Extract from the 1955 Commemorative Book – Bachelor’s Acre

All boys in the School have written recently (1955) on some topic concerning the School, and the following selection is offered to give as broad a view as possible of everyday life here. At least one contribution from each Form is included

TRAINING FOR CROSS-COUNTRY

Cross-Country! When most people hear the name they associate it with athletes in white shorts and singlet’s running over ploughed fields and climbing stiles. In a way they are right, but I will try and picture a routine school cross-country practice. This run usually takes place in the afternoon, after the roll-call.

We all go out of the classroom, round to the gymnasium and there proceed to change into shorts, singlet’s and plimsolls.
Then we are told to go out into the playground and line up in two twos. The master in charge, Mr —, tells us to move out, then we start off at a brisk walk through Sheet Street, to the top of the Long Walk. The master then gives us the direction in which to go, but for some reason, best known to himself, he does not come with us!

This is how he gives us our directions. “Right everybody, pay attention. You, boy listen to me.” (The latter then goes red in the face and breaks in a cold sweat. I can tell from experience.) “You will run to the furthest tree, round the bench,” etc., etc. Thus, in misery, we begin to run. After some more runs we start the brisk walk back to school, where we have showers and get dressed.

M. A. Scott, Form 1b

JUST IN FUN
Although we live in the Horsa Hut
We feel that we’re not in a rut,
For when the lessons become tame
We start to play our little game.
Our teacher served in the Air Force,
(During the last World War of course)
And so we ask, “Sir, is it true,
That up above the clouds it’s blue?”
Teacher then puts down his pen
Takes up a stance like Errol Flynn,
Explains that though he didn’t win it
By golly, the enemy knew he was in it.
Still the Spitfire roll and climb,
The minutes soon pass till dinner time,
Then to get his attention’s easy
We protest that hunger’s making us “queasy.”
Tidy our desks and sit up straight
Twould seem we’re going to be late,
Wash our hands as quick as we can
And off we go all spick and span.

SEVERAL BOYS, FORM 1a

THE ENVIRONS OF THE “H.O.R.S.A.” CLASSROOMS

Our Classroom is situated along Sun Passage where some old cottages used to stand, but which were condemned and pulled down. Around the classroom where they once stood are gardens and rockeries, which make very pleasant surroundings. These, the boys of the third year tend and they are very proud of them.

A brick wall was built by the boys in 1954 to separate the passage from the gardens, and was neatly coated with cement, in which boys who made it engraved their names and the school crest while the cement was still wet. On the other side of the passage there is a small playing field, which is on loan to us from the G.P.O. In this field we have a high jump pit, a long jump pit and concrete wickets.

All the construction of this sports field was undertaken by boys of the school under the direction of their masters.

During the spring and summer afternoon’s people pause as they pass by along the passage to watch the lads practicing their various skills, which now include putting the shot, javelin and discus.

Handicapped though we are by shortage of playing space, the school still manages to produce some fine athletes, several of whom have in the past six years achieved the distinction of competing for Berkshire in the All England finals.

JOHN SCOWN, Form 1a.

CROSS-COUNTRY

We have cross country on Day Four, during the first two periods, from half-past one until a quarter to three.

When the register is called, all our class goes into the Gym. Changing room to get changed into plimsolls and shorts. Mr. Conway takes us for cross country.

When we have changed, we all start off by walking until we get to Sheet Street.

When we have crossed the road we start to run along, then we turn a corner and run down another small road that lead to the Long Walk. We then run up the Long Walk. It has a long row of trees on either side.

We get to the Old Windsor road and we then cross and start running up to Queen Anne’s Gates. They are big white gates. Then we run around the back of the gates and through a field. After that we have to cross another field and over a stile; then we run on to another road, which is near the place, where the Agricultural Show was held. We run down to the roundabout and through Sheet Street and back to school.

When we get back to school we have showers and get changed into our clothes, and then it is playtime.

M. Mackrory, Form IIb.

SCIENCE LESSON

In this modern age of scientific wonders, of atomic power, and of great discoveries in the world of medicine, the need for scientists is getting greater and greater. Colleges and Universities are devoting more and more time to its study and research. This is truly a scientific age.

At the Royal Free Secondary School for Boys, we have a science laboratory where we work once or twice a week. We don’t experiment in the realms of nuclear fusion and atomic radiation, nor do we delve into the secrets of medical discoveries, but in our little way we study the science of every day things and grow to understand the life around us. And to us these discoveries are as interesting as atomic discovery is to our leading scientists.

Just to see a frothing bulb of liquid sends a thrill of excitement up my spine. While our science master is talking my mind often wonders. Sometimes I am being taken through space into the future, sometimes into the dark forgotten past.

I can visualise tall majestic domes and towers, space-ship like cars propelled by rockets with coloured flames coming from the back of them; the towns of tomorrow; strange white buildings with plastic roofs. In this age of tomorrow, electric power will be out of date. Atomic energy will be used by the people. Wars will have ceased. Nations will be at peace with each other.

With a start I am brought back to the present. The master is shouting at me for not paying attention to his lesson. But as we settle down again, my mind seems to travel back: back to the dark regions of prehistoric times. Here are great lumbering beasts, with huge yellow teath and tusks. Queer reptiles slither across the sun-cracked ground. Bats, like birds, flitter across the steamy swamps. The trees are like gigantic cacti with sharp thorns protruding from the trunks. High in the sky, like a red ball of fire, the sun is casting shafts of light among the tangled jungle.

We can see through the centuries the progress of man, and yet his scientific knowledge, which is so valuable, must be used properly lest it become a curse and a means of destruction to mankind and our world. Without science we cannot exist as a civilisation, and yet, with it we can destroy ourselves if we are not careful.

R. Ansell IIa

BACHELOR’S ACRE

Bachelors’ Acre: it’s not a very pleasant place really, just a large expanse of ground; muddy and covered with puddles in wet weather, and dry and dusty in fine. What little grace it had has been further marred by the inclusion of a car park in it, which pollutes the air with the smell of petrol and oil. Bachelors’ Acre is not a very pleasant place really.

And yet this patch of ground, dull and uninspiring, surrounded by dingy buildings, has a very interesting history and has been the scene of many interesting events.

On Saturday, May 19th, 1810 upon the birth of Queen Charlotte the wife of King George III, The Acre was a scene of great gaiety and splendour. The Queen came to watch the festivities with which her birthday was marked. In those days the Acre was a field of clover, and a sort of “novelty sports day” was in progress. Such games were played as:

Jump in sack for a smock frock.

Maids run for a gown.

Eat a roll and syrup for a new hat.

To us these activities seem very strange, but to the inhabitants of Windsor one hundred and forty years ago, they were familiar.

It was once a custom for the children, who lived around the Acre, on each Good Friday, to put ropes round it thereby claiming it for the Bachelors of Windsor. If the ropes were broken a minor riot started. Strictly speaking the rights of the youth of Windsor continue even today, and this patch of ground is still available to the young men of Windsor. Although a car park has been installed upon half of it there is no reason why games should not be played there, as one realizes every November the fifth when a bonfire is lit right in the middle of the car park.

Yes, the Acre has quite a history, a scene of fairs and cattle-markets and of bull bating and cock-fighting. Here must have walked many famous people, it is even rumoured that Shakespeare walked here. Now it has lost much of its old glory and the laughter and jollifications are gone. And yet as one walks across the Acre on a light summer’s evening, with the breeze rustling the trees which surround it, and the pale evening sun illuminating the distant tower of the Parish Church, one can just catch a glimpse of the old Acre; and one is conscious of a sense of grandeur and dignity which is not lost even in the fumes of the motor-cars in the car park.

A. King, Form IIa.

ENGLISH LESSONS

Of all the lessons we have in school, I like English best. English is divided into different sections, namely Spelling, Dictation and Comprehension; but the one I like most of all is Composition.

Composition is like painting a picture, except that, whereas an artist uses canvas and pigment to express himself, a writer uses paper and ink to voice his thoughts. Composition fires the imagination and is a lively creative subject.

The same cannot be said for Dictation and Spelling, but to those who look upon it in the right way it can be as entertaining as a crossword puzzle, more of a competition than anything else.

With regards to Comprehension that is another matter. It is so mechanical and so uninteresting that, try as I may, it arouses no enthusiasm in me whatsoever.

In my class each week we write a Composition, do a spelling and Dictation test, and, most weeks we have a passage of Comprehension. With the exception of the last I look forward to these lessons. I realise too that apart from the entertainment and pleasure I derive from them, they also equip me for the future. Probably English is the most important subject on the school timetable because it embraces so much of our every day life.

P.Stevens, Form IIa.

THE SCHOOL GARDEN

When, after the last war, the school leaving age was raised, the school accommodation had to be increased and this was done by building a prefabricated classroom at the Peascod Street end of Sun Passage. The hut was built on land previously occupied by some small cottages, which had been demolished some ten years before. In 1948, when the new classroom was opened the boys decided to cultivate the small piece of land which surrounded the new room. Soon passers-by began to notice the contrast between the small neat garden, carefully tended by the boys, and the rubble of the near by plots owned by the Windsor Borough Council. The young schoolboy gardeners also eyed the rubble with disgust, and soon sought permission from the council to clear it. This permission was freely given, and after much hard work the present garden began to take shape.

The boys have continued to cultivate this ground and with the help of the masters our gardening has developed two main ideals. First to plant a little beauty into a very drab part of our town, and secondly to learn a little of the right methods of cultivation, the use of tools and the care of the fruit bushes and trees.

In 1953 to commemorate the coronation of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, two trees were planted; one a copper Beech and the other a Mountain Ash, which we hope will flourish for many years to come, and with the garden, bring a little joy to those who pass by.

R. Shrimpton, Form IIIb.

PLAYING FIELD FACILITIES

As a boy of the Royal Free Secondary School, I would like to say how grand it would be to have a proper playing field of our own. Green Lane, where we play football, belongs to the Windsor Council, but it is three-quarters of a mile away from our school, and several other schools play on this field as well, thus making it very difficult to arrange matches. Because it is not our own field the goal posts have to be put up before a match and carried back to school afterwards. We also have to get changed into football kit at school, walk down to the pitch, play the match and walk back again. This is a great danger to health because, after the match, when we are hot and sweating we should shower and get dressed quickly, but instead of this we have to walk back to school.

In the summer when the cricket season starts, we have to walk over a mile down to the far end of the Home Park, as this is the only place, which the Council allows us to use.

It would be really excellent if we could have a playing field of our own where we hold our sports events.

Just next to our School is a small plot of land, which belongs to the General Post Office, who let us, borrow it. This small patch of land is all we have near to the School. On it jumping pits, a shot-putting area and cricket nets have been made.

The army has been very generous in letting us use their proper running track, called Queen’s Mead, where we hold our Sports Day.

Our School has done very well at athletics in the Windsor area. We have had boys at the County Championships and the All England Sports.

This is certainly a good achievement considering the very poor playing field facilities that we have, but how much more could be done if only we had a proper playing field to practice on.

A. Porter. Form IIIa.

OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY

The School Library has a total of approximately 750 books with all the class libraries combined. Each class is given about 40 books, and each master in charge of a school subject has a separate library. Great consideration goes into choosing these books, because boys in the 1st year would not be able to understand the same books as those given to a 4th year boy.

There are books on Science, Geography, History, Gardening, Art, Sports, Woodwork, Music, Biography, General Knowledge and Religious Knowledge. Some of these subject books are handed to each class, and teachers all over the school keep the various subject books according to what subjects they take.

In the school Library there are many interesting books. One worth mentioning is an old Bible, which has three volumes. It originally belonged to Rev. Canon Champagne and was given to him by the parishioners of Twickenham in 1820.

At the beginning of each financial year in April, the School is allowed £30 for library books (about 2s. 6s. per boy) and after careful consideration the new books are bought to replace old ones, which are dilapidated, and beyond repair.

Gramophone records are also bought with money from the Library Fund, and these are kept and studied to see if any are suitable for the School Library.

This April a new section of the library is being formed, a “Careers” library. Boys can look up any subject they are thinking of talking up as a career when they leave school, or if a boy “hasn’t a clue” as to what he wants to be when he leaves, he can get ideas from these books.

B.Kent, Form IIIa.

THE SCHOOL WEATHER STATION

Meteorology is the science of the weather and the art of forecasting. The whole of the British Isles is pin-pointed with meteorological stations which send in observations, some simple, many extremely detailed. At various fixed times during the day this information is sent by wireless and teleprinter to the Central Forecasting Office at Dunstable, in Bedfordshire. From there it is sent to the general public via the B.B.C. Information can also be obtained from the meteorological office, which is a department of the Air Ministry.

A competent meteorological service requires:

1. Numerous wide-spread observing stations, where observations are made at definite times, usually every three hours.

2. A system of communication for collecting and transmitting reports.

3. A central office for plotting and analyzing the weather charts, and where forecasts can be made.

Almost everyone is interested in knowing what the weather is going to be like: Sailors, Airmen, Farmers, Fisherman, Gardeners, Sportsmen, and even Housewives, especially on washing days. The instruments used by meteorologists are:

Rain Gauge, Barometer or Weather Glass, Maximum and Minimum Thermometers, Sunshine Recorder and Anemometer.

The Meteorological Office is always anxious to receive weather information from as many sources as possible. Aircraft, ships at sea, and special weather ships also send reports to Dunstable. Many school and colleges send reports too. Our school does not send reports, but records are taken and kept at school for future reference.

The readings we take are plotted and shown as various types of charts and graphs. These are sometimes used for working out problems in mathematics.

The school Weather Station, which was started in October 1951 by Mr Greenhow, has the following instruments:

A rain gauge, a barometer, an earth thermometer, a maximum and minimum thermometer and a wet and dry bulb thermometer.

The Stevenson screen, where the instruments are kept, is to be seen in Mr. Reed’s front garden, and the barometer is kept in the Science Room. The recordings are entered in a green covered book.

A.Butler, Form IIIa.

VISIT TO FORD’S

During October, 1954, about thirty boys were picked to go to the Ford Motor Works at Dagenham. We started in the morning at 8.30 and we travelled by Windsorian coach. When we arrived there we went to see the Power House. In the Power House we saw huge generators making electricity.

Afterwards we went to the foundry to see the “pig iron” being run off from the big furnaces, and then put in moulds to make parts for cars. We saw powerful electric cranes picking up iron and putting it in big buckets, which run on overhead rails. We walked right along the assembly lines, and we saw men fixing the tractors together. First the chassis would be sent in and the engine would be put on, and then the rest of the tractor would be put together. At the other end of the line we saw the completed tractor being driven out of the shed. We also saw many cars being made, such as Zephyrs, Prefects, Consuls and Populars. We saw the bodies of the cars being brought in on lorries. The bodies are not made in Ford’s but in Briggs, whose factories are quite near Ford’s. The guide said that quite a lot of the cars were sent abroad. We also saw Ford’s sports ground.

Ford’s has its own docks. They are quite large, and we saw barges and other ships bringing the pig iron to the jetty alongside the factory. Ford’s is one of the only factories in England which take in raw materials at one end, and send out the finished product at the other. After we had had a good look around we went to the canteen for tea. Then we went to the coach and we arrived home at obout 4.30. We had fine weather all the time and it was a most enjoyable trip.

W.Taylor, Form Ivb.

CROSS COUNTRY AT MAIDENHEAD

“O’er moor, o’er fen, o’er fence and torrent

till the race is ended….”

Such are the obstacles encountered during the Maidenhead Cross-Country run. The race, which is an annual event is organised by the Maidenhead Cycling and Athletic Club, and run over a course of three miles on North Town Moor, Maidenhead.

The three-mile course consists of a number of fences, streams, and what seems to the runner, to be endless ploughed fields. The first is a rather large and deep stream, which is forded by the intrepid runners. But for the runners who do not want to get their feet wet, a bridge is provided. This of course is the usual route across the stream, but it involves vigorous use of the elbows if one wants to reach the other side safely. After crossing the first obstacle the field of one hundred and fifty runners is rather thinned out.

Such have been the opening stages since the event was first organised a number of years ago, and every year since that time the school has entered at least two teams. In previous years the school has had two outstanding winners of the junior event: R. Marshall in 1952 and D. Chapman in 1953. The team trophy has not yet come in to the schools possession, but the boys feel certain that we will gain this prize in the years to come.

The event this year was held on the 12th March and the school’s first runner home was B. Merkett, who ran well to finish 8th out of a field of a hundred and fifty runners. The school had entered two distinct teams for the race and had been faced with problem of selecting the eight best runners for the “A” team. However, those placed in the “B” team seemed determined to disprove the judgement of the selectors and several ran very much better than expected.

The selection of a cross-country team is of course never easy, and in this case, a better arrangement of the team’s members might have improved the “A” teams placing of 8th out of twenty-one. However, this appearance of talent in both teams augers well for the future.

The event came to a close and though they had not achieved victory the teams maintained most successfully our tradition of a school keenly interested in cross-country running.

B.Nalder, Form IVa.

TABLE TENNIS

The increasing popularity of Table Tennis thought Britain and the World has not gone unnoticed in the Royal Free School. Here, a table tennis club has been in existence for about five years, and has gradually become one of the school’s main activities.

It was founded when three or four boys, belonging to Youth Clubs, thought it would be a very good idea if the school had a table tennis club. As one of the teachers Mr. Wilson, was an enthusiastic table tennis player, he took immediate steps to make the idea reality. The school gymnasium was selected as headquarters and rather makeshift equipment was brought into use. Now, almost any evening between four and four-forty five, it is hard to pass the gymnasium without hearing the “Ping-Pong” of a celluloid ball hitting rubber faced bats, and the drone of “19-16” or “deuce” being called out by the umpire.

At first conditions hardly approached the Albert Hall, but soon subscriptions led to the purchase of a new net and balls; our mature, solid hewn tables were netly brought up to the standard required. With these mean facilities, Mr. Wilson formed a team which consisted of Corcoran, Lewin and Jones; this team was very successful and their play was impressive.

Unfortunately, the enthusiastic team members soon left school and Mr. Wilson sort new talent among the junior members of the Royal Free. His new idea was so keenly supported that Mr. Wilson could have no more boys in the club because of the lack of room. He decide to grade his supporters into learners, intermediate and advanced sections. He also gave each group separate nights for practising.

Now both present and old boys are making a strong impression on local teams in the Slough and district League. Teams composed largely of Royal Free Secondary lads- Lynford “A” and Lynford “B” –at present lead division 3 and 6 respectively of the Slough Mens League, and have unbeaten records of twenty matches each. The same two teams were the finalists in the “Dilger” knock-out Cup, 1955, from 64 entries.

Francis Corcoran, now 18, has set a high standard for the Royal Free boys to follow by winning both the Maidenhead and Slough Junior Tournament Cups; and is only one of many boys from the royal Free Secondary School, who should go a long way in this great sporting game.

C. Wells, form IVa.

A VISIT TO SOUTH WALES

On Monday, June 14th, 1954, a part of 30 boys accompanied by two masters assembled on Bachelors’ Acre, for an educational trip to South Wales. This trip had been arranged by the Headmaster, and preparation had been going on for several weeks. The boys left at 8.45 a.m., as a small crowd of parents waved goodbye.

The party were to stay at a Youth Hostel in Crickhowell in South Wales. The route went through many places of interest. The coach passed on to Oxford and then Witney where a stop was made to see the Old Blanket Hall and 17th century Butter Cross.

Between Witney and Gloucester the coach passed through Cheltenham where the pump room and spar was seen.

At Gloucester, the party stopped for an hour and a half, and visited the Cathedral. Many of the boys climbed to the top of the tower, which commands a magnificent view for miles. After leaving Gloucester they passed on to Ross on Wye, and on to Monmouth, where a short stop was made. Here the boys saw the 13th century fortified Gatehouse spanning the bridge across the river Monnow.

This was the last stopping place and after passing through Abergavenney they reached Crickhowell.

When the Youth Hostel was reached, everybody was very excited about going down the coal mine the next day. By 9 p.m. everybody was in bed.

The next day the boys were up early, and ready to go to the coal mine. By 8.45 a.m. the party was on the way to the mine. On the way they passed through Pontypool, where the nylon-spinning factory was seen. The boys were split in to two groups; fifteen went to Markham Colliery with Mr. Greenhow and fifteen to Oakdale Colliery with Mr. Beck.

Getting ready to go down the mine was very exciting. Everybody was thrilled and excited as the shaft gathered speed; this also, gave a blocking feeling in the ears. The first part of the tunnel was lit by electric lights and it was quite chilly. Soon the tunnels were smaller and the only lights were those on the helmets. The tunnels became smaller still, and at the coalface the roof was only three feet high. The roof was shored up with pit props. The face we visited was only a training face where experienced miners taught lads of sixteen and seventeen how to mine. These boys spend a hundred days training before going to the production face. After the coal has been removed the gap is filled with dirt and shale.

On the return to the shaft, pit ponies were seen and safety measures were explained. It was a wonderful experience for everyone.

When the surface was reached, photographs were taken of the coal black faces. After this the helmets and equipment were handed back, and everybody had a bath in the pithead baths, and put their clean clothes on again. Before returning to Crickhowell, refreshments were provided.

The coach returned through “Ebbw Vale,” where there is a large steel works.

The boys reached the Youth Hostel at 5 p.m. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when supper was served, the boys were allowed to do what they liked. Tuesday night was much more peaceful than the previous night.

On Wednesday, the boys spent the morning in Brecon. Between Crickhowell and Brecon, wonderful mountain scenery was seen. In Brecon the Cathedral was visited and the guide provided a fascinating lesson on its history.

The afternoon was spent in the mountains where the boys collected stones, plants, wool and even the skull of a hawk and a ram. After a rest they reached the summit of “Pen Cerig-Calch.”

The decent from the mountain to Crickhowell followed a different route. After supper most of the boys spent the evening on their bunks.

The next morning everybody was very busy having a good wash and packing their things. After breakfast a small present was given to the Warden of the Hostel. After this everybody boarded the coach.

On the return journey the coach passed through the Forest of Dean and the small coalmines were noted. When the coach reached the top of Birdlip Hill, outside Gloucester a stop was made. This commanded a magnificent view for miles. Another stop was made at Cirencester. After Cirencester, the coach passed on to Wantage and the old church was noted. From there to Windsor took the party through Goring Gap, and then Reading and Maidenhead.

Windsor was reached at 4.30 p.m. and a tired party left for home.

E. Morgan, Form IVa.

Sports Review 1955

Football
This has been a successful season for Senior and Intermediate teams, both of which owe much to the coaching and constant effort of Mr. Davies At the time of going to press, both teams are outstanding in their respective sections of the Maidenhead and District League. P.S.-Senior team was top of the League and gained the “Dunkels” Cup. They met William Penn Secondary School, the winners of the Slough League, and beat them, thus gaining the “Grenfell” Shield. This is the first time a Windsor School has won this outright.

Cricket
Many pleasant games have been played on the Home Park during the summer evenings, the most successful being the staff verses School match, which this year was won very narrowly by the staff. Apart from this match and an occasional game with Windsor Grammar School, the School has had few fixtures.

Swimming
This is now limited to the boys of the first year, who were quite successful last year. Fifty-three certificates were gained and eight boys obtained learners’ certificates.

Table Tennis
A very flourishing after school activity, thanks to the efforts of Mr Wilson. A more detailed report of this enthusiastically followed sport can be found elsewhere.

Gym Club
This is more than a keep fit class, though the muscles do bulge after a time, as Mr Davies concentrates on agility and proficiency in the use of apparatus. This after school activity helps considerably the work done during the gym lessons.

Basket Ball
At present this is played as an alternative to Cross-Country running and Football on Games Days. Mr Catchpole, the teacher in charge, is limited by the equipment, but with the purchase of baskets and the marking out of the Gymnasium floor, more interest will certainly be developed. Then perhaps this may lead to the School entering a Basket Ball League.

Cross Country
Almost every boy participates in this activity and it is enthusiastically followed. Congratulations to B. Merkett on his outstanding run in the Maidenhead Cross-Country Race.

Athletics
This reached its climax on Sports Day, where much unexpected talent was discovered. Shot, Discus, Javelin are the most popular of all field events, despite somewhat erratic marksmanship. The Quarter and Half mile events were well run especially by juniors. Congratulations must be given to M.Knight for obtaining his place as a County Representative in the All England Sports. Every year one or more of our boys represent Berkshire.

B.Nalder, Form IVa.