My first recollection of reading goes back to when I was about seven years old. In 1972, my parents with my brothers and sisters had all gone to India (I think by ship). For some obscure reason (the way I see it), I did not accompany the family, with some explanation that I needed to start primary schooling (Standard One). I went to live with my mom’s family in Kensington and attended Windermere Primary School.
I ‘discovered’ the public library in Kensington in walking distance to where I lived. I recall going to the library, but the details are vague. I have memories of going to the library very frequently and reading book-upon-book.
It would be prudent at this stage to inform that no-one in my immediate family has a love for reading or books to the extent that I do. My dad is an avid cricket follower and I recall him having a collection of cricket magazines. I have vivid memories of paging through my dad’s Wisden cricket magazines and his collection of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. I should thus attribute some of reading interest to my dad!
My sojourns to the public library in Kensington would soon be disrupted. I learned to my dismay that the Kensington Public Library was going to be converted to a reference library. At the age of seven years, I had no idea what a reference library was, but I did understand that children would no longer be able go that library. A new public library was built in Factreton. I eventually did end up going to the library in Factreton, but once again cannot recall who took me there.
The distance to walk to the library in Factreton was much longer. From home to the library was about 2kms and the roundtrip about 45 minutes. If my memory serves me correctly, I did this trip at least twice a week. Upon reflection, I am somewhat surprised that my family allowed me to do this walk all on my own!