David Howells (RGS 1947-1955)

From Choirboy to Doctor: My Journey Through RGS and Beyond

I first walked through the gates of Reigate Grammar School in 1947, a wide-eyed ten-year-old, fresh from St Luke’s in South Park, living on Prices Lane in Woodhatch. The post-war streets of Reigate were familiar, but the school loomed like a world of its own. I felt a mixture of excitement and nerves, aware I was younger than most in my class. My father, a music and woodwork teacher and an active member of the Reigate Rotary Club, encouraged me to join the school choir. He valued discipline, education, and culture, and the choir seemed the perfect way to develop all three. St Paul’s choir had been evacuated during the war, and parish choirs were asked to step in as replacements. The Rotary Club sought two young choristers—a boy and a girl—and I was chosen. It was humbling to think that someone as famous as Adelaide Hall, the celebrated American jazz singer, had once performed there.

Early Years at RGS

I was placed in 1A, the class at the far end of the gym, overlooking the front of the school and the road beyond. Forty-four boys answered to names like Allum, Avis, Booker, Barkway, Branson, Deacon, and Duff every morning during roll call. Michael Branson was in my form, and years later I met his brother David, who joined the school in 1958. Our days were structured yet filled with small adventures. One particular curiosity was a plane mounted atop the school roof. Boys would scramble up and sit inside it whenever they could, imagining ourselves as pilots. It was removed after about two years, but it became emblematic of the sense of mischief, curiosity, and daring that RGS seemed to encourage.

Games were central to life at RGS. The pitches at St Albans Road—now the Micklefield playing fields—were where I played rugby, often as hooker despite being small for my age. Rugby taught me resilience, teamwork, and courage. It was here, during muddy scrums and cold winter mornings, that I learned lessons that went far beyond the rules of the game.

Music remained a constant thread. Our choir rehearsals were rigorous and disciplined, teaching me precision and patience. At Easter concerts, the grand piano dominated the gymnasium stage. Only the most skilled students were allowed to play, and simply being near it was a privilege. I also participated in school productions. In Lady Precious Steam, we had no scenery; snow was simulated by two boys standing on chairs and throwing torn-up newspaper. In Hamlet, I was entrusted with lighting, using colored lights to shift mood and atmosphere with a minimal backdrop. These experiences instilled creativity, adaptability, and a sense of responsibility.

Discipline and Adventure: The CCF Years

At RGS, leadership and discipline were taught through the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Major Grigg, an Irishman from the Guards Depot at Caterham, drilled us with the exacting standards of the British Army. The Guards Depot, established in 1870, trained recruits for the Foot Guards regiments—the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh Guards. Though the Army and RAF did not conduct drills, we learned ceremonial procedures, inspection routines, and marching, preparing for summer camps and competitions. One memorable summer was at Pirbright in 1953, the year of the Queen’s Coronation. The camp required us to install rudimentary hole-in-the-ground toilets and endure basic conditions, yet it forged resilience, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose.

I remember training exercises with the so-called “Battenham Toffs,” where we disembarked from trains and were taken in lorries across the Norfolk border for national service exercises. Guard mounting drills with Michael Branson, meeting cadets from other public schools, and target practice on the rifle range atop the school were both challenging and exhilarating. We even entered a team at Bisley, which tested our skill and discipline further. These experiences taught me the value of structure, perseverance, and teamwork.

Academic Ambitions and Early Challenges

From the age of thirteen, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I focused on sciences, taking O-levels in Zoology, Botany, Biology, and Chemistry. Some schools required Latin, but RGS prioritized scientific preparation for aspiring medics. In 1951, O-levels were introduced as standard academic qualifications for age sixteen, and Advanced Levels followed for age eighteen. I applied to every London hospital, but my sights were set on St Bartholomew’s Hospital, or “Barts,” the oldest working hospital in the UK, founded in 1123 by the courtier Rahere. Barts was a major teaching hospital, still operating on its original site in London, and I longed to study there.

Christine Tucker, a friend from St Luke’s who later became my partner, helped me secure an interview. Though I was too young to start at eighteen, they held a place for me. Initially, I failed Botany, but I retook A-levels and spent eight years at Barts, completing pre-registration and earning the foundation for my medical career.

First Steps in Medicine: The Winter of 1962–63

My first pre-registration post was in Bournemouth, coinciding with the dreaded winter of 1962–63, known as the “Big Freeze.” Temperatures fell below −15 °C in inland areas, and snow persisted for months. Casualty wards were overwhelmed with elderly patients suffering from stomach issues. Even the basic facilities froze, adding to the challenge. It was a baptism by fire in practical medicine. Later, I moved to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital before returning to Barts for ENT training under the Royal Surgeons. Over five years, I moved eleven times for different posts, including Ealing and Balham, while lecturing physiology to medical students. Though I never became a surgeon, I trained to perform appendectomies in emergency situations, gaining confidence and practical experience that shaped my approach to patient care.

Friendships and Mentors

The people I met at RGS and in medicine shaped me profoundly. Douglas Holdstock, Colin Bray, and Anthony Hidden were classmates whose paths would diverge into medicine, science, and public service. My friendships with them instilled intellectual curiosity, professional ambition, and a sense of ethical responsibility. I remember T.W.H. Holland, who tried teaching us Chinese, and Major Gutteridge, who brought wartime experience into lessons. Caretakers like St Major Cuss, though overlooked, ensured the school functioned smoothly and disciplined us in ways no classroom could.

I also cherish memories of Christine Tucker, who guided me toward opportunities at Barts, and David Mitchell, my childhood friend with whom I raced to school each morning, hearts pounding with the thrill of small victories. RGS gave me more than academic knowledge—it offered a world of experiences, shaping character, resilience, and creativity.

Reflections on Education and Life

Winning the Senior General Knowledge Prize in my final year was a highlight, a testament to the broad education RGS fostered. The school balanced academics, music, sport, and military discipline, giving me a foundation that extended into every aspect of my adult life. From choir rehearsals to rugby scrums, rifle ranges to stage productions, I was constantly learning, adapting, and growing. These experiences were instrumental in preparing me for the challenges of medical school and beyond.

Looking back, the years at Reigate Grammar School were formative in every sense. The memories of classrooms, pitches, rooftops, and concert stages remain vivid. I carry lessons of discipline, curiosity, and collaboration into every aspect of my life. RGS was more than a school—it was a community, a crucible in which my ambitions, friendships, and character were forged. I feel privileged to have walked its halls during a time of post-war change, in a Britain rebuilding itself, and to have been shaped by peers and mentors whose influence endures even today.

Explanatory Notes

St Bartholomew’s Hospital (Barts): Founded 1123 by Rahere, oldest working hospital on original site in the UK. Major teaching hospital in London, closely affiliated with medical schools.

Guards Depot, Caterham: British Army training depot (1870–1995) for Foot Guards regiments. RGS CCF drills mirrored military standards from this depot.

Winter of 1962–63 (“Big Freeze”): Severe UK winter; snow persisted for months, freezing temperatures and disrupted transport, fuel, and water supplies. Experienced firsthand during pre-registration in Bournemouth.

Senior General Knowledge Prize: Academic award for breadth and depth of knowledge across multiple subjects.

Douglas Holdstock: RGS former pupil, physician, and peace activist who campaigned on nuclear weapons and global health.

Christine Tucker: Childhood friend and later partner; instrumental in securing my interview at Barts.

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