Memories of Rossall

Michaelmas Term 1949 By Jim Cowpe J & DC 1949-56 Honorary Life President of the Rossallian Club

Without doubt this term was the most memorable during my seven years at Rossall. It began on September 23rd and this illustrates how things have changed. The term now begins at the beginning of September. I was among an intake of sixteen eleven yearolds into James House (now Rossall Junior School) making a total of thirty-two 11-13 year olds. Our Housemaster, Mr A H Skigh was pretty strict and had a fearsome reputation.

On our first morning we were taken up to the vestry to have our voices tested for entry into the choir. I told everyone I was going to croak like a frog, but to my chagrin I was informed that I had already been put in the choir because I had been awarded my Royal School of Church Music Medallion the previous Easter, by coincidence at Rossall.

The summer of 1949 had been excellent and it had been so good that the powers that be decided to reopen the open air pool whilst the good weather continued. Being a show-off, I stayed in the water after the whistle to get out had gone and for my sins received a Punishment School from “Peetree” Johnson, Housemaster of Pelican. Imagine my horror to receive a PS on my first day of term. Needless to say I was the only person in PS that day and I sat alone quivering as to what my Housemaster would think of me. I am certain this is a record which will never be broken – a PS on your first day at Rossall.

As it happened there were extreme repercussions from the pool being open. It had not been filtered during the holidays and the water wasn’t safe. The result was that three pupils were affected and it was quickly decided that the School should close and we were all packed off home. We all thought this was a great idea but three weeks later we were not so pleased to be returning to school once again. The good news was that the infection had been curtailed but it was a shame for the three boys who had suffered from it. Jim Cowpe: third row, third from the right “next to the little chap”.

The next major event of the term was that Sir Thomas Beecham brought his orchestra up from London to give a concert in Big School. Sir Thomas is probably regarded as our most famous old scholar. Sir Thomas had already given the Steinway piano which is in Big School. He was noted throughout the world for his great musicianship and his acerbic wit. It proved to be the forerunner of some wonderful subscription concerts by world famous performers such as Benjamin Britton and the Amadeus Quartet.

My final recollection of my first term was something called the Assault-at-Arms. This took place in Big School on the last night of term. It consisted of a gymnastic display by the Gym VIII and their coach “Gunzt” Barker followed by a series of silly sketches by members of the Sixth form and Common Room. This was very popular and a precursor to the midnight feasts in our dormitories. The Assault carried on for many years until it was brought to an end by the rowdy behaviour of certain senior boys.

Michaelmas Term 1949 was a defining moment in my life and without doubt its greatest legacy to me is that it was here that I met some very special friends with whom I have kept in touch until this day in 2019. I speak of Mike Reece, David McKee, John Wildman, Harry Fletcher and John Hallam.

Floreat Rossallia!