Philip Rees, Q 1968-70, Reminiscences Memories of Pilgrims’ when the Quiristers arrived
I read Tom Burden’ s article( Q News 2015 – 2016) about the 50 th anniversary of the Quiristers’ arrival at Pilgrims’ School with some interest.
I attended Pilgrims’ from 1965 to 1970, initially as a Commoner, and I clearly remember the arrival of the Quiristers in their distinctive blue caps and jerseys. I also remember that early attempts at integration were challenging for us boys, despite the best efforts of people such as the then Headmaster, Rodney Blake, and those who were more closely involved with the Quiristers including John & Clare Walters, Dennis & Anne Blake and Dick & Islay Kitson.
In those early days, in many ways the Quiristers were quite marginalised and were anything but fully integrated into Pilgrims’ – the decision to retain the different uniform and to keep them in Q School as a single cohesive unit contributed majorly to much friction between Quiristers and the rest of the school. Things were changing for the better, though, by the time I left.
I saw life from both sides of the fence, because in 1968 an unexpected Quirister vacancy cropped up because of an unusually early-breaking voice. I did a voice trial in front of the legendary Chris Cowan in the Summer, and that autumn term found myself returning in a blue uniform and sleeping in Q School. I then found that many of my‘ chums’ decided to ostracise me and made it clear that they felt I had defected to the enemy – it had an unexpectedly profound impact on my life at Pilgrims’. And some of the more senior Quiristers seemed to think that I was some form of 5 th column operative out to disrupt their lives.
Was it worth it? – Musically, absolutely – I loved the music and I was able to go on to Winchester College courtesy of my music and a very generous bursary award. And, of course, there were marvellous bonuses such as Mr Mitchener’ s scout troop and getting to know wonderful people such as the great HJH Weekes and Dennis & Anita Lee. But my relationship with my commoner peers never recovered.
The Walters and then the Blakes were brilliant Housemasters / House parents and I recall all of them as well as the amazing Dick Kitson being hugely supportive to me when I struggled with the change.
I missed terribly life at the main school and the involvement in the Cathedral and even odd things like the Dean’ s Garden. But on balance, I have some wonderful memories of Q School – late night cocoa, the air raid shelter in the garden, the Walters funny old dog, walking in Water Meadows on Sunday afternoons … and lots more. So would I want to change it if I could? Absolutely not!
Philip Rees,( Q, 1968 – 70)( A, 1970-75)
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