A certain book

Glorianny

tickingbird

You do realise that Cyprus was part of the British Empire and under British Military Occupation for many years don't you? In 1925 it was declared a Crown colony. QED.

Don’t patronise me. I’m fully aware of Cyprus’s history and only mentioned Cyprus as I was there a few months ago. I repeat colonialism is nothing to do with Jamaicans being able to access the beaches. I’ve been there and actually know what I’m talking about unlike some!

Funny how people visit places but don't research them or see what is happening
www.reuters.com/article/us-jamaica-landrights-beaches-idUSKBN18P0SN

Basically very few beaches are accessible to a Jamaican and those that are are not clean or safe.

The article is from 2017, it clearly states that little had changed since Jamaica became an independent Country in 1962.

The Government could change if it wanted to, not sure that the U.K. can be held responsible for their beach situation.

(All beaches in Antigua along with St.Lucia are open to the public by the way)

Teen boys are their own species

Joseanne

^This is why I am interested by what people think the book tells us of the ethos of the schools concerned at the time.^
Interesting question Mamie. As I see it, any school can only work with the material it is given and very often there is a contingent of silly adolescent boys with their own dodgy preoccupations. (These days often worse than what Harry did, though inexcusable).

What I think people are getting at is that leaving a school at 13 and coming out with this appalling stuff 25 (?) years later means Harry really is spiteful or unhinged. I don't think the school's ethos can be called into question.

I don't think it's the school ethos. Teen boys are their own species, from what I've seen. It's down to AC actions when grown.

Joseanne

Sparklefizz

JenniferEccles Now we all know that children can be very cruel, but there was absolutely no need for him to, effectively, still be taunting this poor woman by rehashing it all in his book. He’s a grown man for god’s sake.
Even if he changed the name, from the description of her problems, I’m sure the matron would recognise herself.

That is indeed shocking and downright unpleasant.

How is fair that Harry, as a grown man, can cruelly mock a person in that manner in his book, yet get upset and offended when people make comments about his wife? It works both ways.

Joseanne, It's decidedly not fair.

Earning to support family need not be cruel, factual should be enough.

This is why I am interested by what people think the book tells us of the ethos of the schools concerned at the time.
Interesting question Mamie. As I see it, any school can only work with the material it is given and very often there is a contingent of silly adolescent boys with their own dodgy preoccupations. (These days often worse than what Harry did, though inexcusable).

What I think people are getting at is that leaving a school at 13 and coming out with this appalling stuff 25 (?) years later means Harry really is spiteful or unhinged. I don't think the school's ethos can be called into question.

Not in Harry's world Joseanne 'do as I say and not as I do' springs to mind.

Sparklefizz

JenniferEccles Now we all know that children can be very cruel, but there was absolutely no need for him to, effectively, still be taunting this poor woman by rehashing it all in his book. He’s a grown man for god’s sake.
Even if he changed the name, from the description of her problems, I’m sure the matron would recognise herself.

That is indeed shocking and downright unpleasant.

How is fair that Harry, as a grown man, can cruelly mock a person in that manner in his book, yet get upset and offended when people make comments about his wife? It works both ways.

tickingbird

^You do realise that Cyprus was part of the British Empire and under British Military Occupation for many years don't you? In 1925 it was declared a Crown colony. QED.^

Don’t patronise me. I’m fully aware of Cyprus’s history and only mentioned Cyprus as I was there a few months ago. I repeat colonialism is nothing to do with Jamaicans being able to access the beaches. I’ve been there and actually know what I’m talking about unlike some!

Funny how people visit places but don't research them or see what is happening
www.reuters.com/article/us-jamaica-landrights-beaches-idUSKBN18P0SN

Basically very few beaches are accessible to a Jamaican and those that are are not clean or safe.

You do realise that Cyprus was part of the British Empire and under British Military Occupation for many years don't you? In 1925 it was declared a Crown colony. QED

Not QED. Have you been to Cyprus, Glorianny? Even if not, surely you remember more recent history?

The present situation with access to beaches in Cyprus has nothing to do with historical colonialism.

You do realise that Cyprus was part of the British Empire and under British Military Occupation for many years don't you? In 1925 it was declared a Crown colony. QED.

Don’t patronise me. I’m fully aware of Cyprus’s history and only mentioned Cyprus as I was there a few months ago. I repeat colonialism is nothing to do with Jamaicans being able to access the beaches. I’ve been there and actually know what I’m talking about unlike some!

tickingbird

^Of course it is to do with colonialism. Why do you think EU countries (with the possible exception of Italy) have open access to their beaches where anyone can pester anyone else, and Jamaica needs to protect tourists?^

Nothing whatsoever to do with colonialism. There are many resorts around the world where the deluxe hotels have a part of the beach only their guests can use. There’s at least one in Cyprus. Jamaican has miles and miles of beautiful beaches and Jamaicans are all over them - selling items, working on them, chatting to tourists. It’s an absolute nonsense to state Jamaicans can’t access their own beaches. If tourism stopped in Jamaica their economy would suffer massively.

You do realise that Cyprus was part of the British Empire and under British Military Occupation for many years don't you? In 1925 it was declared a Crown colony. QED.

No one is talking about stopping tourism but if you don't understand the legacy of colonialism and the economic effect this has had on the population you really should investigate.

I think it is part of an autobiography to write about the bad things you have done as well as the good and it obviously gives context to behaviour in the school at the time.
What he, the ghostwriter and particularly the editors should have spotted is the potential impact on the person concerned. I read that one of his schoolmates posted her name on Twitter; that should have been foreseen.
This is why I am interested by what people think the book tells us of the ethos of the schools concerned at the time. These out of context snippets are no way to judge.

Of course it is to do with colonialism. Why do you think EU countries (with the possible exception of Italy) have open access to their beaches where anyone can pester anyone else, and Jamaica needs to protect tourists?

Nothing whatsoever to do with colonialism. There are many resorts around the world where the deluxe hotels have a part of the beach only their guests can use. There’s at least one in Cyprus. Jamaican has miles and miles of beautiful beaches and Jamaicans are all over them - selling items, working on them, chatting to tourists. It’s an absolute nonsense to state Jamaicans can’t access their own beaches. If tourism stopped in Jamaica their economy would suffer massively.

I’m not surprised at a child mocking someone, they are cruel. But for a grown man to write about it is disgraceful.

I might buy it from a charity shop just for curiosity but I’m not spending good money on the hardback. I don’t like the idea of making money from the royal family

As an adult, to talk about someone's 'deviated spine' and knee problems which would probably have been due to their spine, is very cruel and immature.

Did anyone else read the school sections and immediately think of Roald Dahl's autobiographical writing?

JenniferEccles Now we all know that children can be very cruel, but there was absolutely no need for him to, effectively, still be taunting this poor woman by rehashing it all in his book. He’s a grown man for god’s sake.
Even if he changed the name, from the description of her problems, I’m sure the matron would recognise herself.

That is indeed shocking and downright unpleasant.

I read it, scored myself a download copy so no standing in lines here.
glad I didnt have to line up for it cos it was garbage, read like it was written by a 12 year old, a very immature 12 year old
so why did I read it..... well because I am just too curious for my own good

I agree about the Ludgrove matron bit JenniferEccles. Very nasty and should never have been included.
How did you think Eton came out of it? I am amazed there has not been more comment about that.

As far as Dai Davies is concerned he does seem to comment on the RF a lot

Perhaps because he was Head of Royal Protection?

It’s very difficult to pick out the worst ‘revelations’ in the book, as there are just so many, but one very distasteful account from H’s school days stuck out for me.

He mentioned that although there were some matrons at his school who he and his friends fancied, there was one who they most definitely didn’t.
He then proceeded to describe Pat’s physical appearance, from a miserable face, greasy hair, a ‘deviated spine’ and knee problems which caused her to walk downstairs in a strange manner.
Harry apparently caused much mirth among his friends by mimicking her walk.

Now we all know that children can be very cruel, but there was absolutely no need for him to, effectively, still be taunting this poor woman by rehashing it all in his book. He’s a grown man for god’s sake.
Even if he changed the name, from the description of her problems, I’m sure the matron would recognise herself.

All this from a man who professes to be all about kindness and compassion for others.
He’s a disgrace.

As far as Dai Davies is concerned he does seem to comment on the RF a lot. Perhaps most important for Harry were his comments on the anniversary of Diana's death.

'I remember her saying to me when I first took command back in the mid 90s, "you poor man, do you know what you've taken on?"

'And I can honestly say, having been a street cop most of my life, that when I went into this particular role, I simply did not know I was walking into a civil war.

'A civil war, it really was, between her husband and herself.'

That's the civil war Harry grew up in

tickingbird

^It is very difficult for the average Jamaican to access the beach in their own country surrounded by some of the most beautiful ocean water in the world^

I’m sorry but this is rubbish. I’ve been to Jamaica and Jamaicans are all over the beaches. There may be some of the large, deluxe hotels with private beaches and that’s to ensure tourists can sunbathe without being relentlessly pestered. Nothing whatsoever to do with colonialism and Jamaica is full of American tourists and many other Europeans.

Ridiculous to suggest Jamaicans can’t access the beaches.

Of course it is to do with colonialism. Why do you think EU countries (with the possible exception of Italy) have open access to their beaches where anyone can pester anyone else, and Jamaica needs to protect tourists?

I've no idea what my life narrative would look like in the hands of an organised assault crazygran but had I experienced it, I wouldn't have visited the same unpleasant experience on my own family for money or any other reason.