Last time I showed you some of the photographs left to us by the Reverend Charles Stephens, a keen photographer who captured many aspects of the High School, both boys, buildings and activities. Some of the most striking ones were taken in early 1960 when the new block on the northern side of the West Quadrangle was opened . This was the last part of the extensive school building scheme financed by JD Player, the cigarette millionaire and philanthropist extraordinaire. Pretty much the Bill Gates of the era in England, the nation smoked so many of his cigarettes that the taxes paid on them amounted to £1,500,000 every single day. And in 1960, that single pound was worth £21.66, according to this official website. Another way of representing it was that JD Player was thought to be worth 5p in the pound added to income tax.
We have already looked at the bottom floor and its absolutely amazing block parquet flooring, which was not just shiny but even reflective. Here’s the top corridor:
Here it is again and yes, you’re right to be afraid. The men in white coats have come to take you away:
And here’s a Biology class, complete with shiny floor:
Not far from there was the Library. It’s very different from today:
It’s very different even from 1986:
John Knifton 