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

In this picture, the boys of the Junior School are lining up for the start
of the Annual Cross Country Run, a distance of some four-and-a-half
miles. I’m in there somewhere!

“I set off like an express steam train, sprinting out of the front gates,
little appreciating just how far four miles was. Out of Grammar
School Road, past Edwards’ the bakers and under the first railway
bridge. By the time I got to the Main railway station, a mere five
hundred yards or so, I had a stitch and the rest of the runners began
to stream past me. I think I managed to avoid coming in last though!”

The Cross Country Run took us along the Norwich Road and to the right
of the Water Tower; across the fields and through the woods to
Felmingham and back along minor roads to the school again.

“There was a shorter route we ran on other occasions, a mere three
miles. This we called 'the Road Run'; again we went along the Norwich
Road, turning left at Monument Cottage, past a farm and over two
railway lines, eventually joining the Yarmouth Road. At Black Cat
garage we turned left onto Grammar School Road and the finish of
the run.”

‘Maggie’ Magdaleno always followed the runners around on his lady’s
bike with the wicker basket on the front. There was never time to stop to
catch your breath as he wasn’t very sympathetic towards slackers, nor
anyone else for that matter!

“Once back at the Paston School it was a case of stripping off in the
changing rooms next to the Gymnasium and a quick dash through the
showers, which were lovely and warm at one end... but when you got
nearly to the other end it was freezing! We tried blocking off the icy
water with our hands but to no avail, and usually emerged shivering!
It’s amazing the effect cold water has upon certain minuscule parts of
the anatomy!”

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE