by Tony Phelps (c.1946) Tony Phelps writes: “I met Ronnie on the (non-professional) stage in Oxford in 1946. That was the year when I returned from war service. Having acted a bit during the war, I joined a drama group calling themselves the Theatre Players, somewhere in East Oxford. Ronnie Barker was a member, and… Continue reading Memories of Ronnie Barker
Category: Schooldays
Longer reminiscences by Old Boys
“The Forum Presents”
by Malcolm Williams (left 1960) “The Forum Presents” is mentioned twice on the “News of Old Boys”, once by Malcolm Williams (left 1960) and once by David Green (left 1953). How many versions of the Forum Presents were there? Malcolm Williams has responded very quickly: Thank you for forwarding the note from David Green. The… Continue reading “The Forum Presents”
The Annexe-Morgue-Dispensary
by John Corbey (late 1940s) John Corbey (late 1940s) writes: “The Annexe was adjacent to Gloucester Green, facing Worcester College Gardens. During the war it was designated for use as a mortuary, if there had been deaths in the area around Gloucester Green due to enemy action. It had been a dispensay at some earlier… Continue reading The Annexe-Morgue-Dispensary
The School Song
by John Gaskin (c. 1955) John Gaskin writes: The precise origins and authorship of the School Song (see Newsletter 4) were never known to more than a tiny handful of people: F C Lay and Jimmy Soulsby are long since dead, and it would be a pity for the knowledge to perish unrecorded with me.… Continue reading The School Song
Malcolm Williams’ Rare Poetic Talent
by Richard Coleman (1953-60) Richard Coleman (53-60) writes: “In my memory Malcolm’s most singular claim to fame came during an English lesson in 2A. Jock Sutton obviously thought that the country’s total preoccupation with the coronation had gone too far and urged us to write a poem celebrating the conquest of Everest. Malcolm stood up… Continue reading Malcolm Williams’ Rare Poetic Talent
Introduction of Rugby into the School
by John Everett (1927-36) John Everett (1927-36) writes: “I joined the School (aged 7) in September 1927, when the main sport was Association Football and the School had a strong 1st XV. This continued to be the case until the early 1930s, when Mt T H Fallows, a mathematics teacher, decided to try and introduce… Continue reading Introduction of Rugby into the School
The School in Wartime
Writer unknown (1941-45) When originally published Mike Chew apologised that he had temporarily mislaid the name of the author of this item, but would acknowledge its provenance in due course, which he never did. “Sua culpa”, as he said at the time.“Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the latest COSA Newsletter I was trying to remember… Continue reading The School in Wartime
COHS in Wartime 1940-45
by Brian Gumm (1940-45) Brian Gumm (1940-45) writes: Looking back over some sixty years or more, my recollection of the COHS in war time was surprise that the process of education proceeded in a more or less orderly fashion with few interruptions due to the war raging across Europe. This I am sure was not… Continue reading COHS in Wartime 1940-45
Three Memories
from Jim Fleetwood (1946-51) Jim Fleetwood (1946-51) writes: “I was just looking, quickly, over the COSA website and thought I would pass on a few memories from my schooldays. These are, in fact, culled from correspondence with Mike (Jeff) Jeffery. The vague “We” is used to protect the not-so-innocent. 1) In Form 1A(? – we… Continue reading Three Memories
Harry Jacques
by John Stockford (left 1944) John Stockford of Redwood City, California writes: “Thanks for the Update …all very interesting. I didn’t recognise the refurbished Chemistry lecture lab where I once saw Harry Jacques set fire to himself after dropping some phosphorus on the floor and then scuffing it with his shoe. The flames shot up… Continue reading Harry Jacques