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Chalk, Richard Seymour, 1905-1985
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College Dormitory

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1920-1924
Dormitory- never abbreviated to ‘Dorm’ (as RR, GG)
My abiding impression is that it was 56 yards long (perhaps erroneous). I have often sprinted the length of it during fagging duties as a Junior. So did we all at 7:30 each morning, clad in two towels, as our daily course to or from ‘Way’ (Out and up by 7:45 or..!).
Dormitory was wonderfully spacious and airy, and well warmed in winter. But of course no view, as the windows were high up. (It has since the Blitz been rebuilt as two floors, while Wrens roost in what were then the six Election Rooms (including Prayer and Lumber Room) on the Ground Floor below. Sic transit Gloria!
If I recall alright, there were 21 Houses on the left (including the Captains, seen protruding at the end) and 19 on the right (divided by the alley-way from PiWi’s house).
The wooden beam half way along formed the back of the ‘Gods’ during Plays. At the end may be seen the Liberty Boy Tablets; ‘ELECTIO’ Doorway (see L.E.T.) is out of sight on right. After Lights Out, Dormitory was lighted by 3 bulbs only- arrears of Prep done by light of these!'

College Gardens

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1921-24
(Known to us erroneously as ‘College Gardens’)
It was anomalous (to say the least) that this delectable adjunct to the School should have been debarred even to K.SS except on two days of the year (for the reason, see L.E. Tanner, p46) while (before the opening up of the vista between School and College) TBB never set eyes on it! The Garden was not then visible from Dormitory (windows being too high up) but a distant glimpse of the Canons disporting themselves there could be gained from a window up Saignes.
KSS were allowed into the Garden for a few blissful hours on Election Sunday and again next morning for Juniors’ Race, when Juniors ‘ran for their freedom’. This consisted of a handicap race twice round the Garden. A handsome money prize was awarded to the first three finishers (provided no doubt from Election ‘Cap’). (My luck to be pipped on the post by Binyon for 3rd place!). The disgusting custom of ‘Feeding’ in Hall before the Race was mercifully abolished by that wise Chaplain R.C. Fisher in my year (1921).'

College Hall

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Morning/Evening Hall - Memories 1920-24
At Breakfast and (High) Tea in those days Hall was the exclusive domain of K.SS. The deeply resented invasion by Busby’s did not come till 1925.
Seniors sat at top table on right (note Captain’s chair), Juniors at bottom table, ever-alert for cries of “Election bag!-beggar!-brown bag! Etc.etc. Orders had to be executed at the run, so the zig-zag passage from the “Flinnery” to Seniors’ Table was a hazardous business, especially if carrying a full jug of ‘bag’ (normally my task as a Junior).
The chief of the ‘many customs’ referred to by L.E.T. was Toasting. When the open coal-fire in the centre was lit, Seniors would sit before it (before eating), and make two pieces of toast (more if desired) for each Under Election in their respective Rooms- call his name, and throw the toast to be caught or (failing that) retrieved from wherever it had fallen. As “breaking (ie going between) tables” was an offence, this often meant a lowly crawl for Juniors! (In my day, I developed considerable proficiency first in catching, later in making and throwing toasts). Unfortunately this custom degenerated into horseplay from 1925 and was abolished c.1926 after an accident to I.C. Allen.'

Domed Ceiling in Busby Library

One copy annotated by R.S. Chalk on reverse, as follows:
'R.S.C. Memories 1922-1924
The destruction of this superb ceiling (I believe by an H.E. bomb earlier in the Blitz than the gutting of School) was a calamity indeed.
It was a great relief to O. WW once of the VII to know that it was so expertly replaced after the War- its moulding including the Redstart which had nested in the ruins during the Exile.
I sat under this ceiling for my two years in the VII 1922-1924 and (with many another) frequently admired its beauty.
The details of the moulding were so delicate and detailed that we were of opinion (I think wrongly) that it could not be plaster- work, but must be wood-carving white washed over.
The VII Form Room was also used out of School for meetings of Deb. Soc, but I think for no other recreational purpose. Also, on rare occasions, by the School Monitors in trying a case referred to them by the H.M.'

Dr Busby, Headmaster. 1638-1695

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'(Bust dated 1895-L.E.T. p39) 1918-1924
There were in my day two busts of Dr. Busby (both presumably destroyed in the Blitz)- one behind the HM’s chair Up School, the other in an oval recess in the Busby Library, above the chair occupied by the Master, in my time I.F. Smedley.
On these two busts was based the most famous of several apocryphal stories currently concerning I.F.S and the VII Form (definitely before my time!), as follows: - I.F.S. had lunched well and wined freely.
[He was in fact a man of most sober habits]
On his return to take Afternoon School, he was astounded to see two busts above his Chair (the other having been surreptitiously ‘borrowed’ from School!). On being questioned, every single member of the VII he could see but one – I.F.S must be “seeing double”! Not convinced yet, I.F.S left the room to fetch Sergt. Bowler for his testimony. As once the culprits removed the second bust, leaving one only.
On returning then with Sergeant, I.F.S. was about to ask him his opinion when he looked- and (still mystified) said instead – “Very well, -er, Sergeant- you may go!”)'

End of Term in College Dormitory

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'This picture would have been ‘posed’ by John Brown. As Under Election John he would have had to clear up the mess after Term, together with the long-suffering ‘Nymphs’ (as the two College charwomen were termed).
I do not recall any such (rather senseless) ragging at the end of any of my 12 Terms in College (in any case, at the end of Play Term Under Elections, depicted here, were accommodated up Saignes).
There was however one annual event on the last Saturday night of each Election Term, as an aftermath of the feast which followed Declams. This was Conveniences Race, a knock-out in which the Juniors competed in pairs, as a part of gaining their ‘freedom’. It consisted of a hurdle-race over towel-horses the length of Dormitory, out to Conveniences (Night Japs), to touch the door-handle there (a good bit of rough play took place here) and so back, cheered by occupants of one’s Room. Competitors wore pyjamas, and (an innovation I remember in 1924) top hats with white ties round the crowns.'

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.'

Entrance to College Hall

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Mid-day hall, 1920-1924 R.S.C
My memories of this picture are concentrated on the entrance stairs, where as Under Elections we would congregate to await the arrival and entrance of the H.M. Second Elections stood on the landing, leaning on the rails and watching T.BB assembling in the court below; Juniors stood on the stairs in exact order of seniority. Three Second Elections (including non-resident KSS) took turns to say Latin Grace (“Oculi amnium” etc- Psalm 145, vv15-16)
In my day there was Early Hall (for members of Under School up A.HH or H.BB) at 12:40 pm. Late Hall (for K.SS and Upper School A.HH & H.BB, with Masters) followed at (I believe) 1:15. How we ever got through a meal, got back to our Houses, changed and got up Fields by 2pm for football till 3pm will ever remain a mystery to me- the more so as I do not recall any great sense of hurry.
(It certainly did one’s digestion little good). If I remember, Early School was introduced later (2-3:30pm), giving time to get down to Water.'

Fives

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1918-1924
Fives was by far the most popular out of School game. Few could afford Racquets, and Tennis was never accepted as an alternative station till about 1923-4. *
The three Fives Courts in yard were continually patronised, especially by boarders. K.SS were particularly keen and proficient and participation in House ties was obligatory for all, I believe.
During the winter of 1921-2 I witnessed a memorable game of Fives played on the Court opposite Liddell’s Tree - the Headmaster (H.C.W.) and Mr (later Rev) R.E.C. Houghton (Master of VI) versus Rev. A.G.S. Raynor (Master of K.SS, just about to retire) and C.H. Taylor K.S. (later Cricket Blue). The Masters all showed great proficiency- not least the veteran ‘PiWi’. I wonder this game (witnessed by scorer) was never repeated.

*Yet, for all that, did we not produce C.H. Weinberger, Wimbledon Schoolboy Champion in 1919?'

Form Drill - Slope Arms

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1918-1918
To my lasting and lifelong regret, I was not in the Corps. This however did not exempt me as a new boy from twice-weekly parades in ‘B’ Squad I, till I was laid low my Spanish Flu a week or two before the Armistice on Nov 11, 1918.
By that time, Form Drill (as in the picture) conducted presumably by the School Sergeant, had given place to bi-weekly Squad Drill under N.C.O.s in the Corps. Upper School was divided into 8 ‘A Squads’, Under School into eight ‘B Squads’. These drilled alternatively on two days of each week and played in an inter-Squad Football League on the other two (for, curiously enough, Football Leagues were run on inter-Squad lines, not inter-House, in Play 1918).
At the end of that Term an intense inter-Squad Drill Competition took place. The dummy-rifles in the picture (clumsy wooden things) were not used in B Squad Drill. Hopeless cases (some in uniform) were relegated to an ‘Awkward Squad’, teaching only elementary Drill, in yard.
Those not in uniform wore shags over School dress for Drill, T.BB with collars turned up, K.SS with collars turned down (as on all occasions). By 1918, the ‘Shag’ of dark blue was of a less skimpy design than shown in the photo and had a pinkish monogram ‘RSW’ on the pocket.'

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