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100th REUNION EVENT


In 1919 a group of March Grammar School Old Boys organised a cricket match against the school and masters in order to raise funds to purchase a memorial in memory of their school chums who died in the first world war. Each year since then the ‘Old Boys’ and their descendants have held a re-union dinner.


On Friday 28th June 2019 will be the 100th re-union of the Association which will be commemorated with a cricket match between a side representing the Neale Wade Association and The MCC at March Town Cricket Club. During the day there will be lunch and an event in the evening. For further information please email info@nealewade.org

In the Association’s centenary year, the emphasis will be on establishing a long relationship with the Neale-Wade Academy, building a legacy for the future and respecting the history of the association.

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Association President Christine Thorpe, Joint Secretaries Coral Cornell and John Phythian with Dominic, Katie and Bethany.

Three students from Neale-Wade Academy were presented with The Michael Wilding Bursaries by March Grammar School and Neale-Wade Former Students Association during an awards evening at the Academy on October 19th. Dominic Underwood, Katie Ingram and Bethany Jenner will use their bursaries to take part in an overseas conservation and education project.

Bursaries are awarded annually by the Association to Year 12 students to promote excellence and personal development.

2017 marks the first year in which the Bursary awards are named in memory of a member who showed outstanding commitment and support to our Association.

In 2018 the bursaries will honour Norman Ringham.

In our centenary year 2019 the bursaries will be dedicated to Godfrey Ash.

100TH REUNION EVENT & DINNER FRIDAY 28 JUNE 2019

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

The Association's 100th annual re-union special event and dinner takes place on Friday 28th June 2019. Please email info@nealwade.org for further information.

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ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION

The Association is run by a committee consisting of ex-pupils and teachers. All ex pupils of the Neale Wade or March Grammar school are very welcome to the annual reunion dinner. The committee meets about 4 times each year. The Association funds bursaries to students at the Neale Wade each year.

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HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND ACADEMY

The college can trace its history back to 1696 when William Neale left an estate, the income of which was to help educate 8 poor boys. In 1717, Henry Wade left £20 per annum to pay for a schoolmaster to teach 20 poor children of the Parish. These two bequests were the origin of what eventually became March Grammar School. School premises were built on Station Road in 1876 and the school stayed there until a new site was opened on Wimblington Road in 1964. The Old Boys and Masters of the school who gave their lives during the two World Wars are commemorated on plaques which are displayed in the current college's main hall.

Visit http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/MarchGrammarSchool.html

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ALL WELCOME

All ex pupils of Neale Wade and March Grammar Schools are very welcome to attend our annual re-union dinners. Please get in touch via our Facebook site or email info@marchgrammarschool.co.uk or see contact form below.

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ORIGINS OF THE ASSOCIATION

The first re-union dinner was held in 1919 and has been held annually ever since.

STEVE FALLON GUEST SPEAKER AT THE ASSOCIATION'S DINNER IN APRIL 2016

Steve Fallon ex Cambridge United Captain and March Grammar and Neale Wade pupil is pictured with Ian Coundon at the Association's dinner in April 2016.

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NEALE WADE: FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO THE PRESENT DAY

1696 William Neale’s bequest founding a school to teach ‘English and Latin tongues’.
1713 Henry Wade’s bequest of £20 for a schoolmaster.
1717 Amalgamation of Neale and Wade’s bequests
1826 Consolidation of four charities, including Neale’s and Wade’s to allow for a reform of March education.
1827 Guildhall built to house the school which became a National School.
1851 Further legal consolidation of charities to allow for a separate Grammar school to be opened.
1871 March Charity Foundation formed with approx. 213 of income going to the Grammar school.
1876 New Grammar school built in Station Road.
1902 New Isle of Ely County Council began to part fund the school.
1904 March Educational Foundation formed with all income to the school.
1909 March High school opened in County Road buildings.
1910 Robingoodfellows Lane building added to the Grammar school site.
1924 Arnold Heathcote appointed as Headmaster.
1930 Gymnasium and Laboratory added to Robingoodfellows Lane building.
1930 Decision taken to end boarding.
1940-3 Premises shared with Tottenham Grammar school.
1943 First accommodation on Gordon Avenue site ready.
1945 Fee paying ended with all places obtained through LEA 11-plus exam.
1950 Retirement of Arnold Heathcote as Headmaster. Cedric Potter succeeded.
1956 Hedley Hooper retired after 40 years as Deputy Head.
1964 School moved to a new site at Eastwood on Wimblington Road
1968 The first girl’s at the school.
1969 Grammar school formally ended. School merged with High school to become the Neale-Wade school, a selective 13-18 institution.
1974 Cedric Potter retired.
1983 School became the Neale-Wade Community College following a re-organisation which merged all secondary education in March into one school.
1986 Extensive new buildings allowed the comprehensive school to operate on one site.
1994 Further new buildings opened.
2011Jason Wing appointed new Principal.
2012Neale Wade Community College re-built.

CONTACT US

Please get in touch with us via email or completing the contact form shown on the right hand side.

The Neale Wade Association, 63 Main Street, Woodnewton, Peterborough PE8 5EB

01780 470 322

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