So many boys I recognise from those days. But would I recognise them now? Or them me? I doubt it. Nobody has mentioned the Dinky Club, that Geoffrey despised. I remember as a new boy being conned into selling a car to 'Costobadie' for the sum of £200 in Dinky club money that I then had to watch him write out on graph paper before we finalised the deal.Such naievity! The Dinky Club finally closed down when the loft area below head height was boarded over to conserve heat. However, a convenient little rat run was left leading to the cupboard on the left of the entrance to the train room. Joy! If one contrived to leave the cupboard entrance to the train room open (during a sceduled visit) one could enter the room and play with the trains all on one's own!
In 1952 when I arrived, the war had not long been over and I remember buying an army surplus signalling lamp (very long range)and shining it from the garden in all sorts of directions with a boy who later was in the Eton Vlll that won the Ladies Plate at Henley in 1960 (for the last time)and subsequently became a Defence Minister in the Thatcher government. We also arranged to make a midnight visit to Dancing Ledge one night out of shere bravado.
I loved the food, particularly the huge roasts that Eric and Geoffrey carved in front of us. I was always enthralled by the Cona Coffee Pots (lit by meths, of course),and loved the pictures of the Vikings in the Dining Room.
However I WAS rather naughty and I did manage trips to the Red Carpet on several occasions and was given the 'Stingo Annie' on at least one occasion.
1 comment:
So many boys I recognise from those days. But would I recognise them now? Or them me? I doubt it.
Nobody has mentioned the Dinky Club, that Geoffrey despised. I remember as a new boy being conned into selling a car to 'Costobadie' for the sum of £200 in Dinky club money that I then had to watch him write out on graph paper before we finalised the deal.Such naievity! The Dinky Club finally closed down when the loft area below head height was boarded over to conserve heat. However, a convenient little rat run was left leading to the cupboard on the left of the entrance to the train room. Joy! If one contrived to leave the cupboard entrance to the train room open (during a sceduled visit) one could enter the room and play with the trains all on one's own!
In 1952 when I arrived, the war had not long been over and I remember buying an army surplus signalling lamp (very long range)and shining it from the garden in all sorts of directions with a boy who later was in the Eton Vlll that won the Ladies Plate at Henley in 1960 (for the last time)and subsequently became a Defence Minister in the Thatcher government. We also arranged to make a midnight visit to Dancing Ledge one night out of shere bravado.
I loved the food, particularly the huge roasts that Eric and Geoffrey carved in front of us. I was always enthralled by the Cona Coffee Pots (lit by meths, of course),and loved the pictures of the Vikings in the Dining Room.
However I WAS rather naughty and I did manage trips to the Red Carpet on several occasions and was given the 'Stingo Annie' on at least one occasion.
No wonder I was never made Head Boy!
Post a Comment