Now it reaches Eton

This section was setup in August 2018 in order to move the existing related discussions from other sections into this new section to group them together, and separate from the other CH-related topics.

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sejintenej
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Real Name: David Brown ColA '52-'61
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by sejintenej »

rockfreak wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:35 pm
Foureyes wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:40 am sentinej says: "Even the library seemed out of bounds; I was escorted out for not having a library pass or housemaster's permission."
I find that very odd. I was at C.H. 1948-55 and was a regular user of the library - in fact, it was one of my favourite places and I spent a lot of time there. But, I have absolutely no recollection of needing permission or a pass - if they did exist, were they introduced after 1956, perhaps, and, if so, why?

Secondly, he says: "CH's ban on outside contact" Again, I have absolutely no recollection of such a 'ban' which would, in any case, have been unenforceable. I would agree that it was difficult to make or maintain friendships at home, because one was away for most of the year, but that surely was not intentional on C.H.'s part?
David :shock:
Yes, As far as a ban on outside contact goes, there was a telephone (I think) in the corridor between Col B and Col A but I'm not sure whether we were encouraged to use it. I.................. The seclusion from the outside world was not so much physical as psychological.
In Col A you went through the double doors to Kit's study to get a beating after being summoned. Too worried to notice any phone.
There was one boy in Col A that I know of (he has posted on here in the distant past) who was forced to read all inward mail in Kit's study - after it was censored! As for his outward mail I don't know.
Remember we were not allowed outside the ring fence except to go to the gym and pool or with an authorised adult. I know some people used to fish in the farm pool as well but that seemed to be organised but by whom? I never found out.
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
sejintenej
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by sejintenej »

Foureyes wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 5:57 am rockfreak says: "...I never did because I always imagined that if a master had happened along he would have demanded to know who I was phoning..." [My italics]

The key word in that quote is 'imagined' which proves absolutely nothing. In other words not once did the young rockfreak put this conspiracy theory of his to the test of making a call and seeing whether a master would interfere or not, so it is actually a pointless allegation.

David :shock:
Life in Col A in my time was subject to the concept sof Brazilian law** "If it is not specifically permitted then it is prohibited".

** there is a clause in the Codigo Civile (I thing number 3) which allows people to live, to breathe and by extension to eat, drink .... I spent a couple of years getting to grip with those codes - a nightmare - and trying to find ways around them.
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
ZeroDeConduite
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by ZeroDeConduite »

"Remember we were not allowed outside the ring fence except to go to the gym and pool or with an authorised adult. I know some people used to fish in the farm pool as well...."
I don't remember any of that ;-) Peele A must have existed in an alternate universe.
Every time we were allowed out I roamed the countryside, fishing in the Arun, visiting the biker's caff in Broadbridge Heath to listen to the jukebox, or just exploring the countryside.
A 'flight plan' had to be formally agreed by the housemaster for long bike trips on summer weekends, like going to Worthing or Box Hill, because that meant missing a meal. Or trips on Saturday afternoon into Horsham.
But I don't remember any such permission being needed for short-term excursions.
Cycling to a pub distant enough for there to be no staff drinking there, or fishing before dawn in the big lake beyond the main gate was definitely breaking the rules (but easily accomplished). The farm pool contained a huge carp (about 40 lbs) which someone hooked one afternoon, but couldn't lift out of the water.
Maybe Pop Beaven was unusually lax about such things?
PrepA 1951-2 Peele A 1953-60
sejintenej
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by sejintenej »

ZeroDeConduite wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2020 3:02 pm "Remember we were not allowed outside the ring fence except to go to the gym and pool or with an authorised adult. I know some people used to fish in the farm pool as well...."
I don't remember any of that ;-) Peele A must have existed in an alternate universe.
Yes. In my time Peele A did have a certain "reputation"
Every time we were allowed out I roamed the countryside, fishing in the Arun, visiting the biker's caff in Broadbridge Heath to listen to the jukebox, or just exploring the countryside.
A 'flight plan' had to be formally agreed by the housemaster for long bike trips on summer weekends, like going to Worthing or Box Hill, because that meant missing a meal. Or trips on Saturday afternoon into Horsham.
But I don't remember any such permission being needed for short-term excursions.
In my last year monitors were allowed out on Sunday afternoons without prior consultation; I remember one time, after meeting up with a girlfriend my wet gym shoe came off the pedal and I lost the skin on my face and elsewhere. On my return I was despatched to the sicker and missed letter writing. Being between parent types (actually I had none) that didn't matter.
Yes, Horsham was a no no and I doubt meeting up with girls would not have gained any favours from Kit.

Three or four of us were accorded permission to leave after Saturday lessons for a return on Sunday evening on alternate weekends and the school supplied food for us to cook and eat. The route was never disclosed as far as I recall. We left school in Scout uniform but that disappeared a few minutes from the gate. We got to know Stone Farm Rocks fairly well and we actually got to Harrisons in Tonbridge Wells but couldn't camp there
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
rockfreak
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by rockfreak »

Yes I do think Banker Brown has a point here. Some masters were relaxed: some were phobic. NT Fryer was definitely phobic as far as I was concerned. Sliding up behind you on soft shoes. What have you just said? What are you thinking? What will you be thinking tomorrow? Are you swearing? Is sex on your mind? On one occasion he commissioned our house captain to ask every member of the house where they had been that afternoon. It would certainly have exercised a few people's imaginations in the way of trying to cover their tracks. I imagine that he wheeled in the whole machinery of the Spanish Inquisition (which no-one expects) to try and drive a coach and horses through the stories of those who weren't expecting it and didn't have suitable alibis. They might have escaped being put on a bonfire but probably got a severe beating.
rockfreak
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by rockfreak »

rockfreak wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:24 pm Just to track back a bit regarding the debate about how we perceive people's characters, and with reference to the character witnesses for Karim. Back in Prep B in the 1950s you wouldn't have thought that our housemaster Gordon Pink was anything other than a caring guy. Even his slipperings were half-hearted. He could have his English class in fits of laughter. Elsewhere someone has mentioned the little rubber bone that he would throw at dunces in his class - all in good spirit.
He appeared to be caring and in many ways he was. When my parents came down to visit, my father (a cricket loving Yorkshireman), complimented him on how well mowed and rollered the Prep first team pitch was. "We have to," replied Pink, clearly worried about short pitched balls rearing up at the batsmen. My dad commented later how he didn't understand how such a well-qualified teacher (gown n' all) confined himself to teaching 9 to 12 year olds. Well done Dad. A touch of suspicious worldliness that seems to evade so many that go through the boarding school system.
As Evelyn Waugh once commented about his time at Lancing, some teachers liked little boys not at all and others too much. Unfortunately Pink had a habit of sliding his hand up small boys' shorts and sometimes more than that. It went on for ages until someone blew the whistle. But he was such a nice guy. No-one could quite understand it.
Avon
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Re: Now it reaches Eton

Post by Avon »

rockfreak wrote: Sat May 30, 2020 8:52 pm
rockfreak wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:24 pm Just to track back a bit regarding the debate about how we perceive people's characters, and with reference to the character witnesses for Karim. Back in Prep B in the 1950s you wouldn't have thought that our housemaster Gordon Pink was anything other than a caring guy. Even his slipperings were half-hearted. He could have his English class in fits of laughter. Elsewhere someone has mentioned the little rubber bone that he would throw at dunces in his class - all in good spirit.
He appeared to be caring and in many ways he was. When my parents came down to visit, my father (a cricket loving Yorkshireman), complimented him on how well mowed and rollered the Prep first team pitch was. "We have to," replied Pink, clearly worried about short pitched balls rearing up at the batsmen. My dad commented later how he didn't understand how such a well-qualified teacher (gown n' all) confined himself to teaching 9 to 12 year olds. Well done Dad. A touch of suspicious worldliness that seems to evade so many that go through the boarding school system.
As Evelyn Waugh once commented about his time at Lancing, some teachers liked little boys not at all and others too much. Unfortunately Pink had a habit of sliding his hand up small boys' shorts and sometimes more than that. It went on for ages until someone blew the whistle. But he was such a nice guy. No-one could quite understand it.
Thanks for reposting yourself some six weeks later. All the subtle nuance comes out this time round.
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