Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Dear Sir

On the front page of the current issue of "Housey", which I have just received, is a picture of children apparently throwing snowballs in the Quadrangle.
My copy of the School Rules, Section G (Games), rule 10 (page 23), states:
"There may be no snowballing between the Back Road and the Quarter-mile, or on any public highway."
I trust these children have received a sound beating.

Disgusted of you know where

Further Disgust ----- Although they were standing in snow, --- UNDERNEATH the snow was the Quad Grass !!!
Things have changed -- the "Grass" used to be the perogative of School Monitors and Staff !
Woe betide any other scholar who so much as put a toe on it !

During the Anniversary Celebration with the visit of "King Edward Vii " Old Blues were marshalled on the Grass ---- and I felt quite uncomfortable !

Now may not be the time to use the words "school monitors and staff" - any comments, Mrs C?

Not even school monitors were allowed on the quad grass -- only on the lawns in front of houses.

Curiously, though, this rule was relaxed or simply ignored for Beating the Retreat, and of course the CCF General Inspection was also held on the quad lawns.

I see a return of the good old cane.

............ and about time too !

That's an axe, dear.

I have a feeling, given that BAV was a bit of a fire magnet those days, that the rules were slightly forgotten, as they are on:

- Snow days
- CCF
- Retreat
- House Singing Rehearsals after dark (for some bizarre reason)

Of course, that's around the afternoon. Before then, it's the garden quad (at break time) and the avenue (from 7.00 till there's no more snow) that are the death traps. So the safest way to breakfast isn't up the gun copse and along - my normal route - but along the QM and through the quad!

I am assuming that the "Garden Quad" is what used to be the "Science Quad " in front of the "New Science Block " ? ?
On Old Blues Day, will they please issue us with Maps -- or have signposts for we "Oldies " ?
Now let me see -- I think the Avenue (Unless it is re-named the A 1) runs from East to West and the Mile is now 2. something, or other Kilometres, Big Side is Grand Romance and Little Side (Which was under plough, in my day--- Wartime Darling -- dig for Victory -- you must have heard of it -- no ? -- ah well !) is now Northern Avenue.
Any further suggestions to lighten up my declining years ?

There was that splendid euphemisn, the "Bird Sanctuary". Had it been in China, doubtless it would have some name like "Forest of Miscellaneous Vice".

michael scuffil wrote:There was that splendid euphemisn, the "Bird Sanctuary". Had it been in China, doubtless it would have some name like "Forest of Miscellaneous Vice".

That brings back memories !

The name "Bird Sanctuary" rings a very, very distant bell. Can someone remind me where it was/is?

Between the Mile (or os it the 1.6 Kilometre?) and the railway line, to the south of what was then the Colts' pitch.

c. 0.8 miles, I believe - plus the QM which is another .22, makes a mile!

Since I no longer have to do "Miles" or "Loops" as a punishment --- or for that matter, impose them, I care little about them these days. However, was the "Loop" only a punishment for Houses in the Eastern Avenue ?
I assume something similar must have applied to Peele, for instance --- otherwise it would have been twice the punishment !

To make sure I don't get either from the Dreaded Moderators ! -----
I remember running both of the in the SNOW !

'Miles' and 'Quarters' were certainly handed out as punishments in Coleridge B.

J.R. wrote:'Miles' and 'Quarters' were certainly handed out as punishments in Coleridge B.

Not sure what a quarter was - in Col A we had P O Paths which was from the house to the gate before the Swimming Pool and back plus a change. ISTR it had to take a bit under 5 minutes. No way was that a quarter mile - more like half a mile.