Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Just spotted this desk in our local retro shop. No idea how it got to Stamford. Small world syndrome again!
http://themissingcurtain.bigcartel.com/ ... chool-desk

Since when were we in East Sussex?!

I wonder how many of us here may have sat at that very desk?

^^ No idea, but I'll bet that whatever they have now isn't half as good!

I remember that some desks had quite intricate carvings, under the lids, as some of the old settles were supposed to have had, but I never saw any of those.

It begs the question, as to what "Class supervision" was taking place ?


Note for Arjan -- re my lack of knowledge of Thai Geography --- TBA was up in the NW corner -- on the Burma Border ---- Mountainous !!!!

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:I remember that some desks had quite intricate carvings, under the lids, as some of the old settles were supposed to have had, but I never saw any of those.

It begs the question, as to what "Class supervision" was taking place ?


Note for Arjan -- re my lack of knowledge of Thai Geography --- TBA was up in the NW corner -- on the Burma Border ---- Mountainous !!!!

Quite so, Neill !

I'm sure my initials must remain on some desks somewhere !

I believe that the late Sam Sergent ,Modern Languages Master, had a saying "hands above board"
which it was rumoured related to the habit of boys fiddling about with the screws of classroom desks and undoing the bolts. Talking of signatures left about I remember one boy boasting that his signature was written on one of the the Big School clock faces. I wonder what other unlikely
resting places there might still be of such grafitti dotted about the school.
Chris Bartlett

Some of my memories are sad.

"Sergeant Sergeant" -- as he used to announce himself in a heavy French accent, had got out of France in 1940, in the nick of time, leaving all behind him.
He was, I believe an Industrialist, and arrived in the UK with nothing but his ability in Languages. having been at sometime a Segeant in the French Army.

ATeacher he was not, and had an impossible task of keeping Discipline in Class

On many occasions, as the bell went, there was a dash for the door, he shouting "Your Prep -- Your Prep ! "


And the last boy out, switched off the lights, at the door !

We thought it was hilarious, but now I , bitterly, regret this, as I understand his situation, and what he had gone through.

But, we can never go back !! ---- no appropriate Smiley

Newsflash, Coleridge was at school in East Sussex.

Sargent (only known to me as the Hall Warden) was always 'Man' Sargent to us, from his way of saying things like 'That man must eat his herring'.

Just spotted this desk in our local retro shop. No idea how it got to Stamford. Small world syndrome again!

Rather fancied it till I saw the price!! Eek.

postwarblue wrote:Newsflash, Coleridge was at school in East Sussex.

In fact, if we're being really nit-picky the Coleridge referred to by the seller of the desk, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (composer), isn't an Old Blue at all .... unlike Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet) ....

Antinous

Antinous1 wrote:

postwarblue wrote:Newsflash, Coleridge was at school in East Sussex.

In fact, if we're being really nit-picky the Coleridge referred to by the seller of the desk, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (composer), isn't an Old Blue at all .... unlike Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet) ....

Antinous

Yes -- be nit- picky !
Having once been "In the Trade" of Antiques ---- Provenance is everything !
(Even if totally fictitious !)

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:

Antinous1 wrote:

postwarblue wrote:Newsflash, Coleridge was at school in East Sussex.

In fact, if we're being really nit-picky the Coleridge referred to by the seller of the desk, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (composer), isn't an Old Blue at all .... unlike Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet) ....

Antinous

Yes -- be nit- picky !
Having once been "In the Trade" of Antiques ---- Provenance is everything !
(Even if totally fictitious !)

Sounds like you're gearing up to get on 'Flog-It', Neill !!

Antinous1 wrote:

postwarblue wrote:Newsflash, Coleridge was at school in East Sussex.

In fact, if we're being really nit-picky the Coleridge referred to by the seller of the desk, Samuel Coleridge Taylor (composer), isn't an Old Blue at all .... unlike Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet) ....

This reminds me of a question which has been going round in my mind for umpteen years.
....CH was supposed to be a school for children of the destitute, orphans, the meanest of the poor and the like.
....One of STC's contemporaries was a man named Charles Valentine le Grice (aka CV)
....CV was the son of a rector of some considerable education (and because of his profession probably had a few bob) living in Bury St Edmunds and himself the son of a lawyer.
....CV's father died when he was 19 so there would have been no legacy but .......
....CV went to university, became a personal tutor (though the cost of taking Holy Orders at a later date probably came from his employer/wife)

Does anyone have any idea how come CV would have been in London and qualified to be taken into CH?

I find this family very intriguing, CV's successors include a string of MBEs and also the Valentine le Grice who led the opposition to Prince Charles' second marriage (no MBE for him ).

I doubt incidentally that the monogramme (sic) is gilded (not a synonym for 'painted gold') and I doubt too that the iron is wrought.

No I shall NOT be putting anything up on "Flog it"

The "Experts" constantly over-estimate the values of items, and raise the expectations of the clients.

I recently sold some possessions at two auctions and, despite Commissions and VAT, was quite happy.

How did we get onto this ???