There was a look of relief and concern on the principal's face when, at 16, I marched into his office to announce I was leaving to go to sea.
Soon after I was involved in the nation-wide waterfront strikes, and like many found myself unemployed and broke.
I was now a member of the University of Hard Knocks.
I had been brought up in a Christian environment, but who would want to sit in church when the sky was blue and sailing was available on the harbour?
A few job failures, and family heartbreaks, and I found myself reading Christ's words in the New Testament.