A MUCH-LOVED Worcester college for blind and partially sighted students has kicked off its 150th anniversary celebrations with a rallying call for past students to reunite for a year of events.
New College Worcester, a residential school and college for young people aged 11 to 19 who are blind or partially sighted, will begin celebrations with a Jubilee Day on April 22, where all former students are invited back for a day of reunion and activities.
With a street party lunch, a celebrity cricket match, vintage tea tent and performances throughout the day, the Jubilee Day is a chance for Worcester residents to share their memories.
Dating back to 1866, Worcester College was established for the Blind Sons of Gentlemen at the Commandery but the need for more space led to the College moving in 1887 to a house in Powick, and in 1902, Worcester College gained a permanent home on the Whittington Road site, where it is based today.
In 1936 the National Institute for the Blind undertook financial responsibility for the College and after the 1944 Education Act, the Worcester College for the Blind was designated a grammar school for blind boys.
With no such establishment for girls who were visually impaired until 1921, when the National Institute for the Blind set up Chorleywood College for girls with little or no sight in Hertfordshire.
Changes in mainstream education in the 1980s meant fewer students were being sent to boarding schools and in 1987, the decision was made to close Worcester College and Chorleywood College and merge them to form the co-educational, comprehensive, RNIB New College Worcester.
In 2007, negotiations between the governors of the college and the RNIB resulted in the college becoming the independent non-maintained special school it is today.
College Principal Mardy Smith OBE, said “We are so excited about all the celebrations this year. It is a tremendous achievement for a special school to have lasted for 150 years, and wonderful that so many young people have benefited from being at New College Worcester over that period.
“I’m looking forward to catching up as with former students as I can to find out what they are up to now.”
As well as the April Jubilee Day, other celebratory events planned are a Summer Concert, an Oral History Project involving current and former students and a Christmas Concert in Worcester Cathedral at the end of the year.
If you have fond memories of New College Worcester that you want to share, send them to Lorna Phillips at [email protected] or call 01905 763933.
