Anne Keys in the 80s

The Weather Rules!!
December 1981:  During the Carol Service a blizzard arrived, suddenly!  A boy reading from the bible said “Let there be light!”  Immediately the lights failed – the organ stopped.  Mr Harrison and Mr Williams nobly endeavoured to play the piano in the dark. The Chaplain, Peter Yerburgh read the final lesson by the light of two candles.

October 16th 1987:  There came a hurricane, winds of over 100mph, it brought down twelve trees, including the ‘special tree’ which so many Durlstonians have liked to climb.

January 25th 1990:  Another tremendous gale which brought down fifty giant trees.  Aubrey managed to clear it all up beautifully, in the end it proved a blessing as it let much light in over the games fields.  As the Chaplain said “The trees looked like a pack of collapsing cards!”

 

The Durlstonian
The Durlstonian today is a truly wonderful school magazine.

At first, the little grey book, then one day Mr Onslow and Anne Keys took an Art Club outing to Kenneth Hobbs the printers in Southampton.

We saw how the magazines were printed.  Two things stick in my mind, the giant guillotine which could chop a man in half and the giant shredder with which they destroyed sensitive documents which the Foreign Office gave them to print.

Then on the side, I saw these marvellous school magazines, striking covers and well-laid out pictures and text.

I asked Mr Onslow if we could go to a magazine like the ones we saw.  He said that he would consider it, cost etc.  That it might cost me half my salary (he also mentioned!).

However, he must have convinced the Governors, etc. and we upgraded the magazine.  In those early days, all the text and photos had to be cut out and stuck by hand.  I was given a week off teaching to do this.  The covers were designed by eight children each year, on various themes such as, the Saints, Heraldry, Wild animals, birds, castles and bridges.

The school has kept a copy of each year in the library.

Little Anecdotes
In the early days, Miss Enid Taylor presiding over the entrance examination for seven year olds, was truly frightening!.  The exam took place in the old IIIB classroom and consisted of English and Maths papers and reading out loud.

1982 The return of the Great Ships
We looked out from the top floor dormitory windows and watched the great ships and liners returning from the Falklands War – a proud moment for us all.

As a mother, I remember packing the overnight case, the tuck box (no 2S) and a very large trunk.

Some items remembered:

The beautiful grey overcoat (from Daniel Neals)

6 pairs socks               1 pair of gloves
6 pairs of pants           School Cap
6 Vests                       School Scarf
6 pairs Shoes              2 Walking, 2 indoor, 2 plimsolls
Shoe cleaning kit         a Reading Book
Writing Kit                  A Board Game
A Grey White Blazer    2 Pullovers
4 Grey Shirts              2 Pairs of pyjamas
Wash bag, etc             Dressing Gown

There is much I have forgotten, I’m sure. Bunty (Miss Mills) was wonderful with the small, new fry.  (The cost today would be astronomical, it was pretty frightening then!  All those tapes!)

So many happy memories, many, many friendships made – some of which have remained until today.

The oldest boys we taught are 55 and over now.  Alex and I spent 40 years between us teaching at Durlston Court School.

Anne Keys 2007