Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

I had a meeting today at 0930 that went on a bit longer than expected and in the end included lunch - very nice - but as I was scheduling the next one, I realised the date...

I started CH 30 years ago today.....

18-8-81 It was an easy date to remember!

mvgrogan wrote: 18-8-81 It was an easy date to remember!

Agreed, exactly 8 years after we got married.
And I remembered!!!

Congratulations! on your Anniversary and remembering...

mvgrogan wrote:

I started CH 30 years ago today.....

18-8-81 It was an easy date to remember!

I'm intrigued; why did the CH term begin mid-August, during what is traditionally the long summer vacation?

ailurophile wrote:I'm intrigued; why did the CH term begin mid-August, during what is traditionally the long summer vacation?

It was the girls' school only in Hertford. It started in 1964, so I experienced the start of it. We then had a four term year, with two terms of 8 weeks and two of 10, I think. We had a two week break in October. The powers that be had decided that terms longer than 10 weeks were too tiring for everyone.

One immediate result, whether it continued I don't know, was that the number getting into Oxbridge by taking entrance exams after A levels went up. We actually had a full term's preparation after A levels were over. I was in that second cohort getting in to Oxbridge.

19 August 1964!

Forty seven years tomorrow!

I was so excited - so full of hope -

Agree with Katharine re. the introduction of the four term year. We had fulfilling and interesting visits to France in the October of the first two years of the four term years, and it was strange being home earlier than most in July and then back to school in August (must have been a nightmare for parents with children both at Hertford and in the state system).
And I left Hertford on 4 July 1966. What date! American Day of Independence!

mvgrogan wrote:


18-8-81 It was an easy date to remember!

But I forgot!

I can barely believe it was 30 years ago

Vonny.. for me it is 45 years...................and one month and a bit. ..AARRGGHH! Old, or whar?!

kerrensimmonds wrote:Vonny.. for me it is 45 years...................and one month and a bit. ..AARRGGHH! Old, or whar?!

That makes me feel slightly better!

Vonny wrote:

kerrensimmonds wrote:Vonny.. for me it is 45 years...................and one month and a bit. ..AARRGGHH! Old, or whar?!

That makes me feel slightly better!

I can't say it makes me feel "Better" --------

December 1940---- !!! coming up 71 years why December ? I have explained elsewhere, that I slid into CH under the door, due to casualty in the Blitz.

Blame Hitler for everything !

I started CH Hertford on 4 Sept 1967, wonder why it was several weeks later than usual that year? I liked the October 2week holiday,but in that homesick first term it seemed ages coming! Long Sat must have been at the end of September that term- we were allowed out with parents or friends from 10am till 7pm, were we permitted any other Saturdays or Sundays out?

kerrensimmonds wrote:Vonny.. for me it is 45 years...................and one month and a bit. ..AARRGGHH! Old, or whar?!

Kerren, would you like to check your arithmetic!

I did not remember the exact date I started, but by checking the calendar for September 1959*, I think I must have started on 14th September, new girls arrived on the Monday didn't they? It would have been very hard for my parents, the first month 'anniversary' of my brother's death and the day before my Mother's birthday.

* the wonders of the internet!

Since I left, Katharine, not since I started. You would need to add another nine years, though I cannot remember the exact date in September 1957 when I entered the hallowed portals. 9 September? Who knows....

fra828 wrote:I started CH Hertford on 4 Sept 1967, wonder why it was several weeks later than usual that year? I liked the October 2week holiday,but in that homesick first term it seemed ages coming! Long Sat must have been at the end of September that term- we were allowed out with parents or friends from 10am till 7pm, were we permitted any other Saturdays or Sundays out?

Oh yes, I remember 4th September 1967 too; of course, you were the same year as me initially. I was so homesick that first term (and at the beginning of every term for several years) and my parents couldn't make Long Sat as my dad had a wedding, so my aunt and uncle took me out instead. It was nice to get out for the day, but I missed my parents terribly. In later years we realised that it only took an hour to get home, so even if my dad was busy in the afternoon, my mum or someone could still pick me up and take me home for the day.

I think as well as a Long Sat each term we were allowed another couple of Saturdays or Sundays that we could choose, but shorter hours as we had prep first.