ASIAN FLU AT MHS 1957

My memory goes back to the Asian Flu pandemic of 1957/8. Most boys eventually succumbed to it. Dormitories were converted into sick rooms for isolation purposes. Those boys who didn’t get the flu spent their days playing games or had ‘fun’ lessons which were not part of the curriculum. Once a boy had recovered, he went home for a couple of days to recuperate. I, on the other hand, survived the main part of the epidemic, but was the last boy at the school to catch it.

Gerry Westoby, Ridgeway 1956-61

“The new academic year in September started briskly with an influenza epidemic; our contingent from Yorkshire and Lancashire not only brought on this occasion their well-known rugged qualities – so well personified by our Chairman and Sir Harry – in which we in the South are reputed by the North to be so deficient, but in addition they imported a peculiarly virulent virus. It was soon a question of whether there would be enough well to look after the sick.

However, the epidemic passed as epidemics do, just in time for a tottery and slow-moving XV to meet an equally tottery XV at Harrow in the first match of a good rugger season. The XV, as soon as it was fit and in practice, gave us one of the best of recent seasons.

Well led by the present Senior Monitor, the side played with great dash and fire, and success, and gave us plenty of excitement.”

Roy Moore CBE Mill Hill School Headmaster 1951-67