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'BRATS!'

(Part 1)

Duke of York's RMS

"I Remember You" (Frank Ifield)

"Never mind 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' --- ours sure beat his!  He had it easy!!" opined one Fred Dennis, an ex Dukie of the late 1940s/early 1950s era (as well as being an ex A/T of AAS Harrogate and late Sgt in the Royal Signals), to me as we chatted and soaked up our private memories in the School Dining Hall on the 1st day of July in the Year of Our Lord 2005!  Unwittingly, Fred had echoed my own utterances to family and various acquaintances over the past forty five years -- and we won't be the only ones to have said similar!  Certainly another thirty or so 'Old Boys' quietly recalled some of 'our Days' to each other at the Reunion Dinner held at the Swingate Inn the evening before for those who served as 'Dukies' between 1950 and 1960.

It was a motley gathering at that Dinner, the passing of time meaning that some took longer than others to recognise each other -- indeed if they did at all!  In our youth, of course, a sixteen or seventeen year old would hardly bother even noticing a nine year old 'newchie' then anyway so there was certainly less chance of recognition now.  I was probably one of the youngest present at the event (youngest, at 59 years of age!) so was luckier than some because, of course, there was more chance of my recognising some of the former Seniors, boy NCOs and Prefects that my peers and I were once so in awe of.  Pete Godwin (an ex School Prefect of Wellington House who left the School in 1958) organised the Dinner for which Elaine and I undertook a rail journey from Yorkshire to Dover in order to attend.  It was the first time I had been back to the port of Dover since a visit in 1964 so, naturally, the area had certainly changed.

However, when the taxi that took us up to the Swingate Inn climbed the familiar bends of Castle Hill and rounded Connaught Barracks (that, after the Parachute Regiment vacated it in April 2006, has only recently ... 19th September 2006 ... been earmarked by the Home Secretary to possibly reopen as an Open Prison for some 340 'low risk' civilian offenders!) the memories, including the tales of the old Castle's supposed 'Headless Drummer' ghost, proverbially flooded back to me.  It was a pleasant surprise to see the old three Pylons still in situ as we passed the familiar Deal Gates on the Deal road --- and retraced part of the route of the old 'Mill run' before arriving at the Inn, our Venue for the Reunion.

On entry there, a group of initially non-descript souls met our gaze -- but naturally we instantly recognised the distinctive DYRMS OBA tie worn by almost all the males.  Gradually some of the faces began to 'ring bells'.  Elaine, who'd never been to Dover before never mind any Dukie haunts, instantly recognised men such as Robin Scriven (ex Wolfe House) for instance, also James 'Jack' Frost (ex Wolseley House) as well as a couple of the lady wives -- because we'd met them before at Harrogate for such as AOHA reunions in recent years -- so she certainly felt comfortable immediately!  Someone had laid out past photographs and similar memorabilia from their personal collection on a bar table, the perusal of which by many helped to 'break the ice' of ex Dukies and their spouses initially meeting each other or being reunited.  I too had fetched some photo's etc. along so felt I'd contributed something to the occasion at least --- including my own Home Counties Swimming Certificate from 1955(!) and a picture of my father, 'Harry', who also as a Dukie, had served at RMA Chelsea as well as at this our School on Lone Tree Hill!!  He was one of those who famously marched up the Hill to the new School location from Dover Priory station back when the Boys 'relocated' from London on the 15th July 1909, i.e. coming up to a century ago!

Pre Dinner drinks enabled the seventy five or so gathering to properly assemble and become better acquainted or re-acquainted according to circumstances.  I half expected a bugle call to sound 'Officers Dress for Dinner', a band to strike up 'Ye Olde Roast Beef' or at least to hear 'Spra' (RSM) Jones command "Sound the Advance, Mr. Halsey"! just once more -- but no!  Instead a young waitress gently advised the assembly that "Dinner is Served" and we took our places in the Inn's lovely, period Dining Room.  Dinner was excellent, preceded by Grace as always used to be the custom, this time said by one of our most famous (infamous?!) ex Chief School Prefects (CSPs) -- Ron 'Jack' Hobbs (ex Marlborough House), who - er - 'left' the School back in 1959!  This latter personage, on this occasion accompanied by his lovely and personable wife, Joy, was to be able, for the first time in over forty years, to proudly enter the School grounds the following day, unmolested and without fear of being ejected -- yet again!  However, that really is Jack's story so my reader should seek him out yourself to 'get the story right'.

To continue, the enjoyable meal amongst interesting company was followed by short, amusing and pertinent speeches from a couple more former CSPs including the current Secretary of the OBA.  Even a rendering of the School Song broke out as well as a verse or two of the School Hymn.

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The following ex Dukies and their spouses were invited to the abovementioned Dinner.  Not everyone listed below was able to attend but a good 95% were 'On Parade'!:  (The House letters should be easily fathomed; 51 would indicate that the ex Boy left the School in 1951, 63 indicates that he left in 1963 etc.)

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This page last automatically updated: 09 June 2010 19:40 hrs.

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