Ken McDonald: An American Schoolboy’s Memories of CH

J Kenneth McDonald (LaB 50-51) is an American academic, who came to the UK in 1950 from Phillips Academy, Andover (a boarding school near Boston, MA) to Christ’s Hospital School. He had won an English-Speaking Union British-American Schoolboy Scholarship (a scheme dating back to 1928). This September marks the 75th anniversary of his transatlantic adventure!

In celebration of the anniversary, Paul Wade (ColA 55-61) has created a 20 minute film with contemporary photos as Ken talks about his memories of the school in 1950. Everything from friends and food, to ceremonies and teaching staff. As well as an American’s take on Christs’ Hospital School, it is also an insight into Britain just 5 years after World War Two. Ken is now 93 and full of beans, after a distinguished academic career that finished as Chief Historian of the CIA!

“My enthusiastic thanks for the splendid job you’ve done with the video. It will be treasured memoir for my family and I would be glad to have it circulate wherever you would like to send it. I am lucky to have you as my Video Boswell!. Again, my thanks for your taking this project in hand–“Christ’s Hospital Five and Seventy Years Ago.”

All good wishes, Ken

The Film was created by Paul Wade, who after attending Christ’s Hospital School, went to the USA on an ESU scholarship in 1961-1962.