Archive #4/65: First Day - Feb 3, 1953

"I find it hard to believe that 65 years have passed since I first arrived at the front gate on a hot February afternoon, bumped over a rattily cattle stop and travelled up a gravel driveway in a cloud of dust.As I looked to the right I noticed sheep grazing in a paddock and cattle lying quietly under a large weeping willow and by this time I was quite sure my father had taken a wrong turning, because this place looked like no school I'd ever seen before. It was simply a large homestead set in beautiful wooded gardens and surrounded by three paddocks and a pine plantation that ran right up the southern boundary from Pakowhai Road to Frimley Park.

There was no Chapel, Assembly Hall, Library or Gymnasium. No classroom block, science laboratories or sports fields and no tennis courts or swimming pool, just a brass bell lurking behind one of the pillars on the front veranda waiting to take control of our lives at the first possible opportunity. The only buildings outside of the main homestead were an ablution block soon to be known as the 'wash', and a squash court which was used for everything imaginable as time passed. It was our Chapel and Assembly Hall, our Gymnasium. Music Room, Art Room and we even played squash from time to time.

Because we were all new to the school and came from all over the North Island we wandered about aimlessly on the first afternoon and were quite relieved when the bell rang about 6pm and we were called to assemble in front of the veranda.

The Rector, The Rev F.H. Robertson - previously the Presbyterian minister at Havelock North, was a giant of a man, standing 6ft 2in tall, weighing in at just over 17 stone and was intimidating to say the least, especially with that back to front collar.

After welcoming us warmly, he addressed us at some length on his hopes, plans and aspirations for his new school, and told us that as the foundation pupils we would be required to set very high standards for future generations to follow, as this would eventually be one of the top schools in the country. As you can imagine this was pretty daunting news for a group of boys that had been here less than an hour!

It was to be an all boarding school Form 3 to 7 reaching maximum roll of 120 by year 6.

We were also told that this school was unique in that it had absolutely no rules. These would only be introduced if and when proved necessary. I think this was the first lesson ever taught at Lindisfarne - when something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is, because by the following evening we had as many rules as any other boarding school in the country, and by the end of the week a whole lot more as well!”

Reflections of Roger Alexander, First Day pupil.

For more photos click here.