I remember...from Tim Anthony from Canada 1970

Shivering without stopping for my entire first term, which was winter, even though I was from Canada where winters get to 40 below zero, but it's DRY!

My first night in Talisman, R. Sadler leading us all singing "Eleanor Rigby" before lights out.

Being challenged in my first week to accompay some others on a midnight tuck-cupboard raid to show my bravery, passing muster with flying colours, only to repeat the escapade next night alone -- and be branded a show-off.

Being sick in November with stomach cramps, and missing the bonfire on Guy Fawkes night to my great dismay because I was in sickbay, semi-delirious.

Doing badly on a French prep assignment and being beaten by Mr. Whitaker for it, But...

Setting the IVth form classroom on fire (I put it out again) and only being reprimanded by Mr. Whitaker, who was drunk at the time.

Mr. Whitaker demanding Hancock say 'potatoes' in French and Hancock saying "potats, sir?", and trying so hard not to laugh as Witty exploded.

Stealing a cane from Mr. Whitaker's study on a dare. I hid it up a tree in woods (he had dozens of canes, so it didn't help anyone).

Crawling through the 'secret' tunnels that connected the rooms up where Pirates and Mannering dormitory was.

A boy (I won't name him) running in the hallways and crashing into a matron (Mrs. Greene or Mrs. Fowler, I forget which) carrying a large teapot, and getting scalded with boiling water. He was taken to hospital and had permanent scars on his neck.

Andrew Foster nearly losing his shorts in a rugby tackle with all the school and parents watching.

Stealing packets of cigarettes from Mr. Cunningham's room between Mannering and Pirates. Smoking them in the cellar in one of the last two rooms past the woodwork shop, where no one else ever went!

Running away from Ravenswood with 2 others (G. Darling and A. Scott), for a 'lark'. I can't believe how stupid we were. We were running about the countryside like 3 little Oliver Twists, knocking on random doors and asking for food, "just a little cheese, if you could spare some, ma'am?". Yes, we really did that. We finally realized our foolishness and got back to the school at about 11:00 at night. I was in trouble for a month over that. I was put "on satis"; after every class I had have the teacher sign a piece of paper saying my conduct had been acceptable. If any teacher wasn't "satisfied", that was worth a beating or something.

Lumpy mashed potatoes that made me gag.

Midnight Feasts! Many were planned, one actually happened. After an exeat each of us in Pirates dorm (with Gibson, Burns, Wood-Roberts, Matthew II and a couple of others) agreed to bring back some food, and we ate it in the middle of the night. High adventure!

I remember Stripes, but not the Stars someone else mentioned. Odd, that.

Watching "The Dam Busters" in the VIth form classroom. Watching Lulu on "Top of the Pops" in the same room.

Being a "train boy" that left the morning after all the other boarders to catch trains to London early next morning. No rules for a few hours!

Mr. Mundy's gym classes. That was supposed to be a gymnasium?? He had a lot of enthusiasm, but no apparent knowledge of physical fitness or anything.