MICHAEL BURCHNALL died in May 2007 at the age of 85. Michael went to Durham School, before going up to Merton on a postmastership. He left, however, in 1942 to serve with the Royal Devon Yeomanry. He saw service in Sicily and Italy. In 1945 he returned to his college. After a short spell teaching… Continue reading Michael Burchnall
Month: November 2025
Charles W ‘Matt’ Busby
CHARLES W BUSBY was music master at the School from 1958 to 1966, and retired when the School amalgamated with Southfield. He had taught under Freddie Lay when the latter was Headmaster at Doncaster Grammar School. He was also organist and choirmaster at St. Giles’ Church in Oxford for several years. Mr Busby retired to… Continue reading Charles W ‘Matt’ Busby
George ‘George’ Wright
COHS in Wartime 40-45 Brian Gumm writes: “It is strange the things that stick in one’s memory after sixty years. Not so much to do with the school curricula but the extra topics such as George Wright’s lectures on poison gases. How many of you remember the effects of phosgene or chlorine? Obviously for me,… Continue reading George ‘George’ Wright
J E Badham Esq MA
KEN CAMPBELL (1942-47) writes from Portsmouth: “The pictures of headmaster Badham shown at the pre-AGM slide show brought back painful memories to schoolboy Kenneth Blackwell. The fourth form had a classroom at the end of the main hall. One day, when it was too wet to go out into the playground, we decided to relieve… Continue reading J E Badham Esq MA
F C (Freddy) Lay
Brian Beames (1945-50) writes: “On one occasion Freddie Lay, having borrowed his wife’s Francis Barnett (I think it was his wife’s, but am not certain why I think that) sat astride it, successfully started same and put it into gear, whereupon the manual gear lever came adrift ! I don’t know what happened after that… Continue reading F C (Freddy) Lay
Who did what?
Earlier in this century, Mike Chew tried to construct a list of Old Boys still alive, in association with Malcolm Williams, that could serve as a base for the reconstitution of the school register for 1929-1966. He constructed two lists: a short one with just names and perhaps a job title, and a second which… Continue reading Who did what?
First Eleven Cricket
Extract from the School Magazine for July 1960: Captain: P V Strongitharm; Vice Captain: K Moore; Hon Sec: R Weaver. Played 10 Won 2 Drawn 6 Lost 2…. The best piece of batting was Jefferies’ 54 out of a total of 93 in the Past v Present match….. Moore and Burke have proved an excellent… Continue reading First Eleven Cricket
The School Play
1949 A production of “Journey’s End” by R C Sherriff, produced by Mr George Wright, was performed with the following cast: Captain Hardy – Alan Stokes; Lieutenant Osborne – John Robinson; Private Mason – James Higgins; 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh – Howard Jones; Captain Stanhope – Paul Groves; 2nd Lieutenant Trotter – Michael Sommerlad; 2nd Lieutenant… Continue reading The School Play
School Curiosities
Article from the school magazine Vol LIII ii, March 1961 No 171. The photos are more recent. Today’s view The buttress of the old City wall (in the playground) was at one time lived in and formed part of a row of four cottages on the site of Elm Hall. These were demolished when Wesley… Continue reading School Curiosities
Lord Salter (1890-99)
March 1961 Lord Salter, after whom Salter House was named, was at the School from 1890-99, and was the first Treasurer of the Old Boys Club between 1903 and 1906. He was a Scholar of Brazenose College and took a double first. He became an Honorary Fellow of his own college and Fellow of All… Continue reading Lord Salter (1890-99)