Boys Must be Boys: Chivalry of the 1971 Class

Reliving our experiences and escapades while in GCI is one of the joys of our fellowship. The bonding over the years has increased and we all look earnestly forward to the next meeting and events being hosted by any of us to felicitate with one another. We were young teenage boys when we started 50 years ago, but in our interactions with one another today, we still remain "Boys" despite the fact that many of us are fathers and even grandfathers. Many of the Young Girls look forward to those fellowships, events, etc. and usually are amazed at the boisterous conviviality amongst us as we joke and banter like innocent but mischievous teenagers. Of immense value to the Boys in this 1971 Class Set is the bonding, camaraderie, brotherhood and chivalry, which tends to render assistance to one another without fuss, morally, materially, professionally and even through counselling. Sequel to the very interesting times we had at the 3-day interview into GCI, it was a delight to join other mates that were admitted. Tunde Olorunfemi, my cousin and classmate at Cathedral of St James Primary School Oke Bola, Ibadan, Akin Alade and myself were assigned to Grier House in which my father was in 1936. The excitement due to the freedom from home resulted in constipation from over consumption of grubs (the edible provisions) that landed us in the sick bay and eventually at Jericho Nursing Home. That experience was the first lesson for us in learning to exercise moderation in all things. GCI was a ground for all round development of the boy into a man in discipline, academics, sports and extracurricular activities. I had the option of belonging to so many clubs and societies like the Press Club, Dramatic Society, Literary and Debating Society, School Choir, the Scripture
Union/Student Christian Movement and the Nigerian Youth Movement.
I was a stagehand during the staging of plays at the Assembly Hall which was equipped with curtains, props and lighting, just like a modern theatre.
I was introduced into the social life as a mess boy at the S.I. Show, and Endo as a Form One student. I chuckle anytime I remember the fringe benefits of being a Mess Boy at such functions: the food, drinks, and learning the etiquette of interacting with the female gender.
Of interest was how my female cousin from a neighboring school coaxed her friends to dance "blues" with her little cousin.
The spirit of sportsmanship was great and infused in us healthy competition from participating in various sports: athletics, soccer, hockey, cricket, basketball at different levels for House and School. It was imperative to win the three standard points for one's House
Participation for School came with the benefits of Special Peoples' Diet and Provisions (milk, glucose, chocolate beverages, sugar, orange squash, Klitz crackers, etc.). During the 1974 Inter-house Athletics Competition, I volunteered to represent Grier House in the 1,600-metre race which I won as a dark horse. It was a fluke, but part of the spirit of sacrifice and daring imbibed at GCI.
Many GCI Boys are generally unassuming all-rounders in various subjects. They are at home with the sciences as well as with the arts so much so that a science student led English Literature in Form 3, and the teacher—Miss. Orisasanpe branded the result a fluke. The student went on to win the Rotary Club Essay Competition on the Theme: Achievement of world peace. While Leye Thompson won the Prize for English Language in Form Five, this student took the Prize for Creative Writing.

Boys will be Boys

GCI boys like ordinary boys, also engaged in youthful pranks like truancy from class, assembly and chapel, bolting out of bounds for provisions and food at Dele Village, Apata, to movies and nightclubs.
The rule was not to be caught as one would suffer the consequences when apprehended: A school Punishment, Detention or Suspension. Guys took their punishment with their chins up as they are taught to be responsible and accountable.
On one occasion during the compound work on a Wednesday, the House Master, Mr. Oyebanji Mustapha, a Yoruba Teacher was also conducting an inspection of the boys working their plots. Alas I did not have my cutlass with me as I might have lost it. I had to do some quick thinking. So, I grabbed a dry twig of about the same length as the cutlass and bent over my plot while in a motion of swinging.
Mr. Mustapha glanced at me from a distance and moved to inspect others. It was a great relief and escape as I could never imagine the great trouble that I would have suffered because of not having a cutlass and fooling the House Master.
I cannot also forget the opportunities to watch sporting events at the Liberty Stadium or social events like Literary and Debating, and parties at St. Anne's School,
Molete and Queen's School, Moor Plantation, Ibadan. Students were taken in batches to events but returning to school was always a struggle as "ragging' ensued because of the urge not to miss dinner whereby 'untaken' plates of food are "passed away". On one occasion when we missed returning to school with any of the School Trucks: "Black Maria", "Green Joseph" and "Blue Jesus," three of us decided to escort some ladies of St. Louis Grammar School back to their school. The other parties to the chivalrous trio were Wole Akande and Folabi Ojo.
The events were opportunities one never wished to miss.
The Parties of the Joint GCI and QSI Choir, The Dramatic Society and The Press Club with the Literary and Debating Society Day events were celebrated events that generated interest but not as much as the S I Show and the End of Year Party (ENDO) where boys made efforts to acquire special fashion items dubbed "Attire Endo" (pronounced as spelled) to be at their sartorial best.
In Grier House like in the other houses, the House Supper was unique as a dinner to be attended by the Old Boys, Students, the House Master and the House Tutor. At the Supper, toasts were proposed in which the Oldest Old Boy drank to the Past, the Head of House drank to the Present while the Youngest Student drank to the Future.
I wish to propose a toast; "May the memories of our beloved give us joy and comfort. May the joy of our fellowship and association never lose it savour as we peer into our greying years in Jesus' Name".
Ajoşe wa ko ni baje. Laşę Edumare.

Culled from: It Began In January (1971 set 50th anniversary yearbook)
Submitted by: Wale Ajomale (2265, GRIER)
Secretary.