Contents List College History College Magazines |
A project to digitise the College's magazine output from the early years (1953-1974) is now complete and the later 'rare' editions from 1977 and 1984 will be added before too long. As regards other years, the Alumni office has several copies that are surplus to requirements, covering years from 1975 to the present, except 1977 and 1984. If you would like to complete your collection, copies are available at a knock-down price of £3.00 including postage (see the Morley Mall for details).
Files on this page are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and can be read with free Acrobat Reader software. The search facility at the head of the Contents List includes the textual material in these magazines, but you will need to use Acrobat search ... ... when the document is opened. Be careful - when processing the magazines it was astonishing to find a large number of typographical and basic spelling errors. Obvious mistakes have been corrected in the background text that is searched (but not on the images that you see on-screen). If you have a surname that is regularly mis-spelled by other people, you'll know what to look for!
If you need the reader, click here .... .... but note that the file size is 20 Megabytes. Alternatively, buy a copy of PC World magazine; the program is included on the cover CD.
Issue Number 1, July 1953. The College had been in existence for only two years and there were two separate schools under different Heads. The style is very formal - some might say pompous - by today's standards. Pupils, some in their late teens, are referred to as 'children' in the Technical School section! 41 pages; file size 2.2 Megabytes |
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Issue Number 2, July 1954. The Technical and Grammar Schools still maintained separate academic existences, but were integrated administratively and domestically. The first House system (North, South, East and West) was established this year. 39 pages; file size 1.9 Megabytes |
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Issue Number 3, July 1955. Dr Mosby retired as Warden; a function then assumed by the Head of the Technical School (referred to confusingly as 'Head of Wymondham College') RV Metcalfe ... there are power politics to be read between the lines. The school Song Floreat Sapientia was written by Dr Lincoln Ralphs. 32 pages; file size 1.7 Megabytes |
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1955 Special Grammar School edition. 34 pages; file size 7.9 Megabytes
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Issue Number 4, 1956. "This is the first year that we have had a complete school, ranging from first forms to the Upper Sixth." Technical and Grammar schools were unified following the departure of Miss Joan Tebbutt who was Head of the Grammar School. The College crest was devised by Mr Freeman (Head of Art) and Rugby displaced Soccer as the principal sport for boys. 37 pages; file size 4.3 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 5, dated 1957. The
first of the brick-built accommodation blocks (Peel Hall) neared
completion. Some affection for the huts was reflected in a
Semi-circle Sixth Form Society motion that 'This House deplores the new
buildings' (defeated by 27 votes to 3). There was a variety of
Clubs and Societies, ranging from Boys' Cookery to Typewriting. 39 pages; file size 1.6 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 6, dated 1958. The
girls moved into Peel and Lincoln Halls. The Morley Hoard and
Roman pottery kilns were discovered as a result of the new building
works across the College site. 44 pages; file size 2.3 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 7, dated 1959. The
first Speech Day was held and is reported on at length. The Guest
of Honour was Dean Acheson, "a distinguished American and Secretary of
State for the United States from 1949 to 1953."
44 pages; file size 2.6 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 7*, dated 1960. The
magazine reflects a period of stability. The first Easter Concert
was held (in later years becoming a competitive event; the Mair Cup) and
a Radio Society was established to cover "... the mysteries of
valve-circuit design, transformer re-design, and the ineffable negative
feedback, panacea of all ills in the field of gramophone amplifiers."
48 pages; file size 2.5 Megabytes * Should have been Number 8. This discrepancy was perpetuated in the rest of Volume 1. |
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Volume 1 Number 8, dated 1961.
Not a great deal of note in this issue. A staff 'baby boom' was
underway and the Colts XV, captained by future International Barrie
Corless, had an unbeaten season.
34 pages; file size 2.2 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 9, dated July 1962.
A new look, coinciding with a rehash of the Houses; North, South, East
and West being replaced by Cathedral city names. The expanded
content includes reports from many clubs and societies as well as
accounts of trips far and wide. 68 pages; file size 5.4 Megabytes |
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Volume 1 Number 10, dated July 1963. There had
been many changes during previous ten years, not least the fact that
five of the Halls and the new sports block had been brought into use,
and the magazine imparts strong feelings of permanence and
self-confidence. Advertisements appear for the first time. 83 pages; file size 13.4 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 1, dated July 1964.
The largest issue so far, due in part to the number of photographs,
illustrations and pupils' contributions. Seven pages were devoted
to the Past Students' Association. Swimming and basketball were
established as new sports. 97 pages; file size 7.5 Megabytes |
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1964 County Grammar School . Publication of the County Grammar School's first printed magazine. 35 pages; file size 4.6 Megabytes
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Volume 2 Number 2, dated July 1965.
No major changes, but the College continues to expand and improve on all
fronts. Fancy a career at Barclays Bank with a starting salary of
£340? 92 pages; file size 7.3 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 3, dated July 1966.
A whopping 108 pages, due in part to the very detailed reporting of
sporting events. The editorial, following a mention of Eton,
wonders if "some major event of the future will be decided on the
playing fields of Wymondham." On the social front, there were several
House parties/socials - a glimmer of a more relaxed atmosphere? 108 pages; file size 9.1 Megabytes |
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1966 CGS |
1966 County Grammar School . The third issue of the County Grammar School's magazine. 43 pages; file size 9.7 Megabytes
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Volume 2 Number 4, dated July 1967.
Several pages are devoted to the administrative and support staff,
notably Victor, the king of the sewage farm; "There's never much work
down here when there's not much doing up the College." The
wearing of caps and berets became optional for Sixth Formers (who also
gained their own tie design) and the Mair Cup competition began. 95 pages; file size 8.1 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 5, dated July 1968.
Slight change in cover style and adoption of a 'sans serif' font.
Capes were introduced for 6th Form girls and the Upper 6th were 'granted
the privilege of using umbrellas.' 78 pages; file size 6 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 6, dated July 1969.
Pride of place this year was taken by the electro-mechanical cricket
scoreboard, designed by John Hinchliffe. There were several
comings and goings in the staff room. 'Serjeant Musgrave's Dance'
was acclaimed by the EDP as one of the best school productions ever
seen. 68 pages; file size 5.6 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 7, dated July 1970.
The last magazine of the staid Metcalfe era. It will be 'all change'
from now on! 76 pages; file size 5.3 Megabytes |
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The County Grammar School Magazine, 1970 [I had no idea that there was such a thing as a CGS Magazine, until this copy turned up in the Alumni office. If anyone has copies from other years that could be scanned, please get in touch. - Ed.] 62 pages; file size 3.6 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 8, dated July 1971.
Muz departs and his achievements are documented across 5 pages. Mr
Wolsey took over at the beginning of the Spring term. "All pupils now
have a snack tea in their Houses at four o'clock on weekdays." 68 pages; file size 5.3 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 9, dated July 1972.
A stunning cover by Micheala Parker (huts, pipes and overhead cables)
and a new 2-column format. The title reflects the amalgamation of the
CGS and College establishments. Houses became to an extent
'virtual' while the necessary physical changes were being worked out
(see
Family Trees).
Soccer returned after an absence of some 15 years and the gym suffered a
major fire soon afterwards. [God's displeasure - Ed.] 64 pages; file size 6.7 Megabytes |
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Volume 2 Number 10, dated July 1973.
The Warden continues to grapple with a large sliding-block puzzle, namely
the introduction of mixed boarding Houses and absorption of the County Grammar
School contingent as day pupils. A heap of cinders marks where the
pavilion stood. It was a turbulent time.
63 pages; file size 5.2 Megabytes |
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Volume 3 Number 1, dated July 1974.
The College's 'father,' Sir Lincoln Ralphs, retires. All the
boarding houses are now mixed and the old House names appear in print
for the last time. Mrs Thatcher pays a visit in her capacity as
Minister of Education and gets an earful about the state of the
buildings, but she and the Conservative government would be out of
office within weeks. 60 pages; file size 5.3 Megabytes |
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1977. A special edition to
celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The cook-freeze unit comes
into operation but the MDH still continues to be used while House
kitchens are modified. Parts of the covered way and several huts (including
Butler Hall) are demolished.
Sue Therrien has kindly provided this guide to some of the faces on the front cover: 52 pages; file size 8 Megabytes |
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1983. A more
relaxed style .... excellent artwork .... soccer 'no longer viewed as
second-best to rugby' ..... overall, reflecting another period of stability.
72 pages; file size 8.3 Megabytes |
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1993. Desk Top Publishing arrives and gives the magazine a
'home made' feel ..... stalwarts Mr Rutherford and Mrs McBeath (Mair)
retire .... John Haden completes his first year as Head ... Daisy Pulls
It Off .... 1st XV appear in a hooped strip. 63 pages; file size 10.4 Megabytes |
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2003. A glossy magazine with several pages in colour ....
another new Head (Victoria Musgrave) .... boys wearing earrings [I'm
turning in my grave - Muz].... successes by pupils on all fronts
.... the general themes are enthusiasm and FUN! .... 83 pages; file size 16.7 Megabytes |
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2009. The 2009 College Magazine can now be viewed on line at this location (will open in a new window). It features a number of Old Wymondhamians on the front cover. The web interface isn't the most user-friendly in the world, but persistence will be rewarded! |
Wymondham College Remembered