Honour for former head

    A FORMER head teacher has been awarded the Order of the British Empire in
the New Year Honours.

TOP HONOURS Reg Colman OBE Ref: 26164

    Reg Colman, 75, who was head of Dover Grammar School for Boys for 21 years, has been rewarded for his dedication to young people.
    "I was absolutely astonished when I got the letter," said Mr Colman, who had to keep his secret for three weeks. "And I don't know who nominated me."

    Mr Colman, who lives in Great Mongeham with his wife Marjorie, who was also a teacher, moved to east Kent in 1968 to take up the headship.
    It wasn't long before he became involved with youth activities outside school, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, and in 1988 he helped found the Kent European Youth Association.
    "Young people today are the leaders of the future," he said. "I founded the KEYA with Ken Miles and we felt there were all sorts of opportunities for young people to see the rest of the world.
    "I thoroughly enjoy what I do. You have to have confidence in young people.

    "They are an inspiration."
    Hundreds of young people have benefited from the Kent European Youth Association. Mr Colman helps organise conferences and secures funding for trips abroad.
    This year, for example, about 25 teenagers will visit Cremona, Italy, on a music trip and a conference will be held at Royal Holloway College involving 250 young people from here and abroad.
    Born in Croydon, the family were bombed out in 1940 and moved to Exmouth where Mr Colman went to the grammar school and met his wife.
    He joined the RAF in 1944 and went into the Navy when the war ended. He then went to Cambridge University in 1948.
    Mr Colman did his education diploma in Exeter and went on to teach in Lincolnshire, after which he moved to Dulwich College to become a house master from 1956 to 1969.
    Mr Colman is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Deal.
 

Well-deserved OBE for head

    A BIG 'well done' this week goes to Reg Colman, head teacher of Dover Grammar School for boys for 21 years, who has received the OBE in the New Year's Honours.
    Congratulations also go to Maureen Read, who has worked as a secretary for Dover District Council since the authority was established in 1974, and who has been awarded the MBE.
    The Dover/Deal district's trio of New Year Honours is completed by actor and St Margaret's community worker Miriam Margoyles, who also gets an OBE.
    Reg Colman, who moved to East Kent in 1968 to become head of the boys' grammar, has been honoured for his dedication to young people.
    Hundreds of youngsters from the district have benefited from the Kent European Youth Association, which he helped found in 1988.
    Reg helps to organise conferences and secures funding for trips abroad. This year, for example, more than 20 teenagers will visit Cremona on a music trip and a conference will be held at Royal Holloway College, in London, involving 250 young people from here and abroad.
    Reg, Maureen and Miriam - we're proud of you.