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THE NOTES I SUMMER 2020
Ed Main (’76) Ross House
Spotlight on... reflect upon helped enormously. Not recognising that ‘family’ at the time, it was not only my school friends but in a few cases their mums and dads and SDC staff as well, who provided support. The staff who stand out in that ‘family’, extend from the gentlemanly Mr Williams, (Form master around 1970/71), to John Reynolds, Colonel Tom Downing and Ian Burgess during my very formative 6th Form days. There was also the calm and personable Tony Banks as the Tutor for Ross House and the resourceful Peter Thompson who was OiC of the CCF RN Section back in the early 70s.
So, with your current involvement in the CCF Naval Section, what of the CCF in those days?
Having been involved in the exciting changes here at the College in the past few years, how does it compare with what you might have seen back in the 1970s?
Whilst I remember the changing faces (and characters) of Headmaster, from Hecker to Pedley and then to Dance, much of any other change (academic, staff, or routine) if there was back in the early 70s, has faded from my memory I am afraid. Use of the new Prep Block in 1968 and the building of the Physics block around 1974/75, I do recall, although now we are about to see their demise, and not before time for the Prep Block, as the new build programme brings a new lease of life to SDC. Certainly the Head boy was to be feared and the senior prefects ran much of the school routine, from completing the ‘late book’, to playtime duties and managing the lunchtime chaos, as well as issuing Saturday detentions or 100 lines, depending on the misdemeanour. A little different to now, I think.
So, what of the staff who stand out from your time at the College back then?
Well, I was not a natural scholar and had to work hard at my studies. The loss of a parent at the age of 13 provided indisputable challenges, but the St Dunstan’s ‘family’ that I
Sadly much has faded but some specific events stand out, from the MoD Inspection with the Contingent fully paraded on the 1st XV rugby pitch achieving a barely passable march-past on grass, to being trusted to build an obstacle course with zip-wire and 4 metre high scrambling net without a risk assessment. The latter couldn’t happen at all now. I certainly remember the sailing trip in Electron with Lieutenant Thompson at the helm, to St Malo and back I think, in some awful weather which was stomach emptying for some but character building for all.
And presumably the CCF provided a key stepping-stone to your career in the Royal Navy?
Yes, although I probably didn’t quite see it that way then. I do owe a great deal of thanks to the staff I mentioned, for their perseverance and patience and being convinced that somewhere lurking within Main there was some nascent ability worth nurturing. That faith, determination and guidance resulted in my tremendously enjoyable, broadening and rewarding career of 32 years in the Senior Service as a marine engineer. What a tremendous preparation for life it all was at St Dunstan’s, and not just progression in the CCF but through the many other aspects of the College preparing its pupils for what lay beyond the 6th Form. My career and the very rewarding and exacting periods at sea in numerous warships, dealing with floods and fires, providing support to troubled communities abroad, responding to 9/11 at sea alongside the Americans in 2002, being responsible for £M of machinery or engaging with Whitehall Ministers and foreign dignitaries (in a more relaxed and entertaining capacity) has all helped to ‘albam exorna’.
