Quick questions and (maybe) answers Hertford Memories thread

[Alexandra Thrift]

...and thinking of you Caroline with all the reports coming out of Aus.

Just a couple of quick additions to this thread :

Sunday coffee: this suddenly started a couple of years after me ( around '67/'68 ). It was very milky and stewed and quite delicious. I don't think it was "Camp" but probably something similar . I loved it. My memory of the green, fatty ham is just as Munch so accurately described. I quite liked that too !

Up until going to C.H. I had been in a private childrens home where I was often hungry so I C.H. food seemed mostly O.K. and there was usually enough ( especially as others didn't find it as palatable as I did ! ).

The dark room....was somewhere in the Science block....but where ? I never knew Miss Gamble lived there ( in the Science Block not the dark room )...I thought she lived somewhere in the Steward's House with Piper ( her beagle).

I have a memory of teaching myself to type somewhere in " Nines".... half afraid that the ghost of a little CH boy would wander in at any moment.

The science block descriptions forgot to mention the CELLAR where our shoes were fitted ( "d'they fit ?" ) and where " Sin City" was (anachronistically) later established.

I was so pale and skinny that I would be whisked into the infirmary at the drop of a hat ( one time I was really ill and DR came on a special visit; I couldn't even raise enough enthusiam to read " To the Devil a Daughter " or any of the other heart warming 'Tinf Lit , neither could I bear to have the radio on, which was another delight of The Infirmary....endless renditions of the chart-toppers....Radio Luxembourg I suppose) There was a lovely nurse ( quite young though grey-haired ) who worked there ( under " Sister" ) who always let me have HOT Milk with the crunchy Milo bits on top, and a spoon to savour it all with.

Love to all who read and post, Alexandra xx

[kerrensimmonds]

Piper the Beagle did not belong to Miss Gamble, Alex, but to the Steward who lived in the Steward's House by 5's. For the life of me I cannot remember her name, but she came after (OB) Mr. Robinson (who after Hertford went on to be Clerk in the Counting House).

[Alexandra Thrift]

Thankyou Kerren and warm thoughts to you. Trust me to remember the dog but not the Steward ! Did Miss Gamble look after Piper sometimes ? I have some kind of recollection of Piper with Miss Gamble.

btw Kerren...spoke recently to Jacquie Tomlinson ( 3s ) who thanks you and was pleased to receive a copy of " Half to Remember" ( DRs book)

[Jo]

The steward was Miss Davis. I recounted elsewhere how for years we thought she looked very stern and forbidding, and then when we discovered she was the aunt of Rob Davis from "Mud" and plucked up our courage to knock on her door, we found she was actually very nice and chatty, and gave us signed photos (of Rob, not herself!).

[kerrensimmonds]

That's right, Jo! I remember now that Miss Davis was the Steward.....
with the dog
Kerren

[icomefromalanddownunder]

[quote="Alexandra Thrift"]...and thinking of you Caroline with all the reports coming out of Aus.

Hi Alex

We are safe and well here in South Australia - thank you for thinking of us - and enjoying some cooler weather, after two weeks of 40C +.

The news reports coming out of Victora and New South Wales are heart rending. It's hard to watch footage of the devastation being followed by images of the Queensland floods, then snow in UK. It really does seem as the whole World is in revolt.

My forum activities have been seriously curtailed by return to full-time employment, although I'm enjoying the job, and appreciate working with a bunch of interesting and caring people. Still haven't written up my thesis ..................

Much love to everyone, and thank you for thinking of us in The Great Southern Land.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Angela Woodford]

Very very relieved to hear from Caroline. Horrendous items about the Australian fires on the News. I'd grabbed an atlas at once to check on Adelaide...

Does anyone remember a sweet, shy, very little middle-aged domesticky lady who came around late afternoon in the Infirmary? She would make you a boiled or scrambled egg if you didn't like the supplied teatime item. Later on, she made the best hot chocolate. Always dressed in a green overall.

And I was reminded recently of extremely good coloured pencils in the Geography Room - set out on the right side of the room near the doors? For the reproduction of Miss Wilson's blackboard maps!

[Liz Jay]

Yes news has been terrifying....and the irony of us here all covered in snow.

So glad Caroline and family are safe, have heard some tragic srories from doggy friends in Oz.

Love
Liz

[J.R.]

What makes it worse, is that it is almost certainly ARSON !

As one commentator phrased it through tears, 'Mass Murder' !

[kerrensimmonds]

That wasn't just any old commentator, John. It was Kevin the Prime Minister.

And yes, Caroline, I am so glad that all is well with you.

[Alexandra Thrift]

Despite studying A Level with efficient Miss Wilson, I was a little confused on The News by the Geography of the fire zone.

Yes Munch, she did keep the neat jar of coloured pencils ( always well-sharpened ) for our maps.

[thamesmudandbarges]

There was a VI form review that I vaguely remember and they sang a song along the lines of:

We would walk up to Ashbourne but there isn't any bus
we would go up the other way but there ain't any room for us
We would ????? up to Ashbourne but there isn't enough air
so we'll trudge up to Ashbourne, yes we'll trudge up to Ashbourne, yes we'll trudge up to Ashbourne 'til we're there.

Can't tell you the tune but can still sing it in my head!

[MKM]

There was a VI form review that I vaguely remember and they sang a song along the lines of:

We would walk up to Ashbourne but there isn't any bus
we would go up the other way but there ain't any room for us
We would ????? up to Ashbourne but there isn't enough air
so we'll trudge up to Ashbourne, yes we'll trudge up to Ashbourne, yes we'll trudge up to Ashbourne 'til we're there.

Can't tell you the tune but can still sing it in my head!

I think it was based on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU3robyaNAY

[Angela Woodford]

Written by you, me and Alex in 6's Upper Bathroom, Spring 1971, Mary! For the Sixth Form Entertainment.

[Katharine]

For the Sixth Form Entertainment.

Never heard of such a thing - how quickly life changes at CH!