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Robin Springall · 10-23-2008, 10:25 AM

A group of us from school got together again last weekend, and our wives fell about laughing at the old school names and nicknames. We didn't really see the funny side of it, as we just used the words as parts of our normal school conversation, but I suppose they are rather amusing. Anyway, here for your enjoyment are the ones which I can still remember after far too many years

Masters were universally known as beaks; although some schools referred to the headmaster as the archbeak, we just called him the head man.

Each house had a matron, invariably known as the hag; none of them was under 60 years old, and they really were pretty dreadful.

Class (as in "lessons" as opposed to rooms or years) were hash, so you went off to hash or you had history hash.

You didn't have a bath, you had a tosh. Prep, or homework, was called banco. Afternoon sport fixtures were put on a large board headed "Turning up."

Each school term was called a quarter: the academic year started with the oration quarter (O.Q.) even though precious little orating took place, thankfully; the long quarter, following Christmas, was of course the shortest, and the cricket quarter was between the Easter and summer holidays. Oh yes, those were called breaks. Mind you, each day also had break around 11am between hash, but that
break was of course different from the holiday break. Anyway, we knew what it was all about, even if our wives couldn't follow it at all!

Then there were the nicknames:
The head man was OVO (Oliver van Oss). Pansy Baldwin taught Latin, and did far too many teapots. Hammy Sparks was somewhat tubby and wore shorts. Arse White (A.S. White, esq) was a history beak. Norman Evans, my housemaster, was Dumbo because of his spectacular ears. Mrs Evans was Knockers, and secretly rather proud of it (or them). Alex Crapper was so-called after he left a log in the bog, which required a small thermonuclear device to shift.

I can't remember any more, but the reminiscing was good fun. Most of my contemporaries are either lawyers, bankers, or doctors (all very grand) but they calm down a bit once you get some drink in them, and then they start behaving all right again!

annc · 10-23-2008, 11:35 AM

So it was Eton, eh?

Robin Springall · 10-23-2008, 01:06 PM

Gosh no: Charterhouse, though OVO followed the tradition of Eton housemasters coming to be head man at Ch'ouse.

Michael Rowley · 10-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Robin:

For the benefit of all the forum, this will give you a clue about what the school looks like:

http://www.charterhouse.org.uk/

They know what one Old Carthusian looks like!

terrie · 10-24-2008, 02:29 PM

"sins of convention"

Oh please...would some kind soul enlighten me as to exactly what this means?

Is it that one is toooo conventional--as in terribly boring?

'-}}

Terrie

Robin Springall · 10-24-2008, 03:08 PM

I have no idea. The Boss says I was supposed to be conventional, but something must have gone wrong along the way

terrie · 10-24-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

robin: The Boss says I was supposed to be conventional, but something must have gone wrong along the way

LOL!!! And we are quite grateful that you aren't...

I've never wanted to be conventional...'-}}

Terrie

dthomsen8 · 10-26-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Springall

Gosh no: Charterhouse, though OVO followed the tradition of Eton housemasters coming to be head man at Ch'ouse.

All very curious to an American, but I can't help being curious asking about the dog in the footer.

Robin Springall · 10-26-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthomsen8

I can't help being curious asking about the dog in the footer.

Have to say I've never seen it on any school publications before. Perhaps it's connected with the website designer, or maybe it's the headmaster's pet!

Michael Rowley · 10-26-2008, 04:09 PM

Robin:

Quote:

Have to say I've never seen it on any school publications before. Perhaps it's connected with the website designer, or maybe it's the headmaster's pet!

It is part of the school (or the founder's arms). How long were you at the school?

10-23-2008, 10:25 AM	#1
Robin Springall Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ealing Common, London W5, where I duplicate CDs and DVDs. Posts: 1,233	Schooldays A group of us from school got together again last weekend, and our wives fell about laughing at the old school names and nicknames. We didn't really see the funny side of it, as we just used the words as parts of our normal school conversation, but I suppose they are rather amusing. Anyway, here for your enjoyment are the ones which I can still remember after far too many years Masters were universally known as beaks; although some schools referred to the headmaster as the archbeak, we just called him the head man. Each house had a matron, invariably known as the hag; none of them was under 60 years old, and they really were pretty dreadful. Class (as in "lessons" as opposed to rooms or years) were hash, so you went off to hash or you had history hash. You didn't have a bath, you had a tosh. Prep, or homework, was called banco. Afternoon sport fixtures were put on a large board headed "Turning up." Each school term was called a quarter: the academic year started with the oration quarter (O.Q.) even though precious little orating took place, thankfully; the long quarter, following Christmas, was of course the shortest, and the cricket quarter was between the Easter and summer holidays. Oh yes, those were called breaks. Mind you, each day also had break around 11am between hash, but that break was of course different from the holiday break. Anyway, we knew what it was all about, even if our wives couldn't follow it at all! Then there were the nicknames: The head man was OVO (Oliver van Oss). Pansy Baldwin taught Latin, and did far too many teapots. Hammy Sparks was somewhat tubby and wore shorts. Arse White (A.S. White, esq) was a history beak. Norman Evans, my housemaster, was Dumbo because of his spectacular ears. Mrs Evans was Knockers, and secretly rather proud of it (or them). Alex Crapper was so-called after he left a log in the bog, which required a small thermonuclear device to shift. I can't remember any more, but the reminiscing was good fun. Most of my contemporaries are either lawyers, bankers, or doctors (all very grand) but they calm down a bit once you get some drink in them, and then they start behaving all right again! __________________ Robin Intellectually challenged, alcoholically propelled

10-23-2008, 11:35 AM	#2
annc Sysop Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Subtropical Queensland, Australia, between the mountains and the Coral Sea Posts: 3,976	So it was Eton, eh? __________________

10-23-2008, 01:06 PM	#3
Robin Springall Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ealing Common, London W5, where I duplicate CDs and DVDs. Posts: 1,233	Gosh no: Charterhouse, though OVO followed the tradition of Eton housemasters coming to be head man at Ch'ouse. __________________ Robin Intellectually challenged, alcoholically propelled

10-23-2008, 03:29 PM	#4
Michael Rowley Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ipswich (the one in England) Posts: 5,105	Robin: For the benefit of all the forum, this will give you a clue about what the school looks like: http://www.charterhouse.org.uk/ They know what one Old Carthusian looks like! __________________ Michael

10-24-2008, 03:08 PM	#6
Robin Springall Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ealing Common, London W5, where I duplicate CDs and DVDs. Posts: 1,233	I have no idea. The Boss says I was supposed to be conventional, but something must have gone wrong along the way __________________ Robin Intellectually challenged, alcoholically propelled

10-24-2008, 02:29 PM	#5
terrie Staff Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,559	"sins of convention" Oh please...would some kind soul enlighten me as to exactly what this means? Is it that one is toooo conventional--as in terribly boring? '-}} Terrie

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