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I started at Worksop in 1964, having been at Ranby for five years. I recall arriving with my trunk and tuck box and being shown up to School House junior dormitory, which contained 30 boys, plus a small annexe with, I think, five more beds, on the third floor of the building near to the Chapel.
New boys had a windowless locker room where our tuck boxes were kept. On a Sunday evening, this room smelled of cleaning materials, as we had to clean our CCF kit prior to the regular Monday afternoon CCF inspection and activities.
Junior boys had a ‘horse box’ - a partitioned desk-type area - in the common room, which also contained a snooker table. It was only after two years that we shared a study for more privacy.
Boys stocked up on biscuits, cakes, and other treats after an exeat - seeing parents three times a term. The school tuck shop did a roaring trade on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Boys were able to stock up on food such as eggs, beans, sausages, etc., at reasonable prices - paid for, of course, by our parents.
Sports were plentiful - I played squash for over 40 years after a ‘taster’ session at Worksop with Mr Beanland.
A favourite with the boys was the occasional Saturday film night - I recall The Great Escape went down particularly well. Other activities included sailing on Welbeck Lake, shooting, and various societies, among others.
Richard Swannack
SH 64 - 69