal those days, although I don't believe the few pints prior, in the Strawberry, was irresponsible. Rather I prefer to believe that I continued a long-standing school tradition.

I have two children – 11 and 17 years old – and the social and academic pressure on them seems immense to what I remember myself. Simple things were the best, plenty of sports and walking/camping with the third Troop. They were virtually free interests then, and in the relative sense, still are.Since they have remained as my main leisure activities, I have a lot to be thankful for, I shouldn't imagine that Sam Price ever saw the school as swinging! I can't imagine Sam has ever used the word but for me it surely was.

The current times, particularly in Barrow, seem a long way removed from those earlier memories.Then again, perhaps it is just me taking a mature, seasoned view of things. Mostly, nothing has changed has it? I wince every time my young daughter plays her 'teeny'  CD – just like my parents did when I commenced my Beatles collection. The difference, of course, is that the Beatles were a class act.

And that is the way I like to think the Old Boys has continued its life. Full of little gems spanning many years, each bringing back memories of its own class acts.There is nothing formally rigid about us, the relaxed informality being one of its delights to my mind. Neither is it onerous in duty, or excessively demanding in time.

I see no reason why we can't 'swing' along for many decades yet. Whatever your all particular era – and we do seem to be nicely spread – it is my pleasure, and my honour, to share in it.