FIRTH HOUSE REUNION
It's been and gone, but we were delighted to welcome back 250 former Boarders and Housemasters for a memorable reunion weekend. A full report will appear in the 2010 Lampstand magazine.
The foundation stone of the future Firth House was laid on 25 June, 1923 by the Governor General Lord Jellicoe. On 1 December, 1924 Firth House was officially opened by the ‘dear old boss himself’ JP Firth - with Mrs Firth at his side - opening the door and declaring the building open.
By the mid-1970s surface cracks were beginning to appear and boarding numbers were dwindling. The Board of the time sought measures to keep it economically viable and full – even at one stage considering mixed accommodation.
By 1980 it was recognised that it would be after all, necessary to close the House unless a subsidy on its operations could be obtained. With the government unable to assist financially to cover operating losses and further seismic upgrading of the building, the Board’s intentions to close Firth House were realised. The Firth House era came to its end in 1980, with a reunion to mark its closure in November of that year for past boarders.
Over 1700 boys experienced a significant part of their upbringing at Wellington College. Not all stories and legends from the House were favourable we might add, but those who boarded became family to each other and will always be members of a renowned establishment.
Scab Alley may have become a thing of the past - but at each 40 and 50 Years On Reunion, the ‘alley’ is always recalled as a place of fear to the ‘Day Boys’. Reunion attendees: both boarders and day boys on the whole, always have something pleasant to say about this 54-year-old memorable establishment.