Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design

Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design was a municipal art college in the Norfolk resort town of Great Yarmouth. It was probably born after the second World War – the United Kingdom being in the throes of social reform. It was one of the few colleges to keep plaster casts from Antiquity, the Royal Academy Schools being about the only Art institution not to embrace smashing of the casts in the post-war era.

Vintage post card of Great Yarmouth showing the Hall Quay Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design Alan Dedman
Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design (GYCAD) used to be housed in a former private school on Trafalgar Road, near the sea front and pier. Cricketing gear from  previous usage was still in the building during the 1970s. In the 1990s the college’s demise began, effected by education cuts mainly at the hands of central (Tory) government. No doubt there was some logic to the bureaucrats’ decision making. Nearby Norwich School of Art is another well established institution offering similar courses.

alan dedman in the royal academy schools
Plaster casts and Alan Dedman in the corridor at the Royal Academy Schools

Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design was Yarmouth’s greatest export. The ethos of the place being entirely different to Norwich School of Art. A blithesome sense of humour celebrated all things absurd and ridiculous – and there was a drinking culture at GYCAD, cheerfully unhealthy, based around the Holkham public house. Run by a stern landlady called Edna, all students (it seemed) were obliged to spend considerable amounts of time in the Holkham, which housed students in rooms above.

At one point, Edna decided to give her large downstairs bar an inspirational change of name to ‘The Waikiki Bar’. Exotic! As if we were going to drink cocktails instead of twos. Martin Lord witnessed Edna in her altogether one night, after her nylon nightie was scorched off by a faulty gas appliance! Martin is still in shock.

Lordy

Drinking would take place at lunch-times and in the evenings, with staff often the worse for it. The Holkham was an easy walk, a couple of minutes away across the green.

Martin Clark remarks: ‘I think you was a few years before but I saw a comment from Kim Craske who must have married Darren Ives! I shared my first digs with Nick Bell at Mrs B’s B&B. My first night at GYCAD was down to The Holkham for beers Nick Bell, Jonathon and myself. Jonathon was 21 and his first time away from home and first experience of a pub. I was 16 and nick was 17 we both had a pint of Abbot and Jonathon had a coke because he was refused for no ID!.

I certainly embraced the drinking culture upto the last day when as social secretary I got into trouble organizing a beach party with profit from the 50p entry tickets to the Brunswick and Rosy o’ Grady’s clubs through the year, party went totally out of control. Would love to upload a photo I have of the year on the steps, with a lot of familiar faces taken probably around 1982′.

In the 70s, after an epic pub-crawl almost all students at the college decided to do a mass moon on the steps (it was night-time). So we got our bums out and bent over (like one does). However, the inebriated photographer didn’t get the exposure right! But we did!

GYCAD around 1982

On one occasion I witnessed two members of staff so drunk (in college) they literally couldn’t stand up. Jolly japes and wizard wheezes aside, these people were supposed to be in charge of us and no doubt in some cases they were ‘in loco parentis’.

Newly refurbished Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design Alan Dedman
Shop chips? or Market chips?

Yarmouth had numerous pubs, we would often tour them. Ye Olde Shades once saw a student named Darryl stand on a table dropping his trousers proclaiming he ‘was a god’. The rest of us were more interested in counting how many bottles of St. Edmunds we notched up rather than the penile deity proffered. Generations of students adopted similar tactics as they became acquainted with the visual arts. Tony Keeler lived at the Recruiting Sergeant, which his parents ran – he had a penchant for brown champagne.

Phil Kett and Nigel Moody in the F2 room alan dedman great yarmouth college of art and design
Phil Kett and Nigel Moody in the F2 room

Jamie Wagg & co formed a drinking society named ‘The Wednesday Club of Dada-ists’. Robert Oxley took great pleasure in getting people to listen to ‘Rawhide’ on the juke box in ‘The Norfolk & Norwich’, though his colleagues and he preferred the Talbot.

Tim Warnes and Rob Oxley feign doing some work

Nigel Moody and myself mixed drinking with drawing one afternoon at the Suspension Bridge Tavern. We returned around 3 pm. Moody poked his nose into Geoff Buck’s colour theory class: ‘Nigel!! Sod off!!’ came the response.

Moody & Dedman Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design Alan Dedman
Moody & Dedman pretend to be hard

Moody was a remarkable student. They called him ‘Little Noddy’ to start with, because he wore a bobble-hat and was physically undeveloped at the time. His long arms, big hands and love of cycling gave him a curious appearance.

Derek Mace drawn by Robin Smith, cartoon by student at GYCAD
Derek Mace drawn by Robin Smith

Derek Mace (see sketch supra and photo infra), one of the Foundation tutors at Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design, invented all sorts of nomenclature which he applied to Nigel: ‘Steiner’, NodStein, Noddy, Nigell (elision on the consonant g, with a French accent) etc. Mace found it effective to placate Moody at times, by repeatedly whacking him over the head with a tin tray (when Moody wasn’t cycling round the F2 room).

Tin tray as used by Derek Mace Alan Dedman
The tin tray as applied by DC Mace

Though the liberating effect of living in digs was a step in the right direction for young people in their late teens, the experience of rattling through Yarmouth’s one year foundation course was insufficient preparation for the World. We literally had about four months in which to try the various art and design disciplines before deciding where to apply for a three year ‘degree’ course.

self-portrait as member of the hole in the wall gang by fionn rawnsley gycad
Self-portrait as member of ‘The Surrealist Criminal Gang’ by F. Rawnsley (centre)

My star turn occurred when I brought a home-made wanking machine (designed by myself and C E Whitear) into college. My engineering colleague made short work of anything Stephen Pippin (YBA) has since proffered; fabricating a hybrid ‘wearable’, crossed between a mototbike and a human (we were way ahead of our time), really pushing the envelope in terms of art & product design. Mace and Ward were very amused, never mind Leon Tossoff or Wank Auerbach!

We (myself and others) got to ‘roadie’ for the Stranglers when they played in Yarmouth and also saw the Damned perform. Our digs were in Rodney Road, we were looked after by Mrs. Minton, her husband and their son – who Mark Norton decided to call ‘Chippie’ (not after a chip shop) in relation to Camberwick Green, a children’s tv series.

The Mintons had a pet poodle called ‘Sandra’ or something like that. The bleedin’ dog got Entrecote steak, while we enjoyed fish-fingers and beans. Robert Oxley (from Interior design, see image supra), never seemed to fill up on this fayre. Rob’s essential one-liner to Mrs. Minton was always: ‘More bread Mrs. Minton. More bread please’.

Whilst at Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design I also had the dubious experience of being present in the aftermath of a gangland shooting. Completely changed my attitude to guns, which until then assumed they were glamorous accessories; but when you see the damage they do …

The GYCAD ethos was unique but didn’t translate well into the fast moving environment of London’s West End and St. Martins School of Art, which is where I moved to the following year – and found rather boring by comparison.

Dessicated frogs and toads alan dedman
Dessicated frogs and toads in one of my own specimen jars

The Foundation course at Yarmouth was a kind of ‘Never Never Land’ where you could be free and not have that much to worry about. Nick Ward kept decaying birds and other organic matter in specimen jars around the room while Damien Hirst was still in nappies.

A picture of etching gauntlets as used by Jamie Wagg Alan Dedman
Etching gauntlets as used by Jamie Wagg

Jamie Wagg retrieved an allegedly ‘Matherian Turd’ from the lavatories using some rubber etching gauntlets, containing the faecal artwork in a jar: ‘I int scared of it, I int scared of it!’ he said.

Sketch of Derek Mace taking a nap by Nick Ward
Sketch of Derek Mace taking a nap by N.Ward

Fionn (pronounced ‘Fin’ as in Finland) Rawnsley (see image supra) allegedly climbed on the roof of the F2 room and painted ‘Off Fuck’ across the sky-light, letters facing the wrong way, but he says it was more likely to have been Mr. Wagg – Punk was happening, it was anarchy man.

Nick Ward from Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design
N.Ward at Flixton

Nick Ward is known for his relentless pillorying of the late care-taker George Mather. Like myself, Mr. Ward attended St. Martins School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, but during the 1960s. Ward continues to live in East Anglia.

When he was a student at GYCAD in the 1960s Brier Tidman allegedly hung poor Mather over the stair well so his pens fell from the top pocket of his boiler suit. ‘Right, that’s a pen you owe me’ is what Mather exclaimed afterwards.

‘Derek told me this happened when he was a student at GYCAD back in the mid-1960s. Knowing Bruer Tidman, I didn’t doubt its veracity, a) because Tidman is one of the few people capable of this feat of strength and crazy enough to carry it out, and b) how/why would one possibly dream up such an outrageous event if it hadn’t actually happened? The next time I run into Bruer (not a pretty thought) I will question him on the matter’.
N.Ward

George Mather GYCAD care taker, drawing by Alan Dedman.
George Mather (drawn from memory) by Alan Dedman

Mace read the Beano instead of newspapers (sensible thing to do) and life at GYCAD was very much in the ‘Bash Street’ mould. Barry Drake dispensed good humour, kindness and fairness all round whilst tending the ‘Whalonga’ (etching press) in the basement.

b&w photo of Barry Drake from Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design
Barry Drake and colleagues (including Colin Giles) as students. Circa 1956

Barabara Balls taught ceramics; George Mather was always on hand to pug some clay. Barbara once went to George’s home to get something and remarked that he had several chest freezers, which were chained shut! What on earth was in them?  

Colour pic of Derek Mace at Yarmouth Station
Derek Mace

Maggie Lydon was tall and so was Emrys Parry – they made a good pair. Maggie’s see was fashion and textiles along with Miss Sitch, who students referred to as ‘Miss Stitch‘ (of course) – they had to put up with cat fighting between Mark Boothby and Mark Baker.

Beanos as read at GYCAD by DC Mace
The Beano – more informative than the Guardian

Mark Baker – a camp individual from King’s Lynn, went on to marry Anna Kennedy though Mark has since ‘come out of the closet’ (we never thought he was in the closet). Mark put the college’s fashion & textiles department on the map when his entry for the Tisservale? fashion design competition gained considerable media attention in 1979.

One of their colleagues was pink and fluffy Di Capstick who still lives in East Anglia and gets up to all sorts of things including Art. Di campaigned for cleaner streets and civic pride in Yarmouth by ringing dogs mess with hard to ignore circles of colour, changing the council’s policy on the matter. She was also involved with the students union at GYCAD.

Jaqui Lamb, Di Capstick and Robin Smith

Martin Lord, or ‘Martini’ (rifles and drinks), paraded around in a white Jag and referred to Heather (red head) from Graphics as ‘Fanny Gingere’.

Baker, Lord, Fanny Gingere, Dedman & Capstick
Students at GYCAD circa 70s
Students and staff at GYCAD during the 80s

L – R on shoulders Dennis Birkwood, Alice Hickling. Standing Caroline Blundy, Nick Ward, Robert Bridge RIP, Stephen Giles, Sarah. Seated Simon Bond, Elaine Vincent, Mark Goldsworthy, Alan Brown, Colin Giles. Seated on floor Mark Fisher.

In such a male dominated environment women were less ‘high profile’. The demure Mary Barham for example, Alison Buckley with her frizzy blonde hair, Debbie Collier who had a run in with Mace because she felt he wasn’t teaching her anything, Hubertine (Claire Isaaman), Miranda, Anne Hitchcock, Beth, Gill Ford, Jaquie Tacon, Sharon Sage, Cathy Gillion, Tessa Kemp, Mandy Brown et al.

Cathy Gillion made a 3D artwork of a melting ice-cream which had been dropped on the pavement. A significant image, if a bit negative. Gill Ford I called ‘Pants’ for some reason, she went to study Fine Art at UWE and did a really silly dance at discos, clapping her hands under each leg as she kicked them in the air. Beth allegedly presented bags of vomit in perspex boxes for her foundation show (Punk era).

Fionn Rawnsley recalls this about her: ‘I knew Beth / Bess who was herself an inspiration ( I thought her final show was red ceramic welly boots) very well made I seem to remember. I recall a piece of work of mine being refused for display in the Yarmouth library and Beth became militant and said ‘right come on Fionn we are going to have a salon de refusè ‘so taking a very large board canvas I had been working on we marched it all the way from the art school with many laughs along the way and unceremoniously installed it in the foyer’.

Anne Hitchcock went on to do textiles at Farnham and now lives in Texas. Alison Buckley ended up doing art-therapy, I believe. She could have got a job at GYCAD! Hubertine taught at Norwich for a while. Sharon went on to study Italian.

pic of a tandem  Alan Dedman
Cycling was mandatory

Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design was great fun, but what they taught me about design and illustration could have been written on the back of a postage stamp. They helped me gain entry to St. Martins – which was a wrong turning, if ever there was one. Still, I could hold a gallon of ale, so that’s alright then – except it lead to problems in later life.

Chris Finch at GYCAD 1979
Finch (plus others), bearded and apparently kneeling in class at GYCAD

Our Swan song as students at Yarmouth was summed up by the Bursting Zits’ performance of the Mekons’ refrain ‘Where were you?’ ably sung by Mark Norton (true, honest!), supported by the likes of ‘Hog’ aka Chris Finch.

Many ex-GYCAD students have been successful in their careers. Perhaps the most notable to date being Keith Chapman from graphics who invented ‘Bob the Builder’. Though after watching it to death during our son’s early years, I would like to see an adult version in which Bob finally gets to shag Wendy over a barrow of sand or something ….. but the thought police wouldn’t allow it, would they? Apparently Norwich School of Art has a Keith Chapman wing – Chapman went to Yarmouth!

Rear admiral drake and shipmates alan dedman great yarmouth college of art and design
Rear Admiral Drake and shipmates

Finch and me crossed paths at a later juncture in South London. Finch’s remarkable horticultural skills at height (high-rise flat in St.Ockwell), furnished us with one of the most bizarre evenings ever.

As a youth, Chris lived in West Germany, where he dug a Nazi storm-trooper’s helmet out of the ground in a forest. We took turns to don the helmet and goose step round his room to some of the finest reggae cuts in his collection, brandishing a .22 air pistol ….. like you do. And we were grown-up!

Too much pressure alan dedman great yarmouth college of art and design
For some students – the pressure was too much

During the late 90s and into the noughties I made several attempts to communicate with Great Yarmouth Borough Council regarding the use of the former GYCAD site. As is normal with bureaucrats, they were obfuscating. Eventually I got a reply, but too late, it had already been decided the place should be converted to accommodation for homeless young people.

However, I guess we should reflect on the photo below – taken by Nigel Moody, before the GYCAD building was renovated. Maybe this is what you get for pissing too much good-will in the business (or all of it) up against the wall?

photo of derelict Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design Alan Dedman
GYCAD before renovation

Over recent years, people have commented the drinking culture at Yarmouth was ….. ‘a bit abnormal’. Several citing the fact they didn’t find any sort of meaningful overlap between their college of choice for further studies and GYCAD. I certainly found St. Martins a big disappointment.

Of Yarmouth alumni I know attending the same BA course as myself, one did a spell at the funny farm, the other eventually committed suicide. What does this indicate? Especially with regard to pastoral care of young males in the ‘teaching/learning continuum’ (if it can be called as much).

At the Yare Gallery in Yarmouth an exhibition showed work by tutors and ex-students from GYCAD. Titled ‘Now and Then’ I comment on two ex staff from Yarmouth and one from NORCAT who appeared in the show: Derek Mace Tony Keeler Emrys Parry.

Yare Gallery Tony Keeler Derek Mace Emrys Parry Alan Dedman
Painting by DC Mace

My vision is to purchase/hire the former GYCAD premises and re-launch the brand, Phoenix like, as a private educational enterprise. Because without knowing it, Great Yarmouth College of Art & Design has always been ‘Yarmouth’s greatest export’.

The tears of previous student Tony Keeler (at the sight of the derelict building), may well have been an expression of manly vulnerability, but was a passive gesture. It takes cash, energy, co-ordination and organisation to make things happen. Arty types are hard to steward for such purposes, but during the internet age and with the right attitude and class action – this too, may come to pass.

Photo’s by: N.Ward, N.Moody, A.Dedman, Casey Moore, Robin Smith, Fionn Rawnsley et al

There are GYCAD relevant comments on the ‘About Alan Dedman‘ page.

If anyone has memorabilia etc and would like to contribute, please use a contact form BELOW.

10 Comments

  1. Marcus Richardson

    Reading this was a lovely trip down memory lane, absolutely brilliant. The Abbot I consumed while there had blurred so many memories so this was very welcome. What happened to Alan Brown? I remember him getting into college about 9-30 having been out sea fishing in a small boat most of the night! The delightful George Bass, knew where every book was in the library and full of bizarre stories. Would it be possible to get a high resolution scan of that group photo on the college steps?
    Once again, brilliant article.

  2. Dear Marcus,
    thanks for your comment. I only just realised how to set comments up on this page! There are more about gycad on the ‘About Alan Dedman’ page. I will try to trace who sent the pic, I have noticed that later generations of students are less communicative, more taciturn. Not really a Yarmouth trait – being fundamentally ensconced. Anyway, glad to hear it has refreshed your memory. Will get back or send you the file later.

  3. Rob Oxley

    Hi all… The Pub with ‘Rawhide’ on the Juke Box was the most boring pub in Gt Yarmouth….
    . ‘The Norfolk and Norwich’ very close to our Rodney Road Digs…. run by an ultra conservative middle aged couple, and on a Sunday night we used to wind it up in there.. Kev (Worm) and Dave (Pinky) and me…. We would put Rawhide on repeat and shout loudly “Ye Hah” as the Whip comes down laughing loudly at a our warped reference within the song to Pseudo Masochism … . Invariably we would then get thrown out… but sneak back in at some point and do it again.

  4. Pseudo Masochism? Hmm. That’s a new one! Thanks for your comment Mr. Oxley.

  5. TIM O'HANLON

    Thank you Alan, that was a trip down memory lane of a place that has my fondest memories. Seeing Tim Warnes images and Rob Oxley and the mention of St eddies brings back some good and horrible memories!! Tim O’Hanlon (ID)

  6. TIM O'HANLON

    The Talbot (home of St Eddies), Edna and Derek at the Holkham (I resided there for a while) , and the away day parties ranging from churches, underground RAF bases and old derelict houses – nothing but good memories!

  7. Dear Tim, thanks for your comments. I was at one of the derelict church parties! Pretty good. Much better than St. Martins.

  8. Dear Tim, on balance:yes it was a scream, but as I say, didn’t translate into real World currency.

  9. TIM O'HANLON

    that was the beauty Alan … no world currency to think about!

  10. Dear Tim, I think that’s because by then I was in receipt of a state education grant. Soft money y’ see. Mind you, going to the Royal Academy Schools doesn’t get me money off my groceries! Best wishes from Alan Dedman

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