Valpy

Edward Valpy, Head 1811–29, aroused strong emotions in pupils. While some remembered him with ‘cordial gratitude, respect and even affection’, others saw him as a snob and a tyrant. His reputation for corporal punishment was legendary; but he was apparently less brutal than his counterpart, Mr Keats of Eton. Valpy was also a scholar of great merit, publishing in Latin and his old boys regarded him highly enough to call the first ON club ‘The Valpeian Society’. Under his headship, pupil numbers flourished exponentially.

When a new House was needed in 1962 to absorb increasing school numbers, Valpy's name was the obvious choice. He had raised the number of boys in the school from tens to hundreds during his headship, having spread the academic reputation of the school beyond the bounds of Norfolk and Suffolk. Valpy’s disciplined sense of order however can appear lacking however during the chaos of Valpy Pancake day.