My first term was of course George Riding’s first as Headmaster – I gathered that the Governors’ intention was that he would tighten the discipline which had grown somewhat relaxed towards the end of his predecessor ‘s headship.
It was in what is now known as Paull’s House, the Housemaster being
G C F Mead, who had succeeded J R Paul and had himself been at Aldenham as a boy from 1905 – 1910. Mead was a bachelor, his sister Bea being his housekeeper. Godfrey Mead was in my time always known as Tibby – there had apparently been a phase when boys reversed words so that Godfrey who was not particularly tall and had been known as “Bit” became thereafter always known as ”Tibby”.
Although he never taught me as he taught Classics, I got to know him well and when I was coming up to leaving and intended to become a solicitor he arranged for me to be seen by his brother in law, Frank Pitt-Lewis, a senior partner of an old established and leading firm of Coward, Chance, as a result of which I spent all my working life with that firm as an Articled clerk, Assistant Solicitor and Partner and ultimately executor of Frank and also Godfrey Mead and Bea.
You may care to refer to the Aldenhamian of December 1937 of which I was editor as it gives quite a lot of the background at that time, in particular the building of the new School Chapel (including a letter from George Riding) and the origin of the School song.
After the Second World War I became involved as Chairman of the School War Memorial Fund formed to assist sons of OA’s principally by grants towards school fees for their sons (no girls at that time!) Jack Waddell was involved on the School side in presenting applications to the Trustees for assistance.
I left Aldenham before any visit by Hitler Youth so cannot speak of this. I do however remember that a party of boys from the Aldenham Boys Club from Kentish Town visited the School for some days towards the end of my time, one of whom asked me “How long are you in for?”
It may not be generally known that George Riding’s birthday was on 1 April and since he shared this with my younger brother K H Snaith (Paull’s – September 1936 – 1940) as a result of which by brother used to receive a telegram from George on that date. I remember one was “from one fool to another” to which our reply was “greetings foolishly returned”!
Details of my brother’s career appear in the Eleventh Edition of the Register. He died on 23 April 1989.