Life at the bottom of the chain

It must be stressed that the word "fag" does not have, or at least did not have the same connotation as today's interpretation. It clearly denoted your social rank in the school system, which was at the bottom of the ladder so to speak. The school entertained two types of fag. The first was an all rounder school fag who could be dragooned into any dirty work that had to be done around the school, such as moving furniture, sacred books and artifacts together with arranging or removing chairs in the "Chapter House" or environs.

The second was a 'private' fag whose sole duty was to 'fag' or work for a monitor or prefect. For this indulgence he was paid a stipendiary which was negotiated under "gentle pressure" or the persuasive conning powers of the boy master-to-be.

The school fag, like all new boy fags was granted two weeks grace before some draconian so called rules were enforced by monitors, prefects and in some cases seniors. The fag was introduced to these rules in no uncertain manner once the fortnight was up.

This ruling of two weeks 'grace' was stringently observed and though you could do pretty well anything with complete immunity, you were too green and wouldn't dare!

Opportunity missed!!

School fags were the mainstay of the 'drudge' work force... Such as moving Chapter House chairs to and fro... arranging extra seats in the cathedral crypt, and once, as I remember, moving ancient books and manuscripts from inside one of the cathedral towers to another place - God only knows where that was, as I was but a link in a serpentine chain winding down a spiral staircase to buggery and beyond.

I think, but I'm not sure, these books had been salvaged from the cathedral library which had been hit by a bomb during World War II, and they had then been stored in the tower (I think it was Bell Harry).

Naturally this boring work had to be spiced up a bit so that we'd get the job completed. Soon ancient and sacred books began to be passed like rugby balls...and with the same zeal and energy. To be able to beat the next in line with a speedy pass causing him to either drop the manuscript or alternatively be bowled over by its size and weight became an important part of the game.

Eventually all the sagacious words of wisdom reached their destination and I don't think any of them were too badly

damaged.

The private fag on the other hand was another animal altogether. To begin with, he had to be at least a second year student and as such was spared public fagging. Not only that, but his monitor/prefect paid money for this privilege. The pay ranged from about eight shillings to one pound sterling per annum which in the 1950's was a prince's ransom.

This largess was often paid in instalments which sometimes. ceased if the 'boss' wasn't satisfied with the labours performed. The labours encompassed a range of duties from washing his rugby gear and other sports attire to cleaning his shoes or 'dubbening' his football boots. His changing-room locker must be tidied and you had to fetch and carry anything he desired on or before it was requested. In essence you were his personal servant!

Being a private fag did in fact have a silver lining. He was less likely to be picked on by other ranks and he enjoyed a certain amount of protection from the mentor. Sometimes impositions by other 'heavies' were quietly negotiated...to the fag's advantage. Now and again some bully was warned off by his benefactor and he gracefully moved up a notch on the social ladder.

After completing his second year, the fag now entered the main stream of school life and was recognised as being quasi-human. Life became a little easier and by now he'd have formed alliances which strengthened his position in the scheme of things.

Life became much more tolerable and it was now his turn to be a fag tormentor - if he wished.

I gave that option a miss with no regrets. I remember my yesteryears clearly and cherished the lessons I'd learnt - "all men are equal, even if some are more equal than others!".