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Re:

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 4:06 pm
by consi
Now, I know this is a long time after the original post(!) but in case you were interested, I remember talking to one of the Chemistry teachers at Old Blues Day a long time back about the 'bomb'. It was actually a bottle of Picric Acid (TNP) - Wikipedia's got some useful info about it. It was used for fixing chemicals and apparently also has uses in the field of forensics. I did enjoy Chemistry at CH - A Level with Doc James, who was a lovely man. Didn't do myself proud in the exams, but still enjoyed learning from him :-)
Andy Friend wrote:I remember the "bomb" well. It happened on my second form and provided us with much amusement. You are quite right; the bang was dissapointing but the arrival of the bomb squad was quite entertaining!
jtaylor wrote:Anthony Moss was indeed a very bright guy, and do recall he was quiet and unassuming, but people did wonder what he was capable of, and what he was up to!

I was in the choir, but don't remember that incident - maybe a rehearsal I didn't make it to (and there were quite a few!) I don't remember hearing about it though.

On the subject of chemicals, anyone else remember when we had the bomb disposal guys turn up, to remove a bottle of TNT from the chemistry labs?? Builders were moving a cupboard, and found a bottle behind it. On inspection it was clearly something which would have turned into TNT (sure a chemist will tell me what this might have been?)
Bomb squad turned up, army-man-in-jumper walks into the lab, picks up the bottle, puts it in a padded box.
Taken out to big-side and blown up - quite a bit of entertainment!

J

Re: So, the underground tunnels...

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:15 am
by ColeridgeA40
John Wexler
I'm still looking for that photo referred to - but I have seen yours and they are v.good indeed, especially Kirby's lab, though couldn't spot any of his famous short wave radios. MY brother, also in Col A kept his hampster in Kirbys Lab

the author you introduced to us was Gerald Kersh

Re: So, the underground tunnels...

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:56 am
by postwarblue
I managed to get through CH without even knowing there was a coal-hole in the Tube. Nor do I recollect, as Col B Trades Mon 1953-4, there being a coal heaving Trade. There were certainly study fires, one second mon (a Maths Grecian who should have known better as he would have been taking a Physics A level) put a can of baked beans on his fire to warm up. The explosion and its results were spectacular.