Embarrassing
Stories
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When I was younger my Grandmother lived with us. In fact I was
closer to her than I was to my own mother! I was a 'cute' little kid with blonde
hair but my Gran thought I would look better curly. So every morning, until I was
about six years old my Gran would put my hair in rollers. This wouldn't have been so
bad had I been a GIRL!
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400 YEARS OF PASTON
The town of North Walsham paid tribute to one of its oldest institutions,
Paston College, at a Civic Service on June 25th. Paston is 400 this year.
"Few organisations in our lives can celebrate 400 years" said
Principal, Peter Mayne "20% of all the time that has elapsed since the birth of
Jesus. For most of us it is perhaps only the Church, the monarchy and
Parliament."
Paston was created as a school in 1606 by Sir William Paston. "Less than a year
after the Gunpowder Plot (1605) and fourteen years before the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for
America (1620)" said Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, in his sermon.
Shakespeare was still writing his plays. England's economy was agricultural
and woollen cloth - including Worstead and Walsham - our principal export. It was a
time of massive social, economic and intellectual churning and much uncertainty".
He noted that many famous people had been educated at Paston - including Horatio
Nelson and Thomas Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury (1694 - 1716).
"Just as society and the economy have changed continually, so Paston has changed and
reinvented itself throughout its 400 years - free school, independent grammar school,
voluntary controlled grammar school and sixth form college. This history of change
explains why Paston is still here today and continues to flourish. In 2006 we are
very proud to be one of only 100 sixth form colleges nationally, generally seen as the
most successful type of sixth form available. North Norfolk continues therefore to
be blessed with a very strong place of learning bearing the name Paston." said Peter
Mayne.
The service was designed to commemorate the contribution of Paston to the community over
400 years, and also looked forward to the continuing work of Paston today and tomorrow.
During the service the Principal, Peter Mayne, accepted the invitation of the
bishop to commit the college to "use the gifts of teaching, sustaining and
encouraging young people to grow and flourish and to transform lives".
The service was attended by many from the local community and from Paston today - and
yesterday with a number of "old boys". The lesson was read by Amy Pannell,
current chair of the college's student council and a student governor.
Since its foundation two governors have been nominated by the bishop of Norwich and the
Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and so it was fitting that Richard , deputy Lord Lieutenant
Richard Williams as well as the bishop were present. They were joined by civic
leaders from across Norfolk included Patrick Hacon , chair of the County Council, district
council chairmen and many North Walsham Town councillors including the newly appointed
mayor, Keith Dixon. .
Peter Mayne said that he was delighted that the Town had decided to mark the Paston's
400th and to acknowledge the contribution of Paston to the history of North Walsham and
its people in this way. He was pleased that his two predecessors as principal of the
sixth form college, Peter Brice, Mollie Whitworth, were also there.
What the town had to say .....
Keith Dixon, North Walsham Town Mayor, said: North Walsham takes great pride in Paston
College. Not only is it steeped in history, it is also a high performing sixth form
college whose reputation enhances that of North Walsham as a thriving town. Paston
achieves excellent results and continually improves its performance; it provides young
people with a supportive environment where they can learn, receive guidance at an
important stage in their lives and socialise with others of their own age. On
behalf of North Walsham Town Council I would like to thank Peter Mayne and his staff for
the excellent work that they do for our young people and the wider community. I wish
the college every success for the future and in celebrating Paston 400 and Paston
College's 21st birthday.
David Gosling (Chair, North Walsham Area Partnership): I am delighted that we are marking
today this significant anniversary in the life of the Town's second oldest institution.
Generations of Paston students have benefited from the foresight and generosity of
Sir William and the teaching and dedication of so many people. The Town and the Area
have long been, and still are, so much the richer for the input of Paston people in so
many areas of its commercial and social life. We rejoice with Paston at this 400th
anniversary and for all that this prestigious establishment and its students contribute to
this Area and to its residents
Revd Derek Earis (Vicar of North Walsham) said: As Vicar of St Nicholas I know how
important the College is to the local community and its close connection to the parish
church. I am aware of this whenever I look at Sir William's impressive monument in
our Sanctuary. Paston began as a Christian foundation through the charity and piety
of its founder and has enabled many generations to learn more about God's world. My
fellow clergy and ministers of all denominations join in sending our congratulations on
the occasion of the 400th anniversary with our prayers and best wishes as the college
faces the exciting challenges of the future.
A short chronology of Paston (1606 - 2006)
1528 William Paston born
1606 Sir William Paston's Free School opened
1766 new school building completed (new head Rev John Price Jones)
1768 Horatio Nelson (b1758) at Paston School (1768-71)
1878 George Wimble headmaster (1878 - 1904)
1902 Balfour Education Act created Local Education Authorities
1908 Paston becomes "a public secondary school" under the new
Norfolk LEA. New buildings erected (1908 - 1939). In 1946 270
boys - many coming to Paston by rail - "train boys"
1922 Major Percival Pickford: headmaster (1922 - 46).
New buildings (1926 and 1939)
1944 Butler Education Act - abolition of fees
1946 Lt Colonel Kenneth Marshall - headmaster (1946 - 75)
1953 Paston becomes a "voluntary aided" grammar school
1971 Paston becomes a "voluntary controlled" grammar school
1984 Paston Sixth Form College created. Sixth form colleges remain
the most successful type of "sixth form" in the state maintained sector.
There are only 100 nationally and only 2 in Norfolk
1993 Incorporated as an independent college of further education
(1991 Further and Higher Education Act)
2006 Today Paston College is a success story: a highly successful
sixth form college of 620 students drawn from 400 square miles of rural, coastal and
broadland north Norfolk.
In 2005 the A-level pass rate was 97% and students went on
to over 50 universities: performance at AS placed Paston
in the top 10 colleges nationally.
Paston College - a note for editors
Paston College is North Norfolk's sixth form college - the only specialist college in
North Norfolk for students aged 16-19. It offers a wide curriculum of A and AS
subjects, as well as BTEC, GNVQ and GCSE courses. Sixth form colleges are the most
successful type of college/school in the UK for AS/A-level study and progression to
University. In 2005 Paston has been placed in the top 10 colleges nationally for its
performance at AS level and in the top 25 for A level. Inspected by Ofsted in March
2003, Paston received a highly positive report, emphasising the quality of teaching and
support for students. Besides around 600 full time "sixth form" students,
aged 16-19,
A 400th Celebration Ball will be held at the College on September 30th. For further
details see the College website www.paston.ac.uk
or telephone 01692 402334,
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