I have also been trying to think of the names of the Head Teachers. Perhaps somebody could confirm them. I believe the first Head was a Mrs Williams who lived in the building next to the school. Then it was Viv Horobin, then Helen Lamb, then Nicola Cushion and now Angela Jermy. Does anyone know Mrs Williams' first name or have any memories they would like to share?
Just to tickle your taste buds, I include a photograph of a famous face at the opening of the school. Those who answered my query yesterday with Margaret Thatcher were correct. At the time she was Secretary of State for Education and the Hethersett opening was part of the whistle stop tour of Norfolk schools. Mrs Thatcher commented on the unusual shape of the school.
Apparently in some parts of Norfolk there were demonstrations. The Eastern Daily Press Newspaper reported that at Hethersett a small number with placards protested against education cuts and claimed that the Norfolk LEA (Local Education Authority) was "comprehensively useless."
Margaret Thatcher of course went on to become one of the most controversial prime ministers in the history of this country. Some loved her for her "Iron Lady" stance in dealing with the hugely powerful (at the time) unions and heralded her as the country's saviour whilst others claimed that she destroyed the fabric of the nation and was virtually a dictator.
It was whilst Education Minister that she gained the name of "Maggie Thatcher Milk Snatcher" for taking away the daily milk given to young children. I am old enough to remember those bottles of milk which I believe were one-third of a pint. They turned up in crates which were usually dumped outside. In the winter the tops froze and the ice had to be broken and in the summer the milk curdled in the heat and tasty absolutely sour and horrible.
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Yesterday I asked whether the tree taken down in the grounds of the former Hethersett Old Hall School was the Mulberry tree mentioned in an e-mail by a resident.
Deborah Clemitshaw responded by saying that the tree taken down was in fact a Beech that was over 300 years old but had become unsafe.
The Mulberry tree is still there. Deborah said it was well established in the year 2000 when her daughter started at the school, but I don't know how long it has actually been there.