In the light of the 2021 announcement of Lawrence becoming a girls’ house, we were delighted to hear from Michael O’Neil Shaw (L 47) recently who was in touch with some of his own memories of cultural change at school. His letter, which we publish in full, recalls the impact of the merger of Haileybury with the Imperial Service College (the ISC) in 1942 and the changes imposed on those first ISC boys by the move.

Many of your younger readers may not be aware of the history of Lawrence and Kipling Houses. In 1942 The Imperial Service College in Windsor experienced financial difficulties and it was decided that amalgamation with Haileybury was the only viable course of action.

The boys who had decided to move to Haileybury were consolidated into two houses: Lawrence and Kipling. I was a pupil at the Junior School in Clewer Manor Windsor for six years and was passingly familiar with the Senior School, to whose chapel we walked every Sunday.

(Above: distant days – Michael with Alan Hardcastle, Bob Baveystock and John McIlwraith, on the Lawrence steps)

Changing ways

By the time I arrived at Haileybury in 1947, Lawrence and Kipling had been incorporated for five years. Nevertheless, there was still a strong feeling that we were ISC houses and somewhat alien. For example, we were forbidden to sing the Vivat at the end of term, were always to refer to the tuckshop as the Grubber, rather than the Tucker, and to shout “Coll” rather than “School” when the XV was playing. I came to regard these strictures as rather ridiculous and am glad to say that by the time I left in 1950, we no longer followed these practices.

(Above: Lawrence Colts rugby 1948 Cock House team – Michael is in the centre of the back row)

The ISC had a strong military tradition and this was reflected in Lawrence’s and Kipling’s emphasis on The Corps. We took great pride in turnout and drilling efficiency. I recall that Kipling was particularly good and frequently won the prize – was it called the Copeland Shield – I can’t remember.

(Above: the Cricket XI in 1950 – Michael is centre of the front row)

I can imagine some old Lawrence pupils muttering darkly in their grey beards about tradition and “what is the world coming to?”, but the news that Lawrence will become an all girls house does not fill me with angst! Progress is inevitable and we must all move with the times.

My time at Haileybury seems (and is!) a lifetime ago, but I still look back on it with some nostalgia. Best wishes to any OHs who might read this letter.

 Michael O’Neil-Shaw (L 47)

Michael’s letter offers such a wonderful glimpse of the past with a great positivity towards the future. We would love to hear from fellow OHs who have similar stories to share of a time when youth was in its prime and the future was there to be grasped!

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_{Unless otherwise stated, all content and images on this website and blog © The Haileybury Society, 2024, all rights reserved}