A Prized Pupil! ...of a boys' boarding school in the 1940s
Having become displaced from home as an evacuee in 1942, the idea of boarding school is exciting to young Roger Wallace.
His head full of Tom Brown’s Schooldays and Stalky and Co., he soon discovers that boarding-school in the mid-20th century is not all that different; with bullying and beatings in abundance, especially the latter!
With the school being based in rural Devon it is not affected greatly by the war, other than a lack of food. But for Roger, originally sent away from Croydon because of the bombing and with family in the armed services, the brutal reality of war strikes him through the death of a brother which, in turn, becomes a milestone in his own coming of age.
Despite all this his school life is generally happy, with many good friends who share and collude in his experiences. And he has his first intimate relationship with Gladys, the girl who works in the kitchens.
Drawn from the author’s own experiences, this is a brilliantly evocative story of a young adolescent boy – not just a tale of boarding-school life. We share in his laughter, his stresses, his love, sex, and his tears of sorrow.
Although rising from the bottom of the pile, Roger Wallace remains a bit of a rebel, and perhaps only he would describe himself as ‘A Prized Pupil!’
ISBN: 9781852000967
Size: 217x140mm
Binding: hardback
Length: 239pp
About the author:
Leslie Scrase
The author was born in Addiscombe, East Croydon. He was evacuated in 1939 and again in 1940, which led to his attendance at Selhurst Grammar School followed by Shebbear College in North Devon.
Following National Service in the Royal Navy he went to Richmond College, London University. Trained as a Methodist Minister, he worked in many places around Britain and also in South India, where he was Principal of an adult training college.
When his views on theology changed, Leslie Scrase left his Ministry and created his own business in Surrey: Alpha Cars, a chauffeur driven service mostly for businessmen and the stars. In 1996 he left this business to concentrate on his work as a Humanist Celebrant, lecturer and author.
His published books include a number of thought-provoking commentaries dealing with Humanism and theology, fiction for both adults and children, poetry and three autobiographical fiction accounts:
Twice married, he and Wendy share over twenty grandchildren. In their spare time they are to be found at their home in Dorset.
