Roy Brocklebank (Meadow 56-57 and FS 57-61) sent in the following recollections. “I enjoyed reading the July Bulletin, with particular reference to George Robson and his story about John Railton (here). By great coincidence I walked across Tresco airfield on the Tuesday before. I doubt the airstrip has been improved since then as it is a grass strip with concrete blocks painted white. Photo may be seen below:

I also read Peter Royds recollections, with my memories differing in some detail. At the time I believe there was at least one day boy, Brownrigg, whose parents owned the garage between the station and Foundation. My recollection of the Privileges Test was similar except that it was conducted in the Senior Studies. One had to wait outside, when summoned to dash inside and stand on a tuck box behind the door. I know we were not allowed to look at our interrogators, who would fire random questions at us before failing us, and our having to repeat the process a few days later. One question I recall was about the lamps on the post by the Chapel. There were no lights they having been removed during the war. As for a master accompanying two prefects at lights out, I have no recollection of any master being involved. I do not remember prefects having a bed in each dorm, only Big Dorm, where the most junior pupils at the south end had to open every window so that the top and bottom were equally sized. Brutal in winter but probably necessary with thirty barely washed pupils! There was a clean bath once a week and showers after rugby. The limit was the volume of two huge copper hot water tanks in the basement. I also remember: Jam sandwiches – raspberry jam blended with margarine and spread sparingly on two thin slices of sliced bread. Never again! At meals, Grace, but always in Latin. I recall also roll call in the evening, with the question and response, ‘Brocklebank?’ ‘Adsum.’ Rather than ‘turn it off’- if a junior looked at a senior too long, the signal was a downward finger stroke on the nose. The lapel mark worn by the 6th Form was not then a white flash but a length of Royal Air Force rank braid for Flying Officers and upwards. The matron while I was in Foundation was Miss Appleyard. Worried parents (including my mother while my father was at sea) would ring Miss A and to much embarrassment the unfortunate child was summoned from prep to the telephone.”

 

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