P.S. I don't think CH changed much right up 'til the very end ( 1985). I was amazed when I found that out....well you only have to read the posts of Jude or Vonny. Also I had the pleasure of meeting Rebecca Wharton (now married with two children ) Valerie's sister at an OGs do at Housey who was a change-over student at Hertford and Horsham.....and nothing much had changed. It's incredible how they kept the school going so out of kilter with the real world.
Also...Munch.....I had loads to read, somebody left a legacy to be used for new books for sixes library and we got a couple of box fulls.......
Housemistresses
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Alexandra Thrift
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oohhh posture badges. I had forgotten them. well, I never ever managed to get one which is a bit odd. Now people at work sometimes comment on how good my posture is. mind you, when you're 5ft 1, you tend not to slouch lest others think you've disappeared altogether.
Alex - I'll email you privately about Ann.
Su Bonfanti
Alex - I'll email you privately about Ann.
Su Bonfanti
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Angela Woodford
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Lots of bits
Posture Badges!
I am still cross I never had a Posture bBadge. I may have been an unfortunate shape, but I really, really tried to work on my Posture for that badge.... I had to work, too, having a gruesomely enormous bosom. (Several years later, as a student nurse, I begged the St George's plastic surgeon to reshape me. Hooray! the bliss of coming round in Recovery bruised as a Turner seascape, but a B-cup! I don't remember even a flicker of pain.) I wonder if it's too late now for a Posture Badge? Somewhere in a box of junk in a CH cupboard there may be a couple of badges never awarded? If anyone comes to my funeral, could you pin one on me before burial?
Kathleen Bell was the Kathleen in 1's. I can imagine her as a Classics student. Remember her interpretation of "Abou Ben Adam - May his tribe increase! - something something - deep dream of peace" for the Poetry Competition?
Su - I don't find it sad that we remember details from our schooldays. I find it really therapeutic. I've suffered from several bouts of depression in my life, and various therapists have tried to drag from me the reasons for my perpetual feelings of failure and underachievement. However, they absolutely could never understand the CH culture. Who could, having never been through it? I confess, however being unable to resist feeding them with little snippets of polished stones in a Midsummer circle... gravel-crunching... marching to lunch... 0720 prayers before Duty and Bluebell, and watching their eyes light up in that beadily caring way as they scribbled in my notes.
As I think the theme of this thread is "Housemistresses", I was remembering a conversation I had with my little, Evangelically Christian mother.
"You know, Mummy, 5's Housemistress, The Goat.."
My mother was horrified. "Never, never call somebody by an unkind nickname!" she said, aghast. "You are hurting the feelings of that poor woman. That name will stay in her mind for ever, etc, etc"
I stayed quiet. It was no good explaining.
Later in the year I pointed out Mrs Curtis to my mother. "See! There she is!"
My mother whipped out her lace trimmed hankie, and began to giggle helplessly into it's Yardley's Lavender-scented depths. Truth had won over Principle. I could barely distinguish the words. "She does look like a Goat!" my mother spluttered, hastily hiding self and hankie behind a School Hall coat rack.
I was horribly embarassed when she wrote to DR requesting that we be allowed to attend the Billy Graham Crusade. You can imagine the reply.
Margaret, the Latin I need those days is of the botanical variety. I believe the RHS do a course. Hmm, imagine the sensation of passing a Latin exam!!
Munch
I am still cross I never had a Posture bBadge. I may have been an unfortunate shape, but I really, really tried to work on my Posture for that badge.... I had to work, too, having a gruesomely enormous bosom. (Several years later, as a student nurse, I begged the St George's plastic surgeon to reshape me. Hooray! the bliss of coming round in Recovery bruised as a Turner seascape, but a B-cup! I don't remember even a flicker of pain.) I wonder if it's too late now for a Posture Badge? Somewhere in a box of junk in a CH cupboard there may be a couple of badges never awarded? If anyone comes to my funeral, could you pin one on me before burial?
Kathleen Bell was the Kathleen in 1's. I can imagine her as a Classics student. Remember her interpretation of "Abou Ben Adam - May his tribe increase! - something something - deep dream of peace" for the Poetry Competition?
Su - I don't find it sad that we remember details from our schooldays. I find it really therapeutic. I've suffered from several bouts of depression in my life, and various therapists have tried to drag from me the reasons for my perpetual feelings of failure and underachievement. However, they absolutely could never understand the CH culture. Who could, having never been through it? I confess, however being unable to resist feeding them with little snippets of polished stones in a Midsummer circle... gravel-crunching... marching to lunch... 0720 prayers before Duty and Bluebell, and watching their eyes light up in that beadily caring way as they scribbled in my notes.
As I think the theme of this thread is "Housemistresses", I was remembering a conversation I had with my little, Evangelically Christian mother.
"You know, Mummy, 5's Housemistress, The Goat.."
My mother was horrified. "Never, never call somebody by an unkind nickname!" she said, aghast. "You are hurting the feelings of that poor woman. That name will stay in her mind for ever, etc, etc"
I stayed quiet. It was no good explaining.
Later in the year I pointed out Mrs Curtis to my mother. "See! There she is!"
My mother whipped out her lace trimmed hankie, and began to giggle helplessly into it's Yardley's Lavender-scented depths. Truth had won over Principle. I could barely distinguish the words. "She does look like a Goat!" my mother spluttered, hastily hiding self and hankie behind a School Hall coat rack.
I was horribly embarassed when she wrote to DR requesting that we be allowed to attend the Billy Graham Crusade. You can imagine the reply.
Margaret, the Latin I need those days is of the botanical variety. I believe the RHS do a course. Hmm, imagine the sensation of passing a Latin exam!!
Munch
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Angela Woodford
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The Voice
Just remembered - anyone listen to The Archers? The actress who plays Sophie Barlow! Very very nearly the voice of Kathleen Bell.
Sorry. Will go away now.
Munch
Sorry. Will go away now.
Munch
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J.R.
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Re: The Voice
Hows Walter Gabriel these days ??Angela Woodford wrote:Just remembered - anyone listen to The Archers? The actress who plays Sophie Barlow! Very very nearly the voice of Kathleen Bell.
Sorry. Will go away now.
Munch
John Rutley. Prep B & Coleridge B. 1958-1963.
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kerrensimmonds
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Queenie Blench
Not only 'throw yourself out of the window' but 'I'm casting my pearls before piglets'. She was the Mistress of Sarcasm - but I don't think it was meant nastily. She was probably the most 'academic' member of staff at Hertford in my time and thus deserved respect. I recall one Latin unseen in the Lower or Upper Vth when an unlikely candidate put up her had to share her translation from some War or other. She started 'There were rabbits copulating at the bottom of my garden...'. This is not apocryphal - I met up with her last year for the first time in 40 years and she remembered doing it! Hysterically funny. I think Queenie took it on the chin.
P badge Yes, believe it or not I still have mine, but I stopped wearing it - let's see - about 40 years ago. In responding to my FD Speech in Perth two weeks ago, Joy Holmes recalled her first Maths lesson with the Third Form, and me sitting bolt upright with a big smile on my face. I remember the bolt upright. But smile on my face? For Maths..? Erm.. I don't THINK so!
Screw kick Yes, I never heard of that anywhere other than at CH but I guess most people have one. Whenever I go swimming I am not only conscious of mine but look out for other people's!
Not only 'throw yourself out of the window' but 'I'm casting my pearls before piglets'. She was the Mistress of Sarcasm - but I don't think it was meant nastily. She was probably the most 'academic' member of staff at Hertford in my time and thus deserved respect. I recall one Latin unseen in the Lower or Upper Vth when an unlikely candidate put up her had to share her translation from some War or other. She started 'There were rabbits copulating at the bottom of my garden...'. This is not apocryphal - I met up with her last year for the first time in 40 years and she remembered doing it! Hysterically funny. I think Queenie took it on the chin.
P badge Yes, believe it or not I still have mine, but I stopped wearing it - let's see - about 40 years ago. In responding to my FD Speech in Perth two weeks ago, Joy Holmes recalled her first Maths lesson with the Third Form, and me sitting bolt upright with a big smile on my face. I remember the bolt upright. But smile on my face? For Maths..? Erm.. I don't THINK so!
Screw kick Yes, I never heard of that anywhere other than at CH but I guess most people have one. Whenever I go swimming I am not only conscious of mine but look out for other people's!
Kerren Simmonds
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
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Euterpe13
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Kathleen Bell was the Kathleen in 1's. I can imagine her as a Classics student. Remember her interpretation of "Abou Ben Adam - May his tribe increase! - something something - deep dream of peace" for the Poetry Competition
was that the " Abou Ben Adam, may his twibe incwease.. " version ? If so, I do remember it, and can still " hear " it to this day !!
was that the " Abou Ben Adam, may his twibe incwease.. " version ? If so, I do remember it, and can still " hear " it to this day !!
Hertford - 5s/2s - 63-70
" I wish I were what I was when I wanted to be what I am now..."
" I wish I were what I was when I wanted to be what I am now..."
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Angela Woodford
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Exciting Poetry Competition Moment
Your memory is accurate, Barbara. That was the version!Euterpe13 wrote:was that the " Abou Ben Adam, may his twibe incwease.. " version ? If so, I do remember it, and can still " hear " it to this day !!
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englishangel
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Alexandra Thrift
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"was that the " Abou Ben Adam, may his twibe incwease.. " version"
Kathleen Bell....she was in my year but House One.
Hats off to her ! She put up with being teased over her non-pronunciation of "r"s with good grace and never obviously let it faze her. I remember her as being wonderfully eccentric .......and living in a parallel rather vague world,doing her own thing in a largely inoffensive way. None of this stopped her from ( to everyone's surprise except her own )gaining a place at ( I think ) Oxford Uni.
reading Classics. I seem to remember that she married a gentleman equally as eccentric and lived happily ever after. I hope that's true anyway!
re: Queenie quotes
" Alexaaandra, your hair looks just like a poodle's ! " She was funny and I liked her.
I also liked singing ( with gusto.....who?) "Ardet Roma,ardet Roma, vigiles O vigilante" in a round ( Rome's Burning ) with Miss Topliss. Red Roman stick men, and green (was it ?) Carthaginians in our artistic drawings of various battles. .....and what did the Romans do before they went to war....have lunch, wasn't it.....apparently it gave them the edge ?
Su :Re: "Half To Remember" by DR. I will phone Penny Manning ( whose Mum was awarded the MBE a couple of years ago....services to the Boy Scout Movement ), to whom I lent my copy.
Kathleen Bell....she was in my year but House One.
Hats off to her ! She put up with being teased over her non-pronunciation of "r"s with good grace and never obviously let it faze her. I remember her as being wonderfully eccentric .......and living in a parallel rather vague world,doing her own thing in a largely inoffensive way. None of this stopped her from ( to everyone's surprise except her own )gaining a place at ( I think ) Oxford Uni.
reading Classics. I seem to remember that she married a gentleman equally as eccentric and lived happily ever after. I hope that's true anyway!
re: Queenie quotes
" Alexaaandra, your hair looks just like a poodle's ! " She was funny and I liked her.
I also liked singing ( with gusto.....who?) "Ardet Roma,ardet Roma, vigiles O vigilante" in a round ( Rome's Burning ) with Miss Topliss. Red Roman stick men, and green (was it ?) Carthaginians in our artistic drawings of various battles. .....and what did the Romans do before they went to war....have lunch, wasn't it.....apparently it gave them the edge ?
Su :Re: "Half To Remember" by DR. I will phone Penny Manning ( whose Mum was awarded the MBE a couple of years ago....services to the Boy Scout Movement ), to whom I lent my copy.
Last edited by Alexandra Thrift on Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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kerrensimmonds
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Alex.. I too have a copy of 'Half to Remember' if anyone really wants to borrow it - and can guarantee to let me have it back the moment I might need it......(I know I am top of Miss West's Rector's 'list' for when it comes to a funeral or whatever....)
Another member of the Forum borrowed it last week and returned it within three days. I thought she must have ended up dazed to have read it so quickly - I describe it as the gin without the tonic. Very concentrated - both in content and in the way it has been printed.
Another member of the Forum borrowed it last week and returned it within three days. I thought she must have ended up dazed to have read it so quickly - I describe it as the gin without the tonic. Very concentrated - both in content and in the way it has been printed.
Kerren Simmonds
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
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Liz Jay
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thankyou to friend of alex
Hi Kerren
One of these days I would be fascinated to read "Half To Remember" as the quotes I have heard so far have just about made my hair stand on end. No wonder I needed all that therapy!!!
On a more cheerful subject, I've just been hopping through the threads trying to decide where is the most suitable place to post a big thankyou to Alex and Friend of Alex for my exciting new CD "Carols from Christ's Hospital". I have to say our discussions meander along very nicely with scant regard to the "official" themes, so here seems as good a place as anywhere to write a little note of appreciation! To my annoyance my CD player has picked this time to give up the ghost, so the carols will have to remain un-listened-to for a wee while longer, plus I'll be away for a few days anyway (going to Poland to the World Dog Show).
On my return, if the husband still hasn't fixed the darn thing it will be mended with a new one, as the saying goes, and then I will be in for a treat I'm sure!!!! Will keep you all posted.
Su B please remember me to your sister. She was such a poppet doing some of my needlework for me so beautifully, I owe her a huge debt of gratitude!
Love
One of these days I would be fascinated to read "Half To Remember" as the quotes I have heard so far have just about made my hair stand on end. No wonder I needed all that therapy!!!
On a more cheerful subject, I've just been hopping through the threads trying to decide where is the most suitable place to post a big thankyou to Alex and Friend of Alex for my exciting new CD "Carols from Christ's Hospital". I have to say our discussions meander along very nicely with scant regard to the "official" themes, so here seems as good a place as anywhere to write a little note of appreciation! To my annoyance my CD player has picked this time to give up the ghost, so the carols will have to remain un-listened-to for a wee while longer, plus I'll be away for a few days anyway (going to Poland to the World Dog Show).
On my return, if the husband still hasn't fixed the darn thing it will be mended with a new one, as the saying goes, and then I will be in for a treat I'm sure!!!! Will keep you all posted.
Su B please remember me to your sister. She was such a poppet doing some of my needlework for me so beautifully, I owe her a huge debt of gratitude!
Love
Liz (was Plummer now Jay)
Ex - Sixes ''66 - ''68
Ex - Sixes ''66 - ''68
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kerrensimmonds
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Hello Liz.. I have that CD, too (0ne of my eBay purchases!).
Good luck with getting your equipment repaired...or replaced.
And one of the tracks from the CD ('Eastern Monarchs, Sages Three.. ' by CS Lang)is by popular (Horsham Old Blue) request in the programme for the Carol Concert in London on 13 December. I guess York is a bit far away.. but I do encourage others nearer London to sign up for it. It looks as if it is going to be a total riot!
Wow!
Liz - if you want to borrow my copy of 'Half to Remember' send me a Private Message with your details and I will send it to you................as long as I can have it back if the need arises suddenly......
Best wishes
Good luck with getting your equipment repaired...or replaced.
And one of the tracks from the CD ('Eastern Monarchs, Sages Three.. ' by CS Lang)is by popular (Horsham Old Blue) request in the programme for the Carol Concert in London on 13 December. I guess York is a bit far away.. but I do encourage others nearer London to sign up for it. It looks as if it is going to be a total riot!
Wow!
Liz - if you want to borrow my copy of 'Half to Remember' send me a Private Message with your details and I will send it to you................as long as I can have it back if the need arises suddenly......
Best wishes
Kerren Simmonds
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
5's and 2's Hertford, 1957-1966
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icomefromalanddownunder
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kerrensimmonds wrote:Queenie Blench
Not only 'throw yourself out of the window' but 'I'm casting my pearls before piglets'. She was the Mistress of Sarcasm -!
I like to think so.
She once marked a piece of my work 'Delta minus: a great improvement'.
Surely she wasn't serious?
Caroline Payne (nee Barrett)
Hertford 6.20 1965-70
Adelaide, dear Adelaide; where the water is foul, but the wines more than make up for it.
Hertford 6.20 1965-70
Adelaide, dear Adelaide; where the water is foul, but the wines more than make up for it.
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icomefromalanddownunder
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Alexandra Thrift wrote:I also liked singing ( with gusto.....who?) "Ardet Roma,ardet Roma, vigiles O vigilante" in a round ( Rome's Burning ) with Miss Topliss. Red Roman stick men, and green (was it ?) Carthaginians in our artistic drawings of various battles. .....and what did the Romans do before they went to war....have lunch, wasn't it.....apparently it gave them the edge ?
Wasn't she great? No criticism of my lack of artistic ability, and an enthusiasm for teaching.
I think that the Carthaginians may have been purple. Actually, I may have one of my workbooks at home: will check tonight.
Love
Caroline
Caroline Payne (nee Barrett)
Hertford 6.20 1965-70
Adelaide, dear Adelaide; where the water is foul, but the wines more than make up for it.
Hertford 6.20 1965-70
Adelaide, dear Adelaide; where the water is foul, but the wines more than make up for it.