The 2nd World War Years Brentwood

A Memory of Brentwood.

I remember during the 2nd world war years I used to go swimming at Brentwood. The steps in this photo leading to the pool is where I saved a young boy from drowning. In those days the young boys who could not swim had a habit of jumping in the deep end just by the steps - when they reached the surface they would grab hold of the rail at the top of the steps and climb out. But on this particular day, this boy misjudged it - I saw him laying on the bottom of the pool so I jumped in and got him to the side of the pool; he was unconscious. People rushed to help me get him out, we laid him on the floor then the first aid people took over. I tugged the nurses uniform and said I was the boy who saved him. She said go away you horrible little boy. I said, but I was the one who got him out - she said go away when I tell you, now go away. I thought that's not fair. After much treatment the boy survived. I never found out the boy's name. All I can say is long life to him. From Jim Chalkley, now 82 years old. I was 12 years old when this happened.