Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association

Boys magnifier (special sales pitch!). It will
certainly test members, even those who think
they still have 6/6 vision.
Attached are some historical memories of my
time at the High School for Summer Times. In
the first picture taken of the ATC Squadron
739 taken in 1941, I am sitting 9th to the right
as you look at the picture from Mr Marsden.
THE SHORT DYNASTY
By Maurice Short (1938-42)
The Short dynasty occupied a seat continu‐
ously at the High School from 1932 – 1942.
Eldest brother Geoff started us off in ’32 fol‐
lowed by Vernon and finally myself in ’38.
Having read through the 2003 Summer Times
I found myself reminiscing over what now
seem in retrospect to have been halcyon days.
At the outbreak of war HW took firm control
over the approach to be made at and by the
school. He very quickly harnessed the Post
Office engineers to come along to the school
at the end of the day and provide each class
with lessons on the Morse Code!! This proved
very valuable in the future during my tours
with Coastal Command. He also started the
first of the early Air Training Corps Squad‐
rons. HW was the Squadron Commander and
Mr Johnson our Caretaker was the Squadron
Warrant Officer, enhancing his already pow‐
erful position within the school hierarchy. In
the commissioned ranks were Mr Taylor
(Art); Mr Wallhead (Woodwork). Joining the
other ranks were members of the Hull King‐
ston College members who had been
‘evacuated’. To Scarborough.
Although sport was an important part of the
curriculum HW knew that there were many
reluctant heroes who enjoyed a relaxing
Wednesday half day rather than climb the
cold and windy heights of Oliver’s Mount. So
he decided that he should support the na‐
tional slogan ‘Dig for Victory’. He, in consul‐
tation with Cush Turnbull, of literary fame,
decided that the plot of land opposite the
school entrance, now occupied by TESCO,
40
could be cultivated. The work force to be
formed by enlisting the support of the afore‐
mentioned reluctant heroes. The result sur‐
prised many ‐ not least HW.
For those of a sporting nature Oliver’s Mount
continued to provide its barren beauty of
wind and freezing temperatures. I recall one
outstanding athlete of my time at school. One
Les Hartzig, who I had the great pleasure of
sitting beside at a County game at North
Marine road some years ago, was the cause of
my immense but unsuccessful interest in
cross country running. My brothers had been
very successful at this sport and I was ex‐
pected to follow the family path. I knew that
Les was one to keep an eye on. So I trained,
even studied a book on the great Olympian
Paavo Nurmi. Alas, the result was the sight of
Les’s heels on the last stretch into the field. I
knew I could run long distances, but not very
quickly! So I hope Les is still in good health,
maybe not running but walking quickly still.
I have another memory I would like to share
with members. Shortly after war was de‐
clared my friend Cecil Bean (of ill‐repute and
5u) advised me that there was money to be
made out of scrap iron. He had located a back
axle up near the quarry on Oliver’s Mount,
which needed collecting and delivered to the
Scrap Merchant. The next Saturday morning
off we set with a dilapidated pram with good
wheels but a poor body to collect it. All went
well until we reached Valley Bridge. As we
neared the School end, out of the School en‐
trance came Herr Bon, moving with his usual
independent air, umbrella and sharp stride,
we now with heads bowed pushing our iron
along the roadside, hoping he hadn’t recog‐
nised us. Monday morning proved differ‐
ently. Our presence was demanded outside
his classroom. He was a WMD long before
they designed nuclear weapons. Eventually,
we were brought inside for what I foresaw as
a very embarrassing one‐sided discussion.
He demanded to know what we were doing
on Saturday morning pushing a pram with a
car back axle in it. My friend Cecil presented