R Browne Gilbert’s / McGill’s 1929 – 1932
I was in Gilbert’s House from Autumn Term 1929 to Summer Term 1932. I had been a boarder at Smallwood Manor Prep School in rural Staffordshire for the previous four years and attained a certain amount of authority and responsibility as a Prefect there. The surrounding countryside was open, the food and accommodation at the school were good and comfortable, the introduction to new ideas and subjects in the school work was stimulating and there always seemed to be something interesting to do in the way of sporting or other activities in ones’ spare time. The Aldenham of those days was very different. Understandably as a New Boy one became a Nobody again. I don’t have a detailed memory of the curriculum but it must have been adequate as it gave me an excellent education for which I have always been grateful, but somehow it often felt less exhilarating than before – probably due to the large load of facts to be memorised and to my own teenage indolence.
For those who were not much good at ball games which I couldn’t play with my glasses on and couldn’t see without them, there was little of interest to do in leisure time. One could kick around a small red rubber ball in the Shed Football or go for a run. I enjoyed jogging at a time when it had not become a popular activity but the standard circuit ‘round the res’ was not very interesting except to the car enthusiast who appreciated the opportunity to do some car spotting on the by-pass. However, on one or two occasions I did the circuit twice in an afternoon just to fill in time.
The living conditions were Spartan. Cold water, cold dormitories, changing rooms and toilets, and often coldish food of which the quality was not too wonderful and quantity inadequate to satisfy our appetites without supplementation, which was by orders of extra butter and/or eggs for tea through the House or by Tuck brought in or sent in from outside – savoury or sweet spreads of various kinds for consumption at teatime, or cakes, biscuits, cereal, condensed milk, cocoa etc for consumption at ‘Brews’ in permitted time in the Junior Common Room.
‘Fagging’ during one’s first year was in practice but in Gilbert’s House it was in a fairly mild form only, reputedly because ‘Bertie’ had himself suffered cruelly as a New Boy in the Aldenham of a former era. Discipline was strict but not harsh and was generally accepted by us. Punishment was corporal generally – unpleasant, a good deterrent and to be avoided if possible, but much more acceptable than the unthinkable disgrace of expulsion for major crimes.
My first or second term I was one of the victims of a ‘Changing Room Strafe’ (corrupted by us to ‘Chagger Stragger’). During Prep the House Prefects inspected the changing rooms and after Prep and Prayers a list of offenders was read out, who had to report to the Senior Common Room where they received a beating from the Deputy Head of House, unfortunately a cricket batsman of repute. This was for trivial offences such as untidiness, missing gymshoe laces, unmarked clothing; clothing found on other pupils’ hooks etc. and was to our minds an abuse of legitimate corporal punishment. It never happened again to my recollection, and in fact I don’t recall anyone begin beaten by Prefects again, but I may be wrong about that. Perhaps the news reached higher authority from one of the 6 – 12 boys involved, or their parents, and the practice was officially stopped. Periodic inspections were still carried out but resulted only in warnings to put things right.
I don’t want to give the impression that I was miserable or even mildly unhappy during those three years, only that of my ongoing 80+ years of education they were, I think, the least exciting. Although obviously rewarding as they qualified me, by the skin of my teeth, for tertiary education in the career of my choice – Medicine – which I have never regretted. In retrospect, I regard the above ‘moans’ as educational experiences in themselves, as at that age it was easier to adapt to minor discomforts and deficiencies than at a later age when such things were again experienced. One learnt to be less fastidious about one’s food, more appreciative of the good things in life and more understanding of the conditions and needs of the less fortunate. Especially as one learnt at a later date that conditions were similar and sometimes in some ways worse in other Houses at Aldenham and in other Public Schools.
There are also pleasurable memories. The classroom ones are associated with times when a Master’s enthusiasm for his subject matter became infectious to the pupils. Several instances of this come to mind but the clearest in my memory is of my first Form Master (IIIa – Mr Rupert Clift) whose enthusiasm for and love of English language and literature sowed the seeds of an increasing interest in it myself. His elocution exercises – “ Round the rugged rocks”…. etc and “How now brown cow” were sometimes hilarious and his recitations of poetry (especially Walter de la Mare, I recall) and prose were enjoyable. As were also, out of school hours his occasional gramophone concert in the Library to introduce us to ‘good’ music on his ‘state of he art’ gramophone with an enormous fibre horn which was the equivalent of a Hi Fi at the time.
Fridays were enjoyed because of he OTC which despite the chores of blanco, brasso and boot polish provided a great deal of interest. I personally enjoyed the route marches with band though many others did not care for them. I recall at least one Church Parade when we marched to a local Church (without rifles, though I think there had been a small armed squad as a Guard of Honour) and this may have been on Armistice Day possibly. The OTC Camps at Tidworth were also extremely enjoyable. Other extra curricular school activities enjoyed included PT, which was disliked by many, and I was a proud member of he PT team, which traditionally won the inter-House competition on Visitation Day for Gilbert’s House for many years. I also enjoyed participating (unsuccessfully) in athletics and being a member of the Tug O’ War team and spectating at Football and Hockey matches. Cricket watching (now on TV, my favourite sport) was a dead loss, as I couldn’t see what was going on. Debates were also enjoyed in the evenings in the library and reading there was also appreciated. I don’t recall any facilities for hobbies or handicrafts though they may have existed. I remember a spell of ‘pick and shovel’ work under the supervision of ‘Fred’ (Mr English) was thoroughly enjoyed when the lower sports field was being levelled.
For a House Rec at the end of my first term the prep tables in the Junior Common Room were pushed together to make a stage and the Senior Common Room was used as a Dressing Rom for the performing boys with access through the inter leading door, the improvised sketches and individual performances were much enjoyed. School concerts and plays, visiting artists and lecturers also provided occasional entertainment.
The ‘Brews’ mentioned above with a fire and a good ‘fug’ in the Common Room were much looked forward to. The father of one of the boys, I think Robinson by name, was in the radio business and we had the luxury of the use of one of the first portable radios available. We listened to the dance bands of Jack Payne and Henry Hall on Saturday afternoons about 5.00pm (Brew time) I think. The father of another of my friends (Edmonson) was a lawyer but also a racing car driver and owned a Lagonda which had been one of the Lagonda team in the Double Twelve Race at Brooklands. As a great privilege a group of us were taken for a drive in this car and to our great excitement and delight we actually achieved a speed of 100mph on the
by-pass.
Memorable occasional school outings included visits to the Royal Tournament at Olympia, Hendon Air Show (a school outing or private, I’m not sure), the Times Office and printing works (most interesting) and a Tall Ship dock where I was able to satisfy my addiction to climbing by going aloft to the ‘crow’s nest’. I believe that we also went to a theatre – probably a performance of the Shakespeare set book but I cannot remember which one.
Cannabis was only vaguely known about as the stimulant of the Assassins in 12th Century Egypt and other ‘soft drugs’ were unknown. Hard drugs were for the denizens of Opium Dens, and other depraved types and a few famous exceptions like the fictitious Sherlock Holmes. Our forbidden substances were tobacco and alcohol. I only recall one boy who I believe was ‘hooked’ on cigarettes. I don’t think that any of us had really acquired a taste for either beer or cigarettes but most experimented as a form of bravado on relatively rare occasions and preferably well away from school (most often on outings). Most of us really preferred shandy, sweet cider or the favourite of Prince Charles at a later date, Cherry Brandy. I don’t remember anyone being caught or disciplined for these offences. Perhaps the ‘powers that were’ used their discretion and turned a blind eye to an occasionally discovered offender.