Editorial: A Chip Off the Old Hall Block
OA Bulletin - Autumn 2007
Nick Chappin (1975)
If years were women, some would be the Marilyn Monroes of history – iconic and unforgettable, with an instant and enduring allure. The majority, though, are altogether more matronly, pleasant enough but perhaps lacking the same sex appeal. At first glance, 1908 falls into this latter category, a wholesome girl next-door sort of year that barely warrants a second look. Yet on closer scrutiny, it has unexpected charms and attractions.
Across the Atlantic, for example, Henry Ford was about to revolutionise the global transport industry as the first Model T automobile rolled off the production line – one small step for man, one giant carbon footprint for mankind – while Thomas Selfridge achieved the dubious distinction of being the first person to die in an aeroplane crash (in a plane flown by Orville Wright, incidentally, who was seriously injured but survived). Renowned outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed (allegedly) in Bolivia, while closer to home, the first beauty contest in the world was held in the unlikely setting of Maidstone in Kent, and Robert Baden-Powell began the Boy Scout movement. The Olympics came to London, and rather aptly for a year that also felt the early rumblings of the Suffragette Movement, women were allowed to compete in the Games for the first time. One of the less well-publicised events was the departure of English rake and adventurer Harry Bensley from Trafalgar Square as he embarked on the first leg of his attempt to complete a circumnavigation of the globe on foot. This strange expedition was the result of an extraordinary wager, and among the bizarre conditions of the bet were that he had to wear an iron mask and push a pram throughout the entire trip, with a change of underwear the only baggage allowed.
Rather less exotic, but of no lesser importance to the schoolboys of St Albans among these stirring tales of adventure and derringdo, was the opening of the new School Hall block on 20th March 1908. This was a major landmark in the history of the School, and to celebrate the centenary of this auspicious event next year Librarian Sue Jex and her assistant Janet Lewis are planning an exhibition of photos and memories of the Block. They are interested in contributions from OAs of all eras, and if anyone has any suitable anecdotes or pictorial records they would be delighted to hear from you – please see page 22 for further details.
By the time I arrived at School in the late 60s, of course, the Block was already known as the ‘Old Hall’ following the completion of the new Hall and Dining Rooms in the middle of the decade. During this period the Old Hall was the home, among other things, to six Middle School form rooms, Colonel Pryke’s ‘Orderly Room’ and the School Tuck Shop. With the benefit of hindsight, the School was undergoing an uneasy transition at the time as the new Headmaster Frank Kilvington endeavoured to move on from the more traditional regime of the legendary W T Marsh. Prefect beatings, strawboaters and the wearing of shorts and caps until the end of the fourth year were some of the first (and unlamented) things to go, and yet a slight end-of-Empire air of decline and decay persisted.
The Old Hall captured this perfectly: I can still clearly recall the ancient desks, for example, that I suspect were the original Edwardian models. By today’s standards they were a health and safety nightmare, curious sliding contraptions with glass-like seats polished to a high gloss by generations of besuited buttocks. If the vicious bear-trap of a tilting seat only wounded you, a splinter the size of a Zulu assegai would undoubtedly finish you off. Yet perhaps the most alarming thing about the interior of my desk in 3B was the inexplicable array of stains. Traces of ancient ink were to be expected; some of the others, which I can only describe as worryingly biological in nature, were not. Whatever went on there, I hope that the hair trigger mechanism of the heavy desk lid did not exact its usual terrible revenge.
Meanwhile, back in the modern world, this Bulletin features a particularly eclectic mix of stories. Having covered sex in the last issue, for instance, the OA Lodge report has moved onto rock and roll this time with the news that they have sold their Lodge organ to a member of famous band Razorlight. Club President Stephen Burgess continues the musical theme with some reflections on the influence that OAs have had on the world – and particularly the chart success of former School band ‘The Zombies’. Elsewhere you’ll find all the regular items, plus a bulging postbag of letters from OAs of every vintage around the world. My thanks as usual to everyone who has contributed to this issue, and I look forward to hearing some of your reminiscences about the Old Hall. Incidentally, another notable event of 1908 was that Australia regained the Ashes with a 308 run win over England. Plus ça change…