The First Return to WC

Saturday 17th July 1999

Contents The Gallery Past Reunions 1999 Reunion

It was a scorching day but the dress code was lounge suits, so I arrived in the area early with the aim of having a couple of cold beers to cool down and apply some local anaesthetic for my trepidation at the same time.

What used to be the main Attleborough-Wymondham road now runs parallel to a dual carriageway, so there's some zig-zagging to get to the familiar turning. The two entrances are (first) what used to be the concrete strip to the old gym, and then the original main entrance, now with a security barrier and devoid of Nissen huts. I kept going, remembering that a pub used to be a bit further on at a crossroads. Another mile and I found The Buck at Morley.

Two Carlsbergs later ... drove back and, as the barrier was down, took the 'old gym' route and drove down what used to be the road between the girls' blocks and the library.

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All looks so familiar; pond, workshops (now Modern Languages), water tower behind and a new refectory on the right.

Only sixth-formers eat in Hall these days. After a bit of milling around, about 20 souls straggled towards Lincoln Hall, my old York House accommodation, where we were greeted by Carole Arnold & split into 2 groups for the Tour.

On the way to the Park, I thought this might have been my first classroom (38) but it turned out to be 36. The old covered way would have been at the other end.

So on we go into the Park ....

... and turning the camera 90 degrees left, the swimming pool end of the gym. That trellised wall on the left of the gym must be where self, Merv and the gorgeous Lesley Hammond were photographed on a bike in 1964.

A-Levels over and not a care in the world!

Morley Hall. As I recall, it was some sort of young offenders' institution in the sixties.

The old pavilion burned down a few years ago and this modest box is its replacement. All the sports team photos were taken outside the old one (which had a truly disgusting chemical loo).

This the smaller of the two 'new' gyms, in an area that suffered a fire in the past, apparently. The guy on the left is Nick Rowe, who was in York about 3 years below my form. How he's grown!

That's the end of the larger gym where we had the stage for the first 'production' in this new venue; Gilbert & Sullivan's 'The Sorcerer,' starring David Brand as magician John Wellington Wells, with me and numerous others as the chorus of (spellbound) villagers.

This was the 6th Form coffee shop when the gym was first built. Pictures on the walls are 'official' shots of sports teams down through the years.

Outside the gym. The lady at left is Judy Williams (nee Chambers), who lives across the Thames from me in Reading.

I was sweating like the proverbial at this point, but we had a few more ports of call, including the Library and the Chapel. Amazing that the latter is still standing. We also visited several classrooms and one of the accommodation blocks - they now have girls in one half and boys in the other.

Got back to Lincoln, for freebie Buck's Fizz and a mingle. Apart from Nick and Judy, I knew no-one. Most of the folk were 70's era, with one or two overlaps. The part-organiser was David Spinks (50's) and there was a chap called Tony (A.D.J.) Thomas who was keen to get in touch with Merv Boast. That's him, on the right, with Mrs Haden and Judy Chambers as was.

Our old dining room. There was no shortage of booze (at a price), but I had to think of the drive back to Sheringham. As an alternative, I pigged out on the excellent buffet (managed 3 strawberry fools!). The cups & saucers were the same green things we had. Every time I sneaked outside for a fag, I was half-expecting to hear Jack Hawkyard say 'what are YOU doing LADDIE!'

There were a couple of speeches, including this from John Haden, the Head. The lady at the end of the table is Carole Arnold.

Simon Turtle, Steven Turner, Peppy Dadd (Metson), Duncan Ferguson, Leon Andrew, Richard Herring, John Herring

Steve Read, Marcus Ellis, Jane Bassingthwaighte, NK x 2, Bernadette Lyons, Kevin Emmerson

Pennie Bradshaw (Start), Jane (or Ruth?) Pearson, Georgina Wisniewska (Norman), Gill Thompson (Norman), Anne Richardson (Warner), Rosie Curtis (Jacobs)

Well, that's about it. Entirely worth the effort, and a good 'taster' for the following year's Sixties bash!

Herb Atkins

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Wymondham College Remembered

	All looks so familiar; pond, workshops (now Modern Languages), water tower behind and a new refectory on the right.
	Only sixth-formers eat in Hall these days. After a bit of milling around, about 20 souls straggled towards Lincoln Hall, my old York House accommodation, where we were greeted by Carole Arnold & split into 2 groups for the Tour.
	On the way to the Park, I thought this might have been my first classroom (38) but it turned out to be 36. The old covered way would have been at the other end.
	So on we go into the Park ....
	... and turning the camera 90 degrees left, the swimming pool end of the gym. That trellised wall on the left of the gym must be where self, Merv and the gorgeous Lesley Hammond were photographed on a bike in 1964.
	A-Levels over and not a care in the world!
	Morley Hall. As I recall, it was some sort of young offenders' institution in the sixties.
	The old pavilion burned down a few years ago and this modest box is its replacement. All the sports team photos were taken outside the old one (which had a truly disgusting chemical loo).
	This the smaller of the two 'new' gyms, in an area that suffered a fire in the past, apparently. The guy on the left is Nick Rowe, who was in York about 3 years below my form. How he's grown!
	That's the end of the larger gym where we had the stage for the first 'production' in this new venue; Gilbert & Sullivan's 'The Sorcerer,' starring David Brand as magician John Wellington Wells, with me and numerous others as the chorus of (spellbound) villagers.
	This was the 6th Form coffee shop when the gym was first built. Pictures on the walls are 'official' shots of sports teams down through the years.
	Outside the gym. The lady at left is Judy Williams (nee Chambers), who lives across the Thames from me in Reading.
	I was sweating like the proverbial at this point, but we had a few more ports of call, including the Library and the Chapel. Amazing that the latter is still standing. We also visited several classrooms and one of the accommodation blocks - they now have girls in one half and boys in the other.
	Got back to Lincoln, for freebie Buck's Fizz and a mingle. Apart from Nick and Judy, I knew no-one. Most of the folk were 70's era, with one or two overlaps. The part-organiser was David Spinks (50's) and there was a chap called Tony (A.D.J.) Thomas who was keen to get in touch with Merv Boast. That's him, on the right, with Mrs Haden and Judy Chambers as was.
	Our old dining room. There was no shortage of booze (at a price), but I had to think of the drive back to Sheringham. As an alternative, I pigged out on the excellent buffet (managed 3 strawberry fools!). The cups & saucers were the same green things we had. Every time I sneaked outside for a fag, I was half-expecting to hear Jack Hawkyard say 'what are YOU doing LADDIE!'
	There were a couple of speeches, including this from John Haden, the Head. The lady at the end of the table is Carole Arnold.
	Simon Turtle, Steven Turner, Peppy Dadd (Metson), Duncan Ferguson, Leon Andrew, Richard Herring, John Herring
	Steve Read, Marcus Ellis, Jane Bassingthwaighte, NK x 2, Bernadette Lyons, Kevin Emmerson
	Pennie Bradshaw (Start), Jane (or Ruth?) Pearson, Georgina Wisniewska (Norman), Gill Thompson (Norman), Anne Richardson (Warner), Rosie Curtis (Jacobs)