Part 2:   1946-1947

There are only three letters from the Spring Term of 1946 and I have no means of telling what I did that term, although there were the preliminary trial eights to sort out the crews for the summer term.  I must have done well and was awarded my trial cap.  I have no idea what happened in the Easter holidays although I am sure we must have gone down to Llangynidr for Easter.

The big event of the Summer term was my getting into the 1^st VIII and rowing at Henley for the first time.  I was still only 16 years old.  It was all very exciting.  I am amused how diffidently I break the news to my parents; in the middle of a letter about minor events is: ’I think I can tell you now that I am in the 1^st VIII’.  I then go on to say I may still get thrown out, but I had already been there three weeks before I told them.  I was over the moon really, but my English schoolboy phlegm did not want to let it show.  My father certainly was delighted and immediately joined the Phyllis Court Club so they could come to Henley and watch me.  The Club is on the other side of the river to the Stewards Enclosure and rather posh, but does not involve any rowing connections to enter.  He used it for his business entertaining but I think I was the excuse for joining.  My letters, typically, say little about the eight.  It was in fact a very good crew and we did not disgrace ourselves at Henley.  Unlike nowadays, when school crews compete in numerous other regattas, Henley was the only one for us.  I was intensely proud of being in the VIII and it did my standing within the school no end of good!  I was particularly proud of all the clothes that went with being in the VIII, the rowing vest with the cerise Maltese cross, the white cap and the cerise cross, the special tie and above all the white blazer with the cerise cross on the pocket.  Because of clothes rationing I did not have my own blazer, but was lent one that had belonged to P.L.Fanning, the stroke of the 1938 VIII that had won the Ladies Plate.  He had been killed in the war.

I wish I had kept a diary of that Henley period since it was an utterly new world, one of hustle and bustle, of crowds, the unforgettable smell of the changing tents and then the rather solemn quiet of the boat tents, waiting for a race wrapped up in one’s own private thoughts.  We used to come from Radley by bus each day, starting some days before the regatta, so that we could get used to the conditions and the course, and we returned to Radley in the evening to sleep.  I suppose we got off all work during this period.  We were entered in the Ladies Plate and the Princess Elizabeth Cup.  This latter was a new cup, presented by HRH Princess Elizabeth, just for schools.  In future years crews were not allowed to enter both events; they had to choose whether to go for the big prize, the Ladies Plate, which was also open to university colleges and foreign crews, or to go only for the school’s event.  But this year it was a new event, rowed only on the Friday and Saturday, over a shortened course, starting at the Barrier, allowing any crew who was knocked out of the Ladies Plate on the Wednesday or Thursday to compete on the Friday and Saturday.

Wednesday was the first day in the Ladies Plate, and we had an early race against Winchester, which we won, giving us time to recover for a second race late in the day.  We were very pampered during the day; and we must have gone somewhere to rest.  The only part of that afternoon I do remember is being taken into Leander Club and being given a pick-me-up to drink by an Old Radleian; it was raw egg beaten in a glass of port.  I have never had it since!  It must have done us good as we won the second race against St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.  The next day we were beaten by Jesus College, Cambridge, who went on to win the event.  So, on the Friday, we were in the Princess Elizabeth Cup facing Shrewsbury School.  We won.  There were still four crews left on the Saturday, which again meant two races for the crews which won the first race.  We beat Bedford Modern School in the morning and faced Bedford School in the final in the evening.  I know we were very confident but disaster struck.  In the last few yards, as we were neck and neck with Bedford, our cox, having let us get too near the booms, tried to steer away at the last moment and 7’s oar hit a boom and we almost stopped.  I have always been convinced we would have won but for that.  The records show us losing by one length and a bit.  Absolute devastation, particularly as HRH was presenting the prizes.

One bonus came from all this; the VIII was invited by the Christiana Roclub to compete in an International Regatta in Oslo in September.  I am not sure how this came about; through an old boy network I imagine.  This was an extraordinary prospect.  I had only been abroad once, to France in 1938, and now eight years older I was ready to start on a post-war world of travel and adventure.  Keeping fit was a problem as the crew would be apart for a month or more for the first part of the summer holidays.

I took Higher Certificate at the end of term.  I think this is the equivalent of today’s A levels.  This was more as a dummy run for the following year when the results would influence scholarships than as a critical exam.  I passed in my two main subjects, French and English and also in my two subsidiary subjects, German and English History.  In the following year I took French and English as the main papers and  European History as subsidiary.

Another adventure awaited me at the end of term: training camp.  At some time in the past few months I had made a crucial decision not to try for the RAF during my National Service.  I made the decision during one long sleepless night weighing up the pros and cons.  I had always set my heart on joining the RAF, but after Michael’s death and seeing the effect it had had on my mother, I wondered whether it was the right thing to do and decided to make the change.  This was a big decision and one that made a significant difference to my next few years.  There were many other things which influenced me to change, but it is too far away in time for me to remember them now.  Suffice it to say that I left the Air Training Corps and went back into an army-oriented training corps preparing me for National Service in the army.  No longer was it the Junior Training Corps, but the Senior Training Corps.  The older boys had become part of the Oxford University S.T.C. and this is where I went.  The camp was my first experience of real army life.  At camp I trained to become a wireless operator, with the intention of getting into a cavalry regiment.  I learned to drive, in a Bedford 15 cwt truck, which had a very heavy gearbox requiring double declutching to change gear.  One Sunday afternoon I drove with my instructor and another boy to visit my parents at Temple Golf Club.  They always went there on Sundays as the Club served a good lunch with beef to supplement our meagre meat ration. I was very proud to show myself off there in my battledress.  On the way home I hit a stationary car on the edge of the road and dented it.  My instructor went into the house it was parked outside and apologised and we drove on.  The camp also provided another initiation into adult life: I got drunk for the first time in my life on six pints of beer!  But at the end of the camp I was awarded my Certificate B and could wear a star on the right sleeve of my battle dress.  This was of considerable help when I got into the real army.

The following morning I made my way to Northleach on the A40 (how I got there I have no idea) where my mother and father picked me up on their way to Wales.  They were off for another of our holidays in Llangynidr, which had by now become part of their (and my) regular routine.  We had long since ceased to stay at the Red Lion, which had become too grand for our liking, preferring the local charm of Emrys and May Morgan at ‘The Coach and Horses’.  This was then a small pub with about four or five bedrooms, a large bar used only by the locals, and wonderful food cooked by May Morgan.  They were a delightful couple. My father and Dennis fished while I walked the hills.  I do not remember what my mother did.  One member of the Radley VIII  curiously enough^[1], had an aunt, Miss Raikes, who lived at the Old School House on Llangorse Lake and he came to visit her while we were there  So we used to train together in the Black Mountains, walking and running, to keep fit, covering huge distances and enjoying being alive and well.  I am sure the sun always shone!

We assembled in Newcastle and got the Fred Olsen Line ferry to Oslo.  We travelled steerage, and the sea was rough.  This was my first experience of being seasick, cooped up in steerage, where the lights never went out, big glaring fluorescent things.  I (most of us probably) arrived in Oslo feeling awful.  But the wonderful hospitality of the Norweigans was overwhelming.  The food was wonderful as well, especially after the miserable rations of Britain.  A gorgeous young blonde called Ella was put in charge of our off-duty time and we all fell for her.  The rowing wasn’t so good.  We had a strange boat and oars, we were rusty after a month off, but worse, we had never rowed on salt water before.  This is a whole new sensation and I do not think we ever grew comfortable with it.  In addition the sea could be rough, much rougher than the Thames ever was. We had a preliminary race, beating the Roclub Junior Juniors, but we came last of four crews in the Junior Eights in the Regatta proper, two lengths behind the first crew.  I remember my father had to pay £18 for the whole trip and I was told off later by Joe Eason, our coach, for not thanking him properly for all his efforts in organising the whole trip.

Back to school for the winter term of 1946.  My letters are full of my rugger games.  I had moved up to the 2^nd XV by this time, but we were not at all good, losing practically everything.  I played once for the 1^st XV.  The tone of the letters is changing as I grow up and become more confident.  I took up dancing lessons, and even went out to a local girl’s school for a dance, with a hoard of other boys I remember; it was all rather embarrassing as I had a limited dance repertoire and I was not very skilled with girls!

The Christmas holidays are a blank, except that I ended them as the owner of Dennis‘s motor bike, just seventeen and so old enough to ride one.  I do not know why my parents approved of this after what had happened to Dennis on the same motor bike, but nevertheless they did.

The spring term of 1947 was awful.  My letters are all about the weather and the affect it was having on our activities.  Boyd’s book describes that term vividly. He says it was the worst term in the school’s history, except for the disastrous Easter Term of 1895, which had been the second coldest of the nineteenth century, when the ink remained frozen in the classrooms till after midday and three boys died in an influenza epidemic.  ‘There was intense frost in the first week; in the second week came snow which covered the ground till within a week of the end of term.  At the end of February temperatures hovered around zero, and the river was frozen over.  Except for two days in the first week the Pitch was unusable throughout the term and dry-bobs could play no out door games.  There was a fair amount of skating on the pond, and at one time it was successfully flooded by the fire brigade; but for much of the term snow made the ice unusable.  Rowing was at one time impeded by ice, and after the final thaw by the worst floods in memory.  On February 10^th the national fuel crisis started.  At  the very start of the term the School was ravaged by influenza, which merged into epidemics of measles, chicken-pox, streptococcal throat , and scarlet fever.  After nine weeks of continual struggle against discomfort and adversity, steadfastly endured by all concerned, the medical authorities decided to call ‘time’ and the School broke up a week early.’  He also adds that on March 2nd the whole school, or at least those not ill, again wore gowns for the first time since the war.  I did not get affected by any of these epidemics, though obviously I was in quarantine for all of them.  I had my fair share of the skating, and we seemed to keep on rowing whatever the weather.

In the Appendix on Rowing in Boyd’s book the affect of the weather on rowing that term is described from the point of view of those in charge. ’Challenge Fours were decimated by illness, while frost and snow, followed by floods, led to the postponement of Trials, which had to be squeezed into the Summer Term.  There was plenty of material available, but the problem was to find the right people for right places, so that the lack of opportunity to make experiments was an even greater misfortune than usual.  Marlow Regatta really had to take the place of the Lent Term events, and the experience gained there led to a change in the crew which meant their getting used to a new stroke in just over a week’^[2]. 

 I just kept on doing what I was told, bearing with the snow and ice on the river as best I could .  My letters describe what it was like.  I can’t imagine the quality of the crew was up to much.  Nowadays we would have gone off to a training camp in some warmer spot.

My mother and father went off to Wengen in Switzerland, he to start skiing at the age of 52, but the weather was just as bad when they came back as when they had left.

I was made a Junior School Prefect..

There is a very unclear reference in one letter to my having to go to Cambridge for three days towards the end of the term.  I am not sure why but presumably something to do with entering Pembroke College.

We all went down to Llangynidr for Easter.  The devastation of the severe winter weather on farming came home to me when I saw the carcases of dead sheep wherever I walked in the hills.

The summer term of 1947 was a major event in the life of Radley College; the centenary of its foundation.  Everybody concerned was determined to celebrate it in style.  HRH Princess Elizabeth was invited for a formal visit.  Field Marshall Lord Montgomery of Alamein was asked to make an inspection of the Training Corps.  A big play recounting the history of Radley, ‘The Radley Retrospect’ was written and performed by members of the staff, of the boys and invited Old Radleian actors.  The sports teams were expected to win everything!  Many boys who should have left earlier managed to stay for an extra term to be part of the celebrations.  The term actually began a week early to leave time for us to do some work.

I restarted a diary at this point and kept it up till the start of exams near the end of term.  The style of the diary is clearly strongly influenced by all the reading of English classics and diarists that I was doing for Higher Certificate and the English scholarship and is very mannered.  But that was me at that period of my life and I am not ashamed of it, more amused than anything!

I began this journal solely with the purpose of keeping  a record, however meagre and uninteresting, of the events of this centenary term.  I shall begin it on the eve of my return to Radley.

Thursday, April 24

I went up to London on the 4.52 train from Maidenhead, and went straight to Piccadilly Circus.  From there I walked leisurely to the New Theatre and took my seat in readiness for the performance of Richard II.  It was the second night and so I was expecting to see something more alive than would be seen during a long west-end run.  Daddy joined me in a few minutes, when we discovered we had both travelled on the same train.  The play was marvellous, and more alive than when I had heard it on the wireless the previous night.  What was even more striking was the attentiveness of the audience, and the proverbial pin would not have been out of place.  Alec Guiness was in the title role and Ralph Richardson as John of Gaunt ‘time honour’d Lancaster’.  On coming out of the theatre we walked, as we had plenty of time, to Piccadilly Circus, passing on our way the Odeon, Leicester Square where the first night of ‘Black Narcissus’, with Deborah Kerr was in progress, outside were large crowds waiting to see the celebrities return.  This was the first time I had seen such a crowd. 

Friday 25^th

This was the day of my return.  I played a round of golf with Godfrey Piggott (he was the son of the Golf Club Secretary) in the morning and went round in 140, 40 less than last time.  My golf is improving but still atrocious.  Arrived home for a very late lunch, after which I went into Maidenhead and then Marlow, to see if I could get any films, but with no success.  Daddy called for us at 6.00, picked up David Gummer and drove over to Radley, in good time.  I didn’t feel at all homesick, and it is a great relief to find that one doesn’t mind returning to school.

Saturday 26^th

In common with every beginning of term there is remarkably little to do and even less time to do it in.  After seeing form and pupil masters I unpacked my trunk, which had arrived in the meantime.

In the afternoon I went out in a trial VIII, rowing 5 for the first time in three years.  Nevertheless I got on all right, though feeling awkward…We were closely watched by five coaches all the way.  I can imagine what it felt like if I had been trying to row well.

I read quite a lot of ‘Northanger Abbey’ by Jane Austen, which I am enjoying.  It seems immature, almost a satire on the thrillers of the day.

Sunday 27^th

I went to Communion in the morning.  Congregational practice….I played a game of squash with Tyler in the afternoon and beat him four-love.  Had a very good tea with Soames.  Played lie dice till supper. Finished off Walton’s ‘Life of Donne’ and read some more of ‘Northanger Abbey’ and after more lie dice

Monday 28^th

First full day of work!  Luckily I had several study periods (ones in which I worked by myself in my own study) or else I should have been very bored.  During the English periods we talked of nothing but Richard II and James Agate’s article, and C.E.Montague.  On the first corps of the term we spent some time in falling in and getting settled down.  Then Mr. Borgnis gave us a lecture on Platoon Battle Drill, which we are to perform in front of Monty.  Did an absolutely stinking French translation by the Brothers Goncourt.  In the evening I became very grasshopper-minded, and as an antidote I tried ‘Religio Medici’^[3] which soon soothed me.  It was due to weariness.  On previous occasions when I have been feeling much the same I had tried poetry which I already knew, with remarkable results.  After Chapel the Shakespeare Society met.  We were going to begin ‘The Merry Wives of Winndsor’.  I knew this already, but in spite of that I had some misgivings, which were dispelled and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.^[4]  I read Page and Mistress Ford (goodness knows why!).

Tuesday 29^th

An early morning period with the Warden, in which I did nothing but yawn.  Learned most of my declamation, which is the first fifty lines of the third book of ‘Paradise Lost’.  Read quite a bit of ‘Northanger Abbey’.  Today was the first proper half-holiday.  In the evening there was a short meeting of the Literary Society (of which I was Secretary) in which we discussed the term’s programme and the ‘Petreian’^[5]

Wednesday 30^th

In the evening the Warden heard Upper VIth  Declamations, as L.A.G.Strong is coming down tomorrow to judge.  I was not chosen for the finals but only as a runner-up. ^[6] These sort of days are very unsatisfactory.  Had a very nice letter from  home.  Apparently Dennis is using my motor bike to go to and from Portsmouth, while the Morris is being repaired.

Thursday May 1^st

It being St Philip and St James Day we had Chapel in the morning and no early school!  It is nice to be able to on in bed in the morning.

In the evening I went and listened to the end of the declamations and to the summary by L.A.G.Strong.  It was a brilliant speech and showed the amazing control which he has over his voice, changing from normal, to base, and to Irish.  Two tips he gave us were: before performing relax completely in a corner, go limp and take twelve deep breaths, and it will cure harshness and breathlessness caused by nervousness, this tip was given him by Freddie Grisewood.  The other tip was that variation in speed in declaiming is far more important than variation of stress and tone.

Friday 3^rd

In the evening I went and watched the R.C.J.A.D.S. act ‘Richard of Bordeaux’ by Gordon Daviot.  The audience rather spoilt the play and behaved very badly.  In the very difficult circumstances of production it was a magnificent feat.  The acting was remarkable good, and though there was quite a bit of prompting, some parts were very long.

Monday 5^th

Started drilling for the Guard of Honour for Princess Elizabeth of which I am to be part.  Very boring corps and did practically nothing, except a bit of section battle drill about which I knew nothing.

Told off for not signing up a form for a state scholarship.  Very bad day indeed.  Everything went wrong.

Tuesday 6^th

Weighed and measured in the morning.  12 stone 4, a disgusting weight and height 5-8 8/10 which is less than last term. (I was still 11st 13 at Henley, 10lbs more than the year before.)

Wednesday 7^th

Did section Battle Drill again and I had it at my finger’s ends this time and it went much better.  It is amazing how much difference knowing what one is doing makes and how much extra confidence it gives one.

Thursday 8^th

Did some more Guard of Honour drill and got on much better.  Issued with bayonets.  Mine is sand-blasted and cannot be cleaned.  Hurrah!

Wrote an essay in the evening on ‘How far was the Renaissance inevitably pagan?’  pretty filthy subject.

Practiced for the Radley Retrospect, centenary episode play, a game of Radley Football, early 20th Cent.  Most amusing and highly hilarious.

Monday  12^th

Did some more drill for the Royal Guard of honour.  It is quite good fun and the sergeant major is most amusing.  on parade in the afternoon we started doing Platoon Battle Drill.  It certainly did not go very well but I expect it will improve.

Tuesday 13^th

Owing to my damned superstitiousness I expected to have an unlucky (damn fool) day, but didn’t.  Very good one instead.  Had a most a livening history period discussing our  essays on the Renaissance and enjoyed  it no end.

Wednesday 14th

Corps in the morning, Ceddie^[7] took over and he was awful at Platoon Battle Drill.  He takes such ridiculous ideas into his head that he upsets everything.

 

There are entries about rowing most days but they are merely comments about how an outing went or about sculling or the weather conditions.  At this stage of the term the selection of oarsmen for the first and second VIIIs was in progress, a process that culminated in the Trial VIII races to be held on May 17^th.  I had put on a lot of weight since the previous summer (the best part of a stone).  I was grossly overweight and was in grave danger of not getting into the 1^st VIII.  I learned this much later.  I don’t think I realized how precarious my position was.  At Henley I was demoted to 2 compared with 4 in 1946.

 

Thursday May 15^th
Ascension Day.  Whole Holiday.

I expected the weather to be bad, as it has been the last three Ascension Days, but it wasn’t.  It was lovely all day.  Started off with Chapel before breakfast, at which I communicated.  A quick start after breakfast into Oxford by taxi.  Did some shopping and got my hair cut.  Bought ‘Henry Vaughan’ by Hutchinson, which I am looking forward to reading; also a record by Andre Kostalanetz.  Then went and met George’s (Birdwood) girl-friend Rosanne Mills at the bus station.  Then we canoed down to the King’s Arms at Sandford where we met the others.  We got on very well and the boat moved quite fast.  Had a good lunch.  After lunch went through the lock to Radley, where they got out to look at the boathouse and I went on down a backwater.  It was rather fun winding round corners, not knowing what one would meet next.  We then went back to Oxford quite fast.  It was marvellous fun and beautifully warm and I loved it all.  I left them at the Randolph and wandered around before going to see ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ at the New Theatre.  Eventually it was time to go there.  Several other Radleians there.  Enjoyed it very much indeed, a lot more than when I read it last time.  Rushed to supper at White’s, then to a taxi with the others outside the playhouse, then back to college.  Tutor v. white as we were v. late. (‘white’ I think must be Radley slang for furious).

Friday 16^th

No nasty repercussions after yesterday’s adventures and lawlessness.  More Guard of Honour drill.  Read some of ‘Henry Vaughan’ and it brought back memories of the times which I have spent in Wales.  It is curious how my liking for him grew up.  Spending the war in Wales we naturally went away sometimes, and one of those times was to Llangynidr.  I loved it the first moment I saw it and longed to explore it and find out more about the country.  Each time I went back there I loved it more, and we did go quite often because the fishing was so good and the country  so nice.  I was studying English Literature as well for a scholarship and when it came to the seventeenth century and to Vaughan I grew interested in him.  At the hotel Mrs Jones was also interested in him, and we went to Tretower and then I read about him and so it goes on.

Saturday 17^th

Trial VIII races.  Starting opposite the boathouse up to 2^nd gate.  The course had been altered because the towpath was so bad above Black Bridge and the coaches could not watch us.  They drew away from us at the very start, but they were the heavier crew.  We clung onto them, doing a slower stroke and gradually began to draw up, they gave a ten which made no difference, we gave her one and drew up a bit, then they gave her another, and so did we and drew up to about half a length.  We lost about quarter of a length circumnavigating a steamer and they drew away slightly at the end.  It was a very good race and we did not lose nearly so badly as we were expecting to.  Then I had to judge the sculling races and wasted two hours doing that.  Then I sculled for about quarter of an hour.

Went to a debate in the evening, but was very bored and started drawing the Mansion, did quite a good sketch.  Left in the middle, and went to try and hear nightingales in Little Wood without any success.

Had a little party with Miss Wheatear at night.  We ragged her as usual, but she never seems to notice.^[8]

Sunday 18^th

We were supposed to be going into Abingdon this afternoon for a Youth Parade, it being Empire Youth Sunday.  But it rained all morning and it was cancelled.  We got off congregational practice to go, but we didn’t and it all turned out very nice.  We had a short talk from Major Waye^[9].  It was amusing as he said he had sent a time-table to F/M Montgomery for his approval re. his visit, and he altered the whole thing.  As far as I can see he is coming to see the college and not the corps.

Played a very hearty game of squash with Donald Waterer, lost 4-3.  This was a great improvement on the last time I played him, when I lost 5-0.

Tuesday 20^th

I heard much to my dismay that the sculling races were this afternoon and not tomorrow as I had hoped.  Racing Davenport whom I really didn’t expect to beat as he has been doing much more sculling than me.  We had to wait for a long time up at the start because of steamers and launches, but eventually we started.  I did an atrocious start and did not settle down till third gate.  We were neck and neck for half a gate and then I did a few good strokes and drew away.  I kept ahead till just after fourth gate when he drew level by an enormous effort.  I kept going with an effort and managed to pull away to about four lengths at the finish, when I was so dead I could hardly move.  I never realised sculling could be so gruelling.  It was nearly the hardest race I have rowed.

Thursday 22^nd

Raced against Craig^[10] in the sculling.  Started quite well, but he got ahead, then I started catching up but crossed into his water and then had to stop and get out of his way and from that time on it was his race.  It was unfortunate otherwise it might have been a good race.  But all the same my sculling is improving fast. 

In the evening we had another rehearsal of Radley Football for the centenary play.  It was great fun.

Sunday 26^th

Went round with Mr. Waye inspecting for where to do a scheme which we have to for General Inspection.  He is so narrow-minded and obstinate that nothing original appeals to him.  We did not really settle anything.

Monday 26^th

On corps again we practiced for one scheme which Waye had expressly said was no good.  At the end they had a stand-up fight and argument and persuaded him that our own was best.

Tuesday 27^th

Wrote a history essay on Charles V.

Wednesday 28^th

J.V.P.Thomson read my history essay and said that it was a very good one and only just short of being very outstanding.  It was very gratifying to hear this, but I was most surprised.

On corps we practiced the march past in toto for Monty and it went very well and from reports looked very good.  It was exceedingly hot and  lining up for half an hour was a bit of a strain, but very few fainted, less than usual.

In the evening we practiced the Procession into Chapel for the centenary.  it went all right, but no better.  I am an acolyte and carry a candle.

Had my first bathe of the year.  Lovely!

Thursday 29^th

Went down to nearly the start of the Trial VIII course in the VIII.  It is still going very well.  I am still surprised that it hasn’t gone wrong yet, as it usually does after a few days in a light boat.  I expect it will soon.  Had another very pleasant bathe and sunbathe.

Sunday, the Glorious First of June

Had a glorious, fairly long bathe down at the river it was beautifully hot but the river is disgustingly dirty. 

We had a service outside in the evening to the North of the Mansion, in the shade.  Father Biggart of the Community of the Resurrection preached.  He is delightful little man.  He talked about the connection of his Community with Radley.  It was founded by Bishop Gore a former warden, about 70 years ago.

Monday June 2^nd

The heat wave continues.  We were allowed to walk about now in ‘change’ and go into periods, meals and chapel in it.  This is quite a revolution in ideas and a blessing.  On corps we had to run around in full equipment doing our scheme and damned hot it was too.  The whole blasted platoon grumbled and groused, and made a thorough nuisance of themselves.

Also started to arrange to sell the ‘Petreian’ which comes out next Monday.  We want to sell as many copies on that day as possible.

Another Procession practice into chapel this evening.  I am beginning to get rather bored with them.  But only another week more now.

Had another lovely bathe down at the river.  The water is boiling hot now.

Wednesday June 4^th

On corps we did another rehearsal of the march past.  It is quite unnecessary to do it so many times.

Thursday June 5^th

Had a rehearsal of the bishop’s chaplains and acolytes.  The organiser, I don’t quite know what he calls himself was there.  He is a very decent man and the way he treats the bishops’ idiosyncrasies is amusing to say the least.  Had a final procession rehearsal this evening

An amusing incident has occurred.  Shop accused us of stealing 20 glasses and refused to serve drinks in glasses.  In revenge Shop was boycotted for a day and it would have continued had not the Warden stopped it.

Friday June 6^th

More procession rehearsals.  Dress rehearsal of the Retrospect in the evening.  Very good fun although it rained quite a bit.  Spent most of my time taking photographs, but I do not know what they will turn out like.  Received Pa’s camera from home.  I shall be able to take some photographs now.

I was seriously into photography by this time.  Now that I had my father’s camera I could do more.  I was buying 35mm film in bulk and loading it into cassettes myself, and I had a developing tank plus the necessary chemicals so that I could develop my own films in the bath room and see the results at once.  I had one major disaster with the one film of the Retrospect; I was in too much of a hurry to develop it and ran the rinsing water in at too high a temperature and washed all the emulsion off the film.  Except for that, the negatives are still perfect 55 years later!

 Saturday June 7^th

We had a ‘dress rehearsal’ of the guard of honour, in which we wasted ¾ hour standing around doing nothing.

Another retrospect ‘musical coordination’ rehearsal.  It was exceedingly amusing.  Nicholas Hannen ^[11]was there and reciting a poem about winning the Ladies Plate, which he had just learned.  He hardly knew it and made remarks all the time.  (It doesn’t sound amusing but it was.)

Sunday June 8^th

Mattins and a very moving sermon by Dean Henderson  ^[12]on the college and the centenary.  Followed directly after lunch by another complete dress rehearsal of the Retrospect.  But for the wind it went very well all through.  It is a very good show and the continuity, between isolated scenes, is very clever, done by a series of narrators.  I took quite a few photos which I hope will come out.

I spent the evening in arranging for the sale of the Petreian, which I hope will go according to plan.  1200 copies have been printed and if we are lucky we ought to be able to sell 600-700.

Monday June 9^th

The day, the red-letter day in the history of Radley, woke bright and early.  Went to communion where we all wore surplices for the first time.  It was a moving sight to see it all.

There was not all that much to do in the morning.  I spent the time cleaning my uniform and selling the Petreian.  News began to come in that it was selling like wildfire everywhere.  Then followed a quick and filthy sandwich lunch.  A hectic rush to get everything finally settled, last minute discoveries that things aren’t there.  Then…The Procession went off quite well^[13].  The Princess party, led by the counsel (sic) was late.  The bishops were nearly late because the Archbishop of Canterbury kept on telling funny stories.  I was carrying a candlestick which looked very heavy but wasn’t.!  A very good service and address by Cantuar.  After we had processed out, I rushed to change into uniform.  Then a very good tea, with meringues and ice creams, a rush onto parade and march over.  The drill went off very well.  A speech in Latin by Wells (head boy), reply by Princess and reply by Dean Henderson.  The latter two were excellent.  Then Jonathan Wilkes (the Warden’s son) presented the bouquet.  It came as a complete surprise and was so beautifully naïve.^[14]  We then marched back and were congratulated.  I discovered that the sales of the Petreian were nearly running into the thousand mark.  Most gratifying.

Met Basil Mosenthal and Ian Henderson (two ORs I knew) who asked me out to supper in Oxford.  Didn’t refuse, though it meant breaking college rules (brave boy!).  Had a sort of meal at Kemps, a cafeteria, and some beer at the Mitre Tavern.

Back again for the Retrospect.  It went marvellously and in the still evening air you could hear every word.  Then was a pleasant surprise when a pony and trap was driven on!  Nicholas Hannen was very good and so was F.H.Grisewood O.R., BBC (he was one of the BBC news readers).

The fireworks display which followed was the most marvellous and fascinating thing I have ever seen.  Hundreds of rockets of all sorts shapes and sizes, that came down in red, blue, green, yellow and silver stars, many of them exploding again into separate rockets..  Huge catherine wheels six feet high, a sparkling duck which walked, a waterfall forty feet long cascading silver foam, an acrobat who did high jinks and sparked.  Small rockets that span and whizzed, then a Radley crest and a picture of the King, all in fireworks.  The beauty surpassed words to describe it.

Tuesday June 10^th

Got up v. late, headache, tired.  Work in morning – row in afternoon which went very well.  Clear up from yesterday – anticlimax.  Bed early!  Lovely weather.

Wednesday June 11^th

Had a very pleasant  sleep on in the morning as it is St Barnabus day.  On corps we did Platoon Battle Drill, which went absolutely atrociously first time through, but the second time, after various threats, it went quite well on the whole.

In the evening I went into Oxford and saw the Agamemnon of Aeschylus, in English, translated by Louis Macneice, which I enjoyed very much.  It was in Christ Church.

Friday June 13^th

Today would have been Michael’s 23^rd birthday if he had lived.

Saturday June 14^th

In the evening went to see Menander’s ‘Rape of the Lock’ by Sir Gilbert Murray.  (Presumably in Oxford)  It was most interesting as the stage was in the centre of the Town Hall with the audience all around.  The players remained on all the time and retired to the corners when not playing.  Also very amusing.

Monday June 16^th

Hectic preparations  for the advent of the great Field Marshall.  It will be a most interesting day tomorrow I think.  In the P.T. break we practiced Platoon Battle Drill.  It went reasonably well, but Ceddie puts our backs up so much that it is a wonder we do any thing for him.  In the afternoon we did our scheme, in full equipment and tin hats etc.  They weren’t as heavy as I thought they would be.  The scheme went very well.

Tuesday June 17^th

The great day.  Field Marshall Monty was supposed to arrive at 10.30, so we get on parade at 9.00!  We dismissed for about ¼ hour after being inspected quickly.  Then another inspection when we came back on parade and formed up.  After a long wait in which we were given various instructions and false alarms he eventually came preceded by two outriders of ours, in an enormous Rolls Royce 12 cylinder, a very powerful and beautiful looking car.  We presented arms when he came out.  There was nearly a blunder then as an aeroplane was flying overhead when we were ordering arms and some people ordered before the word, but it was covered up.  Then the inspection followed in which he walked up and down the lines very alert and seeing everything.  This was followed by the march past the saluting base, at which it nearly rained, but held off.  We marched to the south of the Mansion where we assembled to hear him talk.  I want to give the substance of his speech as fully as I can.  He first asked if you could hear well around here, the Warden said you could and told us to close in all round and make ourselves comfortable.  At frequent intervals an aeroplane would fly overhead and stop him talking and we would have to wait.  He began by saying that he had not composed any speech but that on the way here he had thought up something.  He condescendingly said that he had accepted the invitation of the corps because he had not been around this part of the world and was interested to see the country (not the corps?).  He was a very busy man and had condescended to give us part of his time.  Next Saturday he was  off to Japan by air at six-o-clock in the morning, to Africa and Egypt, Palestine, India, Australia, Japan and would not be back till mid-August, after that he was going to Mexico.  He had decided to give us some advice.  Now this wasn’t the sort of advice one normally received that sent one to sleep but real good stuff.  He would tell us how to win all our school matches before we had begun.  he would show us how to win a battle.  As an example he would show us one of which we might have heard.  He had banned the press and women as some of the stuff he was telling us was not public.  There was an absolutely obvious press photographer staring him in the face, but all the same he pointedly hoped the press weren’t there.  When he arrived in Egypt the position was this.  The obvious thing was to separate the Italians and the Germans, by themselves the Italians were very bad fighters.  The Germans had sandwiched themselves around them.  But before the battle was begun it was won.  He studied the enemy and especially the commander Rommel.  He hung his photo in his caravan.  people thought he was mad but he was so used to that, that he had begun to take it as a compliment.  That when one commander was defeated his photo was replaced by that of the next.  He smashed first a big bulge in the middle then delivered a series of attacks to the North so hard that the Germans were forced to move their crack troops there to stop a break-through, leaving in the South a thin ring of Italians.  He had withdrawn meanwhile a number of troops from the battle, refreshed them and re-equipped them.  In spite of frantic messages from Churchill he continued in his purpose.  A smashing blow in the South won the battle.^[15]

But before the battle was begun it was won.  You must study and plan carefully and stick to your plan, never waver if things go badly, go on.  Doing this on the rugger field you will always win.  Get into the mind of the enemy commander, make your plan, let all your men know exactly what is the plan of battle, and their own little part, how that fits in.  The Germans had three great qualities, competence & technical skill with their weapons, skill in using ground, if a German got well-established in ground you would have a hard job to remove him, & iron discipline, which never cracked even in the worst time.  He was going to give 2 books to the school, his own.  They were about the war and by a commander, which had never been done before, though it ought to have been.  About the war, and not the chaos which was now reigning.  He had signed them.  He also wanted to ask the  Warden to give us a whole holiday, and he would make sure it was a good one, and would find out.  He also wanted to congratulate us for our steadiness on parade, which meant that we would be steady in battle.  Shortly afterwards he went in and we rushed round to do our battle drill.  He didn’t watch us but a host of other officers from the War Office did.  It went very well and we were just going through it a second time when Ceddie stopped us and said we were short of time.  We later learned that the audience were out of his control and he sent them away.  We rushed off.  Sergeants and above to have our photos taken in a group with Monty. It was incredible, he just loves publicity and he enjoyed every moment of having his photo taken.  An amusing comment on the photographer who was a very mournful chap, ‘he needs a hair-cut and some discipline’.  There was a whole barrage of photographers of college and he posed in front of them for about 3 minutes (and I posed just behind!).  They were interested in his car and he turned round and said ‘ a nice one isn’t it’ and ‘a great opportunity for the photographers’.

After lunch we all lined the drive to cheer him as he went away.  Immediately he saw us he got out of his car and walked the whole way down the drive very slowly revelling in all the cheers. It was an incredible thing that a man could so love cheers and praise without becoming entirely swollen-headed.  In his talk self-conceit showed itself in every word, yet it was carried off so well that it was effective.  It was all part of a plan.

We then changed into our battle equipment and began to prepare for our scheme. After endless waiting about this eventually began.  It started slowly but soon warmed up and with plenty of smoke and blanks was very effective I think.  Lt. Col. Keely came and talked to us then.^[16] 

Wednesday June 18^th

Thanks to Monty we had a whole holiday today.  It was not really very much of a holiday, except that there was no work.  There were ordinary games in the afternoon.  We took advantage of it to have two outings in the VIII.

Thursday June 19^th

Early school once more!  I am rather behind hand with my work and I must really make an effort and catch up, but it is almost impossible.

We rowed the boat up to Oxford this afternoon, whence it goes to Marlow by road.  We went up with the second VIII.  I always enjoy these longish rows.

Saturday June 21^st

Got up just in time for breakfast.  Left college in taxis for Marlow at 9.30.  Arrived about 11 changed in Marlow Rowing Club and got out the boat.  Had a hunt all around for Mum and Pa but couldn’t find them.  Left the rafts at about twenty to twelve.  We were racing Bryanston and London Hospitals.  We got straight and before I knew what had happened we were off, to a very bad start.  We never really lengthened out and gradually dropped behind Bryanston then stroke packed up nearly and at length we finished an atrocious course about a length and a bit behind.  We all felt like nothing on earth.  Daddy greeted me on the raft.  We got the boat out and rushed down to see the second VIII.  They won easily by 3 lengths, which revived me a bit.  Saw Ma and Aunt Marj and grannie.  We trooped back dismally and changed.  R.E.E. (Joe Eason, the coach) came over and put a brave face on things, but we were all very dismal.

The 1^st VIII were all going up to our house to rest if we had won, but instead the 2^nd did.  They had lunch and me with them, an hour’s rest and down to Marlow again.  This time they just lost to Eton II which was a pity.  I spent the whole time till about 6.30 watching.  Went home to supper, but was so tired and had a splitting headache that I just wasn’t v. hungry.  Came back by car.

Sunday June 22^nd

Rather depressed most of the day.  Did very little all the day.  Tried to do some work but rather failed.  However in the evening there was a very interesting meeting of the literary society, at which Mr Bateson, lecturer in English at St Johns Oxford, gave a paper on ‘Cycles of English Literature’.  His theory was that all English literature runs in cycles of about 150 years each split up into five generations and each cycle related to the political and social history of the time.  This was a most interesting and plausible theory, and led to much interesting discussion.

Monday June 23^rd

We went down to the boathouse at 3.45 and had to wait 1 ¾ hours until the boats arrived from Marlow via Oxford.  Craig, stroke, has gone ‘off games’, which in other words means he has had the chuck.  He packed up at Marlow and panicked and so he hasn’t much excuse, and apparently R.E.E was distrustful of him anyhow.  Elliot 2^nd VIII stroke has taken over.

Wednesday 25^th

Started composing poetry in bed last night!  Went in for the O.R. French Prize in the evening.  Didn’t realise it was going to be harder than Higher Cert.  Still got on pretty well.

Thursday 26^th

The term seems to be progressing very quickly and there are only two days to Gaudy now.  Spend all work time revising and preparing for Higher Cert. which starts on the 10^th July.  I am sure I shan’t do nearly as well this year as I have done less work.

Saturday 28^th

Gaudy.  Breakfast at 9 then rowing….went back to college where Ma, Pa, & Grannie met me, went with them to a buffet lunch in a Marquee.  College is looking very grand with 3 marquees by the Pavilion and the whole lawn to the south of the Mansion covered with them for a dance tonight.  After lunch went and watched the cricket for an hour or two v. hot.  Then tea!  Very good.  After tea there was a demonstration of drill by the J.T.C. which was very good and the P.T. team gave a wonderful display.  Then followed a speech by the warden in which he thanked many people for their services and looked forward to success for our next 100 years.  Quite a good speech.  Chapel was immediately after and it was fearfully hot.  Ma & Pa didn’t come in.  We went out to dinner at the White Hart in Dorchester, where we had quite a good meal in unbearably hot surroundings.  A very good and enjoyable day.

A most amusing incident happened at the White Hart.  When I arrived there was a woman telephoning in the bar, speaking with a very loud voice in a most affected way, so that the whole room was roaring with laughter.  Later it turned out she was the wife of Nicholas Hannen, who was staying there on his way down the Thames.

Sunday 29^th

After a Sung Communion with the Bishop of Oxford attending I went home.  Uncle Tom (Gummer) drove me with David and dropped me at the house.  There after I did almost nothing the whole day, but lounge around lazily & went for one or two little trips on my motorbike, and lay down and read and eat.  Came back at about 9.15.

Monday June 30^th

At 3.30 we went off by bus to Henley to practice and have dinner at Leander.  It was very pleasant to be back at Henley again and to see the course and to smell the smell in the tents.  Had a good outing.  Paddled down to the start in a few pieces at about 25 and one or two tens.  Then from the start posts we rowed a minute against Reading University, whom we beat by a length and a bit.  Then we paddled up the course a bit more and rowed a start against  Kent School and gained about a yard.  After that came in.  Kent School ought to win the Thames Cup O.K..  Changed and went out to watch the boats.  Saw one or two ‘great men’, Jack Beresford and Gully Nickolls.  Had a very good supper by the kindness of Sir Owen Wightman.  Then came back and straight to bed.

 Tuesday July 1^st

Henley is all I think and do anything about now.  We are going to race St Catherines and hear awful stories about 3 bumps in May week, but they were beaten by Jesus B in a heat at Marlow so they can’t be all that good; or can they?

We went to Henley at 2.30 this afternoon by bus.  There is a very nice driver who goes along at a tremendous speed.  I know the road so well by now that it goes by quite fast.  Pleasant weather, little or no wind, but sultry.  Very good outing.  Quite gentle.  Did one minute against Trinity, who are Head of the River at Oxford, and took just over half a length off them.  Went down to the start and did a ten from there.  We are improving fast and getting faster.

Wednesday July 2^nd

The first day of Henley.  The whole school are coming today by train.  We leave by bus at 9.  Nasty feeling in my stomach, but I can never think why it is there.  I am not frightened.  I suppose it is just the thought of a spell of hard work.  We changed slowly and went into the tent.  Got the boat out and left.  There were plenty of Radley supporters about, which is always cheering.  We were the second race at 11.05.  Turned round.  The first race went off, and we went up to the start boat.  Cox took her in a bit fast.  A thousand things were whirling through my mind.  All to be resolved in a minute.  ‘I’ll ask you once if you’re ready’ says Harcourt Gold, starting us.  ‘Radley are you straight?’ ‘Yes’  ‘Catherines are you straight?’  ‘No’  ‘Touch her gently two’ ‘Are you straight Catherines?’  ‘Yes’ ‘Are you ready.   Row’.  Off .  We started fairly well and in a minute were ¾ of a length up.  A good lengthen out, the Barrier looms up in the corner of my eye, Catherines give her ten, a good up, they come up, then we give her ten, and draw away.  Their bow is right opposite me now.  Keep her there.  Cath’s ten, up a bit, going well.  In, out, in, out.  Fawley coming up.  Cath’s give her ten, up to 1/3 of a length, give her ten.  Ten hard strokes draw us away, bow opposite me now.  Going well.  Pretty exhausted.  Thank goodness Remenham.  Getting on, how much longer.  Oh Hell they’re coming up, who cares, blast, ten, in out in out, good, steady out old chap, hell they’re coming up again, ¼ length, ‘bow’ is opposite me now, thank God the enclosures, bring her in, two, three, twenty-two, three, four, ¼ length still, nearly there, flags down, now.  Beautiful rest!  Chorus of ‘well rowed’  Bloody well rowed I am sure!  Boat in, rest, shower, change.  That’s over.  Now for 1^st and 3^rd Trinity, who’ve just beaten Jesus B in 6 seconds better time than us!  We went down to Remenham and watched the racing for a bit…..Lunch, a drink of beer.  Then a rest under the trees at Remenham.  Quiet for some time, and then with a loud bang the races begin again, and except for a whine from the fair, and a bang now and again all is uncomfortable peace.  Then up again and ready for the race.  Felt pretty awful, weak at the knees and tight round the head, but O.K.  Went very gently down to the start and had a long awful wait there. Felt pretty awful, my mind a blank, as though I was drugged.  Then off!  Less delay than usual.  Good start, very, up a bit, lengthen out, they’re going away I’m afraid, more and more, they slip out of sight.  A ten, up a bit.  Then with beautiful rhythm we went on and on.  We held them most of the way over and they never drew away more.  Quite a good time and better than this morning.  Pretty tired.  Still, we didn’t do so badly and didn’t disgrace ourselves.  Went over to Phyllis Court for tea and broke my training with some strawberries.  Pa & Ma , Grannie, the Halls were all there.  The bus left at 7, arrived back and enjoyed very good meal, with some beer to finish.

Thursday July 3^rd

A very enjoyable day at Henley.  Thanks to the Warden we were allowed off all periods and left by bus at 9.30.  I managed to get a Steward’s ticket and so enjoyed myself.  Sat in Stewards till lunch.  There were some very good races in the morning.  Went over to Phyllis Court for lunch where Ma & Grannie were, and had a very good lunch.  Back to the enclosure.  Had tea at Phyllis Court again and came back and watched the last races, gallivanted around the fair & boozed.  Bus left at 6.15.  Had a hair-raising drive back as the driver was partially drunk.  An excellent meal in Hall.

Friday July 4^th

Spent a quiet day, doing a normal programme.  Quite enjoyed it, but it seemed a bit flat after yesterday.

Saturday July 5^th

Last day of Henley.  Ordered a taxi to take us there, thought it would never arrive as it was so late, but eventually turned up.  Quick journey there.  Absolutely crowded.  Racing didn’t start till 11.45, so after having a drink I went over to Phyllis Court, where I got in after a bit of wangling.  Ma & Pa & Dennis & Grannie, Dennis Hall and Denise (his daughter, whom I fancied!) there.  Watched the races before lunch.  Had a reasonable lunch, after which I went and hogged cherries with Dennis.  I scrounged two Steward’s enclosure badges with him, and we went over.  Went to the fair & saw the Wall of Death.  Not bad at all.  Watched finals.  Went over to Phyllis Court again.  Had a rather scratchy tea.  Saw the rest of the races.  Had supper with the Birdwoods, and then gallivanted round the fair, going on everything & squandering all my money.  Went back and arrived at 10.30.  V. good day.

Monday July 7^th

Work once again after a week’s lapse.  And hard work at that as there is only a week to go to the exams. 

The diary stops here.  I do not remember much about the rest of the term and my letters home have disappeared.  Because my parents lived so close my visits home were growing more frequent, replacing the letters, and telephoning home also seems to have become easier as I got more senior.  The main constraint was petrol rationing, which became more stringent in the middle of my last term; but the trains were good and so were the buses.  I expect the end of this term was like other ends of term, with exams, social IV races, and other school competitions.  I did well in Higher Certificate with a Distinction in English which was a good start towards a Scholarship.  I owe all my achievements in English to my English master, Charles

Wrinch, who taught me English for, I think, my last two years.  I remember him first pacing up and down the classroom reciting great chunks from Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley and the other romantic poets with enormous enthusiasm, waving his hands around.  It did not take long for me to become enthused as well.  From there we went on to other poetry, backwards to Milton and the metaphysical poets, including Henry Vaughan, or Iscanus (of the Usk) as he called himself.  Its extraordinary to me now that I spent hours in the holidays reading Milton’s ’Paradise Lost’.  And we went forwards to Tennyson and Browning and Matthew Arnold, but my knowledge of even later poets is limited.  Charles Wrinch also introduced me to the glories of English prose, particularly the English novelists and I read profusely in the lesser known writings of Fielding and Smollett, as well as the better known ones like Jane Austen, the Brontes, Thackeray and so on.  I have never forgotten my father dipping into Thackeray’s ’Henry Esmond’ which I had left in the car.  I was walking in the Black Mountains and he had agreed to meet me at the end of the Grwyne Fechan and I was late and he started reading the book to pass the time.  When I arrived he asked how on earth I could read such stuff!  By this stage in my school life I was doing increasing amounts of what we called ‘study periods’, that is working alone in my study. So I spent many happy hours reading the great English novelists in my study and it was called work!

All this lead to other literary involvements such as entering for the school literary prize with an essay on Jane Austen.  I know my essay was very long, very descriptive and not at all analytical and I did not win the prize.  I became the Secretary of the Literary Society, the Librarian of the main school library (the

Wilson Library in the Mansion) and joined in many of the school activities related to literature, strange for someone who should have been a rowing ‘hearty’.  I don’t think in fact we rowers were really ‘hearties’.  In Boyd’s ‘History of Radley College’ there is an interesting little snippet (page 358); ‘The coach of the Eight which visited Oslo in 1946 noticed with interest on the voyage home that six of his crew were reading Shakespeare (plays being supplied by one of them who was an English Scholarship candidate)’.  That must have been Jeremy Debenham as I was not yet a scholarship candidate at that point.

I know I fancied myself as a theatre critic and tried my hand at writing criticism.  I wrote a review of ‘Richard II’ for the Petreian which I hoped would be published.  It was.  I did go to the theatre as much as I could and subscribed to a magazine called ‘Theatre World’ that was devoted to the London stage.  When I read theatre or film reviews nowadays I realise how pretentious they are; I would not have made a good theatre critic.

During the summer holidays, apart from our usual family holiday in Llangynidr, (we had by this time started staying at Gliffaes with the Brabners rather than the Red Lion), Dennis and I went away together without our parents for the first time.  Dennis had left the Navy by this time and had his heart set on becoming a farmer.  For some strange reason it was very difficult at that period to get into farming with no experience and no money and he was at a loose end.  We went to the Lake District.  We drove in his 1937 8 horse power Morris Tourer, his pride and joy.  We must  have stayed with my godmother Dody at Frodsham on the way up.  We had booked ourselves into a reasonable hotel somewhere in the Lake District, I have no idea just where.  It was at this point in my life that I first realised just what a difficult person my brother could be, perhaps fussy is a better word.  We had only been at this hotel for a couple of nights when he announced he could not stand the place.  As far as I was concerned there was nothing wrong with it, but Dennis found it too genteel.  He wanted somewhere more remote, where he could do what he wanted.  Since one of the objects of the holiday was to revisit the farm where we had all holidayed in 1939, Dennis decided he wanted to stay there if we could find it.  We knew pretty well where it was, somewhere on the east side of Ullswater, around Howtown or Martindale.  But search as we might we could not find it.  Why we never rang my father and asked I never have understood, he would have known immediately since it was only eight years back.  Dennis’s stubbornness or independence perhaps, combined with my cowtowing to him!  We never did find it.  We did find a farm that would take us in.  I remember it was awful, with joints of salted bacon hanging above the stove in the kitchen and smelling accordingly, and a hot uncomfortable bedroom.  Dennis did not like it either and so we moved on again!  Where I don’t know.  We walked the hills all day, but Dennis decided that the Lake District was too crowded for his liking.  Compared with the Black Mountains, at that time where you could go all day and never see a soul, this was true.  But in those days there were not really that many people in the Lake District.  However, he said he would never go back; and he never did.  I didn’t either until about 40 years later. It shows what a strong influence Dennis had on me. 

The other place we wanted to find was the house where our mother’s parents had lived during their holidays in the early years of the century, Borwick Lodge, near Hawkshead.  We did find that house as it was marked on the map but neither of us dared walk up to the door and ask to see inside.  We had to content ourselves with looking from a distance.  We were neither of us very brazen.  Borwick Lodge was converted to a B&B sometime in the eighties and I have stayed there twice.  It is a big house with wonderful views and I can see why my mother had loved it so much.

Back to Radley for my last term.  The end of the summer term had seen a big exodus of the senior boys, many of whom had stayed on for the centenary.  If I had not been staying on to take a scholarship I too would have left because I would have been called up on my eighteenth birthday in August to start my National Service.  As it was I had been given a six month deferment by the army until February 1948.  Those who had stayed on, like me, suddenly found ourselves very important.  I became Head of Social, a School Prefect, I was in the Upper Sixth Form and by the middle of term I was in the 1^st rugger XV.  So it was a good term.  I had passed my Higher Certificate so all I had to do was prepare for my English Scholarship to Pembroke.  I don’ think this was particularly onerous, just reading novels in my study.  It was a very good rugger XV and we beat Stowe, Cheltenham and Wellington (all these for the first time in Radley history), but lost to Eastbourne because they exhausted us by making us walk all round the town in the morning.   I had also been given additional responsibilities in Chapel.  Apart from reading lessons because I was a school prefect (which I enjoyed), I served at Holy Communion in the mornings.  The Warden was very High Church and had communion every morning.  There was never anybody there except him and the server.  I was the server from time to time.  They were wonderful services of absolute peace and quiet, before the school had begun to stir in the early dawn before it was light.  At other services, when the Warden was taking them, the whole school cringed because the Warden insisted on intoning everything possible including very long prayers and psalms and he did not do it at all well, and it was painful.  I went to Pembroke College in Cambridge for my scholarship exams in mid-December.  All I remember was the cold.  And so my Radley years came to a happy end.