Comments for Old Midhurstian

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, numbers 20 & 21 – part 2… by Old Midhurstian

Old Midhurstian — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:24:55 +0000

Even now the whole thing seems a little surreal for a 16 year old of my generation to have had so many people tied up in a plan like this.

Possibly the weirdest part was Mr Fisher (the Headmaster after Luke) actually being on my side but probably for all the worst motives.

I will never dare to say that I had a boring childhood!

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, numbers 20 & 21 on the list… by Old Midhurstian

Old Midhurstian — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:20:34 +0000

Had I ever? That was all I wanted when I was 11 and the idea still appealed at 16 even if the motives were different.

over rationalisation was a major feature of young Malcolm, it got in the way of many decisions and more than once led me to make the wrong one.

Dithering about what it would mean to friendships and/or romance was completely typical of me, some of it was probably cowardice as well.

In this case I made the right decision but even then it turned out wrong.

Comment on The only reason I never got caned… by Old Midhurstian

Old Midhurstian — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:12:53 +0000

You make a perfectly fair point, it may well be that the absence of the cane increased my personal peril. The trouble is it’s hard to be that objective when you’re 11 or 12, simply not getting caned yourself is a bonus, especially when you’re getting your hide tanned so often at home.

One thing Luke would have done, had he known, would have been to enforce an apology, that was very much his style.

I do have to question my own belief that the prefect system was working, in retrospect they must have been looking the other way.

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, numbers 20 & 21 – part 2… by Micky

Micky — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:02:11 +0000

My goodness!

The first meeting of the Escape Committee!

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, numbers 20 & 21 on the list… by Micky

Micky — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:56:59 +0000

Although it would have been a Big Thing to do (even at 16) you had wanted to go to boarding school much earlier, if my memory serves me correctly.

I should think you’d have gone for it with open arms!

Comment on The only reason I never got caned… by Micky

Micky — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:54:40 +0000

So even Head Masters could buck the system and it’s some years later that you, grateful at the time that your hide was spared, wonder whether perhaps his stance on minimising use of the cane might have been a factor in leading to you being bullied quite so much.

My own bully did many minor kinds of nasty things to several of us First Years (‘Sherrings’ (small fish) we were called) but he tried it on once too often, was caught, caned and brought back to apologise to several of us. He didn’t do it again.

Not saying that Luke got it wrong – simply that there was a certain currency at that time – and in school, for most boys, that included the cane.

Comment on My first taste of freedom, sort of… by Old Midhurstian

Old Midhurstian — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:29:45 +0000

Scottie

Isn’t it funny how ritual governs things? Over here in my age group the bottom bunk was the subservient position. I don’t think I could have survived a military existence, just too much on view! As a kid I could pretend to be disinterested but after 16 or so there’d have been no chance. I just love the hypocricy at work in the forces, all the sex you want as long as nobody admits to liking it. Thank heavens you got posted to germany!

I would have sold my improbable soul for a racing bike, that was one of my young dreams. I thought nothing of riding 30 miles in a day even on that old beast I had, a racer would have been just amazing. I never once fell foul of anything untoward while I was cycling, the only danger I faced was right at home in a tiny village, ironic eh?

Thanks for the hugs, always welcome
Love
Mac

Comment on My first taste of freedom, sort of… by Scottie

Scottie — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:14:48 +0000

Hello Mac. In my youth the bottom bunk was considered the choice one. I only had to sleep in open dorm barracks several times in my life, all in military situations. So you can imagine that any enjoyment of male sightings were had but not to be enjoyed. Here is a strange fact: While I had many willing sex partners among my military mates, ( some who claimed to be straight ) I never served openly as a gay man until I got to Germany.

My first bike was a wonderful three speed with a banana seat and a big fat back tire. They were the rage. Oh how I hated the “sudden stop center bar on the eggs” Then my older sister took pity on me as I aged and gave me a used 10 speed. I thought I was grand as the neighbor boys and I zoomed around the town. In those days we could leave in the morning, hit every grandmothers house for treats, and be home at night with no one caring or worrying.

Thanks for sharing the many areas of your life. I know it must be hard to be giving up your privacy and to laying your live bare for the world to see.
Man warm hugs, and a seat in the garden for you,
Scottie

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, number 15 on the list… by Old Midhurstian

Old Midhurstian — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:44:21 +0000

Ulp! I had quite enough problems with that in my home village and believe me when I say that scrawny boys are as likely to attract unwelcome attention as any other!

We really were, for the most part, terribly naive weren’t we? My Form Master, when I was a First Former, was found in delecto flagrente with a boarder. The next day we suddenly acquired a temporary Form Master and quite cheerfully accepted the official story that he’d been “taken ill” and probably wouldn’t be coming back. That actually proved to be a turning point for me because the man who took over as Form and English Master became one of the most important people in my life, for all the right reasons. He was the one who persuaded me to shoot for the top and do S Level English Lit as well as A level, best thing I ever did.

Comment on Odd facts about Malcolm, number 15 on the list… by Bagthorpe

Bagthorpe — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:15:51 +0000

Also you might have come to the attention of the geography master who a few years after I left appeared in the court for indecent assault. How naive we were in those days! We (or at least I)didn’t realise that when he put his arm around you and rubbed your nipple as you worked away at writing in your text book he wasn’t just checking up on your work. Fortunately it did not happen to me, being rather scrawny. But one particular boy who he must have found attractive was subjected to this treatment and then ordered for some fake reason or other to stand up in class. This enabled the master to see what effect his ministrations had had on the boy. And however much the boy leaned over it was not difficult to see. The class usually snickered at his embarassment but no one ever said anything. Clearly, one day, it came to light. If I remember correctly it did not result in prison. He was generous with merit marks also.