Growing Up Between Foster Homes and School Streets

Yeah, welcome to Legion Word. Yeah, so back to my life story, yeah, on this podcast. So I'm going to go back into the, I was in the foster care system just to carry on from where I was. As I said again, it all starts from, originally from home to school. So back in, as I said again, so I went to St. Patrick's School and as I said, we're in 1986, 87. Now my first, my first, I spoke about a woman in Leighton. So I was in Leighton, Park Road in Leighton with a family everywhere. It was an Antigone family. And then times that, remember I said, they always, like they would try to keep you with your brothers. Yeah, my older brother and sister, they more went children's homes, like one Cedar Drive and Earlham Grove in Forest Gate. But me and Richard, we ended up going to Park Road Lane. Remember I went Haynut Road, Leighton as well. And as I said, I didn't really give these lot too much time because of certain situations in them homes. But briefly back to Haynut Road, as I said, remember I was a bit, as I said, I don't know if it was sleepwalking or whatever I might have been going through because remember you come from home and then you just meet new families. So that one in Haynut Road had a foster brother there as well. And there was a few kids there, I can't remember their names. So I'm not going to talk about it. But these are the things I'm going to get to later and work out other kids that might go through these little things. Remember we're still young, so it's not nothing we should take is too, yeah, but it's a reality. Anyway, so that was one in Haynut Road and then we started getting more settling. So as I said, I wasn't too comfortable in that home, so we moved again. I wasn't with my brother Richard then. But then we went to, yeah, we moved to Park Road Leighton. And that Antigua family was cool, they was a nice family as I said. So we went to, we used to go to St. Xavier's Church, yeah, we used to go to St. Xavier's Church. And then me and Richard got a job in Skelton's Lane working in the farm. That's on Bowman Estate. So Skelton's Lane, we used to work in the farm and me and Richard used to love that. Remember that's what I'm saying. We're actually good kids just doing normal stuff that you would do in it. And maybe I might not have got these opportunities with my mum as well at the same time, but yeah, we was there doing these things. And then I said, I don't know if it was the situation, I think it was coming up to Christmas, where me and my brother with their son and their daughter and we used to just do silly things, I don't know. But they was a bit like good kids. So me and my brother would make them do silly things, but they might look at bullying things. Like just things that just break rules in it. So as I said, me and my brother used to get the little rolling pin on our hands in it. But as I said again, we was actually naughty, a bit naughty anyway. But moving forward now, so from that house, as I said, I used to think, how are we getting to school these times? But 100% it was cabs, yeah. My memory's good. So we used to get picked up. So you were kind of like, you're kind of foster care, but you're getting little treatment because you're getting in the car, you get picked up on time and get dropped to school. I remember I went to St. Patrick's, as I said, Catholic school. It was good. And opposite the Catholic school, there was another school, Stoney Down Park School. And that's like a, not a Catholic school, like a mixed school. So you have all that. I don't think you wear school uniform

But I could correct me on that, but I'm not sure. I don't think he wears school uniform. Back to Park Road, so yeah, we used to just go up to little, all the little normal things, the church. We used to work in the farm, and as I said, but for whatever reason, I'm not saying that's why we moved from there, but we got a good family, like the best foster care for me and my brother Richard. We moved to Stoke Newington. I think this is 1988, yeah, 88, 89. So we moved over to Stoke Newington, and they had Auntie Peggy and Uncle Edison. Yeah, and as you can see, I still call them Auntie Peggy and Uncle Edison. They was like a, yeah, mum and dad in it, but we're not going to call them mum and dad, because my mum's my mum and my dad's my dad in it. So we moved to Stoke Newington, and this was like a, do you know what? For me, it became an adventure, but before, I remember, I'm in school, so Stoke Newington, as I said, the Jamaican family, and they taught me other little things, structures, as I said, when you go to these homes, it's like, yeah, you're a new kid, so you're welcoming. You're going to, if they've got kids, you'll meet their kids. You'll go with their family. Like, remember, you introduce yourself. You take you to your bedrooms. Me and my brother was up there upstairs, Stoke Newington, Walford Road, yeah? So, and what's that, N16 or whatever? So, yeah, me and my brother, we used to live in the top floor. And if you know Stoke Newington, they've got some big houses, and they was absolutely, I can't say enough, and my mum met them as well, so she was happy. She was never happy her kids not being around. I know that, but at the same time, she was happy where we was, innit? And remember, where I'm in Walford, so they always, I stayed in the same school, still was allowed to visit my mum after school, and then we got to come back to Stoke Newington. Yeah, along them ways, but we get a cab every morning. So, remember, so now I'm just dwelling into a bit of school life as well, because this is all gonna shape our kids, innit? Because we might come to school, and I was good at maths, and what it made me, I think, as well, remember, I'm the youngest one, and initially, we was all in school, but because of the ages, my brothers and that must have left, innit? So, I do remember now, because I have to redress this, my brother, 100%, I'd say, Richard, what was actually happening? Because I can't remember them things. I remember a lot of them. He used to say, come on, he was in school with me. He used to play with the older football team and all that. So, that side, I didn't really get in. So, remember, I was a normal kid now. So, I'll talk about James Dent, Michael Woolley, Neil Carson, and also Tyrone, Marcus Walker. And the reason I'm talking about these guys, because it was all the same, innit? In school, athletics, competitive, after school. I used to spend a lot of time with these white boys, pick up them. I remember, we was in the same football team, competitive, but they could tell me, I don't know. We can reflect on this, if sports, how they affect you as well, because I always loved the football, loved school, well-groomed, as I said, and the grooming, come on, I'm gonna, yeah, yeah, there's a lot. You come to school, we look well, innit? So, anyway, me and Neil Carson, I'll draw out Neil from this pack as well, because Neil was like a, me and Neil used to fight every day, and there was older people, as I know as well, there was people like Austin in the school, and little people that I end up, they're gonna, later on, shape my life.

wowed my life, maybe in a negative or not even in the positive or negative way, but we're just, these are people that I grew up with anyway. So we'll go to school. It's the after school bit that's important, why I want to kind of address the kids, just to see how we're, are we a bit different or the same. So let's talk about Neil. For Neil, James, that was, boom, that's one of my best parts. He might have seen it, we loved football, we talked about football every day. So after school, we go play ball, the normal football team, but go to the house. And it's just a structure, mum and dad, not saying there was any shatting where I'm coming from, it was just looked all, listen, I'm coming from like the Wooltons. You see when you watch the Wooltons, that's what they was to me, the Wooltons. It was all, it was smooth. And then you've got Michael William, but after school, I remember linking up with, Neil would be playing in the park after school. They might have played in the park, but you come out of the school, you've got the park. So you've got your little parents and you get a little 20 minutes in the park. And then some of them are on their way home. Now, this is where it kind of changed because I feel like Michael and that man had a structure where it was parents, where they was grounded to the stage of, come home. My Bridget Marcus was the same. Tyrone was the same. And then there's another, I remember we had an adjoining school as well, innit? Yeah. And in that school, there was like, come on, let me just not talk, stick to the things. I'm not trying to go back and forth from what I'm saying. So that's the little influence with these kids was, so the kids that I say playing outside the school. So there was a school next door to me as well, Stoney Down School. And remember, I'm living in Stoney Down. My mum, I still visit my mum. So this is where this story, I had to just give it a bit more in depth. My mum is a superwoman in terms of all my uncles and that was heading to my mum's house. It could sound so strange. My mum took on a lot of people as well. So my mum, a lot of people lived in my mum's house. So it's strange how we didn't live there all the time. We was always busy, but there was other people. She was taking on other kids and uncles. So it was a busy household, innit? Which I loved today. So there was like, I'm not going to go into, I have to say like the Pentex, Hayden, super influencing my life in the 80s as well, growing up. Because as I said, the Dobsons, Patrick, Superman in my life. And then you've got the Smiths, the Smith family. They're regular around my house, like the sisters and that. But then they had three brothers as well. And then we're going to talk, remember that's like Jonathan. Jonathan went to Stoney Down School. And I'll talk about Jonathan because he's got, he come from like a mum and dad as well. He's got a family. I say a family because they've got a mum and dad. I've got a mum and dad, but they didn't really do the tunes on me. They didn't go to Catholic school with me. But so basically, so I'm in my children's home, Stoney Down again, because I have to do it like this. So it makes sense to who I'm trying to reach out to, the kids. But I have to kind of go a little bit because I'm in the situation, innit? So I can't avoid talking about my mum's house because I also spent a lot of time there in the 80s, even though I was in the foster care. And some of these kids we relate to now, I want to know their journeys, how we changed the situation. So what I'm going to say, so yeah, Stoney Down, remember I lived in the house. And you also

I've always lived in a house, as I know, in a house. So I've always lived in a house. I visit people in the house, and I know all of my friends, and there's a point to why I'm saying this. I know all of my friends, a lot of my friends, they lived in houses. Yeah? So this is the conversation I'm going to get to, and I hope you can read where I'm heading with that little conversation about houses and estates quickly. But anyway, so we grew up in Stoke, and they're lovely parents. They took me to Jamaica, America, me and my brother, sorry. So me and my brother, from young, we used to graft, innit? Just because, as I said, they've got a budget, so I remember I'm very, I'm very, I know all the nice going on, and I'm actually, what's the word I'm looking for? I'm actually experiencing this now, because I've been to a few homes, innit? And I'm young, and not only a few homes, I've been invited to loads of homes. As I said, people was inviting me. It's like, they was happy to want to see me, take me on. Remember, not in no funny way, but yeah, they showed interest in me as a kid, and I have to appreciate these people, so they didn't have to do that. Yeah, and they would talk to me and see me, and just see if I'm on the right track, so on and so on, anyway. So, me and my brother used to watch Cars. They used to get the bucket, go around, knock people's houses. All this in Stoke, innit, with Wayne, a couple of them Turkish kids I grew up with. Obviously, my foster brother, Darren, prank, respect. But me and my brother was on it, and a few other kids. We used to watch the bikes. Remember I said it was Coca-Cola night, Richard used to be excellent at football, innit? I used to love football as well, but Richard was all about his football them days, innit? So, I used to go and play with his friends, like, all them St. James guys, all through Sailing Down, St. Patrick's and that, yeah? And this is where we go after school. So, imagine, I'm gonna have to go to Stoke, innit? But this is like 88. Remember, my mum's house is busy. But anyway, so, we used to all play in Stoneyland Park after. There was loads of us. I can't just go, I'm going crazy with all the names. But the ones that maybe was super close to me, we had a bond that was crazy. So, after school now, James and that, their dad, Neil, would still be in the park. We might even be climbing over clothes and stuff. I'm not sure, because Neil's house is closed up. But Neil used to like a little terror thing. But then the Smiths, Jonathan, yeah? Big influence in my life. Because remember, I'm coming from a situation where, remember, me and all these kids in school, yeah, I'm playing football, I'm good, you know? I'm good, I'm good at, I'm thinking, anyway, let me not beat my own, but I'm good at football. I'm playing rounders. I'm having a little bunch up in school. Yeah, I don't mind a little scrabbish, because I'm young, innit? We're just doing the little stuff we did in school. But I'm definitely don't mind a little play fight. Now, after school, remember, the Smiths used to be around me. They're going to think, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no. See my mate Jonathan? That was it. When we met, we met 86, obviously. But remember, I used to go foster caves, Wolfenstone. His mum and my mum and his mum, they're all family and friends. Yeah, well, we're super fam friends, but they're family, because they've been around the whole time, innit? So they would be in and out of my house. And why I just isolated Jonathan quickly, and it's not about that, it's just how the story goes now.

So I've come out, we play in the park. He's someone that's meant for me, because sometimes it's two people, and it's real, because his mum didn't want me to play or hang around with him. My mum was a bit easy. I remember we were all growing together, but they maybe could see something in you two, that they said, just try it, you two. And we wasn't always together, because he used to have his own little friends in Walthamstow, me and my little friends. Remember, we were all eight, nine, and 10. But this is where it gets a bit, I think, we used to all play in the park. So me and Jonathan, one day, remember, you should relate to these things. So Jonathan was like, and I was my own person. So they thought it was best to kind of put you two together and let you have a fight. And this is a build-up, because remember, I might even be coming as the strongest in St. Patrick's, and he's coming as the strongest in Stoney. Remember these names, remember we're young, but we're just moving about the streets. But we're doing our own thing, but we're close because our mums are close. Do you understand? So we're not, we don't go to school together, but it's a lot of time. You know, your school friends might not be your best friend after school, innit? Because your mum might bring someone around, and then you two kind of form a relationship. And man, he's got loads of brothers as well. But anyway, so they just planned a little fight, 89 for us. I think it's 89 where we climb over. But he had more fans than me, 100%. So it was like, go on, Jonathan. So 100%, Jonathan, Jonathan, he got more friends than you know. And it's sad, because I talk about him with so much love, you remember? Because I'd love him to just be, you know what I mean, to be on the journey. Because me and him, we've been on the journey together over the years, innit? But just briefly, so these are the outside influences. But then I've just said, yeah, so me and him had a little fight, you know, and I love it. And from there, you know what I mean, it's a respect thing. Because me and him were just, it's like superglue. But we're both individuals. We've got different characters, but we're kind of the same, innit? It was mad, because we kind of like became form. But then I've got the Desnosas as well. That was, and these people, I call them out, yeah? I have to use their names, because it's how we changed our lives going forward, innit? And this is what I say, why I use my mate Jonathan, because he's, it's not even about that right now. Big up, Jonathan, straight away. But let me just get on the story, not topic, innit? But everyone's come from some good homes, innit? Mums, dads, me included, you know? Because I'm not separating myself. I just want to see how the kids today are managing. So I'd go to school, as I said, remember? And I think with the way I miss my family, I was determined not to suffer. Not saying I suffered, but I just didn't. So I was competitive, that's it. I'm competitive with everything. I've come with a wall, like, there's a word for it. You put your back up or something. Maybe when you get older, we learn the older words, innit? Yeah, so basically, anyway, so these are the influences. Basically, the topic is that some of them kids that went to school, remember, I was good in school, started finding myself being the way outside school. That's the relevancy of what I was just trying to say, yeah? So, and then with the kids in these homes as well, and I'd like to try and reach out to you, because remember, I'm at a different age, but I know, as I said, I've done a few homeworks. Statistically, things are still the same, innit? And remember, I'm saying I might have been one

I was fortunate as well because I come from good ones, but I'm saying what shapes us after them events in it. So we leave school, are we going straight home? And this is why I'm trying to address the kids today and the parents today because too many see your kids and they come from school. And I know it's changed today. There's not many, maybe women working, staying at home working, and the dad's not available. But remember, I'm talking from some serious experience, but also I know a lot of people that has lived it as well. So I've seen their life journey and I've seen different stages and the ones that so-called ones, as I said, again, they talk about the ones that come from housing estates. But as I said, again, a lot of my peers and the people I've grown with, we come from houses. Yeah. As I've named a few of my bridges, like one in particular, I spent a lot of time with them. My mom and dad worked their whole life. Yeah. There's that shaping us and they come out of our house. You understand what I'm saying to you? So what is shaping our decisions as a young generation? And then back to my influences again, because I talked a lot about my mom as well and my dad and my dad. Even though he was in my life because I'm born in it, he brought me into the world with my mom in it. But even though I went through my little scenarios, children, I'm foster care. When I did come back, which I'm coming home soon. Yeah. He was strict regimen and everything to do with discipline. Yeah. Hundred percent. So that's and then do I look at it? Yeah. Lovely. Because my dad's never been to prison. My dad's never done no crime. Yeah. Love my mom in it. My mom, you've grown, you've influenced so many lives as well. So that's it. Even your brothers, your nephews or your little cousins, even. And yeah, once again, I have to just do it all while I'm in the 80s or it's not going to add up. The Crosleys, the Giffords, all the people I have to talk to, you all grew me, some of it. And then nah, I have to dwell into the next part of my thing in it because Stoltenberg is going to be for our kids. Remember they said kids wetting beds and all. Remember I was wetting my bed right now. Because I'm telling the truth. When did I stop? Maybe 10, 11. I'm late. I'm late. Yeah, yeah. I don't care. Remember there's bridges I might have stayed around your ass them days. But I'm so not caring. It's wet, sweet. Yeah. I didn't wake up in time. That's it. Because I've got issues right now. And I'm giving it 100%. Yeah. But I don't wet it now. That's the main thing. Anyway, and I'm not even saying that lightly because there's kids out there going through stuff. And my giggle finger is no. It's exactly what we're saying and it is what isn't it. Yeah. So that's what's going on in it. So some kids ain't getting the treatment. Like you can't remember, they're not your kids anyway. So, but as I said again, not everyone's parent material. I'm a parent. Am I a perfect parent? I don't know.

But anyway, so the Jordans, how I left it. Listen, I've got good things out of there. Remember, as I said, it's like they would try and give you more than what your family give you. And remember, certain parents could be going through mental health or just life struggles or something. Remember, I don't know what makes women, why they can't handle their kids. Maybe there was four of us and it was too naughty. Maybe there's four of us and we're naughty and she was just going through, you know what I mean? But there's a million parents statistically, so there's a lot of women out there and dads as well, because the dads are giving up their kids as well. We're not going to change the woman. The dads have got a say in it, so it might be two people understanding. But let's just, we're all going through it. There's no perfect parent in it. And if you're a parent, you know that. It's just, we go with the thing in it, but reaching out to these kids now. So I'm nine and ten in it, remember, I'm allowed to play out, but I'm playing out anyway. And what I'm doing when I'm playing out, it's maybe different in my times because we wasn't in such of a problem about others bothering us. Do you understand? We're not really playing out to be harmed. So today, looking at, because I've got my kids as well, so I have to go back 89, 99, right? So what, your kid's primary school, 11, there's going to be a transition for me because we're going to start getting into secondary school. Yeah, so what is your kid today in it? Just keep an eye on him in it and there's nothing wrong with just, remember, if you've got a lovely home and even, remember, as I said again, there's mums and dads, never done nothing, worked their whole life. Your son's, yeah, reality check because I know them. Son, reality check. Colours, reality check. White, black, Asian, Turks, we're all playing the same game. Yeah, because we're all getting things out of our door in it. We've got kids knocking our door, you don't want him to play with this one, you don't want him to play with that one, you don't. Remember, it's the same thing I was getting and I'm going to be real. At some times, the mums that said don't play with Lee, they might have been saved a lot of in their life today in it because I'm not on my attention, I'm not going to be a problem to your son. I want him safe 100% and them days was different in this but what we're actually intending to do, why we're knocking for your kids and what we're going to do next in it and am I going to bring your son home safely? Bear in mind, I've not, these are little things we have to address and I need you lot to, not need you, I don't need you to do anything to be truthful. I'd like you to check out your kids differently and look outside the box, yeah, and just check on them and then be that parent that knows because you don't want to be the next call and I'm moving a bit, I am moving a little bit so let me just stick to what I'm talking about. So it is the same thing in it, you know what I'm saying Jim, we're going to go there again and so we're 1991 now, 1989, so 1989, 99 more things to make and I'm going to be moving from St. Patrick's and this is another thing that I don't know if you relate to in school. So I've got older brothers and sisters, I'm a Catholic, yeah, and this hurt me as well. See these things, it's like, and this affects my schooling, I'm going to be raw with you. So remember I'm in St. Patrick's, remember I talk about Neil and that

entire I knew that my brother went to Catholic school. So you get to a certain age, you kind of find your school. Now all my older brothers went to St. Patrick's. I mean St. Patrick's. From St. Patrick's, they went to Holy Family School. But I'm not saying, I don't think none of my brothers and sisters completed their secondary school. So when it came to me to go to the school, there was a problem. So I'm telling you no word of a lie. My mom and my mom think, oh, that's not serious. Well, to me it was. Because I grew up with all of these lot. And then when it came to the day of schooling, they said, yeah, we're going Holy Family. I think a couple of my pals was going to St. Ignatius. They're telling me I'm not accepted in Holy Family. Are you serious? No, no, no. Not only am I going to be with all childhood, not even childhood sweethearts, but these girls that we've grown together, we've done all the silly things, you know what I'm saying? My mates, football teams. Where the hell are you sending me? You got mad. No, I was upset. I was upset. So now I've been in Willowfield. Remember I'm a Catholic. Not saying Willowfield was all right school, but listen, listen, listen. No, no, no. I've been done over. But at the same time, I'm back united now. Not even united. It sounds like it's a game. This is life. This is serious. I'm not happy. I'm not happy. So I've turned up to this school and now this is like, remember I said I used to go to St. Patrick's? And then the next school to me, Stoneyland. So me and my brother were in Stoneyland, yeah? Remember I said this is where I was in my last, in my brief conversation I explained we used to go take the bus and in Stoneyland my foster sister, she used to do, she used to do Rankinette. She used to do, not rapping, but you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Reggae. Dougie's days, innit? So it's all boogeyman and all that. So she does her thing on the Yardie rap, but top talent, 100% and her brother, innit? So remember, even ages, it'd be strange. How am I even getting in the rave? There you go. Because she's an artist. I'm coming with her. So I'm actually coming for her side. Don't make my brother Richard never forget. So these days we used to do that. As I said, there used to be a little congregation on the corner. These are things that are shaping my thinking. That's why I'm discussing this. I used to see these older guys that said they're not doing, listen, they're doing stuff anyway. Yeah? Which is something that, remember I'm only seeing it. It's something that's gonna be involved in my life, 100%. Because I'm seeing things I maybe shouldn't be seeing at this age, innit? But anyway, so I used to be around the olders and we'd go back and they're just doing whatever they're doing on the road, innit? Yeah? But as I said, the first little sign of, listen, I'm not even addressing things to, I'm just growing up, working it out, yeah? But I'm still on a little adventure, to be fair. So anyway, we get on the bus. I said I see the first little move on the right side of bookies and people think, I'm not trying to promote nothing, but that's what's going on. Yeah? That's what's going on. So I see a little something occur. Me and my brother used to see things. My brother Richard wasn't, I'm not saying he wasn't observant, but he was just, he was all right. He was chilled. He was, I was always eager to be listening and seeing things, yeah? So anyway, we go back to Brazil.

So now this is where the story is changing a bit because I was getting cabs to school. So this is definitely a Saturday when I was seeing these odds and sods in it. I'm getting a cab to school. I didn't see that in the cab. I was on the top of the bus when I see that little fence near the post office. But anyway, yeah, so we go back to school now. So anyway, yeah, I'm in Willowfield now. Yeah, this is where it's changed. So I'm in Willowfield because I know depending on my year, I'm February. So I'm thinking if I went to Willowfield from 10 or was I coming on 11? But anyway, I'm moving to Willowfield. Willowfield is next to my mum's so it's easier. So even though I'm going to Stoke Newton, I'm starting to rebel now. Not rebel, but remember my mum was happy for me and my brother to be there. And my social worker used to be on Highham Hill. It used to be called Area 5. Yeah, so if you know them days, that was a social centre. So you used to have to go there, see your social worker, how you getting on. But them times, remember I told you, I started having my back up with these people because I started seeing that I'm not sure what you're saying to me because my mum's a lovely woman. I want to go there. I want to be there. That's it. So now I think there's a care order coming up. I think 2990, 2993 where, because my older brother, Tony and Vinette, remember they're older, so I think they completed the care system. Yeah, so I think you stay till you're 18, yeah? Yeah, so you completed the care system. Me and my brother, by 1991, 1992, we completed the, yeah, so I was in Willowfield school anyway. So me and Willowfield, so as I said again, me and Willowfield, so this is where it gets better for me. Well, not better for me because I'm, yeah, 100% better for me because I'm back, I'm constantly in and out of my mum's house now. And to me, I don't want to not be in my mum's house. And because it's a very busy household, there's a lot of people there, it's nice. I want to be at home with my mum, yeah. Even though there used to be blues and all that, weekend raids on Fridays and Monday, me and my brother used to get locked in the room. But once again, let me not, because I've got to stick, try and just say what I'm saying without going too many places. But I have to talk about that because that's the 80s as well. Yeah, back to the kids in the school. So we're the ones that played at now. So I can say from what I hope to see, the ones that didn't play, got a bit more grinded. I think, yeah, because I know a few of them, they're actually, well, we're all legal, but I'm saying they kind of stayed on a bit of a straighter path than the ones I played at, because the ones I carry on, the ones I started playing at with, we all kind of ended up getting ourselves, we was kind of all bad influences to each other. I'm still trying to, I'm not still trying to work it out, but yeah, I'd love to know what was going through us. But anyway, so bam, I went to Willowfield School. I think I was there. It wasn't the school for me. Straight away, this is not for me. But my good, my family friend, remember my mates, my mum's friend anyway, Mr. Jonathan, yeah, he used to go, he's a year older than me. So me and him, once I came

So 91, I think. 91, 92, I'm starting to fidget about now. I'm not. The first of care is knowing that we don't know I want to leave. I love the first of care in Hackney, but I need to go home. And the school is closer to my mum. Obviously, for some reason, they need to do some extra checks. But anyway, let's get to the point. We go back to court. I think me and my brother went to court. 1992, youth court, whatever, county court, whatever. Sat there, judge declared, sweet, you're happy to go home. Perfect. So now I'm back. I've never left, but I'm back. So we're just chitting now. I'm back. And then remember, now, remember I went to Willowfield. So this is going to be, because yeah, so I went to Willowfield now. I've never left. So I went to Willowfield now. Me and my mate, we started meeting up after school. Well, in the morning before school, after school. So it used to be, and then there was, I'm trying to think now. Yeah, so me and my mate, we used to go after school now. We used to play about. So we kind of left. We used to play in that Stoneyland Park, but then we kind of left them. We started going down Highmill. So we started to move into Highmill and just doing little primary court. And then I met my other little pals that I grew with, Chef Gee, Shacky. And then when we were intertwining, because remember they put me in a school. It's multicolored. It's always been multicolored. Nothing to do with racism. I remember I was always been white and black. I'm keeping it real. But then the Asians kicked in. So me and the Asians were growing up now, Willowfield. There's loads of them. We know, we're all brothers. It's crazy. So we ended up having, as I said, we're just outside at night. And then my mate's got a little brother, yeah, little Daniel. So we're carrying them. Remember there's a little tree of us. Just remember just leaving school, doing stuff. But I started, like, I don't know if it's to do with people or whatever. I just was me, him, him, him, him. I remember we're finding ourselves thinking a bit different to the other lot. And then once again, I'm going to keep this because Walthamstow for me, and it's sad I'm going to say this, you know, because I know a lot of people I grew up with, all of Highmill, Briary Court. And it's rare to say this, but yeah, Walthamstow, if I'm going to be real and I'm not going to name drop half of the people I know, maybe 75 percent of them have been on the wrong side of the law. So we was growing up in an area. Reality check, not the older lot, not the uncles and them people. I'm saying my whole generation find myself doing stuff going against the law. Yeah. So what I'm saying is me, for me, because me, why did I do it? What did I do? I don't know. I went to Willowfield, the ex-Burmy from Willowfield.

So I'd lasted about two months in Willowfield. And it's like coincidentally, my mate Jonathan, he lasted about two months. And then he was gone. So we all ended up in McKinty. And that's where my whole thinking changed. Yeah. And not schooling, it's just the whole system thing, how they can put all of these people in one school together. So I realized now, looking back today and to now, that is not, yeah, because you would never put everyone who's getting suspended or expelled from different schools and put them into one school. So McKinty became a borough school and not Borough Wolf Voice, it came from Tottenham, Tottenham, yeah, Tottenham, as I said, Wolf Voices, Leighton, Leightonstone, Heinz Park, Chinkford. Yeah, Leighton, Leightonstone, Heinz Park, Chinkford. Yeah. So Tottenham got involved, even Hackney. Yeah, I think, yeah, Hackney, 100% calls, Hackney came down or they mixed up with another school, but I can get there anyway soon. So why do they, the system thing, because remember, as much as I'm talking on this chair and I'm going to have to address this, I'm going through it, let's see, probation, a little bit early in my life story, but probation, prison, the policing and all that, remember, we have to address you, we have to, and we're going to have to address you because we have to tell you why our generation kids and remember, it's not, we're not doing race here, but we have to protect our own at the same time. Yeah. And moving forward again, back to them times in 91, remember I said to you, I'll go to school, I've been expelled from one, so we go to another school and we're all getting merged together in it. So what is their thinking behind them putting us all together? Not to say we've all got our own minds in it, but we all get merged together. And that's where the change comes in. So back to the parents today, you've got nine, 10, 11, remember, they're going to be moving into school in it. Some of them have exams the other day, I see it. So you're going into school now, please believe me, what I'm going to say to you, remember, I was very groomed, very well structured. And when I mean structured, I had a lot of influences in my life. I've got a lot of older people in my life that will see me, correct me and want to check me out. And we was all singing from the same tune. They was all singing from the same tune. Lee, what are you doing? What should you be doing? Do your books, go to school, do your books, go to school. So remember, it's a spiral effect. And I see someone else, my dad might know, my mom or some, not probation yet, the school shows, they're all singing from the same tune in it. Teachers, are you getting on? So we're singing from the same tune. So see today, what I'm saying to you, I see a lot of people on the internet, because we're running the internet, we're doing these things in it. And they're not, we're not singing from the same page, are we? Because if I see your son, nine, 10, 11, because I'm nine and 10, 11, remember how they spoke to me. So when I'm speaking to your son, what am I telling your son? No, seriously, am I stopping him to say, yeah, big man? Or am I telling him, look, your trousers are low, you've got two

When he lands on, it's no, it's 100 degrees. These are signs of trouble, yeah? And another thing we have to address again, if I've used all these names, remember I picked names in it, yeah? I picked names, I put scenarios quickly in it, because I'm trying to give you a bit more in-depth to my life story. There's a reason I'm putting these names here, you know, because when I get to where we are today and where we're not armed, where who's there and that, you have to check yourself and check who you're around in it and who's giving you what you need to know. And this is definitely for parents, because I'm 9 and 10 in it, 11 in it. If all the little different influences in my life work wonders for me and I've come from that, let's be, let's play the world today like, oh, he's been caring, he's that, so he must be, no. So I don't want you to ever look for me for no sympathy for me, 100%, I've had it nice in a bad situation and we'll get there soon. And I'll tell you that from the heart, it's been okay, I'm not complaining. But today, remember, we're gonna get, we're breeding a generation, yeah, of, yeah, because they don't know what's going on, do they? So they're not getting taught in it. And remember, I was a failure in this. And that's why I said that in my first little brief, and I'll give it to you. I said, right, look, this is how we have to teach you. Sweet, I don't want to teach you in jail, in the land, look, let me not talk about that, you understand? So as parents, let's just take away all the negatives if we can. The negatives, the foster care, let's just check on the kids, see where they're at, how they're thinking and address them in the terms of we are not all the same, yes? We can overforce a situation, we can be clever, yeah? And I'm gonna come for me, not come for me like that, but no, we have to be talking and addressing the rights and the wrongs, innit? We can all play silly buggers, we can find excuses and excuses and excuses and excuses where we act the way we act, innit? But there's a reality we have to address. And it's not about, remember, we all might be changing the same thing, but the main thing, you know, we have to nip certain things in the bud, innit? So back again to what I'm saying, yeah? So back to school, after school, not gonna bore you no more, been on it a minute,

Legions Word. Lee Hall.