Memories of John St John

Thanks are due to the Old Symondians' Association magazine where this article appeared in autumn 2009. It had first appeared in the Peter Symonds' School Magazine.
The date of first publication is unknown but it was after 1964

“Mr J L St John

In this and the preceding issue, we have outlined the careers of several masters who have served the School for exceptionally long periods. None of them, however, has touched the life of the School in more diverse ways than the career of John St John.
“Saint” in the Common Room, “Sandy” to the boys, he joined the School from Weymouth in 1929, after his education at Taunton’s School and University College, Southampton, and a brief sojourn in a Midlands school.
He taught Chemistry and General Science with efficiency and a touch of humour. It is when we remember the inadequate facilities which existed and the depressing laboratories in which most of his career was spent that many of us will feel grateful for his efforts; just as many Old Symondians will recall, not without affection, the Freeman and St John Chemistry textbook, which was also successful in many places outside the School.
“Saint” has played many games gracefully and successfully. In his early years at the School he played hockey for Chandler’s Ford and cricket for Stanmore, but it already seems a long time since he became a leading member of a local bowling club and a regular winner of the OSA bowls championship. It was, however, his great interest in swimming in the School which will be remembered by many Old Symondians. He was in charge of swimming and life-saving activities for a number of years, and thereafter was a regular supporter of the swimming team at home and away fixtures.
Before 1939 he organised a number of visits of School parties to the Continent and was also in the Officer’s Training Corps, as it was then called. During the war he served in the Special Constabulary and organised agricultural camps at which boys of the School helped on the land.
Mr and Mrs St John took boys as boarder in their house in Cheriton Road before they moved to Kelso House in 1947 and where they remained until 1964. It would be idle to attempt to assess what influence they have had n the several hundred boys to whom they stood in loco parentum, but few could have lived with them without remembering many kindnesses and quiet advice and without cultivating a bit more concern for courtesy, personal appearance and tidiness. Even the Kelso House hurdle for new boys presented - in the event – little terror. The song that had to be sung at the Christmas party was soon taken up by so many other voices, and the spread of food was more than mere compensation. Many members of the School Staff, too, have reason to be grateful for the hospitality and friendship which Kelso House offered. “

This was transcribed on Tuesday 8th June 2010 by Jim Wishart, co-manager with Doug Clews and Chris Cooper.

Glider

The season's greetings to All.

I recently came upon a photo. of a Slingsby Grasshopper glider that rang a bell. I'm pretty sure that this is the type that we had in the CCF during the 1950s, housed in collapsed form in a 'hanger' at the bottom of the School field. (I've put the photo. in my 'Pip's Pics.' album).

Some light 'Googling' confirmed that this is indeed the glider issued to CCFs during that period.

Although my memory is misty and unreliable I seem to remember 'Tom' Pierce piloting, powered by chaps stretching a 'bungee'. I also recall an apocryphal story about 'Tom' landing on the canteen roof - but that may have been wishful thinking!

If anyone has a tale to tell about the glider I, for one, would like to hear it.

'Pip'

Pip's Pics.

Welcome

A welcome goes to David Dennis, who has just joined us ...Perhaps you could post a few bits and pieces about yourself David and your years spent at PSSW for all to share ...Hope you enjoy the site and are perhaps able to make contact with some ex school-mates ...

Doug Clews
Western Australia

Booklet on Peter Symonds

I visited the Hamshire Record Office in Winchester recently and was surprised to see that they were selling (for £1) a nice booklet (A4 size 28 pages) titled "Peter Symonds: Merchant, Almshouse, School and College".  The booklet was produced to commemorate the reopening of the  Northbrook building on 18th January 2008.  It is not clear who published it, but it appears to be written by Dr John Hare who is on the staff of the college and David Rymill of the Hampshire Record Office.

As its title suggests, the booklet starts by describing Peter Symonds himself and the almshouses.  There then is a lot of material on the history of the school, together with a fair number of photographs that I have never seen before.

Has anyone else seen this booklet?  If there is some interest, I will scan some of the illustrations and put them on this site.  

Welcome

A welcome goes to George Bowen, who has just joined us ...

Perhaps you could post a few bits and pieces about yourself George and your years spent at PSSW for all to share ...

Hope you enjoy the site and maybe catch up with some class-mates and share some memories ...

Doug Clews
Glen Forrest
Western Australia

Founder's Day

I found a photo. of Founder's Day 1958 (at least I think it's 1958!?), which I've uploaded to my 'Pip's Pics.' album. 

I also came across another letter of invitation to the Founder's Day service, this one dated 1954, which I've also uploaded.

- surprise finds among a load of old family photos. I was going through in the hope of being able to identify more of the ancestors in connection with my family history research.

'Pip'