Plus ca change

Share your memories and stories from your days at school, and find out the truth behind the rumours....Remember the teachers and pupils, tell us who you remember and why...

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
sejintenej
Button Grecian
Posts: 4092
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:19 pm
Real Name: David Brown ColA '52-'61
Location: Essex

Plus ca change

Post by sejintenej »

My daughter has taken into "safe keeping" my various books about CH. I had the chance to read a chapter of one such book based on Flecker's memories (aka The Oil, headmaster before Seamen).

Apparently in the 1930's the Avenue was lined with elm trees but unfortunately they were all killed by Elm Disease and replaced by plane trees.

I had thought that (Dutch) Elm Disease was a new phenomenon in the late 20th Century - 1980's?


BTW - what happened to the Sequoias opposite Thornton in the big breeze in 1987? Did they survive

Thirdly, an appeal to bookworms. Does anyone have a copy of a book written by Faith Compton Mackenzie in which she refers to the Rev. Francis (Frank) Stone moving to Windsor Great Park (or Virginia Water Cottage)?
It is likely to be autobiographical - Frank was her cousin, chaplain to George VI.
What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That is pollution.
What happens if all of them drown? That is solution!!!
UserRemovedAccount
GE (Great Erasmus)
Posts: 194
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 12:17 pm

Post by UserRemovedAccount »

If you haven't already done so, if you look at the BLib catlaogue entry below, you should be able to find the title

http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/3U1KJAH7825RD4 ... evious.y=8
User avatar
Great Plum
Button Grecian
Posts: 5282
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 am
Real Name: Matt Holdsworth
Location: Reigate

Post by Great Plum »

The Sequoias down West Gun Copse and by the lake all survived the breeze of 1987.

However, one was hit by lightning and fell in about 1996...
Maine B - 1992-95 Maine A 1995-99
User avatar
Mrs C.
Button Grecian
Posts: 2300
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:22 pm
Real Name: Janet Chandler
Location: C.H.

Post by Mrs C. »

Great Plum wrote:The Sequoias down West Gun Copse and by the lake all survived the breeze of 1987.

However, one was hit by lightning and fell in about 1996...
And various boughs fall off regularly.

I believe the estate now has the condition of all trees in a data bank, - all trees have been tagged, and there has been an on-going programme of felling due to the age and health of the trees , and replanting.
The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.
User avatar
J.R.
Forum Moderator
Posts: 15835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 4:53 pm
Real Name: John Rutley
Location: Dorking, Surrey

Post by J.R. »

Mrs C. wrote:
Great Plum wrote:The Sequoias down West Gun Copse and by the lake all survived the breeze of 1987.

However, one was hit by lightning and fell in about 1996...
And various boughs fall off regularly.

I believe the estate now has the condition of all trees in a data bank, - all trees have been tagged, and there has been an on-going programme of felling due to the age and health of the trees , and replanting.
So the estates staff can LOG in quickly ?????
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
User avatar
Great Plum
Button Grecian
Posts: 5282
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 am
Real Name: Matt Holdsworth
Location: Reigate

Post by Great Plum »

So I hear - the Sequoias should be good for a few more years - I believe they are still technically immature!

The new Housey had an article on this...

Quite a lot of the trees round the mile have been rotting for years!
Maine B - 1992-95 Maine A 1995-99
User avatar
cj
Button Grecian
Posts: 1738
Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:35 pm
Real Name: Catherine Standing
Location: Devon

Post by cj »

Great Plum wrote:Quite a lot of the trees round the mile have been rotting for years!
Maybe it's a deliberate ploy by the school as a deterrent for those who flout rules. They could fall down on unsuspecting smokers! Ouch.
Catherine Standing (Cooper) Image
Canteen Cath 1.12 (1983-85) & Col A 20 (1985-90)

Any idiot can deal with a crisis. It takes a genius to cope with everyday life.
User avatar
Great Plum
Button Grecian
Posts: 5282
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 am
Real Name: Matt Holdsworth
Location: Reigate

Post by Great Plum »

cj wrote:
Great Plum wrote:Quite a lot of the trees round the mile have been rotting for years!
Maybe it's a deliberate ploy by the school as a deterrent for those who flout rules. They could fall down on unsuspecting smokers! Ouch.
Usually they just chop down their smoking bushes...
Maine B - 1992-95 Maine A 1995-99
User avatar
DavebytheSea
Forum Moderator
Posts: 2034
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:33 am
Real Name: David Eastburn
Location: Nr Falmouth, Cornwall

Post by DavebytheSea »

Great Plum wrote:Usually they just chop down their smoking bushes...
Golly! What would Moses have said?
David Eastburn (Prep B and Mid A 1947-55)
Cleopatra
2nd Former
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:50 pm

Post by Cleopatra »

Is 'the Chelsea' still operating as the unofficial smoking lounge?

It was feckin hilarious when I was there. They chopped it back to matchsticks, and everyone carried on congregating there anyway. In prep break there'd be 30 smokers trying to hide behind one spindly twig.

Gripper used to visit to talk to people about why they smoked. He'd only bust you if you ran away, otherwise he'd just chat. :)


Then there was 'the copse' down the other end, and 'the cut' further on. Ah, happy days. Now if only I could kick the stupid habit....
User avatar
Great Plum
Button Grecian
Posts: 5282
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:59 am
Real Name: Matt Holdsworth
Location: Reigate

Post by Great Plum »

Chelsea is now mostly a car park I'm afraid...

by the time of my Grecians most people were moving down to the 'Coves' which was down the bank of the sports centre...
Maine B - 1992-95 Maine A 1995-99
Reuben
3rd Former
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 2:29 pm
Real Name: Reuben Harris

Post by Reuben »

The Chelsea's a car park? Outrage!
Joni Mitchell wrote:Dont it always seem to go
You don't know what you got till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Barnes/Thornton 1982-1988
User avatar
cj
Button Grecian
Posts: 1738
Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:35 pm
Real Name: Catherine Standing
Location: Devon

Post by cj »

Reuben wrote:The Chelsea's a car park? Outrage!
Joni Mitchell wrote:Dont it always seem to go
You don't know what you got till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
:lol:
Catherine Standing (Cooper) Image
Canteen Cath 1.12 (1983-85) & Col A 20 (1985-90)

Any idiot can deal with a crisis. It takes a genius to cope with everyday life.
Post Reply