[Picture courtesy of the Old Pastonians from the Paston Scrapbooks DVD]

Our Headmaster, Lieut. Col. Marshall, being an ex-military man, was very
strong on discipline so it was only to be expected that it would be part of the
curriculum. Arriving as a new boy in IA, I was soon to discover that there
was a requirement for me to enlist, willingly or otherwise, in the Paston
School’s Combined Cadet Force.

“I became a cadet in the Head’s ‘private army’ as a cadet in the Army
section of the CCF. There were Naval and Air Force sections but I
preferred the Army as I could have a go at firing guns, which made up for
all the rifle drill and square-bashing!”

On Fridays, first thing after lunch in the Assembly Hall-cum-Canteen, we
assembled by the wall under the trees in the school yard (never call it
playground!) waiting patiently for the order: ‘Contingent – get on parade’.

“We lined up in our platoons on the parade ground, eyes right and to the
right marker, measuring an arm’s length distance between one another.”

The Paston CCF would stand at ease until called to attention by an ‘officer’,
usually Captain Cooper or Lieut. Mercer. Our Commanding Officer would
join us later, when there would be a great deal of feet stamping to attention
and right arms flying up in smart salutes – long way up, short way down.

“Each platoon would be checked by an NCO and, when requested, he
would reply ‘All present and correct – SIR’ or ‘Three absent – SIR,’ or
whatever the case might be. Then the Officer-in-Charge would relay
the situation to Lieut. Col. Marshall and we would be given the order to
‘carry on’ and the parade would be ordered to ‘right turn’ and ‘fall out’.
After this, each platoon would go about its business of the afternoon –
rifle drill, marching, map reading, stripping down Bren guns for the Army
platoons; aircraft recognition for the Air Force section, whilst the Naval
section might practise signalling with flags, practising welcoming the
Captain aboard with their pipes, or painting the whaler moored on the
School Field just off the Norwich road.”

There was also a flourishing Corps of Drums, which was most popular with a
great many of the cadets, and any parade through the town would be led by
the band – and what a splendid sight, and sound, it made!

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