Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Searching on Google (I know, as an information specialist, I ought to know better ...),the word 'girdle' seems to mean:
1. an apparel made specifically for the workplace, esp. in preparing someone for work
2. in religious terms - girdle of God represents a people who once had been called by His name: set apart by covenant, tremendously anointed, near to His heart, dearly loved and much blessed

I guess both of these meanings has a relevance to CH, but I have no idea if this is why the name was used.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=girdle

A belt or sash worn around the waist.
Something that encircles like a belt.
An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips, especially by women, to give the body a more slender appearance.
A band made around the trunk of a tree by the removal of a strip of bark.
The edge of a cut gem held by the setting.
Anatomy. The pelvic or pectoral girdle.

jtaylor wrote:http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=girdle

A belt or sash worn around the waist.
Something that encircles like a belt.
An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips, especially by women, to give the body a more slender appearance.
A band made around the trunk of a tree by the removal of a strip of bark.
The edge of a cut gem held by the setting.
Anatomy. The pelvic or pectoral girdle.

Yes

Extremely witty

But the joke was in the question

i.e. why did they call the CH belt a girdle

we were all aware at the time of the

NEW!

PLAYTEX!!

24 HOUR GIRDLE!!!

It was an implement of wartime strength that (with the help of whale bones) held a fat middle aged lady's tummy in

Let us pray that the people who post things on this website are witty, and not literal

And that more people tell of the wonderful and sometimes plain wierd experiences they had at the religious, royal and ancient foundation

See, for instance the experiences of the tube

i was going to make a report of one of my forays underground as I did actually make it to under the chapel during a service but one of the stories posted was even more extreme than mine

God bless the old blues and always try to encourage more OBs to participate in these forums - one day a book could be written about these memories

Actually in 52-55 the monitors were allowed to administer beatings - depending on which House you were in. Some houses banned it before others and eventually (under Seaman I think) the practice was banned entirely. There was also "fallout" violence in the form of "fotching" a practice I described in the slang thread - consisting of an open hand smack round the head. I heard stories of boys with burst eardrums from a badly directed fotch - could have been local rumour though.
My generation was probably the first and most vocal to stop this boy on boy stuff - heady days of emancipation. Looking back it was all too Tom Brown for comfort and I for one am heartily relieved to hear that all these things are now a matter for the history books and "old f**ts"

In my day (49-54 -oh gods so long ago) in LaA it was the cane only, no slippers, and housemaster only. I was lucky and escaped by the skin of my teeth (or arse?) because Johnny Johnstone was late for some do.

There was one famous occasion when one lad, trousers down peed over his armchair during the "administration".

The punishment meted out by monitors for infractions of the law or custom was double changes (usually a maximum of six). Start in the dayroom in uniform, sprint to the changing rooms, into games kit, report, sprint back and again into uniform, report, all in 4 minutes. The usual trick was to start with games kit already on under one's uniform but the penalty for getting caught was to have to do the whole lot again plus more.

I can report that from 1969-77 double changes were still meted out by monitors as were runs like the Farm loop and the Itchingfield loop - the house tutors (teachers who were 2nd in command after the housemaster) could enjoy thrashing boys with a plimsoll, but the thrill of administering the cane was reserved for housemaster and headmaster. In Peele B Tom Keeley thrashed boys with the cane several times a week but did not seem to enjoy it as much as Dr Newsome who had one famous stick which we called the "Grolly-Rod" and had a prolonged ritualistic way of going about the business. Tom Keeley much preferred the pre-amble which often consisted of a very long interview during which he wore a wide brimmed hat, pointed a light in your face and smoked your confiscated fags while discussing how many strokes he thought would be appropriate for the offence (usually 4 for smoking and 6 for drinking)
I can't possibly say whether this is true but as far as I remember it was generally understood that to be caught kissing a boy would result in a caning [minor edit due to mentioned person being still alive and objection raised - Mod], but to be caught in flagrante delicto with a girl would mean instant expulsion.

huntertitus wrote: [edited as certain person is still alive, and could take offense]

[edit]

The chaplaincy had a tendency to be occupied by somewhat suspect individuals - usually single males. It was always a subject of tittering humour. The school long had a very ambivalent attitude towards the subject "that will not be mentioned", and you are quite right, being caught with a female was instant dismissal. Weird standard.
But there were expulsions for the other as well, though rare.

I remember Johnny Johnstone - he was in charge of the Air Corps for a time. Odd bloke and he fired me from the Corps as "incorrigible" - much to my delight.

Mmm - red hair, moustache, and a very smelly spaniel called Iphegenia. Deputy to Sam Sargeant as Hall Warden. He was also the Chief Scout which was the reason I refused to join the fun and games. He must have taken over the air corps after my time (he was a cavalryman/intelligence officer during the war), I recall Page as the o i/c.

The one good thing, he let us watch tv on Saturday evenings in his study. especially an early BBC thriller serial called Little Red Monkey with Jimmy Edwards in the lead. Coincedently Jimmy Edwards lived near Horsham and used to drink in the Kings Head.

Lamma looker wrote: Coincedently Jimmy Edwards lived near Horsham and used to drink in the Kings Head.

The King's Head Hotel has been closed for a while now, awaiting some sort of decision to be made about its future. The bar was an OK place for a pint, but lacking in atmosphere (as hotel bars often are).

Might have been a bit livelier in Jimmy's day, though.

yeah i went to the kings head a few times it was as if they didnt want customers.....

i have been in quite a few pubs and seen teachers inte hhorsham area...

The Crown....favoured choice of some catering staff
Lynd Cross....most pupils and those in horsham, and teh every ready Mr LEadbeater...
Greets Inn (Warnahm) where i once saw Mr O'meera
OF course the Bax
Boars HEad....just about every teacher

menace wrote:The chaplaincy had a tendency to be occupied by somewhat suspect individuals - usually single males..

The suspect part I agree but single males - that's usual for a priest isn't it ?

marty wrote:

menace wrote:The chaplaincy had a tendency to be occupied by somewhat suspect individuals - usually single males..

The suspect part I agree but single males - that's usual for a priest isn't it ?

Catholics yes, Anglicans no (I presume the school God-squad are still Church of England types....).

I'm glad to see that the compulsory God-bothering sessions at C.H. obviously haven't brainwashed you too much!

Hobbit wrote:yeah i went to the kings head a few times it was as if they didnt want customers.....

i have been in quite a few pubs and seen teachers inte hhorsham area...

The Crown....favoured choice of some catering staff
Lynd Cross....most pupils and those in horsham, and teh every ready Mr LEadbeater...
Greets Inn (Warnahm) where i once saw Mr O'meera
OF course the Bax
Boars HEad....just about every teacher

Favourite pubs when I was still at C.H. -

The Bax (obviously....)

The Hen & Chicken at Southwater - haven't been there for years.

The Bear, Horsham (still a good little pub).

The Queen's Head, Barns Green

However, as mentioned elsewhere, being in uniform most of the time meant that off-licences were a lot less risky.

If you like good beer, the Malt Shovel in Horsham is excellent (and is still a proper pub, not a converted bank/furniture shop/public khazi etc.).