Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Mention has been made that House Matrons were not allowed anywhere near the Masters' Common Room or in the dining Room There were only nine of them (including the Infirmary Matron). Where did they eat and congregate I wonder? I suppose in the present day climate they would have had a case for sexual discrimination
These days I believe that there are two matrons per block who work in shifts.

I'm pretty sure Mrs Ritchie catered for herself in house in her own flat.

I rarely saw her out and around the school grounds.

It occurs to me that they probably led very lonely and boring lives.

LongGone wrote:It occurs to me that they probably led very lonely and boring lives.

I'm pretty sure the house-matrons had their own little clique.

J.R. wrote:

LongGone wrote:It occurs to me that they probably led very lonely and boring lives.

I'm pretty sure the house-matrons had their own little clique.

Then, I rest my case!

Riches I think JR. She had a son in one of the Thorntons(?). She took over from Miss Meek who presented the Shrove Tuesday Coleridge Pancake Race cup (I wonder if that is still contested).

Mrs Kathleen? A, Riches was Matron of Coleridge from 1950 to 1965. Her son Profesor G.C.P. Riches was in Thornton B and Maine B from 1952-60.Last reported in Saskatchewan in 1991.
The Riches' family home was in Runton, Norfolk.
Chris B.

I'm sure there is a reference to the Pancake Cup elsewhere on this site, Unfortunately, I haven't got time to check. Ordered out shopping, by 'She Who Must Be......'

J.R. wrote:I'm sure there is a reference to the Pancake Cup elsewhere on this site[/b][/i]

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3860 has some discussion of a photo of a pancake race of 1960 or 61.

GCR Riches, Old Blue. See:
http://www.socialwork.ubc.ca/about-us/p ... raham.html
He was one of the first RAF Foundationers and became a Grecian. He attended Old Blues Day in 2003.
David

There was a Matrons' Dining Room in the West kitchen wing (leading to the wardrobe). I remember noticing it when we were queuing up to be kitted out. There was also a housemaids' dining room and a kitchen maids' dining room. I noticed these too, and even at the age of 11 I wondered about this apartheid.

michael scuffil wrote:There was a Matrons' Dining Room in the West kitchen wing (leading to the wardrobe). I remember noticing it when we were queuing up to be kitted out. There was also a housemaids' dining room and a kitchen maids' dining room. I noticed these too, and even at the age of 11 I wondered about this apartheid.

Yes, it was a bit like Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess, and Other Ranks in those days !

J.R. wrote:Yes, it was a bit like Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess, and Other Ranks in those days !

We had that in the first factory I worked in.(Vickers Ltd, Crayford). Canteen was in the North wing and there were two messes in the West Wing. I never really worked out why they were called "messes" in a factory.

jhopgood wrote:

J.R. wrote:Yes, it was a bit like Officers Mess, Sergeants Mess, and Other Ranks in those days !

We had that in the first factory I worked in.(Vickers Ltd, Crayford). Canteen was in the North wing and there were two messes in the West Wing. I never really worked out why they were called "messes" in a factory.

Factory workers have never been known to be particularly tidy ????

It was the same where my Dad worked (the Firestone factory on the Gt West Road, demolished over a bank holiday weekend before it could be listed). There was a workers' canteen, and separate accommodations for foremen/supervisors, managers, and directors.