This page contains pictures of some odd pieces of memorabilia that I still have hanging around the house. This in itself is quite amazing as they managed to stay with me not only while I went through University/Polytechnic but also through global relocations. The first from the UK to Germany where we lived near Munich for five years and from there to our current home in Southern California.

The work for every subject was written into coloured exercise books provided by the school. We did not use loose-leaf binders or anything of that sort. If any extra sheets of information were handed out these all had to be attached into the exercise book with the other hand-written notes. All writing was done using fountain pens initially although ballpoint pens were allowed in later years. Each subject used a specific colour for the cover of the exercise books issued. Also different subjects used different size books. Typically the science subjects used larger books than other subjects did so there was room on the pages for graphs and figures. The table below shows some of the colours and sizes.

One additional exercise book was given out by the form teach and this was called the Rough Book. Despite its name it was not to be used frivolously and any misuse was duly punished. Its main purpose was for recording 'prep' assignments (homework) for each day.

The following are the colours and sizes that I can remember.

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Every year awards were presented for academic achievement. I was lucky enough to receive two such awards during my years at Wymondham. The first was after the second year when I was awarded the form prize for form 2C in 1970. Later I received the Junior Technology Prize shown here, effectively for Technical Drawing, in 1973. When one was awarded a prize you had to go into Norwich and find the book you wanted, as long as it was available from Jarrolds and below the designated value, and let the school know and they would order it ready for the presentation assembly.

Looking back I get the definite impression that all the school stationary and labels such as this one were all copies of hand drawn graphics and text. Even the school crest was obviously hand drawn. Desktop publishing and computer graphics were a long way off and the calligraphy pen was obviously much in favour.

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Once the 2nd year was reached then the lessons branched out to include Metalwork for the boys and Needlework for the girls. This was the accepted standard and there was no possibility of any girl or boy attending the other lesson as is available in modern 'Politically Correct' school curriculums. Metalwork projects started off very simply with assignments that seemed to involved a lot of filing of a single piece of metal until you could see it shine but progressed through to more elaborate machining, forge work or welding. Some of the projects I remember were a hand-fork for the garden, a bottle opener (see picture), a small metal dish, a centre punch (mine unfortunately broke after a few uses) and a small adjustable wrench.

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School uniform was normal dress. At first this included all day every day, including evenings and weekends, except when sleeping or participating in sports. The only time that casual dress was allowed was for the occasional House Social Evening when each boy's house would play host to one of the girl's houses for a couple of hours on a Saturday evening. For this event smart casual was appropriate but anything denim were definitely out of the question.

In the later years of my time this policy was relaxed so that it was permissible to change into casual clothes in the evening after school including jeans! It was also possible for the upper form to dress casually when travelling into Norwich for exeat afternoons on Saturdays.

School uniform obviously included ties that had to be properly fastened with top buttons secured at all times. The only exception to this was that the girls were allowed to wear a short-sleeved open-neck blouse in the summer.

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Gradually through the years of O-level maths and years before the first electronic calculators appeared we were introduced to various "mathematical machines". First it was Log Tables and occasionally we were able to use the various hand-cranked adding machines that were always spread out around room 27A (I think). These made a wonderful crunching noise as the handle was turned to perform the programmed calculation. But none of these was more mysterious than the slide rule. First was the regulation issue laminated wooden slide rules in their soft plastic cases. Then, if you felt the need, you could buy the approved British Thornton slide rule in its solid slide-in gray case.

The use of the slide rule was really quite profound in the way it dealt with mathematical problems. As a calculating machine it is limited as far as the accuracy that can be assumed for any solution it gives. Three or four significant figure was good enough. So you did not need to be exactly right to be correct. This is a principle that is sometimes lost in today's world of calculator and computers.

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In the early 1970's Wymondham College started to hold Open Day events and all parents and family of students were invited to attend. One of the activities was a fair in the Sports Hall with many displays and stalls. One of these was a tombola for Teddy Bears of all colours and sizes. My parents paid for us all to have a go on this and I pulled ticket number 500. This was one of the top prize tickets for a large Teddy Bear.

Meet "Big Ted". This Teddy Bear has now traveled around the world with me and my family. During his early years at Wymondham College he served as the New Hall Rugby Team Mascot and spent many afternoons sat against the centre touchline flag "cheering" the team on to success.

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