If you recall the Film Club in the 70s/80s, there was some creation of films which may still exist, or have been converted/digitised already. If you are aware of any, or have it in your attic (or cellar), then please do get in contact to share it with all here. That would be fantastic to see some old (young) faces. Email HERE
Just to let you know that the Australian Division of the SOPs (that is, both of us) celebrated with a long lunch today at the Lord Nelson Hotel, as in previous years. We toasted our most famous OP with Trafalgar Pale, brewed on the premises. Give our regards to any attendees at tomorrow’s dinner who might remember us. Maybe Keith Morris, Paul Jenner, William Mather and Graham Carver come to mind. Arch Fraser 1951- 56 Mike Cuming (Boarder) 1952-59 Mike - "I had an interesting introduction to this painting before it came to the school.
As a boarder with parents overseas, I spent many half-term and other school holidays with a kindly Aunt and Uncle in Reepham. One day my Uncle Alan took me to Norwich, and said we would visit a well known OP and friend of his, Ben Burgess. Ben was an avid collector of Nelson memorabilia, and he took me to the back of his office to show me his recently acquired painting, asking if I thought the school would like to have it? Of course I enthusiastically agreed and shortly after it appeared in the Assembly Hall, where I expect it still hangs." Thanks Mike - the painting was donated on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the School, in 1956. Sadly heard that Peter Mayne passed in June 2022. Condolences to family and friends.
Peter was Head/Principal of Paston School at a pivotal point in its history from 1996 to 2012. A busy 16 years. He had worked in education and sixth form in particular for over 30 years and kept involved since retiring, attending reunions and the annual Society of Old Pastonians Trafalgar Dinner. There is a good retirement summary here: Head of Paston Sixth Form College at North Walsham retires | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk) and notice/orbituary here: PETER WILLIAM MAYNE - Death Notice | Family Notices (edp24.co.uk) Originally printed on February 19, 2021 in the Eastern Daily Press.
ROBERTS, MICHAEL GRAHAM Formerly of North Walsham and Milton, Cambridge. Died peacefully, aged 74, on February 2nd. Much loved husband of Wendy, father of Dan and Tom, father-in-law of Mel and Lucy and grandad of Beau, Maryana, Sonny and Eleanor. Step-father of Becky and Laura and Grandad Mike to Scarlett, Maisie and Matthew. Brother of Heather, Hilary and Patrick. Lifelong Norwich City FC fan. Former student of Paston Grammar School. Private funeral in North Walsham on February 24th. Family flowers only. Donations welcome to Dementia UK please. For a School with over 400 years of history, things are bound to change. Change is constant after all. When it comes to a School Motto however, in Latin, you don't expect it. So when did DE MIEVLX EN MIEVLX PARTOUT become De Mieux en Mieux Pour Tout? From Good, to Better Everywhere. Often mentioned, but I have yet to see a full explanation. Forder wrote his History of the Paston School and published it in 1934. My Second Edition, 1975, has the Crest and 'Pour Tout'. The Latin/Franco origin might be described within, but I have not yet found it. The Pastonian magazine is another great clue. It changed in Summer 1948 there, to Pour Tout. But why? Could it be that a Latin Master changed in that year, as did the printing of the magazine, and it was 'corrected'. It had been the 100th edition of the magazine in Easter 1947. The whole School was re-decorated/branded that year with 'gallons of white and green paint' and even the Pavilion on the School Playing fields had a new thatch. John Bloomfield was School Captain that year - I should ask him what happened! The Pastonian was termly in those days, and it changed to annual in 1951 (51-52) 'because of the rising cost of material and labour'. So post 1948, the motto change stuck. But still no explanation as to why it was changed. If anyone has access to the Summer 1947, Winter 1947 or Easter 1948 editions, this might contain a reference to it (ed; now sourced) Any thoughts? -John Dring Footnote: The 1946 Pastonian, edition 99, mentions the new motto, in passing in the opening editorial page. Whilst the front cover remains the older. So it must have been a variant already at that time. Further - the motto changed, definitively, on the cover of the Summer edition of The Pastonian 1948, edition 103. The was NO Spring edition. So the magazine went from Winter 1947 edition 102 straight to the Summer one. A certain J J Atkinson (later, Voco) joined as Master of Latin in January 1948. There had been a competition to design the new cover of The Pastonian, and someone made sure it had the more modern motto format. But still no written mention of it. The search continues. Footnote: Oct 2023 Here is a picture of the tomb of Sir William Paston and the motto he is credited with is Pour Tout. So I think that is the definitive use, and any use of partout was an error or attempt to de-french it ! |
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