Next OTA Reunion Dinner and AGM Saturday 30th April 2011

The School Pavilion Fire (October 1980)

I have been contacted by several people regarding details of the School Pavilion fire. Sandra Phipps (nee Walden) provided the following information by email:

I remember the occasion very clearly. I pulled back my bedroom curtains one morning in October 1980 to see a large fire raging in the distance. I was working at the school at the time and as I drove to school that morning I had the horrid feeling that it might be the pavilion. I don't know why I should have thought this but soon my fears were to be realised. As I walked in the door of Walden House (the former Lloyds Bank) which at the time housed the staff room and offices, Philip Poel greeted me and with his voice quaking with emotion, he said, "We've lost the pavilion"

Last year I retired having worked for Norfolk Fire Service for the last 9 years. There, on one of the office walls at Thetford Fire Station, is a large picture of the pavilion on fire - for me this was a poignant daily reminder of that October day in 1980.

Thanks also to Deborah Brockett and Jane Watkins for contacting me with their memories of this event.

Old Thetfordian, Chris Garrod (69-76), recently acquired this TGS medal.Full Story...

These pictures were taken on the 22nd April 2006. Hopefully, these will be of interest to members who are unable to travel to Thetford. Chris Garrod has some similar pictures but taken in the early 1900's which we hope to scan and show along side these.

Click on any picture to see it full size.

At the 2006 Grammar School fete, Peter showed some of his prints depicting his memories of Thetford during World War 2. I asked if he would give me permission to scan some of the prints and publish them on the OTA web site. Peter reluctantly agreed, (he is a very modest person!), so here are just a few of them.

Peter's first print depicts the 51st Highland Division marching through Thetford passing the former Central Hotel and Dubocks.

The next print shows a Vickers Valentine tank of the 48th Battalion Royal Tank regiment negotiating the Bell Hotel corner from Kings Street.

Peter remembers a 40mm Bofors Gun located in front of the Grammar School History/Math block in 1941.

This is Peter's memory of a Churchill tank entering Thetford Market Place having just swung into the Green Dragon public house from Earl's St!

Lastly, Peter remembers the 9th Queen's Lancers arriving at the Thetford Market Place shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939. The trees shown lining the Market Place are no longer there. Also the 'Shambles', shown to the right hand side of the Guildhall, has been converted into shops.