Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Brian Walling objected to "inconsequential chit chat" about the origins of the first world war by a group of celebrities. As far as I remember they were actually rather well informed about the war. One or more, if I remember, were historians. I thought they were rather informative; they c...

I too saw the brief appearance of the CH Band at the Cenotaph on BBC1 via the internet here (on satellite we get only BBC World Service TV, which carried just the main part of the Cenotaph service, so I had to find UK BBC1 on the internet to watch the CH Band). The Band looked impressive (for the fe...

Does anyone at CH Horsham in the 1950s remember singing (or hearing sung) a musical setting of William Dunbar's (1465-1520) poem, In Honour of the City? The opening words are, "London, thou art of townes a per se." I ask this because I've just had one of those marvellous 60 year leaps back...

I should have added to my earlier post that JHE has, in a small way, remained an inspiration to me through my life to do daily exercise. I still do a daily 1km swim before breakfast followed by some of his stretching exercises. By the way, does the School still have the daily (weekdays) 10 minute gy...

Yes, I remember JH Edwards as a master well. He had many roles and oversaw swimming and gym activities, including coaching house monitors on how to conduct the houses' daily outdoor gym sessions (all of which I remember very clearly). He was a good gym instructor and like to explain that he had done...

Re Gordon Van Praagh .The original poster's April 2017 notes told us: Gordon van Praagh, played double bass in school orchestra, keen Gilbert & Sullivan performer/director. Head of Chemistry & Science at CH. Text book author. Left CH for distinguished career in science education (theory and ...

Dear David One interesting and unique North American OB who could perhaps be considered for mention in the book is James H Bell, Maine A 1957-58 (born 1939, died 2011). He was American, from New Jersey, and came to CH on a special one year English Speaking Union exchange deal. He came straight to CH...

Purel by chance, I recently came across a Youtube recording (with good video) of an organ concert that includes one of Corks's favourite organ voluntaries: the impressive last movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony (transcribed for organ). As I recall, he typically played this once a term after eve...

Brian, Can't help you find Martin Barker today, but the name rings a distant bell. Would he have been a junior housemaster in Lamb B in the early 50s, when I was there? A young, very pleasant, quietly-spoken man as I recall. I see that you live in Penang, which must be one of the roughest, toughest...

You could try the CH Office direct to see if they have any information. Thanks. I have now contacted the CH Office but will not receive a reply until they resume after the Christmas/New Year break. Meanwhile, however, the OB desk (Gina Skillings), who looked into another OB for me, has told me that...

I hadn't seen this newsreel clip before, but very glad to see it now! I remember well in 1955 watching the film itself at CH in Big School -- I think before it went on general release, thanks to arrangements kindly made by Barnes Wallis. This was in summer, when we usually didn't have school films d...

Martin W Barker, a classics teacher, was my senior housemaster in Maine A from 1956 (when he replaced Colin Tod) until I left in Dec 1960. He joined CH, I believe, in 1954 or 1955 and presumably started then as a junior housemaster in another house. Does anybody have any recent news or information o...

What has happened to the various old "scholarships" that existed as means of entry to CH in my time (1950s)? Maybe somebody who visits this forum has an understanding of how these old arrangements have evolved. I got to CH in 1953 at age 11 because I won one of the two places offered that ...

I was at CH 1953-60 and (like David, last post but one) I have absolutely no memory of anything such as divided chapel. This may have been an experiment up to 1952 only. If indeed it continued thereafter, it doesn't seem to have had great impact.

It occurs to me that it might be easier for readers if I posted a copy of the photo in question from the Financial Times. Here it is. (It is copyrighted to Harry Mitchell.)