Pages - Document & Section issues

In Pages I have a multi-page doc set up. All pages have the same header, except page 1.

'Hide on first' is not selected. Page 2 even has 'continue from previous' selected!

I tried 'create new section' but old header appears after last page of text, adding a new page break and a blank page! How is that even possible?

I have tried numerous times on the same, and different docs but no go!

You Tube videas are unhelpful, or undecipherable.

Google steps do not work.

I have tried many many times on an iMac 2017, running on Ventura 13.7.8

Please help! :)