|
Steve Allwood |
1986-88 |
6th
Form |
"Steve travelled
extensively after leaving Wymondham College; most notably Australia and working breaks in
Andorra. He seemed to be away
90% of the time. I recall a beer we had in the summer of 1992 where he
told me that this summer he wanted to stay at home and have a summer
with the lads etc. The irony for me has always been that this was
the summer he died, a couple of weeks later, as a result of injuries
sustained in a car crash near his
home. Steve, you are still missed." -
Mark Coventry
|
|
Michael Amberton |
1960s |
North/York |
|
|
David Anderson |
|
Staff (RE) |
June
1984 |
|
David Armsby |
1960s |
Salisbury |
|
|
John Barker |
1974-1979 |
Cavell |
"John was a Cavell boarder who by his 3rd Year was
the fastest sprinter of our year. He and I made it to the County
Athletics trials at age 16 (1979) and in the 100 metres he left me far
in his wake in third place. He won the race by a mile. I believe that it
was later that Summer that John was killed. He was riding his bicycle
through Wymondham Abbey when a car struck him, threw him into the air
and the impact killed him. A year later, John's fellow Cavell
boarders and many others were hit by a second death, that of Robert
Watson, also a Cavell boarder of the same year. " - Benedict
Carter
"Yes, John did die whilst cycling for social
services trip to Wymondham OAP's home?. John's dad was a vicar, he was
in Cavell at the same time as myself, Andy Lynn, Mark Waterson, Jerry
Youngman, et al. I think that he had a younger sister who started in
Cavell also." - Paul James
|
|
Leo Barnes |
1960s |
|
"Sadly Leo died from a massive heart attack while working in his office
on 25th September 2008. I last met Leo some five years ago with Graham
Smith and we spent an evening in a local pub just outside Wickham
Market. He was living not far from me and working for Anglian Water. Leo
was divorced and leaves a young daughter." - Philip Wade |
|
Sarah Battye |
1965-96 |
Staff |
July
1996. Housemistress & later Head of Modern Languages. |
|
Geoffrey Benyon |
1950s |
|
Took
his own life in September 1992; perhaps related to an illness. Studied
History at Reading and taught in the Norwich area until taking early
retirement for medical reasons. |
|
Jeremy Betts |
1970-73 |
|
16th
January 2001 (complications following accidental injury) |
|
Fred (F.J.D.) Betty |
1947-76 |
Staff |
12
April 1976. Resident Engineer (Ministry of Public Buildings and Works). |
|
Gillian Bishop |
1960s |
Worcester |
Gillian Bishop - Died 12 September 2000 after a brief illness. "She was at
Wymondham during the 60's in Worcester house. Married William Kiddell and had a daughter, Eleanor, then later married to Harold Williams and had
a daughter, Rhiannon, and a son, Rhys. Missed enormously by all who knew
her, especially her family, who will never forget her." - Rhiannon
Williams |
| Maureen Boldero (nee Seaton) |
1950s |
|
Maureen passed away suddenly on February 11th 2011 aged 72. She was one of the Spring 1951 Pioneer intake and was due to attend the Trail Blazer day in April. She married and is survived by Geoffrey Boldero, who was also one of the Pioneers. |
|
Ken Bowman |
1957-72 |
Staff
(South) |
1991. French and German teacher, Housemaster and Deputy Warden. |
|
Gillian Bradley (Street) |
1970-75 |
|
My sister Gill was killed on the 26th
August 1991, on her way to marshal a cycling race at Bury St
Edmunds. -
Jackie Jay
|
| John Brown |
1950s |
|
I am very sad to inform you that my husband, John Brown, died in October 2009, He did not get to many reunions or meetings but having been, literally, one of the first at Wymondham College, he was always proud to be an old boy! - Rosie Brown |
|
Henry Bull |
1951-57 |
|
Died
September 2004. His old friends would like to say "Rest
in Peace Henry. God bless you." |
|
Patsy Calton (Yeldon) |
1960-67 |
South/Winchester |
29th
May 2005, aged 56. Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle. She was
diagnosed with breast cancer following the 1997 election campaign and
underwent a double mastectomy the same year, but she was told last year
that the illness had returned. She completed a course of treatment for
cancer of the spine earlier this month. She was a high-profile
campaigner for breast cancer charities, running the London Marathon four
times to raise money for Manchester's Christie Hospital, where she was
treated, and the cancer charity Macmillan Nurses.
In Parliament, she was a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Northern Ireland
and health, as well as chair of the all-party group on breast cancer.
Educated at Wymondham College, Norfolk and the University of Manchester
Institute of Science and Technology, she went on to teach chemistry in a
Stockport comprehensive school. She served from 1994 to 2002 on Stockport
Metropolitan Borough Council, where she was deputy leader.
She married husband Clive in 1969, and they had two daughters, one son and
one grandchild. |
| Norman Canty |
1953-57 |
Staff |
Norman taught at WC 1953-1957 before moving to Derbyshire, the Midlands and Hertfordshire to further his career. He finally retired to Norwich at an early age but, 10 years ago, he and his wife Dorothy moved to Harrogate where they could be close to members of their family.
Sadly Norman passed away suddenly on 14 June 2010. |
|
Roz Carmichael |
1970s |
Lincoln |
Motorcycle accident. |
|
Neil "Vulch" Carruthers |
1977-79 |
Cavell/Peel |
6th
December 1992 at age 31 (heart attack). "My best friend and a far,
far better man than I will ever be" - Tim Prouty |
|
Jack Cassie |
1951- |
East |
December 2007.
Jack originated from Hunstanton and joined the College in 1951 as a
member of the Grammar School.
"I visited Jack and his wife in Queensland about 6 years ago. He was
then retired and living in a beautiful flat overlooking the ocean. He
had been state manager for Target, a major Australian store chain in
roughly the same position that Woolworths had in the UK at that time. I
have some photos of that visit and will try to look them up." -
Mike Herring |
|
Brenda Chamberlain (Shepheard) |
1951-60 |
Staff (South) |
October 2004 (cancer - after 40 operations). |
|
Maureen Chase (Spooner) |
1951-53 |
Thetford Transferee |
20th
September 1992; took her own life, two days after her husband's
funeral. |
|
Jim Cook |
1980s |
|
"Jim
was killed while out on his moped after he left, I think it was May 87 and
will check this out – it would be nice to put him up on the memorials page
if you wouldn’t mind as he’s still fondly remembered for having time for
anyone and was always up for a laugh too." - Steve Fox |
|
Daniel Crosthwaite |
1992 |
|
Swimming accident 22nd September 1998. |
|
Miss Curzon |
|
Westminster Matron |
Pneumonia; 4th December 2003. It is understood that she had lived in
Morley before the hospital replaced the golf course. |
|
Reggie Daniels |
1951-56 |
|
March 1991 at the age of 53. Reggie was one of the original intake
at the College in the Summer of 1951. After National Service in the Royal
Air Force he worked for Marconi's in Chelmsford until his sudden death at
work. |
|
Sarah Dearden |
|
|
Died in the
Kings Cross fire. |
|
Mike Dillon-Lee |
|
|
June
1990. Murdered by the IRA. |
|
Stephen Dobbin |
1965-72 |
Canterbury/Kett |
3rd October 2007.
"I went to the funeral, a very moving service. Dobbo had an
interesting life in the theatre, stage managing for the RSC and ENO and
directed a touring version of Les Liasons Dangereuse for the RSC. A
small group of ex-Canterbury, including Geoff Lewis and Andy Holmes, were
there. Before he died we had been talking about his role as the
Colonel in Patience in '71; Anne and I are currently in rehearsal for
Patience at the Maddermarket next April" - Robin Richardson
|
|
Gladys Dolan |
1951-76 |
Matron |
Gladys died at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital on 7th April 2005. She
joined the College in September 1951 and retired in April 1976; initially
in charge of Dorm 16 (Girls), before moving to East House (Boys), then
Salisbury and finally (1971) Fry Hall. |
|
David Dring |
1972-79 |
Fry |
Michael Brand attended David's funeral. "He was a gentle giant and
played rugby for the school and Wymondham Town. He worked at Morley
Agricultural". |
|
Eric Dudley |
1952-74 |
Staff |
April
1980. Head of Physics and Senior Master. Also served as relief
Anglia TV weatherman in the 1960s. |
|
David Dyble |
1952-56 |
|
11th
July 1999 (heart attack) |
|
Graham Dye |
1952-1956 |
|
2003 (four days after celebrating his Ruby
Wedding anniversary with Rita; nee Hanner, 1951-57). |
|
Tom Eaton |
|
|
Tom Eaton was a great friend to the College – Chair of Governors for many
years and a Trustee until September 2008.
Tireless campaigner regarded as 'Mr Norwich' - EDP24 |
|
Ashley Evans |
1977- |
Fry |
15th
February 1998. |
|
David Footer |
1952 |
|
April 1998 (leukaemia). |
|
Derek Forder |
1951 |
|
Derek was a past pupil who started at the College in 1951 |
|
John P. Forrest |
1950s |
|
|
| David Freeman |
1954-62 |
Staff |
David was Head of Art from 1954 to 1962 and the designer of the College Blazer Badge, still in use to this day. He passed away in June 2011 after a long illness. His wife has told us that he would have been so plased to know that his design is still being used. They had very happy memories of the College and after they were granted 'married quarters' in 1959, which she describes as 'cosy and perfectly adequate', they had a great social life at the College and made friends for life. His website www.davidcfreeman.co.uk is well worth a look and includes some of his early sketches from Wymondham. |
|
Mary Anne Freestone |
1951-55 |
|
|
|
Mike Frohawk |
1950s |
North |
Spring 2002. |
|
Rae Fuller |
1950s |
|
9th
June 2000. |
|
Gemma Fuschillo |
1994-96 |
|
"Gemma Fuschillo (Dover College Prep. and Dover College 1987-1994) was
killed in a car accident on 15th February 2004 . She leaves behind her
parents Paul and Janet, whom many will remember as Housemaster and
Teachers at Dover College, her brothers Ben and Sam and younger sister
Gina. Gemma was an extremely popular student who captained Dover Prep's
netball and hockey sides whilst starring in the school productions of
‘Oliver' and ‘The Hobbit'. After Dover she went on to become Head girl
at Wymondham College before studying International Business Studies at
Humberside, which involved her studying in New Zealand for a year. After
taking her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam she got her first post teaching
Business Studies at Uppingham School, where she was loved very much and
made such an impact in the short time there that Uppingham School will be
holding an annual “Gemma Fuschillo Games” event in her honour. Gemma will
be missed by the hundreds of friends with whom she invested her heart and
soul into from all around the world, especially her family, who have
always been a close knit group and will struggle in the years ahead to
cope with such a monumental loss." -
Ben Fuschillo |
| John Galloway |
1950s |
|
John sadly passed away on 14th July 2011. His son, Paul, wrote to us as follows: "My wonderful father and best friend passed away peacefully in the early hours of yesterday morning. The only consolation is that he had spent the week on a golfing trip with his dearest golfing friends, and was at home, relaxed, watching golf in his favourite chair." |
|
Sharon Golledge |
1990s |
Fry |
12 March 2007. "In January 2007, whilst working
as a Finance Assistant in Bournemouth, Sharon suffered a minor fit but
after extensive tests she was told that it was probably a “one off” and
not likely to ever happen again. On the 12th March she died from
an epileptic seizure during the night (Sudden Unexplained Death in
Epilepsy). She was 25. Sharon is greatly missed by all her family
and friends." - Lorraine
Norman
Lorraine (Sharon's Mother)
has established a memorial fund in Sharon's name, to raise money for
Epilepsy Research UK. Details are here:
http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/support_us/golledge.htm. |
|
Dave Goman |
1951-83 |
Staff |
24th
March 2005. A much-respected teacher of technical drawing and
engineering technology. His funeral service and cremation were held
at Earlham Crematorium on Thursday 7th April 2005.
Characteristically, Dave was planning his funeral arrangements right up to
the end, leaving his family (principally his niece Alison) very little to
do. Alison was very moved by the messages that Dave received from former
students and staff. His last great effort was a final period of
consciousness when, on waking for the fifth time that night, his words
were "Oh bugger. Am I still here?"
"A most remarkable schoolmaster" (Ronald
Wolsey) *
"A wonderful personality, a
special teacher and a great influence" (David Mills)
*
"I, for one, owe him in a big way" (Margot
Morton) *
"His utter devotion to
getting the engineering message across was impressive" (Anon)
*
"He taught a methodical way of thinking rather
than a formulaic way and I will always be grateful to him" (Cliff Martin)
*
"He was probably the best teacher I
ever had and was responsible for me choosing Engineering as a career"
(Kevin Kennedy)
*
"I owe Dave a debt of gratitude for it was he
who put me in touch with my first employer" (Alan Sidell)
*
"Dave was a great influence in my life - I
know I am not alone in being thankful to him" (Moira Scott (Greenlee))
*
"I frequently think of his influence,
often during daily tasks that link back in so many ways" (John Hinchliffe)
*
"He was an amazingly inspirational
teacher" (Gareth Melton)
*
"There are an awful lot of ex-Wycol pupils who
have reason to be grateful for his assistance in finding universities,
jobs etc." (Phil Robinson)
*
"I owe my career to
him." (Richard Wilson) |
|
James 'Jimmy' Hagg |
1951-55 |
|
3rd
February 2005. |
|
Adrian Hancy |
|
|
Motorcycle accident c1978.
"'Aggie' lived in Taverham, fairly near to me
in Costessey, and we used to meet at Taverham Pits and go fishing.
He was great fun and one of the few people I knew who was as short as me!
Aggie could make anything out of anything and I still have an old battered
fishing box with a replacement handle he made from wood and wire. Like all
the people I was friends with, Aggie seemed more interested in fun than
work. When he died I had a letter from his Mother saying that after the
accident he was conscious and waiting for an emergency operation but he
was still joking with the doctors and nurses. He died in the
operating theatre."
"It all seems so long ago and it's hard to
believe that he has been dead for longer than he lived. Still Aggie, you
are not forgotten." - Tim Copland. |
|
Alan Harvey |
1965-70 |
|
26th
July 2000. |
|
Tony Hawken |
1955-62 |
North |
November 2001.
Retired from the RAF as a Wing Commander. |
|
Allyson Hawksworth |
1970s |
New
Hall |
"She
was such a vital person ... I remember her youth ... but also her
substance and she had real belief in her values. I remember she had a
vehement loyalty to her morals and beliefs ... she was always on the edge
of stepping out of line ... always fun but never silly." - a friend
"Allyson was the youngest in our dorm at New
Hall. She was great friends with Sheila Jenkins but she gave of herself to
all of us. In our first year she
and I were in the same class. She was an attention seeker but not in
a bad way. She would dress in abstract ways and "float" around the common
rooms somehow so elegant yet like a young colt all legs she would fall
over with an attempt at great drama. I remember she had a great crush on
Guy Griffiths and made many attempts to gain his attention. I am sure she
did not fail completely!? I was very upset to hear that Allyson died. Last
I heard she had left school and joined the army. It appears she had just
completed her training when she died of a heart attack. Allyson would have
only been in her early to mid twenties. She will remain forever young." -
Lyn Dobson |
|
Hilda Hawkyard |
1950s/1960s |
Staff |
Summer 1971. |
|
Jack Hawkyard |
1954-64 |
Staff (North/York) |
Maths teacher and Housemaster; died suddenly at the end of June 2001. He
had been living in retirement at Branston, Lincolnshire, for several
years. |
|
Helen Hayes |
1975-82 |
Peel |
2007. |
|
Alistair Hayton-Williams |
1984-1996 |
Staff (PE) |
Alistair Hayton-Williams was head of PE at the College. His son Doug
(91-96) had been to visit the College earlier this term, he is a
Commissioned Officer in 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
and came to speak to the 6th Form about his time in Iraq and
Afghanistan. |
|
Cornelius van den Heuval |
195?-1959 |
East |
"On
Friday June 3rd 2005, at a hospital in Thailand, Corry, aged 62. Died
peacefully after a tragic accident. Dear son of Elsie (deceased), brother
of Shirley, Glena & Angela (deceased)." - Lynn News.
We understand that Corry was involved in a bad
car accident and had been in a coma for 6 weeks before he passed away.
|
|
Jim Hodgson |
1951-56 |
Staff
(History) |
James Norman ('Jim') Hodgson; 16th May 1988. |
|
Vivienne Patricia Holby |
1960- |
South |
Passed away on August 14th aged 59 years. Vivienne was born in Romford
and moved around both the UK and Ibiza during her life finally
resettling in Romford and working as a self-employed accountant for
Keith Stout & Associates. In 2002 serious illness forced her to stop
work and move to the family home in Grantham, Lincs. She bravely adapted
to a restricted life and remained forever cheerful. She came to
Wymondham College in September 1960, South House, Form 1A |
|
Cyril V. Hughes |
1950s |
Staff |
2007. "A man I remember with great respect and who with Dave Goman and
other great teachers did so much in shaping our lives and moulding the
future of a very new Wymondham College." - David Spinks. |
|
Nick Hughes |
1970s |
Fry |
"Nick was in Fry Hall and left in 1977 . Nick was
only 21, a freak motorbike accident on Friday March 27th 1981, claimed
the life of another genuinely great guy, missed by so many." - Jenny
Perryman |
|
John Hunt |
1970s |
|
Car
accident on the A11 in 1978. |
|
Jean 'Chick' Hurn |
1951-54 |
Grammar |
1992
(cancer). "Jean was my best friend at College and at home as she
lived in the next village." - Joyce Pycroft (nee Daniels). |
|
Christopher Jackson |
1959-64 |
North |
1983
(accident in Germany). |
|
Grayson Johnson |
1958-61 |
North |
1963
(motor cycle accident near Kings Lynn) |
|
Claire Kembry |
1984-89 |
|
Died
of cancer in Spring 2002. |
|
Philip Kenyon |
1951-55 |
|
12th
May 1997. Technical School staff. |
|
Frank Laughton |
|
Staff (Norwich) |
2001. Maths teacher and Housemaster. |
|
Peter LeGrice |
1960s |
|
"Peter died peacefully in hospital on Sunday, February 8th 2009 after
many battles with MS. Our thoughts are with his wife Diane, sons Martin
and Tom and their families. Peter was one of the nicest people you
could have wished to meet. Was also one of the finest
all-round sportsmen Wymondham College produced and we were fortunate
enough to play with him. Will always be remembered." -
Philip Wade |
|
Yvonne Leverett |
1956-62 |
East |
3rd
September 1998. |
|
Roger Lincoln |
1958-64 |
West
and Canterbury |
Passed away suddenly on 8 May 2007, aged 60.
He was driving to meet a primary school friend when he felt pains in his
chest; he pulled up near Thetford and died in the car.
Roger was in the Police Service for 30 years from 1964-1995, then worked
as a Communication Support Worker with Deaf people.
"He was one of the first people I was friendly with in West House in
1958. He was always cheerful and good fun. I always remembered that he
was originally from Southery (I had no idea where it was at the time)
but when my first teaching post was at Feltwell I discovered that the
head and many locals had known him and talked of him fondly. I never met
him again but always expected that our paths would cross again some day.
Sad news indeed." - Andy Harper |
|
Colin Lockwood |
1977- |
|
"Tragically died on A11 at Wymondham in the early 1980s; motorbike
collided with car turning out of a side road into his path. I'm unsure
of date or year. Son of Mr Lockwood (Fry Housewarden) & Mrs
Lockwood (teacher)." - Gary Johnson |
|
Stephen Longdin |
1953-59 |
East |
Sadly I have to report the death in early September
2008 of my brother Steve. He died after a courageous fight against
cancer a few weeks before his 67th birthday having retired from full
time work a few weeks earlier. He leaves his wife, son and
daughter and his two sons from a previous marriage.
Steve and I attended the College from 1953 and I am
confident in stating that we were the College's first twins (no doubt
I'll be corrected if I'm wrong). We spent our entire time in the
Nissen huts until our departure in 1959. I well remember our
arrival by coach to the sprawling complex of huts which we had never
seen before that time, and I often reflect that I was fortunate enough
to be with someone I knew at that time, unlike a lot of those on their
own. We kicked off in Butler 29. Good old days, although we
probably didn't think that way at the time.
Bill Longdin
W.R. Longdin
|
|
Jane Mayes |
1958-60 |
|
4th
March 1998 (cancer). |
|
R.V. Metcalfe |
1951-70 |
Warden |
1999. |
|
Barry McBeath |
|
Staff |
Autumn
1987. |
|
Lawrence Milne |
1970-77 |
Cavell |
Car
accident on the A11 between WC and Wymondham 29th May 1993.
"For many years, both while we were at WC and
after we had left, Laurie was one of my closest friends. I have many
happy memories of spending time with him; skiving games, hitching into
Norwich and drinking at the pub near the Market, getting lifts into
Norwich with the German assistant, repeatedly failing to go and see Mr
Hiscox when we were ordered to report to him, pinching lunch tickets and
awarding each other the Robert Van Der Graff Award (a brilliant game which
consisted of hiding one of the Cavell House sports cups in the winner's
bag in such a way that it was not noticed until he got home!)."
"For about 5 years after leaving school Laurie and I shared flats and
houses
and we kept in touch up to his death. We loved the same sort of music and
we had the same sort of views on life. He was a kind and gentle guy."
"Laurie, my friend, I will always remember you and the fun we had."
Tim
Copland. |
|
Gwilym Morley |
1971-1992/3 |
Staff (Chemistry) |
17th June 2000. "Two of his children, Stephen and Julian, also
went to the school (not sure about his daughter Rowena), and he lived in
one of the staff houses for many years." - Jan Raynsford |
|
Bob Mullenger |
1951-81 |
Staff
(Woodwork) |
Robert James ('Bob') Mullenger died at The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital on
the 11th of July 1981, at the age of 59. He had retired as Head of
Boys' Crafts in the April of that year. Just after his retirement,
Roger Garrard wrote these words:
An
era ended in April of this year, when Mr and Mrs Mullenger moved out of
Staff House No. 6 almost thirty years to the day since they first came to
live here. For Mr Mullenger was truly one of the pioneers of Wymondham
College, arriving with the first pupils, a group of 12-13 year-olds called
the "Pilot Course", who were selected as guinea pigs to see if a boarding
school could be established here. That it did become well-established and
so quickly is largely due to the skills and enthusiasms of the early
staff.
He still talks with keenness about those early years. You had to be
versatile to cope with the rapidly-developing school, with sudden
emergencies like power failures, with nissen-hut dormitories, workshops
lacking most of their present equipment, and with playing-fields with too
many trees and with more stones than grass. "Stone-picking duty" he speaks
of with a twinkle in his eye, and I can remember him vividly in his
wartime flying-jacket, supervising a group of boys literally digging a way
out along Golf Links Road to the A11 when the College was cut off after a
blizzard.
Skills, enthusiasms and versatility are his hall-marks, as I have said.
His official position for so many years was Head of Boys' Crafts, but he
managed to combine this with being Housemaster of the old York House for
some years, and so many other things seemed to come his way, too. When the
halls were first built it was decided to make all the dining-room tables
in the workshops. Mr Mullenger designed them all and had much to do with
their construction. So modest a man is he that there is probably only a
handful of people still here who know of this. All those oak dining tables
and benches are a perpetual reminder of his design skills and imagination.
No factory-made product would have stood up to the wear they have had.
Next time you stack them at the end of the dining room for a house social,
just think of Mr Mullenger and how well they were made.
Nor are these all. The two large wood signs at the main entrances, one
bearing the College crest, one the County crest, are also his work, so are
the gates by the pillar-box entrance, and so were the benches that burnt
to ashes when the pavilion was burnt down a few years ago. These had the
College crest carved into their backs, and they were much appreciated by
many generations of cricketers and spectators. He was also responsible for
making the Peel Trophy, a silver trowel on a wooden stand, which used to
be awarded annually to a pupil who had served the College well. We are
still using the scenery 'flats' he made for the first plays performed in
the Sports Hall. Three years ago, with 'Iolanthe', we used the sentry-box
he had made for an earlier production in the 60s. Everything he has made
has been solidly built to last, and has lasted, except for those pavilion
benches. Nothing second-rate or merely adequate would do for him.
A Norfolk man by birth. Bob Mullenger has a gentle and thoughtful manner of
speech, deceptive in that it hides a nimble and resourceful brain. Go to
him with a problem and watch him. You think perhaps that he has not
properly heard you, because no sound or sign escapes him. Then a
preoccupied stare will give place to a grin, and he will start to sketch
something, or, if it is a mechanical problem, to apply a spanner or
screwdriver in just the right place - no bluster or disparaging comments,
just a remarkable concentration and with invariably the right answer. He
has many of the interests of the countryman, and we shall miss the
familiar sight of him in deerstalker and tweeds, golf club or walking
stick in hand, striding round the park where he has lived and worked for
thirty years.
Illness has compelled him to leave us on early retirement, and he leaves
us knowing he cannot possibly be forgotten in a place to which he has
given so much and earned so much affection over so many years. |
|
Damien Nicholls |
|
|
1st
August 1999. |
|
Bob Norton |
1953-1987 |
Staff |
Friday 19th June 2009.
The following interview was published in the 1987 College
Magazine:
Mr. Robert Norton has been an invaluable member of the College since
1953. Even after all this time he can still remember his first
impression of the school. "I arrived by bus from Norwich, they dropped
me off at 'The George'; from there I walked up the lane to the school.
It looked very similar to the RAF base I was previously at in
Lincolnshire, and as I was happy there, I felt that I would fit in and
be happy here."
Three years after he arrived at the school, he married Miss Margaret
Wilkinson. His first impression of her was that she was lively,
vivacious and creative, and this is what he liked about her. It was not
'love at first sight', but this came later as more of the eventual Mrs.
Norton's qualities were revealed.
While in the RAF, which he joined at seventeen, Mr. Norton did a
war-time course at Southampton University, and wanted to go to either
Oxford or Cambridge after this. One of his 'claims to fame', is that, if
he had gone to Oxford, Richard Burton would have been on the same course
as him! He had a somewhat embarrassing experience in the service when
taking a reading, whilst navigating, of what he thought was a light on
the ground. He realised five minutes later that the angle had not
changed, and it had moved with them. It then dawned on him that he had
been taking the reading of a wing light!
It is difficult to summarise in a short space all that Mr. Norton has
done for the school over the past thirty-four years. He designed, and
spent many hours, with the help of pupils, building cinder paths by the
area which is now the cook-freeze unit. He also marked out all the
sports fields himself. He spent most of his weekends and nearly all his
spare time in this work, and this was in addition to being a
housemaster, first of all in the nissen huts, then with Canterbury House
boys in half of Kett Hall, who eventually merged with Westminster House
girls to form Kett House in 1971, the first mixed house, with pupils
from 11 to 18. Always keen to accept new challenges, it was Mr. Norton
who became one of the first Housemasters of a Sixth Form House in
Lincoln in 1978, a post he held until last Summer.
It would be interesting to discover just how many pupils have been in
his House over those 33 years. Is there any man anywhere with a longer
service as a housemaster, and in such varying forms? We feel sure Mr.
Norton's record of service here is unique. He enjoys teaching sport as
well as English, and has no preference for either, as they are both
creative and 'allow you to express yourself in different ways.' He also
recently organised the Sponsored Day events, showing how dedicated he is
to the school. One of Mr. Norton's last enterprises at the College has
been the organisation of three reunion dinners for past pupils. The
warmth of their regard for him was made only too clear on these
occasions and it is with something approaching awe that we say farewell
to him and to Mrs. Norton. |
|
Serena Ottley |
1983-87 |
|
19th
April 2007. |
|
John Paxton |
1962-98 |
Staff |
8th
November 2001. Latin & Classical Studies. |
|
Eric Peacock ('Choppy') |
1952-1959 |
|
3rd
June 1994. |
|
Erica Pigden |
1970s |
|
|
|
Joan Potter |
1983-97 |
Cavell |
Spring 1999. Boys' Matron. |
|
Richard Ramm |
|
|
Drowning accident. |
|
Sir Lincoln Ralphs |
|
Founder |
October 1978 at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, aged 69. He was
Chief Education Officer for Norfolk from 1950 to 1974 and was truly the
College's founding father. The College Song, his own composition,
reflects the principles that he applied throughout his career. This
was the leader in the Eastern Daily Press of the 18th October 1978:
SIR LINCOLN RALPHS was one of those rare
individuals whose life and character gave validity to what might at first
appear to be the most excessive of tributes. Whether we measure by the
power of his intellect, or his achievements and standing in education, we
are confronted with a giant. He represented a force for educational good
that we are unlikely to see again because the days of giants are over.
This is not to sigh for some golden age of legend or trade in commonplace
panegyrics. Lincoln Ralphs' period - perhaps we should say reign - as
chief education officer for Norfolk coincided with the apogee of a chief
education officer's power and influence, a time when these instruments
could be deployed on a greater and grander scale than anything that has
gone before or has been permitted since.
The physical achievement of those twenty-three years from 1950 can be
measured in stone throughout Norfolk but Lincoln Ralphs was immeasurably
more than a builder and innovator. Inspired by a vision of education as a
force and an opportunity extending almost from cradle to grave he set
about creating an umbrella beneath which everyone could find a place. He
had, for example, a particular feeling for special schools, and he
regarded it as one of his greatest accomplishments when a special school
that he had established in the county asked for a school uniform and
badge, such was its corporate pride. This is revealing of but a single
strand in the character and personality of a remarkable chief education
officer, and more of an astonishing man. Endowed with a great sense of
humour, blessed, twice blessed it seemed at times, with the scintillating
gifts of wit, verbal power and, particularly when the occasion demanded,
consummate charm, Lincoln Ralphs attracted a limitless loyalty and almost
inevitably, controversy.
His work which began in the light of the 1944 Act drew to its close amid
the shadows and the storms of the comprehensive controversy, and his
uncompromising stand, against national forces and fancies, tended to
colour his final years in office. He denied he was anti-comprehensive and
said he was anti-centralist. He was certainly furious that the whole
fabric of education should be so changed. A towering man, he saw children
in his every move, and understood that the duty of an administrator was to
support teachers and staff in schools. We heard it said of him yesterday:
"You knew that if the chips were down he'd be there fighting for you."
That is a good enough epitaph for any man. |
|
Brenda Rawlings (Myhill) |
1957-63 |
East |
2nd September 2007.
"Her husband, Mike, and children, Helen, Paul, Steven and Kevin were
with her when she died of cancer the day after her 61st birthday.
Nancy Trett, Pat Fuller, Irene Cooper and I and June Armiger were able
to attend her funeral in the packed Methodist Chapel at Great Ryburgh."
"Brenda loved being at Wymondham College. She was a wonderful friend,
always putting others first and always cheerful. She was devoted to
her husband and family. After leaving Wymondham we all went our
different ways and if it hadn't been for Enid organising her excellent
reunions we wouldn't have met Brenda again. Julia Gibbons and Ruth
Hales are among Brenda's many friends in East House and I'm sure there
are many others, both in East and the other houses who have fond
memories of her."
Margaret White (Kilgour) |
|
Paul Richardson |
1960-67 |
East/Salisbury |
Paul passed away suddenly on 26th May 2009 as the result of a heart
attack, aged 60. He had taken early retirement from Network Rail for
whom he had worked ever since leaving the College. |
|
Ian D. Robinson |
1956-63 |
East/Salisbury |
"My
brother, Ian D. Robinson [aka Bogbrush!], was a boarder in the early
history of the school. He attended from 1956 to 63. He was in East &
Salisbury and was House Captain in his last year. On leaving
Wymondham he did a teacher training course at Loughborough and then went
out to Jamaica for two years, working for V.S.O. He came back to
U.K. after a year to marry a Devon girl (Cherry) who was also on V.S.O.
and returned to Jamaica to live permanently. He had a many & varied
employment career being at some time, a teacher/lecturer, a training
officer for a bauxite company, General Manager of the Montego Bay Ice
Company, Manager of a mango/pau-pau plantation and construction manager
for a tourist development. He had just set up a sideline organising
“eco-tourist” tours around the island with his multi coloured Land Rover
when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Although he had a portion
of the lower colon removed and had undergone chemotherapy, he was always
aware that “it would get him in the end “. So after about 4 years of
fighting the disease, he sadly passed away in July, 1997 at the age of 52.
He had a love of the history of Jamaica and the all of his research
documents and books were handed over to the Hanover Museum in Lucea and
the study room was named after him. Cherry & his two sons (Mark & Neil)
remain in the Caribbean."
Phil
Robinson |
|
Melita Robinson (Sewell) |
early
1970s |
|
|
|
Tony Rudd |
- |
School Governor |
August 2003. Former technical director of Group Lotus, and deputy
chairman of Lotus Engineering, died at the age of 80. Mr Rudd, who lived
in Norfolk, was also one of the team that helped develop the original BRM
in the early 1950s. |
|
Alan Russell |
1950s |
Staff |
30
October 1962. Taught French & was renowned for his 'stable' of
prestige motor cars. |
|
Keith Rutherford |
1956-93 |
Staff |
15
February 2005. |
|
Peter Sadler |
|
|
9
October 2001. |
|
Pansy Sewell |
1950s |
|
|
|
Elaine Seymour (Turvey) |
1957-64 |
North/Winchester |
27th
February 1997 (cancer). |
|
Doreen Sharman (Mason) |
1951-? |
|
9
September 2001. |
|
Clive Simmonds |
1951-55 |
|
2001
approximately, in South Australia. |
|
David Spurling |
1970s/80s |
Staff |
December 2005. English teacher and Director of several College
productions. |
|
Richard Stammers |
1956-61 |
North |
Richard died in 2001 ago after suffering 20
years of heart disease. He had a wife and three children. |
|
Derek 'Doc' Staveley |
?-1978 |
Staff |
1985; soon after retirement. Geography head of department. |
|
Dennis Storer |
1958-59 |
Staff |
8th September 2007. An ex-Army Captain, Dennis Storer joined the
College's Physical Education department in September 1958 and spent one
year with us. He coached the 1st XV and was a prominent speaker in the
Chad Club and 6th Form Semi-Circle. After leaving, he became a sports
commentator with Anglia TV, but then emigrated to the USA in 1965 to
begin an outstanding career at UCLA as head coach of the university's
rugby and soccer programmes, becoming the US National rugby coach in
1976. At a national and international level, Dennis was the British
Olympic Association's Executive Director, a director of BAFTA, a founder
member of the British Community Advisory Board and founding President of
the Spirit of Youth Foundation. He was awarded the OBE in 1994 for
services to British/American Education, Sport and Commerce. |
|
Gwen Taylor |
1970s |
|
2003 |
|
Anne Thornton |
1951-56 |
|
February 2001. Head
Girl 1955/56. |
|
Nicholas Tonkin |
2000-01 |
|
Motorcycle accident in September 2002. Nicholas was the younger brother of
Oliver Tonkin (1994-2001). |
|
Wally Ward |
1950s |
|
1973, at Aylsham. |
|
Robert Watson |
Late
1970s |
|
"I
believe that he suffered a heart attack whilst fitness training in the
gym. Elder brother of Alistair Watson (Cavell then Peel 1976-83)."
- Gary Johnson |
|
Ann
Willson |
1960-67 |
West |
April 1999. |
|
Ron Wilson |
1954-58 |
West |
2002, ending a long career as an author. There is more about Ron
here. |
|
Chris Wiltshaw |
1960s |
Staff |
"In
September 1969 (when I was in the Lower Sixth) , Chris Wiltshaw was killed
in a tragic car accident on or near the A11. Chris had only been at the
College for about a year , coming direct from teachers' training college
to teach woodwork and metalwork. He was a tall, studious-looking, quiet,
and unassuming guy who fitted in immediately with the technical staff of
Bob Mullenger (head of dept), Andrew Seeley, Ted Herrington and Dave
Goman. Chris was well liked by both pupils and staff. He never taught me,
but I got to know him pretty well as he contributed a lot to the school
electronic cricket scoreboard project
which I was involved in.
When Chris was killed, I was away at a
B.A.Y.S. Youth Science Fortnight 'holiday' at Exeter University .
Returning to the College, just after Chris's death , on a massive high due
to all the sex, drugs, rock and roll (and a bit of science - no drugs
actually but tons of the other three! ) was a very weird experience as
there was a very sombre atmosphere indeed at the College. Chris had
wrapped his open-topped Lotus 7 type sports car round a tree while going
from the pub one evening to get some chips. Apparently his car hit the
tree with such force that the whole front of it was stoved in. No other
cars were involved.
I remember that it was the first time in my
young life that it had ever crossed my mind that I was going to die
sometime, so I had better make the most of it while I was still around!
Chris' death certainly hit us all at the
College very hard indeed."
Ian Gom eche (Gloucester 1963-70) |
|
John Worley |
|
Staff (Salisbury) |
April 1995. Biology teacher. |
|
C.C.H. (Tom) Worrall |
1963-76 |
Staff (Durham) |
1991. Housemaster. |
|
David Wright |
?-1956 |
|
July
1999. |
|
Tanya Wright |
1956-59 |
West |
Suddenly after a short illness in April 2002. Sadly this was soon
after her first contact with a school friend from the College. |
