ࡱ> 685 ')bjbjqq 4,ee77777KKKK_ KxkkkkkFFF^97FFFFF77kkWF^7k7kFkȞYKm0&p&7LFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF : Robert (Bob) F. Clark FRICS retd. Capt, R,E. My stay in Cambridge was brief - late September 1943 to end of March 1944. It was a part of my training for a short service commission in the Royal Engineers and the War Office decreed that I should have some knowledge of civil engineering. I was thus enrolled on a special course equivalent to the first year of the degree course but compressed into 6 months with only a few days leave at ͨmas 1943. During this period I was very fortunate to be given accommodation in Christ`s college. All this was nearly 70 years ago so my memories of that time are somewhat faded but here they are.0 I duly reported at the College entrance where the porter told me I was expected and asked me to follow him. We passed from the lodge into a large well kept courtyard with tall 3 storey buildings on all sides. We crossed over and passing through an archway arrived in a second large courtyard similar to the first onto another archway into the 3rd and last area. Here we turned left around the side of this area to the far left hand corner where we found a small and old 2 storey house that made me think of Charles Dickens. I had arrived at my lodgings this was the "Monkey House" The ground floor was reserved for 2 students seeking commissions in the Royal Marines. Climbing up the rickety timber staircase I was led to my quarters that I was to share with George Kemp who was on a similar course to mine. Outside next to the Monkey House was the college`s supply of coal and coke huge mounds piled high against the rear exterior wall to the courtyard. (I gather all this has gone to make way for a new research block). In due course the others arrived. .We unpacked and went off to collect our gowns returned and took stock. Gas ring on the staircase landing outside. Open coal fire and a poker and a toasting fork thoughtfully left by the previous occupants. A few hours to unwind and then we were to report to the College dining hall for dinner. My first lasting memory was when I first entered that hall. . Not only its size but also its obvious age and the ghosts of long gone diners of centuries past seemed somehow to rub shoulders with the present of which I was but the smallest part. It was at ͨ`s that I almost broke my nose. The front entrance to the Monkey House had a really large sold timber door painted black. It was always left open especially after dark. Because the war was on, the blackout was in force and therefore the courtyards were pitch black at night-time. Because of this the door was never shut. After a while one became used to walking around in the dark and one night I returned to the Monkey House and sailed through the entrance as usual. This timeI did not get very far some idiot had shut the black painted door and I saw stars. I recovered quickly enough but to this day my nose is not the shape it used to be. Another occasion was when the four of us clambered up the coal heap to peer over the wall at the top to look down on the lane beneath where a mighty battle was raging. This was in war-time and the Americans were based locally near the town. They would sally forth in the evening seeking their pleasure with all the fair maidens. Normally all this passed reasonable quietly except on this occasion. With the war in North Africa ended, the Desert Rats had returned to their barracks outside the town. They too had come into town seeking similar pleasures only to find that the Yanks had already arrived. The ensuing battle finally dispersed with the help of squads of military police. (until the next evening). Back to the college. There were a couple of spare time activities in which I was interested. The first was the college choir and reading these days how famous the choir has become makes me very proud that once upon a time I too sang for them, On this occasion we were booked in a hall in the town to give two performances of Coleridge`s Hiawatha`s Wedding feast.- before a paying audience. There began scores of rehearsals in the evenings and it really was hard work for me. Normally I was a light baritone. I was certainly never a first tenor and yet that is what I had to be. It was agony of course but the concert went well and was greeted with tumultuous applause. The other activity that I enjoyed was that of amateur dramatics. mark you nothing ͨ`s ever did was amateur. Only the highest professional standards were acceptable. As before a theatre was booked for two performances of Priestly`s "An Inspector called". One of the cast was one of the two marine students in the Monkey House.. He had to play the part of a middle aged lady and had his legged pulled unmercifully. For reasons that I have never discovered I was given the leading role of the "Inspector" This meant I had to wear a long coat, carry a trilby hat and had to be aged with make-up and talc on my hair. To complete the transformation I had, of all things, to wear a moustache. I hope none of you who read this will ever have to wear a false moustache that threatens throughout the performance to fall off and expose a hapless actor beneath. Try talking without moving the upper lip!! Nerve wracking, but all went well and another enthusiastic reception followed. I have many memories of my stay in Cambridge. None of these were connected with the college in any way. I had to continue my military training at the same time. With the university`s OCTU. The lectures at the Cavendish were awesome, I had fun in a canoe with friends, I cycled everywhere, Carried out a plane table survey out on the fens and fell in love for the first time. Now after 68 years it is a real pleasure, thanks to the internet, to be reconnected with the college again and to have the monthly magazines to read. That the college is highly regarded in so many ways make me proud to have once been a student if only for 6 months. At the end of the war I tried to return to complete my course. I was told that there was a 5 year waiting list. I had to move on with my life. ** August 2011 It was in August, the 15th to be precise, when the partition of India took place. In Delhi the last Viceroy of India signed the proclamationon behalf of the British Monarch on that day after whichthere was a great parade.The year was 1947. At the same time on the edge of the Sindh Deserton the parade ground of the local Sindh Police Rangers another rather smaller parade took place with full ceremony and the full "flag down-flag up" routine. Attending this paradewas a platoon of Royal Engineers, Indian army, who were working in the area. They looked very smart and werecomanded by a Britsh Captain. Like the viceroy in Delhi this British officer fulfilled the same function in handing over sovereignty for that. Aaj .!L!n!!!!!"@#^##(Z(s((((нЮПАААЉzodozodododobododoUh h PJ^Jh h9)PJ^Jh PJ^J h h9) h h h ht |CJOJQJaJh h]yCJOJQJaJh hn]CJOJQJaJ$h hE4CJOJPJQJ^JaJh hE4CJOJQJaJhyE56CJOJQJaJ"h h 56CJOJQJaJ&. W A($)&)')gd9)gdE4gd area to the local District Commissioner for the New Pakistan. There is a linkthat connects these two occasions. The Viceroy was Lord Louis Mountbatten and the Captain was myself. The link, of course, is that we were both students at ͨs though not at the same time of course. ((#)&)') h h9)h h9)PJh h9)PJ^Jh h PJ^J21h:pV. 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