OV Ian Van Ryssen Returns!

It was such a great pleasure for the Alumni Office to welcome OV Ian Van Ryssen (S 47-52) and his wife Joan (who went to the Alice Ottley School) back to King’s on his recent visit and hear all the wonderful memories of his time at School.

Ian enjoyed reminiscing with Alumni Relations Co-ordinator, Amanda Sutcliffe, and Alumni Office Administrator, Tricia Webb, as they toured around the site, both of whom greatly enjoyed hearing what his life had been like as a boarder at King’s.

The newer areas of the School, including the Keyes Building, the swimming pool, and the Michael Baker Boathouse, impressed Ian as the facilities during his era were not comparable, although he was disappointed to learn that the Fives Courts were no longer standing. Having been in the CCF himself and in two of the shooting teams, he was very pleased to see that it still played an important part of School life, seeing members of the pupil body in their CCF uniforms around School in readiness for their CCF parade later in the day.

Ian recalled that where the Matthew Armstrong Library in School House now stands was the Dining Hall in his day: Housemaster Dan McTurk would serve the food, which went first to the senior boys then the younger ones. As Mr McTurk and the senior boys ate incredibly quickly, as a younger boy, one had to eat very fast to have the chance of a second helping before the older boys grabbed it all!

Going upstairs in his former boarding house, Ian met with teacher Oliver Shone with whom he discussed the changes in entrance exams; Ian had been the first amongst his friends to do the 11+ rather than the Common Entrance exam to secure his place at King’s. Moving up to the top floor of School House, Ian explained how the dormitories had been laid out in the building, which was of great interest to Hon OV Catharine Yates as the room in which they were standing is now both her classroom and the U6 House Room for Wulstan! Looking out of the window, Ian pointed out where the boys would do their daily run at 4pm; during inclement weather they were allowed to do a shorter run to Diglis Lock, otherwise they were off to Powick Bridge or The Ketch and back.

The School Gardens, having changed very little, reminded Ian well of his schooldays. He recollected that Dan McTurk would teach the boys how to cast for fly fishing from a mound in the lower garden and, one occasion, the floods were so high the boys could touch the water simply by leaning over the garden wall.

Visiting College Hall, Ian was taken back to his time at King’s, with lessons in the gallery, and cheering the winning sports teams into Assembly on Mondays and Thursdays. Edgar Tower had similarly changed very little, despite the desks now being the ‘wrong’ way ‘round for Ian!

A particularly fond memory was of the Tuck Shop, more specifically the Ha’penny Buns; Ian explained, “Considering the allowance at that time was 6d a week, you could get a great number of ha’penny buns!” The tuck shop was a welcome escape from the school grounds for some delicious treats, and worth the queue that was always there.

Although much has changed around King’s since Ian was a boarder, he still felt a great connection with the School and his memories certainly came flooding back, too many to be included here!

If you would like to take a walk down memory lane, as Ian has, please do get in touch with the Alumni Office to make arrangements.