A Canadian Boy’s Journey Back Again … 48 Years Later, Part 3 |

A Canadian Boy’s Journey Back Again … 48 Years Later, Part 3

In 1978, forty-eight years ago, my parents took the family to the United Kingdom for one year. We rented a house in a small village — Ripley, Surrey — and for one year, I attended a new school, made new friends, and tried my best to adapt to a new culture. I’m not going to lie to you … it was hard. Part 3.

Find Part 1 of this article HERE.

Find Part 2 of this article HERE.

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To the Village

I’d made it to Ripley, located my former home, walked my old street, followed the old path to my school, and stood in the same schoolyard where I’d played with my English classmates back in 1978/79. Now, I turned to the green space across the street, and walked toward the village proper.

We immediately saw this sight; it is truly magnificent. I’m not sure of the relevance or even what it is, but it is certainly an impressive monument:

Right next to this is the “Village Green,” where I used to play with classmates. I don’t have many memories of this, with the exception of playing rounders. I was also a part of the local Cub Scout troupe, and sometimes we would have activities in the green. I still have this book:

It was so kind of the leaders to gift me that book. I wonder if they ever thought it would still be on my shelf nearly fifty years later, and I would return to that exact spot to reminisce about the time I spent there.

We moved on from that area, walking toward the village. I wished more memories would emerge, but they were too far gone. I had suppressed them for so long — they were so deep — that I still can’t recall much, sadly. I have so many crystal-clear memories of other events from around that time, but they were of events in familiar and comfortable locations, and of times that I often thought of. I regret not maintaining connections from my time in England, but that was the reality back then. I was only 7 years old, it was a challenging year for me, and there was no such thing as social media or the internet to easily stay connected.

My memories might truly be lost.

We soon discovered this serene scene on the main street in Ripley, only a five minute walk from that structure at the green:

My wife and I walked along the street for a few minutes. It was beautiful. Quaint. The buildings spoke of history — centuries of it — and the stores were clearly for locals. There were tea shops and floral shops, and also three pubs, all with nautical names like The Anchor.

The Ship

A sight soon caught our eyes — another English pub — called The Ship. It was a hot day, and we decided to stop in for a drink before we grabbed the train back to Waterloo station. The Guinness never tasted so good. My wife and I reflected on the afternoon trip. It had been nice to find the house and see the school. It was a slice of my life that had disappeared so far into my past … memories that had faded over the decades. As I age, I’m beginning to realize that maybe it was a more important piece of my life than I’d ever imagined. A fragment of my past that perhaps I should have embraced more.

I am going to keep trying to recapture those lost memories. They are too important to lose forever.

As we sat in The Ship and decompressed for a few moments, I basked in the moment and felt great satisfaction.

Please note: I didn’t actually split the G on my first sip. I’m still working on that skill.

Soon, one of the owners, Tim, struck up a conversation, and I explained why I was there. The other owner, Becci, soon also showed up, and they were kind, considerate, engaging, and truly interested in my story. It was so nice to meet them and to chat about the village, some of the things I remembered — like the bomb shelter story and the comics I used to enjoy — and I can honestly say that they made an already great afternoon even better. What a refreshing and charming pub — The Ship — and these two people who were so kind and welcoming to total strangers. They told us the story of the pub: the building had existed on that site since the 1500s, and has been a pub since the 1700s. It features low ceiling beams, a fireplace, a TV for football matches, string lights hanging from the ceiling, and I can only imagine what it’s like in there with all the locals drinking and laughing and sharing a love for their community. There’s also an outdoor courtyard in back. The place oozes history, it’s just so wonderful. During the Winter months especially, with the roaring fire and the joy of laughter and drink and friends, it must be amazing. I’d love to go back and experience it some day.

If you’re ever in the area, pop in to The Ship and treasure a pint and great conversation. I can’t say enough about the establishment and these two wonderful owners. They made me feel welcome again after so many years. Please say “Hello” to them for me, shake their hands and tell them how they made my journey back special.

They invited me to take a photo behind the bar, and we snapped this, my favourite from the entire experience:

Becci gave Flora and I shirts, which I modeled outside the pub, and we took these photos:

With the owners, Becci and Tim:

There And Back Again

I hadn’t expected to ever return to Ripley to see where I had once lived. Things just kind of fell into place. My family chose a trip to the region. They chose to stay in London for four days before we moved on to France and Spain. My daughters went off to experience the Harry Potter sets and I abruptly found myself with a free afternoon. It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and perfect weather for the trip. And then, on a whim and with Flora’s encouragement, we went to Waterloo Station and began the journey. And …

And, I couldn’t be happier that I had done it. I loved revisiting my street and school. I loved walking the path I used to walk as a seven and eight year old. And we especially loved meeting Becci and Tim and feeling welcomed to a place where I had once spent my days. It was hard back then. I was a newcomer to that village, didn’t truly understand the culture and had to make new friends.

I was shy and introverted and it had been one of the most difficult experiences of my life, but a part of me feels that now, in 2026, Becci and Tim were there to welcome me home.

I feel grateful that I went back, and I feel grateful to the people I met along the way — even the school officials who “chased” us away from the pre-school. It was an adventure. I loved revisiting not just the village, but London as well. I adored it. It’s one of my favourite cities now. That incredible architecture — the mix of old and new — is so unique and distinctive. The London Wall right next to brand new skyscrapers. The Tower of London resting below a modern skyline. The two shows I saw in the West End, the ease of travel using the Underground, and the vast, incredible history shared by the British people. It’s all epic and wonderful, even the hardest bits, like the pieces of my own childhood, threads which weave together like a tapestry to make us whole people. Some elements are old, some are new, and they all define who we are. We need to cherish what came before. I learned that from both the architecture in London, and also from the people I met in Ripley on my journey back.

I loved visiting the UK, and I loved my return to Ripley, Surrey. To Lisa, my former classmate, thank you for helping direct me to my old street and reaching out to remind me about the old days, the village, and help spark some distant memories. Hopefully I’ll be able to recover more about those days.

And to Tim and Becci and The Ship — thank you for making me feel at home!

Cherish the past as you press into the future. This is what I learned on my journey back.

Christopher and Timothy, ~1978 in Ripley Village, Surrey, England

— Timothy S. Johnston, 30 July 2026, now back in Canada. Thank you for reading my three-part series. Two final pictures:

Find Part 1 of this article HERE.

Find Part 2 of this article HERE.

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A Blanket of Steel by Timothy S. Johnston and from Fitzhenry & Whiteside, LTD. is the recipient of the 2024 GLOBAL Thriller Award GRAND PRIZE and the 2024 CYGNUS Award First in Category.

— Timothy S. Johnston, 30 July 2026

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Praise for Timothy S. Johnston’s A Blanket of Steel

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A BLANKET OF STEEL is out now!

WATCH THE GRIPPING BOOK TRAILER HERE.

FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS CLICK HERE

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A Blanket of Steel from Timothy S. Johnston and Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ltd.

Book Cover & Jacket Copy:

AN UNSTOPPABLE THREAT!

A mysterious assassin has murdered Cliff Sim, Chief Security Officer of the underwater colony, Trieste. Cliff was a mountain of a man, highly trained, and impossible to defeat in combat. And yet …

Someone brutally beat him and left his broken body in a secret Chinese facility at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

And included a calling card for Truman McClusky, Mayor of Trieste.

Taunting him.

Mac has led the underwater colonies in their fight against the world’s superpowers. Climate change has devastated the surface; nations suffer famine, drought, rebellion, rising waters, and apocalyptic coastal flooding. But now, as Mac leads the underwater colonies to freedom and independence, he’s faced with the gravest threat of his life: a Russian assassin, hellbent on killing Mac and everyone he cares for. Now Mac must uncover the identity of the killer, face him in combat, and at the same time lead people in battle against the largest underwater force ever assembled. It’s Mac’s final test, and to win the war, he must use every tool at his disposal, including the most surprising and devastating underwater weapons ever invented.

If Mac fails, all hope is lost for the future of human colonization on the ocean floors.

But the assassin could be anyone …

Watch your back, Mac.

A Blanket of Steel is the most gripping thriller yet in The Rise of Oceania.

FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS CLICK HERE

The other books in The Rise of Oceania series by Timothy S Johnston:

The War Beneath 9781771484718
The Savage Deeps 9781771485067
Fatal Depth 9781554555574
An Island of Light 9781554555819
The Shadow of War 9781554556007