Rhubarb 2021

ST EDWARD’S

MEMORIES of the Old Field House in the mid-1950s

FEATURE

Memories of Old Field House in the Mid-1950s

No other House in School could boast its class, detached, secluded, lawns of well mown grass, A tennis court for those inclined, or croquet for a while, Beside a well kept garden of neat Italian style, which lay beneath the entrance, its columned porch pronounce, a welcome to those privileged to be in Field House. A stately home of sorts, though built of modest size; In term, its occupants read books and learnt to exercise, if not in games, then running, around North Oxford’s limit, A fit regime this guaranteed, for body, mind and spirit. Strict rules of hierarchy observed, much trepidation wrought by demi-gods of prefects whose fags their favours sought; ‘Come here’ they cried ‘do this or that, and clean my spats for corps,’

Field House, 1959. Struan Dunn is the 5th boy from the right, second row from the back

and some poor sod, a junior, would spit and polish more; An error made, a careless slip, invaded piece of mind, the Sword of Damocles was ever near, above, beneath, behind. We wore Van Heusen shirts in those mid-fifty years, Our collars, semi-stiff with starch, straw boaters round our ears, Black ties at first, with Harris Tweed, demanding changes bold, so then another tie appeared, all blue with crest in gold; The School Shop near the Chapel, displayed for sale some others, but these selected for a few; heroes awarded colours. We prized our journey from Main School, the walk up Middle Way, Passed Alexandra Park, where children went to play; Then Ogs and Gogs the pie factory, whose cakes were also favoured, The food in house was decent though, if to our tastes was tailored; And after supper..’Quiet’ ..there’s prep and study due, Once finished, every Monday, the call to House Prayers too.

O SE Struan Dunn (Field House, 1957-1960) kindly shared his poem he wrote about the old Field House in the 1950’s, when it was located in north Summertown. We hope it brings back many memories to those who were in Field House during that time.

Light blue our colours, of quite distinctive shade; We cheered on House as well as School on fields of South Parade; But towering over all our lives, the Chapel’s plaintive song, When calling us to worship, ‘neath sound of ‘fi..dang.,.dong’.

Such memories, they linger still, of Field House and more, In Summertown, North Oxford, the time of life we saw.

Struan H Dunn (Field House, 1957-1960) Copywrite

Field House (Apsley Paddox) by Lawrence Toynbee 1946

57

Field House 1956