Search found 1605 matches

by michael scuffil
Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:40 am
Forum: General Chat - Non CH
Topic: looking for an ancient radio programme
Replies: 6
Views: 4107

Re: looking for an ancient radio programme

Thanks Katharine for that link. It will provide me with all the information I need, though as the slot between the news and Gardeners' Question Time was not occupied by the same programme every week I shall have to apply my forensic skills to working out which one it was. But my forensic skills are ...
by michael scuffil
Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:19 am
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster
Replies: 142
Views: 89249

Re: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster

Kirby was a hater of fancy words and certainly would never have said 'heuristic' or allowed us to say it. When someone asked 'Is that a scalpel' he replied 'Yes, spelt K-N-I-F-E', and 'femur' for 'thigh bone' was quite taboo. I think though he was probably more 'heuristic' in his approach than those...
by michael scuffil
Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:16 pm
Forum: General Chat - Non CH
Topic: looking for an ancient radio programme
Replies: 6
Views: 4107

looking for an ancient radio programme

In the mid-to-late 1970s, BBC Radio 4 put out a sort of quirky magazine programme after the midday news on Sundays. It was a potpourri of all sorts of stuff, and attracted some critical approbation. I was a keen listener, but cannot for the life of me remember what it was called. Can anyone help?
by michael scuffil
Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:22 am
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Favourite teacher
Replies: 240
Views: 116689

Re: Favourite teacher

If I didn't post here years ago I have to mention: Mr Crosland who many others have praised and who taught A level physics in a manner very different to other teachers but was highly effective; one looked forward to his lessons. Mr Kirby; what has not been said about him? Very different though I do...
by michael scuffil
Thu Apr 04, 2019 12:43 pm
Forum: General Chat - Non CH
Topic: Historic methods of punishment
Replies: 15
Views: 5808

Re: Roger Martin - trial

The 'quartered' bit was definitely posthumous: the body was quartered and the quarters stuck up in various public places. I believe the genitalia were cut off first, before the disembowelling. (Women, incidentally, were never hanged, drawn and quartered. Their modesty was respected.) As for the last...
by michael scuffil
Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:57 am
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: Freemasons and questions to answer
Replies: 81
Views: 30583

Re: Freemasons and questions to answer

There are numerous anecdotes about Johnny and I'd imagined they'd all been told on this forum by now, but this is a new one. Johnny clearly got lumbered with some unpopular jobs. He was master i/c chair-shifting (!) and master i/c welcoming new boys and their parents. I was for a time his grecian si...
by michael scuffil
Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:36 am
Forum: General Chat - Non CH
Topic: Squeaker John Bercow
Replies: 5
Views: 2614

Re: Squeaker John Bercow

Probably the best Speaker in our lifetime* (even better than Betty Boothroyd). Someone has to enforce the constitution, and clearly the PM doesn't seem minded to. It is of course open to parliament to change a 400-year-old rule (which everyone agrees is there for a good reason), but the Rule of Law ...
by michael scuffil
Wed Mar 20, 2019 11:43 am
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: Freemasons and questions to answer
Replies: 81
Views: 30583

Re: Freemasons and questions to answer

I didn't know that Johnny was a Mason. The only staff member who I knew for certain was one was Dr Scott, because his son (who was in ThB) used to regale us with tales of the various altars he would set up. Was Rae a Mason? I ask because he, like Johnny, was one of those who carried Mrs Scott's coff...
by michael scuffil
Wed Mar 20, 2019 9:40 am
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Cricket coach ?
Replies: 8
Views: 2442

Re: Cricket coach ?

I remember my father once instructing me that all Clark(e)s were 'Nobby' just as all Wilsons were 'Tug' (and, for more obvious reasons, all Whites were 'Chalky' and all Millers were 'Dusty'). My contact with serious cricket at the Redcoats school was nil, though for some reason I do remember Len Bat...
by michael scuffil
Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:07 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster
Replies: 142
Views: 89249

Re: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster

I can vouch for the fact that Doc M did in fact say this (and although I only heard him say it once, obviously, I gather it was one of his standard lines.)
by michael scuffil
Sun Mar 17, 2019 3:59 pm
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: Roger Martin - trial
Replies: 320
Views: 219961

Re: Roger Martin - trial

Samuel Pepys witnessed the execution of Major-General Harrison: 'I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.' Harrison made a speech saying he would soon be sitting on the rig...
by michael scuffil
Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:56 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Master's Wives....
Replies: 43
Views: 20579

Re: Master's Wives....

Mention has been made of Reggie Dean and how he rarely attended Common Room functions. I know that his first wife died in 1941 They had several children of whom Christopher Dean (MA 41-51) was I believe their eldest. I know that he married again and had at least one further child. He was I remember...
by michael scuffil
Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:45 pm
Forum: General Chat - CH Stuff
Topic: Gaia Week at Christ's Hospital
Replies: 25
Views: 8036

Re: Gaia Week at Christ's Hospital

What is primitive about animism? It was believed in by the Romans whose culture we were taught to respect, and in the form of Shinto, by most Japanese, whose civilization seems quite advanced. Incidentally I have no objection to Sheldrake's views whatever. My problem all along is that the ones he is...
by michael scuffil
Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:36 pm
Forum: Abuse cases and related discussions
Topic: Roger Martin - trial
Replies: 320
Views: 219961

Re: Roger Martin - trial

If health be the problem methinks our ancestors had the right idea. As was normal it was Oliver Cromwell's corpse which was unearthed and placed in the dock for his trial. Not too sure how they would hve carried out the second part of hung, drawn and quartered. Methinks sejintenej errs in this matt...
by michael scuffil
Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:53 pm
Forum: Stories, Reminiscing & Teacher/Pupil Memories
Topic: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster
Replies: 142
Views: 89249

Re: Strange old man dressed in WW1 army gear / dog named lobster

all a bit embarrassing but after all we swam and had swimming lessons naked so why not? To quote and misquote Ecclesiastes: To every thing there is a season. A time to be naked and a time to be clothed. I frequent a nude beach (in summer). I live in Germany so this is not particularly eccentric. Bu...