From John West (SH 61-64). Privilege Memories…

“Andy, my brother, was with me at St Bees for my first couple of terms and we were still very close then. We enjoyed each other's company. I was on Meadow for my first year and Andy was on School House. One Sunday we asked permission to go for a walk together to Gosforth. (I think we needed a blue ticket.) PL happily agreed. The School housemaster (Walters?) grilled Andy. He seemed to think he wanted to get away for a smoke. Eventually he allowed it. (My dad smoked sixty a day and took half an hour on the edge of the bed every morning coughing, neither of us has ever smoked!)

After Chapel it started to spit with rain. Andy brought an old bike 'cape' (remember them) and there was room for us both inside it. We went into Hostel corridor to don it and came out laughing at how ridiculous we must have looked. Andy turned right and we went down the 'Senior' steps - a privilege to which I was not entitled. I guess nobody noticed, but I worried all day that somebody might have seen us and reported it. How ridiculous were those privileges.

Writing to Andrew Green (SH 60-64) has reminded me that I did go to an OSB Day in about 1970 with brother Andy. Andrew and David Hanson were there. At one point we were all in my car and I headed over the level crossing from the village to turn into the main gates on to the terrace, when brother Andy asked, 'Are you sure we're allowed in this way?' Andrew sighed and replied, 'I think it's a privilege!' Old habits die hard, and I slowed, but I did go through the gates!”

 

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