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The following is an extract from the story of Shoreham Grammar School, an independent boys school in West Sussex as remembered by A. R. West and P. J. White.
By virtue of the wartime restrictions sport was largely an internal affair and was played under conditions, which produced some very interesting games. Initially, the football pitch was on 'top field', this particular ground being noted for its molehills and other undulations, which could and did trap the unwary.
It was very much like playing with the wrong shaped ball and the results were equally unpredictable. Later we gained the use of a field at Ripley, the quality of which was infinitely better and made a very good football pitch even if as a cricket pitch it was rather suspect.
For the first couple of years tennis was also played on the 'top lawn' but this did not continue long probably due to the lack of replacement nets and rackets.
A swimming pool, which doubled as our reserve water reservoir, was a great boon. Its shape was unusual, being that of a kidney, which made it difficult for racing, but ideal for other water pursuits.
There were two water supplies, the first to the swimming pool, by mechanical ram working in a small stream, hundreds of feet down the hill. This water was not used for drinking purposes, nor for domestic baths - it was connected only to the pool, with an additional connection from the pool to the fire hoses.
The second was by wind-pump, with an additional auxiliary motor. It pumped excellent water some 150-200 feet up an artesian well boring and into a concrete-covered reservoir. This was used only for drinking and domestic water.
These conditions led to a strict control of the column of water allowed for bathing purposes, and our headmaster was well-known for his appearance in the bathroom with a ruler to make sure you had no more than your statutory 5' of bath water.
Through connections made mainly by Mr. Wills, in his A.T.C. capacity, football and cricket matches were arranged with other schools and clubs.
On one visit to Bedales the cricket first eleven encountered the world's first streaker, in the shape of a young lad running naked across the pitch closely pursued by a clothed female!
Matches were also played as far a field as Godalming and Midhurst and on the whole the School acquitted itself well in the games, finding the challenge of playing schools with far better facilities very rewarding.
Leisure was confined generally to Thursday afternoons when the boys were free to do what they wished (almost) and Sunday afternoons when compulsory walks were arranged. It must be admitted, however, that a large proportion of walkers on Sunday afternoons managed to get lost, and so 'accidentally' meet the inhabitants of Charters Towers School (female).
In this respect assignations were arranged by the use of post-boxes, usually at the foot of telegraph poles or in hollow trees and the stone pillars at the entrances to the Schools.
During these Sunday afternoon walks a very interesting discovery was made near Forest Mere, the purpose of which has only recently been admitted. In a barn with direct access to a long flat field were parked entirely unguarded two Airspeed Oxford aircraft.
With hindsight these were obviously there for the movement of high-ranking personnel in the event of an invasion and were supposed to be there in complete secrecy, being unveiled only by the nosiness of certain schoolboys.
Thursday activities consisted usually of casual groups planning to cycle to one or other of the surrounding towns, Haslemere, Midhurst and Petersfield, usually in search of some sort of food.
Liphook itself was famous for Matthews Bakers and its rock cake, and for tins of baked beans and pork until the voracious appetites of young schoolboys soon finished these.
It then became necessary to go further afield to Haslemere for egg and chips with lashings of tomato sauce, or to the other towns to scour the sweet shops.
The overriding passion of the pupils at Milland at this time was food. The traditional school catering was somewhat modified by Mrs. Bruder but became necessarily more and more restricted by rationing and shortages.
As growing boys were always hungry it meant that anything edible was quickly seized upon and one of the joys of early summer were the cherries from the cherry-tree. This particular tree could feed the whole school for several occasions but had to be protected from the squirrels that were determined to have first call upon its fruits.
There was instituted a night observation from Five room with a .22 rifle to deal with these marauders and except for one occasion this proved very successful and the school had an orgy of cherries.
The traditional discipline of the dining room was continued at Milland and it was here that it was at its strictest. On the whole, the School at Milland was a happy place particularly with its untold freedom for those who had been at Shoreham, with an atmosphere of basic well being and understanding which insulated most of those present from the horrors of war.
Saturday evenings were often devoted to film shows in the hall, and this was the only occasion on which the boys used the rather grand main stairs on which we were allowed to sit.
On other occasions we had visiting artists to the school including members of the famous Dolmetsch family from Haslemere.
During the summer there was a chance to obtain additional pocket money by potato picking at Ripley, which earned one the princely sum of 3d an hour for the most backbreaking job there ever was.
One way of spending this hard-earned cash was via Mr. Wills who would return from various A.T.C. meetings with sandwiches which were consumed in the dormitory much to the headmaster's condemnation on occasions when things became rowdy enough to attract his attention.
Sunday mornings were given over to Church service, which was at Milland Church across the fields from the School. The School departed to Church in procession in their best clothes, and after the Service proceeded back along the same track, not usually in quiet as orderly a manner.
The most sought-after duty on a Sunday morning was that of pumping the organ at the Church as this enabled one to take one's attention away from the service and think of other things!
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