Page 96 - Through a glass brightly

From Jenny at 17.06
I suspect thee Biology Teacher was Mrs Trayner who retired not long after we left and went to live in Knaresborough. I think the film may have found its way into the archives - as I have a vague recollection of seeing something similar but would have to check with Viv Bell - archivist. If it is, it will probably now be on a DVD which could be on show at the next Commem Lunch 2021/2/3?
From Val M at 21.19
I remember so well when I and everyone else in our group at the Commem lunch that year - 8 or 9 of us - heard Glenda’s story of the crazy swimming relay and shook our heads and all said - she’s mixing it up with something that happened at her previous school. She described in great detail how she had gone in first playing a violin, followed by Rip Van Winkel in pyjamas and so on and so on. We all shook our heads and put it down to advancing years. Glenda’s, that is. This lunch was certainly 2015 or before but all those diaries are in store. That evening I’ve forgotten where we had supper but when the festivities were all over and Glenda and, I think, Judy who were staying with me had gone to bed, I suddenly thought - well, that upper sixth swimming sports must be in the diary - I’ll have a look. And there for the entry of 17th July 1963, just a week before we left school was the following account. When the others came down for breakfast on Sunday morning, I greeted Glenda with the words, “Well, guess who was Rip Van Winkel...”
July 17th, 1963. “Had swimming sports this morning. I had to swim front crawl for VIA1. Came last, of course. I thought I was going to burst or something halfway down. We did a crazy relay race. Glenda went in first, dressed as a boy with a boys’ school cap and tie and playing a violin. Then I went in - in pyjamas - and as soon as I did the trousers came down and I had to swim along holding them. Mag (Youngs) went in next in games clothes and was rescued in the middle by Bridget (Eyre) amidst roars of laughter. Sue (Baker) was hauled along on a rope attached to a harness around her and did the length at terrific speed. Then Ann Egg went in in a science overall. When she got out, Mag yelled from the other end of the pool that we needed one more person. Bridget and I pretended to look around for somebody and seizing Cary, who was sitting fully dressed and apparently unconcerned on the side of the pool, we threw her in after a brief struggle. Needless to say, this was all arranged beforehand. But it was so realistic that Miss Bryan was apparently quite concerned and was looking to see who had been thrown in. It was an utter riot. Later in the morning we were watching the Third Form obstacle race when one of the 3rds got into difficulties in the middle of the pool. Mag dived in to the rescue and the girl nearly drowned her, so Cary went in fully dressed again - this time not a joke! They got her out alright.”
I have a lot of details of that last week of school, most of which was spent rehearsing our entertainment. A message was sent down from on high from Miss Payne one day saying that girls were not to come to rehearsals “in slacks’... Goodness me, different days. I don’t remember anything of the acts we put on for the entertainment but I seem to have lots of the words of the songs, in which I wonder if I detect the hand of Glenda: a version of ‘Clementine’, beginning “In the High street, near the Court House, Education pure and fine Was provided, not one sided, And facilities to dine.” The chorus runs, “Oh my schooldays, oh my schooldays, oh my school days flashing past...” It’s rather good I think. Then there’s a corruption of “A Policeman’s lot is not a happy one” to "A schoolgirl’s lot...” ending up with ’School of hope and vigour’ to the tune of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. I might photograph them and send them as a download. Or do something with them, anyway... There was also a rounders match against the staff, played in fancy dress, with a tennis racquet as bat, till that was broken and after that a lacrosse stick. The fielders had lacrosse sticks (a lot of use they would be for most of us!)
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