I am in my mid 60’s & I was there for 6 years & it was very spartan. I also had 2 siblings there named minor & tertius.
I remember Parsons, who was nicknamed Lampy, Barney & finally Pasco in my time & he had 2 scabby dogs that absolutely stank called Spot & Jet. Pasco was as blind as a bat & during Latin used to fall asleep with his feet up on the desk. His mouth was open so wide that his top dentures used to drop on to his lower set waking him up with a start. His favourite saying was “Read the next sagger in a loud clear wagger” He had a sister called Babs who was equally as blind. The maths teacher was Jags & Miss Blenkinsop, nicknamed Blobese had a classroom off the quad above the library.
I remember the rookery where we were allowed to play on Saturdays & Wednesday afternoons, the tuck shop in which we were allowed to spend up to 1 & a penny & I remember the Tuesday afternoon trips to Broad Camden, laughingly called a treat, to the freezing swimming pool fed from springs in the surrounding hills.
I remember the school bully Baines & his henchmen, who initiated me into Bay dorm on my first night by “showing me the goldfish” & stuffing me upside down in to the loo. They probably ended up on the Tory front bench!
I remember teachers Des Lloyd, Macdonald & one other whose name escapes me who taught French & kindly taught me how to fly fish.
I remember Mrs Jefferson, the matron who was very kind
I remember crying with pain on the rugger pitch as the cold was so unbearable & cross country runs to Idlicote ford & back.
I remember the disappointment when my father told me I was going to be a daybug rather than board as there had been rumours about staff conduct at school.
I remember being caned on numerous occasions with a large hairbrush, for what I have no idea, & fagging was still a practice.
I remember writing obligatory letters home on Sunday mornings which always ended with Please send more tuck.
I remember compulsory listening to Churchill’s speeches on an old gramophone, watching his funeral on television & being allowed to see Doctor Who on Saturday evenings.
I remember the maids, who were all mentally deranged, frequently fighting amongst themselves in the staff room screaming like banshees & frightening the life out of us.