May Update   

Remembering His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

With the sad passing of Prince Philip, we are reminded that he visited the college in March 1990.  The report of the visit is here.     

Charles Hill - Science 1975-2005 - has been in touch to say that the 1990 College magazine is an also excellent tribute to HRH.  Sadly we don't have a copy of this on the site.           

Sad News

Joan Thomson [nee Woodbridge] has advised us of the sad news that John Chapman passed away on 6th April 2021. 

He had been suffering from Parkinsons for some years and four weeks ago had a fall, breaking his neck. He was doing well in hospital but died suddenly and unexpectedly. He lived in New Zealand for many years and he was at the College from 1955-1958.

 OW Golf Day and Reunion 2021

 It is hopeful that the Golf Day & Reunion can be held again this year. The intended date is Friday 2nd July 2021 at Dunston Hall, Norwich. Arrangements will be much as they were in 2019 – Bacon cob at 11am – three course meal 6pm. Golf and Meal £47 – Meal £22.

If you wish to attend either the golf and/or the dinner, please contact Bob Rowell asap – bob.e.rowell@outlook.com

 “Wartime on a Country Estate – Some Americans in Norfolk 1943-1945”

If you have an interest in what the Wymondham College site was like immediately prior to the establishment of Wycol, Anne & Adrian Hoare [teachers between 1974 and 1994] have written and published the above A4 book.

The book is about a Norfolk Country House Estate requisitioned for the war effort. On its land, an American Army Hospital was built to care for US Army Air Force casualties and later ground forces from the Normandy Campaign against the Nazis. It tells the stories of those who met there – airmen, doctors, nurses, Red Cross workers, drivers, military police, soldiers and musicians, sometimes in the own words and with their own photographs.

The book is available from Anne and Adrian by contacting them at:- adrianhoare@btinternet.com The cost is only £7.00 which includes postage and packing to UK addresses. 

Click here for a glimpse at the front cover - an image many early alumni will recognise.

CCF Volunteers needed for the College 

 The College are currently looking for volunteers to join the CCF staff and have asked us to see if any local Alumni are interested. Over lockdown, they have had several staff leave and retire and this has left the Army section with little to no staff.  Please see here the email from the Acting Contingent Commander.  If you are interested please contact the bursar and he will pass it on: bursar@wymondhamcollege.org

1951 Starters - 70th Anniversary

Maggy Skipp (Smith) has been in touch to put us straight about the 1951 Starters: 

"I have seen many guesses about how many pupils started in February 1951 so as it is our 70th anniversary I would like to set the record straight, there were 32 boys and 32 girls chosen. Two coaches picked us up on that first day, I was from King’s Lynn and first on our coach, we picked up one boy or one girl as we travelled through various villages on our way to Wymondham. On arrival our names were called and we were allocated a dormitory - 16 and 18 for the girls 26 and 28 for the boys – until it came to Rae Fuller who was given a boys number but turned out to be a girl which caused a bit of laughter – so there were 31 boys and 33 girls. I have the original photo of the first girls which is on the ‘51 page, all named and there are 33 of us".

Sadly due to the current situation, any plans the College had to celebrate the 70th Anniversary will not now happen.  It is hoped that the OWs may be able to put together an event in mid-October, but we will have to wait and see how things go.

For previous updates please click here.