Saluting

Share your memories and stories from your days at school, and find out the truth behind the rumours....Remember the teachers and pupils, tell us who you remember and why...

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loringa
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Re: Saluting

Post by loringa »

sejintenej wrote:I certainly would have had a problem in referring to a female as "Sir" and would probably have failed utterly; madam or ma'am would have been it. Indeed I woult have (and do still) consider it an improper instruction; imagine a host / horde / whatever plural of OBs greeting some unfortunate woman in the street referring to her as sir out of habit!

I was never taught by Ma Massen but ISTR some female did say that to avoid complications she would accept "Sir" but I can't remember her being taken up on it. Matron was always "ma'am" and the maids "miss"
I remember one boy addressing Mrs Peto as 'Miss' and being told politely but firmly that it was Mrs Peto or Ma'am. Even as a 12-year old I would have found it very strange to have been asked to address any female as Sir though I've frequently heard female officers addressed erroneously as Sir invariably followed by an embarrassed apology and a correction. In my times Matrons were always Matron and masters' wives were addressed by their titles, Mrs Dawe, Mrs Waller or whoever.
DavidRawlins
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Re: Saluting

Post by DavidRawlins »

In 1946 all female teachers were addressed as Sir. I never thought much about it.
Col A 1946-1953
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J.R.
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Re: Saluting

Post by J.R. »

DavidRawlins wrote:In 1946 all female teachers were addressed as Sir. I never thought much about it.

I'm tempted to ask the obvious question David, but p'raps not !
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
Kit Bartlett
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Re: Saluting

Post by Kit Bartlett »

When I joined the Prep in 1941 the maids were always addressed by their Christian names, Prep A 's was called Marjorie and Prep "B" 's Blanche. There was one in I think Peele called Aggie. Part of their duties I remember was to inspect Housie Coats for cleanliness When did the Maids disappear I wonder? Did they live in or were they local to the area ? The House Matrons were always addressed as such by all and sundry including the Masters.
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LongGone
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Re: Saluting

Post by LongGone »

As far as I remember the maids in the 50s were from Spain?/Italy?/Portugal? and the primary requirement seemed to be that they spoke no English.
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sejintenej
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Re: Saluting

Post by sejintenej »

LongGone wrote:As far as I remember the maids in the 50s were from Spain?/Italy?/Portugal? and the primary requirement seemed to be that they spoke no English.
In my time they had rooms in the back of the kitchens. The ones I knew were Italian but had some English.
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J.R.
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Re: Saluting

Post by J.R. »

sejintenej wrote:
LongGone wrote:As far as I remember the maids in the 50s were from Spain?/Italy?/Portugal? and the primary requirement seemed to be that they spoke no English.
In my time they had rooms in the back of the kitchens. The ones I knew were Italian but had some English.

Quite so, David.

....and if memory serves there was only ONE really attractive one....

....but that's another story !
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
sejintenej
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Re: Saluting

Post by sejintenej »

J.R. wrote:
sejintenej wrote:
LongGone wrote:As far as I remember the maids in the 50s were from Spain?/Italy?/Portugal? and the primary requirement seemed to be that they spoke no English.
In my time they had rooms in the back of the kitchens. The ones I knew were Italian but had some English.
Quite so, David.
....and if memory serves there was only ONE really attractive one....
....but that's another story !
my lips are sealed (makes sign of zipping them up) :P
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J.R.
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Re: Saluting

Post by J.R. »

I seem to remember a button Grecian involved and a/the certain maid leaving CH rather hastily !
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
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postwarblue
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Re: Saluting

Post by postwarblue »

Are you sure JR that that wasn't in Col B ca.1950, a few years before your time? It seems to relate to something I was told at an OB Day several years back. I was in UF when the chap left but have no recollection of knowing about it at the time.

One of my contemporaries did I believe date one of the maids who served on the dais but I don't think he ever got found out.
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michael scuffil
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Re: Saluting

Post by michael scuffil »

My friend and near contemporary Wyn Parry and a young science master at the time, the late John Osbourne, together dated a couple of Norwegian kitchen maids (both au pairs who'd come specifically to improve their English, and both named Karen), and both married their respective Karen. Wyn is still married to his, and John Osbourne remained married to his until he died.

Bryan McGee in his book reports a fairly steamy affair (this was about 17 years earlier) with a nurse who seduced him while he was in the sicker.
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J.R.
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Re: Saluting

Post by J.R. »

postwarblue wrote:Are you sure JR that that wasn't in Col B ca.1950, a few years before your time? It seems to relate to something I was told at an OB Day several years back. I was in UF when the chap left but have no recollection of knowing about it at the time.

One of my contemporaries did I believe date one of the maids who served on the dais but I don't think he ever got found out.

It was probably around my second year in Coleridge B, so the person in question would not have mixed in my social clique.

The Grecian in question wasn't from my house. Memory fades after so many years but I think it was alleged he came from down in the Peele area.

She disappeared overnight, and for some strange reason he didn't. Bearing in mind C.M.E.S. was Head at the time, maybe he was a classics Grecian ?? :roll:
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
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jhopgood
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Re: Saluting

Post by jhopgood »

There were two Spanish maids in Barnes in 1965- 66, Maria and I believe, Anita.
A certain clarinet playing tennis player from Lamb used to court them on Big Side during the summer. They would meet behind the Band room and wander across to the large tree in the middle of Big Side,making no attempt to keep their tryst secret.
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time please
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Re: Saluting

Post by time please »

Hi Sejintenej!

With a name like that I presume you may at some time lived in Sweden?
sejintenej
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Re: Saluting

Post by sejintenej »

time please wrote:Hi Sejintenej!

With a name like that I presume you may at some time lived in Sweden?
Nej, i Norge
But at least you recognised the language or tune.
Having a fairly common set of names I had a problem trying to create a unique email address. After days of frustration I went back to the first 45 (music record) I ever bought which, at the time, was top of the hit parade.
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