Reminiscences: J V G (Pupil)

In the school at Ultimo, as you probably know, the Teachers' Room was situated at the head of the stairs. One morning a number of boys were in the vicinity, in the absence of any teachers, and someone wagered Ridley that he could not draw himself into the manhole a certain number of times. (By standing on the table he could just reach the manhole, which did not have a lid.)

He was in the act of drawing himself up when a teacher arrived unexpectedly.

Immediately there was a scatter, and Ridley, sensing danger, drew himself right up through the hole.

He was forced to remain in an extremely crouched, uncomfortable position from about 11 am till 3 pm, as there was not room to sit upright. The first teacher was soon joined by another, and as their conversation was of a private nature, and as many students, including himself, were being discussed, he could not reveal his presence.

All day long, at change of lessons a few boys would dash up in the hope of finding the room empty of teachers, and I suppose the teachers wondered at the attention bestowed on their room. Eventually the room was found temporarily vacant and Ridley released.

The teachers never knew of this incident, to my knowledge, but many of us were enlightened as to their opinion of us.

The Record, October, 1933