Life since Thorpe Grammar

   

Having fitted into the "I am not going to university" set at school and having been written off by the then head of sixth form as an annoyance that would dent the quest for the ultimate university statistics, I entered the world of work with healthy optimism and ambition. My claim to fame being the first to fail A-Level Physics at the school. I blame the distraction of the girls in the lower year who used to have their games period at the same time as the physics lesson.. We were also the first year to study Commerce due to the class being unable to master French. With this background the only option was a job in finance and as such I decided a job as an international insurance broker sounded slightly more exciting than an accountant. I joined Bland Payne which latter became Sedgwick, and more recently has been taken over and known as Marsh Ltd. It is here I have stayed despite sojourns in London and a sabbatical for 8 weeks in the USA. After all Norwich is the graveyard of ambition or is it the quality of the life here?

 

I am now an Assistant Vice President of the Marine and Energy division heading the Protection and Indemnity team. After school I did embark on some professional exams and scraped by to eventually become a Fellow of The Chartered Insurance Institute. The first to achieve this in Marine outside of London - what fame! I was also active as chairman of the Young CII (Chartered Insurance Institute) and saw this as a route for many extended lunches and getting to know other hardened business drinkers within Norwich. This I have followed through to the current time having been a graduate of the third Norwich Common Purpose in Norwich in 1999 and more recently in the City Centre network and vision for Norwich group. One long lunch after another. During this hard struggle I have become quite knowledgeable on the subject of fine wine and real ale. Currently my role has seen many changes and most recently the recruitment of many new staff at Norwich as work has been moved here from London. Whilst work is challenging it is rewarding and does involve travelling as required.

 

I am married to Michelle and have two children Hannah and Aaron, aged 7 and 5 respectively. In our quest for the right family home we have travelled from Lower Thorpe to Sprowston and now reside at Thorpe End. The vast distance travelled since those school days I am sure will be hard for many to understand!

 

The "Gang" or "Lads" still meet on a Tuesday night and gather once a quarter for our "Men behaving very badly" sessions. One thing that Thorpe Grammar did was to teach the value of friends above material and financial gains. It is not these that you look back on but the memories of the years that seem to have flown by. Friendship that sees you through bad and good times, highs and lows, happy and sad. When I say to work colleagues and other friends that I have a group of friends that I have known and see regularly after 25 years they cannot relate to it.

 

I hope this website gives all who view a feeling and insight into this group, out background, our memories but more importantly share in our future.

Last of Summer Wine may well be repeated but based in Norwich. Is there a Nora Batty out there somewhere?  

 

   

An early seduction technique.

 

 

Hillside primary 1969-70

  Graham, back row second from left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure Graham has an explanation, but would you believe it.