Aspen House                     Part One: General Reflections - 1                      by Patrick Noakes

Aspen House, a peaceful and very beautiful leafy retreat, was a haven for children recovering from serious illnesses, and a quite extraordinary school, admission to which made ill health seem touched with good fortune. You arrived at the Christchurch Road gate not from any considered choice of academic bias, but of necessity, and though its schedule ensured learning struggled on, the school's underlying purpose was to help sick children recover.

There was no age-range. I attended from my seventh to my thirteenth year, leaving after examinations declared me free of pulmonary tuberculosis. I might otherwise have remained till compulsory education was finished -fifteen years of age in the 1950s.

After morning whistle the school day began. In the playground children arranged themselves into files representing the four classes and marched into the Assembly Hall, a large wooden structure opposite the teachers' quarters, the only brick building within the school. Mr Brunswick, Headmaster for most of my years there, would lead hymns and prayers, and of course he'd frequently speak about our learning. In the kindliest manner he'd stress the great value of perseverance, without ever drawing attention to the time we'd lost through ill health. This he did over and over again, and inculcation by no means ended there. For example, his favourite hymn appeared to be, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," and we'd sing it often for him, especially in foul weather, and most certainly whenever a ship was lost or missing.

From time to time passers-by would call to say how well we could sing, and he'd pass that on to us with obvious delight. But with his powerful voice and great inspiration, thanks were due to him as much as the children singing.