HE WAS Graham Walker when he left in 1981 but yesterday he returned to Bandon Grammar School as Graham Norton and spoke of his delight at being invited to present prizes at his alma mater’s academic awards ceremony.
Over 1,000 students, teachers, past pupils and friends gathered for Norton’s return with his mother, Rhoda Walker watching on proudly as he recalled his days at the school after being welcomed by principal David Sutton, and vice-principal, Seán Crowley.
“It is very strange because it is the same only very different. It’s like they have been building non-stop since I left. But the atmosphere is exactly the same – you can still tell it is a nice school and there is a really nice feeling amongst the staff and the pupils.”
Norton said: “It is a very nice thing to be asked to come back and do prizes’ day”.
“Friends are going: ‘Oh you must tell us funny stories about things that happened to you in school’, but either nothing very funny happened for six years or it was 30 years ago and I don’t remember anymore.”
