I attended Pangbourne in the 1950s and although I haven’t tried to keep in touch over the years I’ve been receiving OP material such as the Pangbournian, writes Jerry Grandage (53-58) from Australia. When I read in the 2012 issue that the OP Society was requesting material for a new history of the College I…
DetailsI’ve come across the expression “Bart’s Arse” in an OP from the 1950s describing his time at the NCP, writes Robin Knight (56-61). I think it refers to the steep hill from the College down into Pangbourne village, but can anyone confirm this please?
A poem from The Log in 1927 under the heading ‘NCP Rhymes’ “I am a broken College grid, Left to rust in a wayside ditch. I ended life in a greasy skid; I am a broken College grid. My owner off his saddle slid And had to take his bags to Stitch. I am a…
DetailsRe the article “Sixty Years On: The Spithead Review. How well I remember boarding the tender on Gun Wharf Portsmouth under the stern of the naval tug Envoy, writes Peter Tambling (50-53). On arriving alongside HMS Indefatigable, one of the cadets dropped his case into the water. “Go on lad, go down and get it…
DetailsThe Old Pangbournian Group on LinkedIn has recently been recalling memories of Bob ‘Tiger’ Knights, “the last of a long line of staunch (naval) Instructors” in the admiring words of Lionel Stephens’ history of Pangbourne College published in 1991. Tiger supervised the old Gym at the NCP “with loving care” for 24 years. Even in…
Details“I wonder if anyone else remembers the words and tunes of this hymn or knows anything about it,” writes Arthur J.D. Coxon (41-44). “It was in the Chapel hymn book when I was at the College. I remember it so well but have never come across it anywhere else. I sing it to myself!” Great…
Details[David Oldrid Powell (31-35) had been asked about his childhood memories and these were some memories of Pangbourne, 1931–1935] “The school was made up of houses and to start with I was in ‘Croft House’ then moved on to one of the bigger houses that were named after sailing ships. I was in ‘Harbinger’ and…
DetailsIn 2012 David Nicholson published a book of verse titled Breaking Bread. It contains 47 poems one of which, The Far Place, is about Pangbourne. It was written in December 1981. We reproduce it here in full with David’s permission. Southwards across the ridges, The rolling undulating forever, The scudding clouds and brilliance of A…
DetailsGeoffrey Churcher (78-83) writes: I only picked up on this very sad news (of Richard’s death) recently and was a little taken aback at how upset I felt. Now 30 years since I left Pangbourne and approx 26 years since I last saw him at my younger brother George’s departure. I remember him fondly as…
Details
