Thoughts!

One or two conversations on OSBs Day have prompted the Editor to say that we would welcome any reminiscences from OSBs, no matter how slight, for inclusion in the Bulletin. Most members will recall some amusing or curious incident from their years at school and which, at the very least, can be regarded as good social history if nothing more. As we all know, habits, attitudes, speech patterns change with the times. Ask a post 1970s OSB what ‘gliding’ was or what was meant by the ‘Swees’ and they would probably have no idea. I imagine a lengthy record of terms no longer in use at school (‘school slang’) could be compiled which would certainly be of value to the school archives, which leads me on to the kind gift of 1920s memorabilia which David Paul (FN 71-76) kindly presented to the Society on OSB Day.

Most of us will be familiar with the issues of the school magazine, The Pacquet, and its immediate predecessor. These are primarily items of record and the sets we hold in the archives represent a valuable source of our history. But in addition to these there have been from time to time ‘ephemeral’ magazines which have made an occasional appearance, usually during the summer term, containing matter of a much more informal nature. The titles of some of these are known, although from their very nature, the print run was very small and copies of such issues are now extremely hard to find. That is why it was a pleasure to have among David’s recent gift some copies of The Mitre, an ephemeral from the 1920s. Please don’t forget the archives if you are thinking of disposing of any memorabilia from your school years.

 

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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