Elmbridge Old Boys
Memories of Elmbridge
Elmbridge the founding years
by Douglas Tamplin.
Although many years have passed and much has happened since a twelve-year-old boy was carted off to the unknown in a Grasshopper coach in 1940, I will try to recount events as far as the depths of my memory will allow.
As I have since learned, I was one of 183 boys and 12 members of staff to arrive at a destination far removed from the lives we were used to in Ilford. The welcome by Mr. Clarke and his wife is now somewhat hazy now, I can remember being given a dormitory (which was Fairlop) and Mr. Anderson taking us over to allot beds.
The entire school was in acompletely unfinished state, no paths had been laid, which meant Wellingtons were the order of the day particularly on wet days when one had to get from one building to the next.
The first night was, as can be imagined, a nightmare; first we were not used to sleeping in two - tier beds, second the sounds of crying throughout the dorm could be heard as homesickness began to bite. However as the days drew into weeks most lads settled down to this new way of life, paths were laid , the building site atmosphere soon disappeared and a resemblance of order was established.
The thing that really sticks out in my mind was our dormitory floor. When we arrived it was dirty, muddy and in need of a good clean. Us lads were of course the cleaners, does anyone remember the “bumper” a heavy oblong block of something with cloth wrapped round it on the end of a long handle. This was swung backwards and forwards on the floor to rub in the evil smelling wax polish. I remember all beds being moved to one side right up the dorm, a good sweep through and away we would go with the “bumpers” !
Those floors shone I can tell you!
As life became more orderly and routine; projects were started such as keeping livestock and what we would call now market gardening. I have a photo of four of us boys with Mr. Clarke brick laying a cold frame! Then there was the beginnings of producing various performances in the assembly hall I also have photo records of two of these. What they were about is anyone's guess!
I could perhaps pick out a number of highlights of my time between 1940 and 1943 such as catching the dreaded impetigo and German measles. But as I said at the beginning, age takes it's toll with the memory. To those who might remember me, I was the guy who always had the ukulele in my hand for I was a great George Formby Fan.
If my efforts with the computer are a success, I believe that John Savage will be putting my photos on his web-site and if there any “old boys” who remember me I would be very grateful to hear from them. It might even trigger more suppressed memories, who knows! I must lastly compliment John on a very professional and comprehensive web-site on the subject of Elmbridge.
My e-mail address is: douglas.tamplin2@btopenworld.com
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Fairlop Dormitory circa 1940
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