Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

There is much information about CH during World War 2 dispersed between wartime issues of ‘The Blue’, certain OBs’memories and elsewhere. One day I hope that it will be collated, preferably while some who lived through this period still are around. Things like exploits of the CH Home Guard, use of t...

Sorry Frances. I obviously don’t read the right things or mix in the right circles. Can someone provide some useful facts? e.g. What is/was the upper limit on parental income allowing a child to attend CH? Will this limit be raised (if so to what?) or removed totally? When are the proposed changes t...

Much though I enjoy many OBs’ reminiscences I realise that there are also much more serious CH matters deserving discussion. One is the future of CH and how its ethos could or should change. I have noted with interest the trend, enthusiastically promoted by the current Headmaster, that wealthier par...

In response to Michael Scuffil, I was unaware of these facts. Can he give a source for them? Does anyone know why the dams existed? Did they allow hydroelectric power to be produced, store water that was consumed (by domestic or industrial customers, or both), reduce flooding, or had they some other...

I can't give any information on Vidal, but was the prize associated with a buckle of a different shape from the usual Broadie (lobulated and slightly wider)?

Punishments varied from house to house in the 50s & 60s. Some house punishments, used then in several houses, were ‘quick changes’, a ‘mile’ and a ‘post office’. These were: (1) present yourself to a monitor in housey dress, run to the changing room put on games clothes (shorts, rugger jersey, g...

Here are another couple to add to the list. Perhaps someone knows how their careers and lives continued after the 1970s.

David Price-Thomas (La A, aka David Price), Lt Col in the RAMC and opthalmologist
Peter L. Knight (Ba A), Fleet Air Arm helicopter pilot

Thanks to postwarblue for correcting misinformation on Basher Jenks and for the reference to his obit. It's fascinating reading. So the Scottish regiment story should be associated with Hutch. The detailed account of the Tiger Moth and the tractor was equally enthralling. Let's hope there will be lo...

The topic of the Armed Services is interesting, but what about also including Hertford staff, Old Blues and experiences from the Combined Cadet Force (CCF)? Here are some thoughts along those lines. Thinking of Old Blues and the services, I recall that Michael Griffiths (Barnes A) was best officer c...

The third form teacher mentioned above was Miss Margery Eller who married Mr Gerrish, one of the cello teachers. She left CH soon after her marrriage.

I agree with point 2 from Michael Scuffil. It can lead to the question of why are the sciences taught at CH? From my own experience, I suggest it is to arouse interest in the sciences’ intellectual content, in terms of their internal logic (including relevant history of science) and their pertinence...

I too was not moved by the heuristic method of teaching chemistry. At my introduction to chemistry and meeting the problem of fnding why copper turns black when it is heated, I simply asked someone in a higher form for the explanation. It is surprising that no one else has made a similar comment, fo...

I re-read Geoffrey Cannon’s magnificent first contribution on MT Cherniavsky with increasing admiration and look forward to his next contribution(s). It triggered several further random recollections. MTC also taught English and in one year (1955?) taught the set Shakespeare set play for O level, wh...

HLO Flecker was clearly very much a member of the establishment (not only because he is one of the few persons I ever saw wearing spats). This explains why he was selected to be a member of a Royal Commission to investigate education in the British West Indies in 1948 or 9 (I think). He may well hav...

I particularly enjoyed Geoffrey Cannon's piece on MT Cherniavsky. Please write more? I can add that MTC’s father played the viola in one of the last Tsar's orchestras. MTC was educated at Westminster School. By chance there was one other very bright "Russian" boy in his year with a typical...