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Chalk, Richard Seymour, 1905-1985 With digital objects
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School

One copy annotated on reverse as follows, by R.S. Chalk:
'Memories 1918-24 R.S.C
School- one of the three great losses in the Blitz.
Vastly impressive, tho’ by comparison with its present day counterpart, sombre, dusty and dark. (Yet HCW once lamented the Victorian ‘vandalism’ which enlarged all the medieval windows save one!)
Used for Assembly, lectures, Orations, Concerts, O.T.C. Parades (if wet), Physical Drill (‘Phys Hell’), Exams (as in this picture) and, above all, Latin Prayers.
Latin Prayers each day were a real joy- I never once heard criticism. All joined in singing in Elizabethan Latin. (I remember once (about 1920) three Arab Sheikhs attended these Prayers, and much impressed). The Masters knelt in the middle gangway on ‘pancake’ kneelers thrown (sic) out to them.
In the top foreground (then as now) may be seen the Pancake Bar. I was present in my second Term (Lent 1919) at the most famous Greaze of all- witnessed by King George V, Queen Mary, Prince of Wales and Prince Albert- won by D.L Moonan, K.S'

Names on wall "Up School"

One copy annotated on reverse as follows, by R.S. Chalk:
'1918-1924
By the 1920’s the multiplication of names of O.WW up School was beginning to pose a real problem, as space was running short. They cost (I believe) only 5/- Each!
Towards the end of my time I heard Costley-White explaining to some distinguished visitors that in future permission to have names painted up School was to be confined to “Westminster Families”, i.e. families that had at least three members at the School at some date. I could claim a younger brother and, later, three cousins – but in any case all was decided by the Blitz (which obliterated hundreds of names, including 17 Phillimores and 16 Waterfields).'

School Gateway

Depicts Burlington Arch in Little Dean's Yard.

One copy is annotated on reverse by R.S.C as follows:
'The focal point of Yard, which impressed me deeply when I first saw it (as a small boy in 1915). I wondered even then how boys could carve their names on it so expertly. (Later Mr. Green carved my name in College on wood for (I believe) the sum of 5/-).
The centre-piece of many a School compilation. (A tragedy the present ‘Eliza’ has no use for it).
In my day it was wrongly known by Town Boys in Under School as the ‘Up School Gateway’ (save the mark!). A new Junior KS. of my Election in his word-test called its designer ‘Jingo Jones’.
To the left is Sergeant’s Office (a ‘sanctum sanctorum’ where were compiled lists of those due for ‘Up School’ or Penal Drill), with the VI Form Room above it. To the right, in my day a convenient but ugly Fives Court, used (exclusively, I think) by K.SS. It was a vast improvement aesthetically when this was removed some years later and the vista opened into (hitherto unseen) College Gardens.'

Masters of Westminster School

One copy annotated on reverse as follows:
"Memories of Masters, 1918-1924 (R.S.C.)
For Group, see ‘Record of O.WW’, Vol. III. Date given ‘c.1909’. As group includes H.L. Reed (sic) but not Q.T. Willett (Play 1909) date is presumably Election 1908 or 1909. (NB: - Photo by Gillmans, Oxford, not by Jn. Brown. Groups not his strongpoints.)
L. to r: -
Liddell; Burrell (‘BaaLamb’); Reed //
Etheridge, Tyson (‘Ti Ti’), Bursar;
Day; Hardy (‘Basil’); Wootton; Forbes; Mitchell (‘Mike’); Smedley (‘Snappers’)//
(Seated) Nall (‘Hoty’); Sargeaunt (‘J.S.’); Tanner (‘The Buck’); Dr. Gow (‘Jimmy’), HM; Fox (‘The Old Man’); Raynor (‘Peewee’); Huckwell (‘Bill’).
Ten had been on the Staff since Rutherford’s day. Except for the four youngest (marked*) all were still there when the War ended in Play 1918, my first term! Probably an unparalleled record of group service.
Under leadership of Dr. Gow, a magnificent team-particularly on Classical side. All devoted to the School, each a master of his subject, each (save one (above: B.F.H)) a striking individual character. Between IV and VII I sat under most and remember all with gratitude, respect and (with one exception) affection."

Second copy addressed and sent, with stamp affixed. Individuals annotated on front. Sent to "Miss M. Chalk, Kentisbeare Rectory, Cullompton, Devon". The correspondence reads as follows:
"Rigaud's House 11/2/19
Dear Mary,
Your cake is very much liked and admired. I am sending this Post-Card as a reward. I saw the King open Parliament today. I saw him and the Queen twice. There were a lot of soldiers there. Has there been enough ice to skate on in Devonshire? Several people have been doing it in London
Dick"
"

Head Master

One copy annotated on reverse by R.S. Chalk, as follows:
'1. Dr. JAMES GOW (‘Jimmy’), H.M. 1901-1919
My first meeting with him was at Challenge 1918. I owe him a lifelong debut for his accepting me without Common Entrance Exam (on the strength of my dismal Challenge papers), thus saving a second journey from my home in Devon in War-time conditions.
My first three Terms (Play 1918-Election 1919) coincided with his last three. He had been a great and good HM, but was now almost blind and moved in a dignified daze, piloting himself with a stick. (Intent on my prep, I once collided with him in Yard)
Through no fault of his, School discipline had become somewhat lax by 1918. Leave and Plays were easily given (e.g. to go skating on the Serpentine in Lent 1919).
He was much loved and his departure was a solemn occasion. He shook hands with every boy after his last Prayers. I am glad I remembered to say ‘Thank you, Sir’ – with the classical Remove form-prize in my hand.'

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