Chairman's Letter
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Dear Old Michaelians, As many of you know, Martin Graville, OMA membership secretary and who has for some years edited the “Mitre” was taken suddenly and seriously ill in July and had to undergo major surgery. By the time this reaches you I hope that Martin will be well on the way to recovery. I hope he can even make the re-union! I know that he and Barbara are very pleased with all the messages they have received and have been added to the guest page. In the mean time Bill Cullin has stepped in to produce this edition. Bill has previously worked with Martin, taking the responsibilities of printing and distribution. It cannot be easy to find that you have to edit and print a magazine with only a few weeks to publication. I am sure you will all join in with me to say a very big THANK YOU. Another re-union approaches and final arrangements are in hand. In later pages of this “Mitre” you will see what has been arranged. Seeing the details on paper makes it look as though things just fall into place. Anyone who has served on the organising committee will know that that is not the case. But each year it seems to get easier because of the experience gained from past committee members. This year, due to ill health and for professional reasons, some committee members have had to take a back seat. The rest of the committee has helped new members, including your new Chairman, and the whole organisation has been done with a feeling of good will. The committee is always looking for new blood. There are some of the present committee who now want to take things a little easier. There are Old Michaelians out there who have still a lot of energy. Why not put yourselves forward to join the committee? If you cannot attend the AGM but are prepared to stand, give me your name and I will put it forward. I would like to say a big “thank you” to all the present committee but I am sure they will understand if I pick out Ian Dupont for particular mention. Ian has been treasurer for a number of years but now feels that is the time to stand down. He would not do so without the knowledge that he could hand over to someone equally good and I am pleased to say that Geoff Kimberley has put himself forward for election for the post of Treasurer. Ingoldisthorpe church is to bury a Millennium Capsule and your committee has been asked to provide items for inclusion. Bill Cullin is putting together a CD containing memorabilia and we are preparing some documents. If anyone out there has something about life at St Michael’s, which they would not mind their great-great grandchildren seeing, please contact Bill or me. A very important occasion took place this year when Eric and Margaret Bocking celebrated their Golden Wedding on July 26th. Your committee arranged for flowers to be sent on behalf of all Old Michaelians and they were gratefully received. I look forward to seeing you all in October. Michael Catterick Chairman |
A CAR BOOT SAFARI JUNE - AUGUST 1996
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I am trying to think of some accidents!!
However, throughout my five years I don't
I remember the comma over-turning, and
possibly it was Robert Church driving? So long ago! But it seems to me that
we took it all in our stride. The Double Decker got stuck under a bridge en
route to some choir event and we all know who was driving that! Don't remember who did it, But during the
1957 school year somebody totalled the shooting break by turning it over,
and they had to buy another one. You might ask Clifford Sketchy thoughts on vehicles and accidents and St.
Michael’s.
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Thinking Back... Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about our senses and how important they are to our memories. For a start, looking at the OMA web pages using the sense of sight bring back memories of friends and indeed those that we considered not so friendly but still play a part in the rich tapestry that is the life of even the most mundane Old Michaelian. Some of the pictures in the galleries are a sight for these old eyes. Hearing is another wonderful sense. like when I hear a hit of the sixties and I remember Listening to the same song under the covers after lights out (Radio Caroline) or singing Along with “My Generation” on the top deck of the bus but more than that, hearing the Voices of friends that you haven’t seen or heard in 35 years makes hearing a sense to treasure. Even the sense of feeling can spark a memory. For example the other night the temperature Dropped to –6c and no matter what I could not get my toes or nose warm and the first thought that entered my mind was; ”This is as cold as Gresham on a December night” The self same cold night brought another memory. A neighbour has an old diesel four Wheel drive and it would not start so he used some Easystart and with a loud backfire and a cloud of black diesel fumes mingled with the smell of Ether came the memory of a cold morning at Gresham, .the Chieftain and Chris White. Smell! What a sense.
A Old Michaelian decided to emigrate to
North America and was told by the people who were in the know that he would
require brain surgery before leaving as he would need to have a third if his
brain removed. Following the operation he awoke to find a very worried
Surgeon leaning over him. “There’s been a terrible mistake “the Surgeon
exclaimed .
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We would like to express our
thanks to you all for the lovely Freesias received on the occasion of our
Golden Wedding on July 26th 2002. A wonderful surprise helping to complete a memorable day. Our best wishes to you all. Eric & Margaret Bocking. |
What a jumble of
memories of my days at St. Michael's!
Cleaning the classroom involved heaving all the chairs onto the desks,
and then chucking some weird damp mixture on to the bare floorboards which
we then had to sweep up with any other debris. The idea of this mixture was
of course to keep the dust down, and it worked extremely well. We used to
lark about and have quite a bit of fun. To this day I still wonder what the
mixture consisted of, does anyone know? Was it just wet tea leaves? or dark
brown damp sawdust? |
![]() Driving past Ingoldisthorpe with my step grandchildren in tow, the editor's heartfelt plea for something to put in the magazine came to mind. Bright idea, show the grandchildren my 'old haunts'. Does anyone else remember learning to ice skate on the village pond. Mr. Vawser tried to teach us, with a kitchen chair to hold on to. The bruises were horrendous. This in turn reminded me that, come rain, shine or knee deep snow one walked to school through the village and up the steep hill. My grandchildren would probably class this as child abuse, walking to the end of the drive for a bus causes them hardship!! Turning right, past the village hall where we learnt ballroom dancing, (wish the name of the tune we quick stepped to would come back). Being able to dance 'properly' really isn't much use nowadays but was it more fun to hold hands and dance close together? The kids didn't think so - Yuk that's old fashioned. Didn't we also have film shows in this hall? Turning left at the top of the hill following the back road to Snettisham - memories came flooding back of running along this road, (could this old lady really run, disbelief was rampant) Stopped the car and found the little stream running through the fields on the right, with water cress still growing. Really nothing had changed. Came down through Snettisham past the church, turned right for Heacham. We used to cycle from Ingoldsithorpe to Heacham in the evenings to play tennis (was tennis the attraction or the boyfriend). Also do I remember correctly that we pushed a barrel organ from Heacham to Ingoldisthorpe. This road seemed to be the same, apart from the tourist attraction at the Lavender Farm. Instead of using the bypass we went through the village, (by the way part of the shooting lodge boarding house was for sale in the Lynn News awhile ago). Tried to tell the now very bored grandkids about Pocahontas but they chose to believe Walt Disney more than me. Wandered down to Heacham Beach - it seems very built up. There have been several articles m the local paper about the 50’s floods - does anyone else remember them, if so they would make good reading in the news letter. Off to Hunstanton, look kids the Princess Theatre on the right, go starry eyed and tell about holding hands with my first boyfriend in the back row, the film was ‘Dumbo’. (The looks say “silly old fool she was never young enough to do that”). Just wish I'd had the grandkids 'sexy' dress instead of a gymslip and ankle socks. Down to the sea front and oh dear the Kit Kat Restaurant has gone - burnt down they say. The first school reunion was there and living in King's Lynn it was the place to be on a Sunday night. What did you think kids? Much to my surprise (or maybe not) they were envious of my schooldays. Sitting at the top of the cliffs licking our ice creams, we were mutually happy, step-grandma for the memories coming back and the kids because the promised trip to the funfair was looming up. Now kids did I tell you about the time we ……. Pat Dove (Frost) |
Remembering
This.. Suzie 'Fruzie' (surname Fruzan: Ed?) with
the thick, long plait, coming back from Lynn Hospital showing off her
pickled appendix in a specimen bottle! Staying with Sheena Haste (for an
exeat) at Hadleigh rectory and seeing a convoy of Red Cross desert trucks
bound for Suez passing across nearby farmland.
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They were all
Heroes….
A small, funny story that has
nothing to do with St Mick’s, except maybe it shows the diversity of what we
have all got up to. |
![]() I know how difficult it can be to get copy for newsletters so here are a few of my St Michael memories (I am sure you receive a lot of these but I have enjoyed the remembering). How easily memories, names and nicknames (I've been called 'Hedge-Hog' or 'Hodgie' all my life) of events, peers and teaching and non teaching staff all come flooding back: • Cycling to my local railway station to complete a PLA (Passenger Luggage in Advance) form. British Rail collecting my trunk before the beginning of term from my house and delivering it to the Shooting Lodge. What a service! • Looking forward to the beginning and then most definitely to the end of terms. • Reading John Buchan's 'Prester John' with RPP in English Literature lessons for the College of Preceptors exams and enjoying it. Mind you I looked forward to and enjoyed my Latin lessons with RPP and years later did an evening course to get a qualification (sad or very sad)! • Boarding at the Shooting Lodge, Gresham House (only a term I am pleased to say!), Peddars, Brockhill and the Old Vicarage. I remember clearly all sorts of games and ragging' (most of it good natured) and a turkey dinner with all the trimmings at Peddars (Peter Smethurst's family raised turkeys?) The brown table books with weights and measures, longest rivers, highest mountains, kings and queens etc, a great little book for self improvement. Has anyone still got one? Evening cocoa and decent breakfasts at Brockhill with dear Miss Godfrey. Toast, tea and cornflakes during evening 'homework' at the Old Vicarage. Porridge with golden syrup and salt. Fish pie and beans. Chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce. I still eat anything and everything and far too quickly (remember you had to if you wanted seconds and I usually did!). Haircuts at the Old Vicarage. Optional bay rum for free! Von Ribbentrop's huge roll top desk from the Nazi German embassy at the Old Vicarage. Where is it now? Getting mumps, the cane and the senior prefects tie (not all on the same day). RPP screwing up his face, rubbing his nose, taking off his glasses and closing his eyes when he was concentrating on what to say and how to say it. The funny faces he would pull to make us laugh. The exploding volume of his fury both real and pretend (did we always knew the difference?). The bronze of the 'Dying Gaul' in the dining room of the Old Vicarage. RPP discussing the Cuban Missile Crisis and other issues of the day and not talking down to us. Him ringing the bell in the dining room to announce the assassination of JFK and possible ramifications. The stunned silence that ensued. What seemed to be interminably long church choir practices. The psalms, hymns and anthems always sounded right on the day (at least they did to me). The Christmas carol service. Confirmation classes and the 'facts of life' explained (or not) by RPP. I also seem to remember interesting and sometimes controversial sermons from RPP. Am I right? RPP asking me a question about something or other that that I should be able to tell him. Me responding with 'it doesn't ring a bell sir' to be told in no uncertain terms and very loudly that 'Paul, you are not here to ring bells"! • The St Michael's transport operation. My favourite was the Chieftain double decker (who remembers journeys to London?), RPP singing loudly at the wheel, the crunchy gear changes, his foot flat to the floor. RPP's impatience with other road users. The crowded benches (three) in the Petrol and Diesel Commer vans. It makes blood run cold to think what might have happened if there had been a crash in either of these. 'Joy riding' in the cars or were we just learning to drive? I don't even remember thinking that this was either wrong or illegal (maybe in Norfolk it wasn't and still isn't!). Heavy macs, wellies, sou'wester. When and where we had to wear them. Those stupid boaters (at least mine was). Fond memories of Reverend Musio and History lessons. I could still tell you about the battles of Blenheim, Ramifies, Oudenard and Malplaquet and draw sketch maps! Dear Henry Taylor, I owe him. He stopped me chewing my fingernails in about three weeks when everything else had failed. I had to show him progress made at the beginning of each lesson (and he never forgot to ask me to show him!). I remember how he grew into the role of Acting Headmaster during a long illness by RPP and feeling pride in his achievement. Then there was Dr O'Brady. He didn't stay long. What was he about? He was certainly too erudite for us at fifteen/sixteen years old though I think we would have appreciated him more a few years later! Leslie Charteris, lan Fleming, Sven Hassell, Mickie Spillane and Dennis Wheatley fiction. The World War Two non-fiction books we eagerly devoured. • The Sandringham Troop. The commitment of officers and warrant officers. Rifle drill, fieldcraft and map -reading. I was a lousy shot at both. 22 (Khaki rifle badge with star) and 303 (red rifle badge without star crown) and while ok with fieldcraft theory was a most untidy cadet. Many thanks to those who contributed towards ironing my uniform, polishing my brasses, blanko-ing (who now remembers blanko?) my webbing, sorting out my boots before and then hiding my obvious inadequacy and getting me through the Part Two of Certificate A on our trip to Norwich. I wouldn't have passed without you! • I remember a trip to a USAF base (who remembers which one?), firing a .45 automatic (remember it jumping upwards unlike in the movies) and an M1 carbine, eating my first hamburger and being taught the rudiments of ten pin bowling. All very exotic. • Family Sunday lunches at the Golden Lion, Hunstanton (you could take a friend!). •The film shows in the Ingoldisthorpe Church Hall on Saturday evenings. Many of these films are still firm favourites. 'From Russia with Love' in the afternoon after a morning cathedral event in Norwich. The cinema at Hunstanton (Elvis films?). • A distinct preference for the Rolling Stones over the Beatles. The lifelong debt I owe to a couple of boys from Sierra-Leone (I forget names) in our room at Ingoldisthorpe who introduced me to the music of Sam Cook, Ray Charles, Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker and others. ![]() Cowboys
and Indians and 'war games'. • Those long walks in all weathers (who
remembers the cold winter of 1962/63? Very clear memory of walking in the
snow from Ingoldisthorpe to Hunstanton and then the other way as well).
Icebergs in the Wash. Warming hands at the stove in the old laundry building
at Hunstanton. Magazines with titles like 'Parade', Tit -bits', 'Spick and
Span', 'Health and Efficiency' (I can still remember the titles but who was
it who had the courage to buy these magazines? I would have been far too
embarrassed). Who remembers the more 'sophisticated' Harrison Marks
magazines with the strategic airbrushing (chaps will remember the pleasant
surprise when first confronted with the real thing). The poor reception on
Radio Luxembourg especially listening through an earpiece under the
bedclothes. I don't remember television but do remember radio classics like
The Navy Lark', ‘The Goons', 'Around the Horn', Alan Freeman, Pete Murray.
The wonderful! Horace Batchelor advert on Radio Luxembourg. I think we all
worked out that Horace was not going to make our fortunes in spite of his
promises. I have no memory of drugs and drug-taking at school but remember
reading about them in articles about jazz musicians (we are not talking
Acker Bilk here). Not really having a clue what these drugs were all about.
Just thinking why would people take these drugs that made you sick and then
in the long term usually killed you. Girls! I really didn't understand what
they were about during my school years and had little to do with them. My
loss! Football. I never could see the point and still don't (I dread events
like the World Cup, nothing to talk about with male friends and colleagues).
I preferred the cross country runs, well a run up the hill and then a gentle
walk back. Paul Hodge |
Advanced
notice. Old Michaelian and presently Archdeacon of
Scandinavia and Germany, The Venerable David Ratcliff, has agreed to preach
and take the service for the fiftieth anniversary of the Old Michaelians
next year on and Sunday 26th of October 2003. David was one of St Michael's
organists. He also was responsible for "note bashing" our chairman to learn
the treble solo in "Hear My Prayer." |
![]() Some of you will know through the Internet,
that Martin Graville was taken ill in July. And as I take care of the OMA
website, I thought it only fit that I help out in his absence with the
production of the Mitre. Membership Report
July 2002 The Website www.oma.org.uk goes
from strength to strength and we have had 2 new Members join since the last
meeting (Jeremy Poole and Peter Turner). Our paying Membership has increased
to 158, our Honorary Membership remains at 10 and the Life Membership 6.
Overall therefore the Membership is now 174. A further 5 OM’s who have not
yet joined the Association have become known to us through the website:
Saul, Freddy and Jack Zeidi Fard and Lynn and Paul White). Martin Graville |