I was in School House, Odds and the Housemaster was Mr Webber. He also taught Maths. In this last respect he had the horrible habit of walking round the class room flicking pupils ears. In my opinion not a good teacher. I cannot really say that I was endeared to him as a Housemaster.
School House – a memory of morning baths in cold water and only able to avoid it by a doctors chit. B. Awful.
Teachers – Fred English who taught French (badly) and had the habit of saying “My God boy if you don’t learn this I will kick you down the stairs”.
Mr Roach who taught German. Marvellous man who made the subject very interesting. I well remember us all trying to sing “Heiden Röslein, Röslein Rot”, also “Nach Frankreich gingen zwei Grenadieren”. I did not speak any German from 1938 to 1980 and could then make myself understood. Thanks Mr Roach.
Mr Evans – Geography – A great teacher.
Mr Riding – Headmaster – Highly respected.
History lesson but I cannot remember the master who was a bore, who badly wanted to or could remember the dates of births and deaths of all the Kings and Queens.
No lessons in European History
Well remember the hard work we had in re-laying the soccer fields. Taking earth from the top to bottom on a railway! But good fun
Games played – all games but never really made the 1st XI only the second.
Soccer – Remember our hero was called Baker.
Arthur Dunn Cup – remember the name Shearer.
OTC - Playing the bugle in the band and rarely succeeding in getting the top note. Tune was “ Marching through Georgia”.
OTC Camp at Strensall - Field days against other schools. Firing blank cartridges with an occasional stick pushed down the barrel. Very naughty.
No recollection of Hitler Youth coming to Aldenham, I was involved with some on an exchange basis but that was not organised by the School.
I suppose the war came at a time when I really lost touch with OA’s. I would indeed love to know what happened to Redfearn and McGath, also Brian Zwirk and John Nixon. In keep in touch with John Perkins.
I enjoyed my life at Aldenham but I think I did not get as much out of it as I should. My fault. It did, and I suppose it was because of the OTC help me early in the war when I joined the Navy. I got a commission in 1940 and moved on to be CO and then Senior Officer of a MTB Flotilla . So maybe the Corps training helped.
Finally I must have liked Aldenham because I sent my older son Paul there.