Chris Lord (G 53-57) writes:

“Tim Brown’s letter in January exercised the old grey cells. I too was on that cycle ride led by HJB. I think that on the return journey we kept left at the fork just west of Ennerdale Bridge whereas we should have turned right. We cycled through Ennerdale Forest and returned to base via Egremont.

I was just behind HJ when he wobbled off the road and fell into the ditch amongst the trees. I thought Mike Green did a pretty good job with us new boys; he certainly gave me some useful tips. I think Tim Brown, HJB and one or two others were scholars who started in IVa; the rest of us were in one of the third forms and there was a certain amount of polarisation with the scholars centring on HJ. As well as Mike Green, another second termer was W. Morrison and I remember his having us fresh arrivals stand on a table one by one and sing.

My bicycle was my dad’s pre war Raleigh. It had only one gear but the option of a fixed or free wheel. Unknown to me, R.A. Johnson changed the wheel round and took great delight in watching me mount the thing and wonder why my legs would not stop turning as I started down the hill!

I remember meeting Julian Eldridge in Liverpool when he was a medical student. My recollection from being a junior at school was that he was more approachable than most of the older boys, who often seemed aloof.

On cycling, I too liked getting to Keswick. With different companions I managed going via Whinlatter, Newlands and Honister but always returned on the main road through Cockermouth. Honister Pass was memorable for the downward leg into Borrowdale. On one occasion I was with Derek Rhodes, whose bike had defective brakes. He relied largely on dragging his shoes on the road to limit his speed. No such threat existed returning to St Bees as there was usually a strong headwind on the open road between Cockermouth and Whitehaven. How we change: nowadays I’d be knackered making those trips behind the wheel of a car!”

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk