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Chalk, Richard Seymour, 1905-1985 English
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Star Chamber Doorway

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'The (reputed) Star Chamber Doorway (see L.E.T. pp 44-5), another casualty of the Blitz.
View from interior of Etheridge’s Room, past the Rod Table (no rods visible, so out of School hours) to Liddell’s Room (C.R. later C.Sh2)
In the the Under School we knew little of the Star Chamber of James I, but had a saying: “People used to go through that door to be tortured-and they still do!” The reference was to the fearsome W.G. Etheridge, dreaded by all.
He was a brilliant teacher both of French and of History, but a ruthless slave-driver and with a streak of cruelty. (He was known by K.SS in his History Set as “The Man of Blood” – back-handed reference to his detestation of King Charles I)
I spent many a gruelling period in this room, first in the Under School, later in C. Upper Shell (School Certificate Form). I owe much to W.G.E.’s teaching, but was not sorry when, having passed School Cert. and attained to C VI, I no longer had to enter Star Chamber!'

Monos

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'At close of School, following ‘Ire licet’, a School Monitor (in charge of the Door, ‘ostium’) and a Second Election KS capping the Masters. (The junior Master descending amid the IV Form was taken in my day to be W.G. Etheridge, but at this date I think it more likely A.H. Forbes).
As a Second Election from Play 1921 to Election 1922 I regularly performed my duty as Monos- tapping on the doors of VII and VI Form Rooms with the corner of my college-cap and announcing “Instat Quinta!” or (when Early School in Summer) “Instat Quarta!” –and on Saturdays or Plays “Instat Sesquiduodecima!” (This was an anachronism, this no longer being the correct hour).
Only once or twice (on O.T.C Field Days) did it fall to me to deputise for a School Monitor and take charge of the Door and take my place on the Monos Stone.'

Entrance to College

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Did ever such a vast building have such a small door as its only entrance? Strangely enough, tho’ College was the most exclusive of all Houses, numbers of T.B.B in Under School used this door regularly, as ‘Prayer Room’ just inside (abode of Second Elections) was used as an emergency Class Room for French etc.
Outside may be seen the Monos Stone, even in those days worn way by the seats of generations of Junior KSS sitting against it from 3:25-3:30 pm performing the duty of Watch (shouting “White’s ‘Ming!!!” when the HM was sighted).
Just inside this Door was kept (in a glass case) what was always solemnly referred to as “The Great Key of College”. College in pre-Blitz days had of course two floors only. There were no Wren’s on the ground floor (including my two cousins in 1950-6), so College was (apart from the anomaly above) exclusively the domain of K.SS.
I entered this Door as a Junior in Sept. 1920, knowing full well what a fearsome ordeal awaited me. Mercifully the systematic bullying of Juniors was mitigated a few days later.'

Library, Ashburnham House

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'As detailed on a companion p.c. ‘Lib’ was a blissful hour of respite and peace from 5:15 till House bells rang for High Tea at 6:15.
In the right foreground is the Librarian’s table - occupied till 1921/2 by Rev. G.H. Nall (‘Holy Herbert’) or his deputy J.J. Huckwell (Bill), thereafter by A.T. Willett, OW. This main room was occupied in the evenings by junior boys - RR sitting at the far end, GG in the middle and K.SS Under Elections nearest the door. The oil lamps had been replaced by electric light by 1918- presumably before the War.
In 1918-19 it was hard to concentrate on one’s reading after 6pm for pangs of hunger, and wondering what would be the ‘barge’ at Tea. Evening ‘Lib’ was suspended in Summer, replaced by Evening Station up Fields.'

Library Ceiling, Ashburnham House

One copy annotated on reverse by C.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Typical of Westminsters of my day, hardly once did we glance up from our reading to admire the craft and beauty overhead! Unlike the Busby Library ceiling, it was taken very much for granted, even by senior boys.'

A Room in Ashburnham House

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'1918-1924
This would be the ante-room at the Head of Ashburnham Staircase (see L.E. Tanner, p20). The busts are those of Southey and W. Hastings, with the H.M’s chair. About 1922 (under A.T. Willett) this was converted to a Chess Room, the strict rule of silence up Lib being waived to allow the call “Check!”
In the ‘Novel Room’ adjoining were displayed various items presented to the School (see L.E.T. pp22-3). There come to mind the rudder of the VIII of 1845, the trireme cast, the bust of Sir Fras. Burdett. Also (not listed by L.E.T.) a block of (?) quartz from Ammon inscribed:- ‘OI ΠAYΛOY M’EΔOΣAN TOIΣ ΠETPAIOIΣI ΛIΘOYPΓOIΣ / ΠPIN ΔIOΣ AMMWNOΣ KEIMENON EN ΘEMEΘΛOIΣ’ (I once met an Old Pauline who explained its origin.) Similar blocks were presented to the Freemasons of five other Public Schools.'

Little Dean's Yard, from the East

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'1919-1924
On the right (then as to this day I hope) is Liddell’s tree. Beneath it the tiny and cramped Bursar’s Office, where the devoted and conscientious but unsystematical JJ Tyson (Ti Ti) laboured six days a week throughout the year (never a holiday save half-a-day for Diamond Jubilee, 1897). Report had it this Office was in such confusion that the Pashley Bowling Cup was mislaid there for 3 years, under piles of files, letters and records.
On the ground floor (hidden in picture by the Fives Courts) was the Masters’ Common Room - fittingly described to me by Mr. Smedley when once I appeared at its doorway on urgent business as “The Holy of Holies”
Above it (17 Dean’s Yard) was H.BB (now Wren’s, I think - but surely Wren was never a House Master, like Rigaud?)
It always puzzled me how 80+ Home Boarders fitted in there, complete (presumably) with Upper and Under. H.BB in my day were a boisterous House, but good-hearted - more congenial generally than A.HH (I speak of course as a K.S!)'

Pancake day in College Hall Kitchen

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1920-1924
It was not until 1959 (as a senior OW) that I ever set foot in this ‘terra incognita’- reputed in our day to be a vast subterranean vault.
Under Mr. Flynn, College Butler (toothless and be-wigged) food in Hall, tho’ plain and unexciting, was plentiful-a welcome contrast to RR, with its single ‘barge’ at breakfast and tea and its dismal menu of lentil, stock-fish or rock-buns in Hall.
From 1922 Mr. Flynn was succeeded as Supervisor by the up-to-date and fully trained Miss Ridge. (To our joy the kindly Miss Flynn was retained in charge of “Flinnery”, ie the service-pantry). Under her, food soon became varied, imaginative and (despite the inevitable grumbles of fastidious T.BB) definitively good.
Pancakes had previously appeared on Shrove Tuesday, but now we had on occasions at mid-day Hall salmon, rabbit (dubbed ‘poor Puss’ by TBB), pickles with cold meat and even (in a heat wave) lemonade and strawberries. For evening Hall (tea) the great standby was ‘choufleur-au-gratin’, which could be found ready at any time by late-returning Watermen.'

Laboratory

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Mr (later Dr) W.J.N. (“Teacher”) Burch came to the School the same term as I did, Play 1918. He was joined in the Labs soon after by his faithful colleague F.O.M. Earp. “Nobbs” must have found things in considerable confusion at the end of Dr Gow’s regime - perhaps owing to the absence on War Service of H.A. Wootton and J.S. Rudwick. In my first few days (I was of course a Classic, so not directly concerned) no one could tell who was “in charge of Science”. An unfortunate hypochondriac named Quirk (whose name does not appear in the list of Masters in the ‘Record’ Part III), was literally driven to his death just before I came by the antics of Under School “scientists”. W.J.N.B. in his task must have been much helped by the ‘purge’ of the Modern Side by Costley White in his first two years.
In Dr Gow’s last year, perhaps 2/3 of the School were on the Modern Side - simply because Science and German was so much easier than Latin and Greek. (Many boys transferred because or in anticipation of E.L. Fox in CV!). By c1921 H.C.W had redressed the balance-restoring numbers of Classical, quality of Modern.'

The Pavilion up fields

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk as follows:
'Memories 1918-1921 (thereafter to Water)
By 1918 Elson was a venerable, silver-haired figure up Fields, yet with many years still to go. Over his many years he prepared and maintained a first-class Cricket Pitch. We were of opinion it was the second best in London - “Better than Lord’s, second only to the Oval”. Be that as it may, I head “Plum” Warner assure us (at a lecture up School in Election 1920) that one reason why we lost so many matches was that Vincent Square provided such excellent pitch within easy reach, so attracted many leading London cricketers; he also appreciated the sumptuous tea provided not only for Teams but to all visitors. (My only memory of Elson is bowling in nets)
Before the acquisition of the Boat House (1921) and Grove Park, pressure up Fields in summer was extreme. Boarders not in the Corps (I for one) played Cricket 5 days in the week, and watched a School Match on Saturday. I have memories of 7 games in progress simultaneously along the S. side of Fields. Once a terrific swipe from the end-most pitch narrowly missed me at square-leg. I had to chase it across six pitches, being cursed at each for interrupting the play! (Tho’ never a player of any mark, I nonetheless retain a love for Cricket!)'

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