School of Despair
Seduced by the professional expertise of our family doctor, my late mother was persuaded to send me away at age 7 to the Ogilvie School which promised a health giving regime for children who were thought to be of "delicate" constitution. Upon arrival I was overwhelmed by institutionalism so far removed from the protected and loving family environment hitherto enjoyed that I might have been whisked to another planet. I never recalled a single member of staff who had any childfriendly inclinations or teachers who were other than time servers. Apart from confinement during Chickenpox and the occupational therapy then enjoyed, every moment spend in this horrendous prison was tearful agony and homesickness. Significant memories? The King died, I discovered gooseberries were quite tasty if eaten uncooked from the extensive kitchen garden, I saw the Brabazon fly overhead and I encountered Slipper Limpets on the shingle beach where we were frequently taken on crocodile walks. I see the actual buildings are still there bearing the logo of another educational establishment, one can only pray that humanity has developed enough to relieve those currently confined from the torture I endured.
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RE: RE: School of Despair
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience Frank, but my memories are all good. My sister, Diane & I were sent there in the late 1950's staying between 3 & 4 years. It's where I learnt to ride a bike, do the hola hoop & bounce on a pogo stick. The teachers were very nice & I loved the 'crocodile walks' out the back gate to the beach. We were even taken to the cinema to see Bambi. There was much fun to be had helping with collecting the eggs from the chicken hutches, feeding the guinea pigs or even just playing with the 'boats' in the big bath tub at the edge of the playground. Another thing I loved to do was dancing around the maypole on May Day. I especially loved the teacher in charge of my dormitory - I have a picture of her propped up on one of our beds reading a story to us little girls sitting around her, she even walked a few of us to her home not far away. Christmas time was always fun. They would put what was, to a young child, a very tall tree in the food hall right at the end between the doors & what amazes me now... they had candles lit up all over it & later on we used to be gathered in the class rooms for whatever reason, I can't remember now & then you'd hear sleigh bells outside which we were told was Santa. (smile) Of course, with age you know that it was all put on for the enjoyment of the children which makes the teachers there, in my mind - the best substitute parents I could have had whilst I was there.
Comment from Rosemary Collisson on Tuesday, 14th June 2011.
RE: RE: School of Despair
Dear Rosemary,
The hula hoop gives away your generation, just a few years after mine. It sounds as though some significant improvements had taken place so that your time there was not so dire as I suffered. Because we boys were segregated from the girls we had no idea of the arrangements in the dormitories at the other end of the school. I wonder if the companionship of you sister contributed to a better experience?
Meal times were never anticipated with relish as, rationing being still extant, we were constantly reminded how lucky we were to have any food at all and those who were allergic to certain foods were nevertheless forced to eat until they were sick over everybody else.
One event, a film show with projector was painful for a group of us who were made to sit the wrong side of the screen, thus missing the entire film, for some trivial misdemeanour , group punishments were routine. My clothes were never my own and I frequently found myself in discomfort wearing another child's clothes whilst mine, easily identified as my mother made most of them were worn by others.
For a child these hurts are deeply ingrained and after nearly 60 years I still seethe at the memories of my unhappiness there.
Nice to hear that not everyone suffered, the fundamental ethic of the school's foundation was benevolent enough but children were so much of an inconvenience for earlier generations of adults that it has been a long time until society became enlightened to the true meaning of youth welfare...remember that during both mine and your time there, so-called well meaning do-gooders were shipping orphans off wholesale to Canada/Australia to suffer unimagined abuse which at least we were spared.
Best wishes, Frank Hall
Comment from Frank Hall on Tuesday, 14th June 2011.
RE: RE: School of Despair
Wow...Frank, what a picture of despair you depict. A picture and a depiction that just couldn't be be further from my own experience at Ogilvie. I attended from '59 to '64 and still have vivid recollections of many happy times. What other inner-city boy would have got to experience catching and ringing wild birds in the orchard nets with Mr Felstead? Or newt catching? Or raspberry, apple and greengage picking, or being shown how to make model gliders from scratch, using balsa wood and a modelling knife. Or the frequent beach trips - something I attribute my love of the coast in winter to. Or swimming classes held at Butlin's exotic, tropical themed pool, out of season. Sleeping under canvas in the summer, with sausages cooked on barbeques. Mr Booth was an exceptional Headmaster in my opinion, and I wonder where I would be today had he not taken the effort to personally drive me to a mainstream school where I was able to take (and pass) my 11+. Ogilvie made me who I am today, although I retain the aversion to cheese on toast, and glasses of milk that it gave me. That I can remember both the faces and names of most of the staff fifty years hence speaks volumes. So thank you Mr Booth, Miss Plummer, Miss Abberton, Mr Felstead, Mr Woodcock, Mr Sanderston, and Miss Clarke. Sorry you feel you had such a bad time Frank, but it doesn't accord with my recollections in any way.
Comment from Tony D on Thursday, 1st March 2012.
RE: RE: School of Despair
I'm sorry too Frank, that your memories were that terrible. I can't imagine what it must have been liked for a child of your time. I can only assure you that at the time I was there (1980-1984) it had significantly improved although boy/girl segregation was still in opperation, (which now I think about it was a good idea).Ha ha...
Comment from Lisa Ditcham on Monday, 23rd April 2012.