CHARNEY HALL Reminiscences 4
I have received some memories by Christopher Wilson (1959-63) and am pleased to post them below. He has very kindly provided school lists, school year photos and a memorable photo of the swimming pool under construction, all of which I have included in earlier posts.
My first memory is of my first night, in the small dormitory right at the top of Grove House, opposite Mr, Fawcett's bedroom, my bed being opposite the door, under the eaves, I suppose naturally being upset by being away from home, I was consoled by Messrs Eddlestone, Kilburn and Ward. In some ways, I am surprised, because throughout the 1950s my parents often used to visit the USA on business, and always went by sea, therefore 3 or 4 weeks away, and sent me off to Derbyshire to stay with my aunt and cousins, once incurring the wrath of my uncle for something or other, and he died in 1956, so I was young then, being born in October 1950.
The Scholarship boards in The Memorial Hall I remember, but have a vague recollection of boards also being for "Exhibitions", but unsure of the difference. I also clearly remember the framed print showing equivalent ranks of Army, Navy and Air Force officers, and have never seen another! In classroom 2(?) where we all used to mix, there was a painting with, I think, a fish lying on the floor in the foreground, and have often wondered what it was, or by whom it was painted. It was clearly a print of an Old Master.
"Fluff" Fairclough at one time tried to teach me the piano, and he used to accompany the hymns at morning prayers in The Memorial Hall, where we used to listen to the Hit Parade on Sunday evening. I did think, probably incorrectly, that Mr Fairclough played the organ in the Parish church. When we entered on a Sunday, I am sure he was always playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, a tune I always link with Charney, and the walk back up Charney Well Lane afterwards.
I used to enjoy the walks to the Hospice and the Beacon, but not so keen on the run back down on Sports Day. Whilst walking round the town I remember boys trying button "B" or was it "A" to see if anyone had left money in the phone box, as we weren't allowed cash. The walks along the prom. were also a good afternoon out.
In my time we had 5 sweets on a Wednesday and Saturday, and 2 (or 3) plus half a bar of Cadbury's Milk on a Sunday. I have never seen chewy pineapple chunks since then! Seem to remember excitement to see what we were getting.
Since sending you the School Lists, I have been wondering how I managed to obtain them in the first place, and how many are still in existence. They travelled to Australia with all our possessions, but not everything, both furniture and personal, returned, so a fortunate survivor.
When travelling to Leeds at the end of term, accompanied by a master, often Mr Fawcett, we few boys changed at Carnforth, where I always bought a packet of Spangles Acid Drops, and walked up the ramp which featured in Brief Encounter. I would have paid more attention if I had known that they would still be showing the film more than 70 years later!
Rollerskating in the gym I remember with fondness, but I could never get over the pommel horse, but did, I think, manage the box. Landing on the coconut matting didn't do my knees any good, better to land on your feet! I could climb the ropes, though, and remember writing my name at the top of the highest rope, in the corner where the box was kept.
I can imagine the 2 classrooms in the extension, with changing rooms below and I remember getting haircuts in the changing room, and the clank of leather-studded football boots going out and up the stairs to the sports fields. The lining-up for meals, all the pegs for gabardines and caps, and the washbasins just inside the courtyard door, all are still clear in my mind, and the school bell, kept in the corner between classes 1 and 2.
Also, as mentioned in your posts, all the past School photos, and the individual ones in the Dining Room, mine with a different leaving date, November instead of December, because of going to Australia, ready to start their school year, which begins late January, as opposed to our September start.
I, too, still have my "Complete Works of William Shakespeare", dated Autumn Term 1963, with Max Duncan's writing, which is still so familiar to me. Why it was called a Leaving Prize is still a mystery to me, but it is the only prize I ever received! It's a pity that my parents didn't keep my School Reports from Charney, on the 1 sheet of paper, because the only ones I have came from Rossall (none from Australia), and they are less than complimentary in most respects, so the Charney ones must have been better, unless I improved to a very low level! What, I often wonder, happened to all of those, and the cups. One of the cricket cups is in the Netherwood Hotel. I, too, remember the sideboard with jars of Virol, and Haliborange tablets in the corner of the dining hall, just inside the extension.
Having stirred my mind, I am sure that other memories will return, but overall I feel it was not an unhappy time. My second year in Australia was spent at Timbertop, an outpost of Geelong Grammar, and that was an enjoyable experience, out in the bush. Due to reunions I am in touch with many of that year. Rossall, on my return, was a dead loss, sadly. I was kept back a school year, started a term late, was a Yorkshireman in Lancashire, with the broadest Australian accent ever known to man, and totally fed-up with the whole thing. I couldn't wait to leave!
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