A medal unearthed in a Holt antique shop and an old TOC-H lamp have recently provoked our interest in Freddie Spurrell, an OG who attended Gresham's nearly a century ago before losing his life during the First World War.

The recently discovered medal, happened upon by a current third former, bears the name 'FJD Spurrell' and the Gresham's crest. Its engravings honour Spurrell's progress in athletics, or more specifically, the '200 Yards Under 11 1/2' and the 'Half Mile Handicap Under 15 1/2.' The medal is simplistic in design, embodying Headmaster Howson's pragmatic attitude toward sport and his determination to prevent it from becoming overly competitive or unnecessarily glorified.

Spurrell is also honoured on an old TOC-H lamp which coincidentally came to our attention when the Sheringham branch of TOC-H disbanded. A plaque commemorating Spurrell's rank as a Lieutenant in the 9th Royal Sussex Regiment also bears the name 'The Fred Spurrell Lamp.' The lamp, one of many known as the Lamps of Maintenance, was an emblem of the TOC-H movement and was symbolically lit during every meeting of the charity.

Hailing from Banningham, near Aylsham, Spurrell attended Gresham's from 1906 to 1912. After leaving he enlisted with the Royal Sussex Regiment and it is believed he was injured in action in France before dying of blood poisoning in hospital at Brighton. His death at the age of nineteen was reported in The Gresham, as were those of many OGs who lost their lives in the War.