Posted by Owen roberts on January 03, 2010 at 22:34:05 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: Ages in GN posted by Duncan on January 03, 2010 at 10:43:31:
I think GN “must” have taken place in the Easter holidays to fit in with a realistic breeding season for the birds. In those days UK boarding schools would have a summer holiday start in the last week in July – too late for the birds breeding.
Boarding schools in the UK usually had about 1 months holiday at Easter, usually in April but covering Easter Day which can vary between March 22nd and April 25th.
Easter fell on the following dates in the possible fictional years:-
1931 April 5th
1932 March 27th
1933 April 16th
1934 April 1st
1935 April 21st
1936 April 12th
If we accept that GN occurred after PM, then Easter 1934 seems a probable date. (this assumes that SA occurred in 1930 - 1929 was the right date when the books was a stand alone novel, AR wanted it switched to 1930 presumably as it became part of a series).
I do not think it could have occured much later as John would have been away at Dartmouth for officer cadet entry in to Royal Navy.
At this time of year, in Scottish latitudes, there would be more than enough daylight with sunrise around 0600 and sunset around 2030 – 14 ½ hours of daylight.