Richard Slater - Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum (2025)

Frances Grogan (Haley) 6's 1956 - 62

'A clean house is a sign of a broken computer.'

Hands up, I didn't realise my cover had been blown. Damn!

The 20th anniversary of Richard's suicide was in March. I found it very hard this year, more than other years. 20 years seems such a long time and although the shock has diminished, the sadness is at times still palpable. Suicide has a horrible way of invading so many aspects of one's life even years down the line. I remembered him that day on Facebook and received some lovely messages from various CH friends. A public commemoration of sorts. I can't imagine that it would be on the school's radar. Most staff are gone from the school and I would suggest that the institution would not want to remember a dark cloud in its history. There's a plaque in the Chapel, as there are for other pupils who have died at school. I choose my words carefully writing about this subject. I have lived with this at a distance from CH for many years and am only starting to hear the stories of other people from that time now that I am reconnecting with long-lost friends. My understanding of events and reasons surrounding his death has developed over the years. I'm happy to discuss things with anyone though.

Of course, twenty years ago, I had mentally blocked out CH completely. I didn't want to remember those disastrous days, and knew nothing whatsoever about CH Horsham.

Then a mail-out letter arrived telling Old Blues about the death of Richard Slater. It ended - and I do remember this - with something like these words... "der... der... Chapel Service.... der,der, and the day ended not in sadness but with a feeling of triumph."

Couldn't believe it.

Being called in at break to the chapel. Tongues guessing at what it was. That must have been particularly difficult for Dobbie and Poulton to tell us...

And that night someone put candles on the crossing and they burnt all night.

Sad times.

Ashley - is that you?

Fertii wrote:
Ashley - is that you?

Yea it is me!!!

Yeah Tim was my year and Mr Slater's (language master) son and we left in summer 89.

I only heard about it from my mum who lives in Horsham so only ever got to hear the West Sussex County Times story.

Fertii wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:34 amBeing called in at break to the chapel. Tongues guessing at what it was. That must have been particularly difficult for Dobbie and Poulton to tell us...

And that night someone put candles on the crossing and they burnt all night.

Sad times.

From my understanding, Poulton was abroad.

rjscratton wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:58 pmJust posting to keep this thread alive as I remember dear Rick and sometimes he still pops into mind, even after all this time. He will only really die when we do.

That's really lovely to read.
I ended up watching Highway and the Remembrance service from 1989 the other day. Feels like a different world looking back on it. He won't age like the rest of us, eternally 18 years old.

jhopgood wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 11:26 pm

Fertii wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:34 amBeing called in at break to the chapel. Tongues guessing at what it was. That must have been particularly difficult for Dobbie and Poulton to tell us...

And that night someone put candles on the crossing and they burnt all night.

Sad times.

From my understanding, Poulton was abroad.

I think Poulton was in Thailand, doing something with a school being set up over there. I'm assuming he was back for Rick's funeral though? Can't remember all the details.