Well , Mark Johns dug up this Overleigh School Magazine page. I entered a TV fashion design competition, the programme was TOM TOM 1970'ish. Design clothes for the year 2000. I remember I made my designs with a set of multi coloured biros. They were crazy. I wish I had them but they probably went in a BBC bin .

I remember them saying, 'you are the only male runner up in the north west'. Oh god and there was I thinking I was blending in. At that time , when I was about twelve I used to make my brothers clothes and force them into wearing them. I'd sew them in , I had no idea of zips or buttons. Once I made my younger brother Nigel a fantastic pair of burgundy satin flares out of an old bedspread my auntie Norma gave me. They were skin tight and flared hugely from the knee. I tied long silk tassles round his knees and I was really pleased at my rock god. "Now go and play with your mates" . Off he went and I proudly watched him run up the road. Half hour later he was back, ruined, ripped, he'd been playing football. All that time I also white fringed a denim jacket and jeans , all down the arms and legs with longest tassles, I thought I looked boss.                                                                                                                     The Liverpool Echo came round to do a feature about the competition, a female writer and a male photographer. I remember the look that passed between them after my Mum told them "he makes clothes for his brothers ". It was a look that said 'odd, oh aye'. It affected me for ages and just added to me feeling different, I'm one of them and there was no getting away from it. My life was kind of like the other lads but I was the only one like me and I had to hide it at all costs.