Sick Bay was situated at the Western end of the building, adjacent to Mr.Britton's house. It was run at that time by Matron Frith, and a Nursing Sister. During my time at the school, we saw two or three different Sisters in the job. They never seemed to stay very long.

Matron Frith was very severe, the Sisters, often less so. I note in the Punishment Book with some embarrassment, that I was punished for 'being insolent to the Sister'. I say embarrassment, because of all the people for whom most of us had any regard, then probably the Sister, Matron, and Linen Ladies stood quite high on the list. Although Matron Frith was quite severe, she was also very thorough, and looked after us tirelessly, especially at those times when there was an epidemic on. This used to happen regularly at around February time when the 'flu was rampant.

At times there would be up to fifty odd boys affected, with 'flu, and all confined to bed. When this happened, Matron would take over number one dormitory, which was the nearest to Sick Bay and connected by just one flight of stairs. The 'flu patients who couldn't be accommodated in the sick bay would be put to bed in number one dormitory, and the boys from there would be 'farmed' out to the other three dormitories for the duration of the epidemic.

It was almost considered worth getting ill, because after the first few miserable days, of say, the 'flu, one was then kept in bed for a week or so, with all meals served in bed. Plus of course, no other duties. All sorts of ruses were tried by the boys, to extend their stay in Sick Bay. Things like eating soap, or standing barefoot on the cold floor of the latchey, in the hope that these actions would raise our temperatures just before Matron or Sister came around with the thermometers. I think both were aware of our tricks. The boy who was found to be deliberately trying to prolong his stay in Sick Bay was dealt with appropriately. It was probably as a result of such actions that I was punished.

Either Matron or Sister, sometimes both, presided over 'Surgery' twice a day. In the morning it was held at about 8.30, before Divisions - the morning head count - and school classes. It was held again in the evening at about 5.30. After tea and before 'Clear Lower Deck' - the evening head count.

General Sick Bay was for us to have our cuts, bruises, boils, chilblains, and all our other 'below par' ailments seen to. During my time in the school, I constantly suffered boils and chilblains. Whenever I cut myself, or broke my skin in a fall or accident of any sort, the wound would invariably turn septic. I was constantly told by Matron that my ailments stemmed from blood disorders caused by me not eating the greens provided in our diet. I can only agree! Apart from swimming and gymnastics, I was not a very active sort of boy, which also probably added to my medical deficiencies. I have to say, that after leaving the school, I no longer suffered from these blood disorders!

When a boy was unlucky enough - some would say lucky enough - to be genuinely ill, then he would be admitted into the Sick Bay. There were four or five general beds in there, and four beds in what we called the 'Isolation Ward'. This was an inner ward, which as far as possible was kept clear for serious illnesses which required an afflicted boy or boys to be isolated from the other patients.

In about early to mid June of 1941, I spent a whole Saturday afternoon at the swimming pool. Alternately swimming and lying on the warm concrete terraces, trying to get a sun tan. It was one of those rare, but wonderful English summer days, life was good, and we were enjoying it to the full. The next day, after church, I felt quite sickly, and reported to Sick Bay. It was about 12.30 PM, and Matron was sent for.

Matron performed all the usual tests of temperature, and looking down one's throat etc., then immediately 'admitted' me. I was put into bed in the main ward. Normally I thought I should have felt pleased with myself at getting admitted to Sick Bay, but in fact, I was too far gone with whatever ailed me to even care where I was or what in general was happening.

From then on, most things became a blur, even so, there are many things which I can remember of the occasion. First of all, I was moved into the Isolation Ward, where I was on my own. I neither knew nor cared why I had been moved. The Isolation ward had it's own bathroom, and I remember the orderly having to help me back to bed when he found me trying to go to the toilet instead of sending for a bed pan as I had been told to do.

In the Isolation Ward, there were two large windows which faced on to the drive, and another which faced towards the incinerator and the rear entrance to the school. As an Air Raid precaution, brick walls had been built about two feet away from each window. They were built to be wider than the window itself, and up to within about two feet of the top of the window. This was so that they remained reasonably effectively windows, as far as light and ventilation were concerned, but covered the windows sufficiently to prevent any blast injuring any patients who might be in there, should a bomb have fallen nearby. It was a fairly common practice during the war.

I have no idea how long I remained in the isolation ward. I remember quite well Captain Evans coming to see me. It did not penetrate my mind that in the normal course of events, Captain Evans did not usually visit boys who were ill in the sick bay; therefore I must have been more than just ill for him to visit me. At one stage, I could plainly see three or four of the officers looking through the window and over the blast wall at me. Clearly, this was in my state of delirium. I had a bad case of pneumonia.

I don't remember a thing about it, but I was taken by ambulance to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and put in the Lady Haberfield Ward. During the time I was in there, I had several absurd dreams, or experiences. Even today, I have no idea whether or not what I thought was going on, actually did. I thought there were air raids going on outside, and that people were being brought into the ward for shelter. I was quite afraid, and must have been showing it because I remember a nurse having to spend quite a bit of time with me. All of this seemed to be happening in the dark, and in a state of what I would now call surrealism.

I think this lasted for several days, then quite suddenly, I 'woke up', and everything seemed to be calm. In fact, my first rational recollection was that I was eating a meal! My delirium was over, and I started to get better. Naturally, I could not stand on my feet for some time, but gradually I became better, and if such were possible, I began to enjoy myself. I was the only child in the ward, and was treated very well indeed, especially since during visiting times, many people brought me things 'for that little boy who doesn't get any visitors.'

At one stage, the nurses asked me if I would talk to a young girl of my age in another ward, to try and 'cheer her up'. The young girl - I must have known her name at the time, but completely forget it now - had been badly burned in the blitz. Although she had family visitors at visiting time, visits were strictly controlled in those days, and so there were many hours of the day when she only had herself for company. I was only too happy to oblige, but my eagerness - well, not so much my eagerness, as my ability - was soon blunted when I actually saw her. In fact, I couldn't actually see her. She was covered in bandages with just slits for eyes and mouth. I think I was probably almost as upset by the experience as much as she had been by hers! My stint as a 'social worker' did not last long!

Because I had no visitors, when I finally was on my feet, two of the nurses sometimes took me out during their off duty times in the afternoons. They took me to Forte's Ice Cream parlour, where I was introduced to the delights of a 'Knickerbocker Glory' at a cost of 6d, which was indeed a princely sum to pay for an ice cream in those days. It was much appreciated. They also took me to the Cabot Memorial atop one of the hills there. Despite the horrific damage the City had sustained during the blitz, I enjoyed my stay in Bristol very much.

Captain Evans came in to visit me and told me that I would be going to Weston Super Mare for a week's convalescence. I would be staying at the Rotary Boys Home. It was then he told me that I had been a very sick boy, and they had been quite concerned about me. They were pleased to see me looking better, and looked forward to my return to the school. I was flattered by all the attention, but not too keen to return to the school, although I realised my return was inevitable.
Since the month was now July, I was quite concerned that I might not have been fit for my Summer Home Leave. Captain assured me that whatever happened, I would get my home leave, and that it had already been arranged.

After something like two weeks in the Royal Infirmary, I was put in an army type ambulance, (actually, it was more like a small truck with red crosses painted on the sides). The lady driver was dressed in A.T.S. type uniform, and was frightfully well spoken. During the war, many people did this sort of voluntary work in order to 'do their bit'. I was sat in the cab along side her and driven to Weston Super Mare where I was deposited at the Rotary Home for Boys.
I stayed there for a week before returning to the school via Bristol by train, and from Bristol to Portishead by bus. I arrived back at the school well in time for my summer Home Leave.