Gryphon Gallery: Early Boarding at Glenlyon Preparatory School

Boarding existed at GNS (Glenlyon) right from its start-up in September 1932. It continued to be offered for forty years. Parents would choose it for various reasons, including the unavailability of convenient public transport, being unable to drive twice daily, it was something a parent had experienced as a child, and some felt it was the best for all concerned. It was imperative, however, that parents had confidence in the pastoral care their sons would receive. The Simpsons provided this confidence, although there was the occasional “runner.” 

One boy took off on his birthday because some others had teased him. He was found by Mrs. Simpson climbing the rocks near Cattle Point and was persuaded to return to enjoy a cake his mother had secretly sent him. Another student actually gave gifts to those who covered for him as he left down the fire escape and then he sent Major Simpson a postcard telling him he had arrived home safely. On another occasion, as a teacher was driving up the Cadboro Bay hill, on his way to school, he spotted a student pedalling frantically downhill. After a chase around the Queenswood Drive area, the boy was caught having entangled himself in a blackberry bush. Once back at school he took off again, this time on foot and was found under a bridge over Bowker Creek. And then there was the David Morton incident, best told in the words of Mrs. Simpson herself:

“In 1935 we had a new boarder, David Morton, whose parents showed great trust in Glenlyon because David and his mother had been kidnapped in the U.S.A. some time previously. He was put in our care with the admonition that he was not allowed to go anywhere, talk to any passing stranger, etc., etc., without proper supervision. They seemed happy to leave him with us and were staying in a hotel in town. His first outing was to the Crystal Gardens for the weekly swim class, all the boarders somehow getting into the old Dodge. Morton proved to be a very good swimmer. Eventually, the whistle went to send all the boys to the dressing room and a few minutes later we gathered at the car and set off for school.

“Did you enjoy the swimming, Morton?” asked the headmaster from the driver’s seat. No reply. “I was speaking to you, Morton.” 

A small voice from another boy said: “Morton isn’t here, Sir.” “Isn’t here? What do you mean?”

“He didn’t come in the car, Sir; we left him at the pool.”

As the car made an immediate illegal U-turn on Douglas Street, I imagined seeing Morton being dragged away by a kidnapper, and the awful possibility wasn’t removed when we found no trace of him at the Crystal Gardens. We arrived home in the darkest mood—how could we explain to the parents our seeming dereliction of duty? Worse still, where was Morton? Should we call the police first or his parents?

At that moment, Morton walked in. He loved swimming so much that he disregarded the whistle and missed the car. He walked to his parents’ hotel, got his tram fare and came back to school. His parents were very understanding even to the extent they felt their son should have obeyed the whistle—but it was a lesson none of us forgot.”

Glenlyon Preparatory School Rules for Boarders, September 1939

1. Boys will rise with bell, wash face, hands and neck, clean teeth, and be properly dressed when the breakfast bell rings.
2. Baths and basins must be left clean after using.
3. Shoes must be cleaned each afternoon before prep (homework) and ready for inspection before breakfast the next morning.
4. Boys may not enter dormitories after 9 a.m. without permission, and at no time is a boy allowed in any dormitory other than his own.
5. At bedtime, boys will strip to waist, wash face, hands, knees and feet, clean teeth, fold clothes neatly on chair, and kneel down for prayers (reflections) before getting into bed.
6. No noise is allowed in dormitories before breakfast and NO TALKING after lights out.
7. Library/recreation room must be left tidy after use.
8. Attic, Kitchen, Basement and Master’s Quarters are OUT OF BOUNDS unless permission is granted for some special reason.
9. Boys must obtain permission to leave the property from the Master on Duty and will report OUT and IN to that person.
10. Boys may not leave school grounds unless properly dressed in uniform or acceptable clothing.
11. Leave may be granted by the Headmaster as follows;
    SATURDAY, after lunch till 6 p.m.
    SUNDAY, after Church till 6 p.m.
12. Unless able to swim fifty yards, no boy is allowed in a boat except with a Master in charge. Boys are not allowed to take a boat beyond Mary Tod (Jimmy Chicken) Island.

Stuart Brambley is our Archivist.