I went from Tal Handaq to Verdala when it opened. I was seven years old and during a game of hide and seek I had a brilliant idea. I would hang from a first floor window by my fingers till the room had been searched and then pull myself back in! I don't even remember falling. Even worse, no one knew.

Bass player - that's mind-blowing! So much for Health and Safety! And I suppose your poor teacher would have got the blame if the worst had happened! Can you remember which block it was?

As far as I can remember it was the one on the left in the photo. I fell from the window on the end wall. I just remember how surprised I was to find myself on the ground. It didn't hurt. Luckily I landed on my head. When not attempting suicide we used to take metal tent pegs and go lead mining. There must have been a rifle range out there at some time and there were large timbers buried in the ground with lead in them. We used to dig away as if we were mining gold nuggets. I have no idea what we did with the lead we found. It just seemed like such a great idea. Maybe I wasn't the only kid who fell on his head from a first floor window. As for the teacher, it was probably her idea!

Funny the truths that are coming out 50 / 60 years later! Someone on the Verdala site described how surprised the staff were at the enthusiasm of the boys for 'gardening' (actually digging up bits of ammunition) (Last sentence) Right - Yes! I had one or two I'd like to have suggested that to!! Have been in touch with one recently - now obviously a model citizen!