I joined Clifton College in September 2005 and achieved 10 GCSE's. I am now currently in my first year of sixth form (2009).

I went to Farleigh for year 7 & 8 before going to Charterhouse for 5 years, where I became coach of the football 3rd XI. I am now at university in Washington, DC, at the George Washington University, where I am studying Marketing and Sport Management, and am President of the Cricket Club!

Attended Winchester College, captaining the 2nd XI Cricket team and sung in the Chapel Choir, then went to Bristol University to read Spanish & Russian. Graduated in 2007 and currently work in Global Banking & Markets for the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Went on to Bradfield College, Reading. Left after GCSE's to go to Peter Symonds. Left after one year. Series of jobs in catering and hospitality before taking an apprenticeship in commercial plumbing. NVQ2 completed 2008.

I was at Twyford from 1981 until 1986. For the past 4 1/2 years I have been living and working in Amsterdam, and am the proud owner and resident of an ex-working barge called "Burret". I work for Worldcom as a network strategist, having been part of the UUNET company before that building out UUNET's Internet network in Europe.

I would be very happy to hear from any other old Twyfordians out there.
Best wishes to everyone at the school now!

Thought i'd leave a note to encourage everyone else to do the same. I'm living in London, working PT as a manager of a bar in the city whilst studying for an IT+IS degree at Goldsmiths College London. Married Marianne in 2003 in California. Drop me an email if you want to meet for a pint.

Went on to earn a Degree in Visual Communications at ACL. Moved back to Saudi Arabia, started a design agency and got married. Expecting a new addition to the family soon.

Just by chance I wondered whether Twyford had a website! Would be great to hear from everyone, to know what you are all up to now. I'm in my last year at Loughborough, having a great time. Not sure where my degree will take me yet though! We should have a 6P class reunion sometime... who was that great form tutor we had?!

St. Edwards School, Newcastle University, St George's Medical School and Sandhurst. Currently serving as a medical officer for PWRR based in Cyprus.

In the 2010 Twyford Life magazine, the children interviewed Old Twyfordian Christopher Peach (Twyford 79-81). Christopher has enjoyed a very successful career as a chef and is currently Director of Food and Beverage and Culinary Operations at the Swissôtel GRAND in Shanghai, China.

On Twyford

Did you enjoy Twyford School?

The family had just moved from New Zealand back to England so I was very unsettled and missed all my friends from there. It did not take long to get a few friends and my time in Twyford improved greatly. I had many great adventures in the school. There were many things I enjoyed and a few I didn't...

What was your happiest memory of Twyford?

I clearly remember my Sunday routine. After Chapel we were given one bag of sweets each. I would take these sweets with me and eat them on the way to Shawford Railway Bridge telephone box from where I would make a call to my parents. That is a nice warm thought. However, some of my happiest memories were also my naughtiest! In summer term before the holidays the school had the most glorious fruit and vegetable garden at the back of the main building. Especially good was the fruit tended by our old French teacher, Mr. Pike. After lights out, and at an appropriate time, my friends and I would sneak down the long corridor and get into the garden to eat the fruit - the most beautiful raspberries grew in that garden. Very intrepid crooks we were in our dressing gowns and slippers!

What was the food like when you were here?

I don't really remember it well, I'm afraid. I remember we always used to complain about it, but in reality the food was probably very nice. Our Christmas feast was always fantastic and a real treat to look forward to. Our meals were served in the old dining room above the main road, and I remember it being a long sloping corridor down to the room and then steep stairs going up to the main room. A room with real history - it was not dissimilar to the dining room in Hogwarts School, only without the size and the high ceilings.

What were your favourite subjects?

I always enjoyed Biology and Chemistry. Latin was a subject I did not enjoy but wish I'd persevered with as I would love to be able to speak it now.

On your Career

How did you become interested in food and becoming a chef?

It was purely by chance that I got into cooking. It really started because I was not a good student and academic subjects bored me. I did not work hard enough and so when I finished school I had no idea what I was going to do. I had always enjoyed cooking with both of my Grandparents and my Great Aunt, but I never considered it for my career. Basically, I was pushed by my parents to go to work at a hotel during my holidays and I absolutely LOVED it. The seed had sprouted...

What school subjects helped you with your career?

Biology, Chemistry and Art all help in modern cooking. However, when I first started out, although it was still a beautiful art form, one really learnt much from the school of 'hard knocks' and elbow grease.

What are the most exciting things about your job?

Honestly, there are so many exciting things about our industry. The ingredients you get to eat and taste…the places you get to travel to… the friendships you make amongst your team… the loyalty to each other. And, of course, the buzz of adrenaline when the first order comes in.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a chef?

Be patient and expect to be tired, sore and broke. Live the passion, love the job and stick to your guns. Nothing is more satisfying than finishing the service knowing every plate you served to your guests was enjoyed and well received.

On living in China

What is it like living in China?

Well, I have now lived here for nearly eight years in total. I speak Mandarin so it is much easier to get by. A fascinating country, both for food and culturally/historically.

Did you go to the Olympics?

I was invited to watch the 100 metres men's final through our Hotels Association, but I was flying to England the day before so I missed it! And what a great one I missed! However, being with the family was more important.

Can you keep pets in China?

Yes, it is no problem here. In the 'old days' you were not allowed to have big dogs but the law has changed, so now it is allowed. Really, you can buy any animals here - baby crocodiles, big spiders, snakes, etc. You name it, you can find it.

And finally...

How did you get your suit? Which side do you prefer to wear?

I designed the suit for a public relations exercise, "One man, two jobs". I don't wear that on a daily basis. I will always be a chef - I love the uniform and I am extremely proud of the profession. Even when I am wearing my suit, inside I am still wearing my 'Whites' (this is the name of our uniform). You can remove me from the kitchen but you cannot remove the kitchen from me.

Hi - I am an Old Twyfordian, now living in New York City and working as a profesional composer and pianist. I would love to hear from anyone who may have known me!

I went to Cranleigh, then Exeter, and ended up in the Scotch Whisky industry - specializing in Southern Africa, India and The Far East.

Now based in Hong Kong with my wife and two children looking after Chivas Bros for Asia & Oz. More importantly I am vice-chairman of the World Elephant Polo Association and have both captained and player-managed the national Scotland elephant polo team to 4 world cup crowns (in Nepal)and 3 Kings Cup titles (in Thailand). We have become one of Great Britain's most successful team of sporting heavyweights since England's years at the helm of World Cricket. Check out www.elephantpolo.com to find out more.

David Scott (1969-74) left Twyford in 1974 for Malvern, and then went to Liverpool Polytechnic, as it was then, coming away with a degree in Building Surveying. After a few years in Oxford, he and his wife now have a practice in Truro, Cornwall, specialising in historic and ecclesiastical building conservation. In 1999, David won the RICS building conservation award, followed in 2000 with a further project award and the RICS Person in Conservation award which was presented by H.R.H the Duke of Cornwall. They are the proud parents of three 20+ year old daughters.

In the 2011 Twyford Life magazine, we interviewed Old Twyfordian Tom Coombes (Twyford 79-81). Tom lives in Hollywood, Los Angeles, is married with two children and runs an international marketing business called Cognito.

Tell us about your career after Twyford.

I followed my brother to Canford which I enjoyed and made some great friends. During my year off, I worked for a few months at Lloyds of London and then decided I wanted to pursue a degree in farming. Very odd! So Wye College followed. After Wye, where I learned the ins and outs of running commercial agricultural enterprises, I went to work for a commodity trading firm in Sussex. I didn't last long. Then to London, where I landed a sales role in financial sector publishing. So I worked there for a while, got a little frustrated, took a year off to go to Australia, and then came back to London and worked for a PR firm. I got poached to run the marketing for a software firm in France. They became my first client for my new business.

So what is Cognito?

Cognito is a PR firm. We work for companies that need to manage their reputation and profile, usually in the financial markets. I started the firm in my bedroom in London in 1999. We are now on three continents and work for some of the largest financial institutions in the world. Not meaning to blow our trumpet, but it's quite nice to look back and see we've made some progress! We're also building some software here in California that helps firms to measure and monitor their profile in the market.

You now have offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Singapore. What have been the biggest challenges of growing your business?

Honestly, it is all about finding and keeping really good people. People who want to work hard, who are honest, reliable, fun, intelligent and ambitious. Unfortunately, these people are hard to find. In PR we have a lot of young people, sometimes straight from university. Their attitude is the most important thing. Do we want to work with them? Will our clients want to work with them? Do they want to do a good job? Are they reliable? Can we trust them? It sounds very simple, but these basic qualities are very rare!

So you and your family live in Hollywood in Los Angeles. What's that like?

When we arrived in LA it was like landing on Pluto. Los Angeles is effectively in the desert. It's very hot in the summer. Except for a little rain between October and February, most days are sunny and dry. The people are outrageous, with so many wanting to be on camera - there are a lot of very white teeth and plastic surgeons! Seriously though, the Californians have a tremendous attitude. It's still the new world out here. They have a very ‘can do' approach to life, and want to get things done and build it bigger and better. It's quite refreshing sometimes to be around people like this.

There's a lot to do in California. Beaches, mountains, hiking, swimming, sailing. Mostly for us we're looking after our new young family who, at six months and 3 years old, need a lot of care!

What lessons/skills did you learn at Twyford that have helped you in your life/career?

Great question! When I interview people now, I'm really interested to know where they went to school and what that was like. For me, Twyford taught me some crucial things that help me every day - how to get on with people; how to fit in; the importance of teams and sports.

I still remember learning capital cities with Noel Keble-Williams. I call on Latin to help understand the derivation of words. I would like to hand out "Tardi's" and "Ineptus'" to members of staff who are late. I would love to go round calling "hypos to hypoland" when people call in sick! Seriously, Twyford helped me form my value system of what is the right way to behave and what isn't. It helped give me, hopefully, a balanced view of what is right and wrong.

Any favourite memories from your time at Twyford?

The Tug of War. Hornets winning sports day. Singing the songs at the end of term and stamping feet on the tables. Going to the bell. Midnight kitchen raids. Collecting strawberries. Nets. Court Cricket. The map on the geography room ceiling. Too many to write but enough to last a lifetime.

Winchester College 1971-1976 St Bartholomews Hospital Medical College 1976-1981 MB BS 1981, DRCOG 1987, MRCGP 1988 GP in Kingston upon Thames 1988 -2003 GP in Thames Diitton, Surrey 2004 - Present Medical Director – Thamesdoc. School Governor - Shrewsbury House Prep School and Shrewsbury Lodge.

Memories now quite vague, would love to hear from old twyfordians who could possibly shed light on exactly went on all those years ago!

I would very much like to hear from Old Twyfordians of the same vintage.
So pleased to see the school is thriving. Best wishes to all the students and staff.

Now working in the City of London as an IT Consultant.

John Corner (1949-54) spent his career working in luxury consumer good industry, including many years with Wedgewood. Latterly, he started his own business assisting companies trading in the Far East and Japan. He and his wife retired to Australia in 2004 to be near their daughter. John is currently working on a biography of his father, the famous botanist Professor EJH Corner CBE FRS.

We are sad to learn of the sad passing of John Andrew Lamont Nicholson (Twyford 56-59). He was a celebrated author and leading textual scholar on the works of Lord Byron and Gustav Mahler. After Twyford Andrew, as he was known, was educated at Rossall School and then was an undergraduate at the University of Essex. He completed his PhD at the University of Warwick, where he tutored until 2002 and published several books. A bachelor, he died of cancer aged 61 on October 31st 2009. A full obituary can be found on the Times Online website.

Life since Twyford: Radley College 1948-53. National Service, 1953-55, Trinity College, Cambridge, 1955-58, Engineering, Cox of the 1958 1st VIII (Resigned from Leander a few years later as pink socks in the Nigerian bush seemed anachronistic!);

Graduate Apprenticeship and first job at Ransomes & Rapier Ltd, Ipswich, 1958-64, making and selling giant excavators, and spending much time sailing on the Orwell and the North Sea; Holman Brothers Ltd. Of Camborne, Cornwall, 1964-66 Nigeria, 1966-69 Tanzania, selling and servicing earthmoving equipment and related engineering plant with again much sailing (I would like to know of anyone else who has found themselves looking down the wrong end of a rifle while a Zanzibarian policeman searched the boat in the middle of an ocean race);

W D Scott LtUK, 1969-74, administrative productivity consultancy;

National Productivity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, 1974-85, administrative productivity consultancy;

Baileys Consultant Associates Ltd, UK, director and eventually proprietor, administrative productivity consultancy. Latterly technical author mainly in the nuclear industry.

In 1968 I married Suzanne Billinge and we have four sons and a daughter, all married and all except one living overseas. Luckily for us it is the one son with children that has stayed in this country. I now pass the time running an annual Ride and Stride around Oxfordshire Churches raising money for the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and singing in various choirs around Abingdon.

Winchester College 1949-54. Whilst there as a Cadet in the CCF I was taught to fly gliders, a sport in which I have continued to take part to this day (2010). Joined the Royal Navy at Dartmouth 1954 and spent the next 21 years mainly in the submarine service. Retired from the navy 1976 to qualify as a Solicitor, admitted 1980 after articles in a family firm in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Appointed in house lawyer to The Scout Association until retirement in 1996. From 1988 also held the appointment of The Secretary of the Association.

John Studd (1942-48) went to Winchester College, and then, after national service, to Clare College, Cambridge, to read theology under Dr John Robinson. He did his ordination training at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, Yorkshire, and was ordained deacon in 1960 and priest in 1961. He met Nea, his wife, and served his curacy at St. Stephens Rochester Row, Westminster before moving to Australia. Next summer, he will celebrate 50 years as a priest at a church in Adelaide. The latter part of his ministry was mainly spent working with deaf people. He and Nea celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last year.

We are sad to learn of the passing of Victor Francis Pym (Twyford 33-38) on the 27th December, 2009. A loving father, husband and grandfather, Francis, as he was known, also practiced as an architect and a priest during his lifetime and wrote a book called Einstein’s Predicament - A New Approach to the Speed of Light, a copy of which he presented to the School. He attended Twyford with his brothers John and Martin.

The Twyfordian of December 1937 records:-

The Gardens - The well-known gardening firm of Pym Bros, carried all before it at the local horticultural show. Experts were amazed at the size and splendour of the individual exhibits, while the general layout was beyond all criticism. The most interesting exhibit of the year was the new Musk flower - Mimulus Pymulus - which has the amazing characteristic of producing a new bloom every day to replace the one picked by its owner for his buttonhole.

We are sad to report that John Grantham (1938-1940) passed away in May 2008.

After school at Twyford and then Radley, he read Russian and German at University College Oxford having done wartime and national service in Royal Signals Corps and Intelligence Corps. He later worked for GCHQ as a Russian linguist and spent 27 years at the National Coal Board as a conference interpreter and technical translator until he retired in 1986.

He married Phillida nee Davidson in 1960 and has two sons Simon and Guy. He lived in Earls Court, London from 1960 until his death. He is sadly missed by family and friends.

I remember have gardens at the back behind the year 4 classrooms, and getting into arguments over soil and plants! Also remember the swimming which was good fun, and the cross country which wasn't so much fun!

Playing court cricket in the summer. Free Swim, Playing Matches, Beavers.

The Extravaganza and getting “Brill”!

David Wickham, Charles Mason, Captain Guy Hawkes, Noel Keeble-Williams and Tony Payne.

Great training ground in discipline and have memories of a tough but fun life, especially playing cricket on court - I wonder if it still happens?

1st X1 Cricket - Tony Payne Singing - Felton Rapley (used to sit next to organ and it was called Crow's nest Took lead in 1066 and all that - Common Man Noel Keeble-Williams married Miss Salt. David Wickham as Headmaster.

A slightly edited version of my actual diary entry for Saturday 3rd March 1962 which unusually was hour by hour!

Weather: Colder than Friday. Middle full of junior game-ites. Awful.

The Bomb shelter, "Beavers", Robert Wickham and painting the swimming pool.

I first went in September 1937 and, if my memory serves me right, that was Rev Reginald Wickham's first term and there were about 40 boys there. I think the classes were 6 to 9 boys.

Douglas Hurd came after me as did David Wickham.

I still remember the open fives court where I learnt hand and bat fives and the bowling green and the golf course. I recall the magnificent bonfires on Guy Fawkes Day and the small garden plots where we learnt the skills of gardening.

I left at the end of the term in July 1940 and went to Australia, returning to Marlborough in May 1944. It was told that Winchester turned me down as too old to be turned into a "proper" Wykehamist. But I think Marlborough suited me very well and I enjoyed my time there.

I wrote at length the other day to David Wickham, who had written to me; so I will not repeat what I told him.

Here in Kenya some Schools are just celebrating their centenary - so congratulations on your second centenary!

I recall that in either 1938 or 1939 a boy came back after the Christmas holidays with a copy of "Boy's Own". I had never heard of the publication, but it was confiscated as not suitable and so within a month all of us had read "Boy's Own" from cover to cover. The lesson was - if you want people to read something - Ban it!.. This is a lesson that few African leaders seem to have learnt.

One of the members of staff was Major Bull and he had a gamey leg - no doubt a war wound - I recall his telling us after the second World War had started that Britain was fighting the wrong enemy. He said we should be fighting the Russians - like the Finns were and - like the Finns - we would beat them.

The whole school writing home every Sunday after Chapel. Your letter was checked by the master on duty before dispatch.

Peter Bartelt (spelling ?) giving us GPBs for good work. This was his monogram written against the relevant work in our exercise book. Biro pens were very new then and we discovered that we could duplicate a GPB just by applying a thumb to a new one then pressing the thumb onto a clean area of paper. Using a rubber in place of a thumb gave a better impression.

The mid morning russet apple that had come from the trees in the orchard behind the Carp Shop. Or was it in place of the after lunch sweet (sweets were subject to rationing in those days but I suspect we got more than the ration because the School bought them in bulk)

My memory of VE day is not so much about the end of the War in Europe as about hawk moths kept on a shelf behind the 1st pitch pavilion.

The compulsory visit to the freezing cold lavatories after breakfast followed by reporting to the Matron. If one said, “No, Miss Nutt�, one was given a dose of syrup of figs. I think her successor, Miss Percy, gave up this practice but I remember Mrs Wickham (Betty Wickham) commenting to a small group of us who were in bed with flu that Miss Nutt had an uncanny knack of letting a boy go as fit after reporting then calling him in some hours later because he would have developed a temperature, and he had. That conversation with Mrs Wickham probably happened just after she had caught Miss Nutt attempting to prolong her stay off work by holding the thermometer against her hot water bottle. We did not see Miss Nutt again after that.

In the summer term, once it had got warm enough, everyone who had qualified for a red triangle swam two lengths before breakfast. This was supervised by the Headmaster (Robert Wickham) who dived in after us and we all had to be out of the water before he had finished his two lengths. Nobody, including Wicks, bothered to put on a triangle, indeed there was not time to. I wonder if this still happens.

My only visit to Twyford while David Wickham was Head (As a boy he had been a term or two senior to me) was a very hot, sunny Saturday and all the boys were out on the pitches without any cloths on because most of them had chicken pox. Some girls had been sent by their parents to join them so that they could catch the pox. This seemed eminently sensible and practical to me but I wonder if this would be considered proper now.

The visit to a battle ship at Portsmouth organised by Hindson’s father who was a senior officer on board, possibly Chief Engineer. I came across the picture the other day of us sitting under A turret with the Captain and Hindson, father and son. William Hindson was with me at Radley, although in a different house and we went our different ways. He was also with me at Trinity College, Cambridge, but again we moved in different circles. Sadly he died many years ago.

What was the name of the jovial, stiff legged handy man who cleaned our shoes? Somehow he always cheered me up whenever I saw him.

In about the year 1837 I went to Twyford a preparatory school near Winchester, kept by the Revd Robert Wickham, now Archdeacon of St Asaph……The under masters were Henry Gough and one Leach. We used to travel to Twyford in this wise, viz., with the carriage to an inn at Hounslow, where we were picked up by the coach running from London to Southampton through Winchester. We were drilled every morning before breakfast, and twice a week by a Sergeant who came over from Winchester for that purpose. A Signor Arnati, a Pole, taught us French, but generally went to sleep over that business. I began to play cricket at Twyford. This school was much better than the others I had been at. Twice a week we talked to Rose Hill in the Downs. Our rewards were to be asked to breakfast after lying in bed and not getting up for first lesson, and the greatest reward of all including the breakfast, to have a whole holiday and leave to go to Winchester by ourselves. We had holiday tasks, and if we passed well in this, we had a fete day, either nutting in the wood or rabbiting, with fireworks at night. I was very successful one half in the examination at the end of it; Vowler Short, afterwards a Bishop, was the examiner, and I twice got a prize……

I came to Twyford when I was 9 ½ years old, after the Christmas holidays, in January, 1837, and after four years there went on to Commoners Winchester, and I have consistently said during all these years that I was really taught only during those four years; the rest of whatever knowledge I have acquired, I have picked up, so I am still grateful to Twyford. I am 82 today.

In September 1839, I went to Twyford School. I was driven there by my father from Hoddington House in a one-horse chaise, a distance of some 20 miles. My chief friends there were two Pearses, the three Millers, and a Burnigham, all children of our neighbours in this part of Hampshire. I had also a (badly behaved) friend called Wallace, who signalized himself by pulling a lock of the old French Master’s hair in order to ascertain whether it was a wig or not, and by shirking out to the village public and getting drunk on rum-shrub. I had also another great friend, Martin, commonly called “Biddy Martin” (the son of Admiral Sir William Martin), who died young.

At Midsummer, 1842, when the yearly examinations took place, I “got books,” and became the head of the school. In those days there was a ceremony called “Standing Up,” at which Latin verses learnt by heart were repeated. I had a very good memory in those days, and repeated long passages from the Classics, which earned me many marks. The “books” awarded to me were Lockhart’s Life of Scott (“Quod literis colendis diligentissime incubuit et moribusoptime se gesserit”), which were presented to before all the School by “Robertus Wickham” on June 18^th.

When I first went to Twyford School the eleven senior boys were Holroyd, Shipley, Gandy, McCaroger, Oglander, Loveday, Belfield, Sampson, Hill, Hawthorn, Mynors.

Shortly before I was at Twyford there was an unpopular usher, whose name I have forgotten, but the following verses were written upon him by one of the boys:-

Twyford at least may boast

That in it once there lived a ghost.

This ghost was very thin and tall

He had one shirt and that was all,

But of collars he had thirty,

To put one on when t’other was dirty.

On Sunday when he comes to dine

His eyes with greater lustre shine,

He cuts the cheese as if to say

I’ll have some better food today.

When he went round the rooms at night the boys would hide their heads under the clothes and shout “The Ghost, the ghost!”

I went to Twyford in the year 1849 and left it in 1853. Mr J C Roberts was Headmaster. I think I am right in saying that he had not been ordained at that time, though he wore a semi-clerical dress. The Second Master was the Rev. Brown, in deacon’s orders; he was a great favourite with the boys, but was not a man who would stand any nonsence. The third master was…an elderly man named Raynor, a florid looking man who was said to have lived some years in South America. He used to go and bathe in the canal every morning, summer and winter. One cold morning he got cramp, and was drowned, nobody being present to help him….

The French master at Winchester College used to come over once or twice a week to teach us French. I think his name was Angouville. The boys used to torment him by shouting out “Waterloo,” and asking him if one Englishman could not lick three Frenchmen. When he caught them, he got even with them, but there was no malice on either side. He never would send a boy up for punishment, however well deserved it was.

We were drilled by an old pensioner, Sgt Allsopp, who used to walk over from Winchester in scarlet swallow-tail coat, white duck trousers and a sash. Tradition said he had been at the storming of Seringapatam. He spoke of the Duke of Wellington as a heathen savage might speak of his god, and his nose was suggestive of convivial habits.

With reference to the cricket field I very distinctly remember having played there while at school, and being hit in the eye by a ball bowled to me, and as I left in July 1858, it must have been occasionally used in Dean Kitchin’s days, though, no doubt Revd Wickham laid it out as a ground. Bryan, P. Thresher, and W G Marshall were at Lords in the same time in 1862, having all gone direct to from Twyford to Winchester, and Duthy was 12^th man. C E Boyle was in the Charterhouse and Oxford University XI.’s, J. Frederick was in the Eton and Oxford XI.’s, C. W. Carles was in the Marlborough XI.

G. L Mallet was in Lord’s in 1860, and would have had two more years if he had lived. C. D. E. Malet was in Lords in 1863. So you see that the school was pretty strong in boy cricketers then, and the records of 1861 and 1862 are better even than 1901. One of my earliest recollections of Twyford is a walk with Dr. Kitchin over Twyford Down, when C. D. E. Malet, chasing Dr. Kitchin’s dog Neptune, followed him clean over the chalk pit, and, to our great amazement, picked himself up unhurt.

One very vivid recollection of my days was the cup full of senna which every boy who wanted to go to the sick room had to drink, as a test of sincerity, or as a purgatorial terror to malingerers. Also the Saturday procession in order of dormitories down a narrow passage and across the road to the tuck shop with 4d. in our paws.

….I have very vivid recollections of walking up to the upper school to interview your father, carrying the black book in my hand with entries from the slate – “Tardi,” ineptus,” and “inurbanus” were, I think the three entries on it. I then had to kneel down at the breaching stool and receive half a dozen on my posterior, much to the amusement of Mr Lampen, who sat on a minor throne at the other end of the room, and who always stopped teaching his class on these exciting occasions. I always remember Mr Wickham inspecting our nails before being marched to chapel. We were all drawn up in two lines opposite the gymnasium, and he wore a rustling black silk gown, and he used to flick us on the hand if we had dirty nails, and it did hurt too. We smaller boys were always in trouble, as our line was never properly dressed. The upper boys were all right, as their bricks were in line, whereas the ones we stood on were slantwise……..

Twyford School in 1882 was not as up to date and comfortable as it is today; the life of the boy was rougher, but I think we were none of us much the worse for it; anyhow the memory is that of pleasant and happy times. Coming as I did, a small boy from foreign lands, the first impressions of school life and the first lessons of mutual relationship between boys, made perhaps a deeper furrow in my recollection than in the ordinary English boy brought up in England, but though Winchester and Oxford are equally beloved, Twyford has also a warm place in my happiest recollections.