During my time at Chelsfield school, we were required to observe the ritual of Empire Day. Though I had no idea at the time as to what this was all about, I am now in full possession of the facts due to my research for this story. Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable tells it thus: “Empire Day. Instituted by the Earl of Meath in 1902, after the end of the South African War as a way to encourage school children to be aware of their duties and responsibilities as citizens of the British Empire. The day set aside was 24th May, Queen Victoria’s birthday. In 1916 it was given official recognition in the United Kingdom, and was renamed Commonwealth Day in December 1958”.
Each year, when this day came around, the whole school had to assemble on the playground. Some of the children were furnished with Union Jacks which they flourished enthusiastically as we lined up, facing in the general direction of the flagpole, which was situated in one corner of the playground.
We then went through some form of “parade” which culminated in our singing God Save The King. The Headmistress, Miss Shelton, or “Nod and Blink” as she was known to generations of children, would then attach a suitably sizeable Union Jack to the flagpole rope and attempt to hoist it aloft. I say “attempt to” advisedly. What in fact happened was that she would tug on the rope, to no avail. She would then gaze skywards and announce to her expectant charges, “It must be off the pulley!” She would then detach the flag from the rope and we would all trudge back into school and resume our lessons.This ritual would be repeated year after year, and as the flag was attached to the rope, I would think to myself, “That flag is not going up the pole because the rope is off the pulley, just like it was last year!” Sure enough, came the confident tug on the rope, followed by the annual peering to the top of the flagpole, and the announcement I knew would be coming. “It must be off the pulley!” In my six years at the school the flag never once made it up the pole!
My class, c. 1946 Back row [L-R]: ?, Julie Huggins, David Bourne, ?, Eric Shoebridge, ?, Brian Edwards, Evelyn Keeton, me, ?, Norman Sampson, Anthea Jeffries, Geoffrey Scott Middle row [L-R]: Eric Costin, Ann Saunders, ?, Ann Hillier, Norman Smith, Shirley Thomas, Michael Hollot, ?, Geoffrey Hume, ?, ? Front row [L-R] : Roy Widger, Audrey Blackamore, ?, Valerie Skinner, Garth Davis, Margaret Smith, Tony Blackamore, ?, Peter Bowles