Bertie
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Please scroll down this page to see the other interesting items Bertie has preserved.
Photos in Boys at School gallery
1 Bertie aged 11 on his first day having arrived at Ottershaw
2 Bertie aged 12 unloading his trunk from his father's Rover 10
3 Nick Gorht and Chris Barke in the formal gardens
4 Anthony Delwiche in the formal gardens
5 Chris Barke
6 Dressed in ATC Uniform
Photos in Mansion gallery
7 The Mansion and formal gardens in 1958
8 The rear of the Mansion
Photo in the Formal Gardens gallery
9 The formal gardens
Documents
1 - Laundry book
2 - Letter
3 - Pocket money
4 - Late list
5 - ATC record
Bertie's school cap
Bertie's school satchel, bought before he started at Ottershaw School, and which was incorrectly inscribed 'Ottershaw College', under the direction of his father, who was unaware that the 'College' had actually closed before the war!
School blazer, with bronze acorn award, and A.T.C. lapel badge.
The hairbrush and comb set, with nail scissors, but one item is missing.
The boot and shoe cleaning kit, permanently kept in the Mansion basement boot locker.
Rowney Pencil Box, still containing a full set of coloured pencils. It was last used in the library, whilst taking the G.C.E. Exam in Geography, during which it was picked up and examined* by Arthur Foot. So, A.E.F's latent DNA and fingerprints are no doubt still present on the box! Bertie also revealed "A story behind this, though potentially very serious, was actually quite amusing. I was walking back from the main Hall to the White Room, and chatting to Chris Skidmore (OT417) about the forthcoming Geography Exam. Just as we were about to pass the Bursar's Office, (up the steps, on the right, immediately before entering the East House White Room) I jokingly said, "I've thought of a great way to remember the colours of the spectrum - simply arrange your coloured pencils in the appropriate order!! It was pure boyish bluster, of course. However, someone in the Bursar's Office must have overheard this conversation, and moreover, they had recognised my voice. It was just stupid nonsense - I had learnt the 'rainbow' colours by heart many years earlier! Whether the eavesdropper was the Bursar, or the H.M. himself, will never now be known, but either way, A.E.F got to hear about it, and, quite rightly detesting all forms of cheating like the plague, the H.M. made it his business to examine my pencil case during the Examination! He never uttered a word, but gently closed up the box, and diligently placed it back on the table. I carried on writing, without looking up at all, to all intents and purposes, totally ignorant of his motive. Nothing further was ever said or done."
Hand knitted rugby socks - made by Bertie's mother - and in urgent need of darning by the time of the photograph!
The only school towel to survive, although two others did until around 35 years ago. Strange to think how many hundreds of Old Boys must have strolled past this towel, hanging on its hook, in the East House changing Room! Bertie added that he had a lovely story to tell about an 'incident' which occurred in that very changing room, involving Tony Delwiche, Chris Skidmore, and himself, and a group of visiting girls from Willy Perks School.....!
Beaten copper 'bowl', made in Oett's metalwork class, and modified for use as the artificial base of a paraffin lamp. The scroll carry handle was a decided improvement on the manufacturer's original 'sans-handle' design!!!
Wrought iron table lamp, again made in Oett's metalwork class. There must have been hundreds of identical lamps, made by a succession of school boys over the years of Oett's 'reign
China clay pelican (with a long-time broken beak!) modelled from memory. It was crafted in the art class of Harry (Josh) Burrows, (circa 1956) and later fired and glazed in the school kiln, situated beyond the Art Room, off the Bothy corridor, leading (left) to Oett's workshop; and (right) a short series of winding steps, leading down to the outside - a grassed quadrangle, bordered by - the Bothy, the Biology Lab, the Physics Lab., and, on slightly higher ground, Ug's log cabin, alongside the footpath to the Mansion.
A somewhat crude attempt, in white clay, to model Ottershaw Mansion.
This was made in the Art Class, under the direction of Art Master Josh Burrows. (the separately formed chimneys were fragile, and went missing soon after it was fired). Although the Mansion was only a stone's throw away from the Art Room, the replica was actually fashioned from memory!
The first photo features the rear elevation, depicting the terrace and the terrace steps, leading up to the bow windows of the Main Hall, with the swimming pool directly beneath.
Photo.2. Mansion. Rear 3/4 view.
Photo.3. Mansion rear view including both wings, Left Wing (as viewed), which saw use as: A Gymnasium, Main Assembly Hall, and Entertainment venue, complete with stage and proscenium arch. Right Wing (as viewed), a former orangery, which served as East House Dining Room.