Bust Up

Bust Up was the annual Aymestrey School Christmas party.  It was originally known as the ‘“Break-up” Supper’ but by 1920 (when it was ‘revived’) was called Bust Up.

The party was such a highlight of the school year that it was was described in the magazine in some detail. 

‘the day in the year to which boys perhaps look forward most of all.’
(Christmas 1928 )

It consisted of a special meal, singing, games and dancing.  Sir Roger de Coverley was one of the dances from at least the late 1920’s – in his contribution to the magazine of Spring 1959 Oliver Philpot (1925-27) remembers partnering Aunt Ness.  For a detailed description see Bust Up 1929.

By 1931 The Bust Up Song – a humourous description of the term’s activities – had become a tradition.
The first song was written by Aunt Ness for Bust-up 1925, and sung by Dan (by then at Bromsgrove School).
 

1920

Festivities started ‘in the Gym, where the Senior and Junior Squads went through dumb-bell exercises with a precision and smartness with surprised even themselves, and delighted various smiling mothers and aunts, who lined the walls’.  This was followed by ‘The Prize-Giving’ by the Vicar, and later

‘At last kitchen and dining-room were in unison, doors were thrown open, and we walked into a blaze of light – gas, candles and a glorious fire; everything was lighted that would light.  Tables groaned, and boys performed valiant feats in the way of “helping”; it seemed a point of honour to go all down the menu.’

There were several guests, but only one Old Boy.  After the dinner there was dancing and games in the Gym ‘until nearly 10 o’clock’.

1921

After the ‘supper’ Mr Asterley gave a summary of the term’s events, the health of ‘the Visitors’ and ‘the Staff’ was toasted, Mr Halcomb sang ‘Forty years on” and Mr Williams ‘The Fish Ball’.  Then Cockfighting and Musical Bumps in the Gym was followed by dancing.  The evening ended with Auld Lang Syne

1922

By now it is called ‘Bust Up’.  Guests included three Old Boys, and Miss Bramwell (the Bramwell family sold the property to the Asterleys).  There were ‘most excellent speeches’ and songs, ‘including the historic “Fish Ball,” sung by J E Coates.’

1931

68 people were seated in the dining room;  then the festivities divided into two with some dancing and talking in the hall while others went to the Third Form ‘to play games and shout’.  Sir Roger was danced accompanied by Miss O’Gorman at the piano.  10 Old Boys were guests and
‘A Clerk-Brown and DAN Asterley made disgraceful noises through a hunting horn practically all night’.

1940

The War was obviously having some impact on Aymestrey as Bust Up:
‘lacked some of its pomp and circumstance …. The menu was rather different but there was just as much to eat and just as much eaten.  The Fish Ball, we are glad to report, was there and unrationed'.

1941

1943

1946

was ‘gastronomically curtailed, (but) sturdily the same in spirit’

some boys had to eat upstairs because of influenza

‘shorn perhaps of some of its old-time gastronomic splendour’ but included both goose and chicken.  And the ‘Fish Ball and its singer’ returned.

After this Bust Up does not get many mentions in the Magazine.  However in

1953



1981

‘The Bust Up was – the Bust Up!’ 

For memories of Bust Up in the 1950s and 1960s click here.

Bust Up was cancelled due to snow