Like a gentlemen’s “Smoking Room” without the Smoke & crustiness
The Minnett room is the old School House Library. It’s a room currently used each night by tutors and any boy seeking assistance and a meeting place for board games and cards. It’s a small stately room which has been part of School House for many years. A kind of smaller version of a “Smoking Room” without the smoke, crustiness, pompous old men, pipes and smoking jackets.
During the second stage of the School House renovation last Christmas, the Minnett room received a very timely and tasteful facelift. The historical charm was retained and one could say added too. Two large book shelves once flanked either side of a low standing cupboard. Now these have been skilfully crafted into two display cabinets and in lies some terrific School House history.
Items include:
- Bow Flag – 1st IV 1945 “Made up out of hat bands for the crew by Mrs Lengren, seamstress in School House during the war years” Names on Flag: P.Libers, P Tutin, E.Thorton, D Freeman & J Ronald.
- Playing Chess Minnett Room 1940 – L to R: Russell Stinson, George Edwards, Peter Bateman, E John Merewether & Ian Ronald Osbourne.
- Slate & Slate roofing nails from the original SL roof – This was my contribution during the replacement of the roof last Christmas. I “Borrowed” a couple from the builder’s bins.
I would like to thank Tanya Hill, the Shore Archives Assistant, who has done a fantastic job in locating and displaying relevant items of School House history.
It took about two weeks before any boys noticed. Boys being boys I thought two weeks was pretty good …. 😊
Darren Junee
