EXIT CH -- EXEUNT TRADITIONS !

[Angela Woodford]

@Katharine: so early? I seem to remember hearing about this change while I was at Cambridge, ie 63-66. It was I gather made by DR without any consultation whatever.

I won't argue about dates - I know the change was in my time, but it really made very little difference, we called ourselves Sixes before and after the event. Letters sent to me were first addressed to Ward 6, Christ's Hospital, but later to 6, Christ's Hospital. It took everyone, especially many of the parents some time to adjust.

I'd guess it was in 1962. I was a new girl in 1964, and people still said "Ward" from time to time, but I gathered the change was not in the previous year.

[Vièr Bliu]

On the subject of vanished traditions: I was sorting through some papers at the weekend and came across a copy of the fabled Christ's Hospital Nasal Drill (undated; issued by GE Friend, Medical Officer).

An extract:

All boys fall in by their bed, standing at ease, without Coats, Waistcoats, and Bands.
At the Word of Command:-
'Shun. - The Right hand and Arm are bent forward from the Elbow, with the Hand extended. The Handkerchief is placed open over the Right Hand....

[AKAP]

I also have a vague regulations of the health rules. Including the rule that you must have a bowel movement everyday.
I often wondered who was checking and what the punishment was if you broke the rule?

[AKAP]

On second thought, I don't want to know the answer to that question.

[jhopgood]

On the subject of vanished traditions: I was sorting through some papers at the weekend and came across a copy of the fabled Christ's Hospital Nasal Drill (undated; issued by GE Friend, Medical Officer).

An extract:

All boys fall in by their bed, standing at ease, without Coats, Waistcoats, and Bands.
At the Word of Command:-
'Shun. - The Right hand and Arm are bent forward from the Elbow, with the Hand extended. The Handkerchief is placed open over the Right Hand....

I have just read a small booklet by Gordon Windle (Prep B /Ba A 37 - 44) in which he mentions the Nasal Drill as being unique to his house.
He describes it as
On command of "handkerchiefs out", we sat up in bed and produced a handkerchief. Again by command we had to blow five blasts. The idea was to clear your nasal passages and prevent snoring, which did not work in my case.

It was Friend who kept all the statistics on 3140 boys which were used by the University of Bristol in a study which concluded that OB's live longer than the general population, with approximately 50% lower mortality. (So says Windle)

I wonder if they took statistics on today's OB's and then did a study in some 50 years time, whether the same would still hold true.

[Mr Tall]

It was Friend who kept all the statistics on 3140 boys which were used by the University of Bristol in a study which concluded that OB's live longer than the general population, with approximately 50% lower mortality. (So says Windle)

I wonder if they took statistics on today's OB's and then did a study in some 50 years time, whether the same would still hold true.

OK, so 100% of the general population will die, 50% of that means that one in two of us will die.

As I am immortal, that means that one of you will have to go, sorry.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I took part in the Bristol University Survey of Old Blues -- I also noticed that, according to the findings 50% of us are Immortal ! I actually wrote back, ponting this out, --- but I never received a reply --- I assume that they couldn't find a crayon !
Dr Friend had a system that every boy addmitted to the Sicker, was given a dose of Cascara Laxative, this was regardless of whether you came in with abroken collar bone ! He obviously DID have a fixation about Bowel Movement !
Unless it was a cunning scheme to deter Malingerers !

[Foureyes]

I suggest that we are being a bit unfair to Dr Friend (in my day it was Dr Scott). I believe that it would be reasonably accurate to say that the need for a "a daily bowel movement" was common throughout the medical profession in the 1930s-60s, and by no means confined to the CH Sicker. Certainly, when I was in St Bartholomew's Hospitial in 1954 for an eye operation the entire ward (about 50 patients) was asked every day whether they had had a 'movement,' regardless of the reason for which they had been admitted. Sister had a special millboard and form for the purpose of recording this vital bit of information. And woe betide those who said 'no!

[Great Plum]

As onewestguncopse says, I am sure there are no plans to get rid of the uniform... it is far too unique!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Re Ch Uniform being "Far too unique " I, as a Pedant, repeat --- this is a Qualified Absolute, it is or it ain't unique, there are no Grades !
OK OK --- I'll go back to sleep now ------

[Mid A 15]

As onewestguncopse says, I am sure there are no plans to get rid of the uniform... it is far too unique!

You'd never know his father is a CH English teacher

[michael scuffil]

Re Bowel Movements

In "Away from the Boys and the Bombs" she whose name escapes me for the moment says her housemistress or someone always asked the question "Have you been good today?" and had to be told by older girls what this actually meant.

Re Nose Blowing

ThB juniors had nose-blowing by numbers in the evening until a monitor was imported from ColB and said "I think we can stop this nonsense". And we did.
I heard that in that fascist stronghold Lamb B, they had to be standing at the end of their (stripped) beds by the time the getting-up bell stopped ringing, and the ritual would be carried out then too.

[Eruresto]

As onewestguncopse says, I am sure there are no plans to get rid of the uniform... it is far too unique!

You'd never know his father is a CH English teacher

First I heard of it!

[Jude]

traditions such as those that have made CH need to be kept utterly. As a Hertford Girl, we sang the Votum (known to us as the Carmen as we had 1 verse less due to the bit about healthy males in the gymnasium!) At the end of term we would stand for grace, then were allowed to remove our pinnies and throw them up in the air shouting "Housey" Being at CH in the late 70's when all the preparations for the move to Horsham was on we were asked about uniform - I think the vote was NOT to HAVE THE SAME STUFF WE HAD IN HERTFORD! Although my son has worn it, and he has a couple of silver buttons, and his belt (he was there 3 years), I would have loved to wear the uniform myself - although I am told that the breeches do itch something mad!

Did Horsham do bibles for those leavers who were not going on to more schooling? I have mine here (Uni wasn't a problem, it was 5th formers leaving to go to a local college or school that didn't get one)
So my fellow OB's :

"I charge you never to forget the great benefits that you have recieved at this place, and in time to come according to your means, to do all that you can to enable others to enjoyt the same advantage; and remember that you carry with you, wherever you go, the good name of Christ's Hospital.

May G-D Almighty (Borach atoh adni in Hebrew) bless you in your ways, and keep in you the knowledge of his love now and forever"

"HOUSEY!"

Now going to get a glass of wine to help me sleep!

[Angela Woodford]

At the end of term we would stand for grace, then were allowed to remove our pinnies and throw them up in the air shouting "Housey"

Did Horsham do bibles for those leavers who were not going on to more schooling? I have mine here (Uni wasn't a problem, it was 5th formers leaving to go to a local college or school that didn't get one)

This pinny-throwing thing must have been a "new" tradition! "Housey!" to us meant them. What did the BA and GA wearers do? Or had BAs and GAs been discontinued?

Sadly,I have a terrible memory of Catherine Ennis turning up for the rehearsal of lining-up-for-the-Charge ceremony. Catherine, being a gifted organist, was bypassing the UVI to go to music college. DR shouted, yes shouted at her that she would not have a Bible. Catherine angrily ran out of Chapel. Somehow, this spoiled the ceremony for me the next day.