Reminisce with Jersey’s Chief Minister as he recalls his days at St George’s.
Looking back now, my years at St George’s between 1967 and 1974 remain among my happiest early memories. The school was then located on Trinity Hill. The facilities were good and traditional, but what really made the school special was the setting. The woods around the grounds provided endless opportunities. We spent many hours there, enjoying the freedom that children seemed to have more of in those days. I am pleased to see that the present school still enjoys wonderful woodland nearby, allowing today’s pupils to experience something of that same connection.
My earliest recollections are from the Pre-Prep. One small detail that has remained with me over the years is that I was the only pupil with a blue art apron when the standard issue was green, although I suspect it simply meant that allowances were made for the very youngest pupils. The St George’s uniform code was quite strict at the time, and appearances mattered. That made it all the more significant when I moved up into Form One and was finally able to wear the recognisable maroon coloured St George’s blazer and cap. I remember feeling very proud the first time I put them on.
School routines were quite formal by modern standards. Each morning, after the register had been called, we would stand and recite our times tables together, starting with the twos and working our way steadily through to the twelves. At the time it was simply part of the daily routine.
Yet it is remarkable how firmly those lessons stayed with me. Even today I can still recall them with (relative) ease. Looking back, it was probably one of the most practical things I learned during my time at school, and something that has proved useful throughout everyday life.
Sport played a central role in school life. The school calendar included sports days and swimming galas that were eagerly anticipated by pupils and teachers alike. I particularly enjoyed football and was proud to play for St George’s whenever I could. Many of our games were held on the (sloping) back field, a place that still comes to mind whenever I think of those years.
One game there stands out more than most. I was playing in goal when a teacher took a shot just before the final whistle, hoping to level the score. I managed to save it, but in doing so broke my wrist. In truth, many of those matches were friendly affairs and the teachers often tried to end them with the scores even, so that everyone could walk away feeling happy. That was the spirit of the games, at least in theory.
We were fortunate to have many places where we could play freely. There was the playground at the front of the school, the back field, and of course the woods. The woods were always the greatest attraction.
Among the features that fascinated us most was a rope swing and an aerial runway zip wire. They were popular, although by modern standards they might be considered rather adventurous. Eventually the zip wire was taken out of service for safety reasons.
Health and safety, as we understand it today, was not quite the priority it has since become. My brother Gerard discovered this when one of his more enthusiastic rides on the wire ended with a fall that left him concussed and in Accident and Emergency. Needless to say, our mother was not particularly impressed by the episode.
For a short period, my brothers and I were boarders at the school. It was an experience that felt both exciting and slightly strange at first and the stricter bedtimes took some getting used to.
During that time, I took up judo after school, and I also had the chance to make friends with French exchange students who were visiting the school.
One memory from those boarding days stands out above the rest. We were allowed to stay up late to watch one of the moon landings on television.
Another important part of school life was the House system. I was proud to belong to St Patrick House. We wore a green badge, although for reasons I never fully understood at the time the colour was later changed to purple.
Inter House competitions were taken seriously and could become quite competitive. House days were memorable. Part of the excitement came from the refreshments served to house members. Orange squash served in plastic beakers and iced sponge cake with a smartie on top were among the treats I looked forward to most.
I must not forget the tuck shop, which also played an important role in our daily wellbeing, or the hot chocolate vending machine, which required a sixpence and was especially welcome after swimming on cold winter evenings.
When I reflect on those years now, it is not any single moment that defines them, but the combination of many small experiences. The routines of the classroom, the games on the back field, the adventures in the woods, and the friendships that grew along the way all contributed to the character of those days.
St George’s also holds a special place in my family. Both of our children attended the school, as does our grandson today. My wife’s father was also a pupil, which means our grandson represents the fourth generation of the family to attend St George’s. I still enjoy visiting the school as a parent and now as a grandparent. The sounds, and even the familiar smells, evoke powerful and happy memories.
St George’s was a friendly and well-disciplined school where good manners were very much the order of the day. Looking back now, perhaps through slightly rose tinted spectacles, I remember my time there with great affection and fulfilment. The school served me well. It taught me valuable lessons for life, gave me confidence, and instilled in me a respect for others.
I will always be grateful to my parents for investing in my education, to my teachers for their dedication, and to my fellow pupils, many of whom remain good friends to this day.
St George’s was, is, and always will be a very special place.
– Lyndon Farnham, Jersey’s Chief Minister