New plaque dedicated to William Palmer showcased by EPAS at USP College

Pictured: European Parliament Junior Ambassador Alfie showcases the newly installed green plaque dedicated to William Palmer, the founder of Unified Seevic Palmer's College, who founded USP as a charity school in 1706.

At last night's (16th October 2025) open evening for USP College Palmer's Campus, EPAS at USP College showcased a brand new plaque dedicated to USP (Unified Seevic Palmer's) College's founder William Palmer, who founded it as a charity school for the poor children of Grays in Thurrock, Essex, in 1706.

New European Parliament Junior Ambassador Alfie showcased the plaque celebrating the legacy and memory of William Palmer, which was installed at the entrance of Palmer's last week. Alfie and other new recruits to EPAS for the 2025-2026 academic year celebrated the legacy and memory of Palmer, giving parents and prospective new students the opportunity to learn the history behind Palmer and the college, as well as his legacy and the over 300 year history of the college.

Crafted by Thurrock Heritage, the special green plaque was presented to the William Palmer Trust to recognise centuries of educational benefit to the borough of Thurrock. Palmer's has been the principle further education college in the borough for many years, having formerly been a cherished grammar school and prestigious public school serving the youths of Grays and Essex. It's alumni association, the Old Palmerian's Association, has been in a formal partnership with EPAS at USP College since last year.

Pictured: Plaque dedicated to William Palmer, founder of Unified Seevic Palmer's College (1633-1710).

William Palmer was born in 1633. In adulthood, he inherited the manor of Grays Thurrock and forged a successful career as a merchant, landowner and philanthropist. In his later years, Palmer, who was ailing and had no heirs, decided to give back to his community and founded Palmer's charity school in 1706 to provide education to the impoverished children of Grays before his death in 1710. Over his lifetime, Palmer served as the Sheriff of Essex, the Lord of the Manor of Grays Thurrock and an aide to the Lord Mayor of London, James Smyth.

Pictured: The Coat of Arms of William Palmer.

In the following three centuries, Palmer's School evolved into prestigious grammar schools and public schools, Palmer's College and finally Unified Seevic Palmer's College in 2018, after Palmer's took over Seevic College in Benfleet, Essex, at the behest of the government. Today, the college educates over 4,000 students and serves as the main further education college in Thurrock and the wider region of South Essex.

For a more detailed history about William Palmer and Unified Seevic Palmer's College, you can view this article on the EPAS website.