When I was growing up in Harrow, my mum once said we were going to a boy’s house to play

I thought it odd, I didn’t know the boy, and he didn’t go to my school

When we arrived, there was a whole bunch of other children there too, none of whom knew each other

It felt strange

We asked the boy if it was his birthday

He said no

In fact, he wasn’t feeling very well

(This was before any Mumps vaccine)

As it turned out, the boy had mumps, that infection that causes painful swelling around the cheeks and neck

For most children, it’s unpleasant but passes within a couple of weeks

But for adults, especially men, it can have serious consequences

One of my parents’ friends caught mumps in his forties

His testicles swelled painfully, a condition called orchitis, and after that, he was left impotent

Thanks mum for taking me to that party!

Conclusion:
Looking back, that “playdate” wasn’t about friendship at all, it was herd immunity, 1960s-style

Our mums were doing what they thought was right, exposing us early to build natural resistance

It’s a strange memory, but it reminds me how much the world has changed and how much we now take modern medicine for granted