Blue Skirts into Blue Stockings

[Angela Woodford]

Mary, the book has arrived safely! I'll give you £1.00 for the postage when I see you, if that's all right.

My very first question that I ever asked the Forum Hertford Girls was "What did we call the loos outside the cloakroom?" I open BSIBS and here is the answer from way back in 1916. The Ah-Lahs!

When I moved from 1's into 6's, I received a sort of "house list" from my new schoolma, Mary Verge. This consisted of the names of everyone in the House, 1-37, with a pithy little analysis of their personality. (You could also find this sort of list in the backs of many a book in the Infirmary.) The house list also icluded useful House slang and I remember now that Mary spelt this term for those chilly loos "ala's".

Katharine, you are right, the illustrations are enchanting.

I shall love the book. Thanks again Mary!

Love from Munch

[Katharine]

Following discussions on here, I am just re-reading this book. I have only just started, and have been surprised by a couple of things.

She says that they called the BAs, Black Apes, I don't remember this - did it live on in 3s? Incidentally, was the BA the only part of the uniform to last from Miss Robertson until the merger?

The lovely picture opposite the Introduction shows girls playing croquet on the field, shows all four houses with fire escape stairs. In my time it was just 1s & 5s that had the stairs, the senior houses had ladders. Were fire escapes removed or was it artistic licence? (Later Edit - on reading further she does describe ladders - relooking at the picture I think the ladders are coloured too heavily!)

My very first question that I ever asked the Forum Hertford Girls was "What did we call the loos outside the cloakroom?" I open BSIBS and here is the answer from way back in 1916. The Ah-Lahs!

When I moved from 1's into 6's, I received a sort of "house list" from my new schoolma, Mary Verge. This consisted of the names of everyone in the House, 1-37, with a pithy little analysis of their personality. (You could also find this sort of list in the backs of many a book in the Infirmary.) The house list also icluded useful House slang and I remember now that Mary spelt this term for those chilly loos "ala's".

How useful that list must have been, Munch. I was the Hag's first new girl and she had decreed that 6s didn't need schoolmas. Cecelia who had the bed next to me (Lower Dorm, 7s side she next to the field me next then an UV big girl! - the things one can remember!!) took it on herself to teach me the Carmen but otherwise it was sink or swim. I wonder what Mary had written for 14? (or indeed any of my year). I think Mary was our first Number 37 - we had great debates in the house as to where to put her peg in the Cloakroom. One idea was she should move it every year by taking one of the Study pegs but I think we decided against that.

[midget]

I don't remember calling anyone a Black Ape! I must say i enjoyed the book, and to think that Miss Bruce only retired a year before I left, and Mr Comely the year before that.

[Mid A 15]

I was the Hag's first new girl

I'm sure it's elsewhere on the forum but who was the Hag? Is it the nasty "Milly" Munch refers to?

Confused formerly of Horsham

[Katharine]

I was the Hag's first new girl

I'm sure it's elsewhere on the forum but who was the Hag? Is it the nasty "Milly" Munch refers to?

Confused formerly of Horsham

Sorry but we are also confused by some of your staff nicknames! The Hag was Miss Jenkins who was Housemistress of 6s for almost all my time at the school. Munch experienced her 'loving' care for a short time. Milly was the Housemistress of 1s, a Junior House almost all the time I was there, and thus the first Housemistress for almost half of all new entrants.

[gma]

Was heavily traumatised by the House Mistress in 1's during my time - she had a speech impediment and used to say 'ssshhh' instead of 'ess-ing' - can't even remember her name but when we all used to sit with our backs to the table before meals I faced a girl called Sally Ripley who used to 'knit snot' with the most sublime expression on her face and reduce everyone in line of sight to stitches - her other mealtime party game was to stand up when everyone else sat down and her Housemistress used to do her very best to call out down the table "Sit down, Sally, sit down!" Strange how s**t is such a funny word when you're 10!!

[MKM]

There is a copy of this book on ebay, under the title "Recollections of Christ's Hospital". Priced at £24 or you can make an offer.

[Fjgrogan]

My copy of this book appears to have 'gone walkabout'. Does any kind person have a copy that I might borrow; I promise to take good care of it. £24 on e-bay is far too steep for me - half my week's pension in fact!

[chaosriddenyears]

Was heavily traumatised by the House Mistress in 1's during my time - she had a speech impediment and used to say 'ssshhh' instead of 'ess-ing' - can't even remember her name but when we all used to sit with our backs to the table before meals I faced a girl called Sally Ripley who used to 'knit snot' with the most sublime expression on her face and reduce everyone in line of sight to stitches - her other mealtime party game was to stand up when everyone else sat down and her Housemistress used to do her very best to call out down the table "Sit down, Sally, sit down!" Strange how s**t is such a funny word when you're 10!!

This was Mrs.Bond - she had big goggly eyes and two dresses, one green, one red, both with a shiny belt.