A beautifully written account Gus. So many memories came flooding back.
I joined Deanery in '73 as a third former after missing a boarding place at Abingdon School when my Dad was posted to Hereford.
Army vs RAF but the same issues with education. HCS was however, my 9th school !
I remember some of names in your missive but can't place their faces. I can remember Johnny Thwaites as a nice guy, even though you and he were a year ahead of me.
I have absolutely no recollection of you being disliked because of your esteemed positions held, quite the opposite in fact! That may be because you were a year older and therefore, to us juniors, you had an almost God-like aura.
You and I both, will remember those that were 'nice' and those that weren't. I fell into the middle. An annoying child living in mediocrity, searching for my own entertainment outside school and outside hours. Both of which lost me favour with Jimmy, Dicky and finally my peers.
Failure to curb my excursions through gating, then gating with hourly reporting, then loss of exeat meant that my control was passed over from house- masters to the 'heavies' in my year. I had a small posse awaiting my return over the back wall one night. A minor beating achieved nothing. I was appointed Top dorm monitor which gave me free access to my bed at any time of night. Over the wall, through the door into the garden and up the fire escape.
Apologies to those unfortunate juniors who had to endure me clambering through the window long after they were asleep.
Thanks for that. I'm in using the substack as a means of getting into the swing of writing again. Once a week..... One question did you read the longer piece away from the post itself. Just interesting to get feedback on whether that works or not.
Glad you liked it, I still feel the legacy of that time on an almost daily basis!
A beautifully written account Gus. So many memories came flooding back.
I joined Deanery in '73 as a third former after missing a boarding place at Abingdon School when my Dad was posted to Hereford.
Army vs RAF but the same issues with education. HCS was however, my 9th school !
I remember some of names in your missive but can't place their faces. I can remember Johnny Thwaites as a nice guy, even though you and he were a year ahead of me.
I have absolutely no recollection of you being disliked because of your esteemed positions held, quite the opposite in fact! That may be because you were a year older and therefore, to us juniors, you had an almost God-like aura.
You and I both, will remember those that were 'nice' and those that weren't. I fell into the middle. An annoying child living in mediocrity, searching for my own entertainment outside school and outside hours. Both of which lost me favour with Jimmy, Dicky and finally my peers.
Failure to curb my excursions through gating, then gating with hourly reporting, then loss of exeat meant that my control was passed over from house- masters to the 'heavies' in my year. I had a small posse awaiting my return over the back wall one night. A minor beating achieved nothing. I was appointed Top dorm monitor which gave me free access to my bed at any time of night. Over the wall, through the door into the garden and up the fire escape.
Apologies to those unfortunate juniors who had to endure me clambering through the window long after they were asleep.
Thanks for that. I'm in using the substack as a means of getting into the swing of writing again. Once a week..... One question did you read the longer piece away from the post itself. Just interesting to get feedback on whether that works or not.
Glad you liked it, I still feel the legacy of that time on an almost daily basis!
Sorry scrub my question just reread your note and realised you must have of you saw the names....👍
Thanks for that. I enjoy the writing exercise. Not sure I have the discipline like you to write anything extended though!