Memories of Bust Up at Aymestrey School
Nick Bomford 1947-1952
At the end of the Christmas term there was always the long-anticipated 'Bust-up' supper. Its highlight was Dan's singing the 'bust-up' song recounting particular events of the year while we all eagerly waited to see if we were going to be mentioned by name, and all joining in the rousing chorus "Here's to good old Aymestrey, to good old Aymestrey School". This was traditionally followed, for reasons unknown but to our great delight, by a cousin of Dan's singing the Fish Ball song - "The waiter bellowed down the hall 'This gentleman 'ere wants one fish ball". Afterwards there were parlour games such as 'Flap the Kipper' before the celebrations wound up with our dancing Sir Roger de Coverley. I still remember my coup in getting Jean Asterley to be my partner for it in my last year: almost everyone else had to make do with another boy.
Iain Clark 1958-1963
Bust-up took the whole day, or so it seemed. The school was sent to bed for the afternoon to rest, while feverish activity went on downstairs. Our 'rest' was a mockery, as we were too excited to think of rest and spent the time in mischief or watching the staff arriving with their spouses from the windows in the dorms above. The principle of a rest was sound, as it also allowed the staff to rearrange the dining room and hall. The tables were rearranged into a broad 'E' with table-cloths and candlesticks. Exaggeration beforehand had it that there were ten or fifteen courses; in fact there were five, but Cook made a special effort, and we gorged heartily.
After the last dessert Dan sang the 'Bust-Up Song' which put into simple light-hearted verse and unaccompanied song some of the events of the year. After the song were party games and Scottish country dancing. (In one dance) when two members approach from opposite corners of the rectangle, bow and dance, we always tried to clash heads on bowing, though no-one suffered concussion that I know of. This perpetuated a time honoured tradition, for in the earlier days of the school, the dances involved wooden swords, and the object of the exercise was to hit your opposite number on the hand! In all this revelry the staff joined in good-humouredly, and at an appropriate hour we departed for bed. It was a fitting end to the Christmas term.
After the last dessert Dan sang the 'Bust-Up Song' which put into simple light-hearted verse and unaccompanied song some of the events of the year. After the song were party games and Scottish country dancing. (In one dance) when two members approach from opposite corners of the rectangle, bow and dance, we always tried to clash heads on bowing, though no-one suffered concussion that I know of. This perpetuated a time honoured tradition, for in the earlier days of the school, the dances involved wooden swords, and the object of the exercise was to hit your opposite number on the hand! In all this revelry the staff joined in good-humouredly, and at an appropriate hour we departed for bed. It was a fitting end to the Christmas term.