Hi Joe,
I am typing this feeling very guilty because I have been extremely negligent in keeping in touch.This is not due to lack of either interest or appreciation for what you are spearheading.I actually am quite busy, but for me to type this is frustratingly painful due to the fact that I type at about 4 words a minute and I do not ever correct anything.This in a way is not too different than when I was at school.
Please pass on my regards to all ex St. Eddies If only those bastards had taught us to type instead of beating us up.The primary school could have prepared us better by teaching us self defence strageties such as judo, or better still, instead of purple uniforms we could have been provided with armour. Actually, I usually smile when I think of St. Edwards. I have mainly fond memories. In fact, I used to hope other people would get into trouble because that meant I wasn't. I always had considerable difficulty not laughing. I never knew why laughing was supposed to be so bad. It was always frightening to be sent out of the room by somebody who for some reason couldn't give you the strap, but it was very difficult trying to hide one's small body in the doorway in case Brothers Hooper & later Foley came by.
My most horrific day at St. Edwards was when at eleven o'clock in the morning, I suddenly decided that I wanted to become a Christian Brother. I met this dreadful, frightening visiting brother in the headmaster's office. When he asked me why I wanted to become a Brother, I really should have told him that by meeting him, I would miss Brother Browner's terrifying lesson, and that I hadn't done my homework. I was only 12 at the time. Instead, I told him that I loved God, always had, and so did our whole family, except for one of my brothers, who I was hoping to convert. He agreed that I could go to Ledsham the following September. By the afternoon, I no longer wanted to be a Christian Brother. In fact, I don't know If I even wanted to be a Christian. I do know that I had once played rugby at Ledsham, and found it to be comparable to a Catholic Borstal. I know that I went home crying, telling my mother that I would have to leave home forever. The next few months were hell, as I was convinced that I would have to go. Fortunately, they must have been less than impressed by my interview, because I was never contacted again. Thank God.
I have enclosed a photo of the Canadian Boons. I am the one in the middle, with the Everton shirt. I am also much older than everybody else in the picture.
After I had typed five lines of this letter, my very generous, delightful daughter offered her typing services. Hence, the length of the letter. Unfortunately, she had to leave, so this is the end. I remember all of the people who went to St. Edwards with me. Please give them all my regards. If you have one next year, I will definitely come. I would have come this year, but due to certain circumstances, this was impossible. Next year, I will have new oars.
Regards,

John Boon