Conrad Roe's Anecdotes

Conrad Roe 1951 - 57

Who remembers Current Affairs - with JHM?
On the particular ocassion that comes to mind - I cannot recall the news item I clutched, but I do remeber the consequences of not raising my hand when asked a question - the answer to which I was unsure. The question was, "Who knows the meaning of 'Economics'?" There was the usual shuffling of feet and worried looks around the Great Hall. Feeling very self-conscious and certainly not brave enough to volunteer I kept my peace and hoped someone else would answer him. A few hands went up as I recall, but to my consternation and horror he ignored them and addressed the qustion to me personally! I was very flustered and - off my guard, but managed to stumble out a few words along the lines of, "I - I th, th, think its something to do with the exchange of money - Sir!"

He was outraged - like an enraged bull - powerful and without mercy! As I recall - though my memory may be distorted due to the trauma - he bellowed back something like. "Well, if you knew the answer, why didn't you put your hand up?" I think this is where I learned the meaning of 'rhetorical' because as I drew breath to answer, he carried on, "Go and stand outside my study and I'll deal with you later!"

I stood there and waited through the whole of Current Affairs. Later he brushed past me completely ignoring me with his gown and a puff of smoke in his wake (the last may be poetic licence). I waited and waited getting more and more distressed, when Mrs Kate Mosey came up the stairs and asked me what I was waiting for and had I rung the bell - I explained that Mr Mosey knew I was there. She thought I had been punished enough waiting in trepidation of what would happen to me at the hands of her husband. She went into the study and I imagined pleaded my case.

As she left the study she indicated that I should go in - Mr Mosey offered no apology or explanation except to say he would not ask me to 'bend over' but would cane me on my hands instead. There's an odd saying - he caned me on my fingers where it, I admit unashamedly - not being spy material - brought tears to my eyes. I remember being late for some lesson in the Stable Block - but thankfully not the misery of getting feeling back into my damaged fingers!

[As a codicil to this event I always wondered why nowerdays I am so quick to 'own up' or to ask a question when the lecturer asks. This memory says it all - fear of punishment!]

The Cocoa Urn and Tuck Boxes
Although sited elsewhere on this day, it was usually located outside the Dining Room by the Servery. I remember in my time it held either soup or cocoa in the Winter and what was termed 'lemonade' in the Summer - I think the lemonade was made from crystals disolved in water and the result was a clear yellow sweet tangy liquid. At the same table we had bread and meat paste or Marmite as Supper.

This is the same area where we used to open our 'tuck parcels' under the watchful eye of the duty master, no doubt looking for contraband. We kept the tuck in the large cupboard opposite with a baize covered door, if I recall correctly. We were only allowed access to our tuck at morning break and on certain days of the week when we could take it into tea. Was it Tuesdays and Thursdays? Items would be cakes, biscuits etc.

We kept our actual Tuck Boxes elsewhere in the school - I think when I was there, in the room we also had the table tennis table. The boxes were around the edges of the room. I still have my Tuck Box - although many people had standard Tuck Boxes mine was an amunition box my father had obtained from an Army & Navy clearance - it now rlegated to the garage. Tuck Boxes were always sent ahead of the boy along with the huge clothes trunk by PLA (Passenger's Luggage in Advance) through the British Rail network. This tended to have more easily eaten items like sweets - I remember some of the Turkish boys had real Turkish Delight, Salami and Pistachio nuts in theirs. If I was lucky I would be given some Turkish Delight, smelling of salami but still wonderful!

'The Caves'
I recall one evening when it was dark; the whole school - it seemed to me - put on their dungarees and made their way to 'The Caves' which were designated "Strictly Out Of Bounds" as being dangerous were automatically a honey pot for those brave enough (one might say foolhardy enough) to enter their jaws. Looking back it is incredible to think that the teaching staff were unaware of such a mass Exodus.

I recall that by the light of a flash-light making my way through the woods - quite eerie in the dark - to the Second Woods and the looming caves. As we entered we saw moving shadows forming almost surreal pictures on the walls. Once deep inside... at this point my mind goes blank. Looking back I neither remmember if we had a feast or indeeed how or when we made our way back. What I do remember was that for me it was very exciting and a little scary, but one of those things I was glad I did. Next day there was no all-school punishment which was all the more anazing.