I first met Nick Ewart, when he turned up at my house to courte my sister. I was still in the 6th form at school, but worked for my father as a driver as well. This of course affected my school work, and I was desperate to change tack from the daily grind of maths physics and chemistry. I had opted out from games and used to sit on the school flat roof, above Leeds, drawing. Nick was already at Leeds College of Art, and said why didn't I just come to the college and join in. They could only throw me out. I became Steve Crow, The real Steve Crow spent all his time in the snooker club behind Leeds City Varieties, and was at the point of being thrown out of college. So I became him. I amassed a great volume of work, Leeds College of Art "black drawings," pottery, lettering. I could use the lathe which I had mastered at school, so I was really happy there.
Obviously my school attendance was light. I couldn't opt out of anything else. Assembly was off as I already didn't go, I said I was Jewish, and refused to sing hymns. Eventually I was called into the headmasters office, and given a lecture on how I was only fit to be a fitter in an Engine works, and I should get my hair cut. My mother never made me get my hair cut and accompanied me to the interview. At the end of his advice my mother, all 5 foot of her, stood over him and said, "Headmaster my son is made for better things than a fitter, and as for the hair you are as bald as a coot, why not let him enjoy his whilst he has it?' So I applied for Art College under my own name. Term time had already started but they granted me an interview, as they were short on numbers. During the interview, it was stated that I looked familiar, I said yes you will have seen me as I go the the school next door and have friends at the college, so I am sometimes in the building. I applied to be a product designer, and with my Science O Levels was accepted to do that. Once in, I was free to choose any course. I chose graphics but with hind site I would probably have made a better product designer.
I'm sure the Principal realised who I was, or in fact wasn't, He had suspended me from the College, a month before, for participating in blowing clay* from a first floor windows at the Architectural students, using half inch gas pipes. Me Nick and Trevor Varley were the culprits, but as I wasn't a student, I took the blame, they couldn't suspend me as I shouldn't have been there anyway, but I was barred from the building. Fortunately for the interview I had grown my hair and started a moustache, but I'm sure he knew. The reason could be, as I found out later, that every one in the College disliked the Architects, as they were all from monied backgrounds and had flash cars, as opposed to most in the C.of A who lived on crusts and a penny worth of jam from the canteen in order to afford a pint.
Nick was 2 years above me, and had joined at 16 straight from school. However he was 2 years younger than me, so it seemed to work and we became best mates. He left, with no qualifications, for London, and became a top packaging designer. Talent will out, proving that if you are good enough you don't need any letters behind your name.
* For those who wish to take up the sport, this is how it is done.
Take 3ft of 1/2inch metal gas piping. Run water through it to make the inside slippery.
Put a wad of very wet modelling clay in to the mouth end of the pipe. lean out of the window and blow, like using a blow pipe. It is remarkable how far it goes, and it ends with a very satisfying splot.
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