Too Marvellous For Words

A book that rattles along brilliantly, joyfully, sometimes tragically, taking us back to an era and experiences that will never be replicated and yet have firmly left their stamp on those who went through them. Julie Welch takes a wicked swipe here and there, but tries to be fair and understanding towards the most ogre-like of characters, even within her own family, and isn't short on self-criticism either. The result is a book that reads not as a rant or political diatribe (which it so easily could have been) but as a dizzying ride through eccentric if not sadistic behaviour, coming-of-age trauma and jolly japes, laced with examples of wonderful and lasting friendships.I would just hope more men will read this book: it's an easy and undemanding read with lots of funny bits, and might teach some of them where their wives/partners have come from.I was at briefly at Felixstowe College but my memories are pretty vague, so it was good to be reminded of the atmosphere of the place even though Julie Welch's accounts are of a time maybe 3-4 years ahead of me. I was in the dreaded Latimer where every ounce of individuality was squeezed out of you and, yes, you were forced to do Chemistry whether you had any aptitude or not! But this book should appeal not just to those who went to Felixstowe - it's an accurate description of how a lot of girls were 'educated' up to the 1960s: the almost unbearable pressure from a school wanting you to achieve good results and yet also expecting you to be a well-behaved young lady; wanting to appear egalitarian, and yet fawning over titles and wealth, humiliating girls who had neither. So it's a welcome slice of sociology on a group which doesn't often get its time in the sun, or is misunderstood, and can be enjoyed by anybody.

Thank you Julie for your truly descriptive writing on the world inhabited by the "young Ladies " who attended Felixstowe College in the sixties.Myself and my two sisters were there at this time. Unfortunately we were placed in Latimer. I had a nervous breakdown at 16, my younger sister was severely bullied and although the House mistress was aware this was not acted on. My older sister became very anorexic.For us this was a shocking place , I remember clearly being extremely frightened at times.Maybe we were just very unfortunate butThank goodness these years have passed and no other children have to go suffer what we went through under the Latimer regime.

It was a weird experience to read this book. Though not a complete contemporary of Julie Welch, she has written down my own memories of 7 years at this school. Unexpectedly, I agreed with nearly every viewpoint on both the staff and the institution as a whole. For those who are interested in what life at a girl's boarding school was like in the 1960's, this is not fantasy, but a good factual description.I remember that End of Term Fete well. My parents' contribution for the tombola was a bottle of potent home made wine. This was sampled the night before by those in the nine dorm, in their tooth mugs, so had to be partly refilled with water before it reached the stall. My mother won the Bowling for the Pig competition, and a real live piglet was the prize. It made for an interesting drive home. My father named the pig Jonah, and it grew to be huge and intimidating.I can envisage now a noisy and exuberant dining hall falling to a deathly silence. Cawley would be shouting at yet another victim. The poor child had probably put her fingers on the top of a pile of plates, instead of her thumb. (Don't even ask! ) If I had been in Latimer House with Cawley I would not have survived. By good fortune I too was in Ridley House. I had a great peer group, so after more than fifty years I can read this book with a broad smile on my face.

I was there for A levels so only in 6th form houses, Coverdale and The Cottage. One year with Jonah and one with Miss Manners. I found the descriptions of staff really accurate and funny. Also the uniform which I remember so well, particularly the ghastly red Sunday dress!! The best thing about the whole two years I was there was passing my driving test. Not living in House made my memories of Felixstowe different from those in this book which is why I only gave 3 stars.

I too was a pupil at this school, but, from 1941 to 1950. so hearing about the 1960''s was very interesting, much more freedom, and far more getting up to mischief!! same head mistress, and Miss Cawley was my housemistress in Latimer, firm but fair, favourite word was" Audacity" noted many changes along the way, The fire was very sad, I do have a copy of the school photo of 1946 with clock tower in the background. An interesting read.

Well written book, but I had a bad time for 5 years in Latimer and do not have good memories.I was bullied and nothing was done about it. I was hit by the maths teacher, every single lesson I went to, which means I have never been any good at maths as I was terrified of each class. One of the best memories was singing a hymn at the end of each term in the school chapel....Lord dismiss us with thy blessing, once again assembled here, and the dred of singing at the start of each term the hymn Lord admit us with thy blessing, once again assembled here.

As I would expect from Julie Welch, beautifully written, enjoyable read, thank you. Julie Welch takes us back to her childhood and her school life that helped her get through it so enjoyably. Boarding school is not for everyone, but seems to have been the right fit for her. Friends made, teachers assessed beautifully so the reader really feels he knows them. Thank you Danny.

Fabulous read - if you were a fan of boarding school books as a child as I was, this is an absolute gem, the real life adventures of what happened at Julie's boarding school in Felixstowe. Makes me wish I had gone to one!

Il faut avoir partager les expériences de l'auteur pour pouvoir apprécier ce type de vie de jeune fille. Les internats britanniques n'ont rien à voir avec les internats français et ce livre ouvre les yeux à la vie hors classes dans ces institutions.Felixstowe College n'y est plus, mais les anciennes élèves se réunissent souvent pour se remémorer leur jeunesse.

I admit to being rather biased, since I read all the Mallory Towers books before excitedly heading to Felixstowe College in 1977. I also lived in Ridley House under the watchful eye of Bretch, so this is all very real to me. Still, I am certain I would have loved this book even if it had described another school. It brought back a flood of memories, some happy and some really awful, but all very funny now that I survived them. I highly recommend the book to all, but especially to anyone who thought that such a world could not exist in modern times.

I went to this school in the 80's and this book is an accurate reflection of the school. This is a marvellous book.