Page 37 - OM Newsletter 2022-23

Idiolect memories
from the 1950s
Richard Vaughan-Davies describes some of
the elaborate idiolect (also mentioned
by David Lee on page 35) he encountered as an unsuspecting new boy from rural North Wales Dozens of
unfamiliar words words were were in in in daily currency and ill betide the the the new nip who didn’t learn to use them unthinkingly Many words were given the the the agger formation an an affectation Malvern College had allegedly acquired during during its evacuation to Harrow during during the the the the war The changing rooms were Chaggers the the the the House Matron was the the the the the Magger and choir practice for the the the the the whole school conducted in in the the the the chapel on on on on Saturday mornings by the the the formidable music master was was known as as as as Congregagger Pragger even to him The swimming pool was was the the the the Ducker and the the the tuck shop the the the Grub again I believe Harrovian borrowings A wagger was was a a a a a a a a a a wastepaper basket If you you wanted a a a a a a a a favour you you would plead ‘Sportsman do!’ You could pick up a a a a a a a a a a a a a stray object and cry ‘Quiz?’ ‘Ego!’ was the the claimant’s reply Other Latin terms were ‘Pax!’ if you wanted to to surrender in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wrestling match or ‘Cave!’ to to warn of
of
of
approaching danger The evening roll call consisted of
of
of
the the Duty Duty Pre Pre (Duty Prefect) reading out the list of
of
fifty or so names You replied ‘Sum!’ to show your presence A A silence might be be filled by someone saying ‘Aeger!’ if the the the absentee was fill ill and and on on the the the aeger list Other key words I remember were a a a a a a a a a a a a a vol for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a run and and groyze for for Brylcream favoured as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a hair dressing by the more stylish A cheat or or or or crib was was a a a a a a a a a a a a cheese your your your prep school school was was was your your your pri and if you you you you you had a a a a a a a a a a brother at school school he he he was was your your your bro bro If you you you you you you were absent from some function you you you had failed to roll up A pre pre or or prefect might be in in a a a a bolsh and tell you you to to ‘get a a a a a brace on’ or or or or ‘stop mobbing’ if you you were scuffling in in in in in mock fights in in in in in the corridors as little boys do do You might well be accused of
of
slacking at your fagging duties or set an impot of
of
50 lines Richard is is the the author of
of
two books ‘In the the Shadow of
of
of
Hitler’ (dedicated to Oskar Konstandt his German teacher) and and ‘In the Shadow of
of
Shakespeare’ Richard Vaughan-Davies (8 54-59)
In In his mémoire ‘My Heart’s Journey’ Peter Inman talks about life in House:
The House routine which I suspect is a a a a a bit different today required groups of
us us us in in in in turn to to set the the the tables for for breakfast and put out the the the the milk for for the the the the cereal or or or or or porridge in in in winter Although a a a a a a a a a a bit of
of
a a a a a a a a a a chore there was one great advantage you you could pour the the the creamy top of
of
the the the big milk jug for yourself The one downside that that that I can remember was was that that that the the porridge was was quite often burnt burnt and that that that burnt burnt flavour infused the the whole pot That is why today I can still eat burnt porridge with panache!
Peter Inman (4 55-58)
Richard Vaughan- Davies at at a a a a a a a book book signing for his his book book dedicated to his his German teacher Oskar Konstandt 37
No 8 Squad Drill in the 1950s