3 MINUTES WITH...
Seven (7) questions for seven answers
- Peter Schniering, born 1946
- I lived in Beirut from 1955 to 1963 and attended the Anglo American Section of the Salesian school from 1957 to 1962
- I live in Sydney, Australia
- After leaving Beirut in 1963 I lived and studied in Germany until I migrated to Australia in 1972
- I revisited Beirut several times in the 60’s/70’s and latest in 2006.
- During one of the visits I went back to the Salesian School and also caught up with Bro.Dell on several occasions.
1. How was life in Beirut different in those days and what are your most vivid memories of that time?
Beirut was a great place in the 50’s. We lived at the Raouche and my most vivid memories are of the freedom we had in a beautiful country. The sea was still clean, the concrete jungles,the high rise buildings everywhere and the slums along the shore to the airport did not exist.
There were empty spaces,lovely beaches, sand dunes and beautiful pine forests instead.
Goat herders with cattle and camels would roam the Raouche in search of food for their animals – in fields now covered by sky scrapers and concrete.
The tallest buildings used to be 5 stories. Traffic was a fraction of what it is today.
A tram – you could board anywhere because they travelled at about 10 km/h – would take you from Rue Bliss (AUB) to the Bourj for 5 piastres.
A Serveece would cost 15 piastres for the same journey.
It was peaceful and safe to travel anywhere.
2. How do you think that the years of school in Beirut have influenced your later life?
I have fond memories of the Salesian School – despite Father Bias. I learned English and Arabic there. Made many friends. Joined the Boy Scouts and went on Summer Camps.
It would have been influential in my decision to migrate to Australia, where one of my best friends from those days also lives.
3. Whom did you stay in touch with over the years?
I have stayed in touch with several friends over the years and renewed old friendships via the Internet.
4. Would you have liked to stay in Beirut after having finished school? And do you think your life would have been different?
I would have loved staying in Beirut longer and my life would have been different, although I would not have stayed in Beirut beyond the early 70’s and would not like to live there now.
5. Do you think you will return to the Lebanon one day? And if so, or not, why?
In June 2006 I returned for several weeks and whilst I greatly enjoyed reunions with old friends, rekindling old memories and enjoying the hospitality of the Lebanese, I was appalled at the indiscriminate building that had gone on in Beirut and everywhere including the mountains. See attached photo of the site where the Salesian School once stood !
The sea is polluted, the once beautiful beaches on the way to the airport ruined, many beautiful old buildings are neglected and traffic is a nightmare.
I will return but the last visit has changed my perceptions and makes me cherish Lebanon, as I knew it, even more.
6. Are you interested in taking part in future reunions of ex-students?
Reunions would only be possible if they coincided with a visit.
7. What do you think of this website and how can we improve it?
The website is great. It would be nice to see more history of the Salesian in the 50’s and 60’s.
I feel like I am coming to this website late but….here I am. I remember seeing so many movies when I was there! Went with other boarders to see “Sound of Music” when I was boarder there briefly. I remember a Movie theater (“Alhambra”?) on “Alhambra Avenue” near where I lived near the Banc du Liban! A common thing was to gather a bunch of friends to go to the movies as a birthday party. I remember seeing Planet of the Apes? Fahrenheit 451? etc… My brother and I used to go to the Phoenician Hotel and swim at their pool all summer long! A great place to live during the sixties! One great memory I have is when the “Card Flipping Craze” hit the school. We would face off with someone and flip a card versus someone and whoever’s card landed face up won both cards!! Cards were of the Batman TV show I remember! Two-square was a common recess game that I loved! Marbles were a passing phase too! What fun remembering this stuff! Truly a significant part of me growing up!
I will never forget the teacher who would start each class by drawing a map of whatever region of the world we were studying! (The world or the United States) I would just stare at the blackboard and freak out each day when he would erase it!!
I am a retired older man now with 3 kids living in the United States but will never forget my life there. (Never thought I would wind up in America no less!)
I hope someone smiles when they read about these memories. (I noticed it became Co-Ed after I was there. Dang. Might have been an even better memory if that happened then!)
Regards All, Tom (1963, then 1965 I believe)
When I lived there, and went to school at SBS, 1965 to 1967, it was still peaceful and safe. I walked ALL over the place, from the souks, St. George’s Hotel, Phonecian Hotel, around the Corniche, past the US Embassy and down the coast.
I had friends all over the place and we would go to movies all day, the Stand, the Edison, the Strassbourg, etc. Sometimes we would see so many movies we could not remember which story line was which. I remember “The Sound of Music” played there for 2 solid years…the entire time I was there.
I want to go back, but I know it would break my heart. Nothing would be the same. We lived in an apartment right across the street from the Bristol Hotel….the staff there used to save envelopes for me since I collected stamps…..and a little news stand around the corner where, even at my age, I bought THE DAILY STAR to read about the news of the day…..
Frank Jones,
I was in both Beirut(SBS 56-63) and Tripoli (Libya OCS/Wheelus 65-70).Raymond Weber was a friend.
Des.(Desmond Croning)
I attended the boarding school from 1960-62. I still think that as one of my happiest times. Have had a life long love of Manchester united from a guy named Philby, learned to play soccer (keeper) from the Italian boarders and even some Italian.I have just found this site. Does this school still exist? How would one get in contact with Bro.Dell? I was in Boy scouts through high school (Tripoli, Libya) because of him. Hello to all.
Google Vietnam Memorial,then search Panel 34e Row 056. You will find Raymond Weber. Inspite of him picking on the small British/Indian and soon to be American kid, I feel remorseful for his early departure. He was cool then with the dark sunglasses and eventually we became friends in BS of A. He died in a copter crash per info at the traveling memorial. I also lost a couple more future acquaintences in Nam.
Made humos the other day that’s how well the past clings or seems to re-emerge!
Hi John, I also (vaguely) remember Raymond Webber. He was English ?
We went back to Beirut again in 2012.
Impressions much the same as on the visit in 2006, except a huge apartment block is now standing on the old site of the SBS.
We had our next visit planned for 2015 but I don’t think we’ll go because of all the issues in the region. Sad.
Sometimes I wonder how long it will take for decision makers everywhere to realize, they cannot change the course of history by intervention …..
Hi Peter, I also attended the Salesian Boys School as a boarder. I was there between 1959-1960.Raymond Webber is the only student that i can remember.Also joined the Boy Scouts and thought it was great.Sundays the brothers used to take us to the picture theatre, with soldiers everywhere and buildings in ruins, it was pretty scary at times. Kind regards John Mclauchlan.
Beirut in the 50s, what a different view! Thanks for sharing. Especially the photo of the site where Salesian school once stood.