I had the honour of attending St Toms, had good times and some bad times. On reflection I look kindly on the input from those charged to educate me, they had a formidable task and for the most part they stuck to the job. I got hammered, pushed , punished and to their credit I came out the other side. I would not say in May 1974 I left a better person however I would say I do not envy those that had the formidable job of delivering education whilst around us there was daily mayhem, riots, state murder, sectarianism, local area discrimination by the catholic church and internment without trial of my fellow pupils.I accept that the regime was at times harsh, I recall a hiding from one teacher that to this day was without justification, he knew that he was wrong, my hands bled and to this day I find it hard to forget, I don't forgive.However there were teachers who looked after me, helped me and showed me that the way to address some of the issues I had was in achieving educational qualifications . I have never forgotten those decent people, forever in their debt, Wee Dolly, Jim Brown, TD Doran, Big John Farry, Mickey Dennis, Fergie , Tony Clifford, Kevin Teague, Charlie Hanna, Sammy, Purvis, Micky B, Paddy Joe, to name but a few. Other names escape me but what happened and who done what to whom made me. Shame on those who denied Ballymurphy, Whiterock, Springhill, Westrock, New Barnsley, St james of a chance to better themselves.