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One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'1918-1920
These memories are confined to Rigaud’s, where I was a boarder for 6 terms, Play 1918-Election 1920. The formidable E.L Fox was House Master. There were 60+ boys, 50% being Half-Boarders (not Day Boys!). Boarders thought little of Half-Boarders! I loved my first house dearly.
In picture:
Basement – Changing Room (one bath only!)
First Floor- Hall (i.e. Common Room & Prep Room) accommodating +-50 boys. (Half-Boarders were kept out before 9am and driven out after 5pm. During those hours they had to answer ‘knocks’ on Upper Door when Monitors required a fag. (As other times, the junior Boarder present)
Second Floor:- Big Dorm (Monitors, Underites and the dozen or so senior Boarders). Leave to go ‘up Dorm’ was given once a week only.
Top Floor:- Sick Rooms (one generally used as an ‘overflow’ for Little Dorm). I spent 16 days of my first Term in the End Sick Room suffering from Spanish Flu in the epidemic of 1918 (E.D Harford, the ‘beau ideal’ of a Westminster, and Little Dorm Monitor died in this room on 19.7.1919)
Monitors had the privilege of disporting themselves on the rail-enclosed step outside the Front Door. It was a ‘tannable offence’ for any ‘Hallite’ to stop still on the steps even for a moment.'

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.'

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?'

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories 1918-1924
This is presumably Inspection up Fields in days before World War I. Such an annual Inspection, even after that War was an impressive affair- conducted by this or that distinguished O.W. soldier. The Band (I remember) played Handle’s March from ‘Scipio’, on each occasion.
By the end of the War, the Q.T.C. (invariably referred to as “The Corps”) was all-important in School life. I suppose 80% of boys were in uniform all days of the week - the majority of the remainder waiting till their uniforms arrived. Few senior boys had School uniform, and the sudden announcement in Lent 1919 (after the Armistice) that all must wear Etons or tails from next Term caused panic.
Unless exempted on medical grounds, it was quite exceptional for anyone not to be in the Corps. Nor without reason - all were due to be called up at 18. It was not unusual for a boy to leave School then be at the Front by the end of that year - in some cases, not to return.
The School’s War Record was a very fine one, not least as the result of high standards in the Corps - 220 names on the War Memorial, I believe - and each trained as an Officer before leaving School.
Numbers in the Corps declined in years after the War, but high standards continued. K.SS in particular took Corps very seriously.'

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Memories (R.S.C.) 1922-1924
I sat in Busby Library as a member of VII for 6 Terms ; from Play 1922 to Election 1923 my seat was in the far left-hand corner of this picture (a privilege to have chairs, no longer desks or forms!); from Play 1923-Election 1924 as First Classic (a little revived at that time) I chose a Chair at the end of the table by the window (we chose in order of seniority).
We sat at the feet of I.F. Smedley (never ‘Snogger’ to his Form), a profound Classical Scholar, complete master of his subject, and a gentleman. He had (I believe) been Master of the VII since 1898. He was also a consummate master of English and a purist (Eg.- ‘Baptized’ not ‘baptised’, because derived from Greek root; conversely, ‘Authorised’, never ‘authorized’). We were taken in some subjects by the HM –not so great a scholar, but with the priceless gifts of enthusiasm, zest and appreciation.
Our order for 1923-4 was determined by the result of Higher Cert. in July 1923. There were no promotions from CVI in 1923 so 13 of us continued for a second year in VII. Not caring to risk Election, 4-5 of us gained Open Scholarships.'

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'Back of Grant’s 1918-24
A portion of the School precincts I naturally never once set eyes on during all those years. Except for Monitors (on official duty) no member of any one of the five Houses was allowed to set foot inside another.
This no doubt Grant’s Yard (somewhat more specious than its counterpart up RR next door). The windows are protected by wire-mesh because of the ‘Yard Game’ played there, the counterpart of RR Yard Game. This was a kind of miniature football played four-or-five-a side with a rubber ball about 4 inches in diameter. A very fast game (and too rough for me personally). If the ball was ‘popped’ on an iron spike or (more likely) ‘skied’ into GG Yard next door, it meant an outlay of 6d, on another, if available. We would call, “Thank-you ball Grant’s!!” Sometimes our ball would come back, but not often. (GG balls were never skied into RR Yard!)'

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!'

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.'

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.'

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.'