FOUNDATION HYMN

[J.R.]

Huh!

I just happen to have strong maternal instincts! Think of the torments awaiting those little boys once out of Chapel! Cold baths, beatings, bullyings, dog poo in pockets, the dreaded "milkings", sleeping in primitive conditions on board beds; all the dire stuff that has been reported via the Forum...

Apart from the dog poo and the "milkings", it certainly mde a man out of me.

(awaits a tirade from the Hertford Brigade.)

[michael scuffil]

Huh!

I just happen to have strong maternal instincts! Think of the torments awaiting those little boys once out of Chapel! Cold baths, beatings, bullyings, dog poo in pockets, the dreaded "milkings", sleeping in primitive conditions on board beds; all the dire stuff that has been reported via the Forum...

And think who was doing the tormenting, as often as not: the little angels...

Anyway, I still sleep on a board bed by choice, and I had no experience of any of the other alleged horrors of CH which you mention. Just think what spoilt brats these sweet-looking kids would have turned into if you'd mollycoddled them!!

But you're right, they are quite sweet looking. (Don't get me wrong -- I think kittens are sweet looking too.)

[RolandAldridge]

As I recall it, that was Big School. not the chapel. The chapel had those large pictures on the walls below the windows.

And yes, I recall having to look after the junior boys at meals when I was about 15. Gorgeous little angels to look at, innocent and pure and beautiful, and the first words out of their mouths as we started the meal was "Tell us about sex" - about which I knew as much as they did! Terrifying.

Roland

[wurzel]

definately in chapel - brass is on the gallery above the door. At 2min is MaineB as I recognise Giles Drinkall who was my year, I (along with Craig) joined in Sep 82 and it looks like it was taken in our 2nd form. 2.09 looks like Anthony Tomkins in the glasses (he is now a rocket scientist and aviation artist)

[Angela Woodford]

I just happen to have strong maternal instincts! Think of the torments awaiting those little boys once out of Chapel! Cold baths, beatings, bullyings, dog poo in pockets, the dreaded "milkings", sleeping in primitive conditions on board beds;the dire stuff that has been reported via the Forum...

Anyway, I still sleep on a board bed by choice, and I had no experience of any of the other alleged horrors of CH which you mention. Just think what spoilt brats these sweet-looking kids would have turned into if you'd mollycoddled them!!

[/quote]

This is a bit mean of you, Michael! I had no idea of the treatment that CH boys endured until I read about them on the Forum - however I was horrified by the primitive conditions in the dormitories when I visited my godson on his Confirmation Day. You're welcome to the board bed, though! Ouch.

And yes, I have brought up a boy, who is a fine soldier in the Royal Engineers. He could never have been called a "spoiled brat" despite maternal "mollycoddling". I don't think that harsh treatment necessarily makes a good man.

[wurzel]

I wish i had a board bed now - or even the later cabin beds which used the same mattress. I would also hazard a guess that folding the bed to air each morning while at breakfast reduced the number of house dust mites etc etc over what you will get in a thick sprung mattress left in a single position.

Besides - how do they play dorm cricket now ???

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Despite all the ghastly comments from SOME OBs --- there seem to be few of us, which don't remember CH with nostalgic affection ------- I loved it ! (Does that make me a weird Masochist ???)
Anwers on a postcard !!

[michael scuffil]

[quote="Angela Woodford"][ I was horrified by the primitive conditions in the dormitories when I visited my godson on his Confirmation Day. You're welcome to the board bed, though! Ouch.

Ah, but Angela, you doubtless never saw the changing rooms in full steam, full sweat, full.. (enough!!)...

I thought the dormitories were anything but primitive. The lav-ends, yes... The dayrooms, yes.. But the dormitories, with their polished floors and neat (and v. comfortable) beds. They were merely Spartan.

[englishangel]

Hertford dorms had bare floors SPLINTERS!

[sejintenej]

Hertford dorms had bare floors SPLINTERS!

Oh! Poor Mary . At least the boys could learn the simple but essential skill of removing splinters and thorns with a razor blade. I have to wonder what your torturers would think if you all turned up with razors - the mind boggles

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I remember the Barnes B Dorms, as having polished floors --- on which we would slide, and perform the great "Feat" of walking on the hands, from one end to the other.
I cannot recall any case of splinters from the floors.

Did the polishing stop because of "Cost Cutting" ?

[J.R.]

I remember the Barnes B Dorms, as having polished floors --- on which we would slide, and perform the great "Feat" of walking on the hands, from one end to the other.
I cannot recall any case of splinters from the floors.

Did the polishing stop because of "Cost Cutting" ?

Same in Coleridge B, Neill. Oh, that lovely smell of polish !

[Foureyes]

...the simple but essential skill of removing splinters and thorns with a razor blade...

Or with the pointed end of the safety pin used to keep the bands together.

Who remembers stiff necks and chapped knees, which never seem to afflict anyone these days?

[icomefromalanddownunder]

...the simple but essential skill of removing splinters and thorns with a razor blade...

Or with the pointed end of the safety pin used to keep the bands together.

I defy anyone to de-hair legs or arm pits with a safety pin. (My point being that razors were required at Hertford too).


Who remembers stiff necks and chapped knees, which never seem to afflict anyone these days?

By strange co-incidence I noticed that my ex-husband, who was visiting from Singapore or Dubai or Texas or somewhere last week, had chapped knees. Oh, do you mean behind the knee? Anyway, I used to suffer from some very painful condition of behind the knees, which developed in the gap between the bottom of my skirts and the top of my socks. I think that the ex's was due to whatever the knee equivalent of jock itch is.

Stiff necks are quite common in the Adelaide work place. I don't know whether we end up with the office chairs that the John West of office furniture rejects, or whether our OH&S staff are poorly trained in setting up work stations, but wheat bags are a common sight.

[englishangel]

They just don't swallow the little blue pills quickly enough.