Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

On Internet go to "British Pathe News"
On Search type in "Christ's Hospital"
Click on "Speech Day 1932"
Wonderfull

PS Make sure sound is switched on

Wonderful!!!

and the one of St Matthews Day 1930, too... the description:

"Full title reads: "London. Bluecoat boys in the City Again! but only for one day to attend annual service according to ancient custom on St. Matthew's Day."

London.

Boys of the Bluecoats School (Christ's Hospital School) marching parade over bridge.

More shots as the parade nears its destination. A small number of girls in uniform are there - not clear if they are part of the School.

N.B. This item is stored in 1930's Extras Can 5 not in the Newsreel.

CHEEKY!

Thanks - my father might be there - can't say I picked him out though!

Interesting how they had a couple of drummers half way down the parade.
Can't remember that in my time, although it appears that most of the school went up.
Sydney Carter of Lord of the Dance fame, must be there somewhere.

John,
I thought that I recognised you in the front rank of the second house - without a beard, of course!

jhopgood wrote:Interesting how they had a couple of drummers half way down the parade.
Can't remember that in my time, although it appears that most of the school went up.
Sydney Carter of Lord of the Dance fame, must be there somewhere.

I have a vague memory of there being a small cohort of the band about two thirds of the way down the parade (this would be 71/72). The trouble was with the echo from the buildings the two bands did not sound to be in time. Difficult to keep in step with the sound of 2 base drums slightly out of time with each other.

Thanks for finding these. Splendid!

These are great!

Here's a link to the search results:-
http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php ... s+Hospital

Foureyes wrote:John,
I thought that I recognised you in the front rank of the second house - without a beard, of course!

Punch-Up ???????

I know 'Bill' Bailey was strictly Royal Marines, and wouldn't have had two drummers in with the main band.

All drummers to the front.

Buglers to the rear !!

J.R. wrote:

Foureyes wrote:John,
I thought that I recognised you in the front rank of the second house - without a beard, of course!

Punch-Up ???????

I know 'Bill' Bailey was strictly Royal Marines, and wouldn't have had two drummers in with the main band.

All drummers to the front.

Buglers to the rear !!

When you were there it wasn't too bad; only about 250 boys went to St Sepulchure's Church so the two bands were reasonably close. It wasn't a question of one being out of time with the other but simply the relatively slow speed of sound so marching in time was not easy though I suppose we quickly became immune to the echoes.
However, 1953 was a true bar steward. The entire +/- 850 boys marched through London with not two but three bands so you heard three base drums, all at different times (and forget the echoes!).

The worst part was always arriving in the City. Crossing London Bridge we always had to break step to avoid sending it hurtling down into the water but when we got to the other side we had to get back into step - but which base drummer's step?

I'd love to know if the coatfrocks worn by the "small number of girls" were the same ones that we wore some 12 years later!

midget wrote:I'd love to know if the coatfrocks worn by the "small number of girls" were the same ones that we wore some 12 years later!

I should think so, I was pondering why they ever got rid of them, very smart and school colours. We had anything (everything) but school colours from '64 until the merger.

englishangel wrote:

midget wrote:I'd love to know if the coatfrocks worn by the "small number of girls" were the same ones that we wore some 12 years later!

I should think so, I was pondering why they ever got rid of them, very smart and school colours. We had anything (everything) but school colours from '64 until the merger.

DR wanted something more modern - we didn't! We were not at all happy with out grey pinafores. When did the coatfrock come in?

What a brilliant link!

I'm sure JR was in one of those parades

A question for the ex bandsman and ex military on the forum.
The music and the marching in the film seem to be at a faster tempo than I remember from my time (65-72)
Could it be either
a) the film (unlikely as the music sounds ok).
b) the tempo for the band and the marching is set by the bandmaster and depndant on their regimental experience.
c) poor memory on my part?

As JR says the bandmaster during my time was ex Royal Marines which I think may mean a more relaxed tempo and marching style (appropriate for the Navy).
The film seems to be faster and getting nearer to a light infantry speed.