The Son Of A Belfast Man: From the early years up to nineteen years old

This is a story of my father’s memories Joe growing up in Belfast in the nineteen thirties. A man of the times he lived in. Struggling to survive hungry then put into the Christian brothers home to be schooled fed and disciplined. Then trying to make a living in hard times as a fifteen-year-old teenager hiring a horse and cart, a poor second glass catholic, being in that divide of protestant discrimination. Having to fight with his hands gaining a tough reputation. Then having to flee Belfast. Giving him twenty-four hour to leave him city

Joe ends up in Londen as a seventeen-year-old with a gun he is sentenced to borstal training. After returning home to Belfast. He meets my mother after a couple of years. They move to England to make a living.

This my story my father’s son John and my memories growing up was always a struggle along with learning problems disturbed by the violence as a child. A quite Irish lad seen and not herd withdrawn and bullied at school. Taking under my father’s wing and learning how to stand up for myself. Boxing was a turn around but ending up in trouble. Sentenced to borstal training and the fights that followed.

Myself john and my father Joe worked together through out the years more like two brothers than father and son. My father had a way maybe not the right way, but a way to overcome a situation learned on the streets of Belfast.