As both The Priory House and The School House were the first houses of Dover College, it was required that they be referred to as THE. The HM and The Priory House master, A D F Dale were insistant upon this. It has always been thus as far as the intake to The Priory House of 1948 are concerned. Long may it so remain.
Progress from Fag to Prefect was steep. Once the period of Fagging was complerted, usually one year, one became a Prep Room Boy. This brought freedom from Fagging, but not sweeping, dusting or waiting at table. Prefects ran a disciplined,orderly and harmonious(!!!!!!!!!) house, and were trusted to so do. There was a prefect to each deck, a prefect i/c waiting and dining room, a prefect i/c changing rooms, boot room and yard, etcetera. Rotas were aranged to ensure this cleanliness was maintained. Between Mr and Mrs Dale, Matron, Miss White, the House and School Prefects, peace ruled. The yard and cycle sheds were swept, the trophies polished, and so forth , and order reigned.
There was the annual house clean, when every moveable item was moved, every windiw was cleaned with water and newspapers. The yard and cycle shed were tidied, and the loose rod in the iron fence was widened just that little bit more to allow even the largest boy to sneak out if possible. Cleanliness, neatness and tidiness were essential.
1st bell was rung at 7.am, when the duty prefect would walk the decks ringing the bell. Again at 7.30 and finally at 10 mins to 8am when all would assemble for roll call and inspection in the Prep Room. Notices would be given out, then we would proceed into breakfast. Prior to this, all fagging and house duties had to be carried out, prefects of School Level were exempt. We would all stand at our appointed places in the dining-room until Mr and Mrs Dale, Miss White and our appointed House Tutor entered via the private quarters, grace would be said and the meal commence.
Dress was important, “Boys are citizens of Dover, and will respect such,” was the rule of George Renwick, our HM. Navy blue suits, clean white (separate) shirt collars, shining shoes clean and pressed trousers and school caps were to be worn. The middle button of our jackets were to be always buttoned. House ties had to be worn: Priory a blue stripe, School a red stripe, Leamington a mauve and Martins a Yellow stripe. Those entitled to wear boater hats were house and school prefects. House prefects wore plain straw, School prefects had theirs painted black, with the school ribbon and crest around both. School prefects carried a cane. No one, other than staff, School Prefects or first sports Colours were permitted to walk on the close. School colours? ah, that leads me the next chapter……….
