Search found 60 matches

by alterblau
Wed Oct 19, 2022 7:09 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Girlie Magazines, Pin Ups and Other Such Things
Replies: 9
Views: 21718

Re: Girlie Magazines, Pin Ups and Other Such Things

Throughout my days at CH, during the regimes of Flecker and Seaman, I was certainly aware of the existence of Titbits and Reveille (pronounced Revalley). There were occasionally a few copies floating around but never prominently displayed, or even displayed at all (eg on the inside of dayroom locker...
by alterblau
Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:32 am
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Michael Cherniavsky
Replies: 93
Views: 51449

Re: Michael Cherniavsky

From Rockfreak’s comment it appears that in a sense Michael Cherniavsky and/or ‘Daddy’ David Roberts may have been the inspiration for the character Hector in Alan Bennett’s "The History Boys", a superb play and film. It’s excellent to know that CH may have exerted such literary influence,...
by alterblau
Thu Mar 18, 2021 7:02 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Nell Todd painting for sale
Replies: 17
Views: 6373

Re: Nell Todd painting for sale

Apart from teaching art, Nell Todd (and her predecessor Mr A.A. Kent both) had another duty, which no one has documented so far in the Forum. They presided over “Bad writing classes,” but that probably wasn’t their official name. I was forced to attend such classes held by each of the two. All they ...
by alterblau
Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:02 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Meaning of colored walls
Replies: 11
Views: 4625

Re: Meaning of colored walls

AH Buck left CH very suddenly on the day after the funeral of Hon DS Roberts (a former head of the history dept) in the first week of May 1956. [1] In effect he was expelled by the headmaster, CME Seaman. This was the result of one of AHB’s nocturnal visits to the Col B junior dormitory and its bein...
by alterblau
Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:06 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Roger Allam in Radio Times
Replies: 62
Views: 30858

Re: Roger Allam in Radio Times

For those interested in the sums involved, in those halcyon days of the late 50s when all university expenses were paid, the university’s fees were paid directly by the central government. This covered all tuition and the costs of living in residence. The incidental other expenses, paid to the stude...
by alterblau
Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:22 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: What Doesn't Happen At CH These Days?
Replies: 118
Views: 51368

Re: What Doesn't Happen At CH These Days?

Sgt Usher was surely regarded affectionately by many boys. For his last punishment drill (the Prep called their own version, the “Punny” Drill) before his retirement, instead of the usual dozen or so participants, Sgt Usher found well over 50 had turned up, including some Grecians. They all ran. Tus...
by alterblau
Sun Jul 19, 2020 10:03 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: GRACE
Replies: 71
Views: 32947

Re: GRACE

Mr Ed has written In my time, 1978-85, the 'academic' Button Grecians did read Grace This was also true when I was at CH, a couple of decades before Mr Ed. He also wrote anyone getting their buttons and reading grace for the first time was always greeted with a cheer, In my experience there was alwa...
by alterblau
Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:38 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: CH, Degrees and PPE (not the Coronavirus sort)
Replies: 44
Views: 13055

Re: CH, Degrees and PPE (not the Coronavirus sort)

I suspect that Fitzsadou must have been an Oxford man, for he ignores the contribution of Cambridge to ‘modern’ studies. The PPE degree course was introduced at the former in Nov 1920, but long, long before, in 1848, Cambridge led the way. As FH Muir says, “In 1848 Cambridge introduced a Moral Scien...
by alterblau
Fri May 15, 2020 8:07 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: The CCF Signals Section
Replies: 19
Views: 7546

Re: The CCF Signals Section

Hebben (or Hibbin) was mother of Chlorine, Fluorine and Bromine. Uncle kept the first two only. They were all smallish, mainly black, terrier type mongrels. Chlorine was often and loudly called “the worst dog in Sussex.” Those who wished to keep appropriate “pets” could do so in his lab. One chap ha...
by alterblau
Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:35 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Dining hall dimensions
Replies: 9
Views: 5555

Re: Dining hall dimensions

Here is an estimate of the interior dimensions of the Dining Hall, 54 x 20 m (or 177 x 66 ft). It is inaccurate, but if I explain how I calculated it the better memories of others may allow an improved estimate. I looked at the image of the Dining Hall on Google Maps, then guessed the relation of th...
by alterblau
Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:11 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Cross-country runs
Replies: 45
Views: 29156

Re: Cross-country runs

THE STEEPLECHASE, in the 1950s How sadistic to make the whole school run in The Steeplechase in the 1990s! In the 1950s each house had to enter a team and the rest gathered at the end (eastern end of the quarter mile) in time to greet the winners. This engendered much more ‘house spirit’ than the fo...
by alterblau
Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:01 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Samuel Richardson
Replies: 0
Views: 25662

Samuel Richardson

According to Wikipedia Samuel Richardson (1689-1761, the famous novelist and author of Pamela and other works) was an Old Blue, although the article states, “The extent that he was educated at the school is uncertain.” The Wikipedia entry quotes Leigh Hunt, speaking of Richardson’s education. Althou...
by alterblau
Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:02 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: How will CH cope with Brexit?
Replies: 60
Views: 12259

Re: How will CH cope with Brexit?

sejintenej wrote, Now we come to the quality question. A girl my daughter went to school with has Spanish parents and from birth spoke only Spanish at home and also when she was teaching in school. Unfortunately British examiners didn't think much of her spanish when it came to A levels! The British...
by alterblau
Mon Jun 11, 2018 5:25 am
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie
Replies: 134
Views: 36029

Re: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie

I apologise unreservedly to Rockfreak for my error in wrongly ascribing the quotation and have made an appropriate changes. But I believe the other points I made remain valid and I agree with almost all of Rockfreaks’ subsequent observations. Two additional trite, but relevant, comments are: - boys ...
by alterblau
Sun Jun 10, 2018 5:31 am
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie
Replies: 134
Views: 36029

Re: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie

It is sad, but crucially important, to read Bakunin‘s above post most carefully. Much of value can be gleaned that could be applied to support others in a comparable situation. Certainly more perceptive and sympathetic masters could have alleviated some of his unhappiness. But a vital question is im...