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
Category: Old Boys
Lists, Individual profiles of or references to Old Boys
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
Lawrence TV sequel 1990
In this made-for-television sequel to the film LAWRENCE OF ARABIA by David Lean, the legendary British officer T.E. Lawrence travels to the Paris Peace Conference with his comrade Emir Feisal, the King of Syria, to attempt to win independence for the Arabs. Upon arrival, however, he finds backroom politics have become more treacherous than desert… Continue reading Lawrence TV sequel 1990
The Boys Gallery
This photograph dates from 1894 and the chalk inscription on the wall behind them confirms that this is the OHS football team at the end of their successful 1893-4 season T E Lawrence (1896-1907) Lawrence in c.1897 aged 9, in the middle with the hopped Lawrence as a student Lawrence in the sixth form, 1907… Continue reading The Boys Gallery
Norway honours composer
OXFORD MAIL – Wednesday January 8th, 2003, p13 by Monica Sloan Noted musician wins knighthood AN ACCLAIMED musician and composer from Oxford has received a knighthood from the King of Norway. Trevor Ford [COHS 1943-?1950] 71, who grew up in Cornwallis Road, Cowley, before emigrating to Norway in 1968, will meet King Harald V tomorrow… Continue reading Norway honours composer
Ronnie Barker joins the school
A fascinating snippet of school history. Alan Trinder submits photos of these 2 pages of the school acceptance register for September 1940. These are fiendishly hard to read so we include a transcript of the relevant entry. If you wish to read the original then we recommend you enlarge them as much as possible on… Continue reading Ronnie Barker joins the school
The WW2 Memorial
The school’s WWII Memorial is located in the Oxford Community School (previously the Oxford School, previously to that Southfield School and now the Spires Academy). The Inscription reads: Grati Dulcem Colimus Memoriam Horum Huiusce Scholae Alumnorum Qui Pro Communi Omnium Libertate Vitam reddiderunt. MCMXXXIX – MCMXXXXV. The translation offered in the April 1966 Scvhool Magazine… Continue reading The WW2 Memorial
John Drinkwater (1899-1903)
John Drinkwater (1888-1937) was born in Leytonstone, the son of an actor. He was sent at one time to live with his grandfather in Oxford, and attended the City of Oxford School until he was 15 years old, when he began working for an insurance company in 1903. Remaining in the insurance business, Drinkwater moved… Continue reading John Drinkwater (1899-1903)
“Journey’s End”
by Ron Baker (c.1949) Ron Baker (c.1949) writes: Further to Ted Bown’s reference to “Journey’s End”, the play was produced by George Wright and performed on 2nd to 5th February 1949. The cast: Captain Hardy: Alan StokesLieutenant Osborne John RobinsonPrivate Mason James HigginsL/Cpl Broughton Maurice Croxon2nd Lt Raleigh Howard JonesCaptain Stanhope Paul Groves2nd Lt Trotter… Continue reading “Journey’s End”
A Memory of Mike Winters
by Derek Jeffs (1940s) Derek Jeffs (1940s), at the School during the war, reminisces in the Oxford Mail about a disastrous night when he took part in a gig with the future comedian Mike Winters: Mike Winters, whose real name was Mike Weinstein, was one of many evacuees who had come from London to Oxford.… Continue reading A Memory of Mike Winters