Neil Harden

I was born in Colchester. I think I was born in the maternity hospital. I’m the oldest of seven, big families in them days. Went to school in Greenstead Road, that was in the ’60s, that were good days, surprising what I got up to! It was all farmland up here then.

Lived here in this house since I got married, 55 years. I lived for a while in a maisonette then moved to here because this lady wanted a change. We came and had a look and she looked at ours. We done the change through the council and after a few years, Margaret Thatcher did this Right to Buy and I bought this house.

I worked all my life, virtually, cutting grass for the council. I was outside working all my life, a lot healthier. I retired when I was 70.

I’ve had a good life. I’ve had a good wife and everything, and kids. What makes me happy is my wife and people what come round to see me because I feel a lot better chatting to them than being on my own.

The 1960s were good. The ’66 World Cup was good. Used to like life, socialising and dancing, rock n roll. Used to sing on a lot of karaokes, used to love them. I was a football man, played football until I was 45.