by Brian Bowler (1944-1951) Submitted by his contemporary, Alan Trinder It was traditional at the High School for the sixth form boys to indulge in ‘rags’. These were more or less harmless pranks, outside of the school rules but generally tolerated by the staff as an expression of youthful high spirits. The year I was… Continue reading The perfect rag
Month: December 2025
School caps and ties
We are indebted to Roy Parsloe and Alan Trinder for this montage Scarves
Robert Lawrence (1896-1904)
From an article in The Times for 2 Dec 1971 DR ROBERT LAWRENCE Missionary in China W.G.B. writes: Courage and abiding love of service to God and country and his family, dominated Robert Lawrence, who died recently at Swanage. Gassed in the First World War, he recovered sufficiently to spend years in devoted service in… Continue reading Robert Lawrence (1896-1904)
‘Working Class’ Boys
by Alan Smith (1942-48) I was one of the few ‘ working class’ boys, entering the school in 1942, and streamed into the ‘1B’ class. I was the son of a carpenter. Others included David Cripps, whose father was a postman and Gerald Webb. The three of us were moved into the ‘A’ class in… Continue reading ‘Working Class’ Boys
Nostalgia Tempered by Realism
by Nigel Molden (1960-66) I found the article on COHS in the fifties by Mike Brogden of particular interest. It was also of the greatest credit to the Editor that he should print an article in which the nostalgia was tempered by realism. As a result it has prompted me to add some comments in… Continue reading Nostalgia Tempered by Realism
COHS in the 1950s
by Mike Brogden (1952 – 1959) A Polemical View This post caused a real stir when Mike Chew published it on the old website, and you will find several responses from other boys linked to it in later posts. The New Boy There’s a photo of me, taken just before my first day at the… Continue reading COHS in the 1950s
COHS in the early 1940s
by Ernest (Em) Ames (1941-46) Reminiscences of Wartime COHS Schooldays and Beyond by Ernest (Em) Ames (1941-46) Firstly I was not an outstanding student academically but the “Oxford Education” has stood me in good stead through the years opening doors that would have been otherwise closed to me. Not only was academic prowess a main… Continue reading COHS in the early 1940s
COHS in the early 1960s
by John Geach (1960s) Memories of the Early Sixties by John Geach:I was not happy at school and in general an unsatisfactory pupil. Living in St John Street I was the nearest resident to the school that I was aware of – and always late. As a Catholic I did not attend Assembly and in… Continue reading COHS in the early 1960s
The Early 1940s
by Ivan Mazonowicz (1940-46) Ivan Mazonowicz (Mason since 1957) 1940-46 writes: There were some fine teachers, eg Harry Jacques (Chemistry), ‘Pongo’ Bodey (Physics, who was my role model when I became a teacher, and ‘Tich’ Wright, among others. Some were not so fine. I vividly recall one pupil crying, on his hands and knees, being… Continue reading The Early 1940s
COHS in the early 1950s
by Colin Tustin (1951-56) Colin Tustin (1951-56) reminisces: – Tumbling Bay. In summer the whole form walked down the canal towpath at Hythe Bridge Street and then under the railway bridge to the area where we were taken across the river by a rather disgruntled boatman in his punt.On getting across, the first thing to… Continue reading COHS in the early 1950s