Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Very sad, indeed. She had been a year behind me, had been accepted as 'one of us' and she played a full (actually Very Full.... she was very naughty!) part in the school's life, but we all giggled behind our hands whenever her mum came to visit, because she wore a sacking coat, tied up with a rope at the waist. Later, I felt sick with myself for having exercised such discrimination.
I am sorry about your experience with dating a 'toff' at Imperial College. I spent my years as a student in London socialising with people from Imperial (did you ever go to a staircase party?), and I never had that sort of experience.......

Once again, I don't remember any of the "Social Pecking Order" as described at Hertford.
I suppose that Wartime CH had a levelling effect on all of us.
The idea of new kit, of any sort was an unusual event.
When my Parents bought me a Silver Cornet for £25 in 1944 it was a real and unbelievable Treat.
That was real money, in those days, for a Police Constable !

(I still have it -- now valued at over £1000 !!)

My son went to Imperial College from 2003 to 2007. In his first year he lived in one of the Southside halls divided into staircases. It was called Falmouth Keogh and looked as if it hadn't changed since the 60's - sparce, old wooden furniture falling to bits. It reminded me of CH a little.
The place was infested with clothes moths but they did little about it as the building was due for demolition the following year. They have since rebuilt all the Southside halls, not before time. I worried about the fire safety of the building with no fire escapes and exits only through a series of staircases. Apparently a similar student building in Russia had burnt down with most of the residents unable to get out.

In the late 70's/early 80's we had a girl with an "honourable" title in 2's!

Kim2s70-77 wrote: I was completely out of my depth, although CH had given the chameleon-like skills to present an appropriate front. There was just no depth to the presentation!

I recognise this - just how I felt at Oxford, and from time to time since. A sense of not quite belonging anywhere.....

MaryB wrote:

Kim2s70-77 wrote: I was completely out of my depth, although CH had given the chameleon-like skills to present an appropriate front. There was just no depth to the presentation!

I recognise this - just how I felt at Oxford, and from time to time since. A sense of not quite belonging anywhere.....

I've always felt that! Thought it was because I am English, living in America - and when I come home I am 'Americanized'. Started at CH though!

Kim2s70-77 wrote: I've always felt that! Thought it was because I am English, living in America - and when I come home I am 'Americanized'. Started at CH though!

Me too , but substitute NZ/Oz for America.

A friend's farrier (Australian) told me this morning that he loves my accent, and asked where I am from.

Any Poms that I meet think that I am Australian, and question the fact when told that I am not. An australian made some comment about my nationality in the tea room in front of a rather strange Pom who claimed to be an ex -Corporal in the British Army, yet spoke with a Sandhurst accent. Anyway, Toby questioned the fact that I am English, so Jo (Aussie) asked me to repeat 'I left my car in the car park this morning', then fell about laughing at the thought that anyone could think that I was anything other than english with such vowel sounds.

icomefromalanddownunder wrote:

Kim2s70-77 wrote: I've always felt that! Thought it was because I am English, living in America - and when I come home I am 'Americanized'. Started at CH though!

Me too , but substitute NZ/Oz for America.

A friend's farrier (Australian) told me this morning that he loves my accent, and asked where I am from.

Any Poms that I meet think that I am Australian, and question the fact when told that I am not. An australian made some comment about my nationality in the tea room in front of a rather strange Pom who claimed to be an ex -Corporal in the British Army, yet spoke with a Sandhurst accent. Anyway, Toby questioned the fact that I am English, so Jo (Aussie) asked me to repeat 'I left my car in the car park this morning', then fell about laughing at the thought that anyone could think that I was anything other than english with such vowel sounds.

A bit classist there Caroline.

I wonder how Angela's son talks. My offspring speak as I do (CH received pronunciation) comments by their friends tend to bring out the RP. Julia Sibary, on meeting me shortly after we returned from the US claimed that I spoke 'posh' and she is no slouch herself. I think I exaggerated my RP when I lived in the States but the offspring turned chameleon, US accents with friends and Home Counties at home.

Children are experts at adopting whatever accent seems suitable, at the time.

My Children, after five years in South Africa, had accents with the clipped vowels and rolled Rs of an Afrikaaner, and still used phrases , such as "Ah Mummy Man -- its Lekker !"
Virginia was the epitome of NON Masculinity -- but she was used to it.

Words can mean different things in different cultures ---- "Is that your Baby ? --- shame ! "

means , in S. Africa --- "How sweet !" but can be mis-understood, by the newly arrived Brithish Mother !!!

englishangel wrote:

A bit classist there Caroline.

Too right Mate

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Children are experts at adopting whatever accent seems suitable, at the time.

My Children, after five years in South Africa, had accents with the clipped vowels and rolled Rs of an Afrikaaner, and still used phrases , such as "Ah Mummy Man -- its Lekker !"
Virginia was the epitome of NON Masculinity -- but she was used to it.

Words can mean different things in different cultures ---- "Is that your Baby ? --- shame ! "

means , in S. Africa --- "How sweet !" but can be mis-understood, by the newly arrived Brithish Mother !!!

and I suppose they use phrases like "go by" and "braii". After nearly 50 years here some people still pick up my wife's Durban accent though I am so used to it I don't any longer (and I have also taught her "proper English").

icomefromalanddownunder wrote:

englishangel wrote:

A bit classist there Caroline.

Too right Mate

I have three cousins who went to Oz with the assisted passage scheme in the 70s and two nieces, one who went as an au pair 2 years ago and has met and married a New Zealander, and her younger sister went on Monday with her Oz boyfriend.

All in Sydney however.

My only Godson, Richard, was sent to NewZealand, on a two-year attachment, in the field of Agriculture.

I don't know what it did for his Agriculture -------- but when he returned, he was immediately selected to play Rugby for North Dorset !!!

I came from a large council estate in London, where my head teacher told me I should go to Christ's Hospital because then my Mum wouldn't have to struggle financially with raising me. I went, and my accent was constantly made fun of until I adapted a more middle class/public school boy accent. I very much felt like I was in middle class land during term time, and then back to the streets in the holidays. It was only when I got bigger that I started dropping the public school boy accent. Since then, my accent constantly changes depending on who I am talking to.

Peele94 wrote:I came from a large council estate in London, where my head teacher told me I should go to Christ's Hospital because then my Mum wouldn't have to struggle financially with raising me. I went, and my accent was constantly made fun of until I adapted a more middle class/public school boy accent. I very much felt like I was in middle class land during term time, and then back to the streets in the holidays. It was only when I got bigger that I started dropping the public school boy accent. Since then, my accent constantly changes depending on who I am talking to.

Accents are a strange thing. I had no particular accent when going to C.H., and then was ridiculed after leaving for being a 'posh-boy'.

After my time in the police, I spent many years working in and around east and south-east London. I still often get asked to this day what part of London I come from by Northerners. Just goes to show !!