I forgot all about this group. Oops, put it down to old age. It has been interesting reading the posts since my last one. I left the CS in March 1963 after serving almost my full three years. I would have gone a few weeks earlier but we were snowed in and couln't safely travel out.
RetiredOldie, you must have been working when I was there. When not in the block I was in St David's house. I split my time between the dairy with Boot Borlace (a gentleman) and the kitchens working under the chef, who taught me a lot. I think when you spoke about boys helping with gardening I think you were referring to "voluntary work" that boys could do for staff. It wasn't always gardening, it could be any odd jobs the staff member wanted doing, and as you say, tea and cakes were the order of the day, as was a shilling or so. I had the best job, I used to polish the headmaster's silver cutlery in his kitchen. Mrs. Kelly used to give me 1/6p then I would go over to the office and Mr Kelly would also pay me. I kept this going for a while but when they realised he just laughed, clipped me round the ear and said don't try it again. Despite serious problems I had there most of the staff were good decent people, a pity the whole place was spoiled by just a couple of members of staff.