One of the less attractive features of grammar schools of my time was their attempts to ape the public schools. 'Houses' in our case were non-existent! The only one we had was 'Douglas' House which was demolished in 1962 to make way for the new building.

But houses we had. They seemed to be a convenient way of dividing us up for things like sports days - in which I had no interest whatever! Membership of a house was hereditary for those of us whose fathers had attended Aston. So I was assigned to Floyd house (by Harry Tyson!).

When I went home and told my father he said 'I was in Mr Jones's house', because in his day the houses were known by the names of the current housemasters. Indeed, the 'house' noticeboard (on which I never saw anything posted in more than seven years!) still bore those names. I think it said Jones and Mayers, but I can't remember the other two. I think dear old Watcyn Thomas was my (Floyd) housemaster.

By the time I got to Aston the houses were named after former headmasters: Temperley, Floyd and Manton. There was a fourth - School House - but this was abandoned in 1968. (Frank Bentley would not be pleased!) Though never one of its members I mourn the passing of School House. Not least because, now that the school is 100 boys bigger than of yore, there is scope not only for a fourth house once more - but a fifth, which should (of course!) be named 'Brandon'.

One AOE recently wrote to me, describing himself as a member of Samson's house 1928 - 32. Though Samson had died in 1926, his name was used until 1930.

At the time of the 'School Record' of 1910, houses were a new thing - and their names were Higgs, Jones, Lane and Fisher. By 1926, when the next editon of the 'Record ' came out, Ross and Samson had replaced the two last, but I don't know who preceded whom.

The houses had colours associated with them, and these were added to the school tie (broad red and blue stripes) during the 1950s. A narrow stripe in the house colour was interposed: yellow for Manton, purple for Temperley, green for School - and a yukky light brown for Floyd. This didn't last long, and Floyd's colour was soon changed to a light blue.

So we all bought the appropriate ties and off we went. There were soon ructions. It turned out that a member of staff (J R M Davies) was a graduate of University College, Aberystwyth whose tie was identical to that of Manton House. He confronted one of its proud wearers and accused him of something heinous - I don't know what. I thus learnt to recognise that institution's tie and, whenever I see Prince Charles sporting his 'Aberystwyth' tie (he was there for all of one term!), I am reminded of this incident.

According to the 'School Record' for October 1932, the houses not only had colours but emblems! A Fleur-de-Lys for Bentley's (School); Lion Rampant - what else! - for Jones's (Floyd); Tudor Rose for Mayers' (Temperley); and a Portcullis for Hothersall's (Manton). I never knew that: they were long forgotten by my time.

FLOYD	MANTON	TEMPERLEY	SCHOOL
HOUSEMASTERS
Jones A Smith Dawson Lumb Thomas Calvert Pickering John A M Smith Miss A M Lexy Mrs Wells	Lane or Fisher Ross Baker Hothersall Entwistle Buttress J G Smith Davies	Higgs Mayers Tyson Adams Cockbill Finn	Fisher or Lane Samson Bentley Calvert (Until 1968) BRANDON  HOUSE (From 2009) Downing

Grateful thanks are due to the school's Art Department for producing the above emblems in the house colours.

Since 1968 the received wisdom has been that all the members of one form should be in the same house. So three form entry made one house redundant - and poor old School 'bought it'.

Although four form entry started in the 1990s, the opportunity was not taken until 2009 to re-introduce a fourth house. By this time it was felt that this should be named Brandon after Aston's fourth, and longest serving, Headmaster. It was believed that this was something he did not want to happen but, as the Headmaster of the day, Colin Parker, said "There is only one person who can overrule a Headmaster, and that is one of his successors"!