Simon Farrow
(treble 1948-53)
Memories of the 40s and 50s
by Simon Farrow (Old Chorister 1948-1953)
Simon Farrow is at the left end of the back row (more information about the photo). More photos featuring Simon are on the 1950s photo gallery)
Geoffrey Mitchell’s reminiscences, published in the ECOCA Newsletters of 2010, 2011 and 2012, of his time at The Choristers’ School as it was then known, has stirred up some of my memories, particularly in respect of the Treneers. Patron was indeed a wonderful man, and he got me out of several scrapes.
Does anyone remember that we used to get a parcel full of Alka-Seltzer every few months from the USA? Apparently a relative of Patron’s (his brother, perhaps) is said to have invented the stuff, he supposedly receiving something like 5 cents for every bottle sold and he shared his good fortune with us by sending us this rather unsettling (pun not intended) bromide.
Remember when the shed burned down? It was 5th November one year and the fireworks were stored in the shed in the yard. Apparently an errant rocket made its way in through a window which wasn’t glazed, and set the whole lot off, all at once. A splendid, if somewhat short-lived event.
Cricket in the back yard was a favourite, and the wicket was a cement roller on end. The greatest glory was attained by hitting the ball over the top of the school and having it land in the backyard. I almost did it once, but unfortunately it fell short and hit Mrs. Treneer, who was standing on the fire escape, in the face, breaking her glasses.
There was a well in that backyard, just under Mr. Birley’s window. Said well was a repository for those abysmal stale buns that we were fed mid-morning. Mr. B. caught us depositing buns one day as he leant out of his window, and we received a caning; not before we had armoured ourselves with blotting paper (blotch) though. And talking of food, remember those great shallow trays in the kitchen which were filled to a shallow depth with milk, then left on the stove for many hours to skim off the cream for the teachers and staff? We got the residue.
And the men of the choir: the one I remember the least favourably was Mr. Thomas, who ate Meloids perpetually, and was known to spit them down the necks of the boys in front of him. Ahh, the good old days. I could write a book, but not just yet.
God bless all Exeter Choristers, past present and future.
Emails from Simon, received by Mike Dobson (web editor), 18.1.2010
Howard Treneer - headmaster
I too Googled Patron’s name the other day and found myself in touch with a relative of his, living in Devon (not surprisingly). Following is part of my email to him:
The Reverend Howard Treneer was Headmaster at Exeter Cathedral Choristers’ School during my attendance from 1949-53. He was loved by all the boys and was known affectionately as Patron. (Pat, as in Pat. Mrs Treneer was known as Matron, same pronunciation.) “Patron” was a clever contraction of “Pa Treneer” and ditto for Mrs.
He was a great teacher – a man of seemingly infinite patience. I guess he had to be, as he was in charge of a sometimes unruly band of 26 boys between the ages of 8 and 13 or whenever their voices broke. It was, of course, a boarding school, with particularly long terms (we had to be there over Christmas, and Easter) so his work was cut out for him.
He had a great sense of humour. I remember that when we were new boys, he would have us sing what he called the National Anthem of Siam, “Owa Tana Siam”, sung to the tune of God Save the King. Of course it came out as “O what an ass I am”, and he always roared with laughter, even though he must have heard it a hundred times.
I ran away from school one night, following a dressing down in front of the entire school by one of the teachers. I was mortified. After dark, I set off on my bike for home, which was in Minehead. I got as far as Tiverton, when shivering I sought warmth (!) in a telephone box, and was shortly discovered by a policeman at about midnight. I told him my tale of woe and he phoned the school, whereupon Patron immediately called a taxi which brought him to Tiverton. My bike was set in the boot, and we went unceremoniously back to the school, with me sobbing most of the way. The incident was never mentioned again, for which I was most grateful, but I will always remember his kindness and concern that night.
Every term, we received a shipment of Alka Seltzer from his brother in the U.S. We were impressed that he had such an illustrious brother, but were not very fond of being force-fed the rather vile fizzy stuff!
On June 2nd 1953, Patron arranged for a television set to be brought into the school, and we gathered around it in amazement as we watched the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Many of us had never seen TV before, so this was a real treat, and especially for me as it was my birthday.
He loved his cricket, and made sure that we were all good cricketers and that we got a full measure of physical training.
He loved his boys, and they loved him.
Mr. Thomas was an Alto with a very powerful voice. He had an annoying habit of spitting Meloids onto the necks of trebles below him. We weren’t always sure they were Meloids!