I feel I could amuse you with some more stories of days of yore.
The first OG reunion I can remember was towards the end or the summer term 1947. Among those that attended were: Roy Naylor, Quentin Bone and my brother, Joseph.
The OGs were watching athletics during break one morning. Boys were doing 100 yards. A boy in charge with the stopwatch, was timing them, and one of the boys broke the school record. Immediately the window in the Headmaster's study flew open, Kurt Hahn leaned out of the window and bellowed at the boy "I bet you three pots of marmalade that you cannot beat Quentin Bone and he is a inveterate chain smoker!" I can't remember what happened after that, but food was strictly rationed at the time, and I remember thinking that our Housekeeper would not be very pleased at having to hand over three pots of marmalade to the Headmaster if he had lost his side of the wager!
I enjoyed Nicholas's poems in Memories. Crystal sets; you could buy one, or you could make one with the cardboard core of a used toilet roll, some fine insulated copper wire, a variable condenser, a crystal and cat's whisker and a pair of headphones. The secret of listening in after lights out, without getting caught, was to take one earpiece off the headphones and slide it in between the pillow and the pillowcase, you would then pretend to be asleep if the House Helper came round to check on illicit listening! My House Helper caught me out one time. I was in the shower room one morning, and was whistling a catchy signature tune to a programme that came on after lights out "Where did you hear that tune Pease?" said the House Helper. I said that I didn't know, it was just a tune that had come into my head! There nothing more said but I had to remember to more careful in the future! Washing and showering in Cumming House gave us all time to exercise our vocal cords too, and I remember a popular song of the day being: "We'll Gather Lilacs…." From Ivor Novello's Perchance To Dream!
Sgt.Kelly came from Arbroath and was in charge of Athletics and Services Parade. He was an ex. Paratrooper P.T.Instructer. At the end of Break we would be anxious to get back to our houses to change for the classes before lunch. He would see us starting to move away and would shout, "As you were. The bell has not yet went"!
Capt. Farnell took our class for English towards the end of the summer term 1947 and amongst other things, I remember him introducing us to Gerard Manley Hopkins's poem "Inversnaid"
Yes, so many things have gone, the Spanish chestnut tree on the south lawn among them. Gone are the big dormitories with rows of beds and bare wooden floors. No sorrow about that! Shorts too, as part of the school uniform! There was only one back pocket, which was sufficient to hold a handkerchief. Pens and combs were kept in your stockings.
The view of Gordonstoun House from the bottom corner of the South Lawn shows a beautiful bed of flowers on the right, where there used to be a tennis court. I can see the roof of the Gunroom, left side; this was a study for some of us in Gordonstoun House.
July 1946 we did MacBeth. Kurt Hahn had 'phoned the C.O. at R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth to see if he would ground all aircraft while the performance was taking place, but the request was refused. There was a story, that my brother told me, that during a pre war performance of MacBeth a plane from R.A.F. Lossiemouth had appeared over the treetops just as MacBeth was saying his lines" Hang out the banners on the outward walls; The cry is still " They come"… What is that noise?."! Act V Scene 5
July 1947 we did Julius Caesar. (See Nicholas's poem) Godfrey Burchart managed to get the school orchestra under the stage, which had been built at the bottom of the south lawn, and they provided suitable music for the performance. There was a rumour that Kurt Hahn had turned an elderly lady out of her seat to get a better view of the stage but if it was true I am sure that he would have been very apologetic about it and given her seat back as soon as possible!
I enjoyed rugby but not cricket, so like others, did seamanship instead There was a good story in1946, summer term, about the time when Robert Gordon's College's First Eleven came over to Gordonstoun to play the school at cricket. The North lawn had just been reseeded after being ploughed up during the war. Norman Pares took the two captains on to the pitch and explained the situation about the pitch to the captain of Robert Gordon's College, The visiting Captain looked at the ground and then said, "Well, I suppose it will have to do, but it is not quite what Robert Gordon's College are used to playing on!" Norman Pares, as quick as a flash was on the offensive. "What school did you say you came from?" " Robert Gordon's College Sir" replied the Captain. Norman Pares looked at him and then shook his head" Sorry, never heard of it!"
Like with every Headmaster, dealing with parents can be more difficult than with some of the problems of the pupils. Another story that came from Dolly Delap concerned the mother of a boy at Wester Elchies. She had gone to see Hahn about her son's education and been invited into Hahn's study. She sat down on a chair opposite Hahn at his desk and produced a cigarette case from her handbag, took out a cigarette and then lit it. She inhaled deeply and then blew the smoke straight into Hahn's face saying,"Mr Hahn, do you enjoy your job?" I don't know what happened after that but her son did not go on to Gordonstoun and was sent to Eton. Later my mother was talking to Kurt Hahn and the boy's mother was mentioned, Kurt Hahn confessed " She is a woman to whom I find it almost impossible to be polite"
A boy is sent to report to the Headmaster; he knocks at the door and is told to come in. Kurt Hahn is sitting at his desk "Yes m'boy what do you want?" Boy: "I was told to report to you Sir, for telling a dirty story". Hahn: "Ah… Sit down m'boy, and tell it to me at once!"
John Pease. July 2002
Gordonstoun 1944-1947