DR

[thamesmudandbarges]

DR was a a good headmistress (says I, with the benefit of hindsight) but my over-riding memory of DR was her appalling bad breath. Anyone who ever got called into DR's office (heh- remember the ante-room, or perhaps you weren't as bad as I) will recall that one lived more in fear of being breathed on by DR than of getting a disorder or even a conduct mark. I actually never got a conduct but I do think I got a few disorders if memory serves correctly.

[Katharine]

I have no memory of her bad breath - perhaps that came after my time. In my last couple of terms I was in her room every day except Sundays (as her Mon, not as a sinner!). If she had had it then I think I would have remembered it!

[thamesmudandbarges]

I was at CH a little later than you - 1964 I started - I think. 8:24.

Perhaps DR developed bad breath after you left!

[Angela Woodford]

DR was a a good headmistress... Anyone who ever got called into DR's office (heh- remember the ante-room, or perhaps you weren't as bad as I)

An interesting memory, thames mud! I have extensive memories of the ante-room and its chief gloomy Occupant - but I know I've written loads about it. Once I'd knocked on DR's office door and heard the gruff "Come In!" I always stood as far from her desk as possible. She may well have had bad breath, but I wasn't even remotely near enough to be blighted by it. I know I remember her teeth were not good - but she never smiled at me for me then to consider what remedial action she should take. Eucryl tooth powder was the whitener of choice in those days, daily mouthwash and flossing unheard of!

Imagine if one could see DR transformed by a laser-whitened gleaming smile!

"A good Headmistress". Hmm - interesting that Baroness Deech in The Old Blue considers that we had "no pastoral care".
In my opinion, it wasn't what she did or didn't do. It was the way she did or didn't do it!

But, there are accounts here and there of her occasional kindnesses. Solid, grim and efficient, without doubt. Maybe, if I could have sat down by her desk and had a reasonable remedial chat? But now, thames mud, I realise that this could have been rather difficult from an aesthetic point of view.

[englishangel]

OK, 8's the same year as Munch, who could that be? Claire?

[MKM]

I was playing Bridge this afternoon, and another of DR's sayings came back to me - "You're sending a boy to do a man's job" - said when someone led a card which was unlikely to win a trick. Now I think about it, it's not a very feminist phrase, is it?

[englishangel]

I remember DR coming into 2's dayroom one Sunday afternoon when we were playing pontoon and she asked what we were playing, someone else said pontoon and I said bridge (no gambling on a Sunday) and the other girl said " I knew it was something to do with the royal engineers"

[Angela Woodford]

I just came across this memory from Julian Clary -

"I was never badly behaved, but I became subversive and theatrical".

Exactly. Just the sort of thing that DR most abhorred.

[anniexf]

I just came across this memory from Julian Clary -

"I was never badly behaved, but I became subversive and theatrical".

Exactly. Just the sort of thing that DR most abhorred.

Angela! I read that too this morning! We share a taste in newspapers, it seems - though I only have it on Saturdays

[J.R.]

I just came across this memory from Julian Clary -

"I was never badly behaved, but I became subversive and theatrical".

Exactly. Just the sort of thing that DR most abhorred.

Angela! I read that too this morning! We share a taste in newspapers, it seems - though I only have it on Saturdays

Poor You !!!!

[anniexf]

though I only have it on Saturdays

Poor You !!!!

[/quote]

You must take into account that I'm an OAP, J.R. ...

[sejintenej]

I just came across this memory from Julian Clary -

"I was never badly behaved, but I became subversive and theatrical".

Exactly. Just the sort of thing that DR most abhorred.

Angela! I read that too this morning! We share a taste in newspapers, it seems - though I only have it on Saturdays

JR refers to your very thin purse but, unless it is the Times you can still get it free on t'internet - and you don't even need shoe leather.

[anniexf]

JR refers to your very thin purse

Oooh! So that's what he meant!!!