Griffen 2014

22 From the School Archivist FROM THE SCHOOL ARCHIVI ST My introduction to the boarding school world commenced at The Lodge under the watchful eye of the housemaster Mr J B E Alston and a very caring, though handicapped with arthritis, housekeeper/matron/mother Norah. A lady of middle age who not only administered our weekly syrup of figs and oversaw our general hygiene, but also supervised bath nights, which were once a week. We wore one shirt and two separate collars per week plus a stiff collar on Sundays. I soon learned the painful rigours of discipline, being caught by the housemaster after lights out raiding my tuck box in the common room downstairs. For this I received three of the best, bent over my bed in my pyjamas. Our pocket money was formally presented to us each week by the headmaster – a whole sixpence. The headmaster was the legendary William Grundy, or ‘Fish’ as he was nicknamed. He was no doubt the whole essence of the School, and was a wonderful man who taught Classics. He was ably assisted by his sister, Miss Grundy. We boarders graduated through Waste Court to School House as the years progressed. The drive up to School House from The Lodge was lined on both sides with large beautiful elm or chestnut trees, continuing around and in front of School House. Memories of Abingdon School from John Young (1941) All the boys attended prep each evening in Big School which was above the Dining Room. (They are now the Upper and Lower Libraries.) The senior boarders were located in one long partitioned room on the top floor of School House with the dormer windows overlooking the front playing fields. The initiation for new boys was to wait, awake (no doubt talking), until the School clock struck midnight, then proceed alone through the School corridors and return with a psalm book from the Chapel. On the outbreak of the Second World War, we joined many volunteers to dig an air raid shelter on the far side of Waste Court playing field. I recall we duly covered the shelter with dead branches to camouflage it from the invasion. It was never used in my memory, probably because it was far too far from the School on wet, cold winter nights. Instead, when the sirens sounded we all trooped to the gymnasium under the Chapel (now the Charles Maude Room) and slept on the floor on palliasses. In the senior School House dormitory, the washing facilities included a basin of cold water – in winter covered with ice – on a washstand beside the bed. We had to parade in front of matron every Saturday morning when she inspected our teeth, nails and ears! There are many more instances that come to mind on occasions, but the above are some which are easily recalled. John Young (1941) William Grundy School Air Raid Shelter 1939