The Organ - 2025
A candidate for some funding is the need for a service and tuning of the School Organ. Owned by the Paston Foundation Trust and in the care of the College, it is rarely used (except for the annual reunions and occasional guest organists). As a result, some pipes are failing to hold a note and some important controls are faulty. The Society will work with the Foundation and the College to continue to maintain and preserve it.
Watch this space.
Watch this space.
North Walsham Heritage Museum - 2024
The North Walsham Heritage Centre is a treasure trove of useful current and historical information for North Walsham. It doubles as a visitor information centre and a heritage museum (Vicarage Street, behind the Church).
As a museum it holds many assets of the town including the complete old Fire fighting truck, some Nelson memorabilia and details of the Paston School (ancient and modern). Well worth a visit.
In 2024 it was agreed to support the Heritage Centre with a donation needed to purchase a replacement touch screen monitor, through which visitors can browse many thousands of curated images of North Walsham.
Pictured here is Bob Wright, with the selected monitor, alongside Paston sports jersey (yellow/green) and classic dark blue School uniform, complete with breast badge, brass buttons and matching yellow/green scarf. Another cabinet holds a school cap.
The Society is happy to support this worthy cause, and urges any members interested in volunteering to staff the Centre to reach out to Bob or call in to the centre, Monday-Saturday(some). The chosen screen was sourced from local business 'Tech Geeks'
As a museum it holds many assets of the town including the complete old Fire fighting truck, some Nelson memorabilia and details of the Paston School (ancient and modern). Well worth a visit.
In 2024 it was agreed to support the Heritage Centre with a donation needed to purchase a replacement touch screen monitor, through which visitors can browse many thousands of curated images of North Walsham.
Pictured here is Bob Wright, with the selected monitor, alongside Paston sports jersey (yellow/green) and classic dark blue School uniform, complete with breast badge, brass buttons and matching yellow/green scarf. Another cabinet holds a school cap.
The Society is happy to support this worthy cause, and urges any members interested in volunteering to staff the Centre to reach out to Bob or call in to the centre, Monday-Saturday(some). The chosen screen was sourced from local business 'Tech Geeks'
Carpet (2013) > Wooden Griffon (2016)
Whilst the Nelson Room Carpet is awaited, the College commissioned a sculpture, using some of the Old Pastonians Centenary donation:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/striking-griphon-sculpture-arrives-at-paston-college-1-4689700 A striking sculpture of a mythological beast, made from a giant redwood tree, has just taken up position ready to greet visitors arriving on the Griffons site of North Walsham’s Paston Sixth Form College. The work is the creation of Matlaske artist Luke Chapman and was commissioned to mark the college’s 30th birthday in 2014 and the opening of the new Griffons Theatre last year. Students ran a competition to design the sculpture and the griffon, which features on the family crest of the Paston family, was the most popular choice.The project was funded using donations from Old Pastonians and Paston College Foundation members. Students worked with the artist to improve the design, including the fine detail of the work. The sculpture owes its distinctive red colour to the wood from which it was made, a Giant Sequoia Wellingtonia Redwood from a Norfolk Estate, blown down in storms. College principal Kevin Grieve said: “This is an amazing sculpture and brilliant way to commemorate the sixth form college and the new theatre. “Luke is an amazing artist and we are all extremely proud of what has been achieved”. Lewis Millard, student executive president, said: “It was a brilliant idea by the student executive to commission the sculpture. Luke is very talented and we are pleased with the final result.” The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and an eagle’s talons as its front feet. |
Nelson Room Reminiscence
During this centenary campaign, we recently received the following recollection of Nelson Room days from Old Pastonian John Bloomfield:
...The photo of the” Nelson Room” brought back many memories as I was a Boarder from 1940 – 1948.
Curling up on the window sill overlooking the front lawn reading a book or sitting in front of the open fire in Winter.[Biggest got the front seats!].
We had Breakfast & Dinner there. Lunch was with the whole School. Supper was also in the Nelson Room consisting of Plain Bread & Dripping. [Bacon Dripping was the best].
Although War Time we ate very well. Vegetables were from the School Allotment – which we had to tend. Butter was the main shortage. Tuck boxes from Parents were much appreciated – when they could scrounge enough Petrol to visit.
Re the front lawn we Boarders [team of 6] acted as Mules pulling a large lawnmower designed to be pulled by a Horse. Slave labour we called it!
Thanks John. Brilliant.
...The photo of the” Nelson Room” brought back many memories as I was a Boarder from 1940 – 1948.
Curling up on the window sill overlooking the front lawn reading a book or sitting in front of the open fire in Winter.[Biggest got the front seats!].
We had Breakfast & Dinner there. Lunch was with the whole School. Supper was also in the Nelson Room consisting of Plain Bread & Dripping. [Bacon Dripping was the best].
Although War Time we ate very well. Vegetables were from the School Allotment – which we had to tend. Butter was the main shortage. Tuck boxes from Parents were much appreciated – when they could scrounge enough Petrol to visit.
Re the front lawn we Boarders [team of 6] acted as Mules pulling a large lawnmower designed to be pulled by a Horse. Slave labour we called it!
Thanks John. Brilliant.