Choir
For a number of years I was a choir boy under Mr Livesey our master and organist. There seemed to be about twenty or so boys in the choir and eight or nine men. We were paid 1d a service and a 1/2d a practice. We were fined for misbehaving, 1d or perhaps even 3d for a serious misdemeanour, such as refusing to sing or fooling about.
Often we took various insects with us to services, perhaps a black beetle or caterpillar or moth and I have often seen as many as eight or ten caterpillars crawling across the floor between the choir stalls. We carried them in match boxes and let them free during the sermon, and the vicar often had to pick his way between them after the sermon on his way to the altar. I don't believe he ever knew we were responsible, at any rate nothing was ever mentioned.
Each boy on joining the choir had to be "bushed". Which meant being thrown by the bigger boys into a huge privet bush about eight feet high and ten or so feet through it. It grew just outside a side door to the church which led to the back of the organ. I remember being thrown in and helping to throw the others in. I fancy it has stopped now. A boy called Watson couldn't take it and went crying home. There was a stink and I think that about ended the ritual.
During the summer holidays the Grammar School swimming baths were loaned to the choir, and I think that's where I learned to swim. This was a great treat, although we had a lovely beach at St Bees. Here were sprung diving boards and warmer water. Mr Waring and Mr Park, two of the choir men, must have spent many hours teaching us to swim.
Mr Livesey of course was there each evening. He was a grand man and a wonderful organist and musician. As we grew up in the choir and began to grow into manhood he took each boy in turn to Whitehaven to "Mrs Bales" to tea, an excellent cafe, then to the pictures or theatre and then gave us a lot of good advice about sex and life in general.
We were given a choir treat each year and a choir trip, and of course our pay about Christmas. I think I once got as much as 5/- and that was about average. There were many fines. I suppose my voice broke when I was fourteen or fifteen, and because the home was broken up I went away to Carlisle to work at about eighteen. I never rejoined as a man.