PETERHOUSE NOSTALGIA

... MEMORIES ...

THE LOWER SCHOOL 1985-A NEW (AD)VENTURE

Comment

With the benefit of hindsight the most incredible part aspect of the setting up of the Peterhouse Lower School "across the road" was not that it happened but that Mike Hammond, who was charged with establishing the new campus was given the title of Lower Master. We understand that this was a promotion from being a distinguished Housemaster of Malvern and Headmaster of Eagle School, but remain to be convinced!

Alan Megahey responds : "I actually wanted AMH to be called 'Warden of Springvale' but he thought that was too much like a jailer! Pity! So I reverted to a very traditional title, as used at various of the great public schools to describe the man in charge of the Lower School. I would hate it to be thought a demeaning title!!"

From the 1985 Magazine

The start of a new era at Peterhouse

At the beginning of the year we greeted 75 new D Block boys, who were probably rather nervous about what they were going to find at their new school. Little did they know that those involved in inaugurating the new scheme of things at Peterhouse were equally nervous, wondering whether everything had been prepared, whether the water supply would be adequate, whether the kitchen would cope and so on. Within a few weeks, however, the wheels were turning smoothly and the whole operation was beginning to show signs of being a successful innovation in the annals of Peterhouse.

The success of the (ad)venture

The concept of separating the junior boys from the rest of the school had been greeted with scepticism in some quarters, as it was felt that the juniors would be unable to identify with the life of the school and that they would become soft and undisciplined without the might of the seniors to 'bring them into line'. As it turned out, the boys have been able to begin their senior school careers in a happy, natural and relaxed atmosphere and they have had an unprecedented opportunity to be themselves, without being forced into the mould of what the House considered to be the right way for new boys to be processed, which led to considerable pressures and unhappiness in the past. It is perhaps true that the boys have not had to grow up quite as quickly as in former years, but they have learned to live with one another in a boarding school situation, whilst retaining their natural twelve and thirteen year old enthusiasm. They have enjoyed their interests in sport, music, drama, conservation etc., in an entirely unforced manner and the fact that all the boys have enjoyed their first year at Peterhouse is sufficient proof that the scheme has turned out according to plan.

Much of the credit for the smooth running of the whole operation must go to the twenty-four Vth form boys who have come over to act as monitors in batches of four during the year. They have been charged with the responsibility of looking after the day to day routine and discipline and without exception they have done an excellent job of leading the newcomers in the right direction, firmly but fairly. It has been a good opportunity for them to gain experience of leadership and virtually all of them will find themselves as School or House prefects next year. We are grateful to all of them, as we are also to the School prefects who came over during the latter part of the year to act as advisors and to see the whole operation in action.

A M Hammond
Lower Master