‘Finer or more healthy surroundings
for a school are not to be found in England.’  So claimed the first prospectus for Fyling Hall, printed in the mid-1930’s. ‘The Grounds are laid out in terraces which provide admirable sites for outdoor Classes, Dancing, Plays, and other Performances.’ Thus, the alfresco production pictured here – ‘The Winter’s Tale’, perhaps, given the lurking bear? Several pupils from these early days have recorded their memories of school life for ‘Fyling Tales’, and a selection is reproduced here.

The Great Trek
In 1940, the school was evacuated to Inglewood Bank near Penrith. Just as well, perhaps, since a large bomb dropped in the woods two days later. While the pupils travelled in buses, however, petrol rationing did not allow for the transportation of horses. A former pupil, Bob Dawson, was working as riding master in exchange for the Latin tuition he needed to qualify as Articled Clerk to the Town Clerk of Scarborough. With the brash optimism of a teenager, he offered to trek the school ponies over the Pennines to rejoin the children. His account of the adventure, abridged here, was published in Fyling Tales in 1990.

Flood, Sweat and Cheers
‘Children were living in Spartan conditions. The school would totally have confounded the Health & Safety pundits of today. We had no mains electricity; no mains water (delicious spring water from our own reservoir, but probably laced with politically incorrect particles) and frightful concrete showers and loos (known affectionately as ‘Bog End’), while a long railway carriage in the garden served as a senior boys dorm.’ There was also a daily fitness regime, masterminded by one Captain Flood, after which – according to a former pupil – an army Commando course seemed child’s play. But the children were thriving on it...