Memories Day Publications

Alleyn's in the 1930s

In 2010, Alleyn's embarked on an oral history project to discover the schoolboy memories of its alumni. The project is a continuing collaboration between members of the Edward Alleyn Club and the School's History and English Departments, the Archives, as well as its pupils. Alleyn's held a Memories Day reunion for Alleyn Old Boys (AOBs) who were at the School in the 1930s and the findings of these years have now been assembled and produced by Head of Alumni Relations, Susannah Schofield into the report Alleyn's in the 1930s.

In his letter to the contributors Headmaster, Dr Gary Savage, remarked that ‘as an historian myself I am naturally fascinated by the research and the window it opens onto what went on some eighty years ago at Alleyn's School.'

The 1930s oral history project grew in scope as it developed. Dr Savage explained that by ‘burrowing into the School Archives to find out more about the context of our AOBs' memories, we unearthed a first-hand account of a Nuremberg rally; re-lived the boys' love and fascination for all things to do with speed and flight; re-visited the fear of the School's evacuation to Maidstone; and found out what His Majesty's School Inspectors were writing about Alleyn's all those years ago. Above all, we witnessed the deep sense of loyalty that our Old Boys continue to feel for their School.'

Alleyn's in the 1930s makes Alleyn's history come alive for everyone in the wider School community, but above all for all our current and future pupils. The next Memories Day reunion will be held at the School on 1 March for AOBs who were at Alleyn's in the 1940s.

To download a copy of this report, please follow this link.

 

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The 1940s Memories Day took place on 1 March 2011

The Development and Alumni Office held the second reunion in our oral history series on Tuesday 1 March.
We welcomed back 23 Alleyn Old Boys (AOBs) who were at the School in the 1940s, some of whom hadn't crossed the school gates in over 60 years. Our guests were ably given a tour of the site by a group of Year 9 and 12 pupils. Whilst some of the buildings were recognisable to them, such as the Sixth Form Centre (Old Buttery), the Old Gym and Great Hall, much of it had changed since they were schoolboys here. Our pupils then interviewed our AOBs about their years at Alleyn's during the Second World War and post-war period.


The AOBs shared their fascinating memories of the School's evacuation to Maidstone and Wales, its later evacuation in 1941 to Rossall in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and, for those AOBs who remained in London during the war, the South London Emergency Secondary School, which was based at Alleyn's.

Our AOBs remembered watching the Battle of Britain dog fights over Pilgrims' Way in Kent, finding shrapnel and bits of aeroplanes to add to their war trophy collections, playing football against the RAF Blackpool camp's team which (unfairly) included the great footballer Stanley Matthews on its side, and avoiding the barrage balloon (sited on Townley Road) when it came down in flames during a football match, and living with post-war shortages.

To a man all our AOBs were impressed with our pupils for their friendliness and maturity as well as being heartened to see their alma mater continue to thrive and prosper.

To read the report, 'Alleyn's in the 1940s', please follow this link and accompanying pictures. Further documents from this era can be accessed in the Appendix - see list to right.

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 Appendix

 


1950s Memories Day

The Memories Day series of reunions continues with a reunion for AOBs who were at the School in the 1950s. This has been set at 6 March, 2012.

As we hold this event during a normal school day, there are constraints to space and timetabling, we have to limit the number of guests to 20.

Letters and emails of invitation have been sent out to all AOBs who were at Alleyn's in the 1950s for whom we have contact details. If you would like to take part, please let us know by 6 February. If we are oversubscribed, we will pick names out of a hat.

If you are unable to make the reunion, we would still very much like to have your memories of Alleyn's in the 1950s. See below to see a taste of some of the questions we shall be asking our AOBs.

 
Questions for 1950s Memories Day Reunion

 General

  • What was the atmosphere of Alleyn's like then? 
  • What did you enjoy about School?
  • What do you remember most about your time at School?
  • How was your place at Alleyn's funded?
  • Where did you live and how did you get to School?
  • What were the boys like at Alleyn's in your day? What was important to them?
  • Were there rivalries between Alleyn's boys and children from other schools?
  • What did you think of Dulwich College and James Allen's Girls' School?
  • What is your lasting memory of your school days?
  • Did you feel privileged to be a pupil at Alleyn's? 
  • What were your memories of the 1950s - e.g. austerity and rationing, emergence of teenagers, rock and roll, death of George VI, unions, NHS, emigration?

Teachers 

  • Who was your most memorable teacher?
  • What was your Headmaster like? (SR Hudson, 1945-63)
  • Can you remember any grand occasions or famous people who visited? 

Lessons 

  • What was your favourite subject?
  • ...and least?
  • Did you enjoy sport/drama/music at Alleyn's? 

Cadet forces & National Service

  • Did you take part in the cadet forces?
  • Did Alleyn's prepare you for National Service?
  • If you did National Service, where were you posted?

After Alleyn's  

  • At what age did you leave Alleyn's?
  • Where did you go after leaving Alleyn's? E.g. university, forces, work.
  • Have you kept in touch with Alleyn's or the Edward Alleyn Club since you left?
  • What are your impressions of Alleyn's today?
  • Other than the introduction of girls (in 1975), has Alleyn's changed?
  • Did you, or any of your friends, go on to make a particular mark in the world?
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