A century ago the sit of the Duke of York's School grounds, now so luxuriant in foliage, had only 'The Lonely Tree' to break its monotony. Of that solitary tree, which still lingers within the School grounds, a story is oft repeated to visitors of the Castle, It runs thus:-

In the Year 1784 two soldiers quartered at the Castle fell in love with the same girl., One of them, named Donald, discovering, one evening, that his rival had gone for a walk with her, he set off in pursuit along the Deal Road, carrying a stout elm plant torn from the hedge. Overtaking his comrade, Donald struck him a furious blow on the head, which, apparently, killed him horrified by the result, he thrust the blood-stained stick in the sodden ground and hurried back to the Castle, The next morning Donald marched away from Dover with his regiment, but the missing man, who was left behind, unknown to Donald, recovered, The elm plant took root and became the Lone Tree, which survives; but 'Donald, after many years' service in India, returned to and confessed the foregoing facts to the minister of his kirk. The minister wrote to Dover to seek confirmation of the story, and the reply that he received enabled him to comfort Donald, before his death, with the assurance that the man supposed to be slain was still living.

From 'Annals of Dover', by J Bavington-Jones (p.77)

Monday

At assembly in the assembly hall "Heady" had a go about poor work standards and offered half-a-crown to any boy who could place his work before him and say "There's my week's work and I'm proud of it." I think no-one will do it half-a-crown! To think that last Saturday for one and six pence I went to the cinema and ate egg, chips, bread and butter and a cup of tea in Snargate Street. All classes today were in the wooden huts (11 years old and still temporary) but map reading was in -the main school block. Map reading lessons are keen as you can sit in class order, do a test-every week and get moved around on the results.

Noon is drill till lunchtime. The more senior boys do their "trade". You chose one of band, drums, tailoring, shoemaking or signals and do it every day noon till lunch-time. My new boots hurt and my knees are chapped wearing short trousers.

The ever-present sausage meat was of course accompanied by duff (date duff so there are four more types before the week is out). I am orderly this week so get first spare after the prefect and the corporal (ours is a colour-corporal and he helps Matron with the laundry).

A game of football in the afternoon proved disastrous. The only way I could get myself issued with a brand new pair of football boots was to offer myself as goalkeeper in a game being organised I must have let a dozen in before was replaced and my boots reissued. Later in the afternoon we spent some time sweating on and buffing buttons. There is something very agreeably sociable about the boot room.