The custom originated in the first year of the school being moved from Shoreham to The Mansion House on the Highstreet in the middle of the village of Hurstpierpoint in 1850. However, it wasn’t referred to in print until the first issue of the Hurst Johnian Magazine in 1858 when we had already moved again to our current location.

Headmaster Lowe writes in Volume 1 that it came about ‘from the inconvenience of being shut up in the village without the usual recreations of ordinary holidays.’ So, without regular access to playing fields, it was seen as a way of rewarding the pupils with a boisterous occasion outside the classroom when the weather became warmer.

Being an actively Christian school, he added that ‘The associations of the day naturally connected the recollections of the sacred hill which was the scene of The Ascension.’

Educated at Oxford Edward Lowe brought many customs with him including the hymn he remembered from Ascension Day.  ‘The school would assemble on the summit at about 5pm when the choir began that beautiful song that has so long been dear to us since we first heard it sung at sunrise on May Morning on Magdalen Tower, Oxford.’

After this the Head distributed money among the twelve oldest members of the choir for their hard work, ‘a bounty of half a crown apiece’ which he trusted to continue during his lifetime and after his death.  It is still distributed now, and we call it Lowe’s Dole.

‘Then came the scramble which of course, to many present, is the most interesting part of the proceedings. Mr Campion’s kindness has furnished an ample store of good things. The scene down the hillside was very spirited and the resolute way in which the young heroes stood a hot and well-directed fire of walnuts, gingerbread, Brazil-nuts, not to speak of oranges and papers of Bull’s-eyes displayed a courage worthy of the Alma. It seemed to say that those who fought so well for so slight a prize would not flinch before rifle balls and would know how to stand to their guns.’

Danny Hill is on the estate of the Elizabethan Danny House below the hill then owned by Col. Campion a great supporter of this Woodard school who provided extra Tuck for the boys on the day. The current owner is also a friend of Hurst who joined us on the walk last year.

The above image is from 1913 of the annual ‘Scramble for Tuck’ hurled down the hill by the Masters afterwards, although not a part of the tradition we encourage today. The image below is from this years Danny walk on Friday 12th September. 

Mary-Louise Rowland
School Archivist