John Edward Cooper’s Notes
“A tin of Jetex and a tin of fuse”
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Early Days “Gob” 1. At Fleetwood Grammar School, David Rotheram was known as “Gob”, especially by his former fellow-pupils from Beach Road Primary School, Cleveleys. And “Gob” was the name my Mum used for him, so that’s how I must have referred to him, when talking about him. I’m not sure, though, what I called him to his face: perhaps, if I wanted to speak to him, I would just wait till he was facing me. “A tin of Jetex and a tin of fuse” 2. Gob introduced me to the idea of building model kits (aircraft, ships, etc.) and then setting them on fire and imagining a battle or ambush taking place. 3. One time, for the above purpose, he instructed me to go to Latus’s, a sports, hobby, toy and model shop in Lord Street, Fleetwood, for “a tin of Jetex[1] and a tin of fuse”, before coming to his house in Cleveleys. Why he would want to use model-aircraft solid fuel, rather than just set the item on fire, I don’t remember. Perhaps he wanted to create some explosive effects. [1] The Jetex engine was a type of solid-fuel rocket engine for use in model aircraft. “A tin of Jetex”, therefore, was a container of fuel pellets, and “a tin of fuse” one containing a length of ignition wick.4. I was a bit apprehensive about doing what he told me, because I thought, Surely it should be “fuses”, not “fuse”. So I asked him, “What is it?” Gob repeated it, “A tin of Jetex and a tin of fuse”. I didn’t feel much better, but nevertheless I did as he told me. 5. I went to Fleetwood on my bike. This was the first time that I had done this, and I remember finding the straight bit of road after Springfield Terrace a bit monotonous. I nervously approached the counter at Latus’s and repeated the request for “a tin of Jetex and a tin of fuse, please”, and to my amazement was delivered the goods with no fuss at all. No blank or querying looks. Just a perfect understanding of what I was referring to. These two items were sickeningly expensive, though. 6. I cycled to Gob’s. I have impression of going down Fleetwood Road and turning right into the B5409, Rossall Lane, rather than going direct along the A587. Why I didn’t bear right at the West View roundabout into the A587 instead of bearing left and continuing along the A585, I don’t know. Perhaps I cycled from Latus’s along back roads, and joined the A585 at the tramway crossing at “Broadwaters”. I think we did the burning on Gob’s back lawn. 7. Later, I got into trouble off my Dad for wasting so much money. “What did you do with it?” he asked. Lamely, I replied, “Burnt it.” “What!” he demanded, incredulously. And so on. |
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