Search found 25 matches

by JohnAL
Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:09 am
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Michael Cherniavsky
Replies: 93
Views: 52802

Re: Michael Cherniavsky

Thanks Rockfreak. I’ll look out for Bennett’s book. Your quotation from it, “... others on the Russian Course [ the National Service’s Joint Services School for Linguists ] were disconcertingly clever, particularly, I remember, a group of boys from Christ's Hospital ...” rang a bell. One OB, definit...
by JohnAL
Fri Mar 19, 2021 12:38 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Nell Todd painting for sale
Replies: 17
Views: 6767

Re: Nell Todd painting for sale

During my days by far the best boy artist was Benedict Rubbra of Col A. Naturally Nell Todd thought very highly of him and rightly so. I recollect that he painted a superb portrait of ACW ‘Teddy’ Edwards, then a retired teacher and School Librarian. But most unusually Nell Todd insisted that it rema...
by JohnAL
Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:55 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Ernest Christopher "Kit" Aitken
Replies: 25
Views: 22981

Re: Ernest Christopher "Kit" Aitken

More about Kit Aitken – He often took boys for a week or so in the summer holidays sailing on the Broads. Also he is credited with the advice that, “An older boy should never touch a younger boy, whether in affection or anger.”
by JohnAL
Tue Sep 22, 2020 11:04 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: School Chaplains
Replies: 97
Views: 60222

Re: School Chaplains

Rev Arthur Pullin (I think, not Pullen, can someone confirm the true spelling from an Alphabetical List/”Blue Book” of the period? In the Forum there is a thread, “Rev Pullin & The Old Blue”.) was a pleasant, conscientious, devout sort of chap. I don’t recollect any pastoral work, although I’m ...
by JohnAL
Sun Sep 23, 2018 3:56 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Attitudes to sports
Replies: 51
Views: 14856

Re: Attitudes to sports

I have nostalgic memories of the glorious Saturday summer evenings with asphalt cricket behind Lamb. Anyone could join in, so boys of all ages and from different houses participated without coercion. At Housey such mixed, happy goings-on were rare. Also there were usually spectators, sometimes maste...
by JohnAL
Mon Jul 09, 2018 8:43 am
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster
Replies: 142
Views: 89175

Re: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster

Thanks. I never realised it has such a venerable and distinguished history.
by JohnAL
Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:18 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster
Replies: 142
Views: 89175

Re: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster

This Sunday I heard a hymn which included the words, “Oh death where is thy sting, oh grave thy victory?” That reminded me of ‘Uncle’s’ version which comprised in part, “Oh death where is thy sting a ling a ling, oh grave thy victory? The bells of Hell go ting a ling a ling for you and not for me.” ...
by JohnAL
Thu Jun 21, 2018 8:52 am
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie
Replies: 15
Views: 6038

Re: The trial of James Andrew Husband and Gary Dobbie

Frank Macracken was mentioned and is unknown to most readers. He has nothing to do with the current trials, so some background information is permissible I imagine. He was an Australian junior housemaster (Barnes B), with nickname Windy, probably because of an involuntary flatus early on. He taught ...
by JohnAL
Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:51 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: The Story of Old Blues in North America - BCOB Book Project
Replies: 30
Views: 8467

Re: The Story of Old Blues in North America - BCOB Book Project

I recollect there were several Americans at CH under identical circumstances to those mentioned above. (They were instant button grecians, spending only one year at CH.) I understand they all came from Phillips Academy (but it may have been Phillips-Exeter and/or Phillips-Andover). Further I believe...
by JohnAL
Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:22 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: CH in Art
Replies: 11
Views: 3852

Re: CH in Art

Someone who deserves a lot of attention in this thread is Benedict Rubbra, an OB and excellent portraitist. Several well known CH personalities have sat for him.
by JohnAL
Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:55 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Clean clothes at Horsham in the 40s & 50s
Replies: 29
Views: 10481

Re: Clean clothes at Horsham in the 40s & 50s

Oh for the happy joys of life with a monitor’s privileges! I took a hot bath almost every evening as a mon and (together with the accessibility of many bread crusts as a bottom-of-the-table mon in the Dining Hall) have for the last nearly seventy years always chosen a bath and bread crust (not neces...
by JohnAL
Wed May 31, 2017 7:11 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: RESEARCH
Replies: 60
Views: 16211

Re: RESEARCH

Here are three other happenings from the President’s (Prince of Wales/Duke of Windsor) visit in 1921. After leaving the Manual School he visited Lamb A, where he joined a game of billiards (or demonstrated his prowess) and pocketed a red ball. While lunching on the dais a Col B junior poured a mug o...
by JohnAL
Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:16 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Less flamboyant CH teachers
Replies: 37
Views: 20341

Less flamboyant CH teachers

There have been some excellent threads dealing with masters of the 1940s, 50s, 60s and other decades. Messrs Jesson-Dibley, Cherniavsky, Daunt, Page, Rider and Malins and Miss Todd come to mind. Apart from pleasing those who knew these masters, a potentially useful stock of relevant knowledge has be...
by JohnAL
Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:11 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Housey Coat 'badge'
Replies: 25
Views: 9182

Re: Housey Coat 'badge'

I understand the name Exhibition was indeed used to commemorate the Great Exhibition of 1851, but with a more specific connection. During its successor (The Festival of Britain of 1951) I was at CH and at that time a copy of the brochure of 1851 was used for various history and other lessons. I reme...
by JohnAL
Sun Jul 17, 2016 9:49 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: What happens to ‘retired’ Housey coats?
Replies: 6
Views: 2988

Re: What happens to ‘retired’ Housey coats?

This recycling suggestion is interesting, likely to be popular and potentially profitable. I am likely to be a purchaser. But it is not so simple. Would a dry cleaning device need to be installed before coats could be sold? That would be expensive. But then a dry cleaning service could be offered to...