Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

DavidRawlins wrote:Ma Massen was married to Mr Massen who taught modern languages; he may have been head of the department. They had a son, in Col B I think.

That is all correct. Jack Massen (rumoured to have been a great athlete in his youth) was Head of Dept., and a very good German teacher, on a par with Arthur Rider for French.

They had a son at the school, before my time, and also a daughter, who was just a year or two older than me.

Ma Massen taught (fairly elementary) maths to lower sets of the first two or three years. She is alleged to have said to a boy once: Come and see me when you've nothing on, and I'll teach you how to multiply.

michael scuffil wrote:

DavidRawlins wrote:Ma Massen was married to Mr Massen who taught modern languages; he may have been head of the department. They had a son, in Col B I think.

That is all correct. Jack Massen (rumoured to have been a great athlete in his youth) was Head of Dept., and a very good German teacher, on a par with Arthur Rider for French.

They had a son at the school, before my time, and also a daughter, who was just a year or two older than me.

Ma Massen taught (fairly elementary) maths to lower sets of the first two or three years. She is alleged to have said to a boy once: Come and see me when you've nothing on, and I'll teach you how to multiply.

I also remember her taking detention - ONCE !

michael scuffil wrote: Ma Massen taught (fairly elementary) maths to lower sets of the first two or three years. She is alleged to have said to a boy once: Come and see me when you've nothing on, and I'll teach you how to multiply.

Sounds like the Barnes Matron, who once said in the dormitory, "If you don´t make that bed better, you and I will fall out!"

Would that Barnes Matron be Miss Watts ?

She once was confronted during "Clean Nails Inspection" before bed-time, by a junior with an unfortunate "Condition"

She remarked, calmly --- "Go away, and have other thoughts --- and then come back ! "


Poor little man --- She tactfully dealt with the matter .

A great Matron !

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Would that Barnes Matron be Miss Watts ? A great Matron !

Got it in one!!

Wasn't she famous for a whole series of remarks, such as "Watch the board while I run through it again"?

Roland

Dickie Massen was indeed in Col B, became a Modern Languages Grecian and was fast on his feet so a noted wing-three-quarter. Later taught history at Winchester. Pop Massen was head of ML and also ran the Air side of the Corps until Pongo Littlefield took it over. The Massens lived half way along the western half of the Avenue, on the south side.

postwarblue wrote:The Massens lived half way along the western half of the Avenue, on the south side.

Indeed. I was invited to Sunday breakfast there once. Massen was also a motoring enthusiast, and I think he ran the CH Automobile Club. As a result he was put i/c parking at the 1963 Festival.