Eagle News Jan 2012 - Bedford Modern School

The Magazine of the Old Bedford Modernians’ Club 

In this issue: 

President’s 

Project - 

cricket 

scoreboard 

World 

War Two 

Reunion 

Gordon 

Staple 

Memory 

Stir 

Glenys Lee 

Award 

Winner 

page 

page 

page 

page 

page 

69 

72 

74 

80 

83 

New Series Vol 5 No 3 (Issue 104) January 2012

The Magazine of the Old Bedford Modernians’ Club 

Bedford Modern School, 

Manton Lane, Bedford MK41 7NT 

(01234) 332543 e-mail: obmclub@bedmod.co.uk 

School phone: (01234) 332500 School fax: (01234) 332550 

66 

The London Lunch 67 

The President of the Club 68 

The President's Project 69 

Head's Letter 70 

Rugby 7s Festival 71 

News from Reunions 72 

Book Reviews 73 

OBM Lodge 74 

(founded 1892) 

School Website: www.bedmod.co.uk 

Club Website: www.obmclub.co.uk 

President: John Quenby (1953-58) 

Chairman: The Headmaster, Michael Hall 

Secretary: Richard Wildman (1956-65) 

Treasurer: Ashley Knight (1965-72) 

Eagle News Editor: Richard Wildman 

Contents 

New Series Vol 5 No 3 (Issue 104) January 2012 

How Monica was appointed 75 

Back to BMS after 50 Years 76 

No Room for Crooners in the Choir 77 

Memory Stir 78 

Club Sport 85 

Sporting Contacts/School Shop 86 

Obituaries 87 

Directory 93 

Cover: A try in the making? An incident in the Inter-OBM. 

Rugby 7s Festival - see page 71. Courtesy Francesca Hardwick Photography. 

BMS EAGLE NEWS 

Advertising Rate Card 2012 

FULL COLOUR PRICES 

Full page back cover or inside back cover, 

full colour only £250 

Half page back cover or inside back cover, 

full colour only £140 

Half page full colour ROP £125 

TWO COLOUR PRICES 

Full page (black & white) £170 

Half page (black & white) £90 

Quarter page (black & white) £50 

Series discount for 2 consecutive insertions – 20%. 

Magazine format – A4. 

Copy date for May 2012 issue is 

1st April 2012. Copy can be in any Microsoft or 

AppleMac format. To reserve space, send copy, or for 

enquiries please contact Sarah Turnham in the 

Development Office at 

sturnham@bedmod.co.uk or on 01234 332654.

The London Lunch 

will be held in the Churchill Room and Terrace Room D 

at the House of Commons 

by kind invitation of Richard Fuller (1971-81), MP 

The London Lunch 

on Monday 5th March 2012 at 12.15 pm for 1.00 pm 

Cost: £58 (which includes gratuities and an initial serving of wine) 

Free draw for a Mr Speakerʼs Single Malt (or equivalent)! 

Please write as soon as possible to the Club Secretary at the School, with the 

following information: 

1. Name(s) and years at School 2. Cheque (to OBM Club) 

3. Daytime phone number, and e-mail address (if any) 4. SAE (for admission card) 

Note: Discounted rail tickets (tube extra) may be bought in advance from 

the Tourist Information Centre, Old Town Hall, St Paulʼs Square, Bedford. 

You may send a cheque with either the form on the reverse of the address sheet 

accompanying this magazine, or a letter. 

To pay by bank transfer, please phone the Secretary, 01234 332543. 

Please Note: 

ELIGIBILITY: OBMs and current and former staff only (regret no non-OBM guests). 

THE COST has had to go up because the catering charges at the House of Commons 

have increased. 

RESERVATIONS must be accompanied by payment. 

CANCELLATIONS cannot be accepted after Monday 27th February. 

DRESS: Lounge suits and Club ties – ladies (OBMs and staff) 

please dress accordingly. 

DIET: Let us know if you have a particular dietary requirement. 

The Founder’s Dinner 

will be held at the School on Friday 6th July 2012. 

Full details in the May issue. 

67

68 

The President of the Club 

The President of the Club 

John Quenby (1953-58) 

On leaving School, I joined the family firm of millers 

and grain merchants, R Quenby & Sons Ltd. Following two 

periods working with Quenby’s (with a short spell of training in 

the Intelligence Corps in between), the firm was sold, and I 

decided to seek my fortune in Australia, arriving in Sydney on the 

same plane as the Beatles in June 1963. I applied to the Sydney 

Flour Company for a job and was appointed chief cost clerk for a 

new factory they were just bringing on stream. However, being 

drawn to the new world of commercial computers, I successfully 

applied for a traineeship with ‘Big Blue’ (IBM), with whom I was 

to work in various systems, in programming and managerial roles, 

until I was ‘poached’ by an American customer, Kaiser Engineers, 

for whom I ran the critical path project management system for a 

huge engineering project to build an alumina refinery at 

Gladstone on the Queensland coast. On successful completion of 

this and following a brief sojourn selling computers for ICL 

Australia, I returned to my project management role at Kaiser for 

construction of a multi-million dollar aluminium smelter, with an 

engineering office in Melbourne but with a construction site in 

Bluff, at the southern tip of New Zealand. (I was proud to see on 

a visit a few years back that the smelter is still functioning very 

well!) Eventually I took up a senior computer systems 

management appointment with the leading Australian electronics 

giant AWA, again based in Sydney. 

In 1974, however, I accepted an appointment as IT manager for 

a Dutch company, Wavin Plastics, with factories in the UK. This 

was followed by an appointment in 1979 as systems director for 

the Granada Group, with whom I enjoyed promotion outside the 

specialist IT area, eventually becoming MD of Granada Overseas 

Holdings Ltd, with far-reaching responsibilities across a number 

of European companies (including the chairmanship of each 

subsidiary board – a great test of my language skills, first 

awakened at BMS!), some 1,250 employees on the various 

payrolls and about £125 million in turnover, yielding 10% pre-tax 

profits. Unfortunately, Granada decided on a shift of strategy and 

I had to set about assisting with the disposal of the companies 

within Overseas Holdings. Truly this was one of the most difficult 

periods of my life, as I had established close personal 

relationships with each subsidiary MD (always a local), most of 

whom could not fathom why we would dispose of such successful 

and profitable businesses. 

Knowing something about racing cars, I decided to apply for the 

unexpectedly vacant post of CEO of the RAC Motor Sports 

Association, the governing body of British motor sport. Somewhat 

to my astonishment and delight, I was installed in this illustrious 

role in October 1989. 

There followed 12 years of 

involvement in the 

administration and 

governance of motor sport, 

from the most humble club 

levels to Formula 1 and the 

World Rally Championship. 

During this period 

I was responsible for the 

sporting organisation of each year’s British Grand Prix at 

Silverstone and one European Grand Prix at Donington. I sat, 

initially as deputy, then as full member, representing the UK, 

of the World Motor Sport Council at the governing body, the 

FIA. This led to my frequent appointment as a judicial ‘steward’ 

at international motor sport events from Argentina to New 

Zealand, allowing me to greatly enhance my network of friends 

throughout the world. This was a truly privileged period of my 

life. At the age of 60 (in 2001) I decided to retire from full-time 

employment (arguably the RAC MSA was not only full-time but 

fully time-consuming) and concentrated for a few years on 

providing specialised consultancy, concerned mainly with ‘lifing’ 

safety critical components on historic grand prix racing cars. 

These days I continue to work on the Trireme Trust archive, 

having designed and overseen the creation of a database of all 

the Trust’s documents which relate to the construction of the 

trireme Olympias in 1982, and associated sea trials up to 

1994. During the past year we have put the archive summaries 

on-line, thus enabling interested academics to locate specific 

documents of interest and to arrange physical access to them 

at the River and Rowing Museum at Henley. More information 

can be found at www.triremetrust.org.uk. I also work as a 

part-time archivist in the team at the Military Intelligence 

Museum, Chicksands, in which role I mostly find myself writing 

obituaries! More information can be found at 

www.army.mod.uk/intelligence/museum.aspx. As a keen 

member of the MCC, I spend much of my spare time in 

summer at Lord’s, while the winter months find me supporting 

the Bedford Blues or helping with the organisation of Bedford 

Rowing Club’s Head of the River events. 

I am delighted and greatly honoured to have been chosen to be 

OBM President for this year. I hope that I will be able to be 

both supportive and innovative in continuing the development 

of links with the School through functions and activities which 

keep OBMs in close touch with the School of the 

Black and Red!

The President’s Project 

Iam delighted to announce that the OBM Club Committee at its September 2011 meeting 

gave consent to establishing a new initiative called ‘The President’s Project.’ Each year, 

The President’s Project will aim to raise the sum of £5,000 to purchase a new item of 

equipment for the School that will immediately benefit BMS students. 

After discussion with the Headmaster, Michael Hall, and Director of Sport, Patrick Jerram, we 

have decided, this year, to raise funds for a mobile electronic cricket scoreboard. This will 

enhance spectators’ viewing experience and the School’s cricketers will be delighted to see 

their scores go up in lights. A mobile scoreboard will offer the School’s sports staff maximum 

flexibility for scoring matches at all levels. Following the success of the School’s inaugural 

alumni Rugby 7s tournament in September, the Development Office will be running the 

School’s first-ever Cricket 6s Festival on Sunday 17 June 2012. Our aim is to have raised the 

target of £5,000 by then, so that the School can unveil the new scoreboard at the event. 

The President’s Project has the full support of the Development Office. If you cannot find your 

cheque book, Richard Claas (Development Director) will gladly send you the necessary forms 

to make a one-off gift by credit or debit card, or a regular gift by direct debit. As the School is 

part of the Bedford Charity, all gifts can be made tax-efficiently. A simple declaration is all that 

is needed to increase the value of your gift by a quarter, at no cost to you. And if you pay tax 

at either forty or fifty per cent, you can claim a rebate. 

I very much hope that you will wish to support this year’s President’s Project 

With best wishes, 

The President’s Project 

John Quenby (1953-58) 

OBM Club President Image courtesy of Electrovista 

The Presidentʼs Project 

I would like to make a gift for The Presidentʼs Project and enclose a cheque for 

£25 £50 £100 Other ______________ 

I would prefer to make a gift by debit/credit card a regular gift by direct debit. Please send me a giving form. 

Name 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________________ Postcode ____________ 

Please complete the section below if you are a UK taxpayer 

By signing this declaration, you can add 25% to the value of your gift at no cost to you. Higher rate tax payers can claim tax relief 

on their donation in their Self Assessment Return. Please remember to notify us if your circumstances change. You must pay UK 

Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax the charity reclaims on your donation in the tax year. 

GIFT AID DECLARATION 

I am a UK tax payer and wish all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise to be tax effective 

under the Gift Aid scheme. 

Signature _______________________________ Print name __________________________________ Date _____________ 

The Friends of BMS is part of The Bedford Charity, registered charity number 204817. 

Please complete and return this form (or a copy of it) to the Development Office, 

Bedford Modern School, Manton Lane, Bedford MK41 7NT. 

✄ 

69

70 

Head’s Letter 

Head’s Letter 

Michael Hall 

Since my letter to you in the last Eagle News, another 

cohort of students has completed its final weeks at BMS 

and joined the OBM family. 

Importantly, they excelled in their final examinations with no fewer than 44 Year 13 

students achieving A*/A grades while over half of all our Year 13 students passed 

at least one subject at the top two grades. 

Our 2011 public examination results placed us ahead of all other co-educational 

day schools in the East of England and I hope that you will share in our pride, knowing that your School is going from strength 

to strength. 

In September, we enjoyed our first ever inter-OBM Rugby 7s Festival which brought so many of you (and, in some cases, your 

parents) back to the School. Helping OBMs to keep involved with their School and in touch with each other is a priority for me, 

so I am very pleased to announce in this edition of Eagle News two initiatives which the OBM Club and the Development Office 

will be taking forward in the coming months to further this aim. 

The first is the launch of OBMs Online which will enable you to find and make contact with other OBMs directly. OBMs Online 

works by allowing you to update your details and news securely over the internet and then deciding what information you wish 

to be published for other OBMs to see. 

The Development Office will be trialling the new service with selected OBMs in the first few months of 2012 with the aim of 

making OBMs Online available to all alumni by the summer. 

The Development Office is also taking steps to reinvigorate The 1764 Society, members of which have remembered the School 

in their wills. 

On the back cover of this issue, you will see a page which I hope will incentivise OBMs who have already taken steps to include 

Bedford Modern School as a beneficiary from their estate, but who have not yet informed the School, to contact the 

Development Director, Richard Claas. 

It is of the utmost importance to me that, where OBMs have made provision for the School by making a bequest, we are given 

the opportunity to thank them during their lifetimes, so do please tell us if you have taken this step. 

Finally, whilst I have already mentioned Rugby, this summer sees the inaugural inter-OBM Cricket 6s Festival on Sunday 17 

June 2012. I look forward to seeing many of you again then. 

Best wishes, 

Michael Hall 

Headmaster

INTER-OBM RUGBY 7s FESTIVAL 

‘AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS’ 

On Saturday 3 September 2011, BMS hosted its very first 

alumni Rugby 7s Festival with 11 teams and more than 125 

OBMs taking part. The event, the brainchild of Chris Stephens 

(1991-2001), was organised by Sarah Turnham from the 

Schoolʼs Development Office. The eventual winners of the 

tournament were the team of 2011 who beat their peers from 

2007 in a closely-contested cup final by 35 points to 28. The 

veteran team of the ʻNinetiesʼ won the shield competition, with 

victory over the team of 2003 by 27 points to 14, while the 

team of 2001, despite losing all their group games, were 

victorious in the plate final, winning their match against the 

team of 2008 by 24 points to 14. Nursing sore muscles, and 

in one case a dislocated finger, the players gathered together 

again for a black tie dinner in the evening to raise funds for the 

development of rugby talent at BMS and for the Friends of 

Rwandan Rugby. The guest speaker was Richard Chadwick 

(Staff 1971-2009) who for many of the players was their 

Rugby master. 

Richard Claas, the Schoolʼs Development Director, 

commented: ʻIt was a great day, with fantastic support from 

both colleagues at the School and businesses in Bedford. I 

was particularly pleased to see so many former parents 

coming back to BMS to watch the matches and relive 

memories of many an afternoon spent on the touchline 

supporting their sons when they were at the School. After 

such a successful event, which had all who took part in the 

Festival talking about it for weeks later, we were left in no 

doubt that we had to repeat it. Not wishing to leave other major 

sports behind, the day has also galvanised us to run the first 

Inter-OBM Cricket 6s Festival this summer. We are delighted 

to have hit upon a formula which can involve so many OBMs 

and provide everyone with an opportunity to enjoy a terrific 

day back at their old schoolʼ. The inaugural Inter-OBM 

Cricket 6s Festival will be held on Sunday 17 June 2012, 

and the second Inter-OBM Rugby 7s Festival on Saturday 

8 September 2012. 

Inter -OBM Rugby 7s Festival 

INAUGURAL INTER-OBM RUGBY 7s FESTIVAL 

CUP COMPETITION 

Semi-Finals 

TEAM 2009 0 TEAM 2011 45 

TEAM 2005 0 TEAM 2007 38 

Final won by TEAM 2011 35 TEAM 2007 28 

SHIELD COMPETITION 

Semi-Finals 

TEAM 1990s v TEAM 2002 - WALKOVER 

(Team 2002 withdrew due to injuries) 

TEAM 2003 21 TEAM 2006 19 

Final won by TEAM 1990s 27 TEAM 2003 14 

PLATE COMPETITION 

(Straight final owing to the withdrawal of Team 2000 due to 

exhaustion) 

Final won by TEAM 2001 24 TEAM 2008 14 

BMS would like to thank the many local companies for their 

support and sponsorship of the Festival including Barworx, 

The Blue Glass, The Embankment, Francesca Hardwick 

Photography, Jeeves Barbers, Marquees with Pryde, and 

The Wellness Hub. Photographs of the Festival can be 

purchased from Francesca Hardwick Photography at 

www.myimagesbyfrancescahardwick.co.uk The password to 

access the OBM Rugby 7s Festival Gallery is ʻredandblack.ʼ 

71

72 

News from Reunions 

TEA-TIME REUNION FOR WARTIME OBMs 

On Wednesday 15 June 2011, the School hosted 

a 1940s tea party in the Refectory for more than 

70 OBMs, together with their wives and other 

guests, who attended BMS during or before the 

Second World War. A tour of the School in the 

capable hands of its students preceded 

entertainment by the Schoolʼs jazz musicians. 

A traditional tea of sandwiches, fairy cakes and 

scones was served, with further entertainment 

provided by Peter Tipping, including his 

impersonation of the wartime comedian, Rob 

Wilton, famous for monologues. Several Old 

Owenians, alumni of Dame Alice Owenʼs School, 

now in Potterʼs Bar, but whose previous home 

was in Islington, also joined their OBM 

contemporaries at the event. Owenʼs School 

was evacuated to Bedford in 1939, and all those 

attending recalled their gratitude to the citizens 

of Bedford and to BMS for taking care of them. 

Richard Claas, Development Director, said: ʻWe 

On Saturday 24 September 2011, BMS hosted a 

25 Year Anniversary Reunion for OBMs who left 

between 1984 and 1986. The event was part of 

the Development Office's busy programme of 

events for the School's extended community, with 

those attending revisiting shared memories of 

their days at BMS, as well as catching up with 

each other on everything that has happened 

in the intervening years. Richard Claas 

(Development Director) said: ʻIt's always a 

pleasure to organise events on behalf of our 

alumni and to help them renew old friendships. 

There was a great atmosphere on the night and 

I very much hope that we have inspired our old 

boys from these years to keep in touch with one 

FRIENDSHIP RENEWED 

AT 25 YEAR REUNION 

were truly humbled by the response we received 

from our old boys; it was wonderful that so many 

of them were able to join us. It was a great day 

for the School, and we are already planning a 

second reunion for wartime OBMs, as well as a 

grandparentsʼ day, in the summer of 2012.ʼ 

(from left) Jim Empson, Mark Robertson and Roger Paton with 

the 1947 School photograph 

another in the future.ʼ The next reunion is a 

School Disco for 1987 to 1989 leavers and 

their partners, on Saturday 26 May 2012.

BOOK REVIEWS 

Bedford Then & Now in 

Colour by Richard 

Wildman. 

Colour photography by 

Alan Crawley. The 

History Press (2011) , 

hardback in dust-jacket, 

95 pp, ISBN 9 780752 

463216, RRP £12.99. 

Reviewed by Alan Cox 

(1955-64), formerly a 

senior editor of The 

Survey of London. 

Nobody knows more about Bedford’s past, especially from 

Victorian times until the present day, than Richard Wildman. 

He has a positively encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject, 

so any book by him on the town’s history is to be warmly 

welcomed. His latest offering consists of a fascinating 

selection of double-page spreads, with a larger old sepia 

photograph (or, in a very few cases, an old drawing or 

watercolour) and a smaller up-to-date colour photograph. 

Here I must pay tribute to Alan Crawley’s sparkling modern 

images. They reflect tremendous patience on his part, not only 

to wait for a suitably sunny day, but also to stand until a rare 

gap occurred in the incessant stream of traffic. As you turn 

the pages, Richard takes you on a leisurely guided tour 

around Bedford, as it was and is now. 

For OBMs of my era, two buildings, now gone but illustrated 

in the book, are reminders of that period. One is the Liberal 

Club, which stood in Midland Road next to the BMS Junior 

School, which held its morning assemblies in the Club’s large 

upstairs room. For the rest of the day it served as an extra 

classroom for the main school. Smelling of stale cigarette 

smoke and beer, it was a most incongruous setting for such 

functions. The other building is the Star public house, which 

stood where the Harpur Street extension to Marks and 

Spencer is now. At the end of lunchtime, one would often 

encounter a group of BMS staff wandering out, usually led by 

Mollie Kingston, cigarette dangling from the corner of her 

mouth. 

In his short introduction Richard bemoans the wholesale 

clearance and redevelopment which took place in the town 

after 1945, and which reached a crescendo in the 1960s. 

Many of the photographs in his book illustrate the bitter fruits 

of those times, and show very clearly how all too often 

characterful old buildings have been demolished, to be 

replaced with the modern buildings which at best are boringly 

banal and at worst positively ugly. Thus, where the former 

George Hotel (later Murketts car showroom) stood in the 

High Street, next to the Swan Hotel, there stands Swan Court 

(built 1959-60), its ‘vacuous façade’, as Richard rightly calls 

it, now looking positively tawdry. For me the saddest loss is 

Dust’s drapers, ladies’ hats and clothing shop at No. 75 High 

Book Reviews 

Street. As the old image in the book shows it was a gloriously 

idiosyncratic, over-ornamented Victorian confection. As a boy 

I was always fascinated by the busts of three famous 

architects – Palladio, Wren and Inigo Jones – which, for some 

reason, adorned the ground floor, beside the shop windows. 

On a happier note, Alan Crawley’s present day photographs 

show in vibrant colour just how attractive are those old 

buildings that survive. There are still plenty of older façades 

above modern shop-fronts. This is particularly true of the High 

Street, where the Borough Council has plans to improve the 

current run-down state of many of the buildings, with the help 

of Heritage Lottery funding. It is to be hoped that these plans 

come to fruition and that gradually more appropriate shopfronts 

can also be introduced, restoring what was Bedford’s 

premier shopping street to its former glory. 

My one criticism of this book is the fact that many of the old 

sepia photographs are spread across the centrefold – an 

irritating practice which breaks up the unity, and spoils the 

integrity, of the image. Despite this, I really enjoyed looking at 

the photographs and reading Richard’s always informative 

captions, and I warmly commend it. 

Up Before Dawn by Edward 

Kent, edited by Susan 

Payetta. 

Published in Grenada by 

Sail Rock Publishing 

(2011). 

sailrockpublishing@gmail.com 

Paperback, 179 pp., illustrated. 

Dr Edward Kent, CBE (1936-39) who was known as ‘George’ 

at BMS, possibly because that was the name of the then 

Duke of Kent, died in 2009, aged 88. He had been working 

on his memoirs, which have now been published. The story 

chronicles the author’s adventures, beginning with his 

childhood on the family cocoa estate in Grenada, and 

including his years as a boarder in School House, when Mr 

Liddle (Headmaster) was the house master. Edward lost the 

sight in his left eye as the result of an accident when he was 

aged 9 or 10. This prevented him from serving in the war, 

during which time he managed a cocoa plantation. He later 

organised estates growing nutmegs, sugar cane, limes and 

bananas, and rearing livestock. In 1962 he was invited by the 

Duke of Edinburgh to attend the Second Commonwealth 

Study Conference in Canada, on the human effects of 

industrialisation. Awarded the CBE for services to 

agriculture in 1992, Edward was made an honorary Doctor of 

Laws by the University of the West Indies in 2007. His book 

shows that he had total recall of many interesting incidents, 

and is full of information about his eventful life in the 

Windward Islands throughout most of the last century. 

73

Lodge Ladiesʼ Festival in the Malvern Hills 

Historically, Freemasonsʼ Lodges are restricted to ʻmen onlyʼ. It is 

little wonder, therefore, that whilst we endeavour to involve our 

ʻother halvesʼ as much as possible, our wives or partners may 

feel somewhat left out of our activities. In order to obviate this 

problem, it is common practice for lodges to organise a function 

whereby the ladies are fêted. To this end an Invitation Ladiesʼ 

Festival was arranged in Great Malvern over a weekend in late 

September 2011. The charming Abbey Hotel is located in the 

centre of the town and in the lee of the Malvern Hills. The 

weekend was arranged so that those attending could take 

advantage of the local facilities or the surrounding countryside, 

some venturing to Hereford, one group having an exquisite lunch 

at a pub in deepest rural Herefordshire, others to the Three 

Counties Autumn (agricultural) Show and to the Malvern Theatre 

where they enjoyed a new play Three Days in May, which has 

since transferred to the West End. The more intrepid found that 

the views from the high paths on the Malvern Hills were a feast 

for the eye. Meanwhile, a Gala Dinner for the ladies was under 

preparation for the Saturday evening. Our Master, Jason 

Woodworth (1984-91) together with his wife Nikki, welcomed a 

total of 56 ladies, guests and lodge members to a sumptuous 

dinner with live musical accompaniment. From the comments of 

those who were present at this festival, it was pleasing to know 

that the event was appreciated and enjoyed by so many. Those 

who attended agreed it was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing 

weekend in one of the most pleasant parts of the country. Our 

thanks go to Nigel Boothby (1950-58) and his wife Greta for 

helping to make the event so successful. 

Congratulations to Gordon 

Staple 

In October 2011, Gordon 

Staple (1954 – 61) was appointed 

Deputy Provincial Grand 

Master of Bedfordshire (55 

lodges/1900 Masons), the 

highest rank attained by a 

member of the Lodge since its 

consecration in 1931. Gordon 

was initiated into an Essex 

lodge in 1969 and joined the 

OBM Lodge in 1983, becoming 

Master in 1992 and 

subsequently serving as Lodge 

Secretary for nine years. 

OBM Lodge Award 2011 

The OBM Lodge Award for Personal Achievement was awarded 

to Sam Edwards (Year 13) at the Schoolʼs end-of-year assembly 

in July 2011. Sam was nominated for his impressive commitment 

to his studies, especially in Design and Technology (Product 

Design) and for his commitment to the School as a whole. 

Richard Griffin (1965-70), the Lodge Charity Steward, presented 

a cheque for £750 to assist Sam with the purchase of books and 

resources for his degree course in Mechanical Engineering at the 

University of Bath which started in September. Sam, who lives in 

74 

OBM Lodge 

OBM Lodge 

Meppershall, Bedfordshire, said: ʻI owe the award mainly to my 

work on the Robo table tennis project in Product Design. The 

machine fires table tennis balls at the player to provide an 

excellent training exercise.ʼ Previous Lodge Award winners are 

Tom Wheeler (Rugby), Marek Behnke (Skiing), Adam Ingledew 

(Swimming), Sam Towler (Golf) and Stephen Hartill (Community 

Service). 

The Federation of School Lodges 

The Federation of School Lodges was founded in 1947 and 

currently has some 130 member school lodges. The OBM Lodge 

(consecrated in London by Lord Ampthill) was one of the 14 

founding lodges and hosted Federation annual festivals at the 

School in 1975 and 1992. The Federation, though not wishing to 

be seen as elitist, was founded in the belief that school Masonic 

lodges have by their very nature a quality of their own. It is 

designed to promote and spread knowledge of, and friendship 

between, lodges and members who have a similar background. 

The schools represented are of a wide variety of ages, types and 

locations. A former Vice-President of the Federation was Cedric 

Woodger (1918-27), a much-respected senior Bedfordshire 

Mason, a member of the OBM Lodge from 1942 until his death in 

2002, and Lodge Secretary for 18 years. 

New Members Welcome 

Lodge meetings are great social occasions. Our members are 

aged from their twenties upwards and most live in the Bedford 

area, although others come from Norfolk, Warwickshire, Devon 

and even as far away as Cyprus, France, Dubai and New 

Zealand. You will have the opportunity to meet fellow OBMs, 

visitors from other school lodges and freemasons from 

elsewhere. After our meetings, we hold a dinner (known as 

ʻFestive Boardʼ), a semi-formal occasion with plenty of good food 

and wine. Our meetings, held at the School, usually start at about 

4pm and the dinners finish by 10pm. Furthermore, as a 

freemason, you would be welcome at other lodges in this country 

and abroad. We meet at BMS on Saturday afternoons in October, 

December, February, April and either May or June. 

For more information, call Simon Collier (1981-91) on 01234 

830987 or e-mail collier-simon@sky.com or the Lodge Secretary, 

Ian Brown (1956-63) at obm5268@yahoo.co.uk

Returning to BMS after eleven years, to attend and speak at a 

dinner on 18 June 2011 for leaving staff, I was shocked by the 

signs of ageing among former colleagues still employed there, not 

yet rejuvenated by retirement. But as for Monica Hetherington, 

Shakespeare put it best: 

"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 

Her infinite variety..." 

As the gloriously long-flowering career of our Cleopatra of the 

classroom drew to a close, I could reveal in my speech how I had 

feared it would be nipped in the bud... In 1977 Peter Hetherington 

had a calling: to give up his position as Head of English at BMS and 

follow the great Romantic poets, Byron, Shelley and Keats, setting 

sail for the Mediterranean. But before he did so, I was appointed 

his successor, and Monica Simons was summoned for interview. 

Now I am sure that at this first meeting between Monica and Peter 

a spark was struck, although full ignition would be delayed. And 

what a combustion it was! The Headmaster was Brian Kemball- 

Cook, known as K-C. An eminent classical scholar with a Double 

First from Balliol College, Oxford, he was approaching the end of a 

distinguished career. Misguidedly, I imagined that Monica's 

appointment would be problematic. There seemed to me to be 

three weighty objections, apart from the fact that George Cullen, 

the formidable Head of Games, had made it clear that he expected 

a rugby player to be appointed. Firstly, Monica had graduated from 

a place famous not for its dreaming spires, but for its fish dock. I 

therefore spoke up as follows: ‘Headmaster, we Oxonians should 

perhaps bear in mind that the University Librarian at Hull is the 

acclaimed modern poet, Philip Larkin. His most celebrated poem 

has a Latin title, to understand which, you sir, a scholar of Balliol, 

need no translation. Allow me to quote from Annus Mirabilis: 

Sexual intercourse began 

In nineteen sixty-three 

(Which was rather late for me) - 

Between the end of the Chatterley ban 

And the Beatles’ first LP.’ 

K-C did not speak, no doubt moved beyond words by this sad poem 

of missed opportunities. 

The second difficulty I anticipated was that Monica had no 

postgraduate professional qualification as a teacher. Again, I spoke 

up, emboldened by my previous success: ‘Headmaster, may I 

remind you that the outgoing Head of English, Peter Hetherington, 

is no more qualified than Miss Simons. Furthermore, his 

predecessor, Norman Frost, was academically unqualified, and yet 

How Monica was appointed 

How Monica was appointed 

(with a little help from Philip Larkin) 

by Richard Claridge (1953-61, Staff 1967-2000) 

he was promoted to Vice Master.’ I 

pressed on: ‘Headmaster, surely 

there is a case for the amateur 

approach – “amateur” from the 

Latin “amare, to love,” a verb, as you 

yourself, a scholar of Balliol, will 

surely know, which conjugates in 

the present tense “amo, amas, 

amat.” K-C looked at me in 

amazement. I was sure I had again 

won my point. 

Monica Hetherington directing 

Troilus and Cressida in 1982 

(photo: Stuart Buxton, 1978-83) 

The third difficulty I foresaw was the weightiest, and I had no 

arguments to counter it. K-C was on his own this time. For her 

interview (as nostalgia recalls it, though Monica herself and Peter 

believe she had a frizzy perm), Monica wore her hair not in a tight 

bun but in a pony-tail which, from time to time, she would toss in a 

winsome way, like those young American women in Friends. She 

wore a pair of long, sleek, chestnut-brown, leather boots. I thought 

that K-C's customary composure had slipped. The mettle of the 

man who had climbed the Matterhorn, translated Homer, and been 

awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme was being tested as 

never before. I held my breath. Then it happened: serenity suffused 

K-C's countenance, and he made the appointment. 

And what an appointment it proved to be, although, to be frank, 

Monica did absolutely nothing for BMS rugby. But in all her varied 

roles - in the classroom, in her direction of superb school plays - 

Waiting for Godot, and The Tempest are outstanding memories for 

me - in her management of the English Department and the Sixth 

Form, in her careers and tutorial work, Monica set the benchmark 

for professional excellence. An amateur too, in the best sense of 

the word, loving her subject and caring for her students, Monica will 

always be remembered fondly by hundreds of OBMs, for the quality 

of her teaching, for her kindness and encouragement, and for the 

cheerful, positive outlook which she imparts. And then there is her 

tact, her intuitive sense of the right word or gesture, whatever the 

occasion, a quality that springs from her sensitivity to the feelings 

of others, and one that has endeared her to colleagues and friends. 

So let everyone give praise to Brian Kemball-Cook for his 

courageous judgement, and to Monica, for all the charming ways in 

which she has enriched the life of BMS, students and colleagues, 

past and present, surely give their thanks and their love. 

75

BACK TO BMS AFTER 50 YEARS 

ROGER SMART (1956-62) and DAVID TURNER (1956-60) 

both ex-School House, visited BMS on 9 June 2011. Roger 

was articled to a small-to-medium-sized firm of accountants in 

Berkeley Square in London. ‘After qualification, I had a varied 

career, working for what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers, in 

London and Montreal, and for Unilever as their Group 

Financial Accountant, and as Operations Manager in their 

export company in Bristol. Then, confronted with the possibility 

of being moved to a Unilever overseas subsidiary, but with a 

family (two daughters) and a spaniel, who were very happily 

settled in the Bristol area, I joined a management buy-out 

team as their Finance and Administration Director. After five 

years and a successful sale, I decided to try something new, 

and became a lecturer at what is now the University of the 

West of England, where I spent 13 very agreeable years prior 

to retiring in 2006. I feel that life has been very kind to me 

since I left School. I am now enjoying retirement in a beautiful 

part of the countryside with my family, which includes two 

young grandchildren. I am very grateful for the fact that BMS 

provided me with a good education and sporting opportunities 

which outweighed the less than enlightened environment of 

School House.’ David, who lives in Victoria, Australia, and 

spent his career in the Australian meteorological service, later 

wrote to thank the Secretary and RICHARD CLAAS 

(Development Director) ‘for giving me such a warm welcome 

when I visited the School with Roger after a gap of over 50 

years. I am sure that you have had a surfeit of horror stories 

from the J E TAYLOR era. Suffice it to say, it seemed to me a 

harsh and repressive regime even by the standards of the day. 

This was exacerbated by being a boarder at School House, a 

cold, damp and dismal place, where we lived in near- 

Dickensian conditions, there being no hot showers and but 

one coal fire to heat a three-storey house. (I don't count the 

hot pipe in the changing rooms, which only functioned 

sporadically!) However, I rather enjoyed going to the School 

itself, as it was always warm, and the younger masters were in 

the main fresh and enthusiastic, eager to inspire us with their 

knowledge, in contrast to their older colleagues, many of 

whom were well past their use-by date! After expunging my 

BMS experience for many years, finally curiosity got the better 

76 

Back to BMS after 50 years 

(from left) Philip Bunyan, Roger Smart, David Turner and Barry 

Illingworth 

(from left) Richard Claas, Roger Smart, David Turner and 

Richard Wildman 

of me, and I contacted the secretary in 2002 regarding news 

of the School, and, through his good offices, regained contact 

with my best friend at the time, Roger Smart, and fellow 

School House 'detainee' BARRY ILLINGWORTH. From the 

reply, and the issues of Eagle News which started arriving, it 

appeared that BMS now was a vastly different place from the 

school I attended. This impression was confirmed when I 

attended an OBM reunion in Sydney in 2005, where 

STEPHEN SMITH, then Headmaster, gave us all an update on 

the School, particularly the move to new premises, cessation 

of boarding, and the introduction of co-education. Reading 

between the lines, it would appear that had it not been for his 

stewardship and foresight, BMS would have been in a very 

parlous state if it had continued in the old way, direct grant and 

assisted places entry having been abolished, and the School 

having to compete in the market for full fee-paying students. 

As I was coming to the UK in 2011 after an absence of 35 

years, I mentioned to Roger that I would be interested in 

visiting the School, and he said he would kindly arrange our 

visit.’ 

rogerbsmart@btinternet.com 

hrturner@webone.com.au 

PHILIP BUNYAN (1956-63) adds: ‘Last summer, four ex- 

School House boarders met after over 50 years. The gettogether 

was organised by BARRY ILLINGWORTH (1953- 

59) in Ross-on-Wye to celebrate the visit of David Turner from 

Melbourne. David and Roger Smart paid a visit to Bedford 

which included a tour of the school with Development Director 

Richard Claas and OBM Club Secretary Richard Wildman. 

David and Roger were impressed by the changes made at the 

school to create a more harmonious and modern environment. 

No doubt the introduction of girls has played a significant part 

in this. Incidentally, I recently met ex-School House 

contemporaries GEOFF TAYLOR (1957-62) who has his own 

building company in Coventry, and DAVID WATERS (1955 - 

61).’ 

jebunyan@yahoo.co.uk

No Room For for Crooners in In the Choir 

No Room for Crooners 

in the Choir 

by Andrew Sewell (1957-64) 

When I stir the thick soup of my memories, I am surprised to 

find personalities and events to whom and to which I have 

given no thought for more than half a life-time, suddenly arise 

fresh and clear. The trigger (or soup spoon?) in this instance is 

the mention in the May issue of the 80th birthday of Paul 

Paviour (1940-48), OAM. Paul, however, is preceded in this 

reminiscence by John Railton (Staff 1951-57), because in my 

youthful experience the two are connected as follows. 

My elder brother David (known as Sam, 1954-59, who died in 

1992), had been recruited by John Railton into the choir of St. 

Andrew’s Church in Bedford where John was organist and 

choirmaster, much admired and respected for the quality of the 

music made under his direction. Meanwhile, at my primary 

school, a certain Miss Jordan had discovered I could sing well, 

in tune and with a pleasant tone, and she encouraged me to 

improve and develop. My brother, having attended a concert 

where a choir of which I was part gave a rendition of All in the 

April Evening sufficiently well to melt the hearts of the captive 

audience of doting parents, announced he would arrange an 

audition for me with John Railton. This duly happened: I sang 

a few scales for him, he set me a few tricky intervals with the 

good old tonic sol-fa, and I was in, aged ten, and so came under 

the tutelage of a fine BMS musician before actually getting to 

the School. 

John was a gentle and softly-spoken person, but he was 

uncompromising in his pursuit of excellence in music-making. 

On one occasion I yawned during a choir practice, and he 

rounded on me: ‘You are no use to me like that. Go home!’ I 

walked home in floods of tears because I thought, in my tenyear-old 

mind, that I had been ejected permanently, and that 

was very distressing to me. Even my stolid, rather taciturn 

father could see how distraught I was, and roused himself to go 

to the church to find out what was up, but they had all gone 

home by then. It took a lot of coaxing and assurance from my 

brother to get me to return, and when I did, John Railton shook 

my hand, said ‘Welcome back,’ and added with a smile, ‘I hope 

you got enough sleep last night!’ 

John Railton was a wonderful pianist. Unlike Norman Frost 

(Staff 1941-67) who used to throw himself around at the 

keyboard, John would sit perfectly still, his face a mask, while 

beneath his fingertips exquisitely shaped musical phrases and 

cadences would emerge from the piano as if he and it were in 

a private dialogue on to which we were lucky to be allowed to 

eavesdrop. Once heard, never forgotten. When it was time for 

him to move on to greater things, he chose as his farewell gift 

the multi-volume Grove’s Dictionary of Music, and each 

choirboy was detailed to present a volume. He received Volume 

7 from my hands, with a smile and a thank-you. 

Clearly, John Railton’s shoes were going to be very difficult to 

fill at St. Andrew’s, but by a stroke of great good fortune Paul 

Paviour came forward. He seemed to be hardly older than we 

were – though in truth he was 26 – but it became clear very 

soon that he had rigorous ideas, and great energy in pursuing 

them, and there would be no retreat from the standard of 

choral singing he had inherited. He was brimful of innovations 

in the repertoire of anthems we learned, and forthright in his 

criticism of any kind of slackness in their execution. He would 

not tolerate, for instance, any slurring or swooping between the 

intervals of notes in any piece. ‘There is no room in this choir 

for Bing Crosby!’ he would declare. Apart from my brother 

David and myself there were other Modernians in the choir, 

most notably Tim Souster (1952-61) who achieved a high 

reputation as a musician and composer, prior to his death in 

1994, aged 51, and Nicholas Legge (1952-60) who could play 

on the church organ, with great aplomb, any Bach Prelude & 

Fugue one cared to specify. 

My cynical friends would say that the main attraction for me of 

choir membership was threepence (1.25p) per service and 

half-a-crown (12.5p) for weddings and funerals. Not so. Paul 

made the singing rewarding in itself, with the added 

satisfaction that under his guidance one had a sense of doing 

something well as a result of his desire for excellence. After 

the serious business, Paul would relax and show a more funloving 

side. He was capable, I remember, of wonderful 

improvisations at the piano, and we would gather round and 

challenge him with such requests as Happy Birthday to You in 

the style of Mozart or Yankee Doodle Dandy in the style of 

Beethoven, or God Save the Queen in the style of Bach, and 

off he would go extempore to the delight and amusement of us 

all. 

Paul’s indefatigable music-making showed itself another way: 

he ran a choir called The Elizabethan Singers in Bedford, and I 

was flattered to be asked by him to join it. It performed 

successfully at Bedford Music Festival by winning, I remember, 

a prize for sight reading, and a trophy for choral singing. In the 

following Monday’s English lesson, when ‘Toots’ Cooper (Staff 

1926-68), having been in the Corn Exchange audience that 

night, congratulated me on the choir’s success, he added ‘I 

hope your Exeat was in order.’ I was aghast because I had 

forgotten to get Dan Dickey (Staff 1949-80) to sign an Exeat 

for me, and we all knew what condign punishment awaited 

those out after Lock-Up with no Exeat! Fortunately, ‘Toots’ was 

only teasing. 

I could say more, but this is probably enough, except to assure 

Paul, aged 80, that he is fondly remembered back in Bedford, 

where he made more impact that perhaps he knows on the 

lives of some singers, amongst whom I am happy to number 

myself. 

77

78 

Memory Stir 

Memory Stir 

RICHARD ANTHONY 

SANDERS (1945-48) 

writes from Victoria, 

Australia: ‘I left BMS in 

July 1948, to spend two 

terms at the Collegiate 

School in Bournemouth, 

and completed the rest 

of my schooling at King’s 

School, Harrow (which 

has since closed), 

finishing as Head Boy and playing 1st XI soccer and cricket. 

When I was at school in Harrow, the vicar of the church where I 

was confirmed was Joost de Blank, who went on to become 

Bishop of Stepney and later Archbishop of Cape Town. In the 

course of my work in Melbourne, one of my assistant managers 

was South African and she happened to mention that her 

mother was the Archbishop’s first deaconess. It is truly a small 

world! I joined the ANZ Bank at the then Head Office in 

Cornhill and worked there, at 4 Threadneedle Street and 6 

Albermarle Street, during which time I also completed two years’ 

National Service. I emigrated to Australia in 1958, completing a 

few years in the punched cards and methods department, on the 

introduction of personalised redesign of customers’ special 

cheques to meet computer specifications, prior to 

computerisation. I then changed direction to branch banking, 

being appointed to various posts as branch accountant in and 

around Melbourne, including my first managerial appointment as 

assistant accountant at 394 Collins Street, where we had 184 

staff – it was quite an experience. I then had a number of posts 

as a branch manager, including one in the Western Districts of 

Victoria, before retiring as Manager (Retail Banking) at an 

Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne Branch in 1991. During my 

career I represented the Bank at tennis and table tennis both in 

the UK and Melbourne. I won the Combined London Private 

Banks Tennis Championship a few weeks before I emigrated, 

and reached the final of the junior table tennis Private Banks’ 

Singles Championship. In Melbourne, I was a member of the 

men’s tennis team which won six grand finals before I 

surrendered the racket for the golf clubs in 1970. I have only just 

given up golf. 

In retirement, I settled down to study family history which has 

been – and still is – an absorbing hobby. Several books of mine 

are in the Record Offices at Bedford and Aylesbury. These are: 

A History of a Saunders/Sanders Family covering 1487 to date 

- mostly Beds and Bucks but also in Oxon, London and Herts, 

written in conjunction with my cousins, one in Luton and the 

other in Illinois (formerly of Wellingborough); A Brief History of 

Five Families – containing two branches of the Boteler family; 

the Cordwell, Peisley and Richbell families; The Roberts Family 

of Willesden and a Supplement of the Altham family. These are 

covered from the aspect of intermarriage with my 

Saunders/Sanders ancestors and go back to the 1500s, quoting 

wills and parish records. In my research I have referred to over 

250 microfilmed parish records, and around 100 wills. I am 

nearing completion of the third edition of my own family history 

of a Saunders/Sanders family, and have been able to include 

more of my Hillingdon connections, whereby a daughter of a 

Margery Saunders, one Catherine Killigrew, became a favourite 

of Charles II and had a child by him. I have been fortunate to 

enjoy a few overseas trips in my retirement; I also brought the 

family over in 1979 when John and I attended the OBM Dinner.’ 

dicktom2@tpg.com.au 

BARRIE THORPE (1945-53) had lunch with old schoolmates 

Dr JOHN COMERFORD and PHILIP (then known as JOHN) 

SIMMS. ‘We thought other OBMs might be amused by a 

photograph of the three of us with ROGER KINGSTON, having 

just won the Beds County Junior 4 x 110 yards relay at Luton in 

1953. John and I previously had a bad day at the 1953 AAA 

Championships at Motspur Park, both being unplaced in the 

long and triple jumps. In the recent photograph we are holding 

Philip's samovar, in lieu of the cup which we handed back 58 

years ago! Roger and Hazel (ex-DAHS) live in Bournemouth 

and have been married for 56 years - three more than I have! I 

remember his schoolboy courtship causing him much grief with 

JET. His older brother Dave (D J KINGSTON) is living on the 

Isle of Wight. Best wishes to anyone who remembers us.’ 

SMECE@aol.com 

Relay team of Roger Kingston, John Simms, John Comerford 

and Barrie Thorpe

Philip Simms, John Comerford and Barrie Thorpe today 

MICHAEL WATSON (1950-1958) writes: ‘I celebrated my 70th 

birthday at a local hostelry with some of my oldest friends, 

including contemporaries MIKE CRISP and ROGER 

PATTERSON. Our friendship dates back to the time that we 

started school together, in 1945, at Goldington Road (now 

Castle Lower) School. We all joined BMS in 1950, the 

academic ones continuing after I left. Both Mike and Roger left 

the area when their respective work commitments took them off 

to pastures new. I remained in Bedford, sending my roots deeper 

and deeper into the Bedfordshire clay. We have kept in touch 

over the years, occasionally getting together, with our respective 

Michael Watson (centre) with Mike Crisp (left) and Roger 

Patterson (right) 

wives, for an evening out. We talked over old times, and our lives 

under the dictatorial headship of JET. Can you imagine wearing 

a school cap these days, with a white button sewn on top to 

denote that you were a non-swimmer? During term time, when 

the wearing of school uniform (with the shirt tucked in!) was 

compulsory at all times, I was unable to go out walking with my 

own sister because you were not allowed to socialise with 

members of the opposite sex. And then, of course, came the 

mass migration into Woolworths (just across Midland Road), 

Memory Stir 

after the end-of-term service, purely and simply because it was 

out of bounds during term time. I well remember the day that the 

school bell fell silent. It hung on the wall in the quadrangle, just 

under the eaves, on the second floor, and used to ring out to 

denote the beginning and end of break. One day, at the end of 

break, the clapper descended to the quad amongst all the boys 

returning to their classes. It landed approximately six feet in front 

of me, missing one boy by a few inches. From then on we had 

an electric bell. (The old bell, presented by the Revd ‘Piggy’ 

Langdon in 1909, remains at the School, mounted on a wooden 

frame. – Ed.) 'Toots' COOPER was the master who inspired me 

most during my time in the senior school. He taught English in a 

way that I could understand. He was the only master I ever saw 

stand up to JET. Second to him has to be BOB CLEAR. He 

was always so kind, and tolerant of my lack of ability in the 

metalwork classes. He treated every boy, whether First Form or 

Sixth Form, as an equal.’ 

michael.doreenwatson@ntlworld.com 

ED SMYTH (Smyth minor, 1952-56) writes: ‘Left to right in 

the picture (overleaf) are my son Tony, my Mom (who is now 

100), and sister, AnnaLee Atabay, in Ankara, Turkey, in the mid- 

70s. The car, a 1942 Packard 110, was originally a gift from the 

US Vice-President to President Inonu during the last war. My 

sister and her husband, Abadin (grandson of the first Minister of 

Health in the new Turkish Republic) later bought it as salvage 

from the Turkish government, and used it as their everyday car, 

eventually driving it through communist Bulgaria and through 

Austria, and shipping it to the USA from a German port. 

Widowed at 38, my sister found it was just too much to maintain, 

and the car eventually ended up with a collector in California. Of 

course, automobile manufacture in the USA was curtailed for 

war production. When in 1942/43 our family left California, 

where my father had been teaching Modern European History at 

Berkeley, to join the OSS (forerunner of the CIA), he sold the 

family car, a 1926 Essex coupè with rumble seat, to my cousin 

Rick for $15, and we did without a car until 1948. Dad helped 

with the planning for the invasion of Sicily, and later with the 

establishment of the new constitution and government after Italy 

surrendered in 1943. His appointment as American Editor-in- 

Chief of the captured German Foreign Ministry archives, stored 

in the old manor house in Whaddon, near Bletchley, Bucks, led 

us to England, and my brother WALT and me to BMS and School 

House, with my sister attending school in Stony Stratford, where, 

again, the family was without a car for several years.’ Ed added 

79

80 

Memory Stir 

later: ‘I thought you might be interested in a photo I took last 

August at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, near 

Orianenburg, Berlin, where British pound notes and US dollars 

were forged by Jewish prisoners (plates and notes were later 

found in an Austrian lake, as described in the book, Operation 

Bernhard). The former commandant’s house is now, 

appropriately, a lavatory. I was in Berlin for the 50th anniversary 

of the Wall, which was begun on 13 August 1961, and then 

visited Spain, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary and the Czech 

Republic. I also went to Dresden, now a beautiful city again, 

having been rebuilt and restored after the Anglo-American firebombing 

in February 1945.’ Ed recently found his father’s notes 

on possible English boarding schools (he thought that Stowe 

School was ‘snooty’). Ed’s thoughts about School House in the 

early 1950s include: ‘The magazines from the 1890s, featuring 

adverts for magnetic corsets and Pears soap, in the study hall 

bookshelves, above the remains of an old radio which served as 

a trash can, coal and coke used for heating and cooking, lead 

used for everything from water pipes, church roofs, toys and toy 

soldiers, Teddy boys (the louts of the day), suppressors in cars to 

block interference during the few hours of BBC TV, daily school 

milk in the quad (and the delivery thereof by electric carts with 

the operator walking in front 

to steer and stop), cars and 

trucks with one headlight on, 

fog lights and the round 

licence displayed in the front 

windshield. Wasn't that just 

yesterday?’ 

smythhoward@gmail.com 

MIKE CRISP (1950-59) writes: ‘I was most interested in JOHN 

DIXON’s reminiscences last time. It seems I must have been a 

complete innocent, as I had no idea of the existence of such 

“dens of vice” as Joe Keech's Billiards and Snooker Saloon, 

though I did visit Barbara's Bun Shop in St Loyes Street! 

However, I feel I must take issue with John's description of the 

then Headmaster and Vice Master as "a miserable pair". 

Goodness knows JET had his faults, and it was certainly difficult 

to penetrate the prudery and pomposity with which he insisted 

on surrounding himself, but under it all he did have a sense of 

humour, albeit one that, like himself, was more than a little out of 

touch with the times. I think he should be given credit for trying. 

The Revd E J BENNETT I found to be a kind and often very witty 

man who could have us in stitches in the form room with his 

eccentricities and asides. I particularly remember his praying at 

the beginning and end of term services for “Fee Leep, Duke of 

Edinburgh.” Could that mispronunciation just possibly have been, 

metaphorically of course, tongue-in-cheek?’ 

andeven@greenbee.net 

PETER LITCHFIELD (1951-61) whose obituary of his father 

JESSE (1930-35) appears elsewhere, went up to Jesus 

College, Oxford. He became a physicist studying elementary 

particles, first at CERN in Geneva, and later in the USA. Peter’s 

first wife, Pauline Kenyon, was killed in a car accident in 1971. 

In 1972 he married Suzanne Spry and they have two children, 

Michael and Kathryn (Fin). Michael married Claire Edwards and 

so Jesse had two great-grandchildren, Harry (5) and Dylan (2). 

BARRY WATSON (1953-59) writes: ‘For many years we 

classmates of the Fifties, RICHARD BURGESS, JOHN 

QUENBY (Club President), NORMAN WELLINGTON and I 

have met up regularly at School and at the House of Commons. 

This has involved a long journey from deepest Norfolk for 

Richard, so it was decided to meet on neutral ground on Friday 

2 September 2011. The venue was The Lazy Otter at Streatham 

near Ely, on the banks of the Great Ouse. After some very fine 

food, we then walked a couple of miles along the river bank. We 

agreed to repeat the event on a regular basis.’ 

btwatson@hotmail.co.uk

TERRY ROTHWELL (1954-61) and Evanne, who live at Fish 

Hoek, near Cape Town, went to Wynberg Boys’ High in August 

2011, to watch the touring BMS rugby team. Evanne writes: 

‘Unfortunately, the games had been brought forward, so we 

arrived as they finished. Here is a picture of some of the boys 

and staff, with a backdrop of Table Mountain.’ 

terry@marques.co.za 

Terry Rothwell (standing, 4th from right) with some of the BMS 

rugby squad and staff 

TIM BOON (1955-65) writes: ‘On 2 July 2011, I was joined 

by my sons ADAM (1985-92), DOMINIC (1985-94) and TOBY 

(1990-2000) to compete in the one-mile Great British Swim in 

the Royal London Docks. There were over 3000 swimmers on 

the day, with each race having around 300 participants, and 

races being started every 30 minutes. It all looked rather 

intimidating when the organiser pointed to a tiny buoy on the 

horizon, and told us that was the half one point. The start was 

quite a scramble, with a lot of swimmers employing water polo 

tactics in an attempt to get ahead of each other. However, as 

the swim progressed, the field spread out and swimmers were 

able to find their own rhythm and even enjoy the experience, but 

it was quite a relief when the finish line came in sight. Times 

were as follows: Dominic 27 mins 03 secs, Adam 28.41, Toby 

32.25, Tim 36.47. At the moment we all intend competing this 

year and would welcome any OBMs who would like to join us. 

Were there any competing last time?’ 

timmyboon@hotmail.com 

MICHAEL DANIELS (1959-64) writes: ‘Life and retirement in 

British Columbia have been excellent. My wife and I visited 

with a friend in Bedford in August 2011, en route to London 

Memory Stir 

(from left) Norman Wellington, Barry Watson, Richard Burgess 

and John Quenby 

and Southampton to catch a repositioning cruise back to New 

York and a flight to Vancouver. In retirement, we are travelling 

extensively, having made monthly excursions to California 

(October 2010), Hawaii (November 2010) and Mexico 

(February 2011). We made a 24-day trip to the Amazon last 

year, but spend most of the summer at our home in Maple 

Ridge, BC, acting as hosts to those whom we have met on our 

travels.’ 

michaeldaniels@shaw.ca 

TOM DEVESON (1957-66) wrote an obituary of the writer and 

teacher David Holbrook (1923-2011) in The Guardian on 2 

September 2011, in which he said: ‘I experienced his generosity 

and humanity as a Cambridge undergraduate more than 40 

years ago. His responses to my essays are models of their kind 

– pages of closely typed arguments, jokes, assertions, 

disagreements, suggestions and speculations, with further 

hand-written footnotes in black ink, courteous and thoughtful 

(from left) Adam, Tim, Toby and Dominic Boon 

81

contributions to the unending dialogue between generations. 

When I staged The Winter’s Tale recently with 60 ten-year-olds 

in Kilburn, North-West London, the girl in the hijab speaking 

Shakespeare’s lines about “great creating nature” was part of 

that dialogue. It would not have happened without Holbrook’s 

encouragement and example.’ 

MICHAEL GODFREY (1963-72) was awarded the OBE in the 

Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2011, for services to the 

automotive industry. Congratulations from the Club and the 

School! Mike writes: ‘I have fond memories of captaining the 3rd 

XV and playing for the 2nd X1 - also at that time introducing 

tennis, having played briefly at junior county level. I graduated 

from Brunel University with 1st Class honours in Mechanical 

Engineering, and was fortunate enough to be sponsored by 

Vauxhall Motors and then to 

be employed by Bedford 

Trucks, working on quality 

and reliability projects. I 

joined Honda in Swindon in 

1985, where I have held 

various senior positions and 

am now currently responsible 

for site facilities, safety and 

environment (including a coordinating 

role for Honda's 

other seven factories in 

Europe) as well as national and local government liaison. I 

represent Honda on linked trade organisations and am vicechair 

of the Board of Governors of the Swindon Academy. 

Marian and I have been happily married for almost 35 years, and 

our two children have gone through university and are gainfully 

employed! I am in contact with MIKE SELBY (1966-72) who 

is now in America.’ 

mikebg@btinternet.com 

NIGEL ARMSTRONG (1964-72) lives on the Isle of Arran. 

‘The scene at the Corrour Bothy that Easter, halfway on our 

tramp through the Cairngorms, has stayed with me. The large 

party straggled out along the strath. It included three 

distinguished, well at least distinguishable, figures One had a 

broken collar-bone courtesy of a teacher/pupil rugby game: 

they always seemed such a good idea in the planning Another 

wore wellington boots with some (albeit untested) panache: we 

hadn’t yet reached the boulders around the Pools of Dee. The 

82 

Memory Stir 

third was in unusually good humour, notwithstanding that his 

large canvas rucksack was supplemented by two equally large 

carrier bags that he swung by his sides, in rhythm with his gait. 

Those three were on the staff, Messrs FURNEAUX, WILSON 

and FRANKS respectively. The boys’ preparations seemed 

even less thorough, centred as they were on raids on their 

fathers’ ageing wartime kit and, perhaps worse, ageing wartime 

advice. Mothers no doubt gained comfort in the knowledge that 

the Headmaster, BRIAN KEMBALL-COOK, would be of the 

party, at least for a few days. It was rumoured that he had 

climbed the Matterhorn, although he never said. I liked that. I 

also valued bits of advice that he offered. Get to know 

something of the richness of Gaelic place names, whereupon he 

gave a short discourse on Clach nan Taillear near to the bothy 

where, with no little irony, a group of poorly-clad tailors had 

perished one winter. Think ourselves lucky: K-C’s visits to the 

hills had started BPB (before plastic bags), with dry kit 

dependent on being wrapped in oilskin. The next day dawned 

as in an Arctic Easter, indeed it was rumoured we’d almost 

walked there: hard frost and limitless blue sky. But various 

aches, pains and degrees of what I understand the alpinists call 

“glacier lassitude” meant the party began to break up. John 

Franks and I chose to kick steps up a steep snow bank (we 

wouldn’t have known how to put crampons on, never mind how 

to use them) and onto the Cairn Toul plateau. We were 

comforted in finding two other life forms up there: ptarmigan in 

their winter plumage, and a distant cross-country skier who 

seemed to be mocking our less graceful way of travelling. 

Forty years on, some might take a different view of our 

adventurous training (the subtlety of the shift from ‘arduous’ 

training was lost on me). Perhaps, like my many subsequent 

visits to the hills, it helped foster a spirit of independence in us; 

perhaps even iconoclasm. Those beginnings have meant that 

I’ve spent a disproportionate part of my life in remote places, in 

changeable weather, with wet feet. I’m grateful to BMS for 

many things, but oddly that’s by no means the least.’ 

naajap@hotmail.co.uk 

DAVE WINTER (1972-80) from Shrewsbury, and his son Ben 

completed a 100km cycle tour of Anglesey to raise vital funds 

for national charity Meningitis Research Foundation. Dave 

comments: ‘Shortly after his first birthday in December 2006, 

Ben was admitted to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in a poorly 

state, and was quickly diagnosed with meningococcal 

septicaemia. Treatment took about a week over the Christmas

period, and he made a full 

recovery. We thought we’d 

do a bike ride together to try 

and raise funds to help 

others to come away 

unscathed from this 

devastating illness.’ Ben 

and Dave completed the 

course over four legs, each 

varying between 20 and 30 

km, and found the 

experience very rewarding. 

‘We were struck by the 

kindness and generosity of campsite owners, locals and tourists 

alike’ said Dave. If you would like to donate please go to 

www.justgiving.com/Ben-Winter. Meningitis Research 

Foundation, Midland Way, Thornbury, South Glos, BS35 2BS. 

Prof NICK GROOM (1974-84) who is Professor in English at 

Exeter University, kindly sent a copy of the new edition of his 

best-seller, Introducing Shakespeare, now subtitled A Graphic 

Guide (Icon Books, 2010). ‘This version has been translated into 

German. The original edition (2001) has been translated into 

Czech, Croat, Indonesian, Serbian, Chinese (mainland only), 

Albanian and Vietnamese. I've got two contracts with OUP at 

present, in addition to Thomson’s The Seasons, which should be 

out soon.’ 

N.Groom@exeter.ac.uk 

SIMON DIFFEY (1977-80) took part in the Goodwood Revival 

‘where I was entered by the charming Count Glasius to drive a 

1963 Lotus 23B sports car in the Madgewick Cup. We were 

chuffed to be the first “privateers” home, in 5th place, especially 

as the experienced endurance racer Paul Knapfield had crashed 

into the chicane right in front of me, which necessitated a 

restart. Olav Glasius is the Count of Bennebroek, a beautiful 

hamlet just outside Amsterdam. He took my wife Sarah and me 

on an enlightening tour during our last visit. He sent the car 

over a few months before the event, and my engineer Bo Hare 

and I restored the bodywork back to its original Ermine white. 

We managed to race-prepare the car just in time for a quick test 

session at Mallory Park prior to the big day. Also at Goodwood 

I met up with PHIL STAINTON (1972-82) who had driven his 

Edwardian Silver Ghost down to join in the Rolls Royce track 

Memory Stir 

Simon Diffey in the 1963 Lotus 23B, with (from left) Bo Hare, 

Count Glasius and Sarah Adams-Diffey 

parade and another race chum, ‘Big’ TONY WILLITT (1975-77), 

who took the photograph. I also have news of DAVID WOOD 

(1995-2001), who is leading project engineer with FPM Facility 

Service Ltd, a property company which looks after the buildings 

of Luton Airport.’ 

simon@merryprinters.co.uk 

ADRIAN LEE (1978-88) and his sister Helen have donated the 

Glenys Lee Memorial Prize for Creative Writing to be awarded 

annually, in memory of their mother. The first winner is 

ALEXANDRA HALL (Year 13). This year's competition, 

judged by Mrs MONICA HETHERINGTON (Staff 1977-2011) 

was for a short story entitled 'The Bedfordshire Leavers,' a 

modern take on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and involving a 

motley assortment of 'pilgrims' journeying to St Pancras, who 

are trapped overnight in a train at Bedford station. To while 

away the hours, each traveller tells a tale. Alexandra said: ‘My 

story explores the relationship between a young boy growing up 

Alexandra Hall and Mrs Monica Hetherington 

83

in Suffolk just before the war and the ghost of an Anglo-Saxon 

prince who was buried in a mound near his house. I was 

inspired to write by a recent holiday in Suffolk when I visited the 

Saxon burial ground at Sutton Hoo’. 

MATT WHEELER (1985-90) and Sarah are the proud parents 

of James William Alan, born on 10 August 2011, a brother for 

Lizzie. (Thanks for this news to IAIN WHITE, Staff.) 

OLLIE CHINNECK (1990-2001) 

married Louise McCallum at Berkhamsted School Chapel on 9 

July 2011. OBMs in attendance were (left to right) Tom 

Howe, Alex Chinneck, Sam Howe, Ben Howe, Oli Chapman, 

Ollie Chinneck, Nick Lockwood, Justin Irvine, Steve Lyon and 

Mark Bullerwell. Photo: Natalia Reddy, kindly supplied by 

MARK BULLERWELL. 

JAMES YELLAND (1992-99) living in Leeds, is currently Chief 

Beer Buyer for ASDA. 

MARK LEE (2004-09) and his brother JORDAN (2004-11) are 

studying in the USA. Mark, who is in his second year at Eckerd 

College, in St Petersburg, Florida, writes: ‘Being on the sea we 

have access to sailing boats, which is a new experience for me. 

We have a great sports section, including the top ten nationally 

ranked basketball and volleyball teams, so the sporting ethos is 

very strong. The climate obviously helps. College work is hard 

and there is plenty to do, but we train for soccer every morning 

at 6 am, and again after school for a couple of hours. College 

work gets done at other times: life is very relaxed but 

demanding. Grades must be met or it’s no soccer! The soccer 

league we compete in is the hardest in the USA colleges. We 

travel to places like Jacksonville, Miami, and the Carolinas for 

soccer which is great. There are six of us from the UK, 

84 

Memory Stir 

including a couple of girls.’ Jordan was awarded a soccer and 

academic scholarship at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, a 

High School (VIth form equivalent), where he is the only student 

from the UK and will spend two years before going to college. 

He is captain of the U-17s soccer team, and a regular in the U- 

19s. Jordan has played in the USA national finals in Idaho, and 

soccer tournaments in Atlanta, South Carolina, Orlando, and 

Indianapolis. His day consists of soccer training from 6.15 am 

until 7.30 am, followed by breakfast and then school, starting at 

8.15 am. There is soccer training after school on three days, and 

matches or tournaments most weekends. 

For further information, go to: usasportsscholarships.co.uk 

Mark Lee playing soccer for Eckerd College

GOLF 

Ben Pile writes: ‘The OBM team of Steve 

Goddard, Colin Matthews, Chris Parry, 

Matthew Pile, Simon Pile, and myself 

played against St George’s, Weybridge, in 

the first round of the Grafton Morrish 

Public Schools Golf Trophy Final on 7 

October 2011, in blustery conditions. We 

triumphed in three quite tight matches, 

Matt and Simon winning 1 up in the front 

match, Colin and Steve victorious by 3 & 2, 

and myself and Chris running out 4 & 3 

winners in the anchor leg. A fine victory, 

but the slowness of play meant we had 

little time to rest on our laurels before 

having to go out in the afternoon in a 

second round against the highly-fancied 

Solihull team, who have won the event 

twice in recent years. Three very close 

matches ensued, with all going to the 17th 

or 18th. Unfortunately the opposition 

proved just a little too strong on this 

occasion, and we went down 3-0, but with 

honour upheld, as Solihull (who were to 

lose in the 4th round to the eventual 

winners, Birkenhead) knew they had been 

in a tough match. The OBM team were 

able to drown their sorrows and enjoy the 

evening, without having to worry too much 

about the stableford plate event the next 

day. A few drinks and a fine dinner gave 

the team a chance to reminisce about "the 

good old days" (well, Colin at least claimed 

to remember these!) and made for an 

enjoyable evening. The following morning 

we played in the stableford event in which 

we finished 5th out of over 20 teams 

competing (who themselves had all 

qualified from events all over the country), 

sport 

so this was a good performance. The 

team represented the School in fine 

fashion, and the name of BMS appeared 

in The Daily Telegraph on 8th October. 

Thanks for the support from the School 

and the OBM Club: we hope to get the 

team together next year.’ 

benpile@hotmail.com 

OBM Golf rep: Richard Ebbs 

richardebbs@sky.com 

01234 344100 or 07986 306217 

FOOTBALL 

The OBMs v The School Football matches 

will be held at the Field on Friday 23 

March 2012 (k.o. 2.30 pm). 

Please contact: 

Sam Manners (Football rep) or 

Lisa Chapple (BMS Sports Administrator) 

Tel: 01234 332655 

sportsadmin@bedmod.co.uk 

if you would like to take part. Spectators 

are also very welcome! 

WATER POLO 

The OBM Water Polo event will take place 

at the School Pool on the weekend of 

24/25 March 2012, the choice of date 

depending on whether Bedford Blues are 

playing on the Saturday, as many players 

support the Blues! 

Mark Bullerwell 

mark@behindbarsgroup.com 

ROWING 

This year’s Rowing Race Day is on 

Saturday 31 March 2012, followed by 

dinner at The Embankment. Further 

details will appear on the Club website 

www.obmclub.co.uk in due course, or 

contact: 

Michael Biggs 07882 644431 

020 8591 8972 MikeBiggs@aol.com 

James Wood writes: ‘I was interested to 

read in The Modernian (Autumn 2011) of 

the excellent results that BMS rowers 

have achieved at various international 

regattas. However, the statement on page 

20 that “Ed Munno is the first BMS 

student to compete in the World Junior 

Championships and be awarded a medal 

since former BMS pupil and Olympic 

rowing star Tim Foster,” is not correct, as 

my twin brother, Mark Wood 

(1991-2001), competed at the Junior 

World Championships in Duisburg in 2001 

and won a bronze medal as stroke of the 

GB VIII. I do not want to detract from what 

have been amazing performances by 

current BMS students, but I would like it 

noted that my brother achieved similar 

things during his school rowing career.’ 

j_n_wood@hotmail.com 

Club Sport 

Grafton-Morrish OBM team (from left): Colin Matthews, Simon Pile, Chris Parry, 

Ben Pile, Steve Goddard and Matthew Pile 

85

Club Sporting Contacts 

CLUB SPORTING CONTACTS 

CRICKET Andy Trott, 11 Stimpson Avenue, Northampton NN1 4LP 07866 557753 

FIVES Chris Ryan, 2 Merril’s Field, Biddenham, Bedford MK40 4GX 01234 352689 

GOLF Richard Ebbs, 63 Days Lane, Biddenham, Bedford MK40 4AE 01234 344100 

HOCKEY Mike Carter, 5 Clarendon Street, Bedford MK41 7SQ 01234 215441 

ROWING Michael Biggs, 2 Spinnaker Close, Barking, Essex IG11 0GS 07882 644431 

FOOTBALL Sam Manners, sammybaby7777@hotmail.com 

WATER POLO Mark Bullerwell, mark@behindbarsgroup.com 07770 390599 

Open Monday to Friday in term-time, 1.30pm to 4.30 pm (01234) 332556 

Scarves – collegiate style £21.50 Polyester Squares £10.00 

Cravats £12.25 Cufflinks £16.50 

Blazer Badge: Cloth £9.50 Metallic £22.50 Blazer Buttons (small: £1.60 each & large: £2.30 each) 

Heraldic Shields £34 

Enquiries welcome for sportswear with the BMS colours or crest 

SPECIAL OFFERS 

BMS Waterproof Fleece Lined Jackets (old stock), Large size only, bargain at £20 

BMS Rugby and Water Polo Sweaters, wool, sizes 38 and 40, £15 (cost price) 

Black and Red ‘hooped’ old-style Rugby shirts, cotton, sizes 38 & 40, £20 (price of new-style BMS reversible polyester strip is £32) 

White cotton Rugby shirts, long sleeves, all adult sizes, £8 (to clear) 

Long-sleeved Cricket Sweaters trimmed around the neck in school colours £16 – most sizes, Slipovers £13 – most sizes 

For above items, please indicate size(s) required and make cheques payable to ‘BMS Shop’, adding at least £1.50 p&p 

TIES 

BEDFORD MODERN SCHOOL SHOP 

Sole official suppliers of OBM Club items 

Club Ties £11.50 Silk £27 Bow Ties (pre-folded) £9.50 

Obtainable only through the Secretary or the School reception. 

Please send cheques for ties (to ‘OBM Club’) to the Club Secretary at the School, and add £1.50 p&p (sent by recorded delivery) 

BMS Choir in ‘Songs of Praise’ 

The BMS Choir was invited to participate in a commemorative service to remember the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. 

Staff and about 50 students from BMS were performing as members of the congregation at the service in the Church of Christ the 

Corner Stone, Milton Keynes, which was broadcast on ‘Songs of Praise’ (BBC One) on Sunday 11 September 2011. 

Information please 

JOHN CHRISTOPHER POINTER (1942-47), County House 

Mrs Beryl Marshall (nee Pointer) would like to know Mr Pointer’s whereabouts, as he is her father’s youngest cousin. The Club 

lost touch with Mr Pointer after he moved in 2002. (beryl.marshall4808@yahoo.co.uk or contact the Club Secretary) 

86

S T A N L E Y 

W A L T E R 

WALKER (Head 

Groundsman 

1970-80) died 

suddenly on 7 July 

2011, aged 93. 

Stan, who lived in 

Stevington, 

followed J P 

HEAZELL, who 

had taken over 

when C L ‘Fiddy’ 

ROGERS retired in 1959. When Stan 

retired, BRIAN CRANE was Head 

Groundsman for about 18 months, and was 

succeeded by BOB FOLDS, who held the 

post from 1982 until he retired in 2009. 

Bob, who knew Stan slightly, remembers 

him as a friendly person, who obviously 

enjoyed his job. 

JESSE PHILIP LITCHFIELD (1930-35) 

County House, died on 20 August 2011, 

aged 93. His son PETER (1951-61) said 

at the funeral: ‘My father Jess was born in 

Riseley, the youngest of a family of four by 

nearly 20 years, and something of an 

afterthought. The family were the village 

craftsmen. His father, followed by his elder 

brother, was a wheelwright and carpenter, 

his mother ran the village shop and his sister 

married the village blacksmith. At the age 

of 11, Jess won a scholarship to BMS 

where he got good school certificate results 

and these days would have gone on to 

university. However, his father said it was 

time he got a job and earned his keep and 

he joined Barclays Bank in Luton. It was 

there that he met, at a dance, Vera Preece 

who would become his beloved wife. When 

the war broke out he quickly joined up. He 

wanted to join the navy but the recruiting 

sergeant diverted him into the Royal 

Marines. As a grammar school boy he was 

interviewed for a commission but when the 

board discovered that he had no 

independent means to cover his mess bills, 

he remained in the ranks. It was while he 

was training in Scotland in 1941 that he got 

leave to return to Riseley to marry Vera. 

Everything was arranged but a last minute 

hitch occurred when it turned out that Vera 

had not been baptised. “Don’t worry”, said 

the vicar, “she can be baptised on Sunday 

and married on Monday.” So Jess was her 

godfather one day and her husband the 

next. His military career was a chapter of 

accidents, including finding his unit had left 

without him after he returned from a short 

illness, which spared him landing on the 

beaches on D-Day. Instead he spent most 

of the war in the Far East, fighting the 

Japanese down the Malay peninsula, and 

was in a landing craft heading to invade 

Hong Kong when the atom bomb ended the 

war. Despite the army’s notorious tendency 

to put square pegs in round holes, they 

seemed to have got Jess right in that he 

ended up as the regimental pay sergeant. 

In 1942 I was born, coincidentally on the 

same day (16 May) as Jess. In 1947 

William Philip (Will) was born. Will followed 

Jess into Barclays Bank, but into the 

technical department where he played a 

major role in computerising the bank. In 

1972 he married Trisha Green and they had 

three children, Phillip, who is also a particle 

physicist working in the same field as 

myself, Cassandra (Cassie) and Joel (Jo). 

After the war Jess rejoined Barclays Bank 

and progressed through the ranks in 

Bletchley, Bedford and Wolverton, ending up 

as manager of the Hoddesdon branch. He 

was an old-fashioned banker, nothing like 

the whizz-kids who go by that name today. 

He ran a well ordered and profitable bank. 

Perhaps his major achievement was in 

providing the loans that enabled the 

resurrection of the moribund market 

gardening industry in the Hoddesdon area, 

in the face of the scepticism of his upper 

management. When he retired in 1978, he 

and Vera went to live in Letty Green where 

they tended their garden and travelled the 

Obituaries 

OBITUARIES 

Jesse Litchfield and his great grandson 

Harry 

world. Vera died in 1994 and Jess was 

never quite the same afterwards. He lived 

alone in Letty Green until 2003 when he 

moved to the assisted living accommodation 

at Broad Oak Manor. He was independent 

until about a year ago when he had to move 

into the nursing home. He liked Broad Oak 

and his care there was exemplary, right up 

to the end. Jess was a stalwart of the 

Hoddesdon Rotary club, serving as its 

president and acting as treasurer for the 

annual traction engine rally. He was also 

treasurer of the Haileybury Friends of the 

Home Farm Trust, a charity for people with 

learning disabilities. He was a member of 

the Ancient Britons and supported their 

charitable activities. In his youth Jess was a 

crafty spin bowler and a talented badminton 

player, often with Vera in front of him at the 

net. As he got older he turned to golf and 

bowls. Both Jess and Vera bowled for their 

county, though Jess tended to keep it quiet 

that Vera could beat him. He played good 

enough bridge to win the wine at his local 

club until very recently, finally giving up when 

he said he could no longer remember the 

cards. His subscription to Sky Sports was 

company for him through the years after 

Vera’s death. He was also a great gardener. 

His garden at Letty Green was always 

immaculate and a riot of colour. It was one 

of the highlights of the annual village garden 

open day. Even in the depths of winter there 

was always something blooming in his 

garden. He loved pottering in his 

87

greenhouse raising his own bedding plants, 

tomatoes and grapes, which he turned into 

Chateau Letty Green. His fruit cage 

provided enough strawberries and 

raspberries to fill their freezer for a whole 

year. Jess was the kindest of men. 

Everybody he came across liked and 

respected him. He will be much missed by 

all his family and friends.’ 

pjl@physics.umn.ed 

KENNETH GEORGE COVINGTON 

(1929-35) South House, died suddenly at 

home in Lincolnshire on 20 September 

2011, aged 92. As reported last time, Ken 

visited the School on 28 March 2011, with 

his daughter Susan and her husband 

Robert. Ken was born in Argentina, and, 

whilst at BMS, lived at his aunt’s home in 

Sandhurst Road. He excelled at boxing, 

then part of the physical education 

curriculum. On returning to Argentina, he 

did military service in the Argentinian 

Grenadier Guards (including a spell in the 

mounted Presidential Guard), before 

travelling back to the UK after the outbreak 

of war, to join the British Army, in which he 

served in the RASC, in North Africa, Sicily, 

Italy, France and Germany. After the war, 

Ken, who did not want to be an accountant, 

as his father wished, went back to Argentina 

again and became manager of a 

department store in Buenos Aires. Whilst 

there he married and had a family, before 

coming back to the UK in 1954 to be 

manager of two privately-owned family 

stores, and then service manager for 

Waitrose, having responsibility for opening 

new stores throughout the country. Ken, 

who became a widower in 2002, was a 

great-grandfather. 

88 

Obituaries 

JOHN WYNDHAM CARLTON (1933-39) 

South House, died at home in Canada on 6 

May 2011, aged 89. DAVID YORKE 

(1952-59) writes: ‘My uncle, who was 

relatively small of stature, coxed House and 

School VIIIs. He had a distinguished war 

record, rising to the rank of major, and was 

stationed in Malta during the siege. After 

the war he served in the Territorial Army, The 

Queen’s Own Surrey Regiment, before 

emigrating to Canada with his family in the 

1950s to live in Calgary, Alberta. He spent 

the rest of his working life as a teacher, 

eventually becoming Principal of the Prince 

of Wales High School in Calgary. John and 

Vera enjoyed a very happy and active 

retirement in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver 

Island. Although living in Canada for many 

years, John retained the greatest affection 

and loyalty to the mother country, and visited 

family in Britain on several occasions. He 

also retained a fierce loyalty to BMS and 

kept in touch either directly, or through me. 

Throughout his life he displayed all the best 

characteristics imbued in him at BMS, of 

which all members of his extended family 

were very proud.’ The Calgary Herald said: 

‘John was very proud of his service to the 

Calgary Board of Education as teacher and 

Principal (Mount View, Fred Seymour, and 

Prince of Wales). John was the ultimate 

professional, dedicating many hours to 

providing support and leadership in the 

Alberta Teachers’ Association, at local and 

provincial level. John's love of the arts, in 

particular Gilbert and Sullivan, led him to 

many wonderful school productions of The 

Mikado and HMS Pinafore. John had 24 

wonderful years of retirement in beautiful 

Qualicum Beach, golfing and getting 

involved in town and strata business. John 

leaves Vera, his loving wife of forty-two 

years, their four children, five grandchildren, 

and two great-grandchildren.’ 

yorke906@btinternet.com 

HENRY (Harry) LLOYD BUXTON 

(1934-41) County House, died on 28 July 

2011, aged 88. FRED SAMUELS 

(1964-72) writes: ‘After leaving School, 

Harry joined the RAF and completed his 

training (lucky Harry!) in the US Navy base 

at Pensacola, Florida, after which he was 

appointed to Ferry Command. Whilst based 

in Montreal, Canada, Harry met Margaret, 

whom he would marry in 1944. After the 

war Harry and Margaret returned to 

England, where he completed his BSc 

degree at Cambridge. Upon graduation 

Harry joined Shell and returned to Canada 

to take up his first appointment in Lachine, 

Quebec. Harry and Margaret lived in 

Montreal, Quebec, Burnaby (British 

Columbia), Chester in England, and finally 

Oakville, Ontario, where they retired. During 

their 67 years together Harry and Margaret 

raised nine children and had 29 

grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. 

Surprisingly, Harry also found time to 

volunteer at his church and the Oakville 

Historical Society where he was at one time 

President. For his sustained volunteer 

contributions, Harry was awarded the 

Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage 

Award in 2009. Harry was one of the 

founding members and the "elder 

statesman" of the OBM Canada Chapter, 

and regularly attended our monthly dinners 

in Toronto until he found himself slowing

down after a stroke a few years ago. He will 

be remembered for his wit and wise words 

and as a gentleman.’ 

Sevnoaks@aol.com 

ALLAN NORMAN ANSELL (1935-42) 

County House, died on 31 May 2011, aged 

86. STEVEN ANSELL (1986 -92) writes: 

‘My grandfather was born in Shefford, Beds, 

the eldest son of 

Frank and Ivy 

Ansell, and brother 

to NEIL (1941-45), 

who now lives in 

Hertfordshire. 

Allan won a 

scholarship to 

BMS, where he 

excelled at sport, 

becoming captain of the rugby team, and a 

member of the school rowing team. When 

Allan left school he joined the Royal Scots 

Greys, intending to go to India as an officer 

in the Indian Army; however, he was 

hospitalised, preventing him from going with 

the six-monthly draft. Demonstrating his 

typical impatience, Allan joined the RAF to 

train as a pilot, and was posted to Canada 

for training. However, the war ended before 

his training was complete, so he returned to 

England. He left the RAF and went to work 

with his father on his fruit farm in 

Melbourne, Cambridgeshire. Allan decided 

to get his pilot’s wings during his spare time, 

so he trained at Marshalls Airport in 

Cambridge. He rejoined the RAF, qualified 

as a pilot, and was then posted to Yorkshire 

and subsequently to RAF Kabrit in Egypt as 

a night fighter pilot. Whilst serving in Egypt, 

Allan contracted polio and was left severely 

disabled. However, after eighteen months at 

Headley Court and thanks to his sheer 

determination and grit, he again flew 

aeroplanes. Allan’s last posting was to Little 

Rissington, Gloucestershire, where he was 

a flight instructor. After leaving the RAF, 

Allan worked for Barclays Bank until he 

retired. He enjoyed his long retirement, and 

always spoke fondly to me about his time at 

BMS. Allan was delighted to come along 

and watch me in the XV (B) in my early 

years at school.’ 

Steven.Ansell@uia.co.uk 

THOMAS BRIAN SMITHSON (1942-45) 

South House, died in Bedford Hospital on 9 

September 2011, aged 84. The Revd 

MARTIN SMITHSON (1965-74) writes: ‘My 

father, who was always known as Brian, was 

born in Bradford. His father was a 

Methodist minister, which involved the family 

in regular 

moves to new 

appointments. 

When they 

came to 

Bedford, Brian 

and his younger 

brother DAVID 

(1942-46) 

joined BMS. 

David also 

became a Methodist minister and served for 

many years in India, before returning to this 

country when he was appointed to serve in 

Manchester. Sadly, he died (aged 55) in 

1983, leaving his wife Beryl and three 

children. On leaving School, Brian trained as 

a veterinary surgeon. He returned to 

Bedford following his training, and worked 

as a vet in the town, in two different 

practices, for over 40 years. It was on his 

return to Bedford that he met Margaret, 

whom he married in 1955. They lived in 

Kempston for nearly all of their married lives. 

In earlier years Brian’s work was varied and 

included both farm animals and domestic 

pets. He was well-known on many of the 

farms around Bedford. Later he 

concentrated more on small animals and 

particularly surgery, for which he developed 

a high reputation. Brian’s skill with his 

hands was not only put to good use on the 

operating table. He was a superb 

water-colour artist, specialising in flowers, 

many of which he had grown himself. His 

work was extremely detailed, often involving 

a magnifying glass and an extremely fine 

brush. His painting received an award from 

the Royal Horticultural Society and some of 

his paintings were published in the form of 

greetings cards. His other main interest 

was his garden at his home in Kempston, 

which he developed and cared for with great 

Obituaries 

skill and knowledge over the years. Brian 

was an avid reader, being especially fond of 

Thomas Hardy and other classic authors. 

His love for and knowledge of words made 

him an expert solver of crossword puzzles. 

He continued to enjoy his garden and his 

life at home, even after being diagnosed 

with cancer in 2010, spending only the last 

week of his life in hospital. He is survived 

by his wife Margaret, their son Martin and 

daughter Julia, and five grandchildren.’ 

mt.smithson@ntlworld.com 

BRIAN ARTHUR BLACK (1938-45) North 

House, died on 6 July 2011, aged 82. His 

exact contemporary DEREK NORMAN 

remembers that Brian lived for all of his 

married life in the estate Goldington. Brian 

leaves his wife Joy and sons Ian (who was 

Headmaster of a local school and used to 

play for Bedford ‘Ath’), Stephen and Andrew. 

DAVID LYCETT KNIGHTS (1940-47) 

East House, died peacefully at home in 

Rushden on 28 July 2011, aged 82, 

following a short illness. He leaves his wife 

Betty, daughter Gaynor and son Michael, 

who mentions that David had a number of 

friends in the OBM Club and used to attend 

Club events when he was fitter. 

JOHN COURTENAY MILWARD (1941-45) 

County House, died on 8 February 2011, 

ten days before his 82nd birthday, in 

Bedford Hospital, following complications 

arising from an operation. His son 

ANDREW (1968-73) writes: ‘My father 

worked for 

George Fischer 

Castings in 

Bedford for 

many years after 

his return in 

1948 from 

National Service 

with the Royal 

Signals in 

Singapore. On 

89

etiring from GF, after seeing the closure of 

the works (now the site of Britannia Wharf 

housing development), he lived quietly in 

Wilstead, but still managed to travel abroad 

frequently, when he was not supporting and 

helping Bedford and County Athletics Club.’ 

The following tribute was published on their 

website: ‘John Milward was the club’s 

greatest and most loyal servant from 1954. 

John started his career at the club as a 

distance runner but soon became central to 

the club’s administration and development, 

providing commitment and expertise as 

coach, technical official and club officer, 

holding a wide variety of posts, including 

fixture secretary, officials’ secretary, 

statistician, records keeper, and announcer 

as well as being treasurer for a good 

number of years. John was meticulous in 

everything he did and always had the Club's 

best interests at heart. When working out 

the statistics for our club awards, for 

instance, he would strive to be as fair as 

possible to every athlete and would spend 

hours poring over results, worried lest 

someone might be forgotten or feel 

undervalued. As a humble person, John 

never sought praise for what he did but 

always gave credit to others where it was 

due. In later years, with the advent of 

computers and the internet ‘John steadfastly 

refused to enter into the modern 

technological age, preferring to work on his 

battered old typewriter and use snail mail. 

John will be greatly missed by his family, 

close friends and friends at Bedford & 

County and throughout the athletics 

community in Bedfordshire.’ 

amilward@aol.com 

ROBERT WARDEN OWEN (1940-45) 

County House, died suddenly on his farm in 

Occold, Suffolk, on 10 March 2011, aged 

80, as briefly recorded last time. JIM 

WOODGER (1954-65, Past President), 

who knew Robert as a client of his 

veterinary practice, kindly sent us the 

obituary from the Diss Express (8 April 

2011). Robert left School at 15 to take 

over the family farm in Marston Moreteyne 

with his brother. He was chairman of 

Bedford Young Farmers’ Club and later of 

90 

Obituaries 

Bedford Agricultural Executive Committee, 

and was a JP for 13 years, before moving to 

Suffolk, where he was also a very popular 

figure. He leaves his wife Grace (they 

would have celebrated their Diamond 

Wedding last year), three daughters, one 

son and 11 grandchildren. He was the 

brother of ANTHONY (1944-50) and the 

uncle of GUY (1981-84). 

JOHN MARSOM (1942-50) 

County 

House, 

died on 4 

November 

2011, aged 

80. 

PHILIP 

(Eddie) 

R U T T 

(1943-52) 

writes: 

‘John died 

at the Stone House Care Home, near 

Aylesbury. He was suffering from 

Parkinson's Disease and had been nursed 

at home over a long period by his wife 

Marcia. John's father kept the fine old 

English inn The Crown at Northill, which had 

been in the family for generations. John 

is well remembered by his close friends at 

BMS, PETER GARRATT, STUART 

HOUGHTON and myself. We all recall his 

dry sense of humour. John's fine physique 

equipped him for being the outstanding 

athlete he was - a very fast wing 

three-quarter in the 1st XV and a quick 

bowler for the 1st XI. A fine sprinter, he 

excelled at the 100 yards and 220 yards, 

and in the long jump. Perhaps he was most 

proud of having taken eight wickets for 

three runs on his first appearance for the 

1st XI in 1949. On leaving School, John 

performed his National Service in the RAF, 

then joined the Royal Insurance Group in 

Bedford. Eventually he became local 

manager of General Accident in Aylesbury, 

before setting up his own brokerage in 

1987, from which he retired ten years ago. 

John continued to play rugby after BMS, 

playing for the Bedford ‘Ath’ as well as the 

OBMs. He played cricket for Ickwell, where 

he captained the team. In 1966 John 

married Marcia Geach (ex-Convent School, 

step-daughter of ERIC HOWARD, 1926 

-31). Their happy marriage was to last for 

45 years. They had three daughters, 

Kathryn, Elizabeth and Claire, and four 

grandchildren to whom, together with 

Marcia, we extend our deepest sympathies.’ 

DEREK NORMAN (1940-45) adds: 

‘Despite his laid-back attitude (sport was fun 

and was to be enjoyed), John was a prolific 

try scorer, thanks to his electric pace. He 

had, of course, the privilege of playing 

outside two of the Bedford Ath’s best centre 

three-quarters, PETER MEARS (1935-41) 

and the late PERCY SCRIVENER 

(1927-30). John’s athletic prowess was 

such that, without being a member of an 

athletic club, he once entered the 100-yards 

sprint in the Bedfordshire Championships, 

coming a very close 3rd in the final.’ 

philiprutt312@btinternet.com 

DEREK JAMES LIDDEY-SMITH (D J 

SMITH at BMS, 1941-48) 

North House, died on 23 April 2011 in Norwich 

from pro- state cancer, aged 79. Mrs 

Rebecca Elliott writes: ‘Whilst at School, my 

father was a 

chorister and he 

had fond 

memories of 

singing in the 

BBC Religious 

S e r v i c e s 

broadcasts from 

Bedford during 

Portrait by Hilary Moore 

the war. He was 

at one point very 

involved in the OBM Lodge, of which he had 

been Master. Born Derek James Smith in 

Bedford in 1931, my father did not change 

his name to Liddey-Smith until he was in his 

40s. He spent his working life as printing 

manager for first, Watford Town Council, and 

then, Cumbria County Council. He retired 

early to run a B&B in the Yorkshire Dales

efore retiring fully to North Norfolk, where 

he spent the last 15 years of his life. He 

leaves his wife Elsie, three children and four 

grandchildren.’ 

elliott944@btinternet.com 

JOHN REGINALD SANDERS (1945-48) 

Shakespeare House, died on 1 February 

2011 aged 77. The Editor apologises for 

several inaccuracies in the obituary last time, 

which were his responsibility. RICHARD 

ANTHONY (Dick) SANDERS (1945-48) 

writes from Melbourne: ‘I am John’s 

surviving brother, our youngest brother Keith 

(not an OBM) having died of a brain tumour 

in 1996. I followed John to BMS at the start 

of the Christmas Term 1945, in 

Shakespeare House under Mr E H 

PROUDFOOT and his wife.’ See Dick’s 

item in ‘Memory Stir.’ 

dicktom2@tpg.com.au 

STANLEY 

GARFIELD 

PERRY (Wg 

Cdr retd) 

(1949-52) 

North House, 

f o r m e r 

Secretary of 

Bunyan Meeting in Bedford, died on 26 May 

2011, after a long illness, aged 77. Stan 

joined the RAF on leaving School, and spent 

25 years as a navigator, including service in 

Italy, before being promoted to Wing 

Commander and put in charge of No 115 

Squadron, Brize Norton, an unusual 

appointment for a navigator. After retiring 

from the service, Stan, who enjoyed meeting 

people and taking part in sport and music 

(especially choral singing – he once sang in 

a 400-strong choir at the Albert Hall), was 

appointed Secretary of Bunyan Meeting. 

Stan regularly went to Edgbaston to watch 

the Test match. He was married for 53 

years to JENNY (former BMS Library staff); 

their sons WILLIAM (1971-81) and 

MATTHEW (1975-82) both spoke at the 

funeral in Bunyan Meeting. Stan’s brothers 

are DAVID (1949-51) and CHRIS 

(1949-55, School Bursar 1962-98, Past 

President and Fellow of the Club). 

DAVID GORDON WALKER (1951-55) 

East House, 

d i e d 

peacefully on 

8 July 2011, 

after a long 

illness, aged 

73. RICHARD 

H A N D Y 

(1989-98) 

writes: ‘My 

great-uncle 

joined BMS 

when his family moved to Bedford from 

Norfolk. On leaving School he took a 

position with Lindum (Lincoln) Ltd as a 

trainee quantity surveyor. During this time 

David had an accident whilst driving the 

firm’s van. This left him confined to a 

wheelchair for the rest of his life. David 

Obituaries 

completed his training as a house designer 

and initially worked with Marshman, Warren 

and Taylor. However, owing to the demand 

for his own designs he soon set up his own 

business, David Walker Associates. His 

designs and plans have been used for many 

residential buildings in and around Bedford 

and further afield. Although David lived 

most of his adult life in Higham Ferrers, he 

kept his contact with Bedford throughout 

his life. He was a founder member of the 

Bedford and District Access Committee and 

served as the chairman for many years, up 

until his death. He was proud of the group’s 

work in making life easier for people with all 

kinds of disabilities. He is survived by his 

sister Margaret and will be greatly missed 

by his family, friends and all who knew him. 

David was a big man with a great 

personality and love of life.’ 

richhandy@hotmail.com 

ALFRED JOHN TATMAN (1951-56) 

County House, who died peacefully on 26 

November 2010, aged 71, worked for Gibbs 

& Dandy, builders’ merchants, in Bedford for 

37 years. In rowing, he was cox of the 

Colts ‘A’ in 1955. John leaves his wife, their 

two children and three grandchildren. 

(Thanks to Mrs Tatman and to MIKE 

COOPER, Staff). 

ROGER COLIN FOX (1969-72) West 

House, was killed in a car crash on 22 July 

2011, aged 56. 

Dr MARK POWLSON (1967-75) North 

House, died on 5 September 2011, aged 

52. His brother CARL (1980-91) writes: 

‘Mark was born in Dartford, Kent, and 

attended several schools before joining 

BMS. He qualified as a doctor at Guy’s 

Hospital in London, where he was editor of 

the Guy’s Hospital Gazette. Posts at several 

hospitals followed, culminating in the 

position of senior registrar at Shrewsbury 

Hospital. Mark then took a change of 

direction into medical journalism, becoming 

assistant editor of The Lancet and 

91

subsequently a senior civil servant at the 

Department of Health, where he edited the 

Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report. Mark 

had a passion for literature, cooking and 

gastronomic holidays. Mark leaves a son, 

Gareth, currently studying at Leeds 

University.’ 

STUART DAVID RANDALL (1977-82) 

South House, died on 8 June 2011 from 

liver cancer, aged 47. 

PAUL MASON (1978-81) East House, died 

on 24 April 2002, aged 37. His sister 

Margaret kindly let us know, following the 

recent death of their father. Paul, who was 

a keen football supporter, had three sons, 

one of whom has played for Cambridge 

United Under 11s, whilst the eldest is now 

at university. 

ALEXANDER PAUL WILSON (2000-05) 

Tilden House, died on 7 October 2011 from 

malaria, aged 25, whilst travelling in 

Namibia. JACK LEADBETTER 

(1998-2005) writes: ‘For anybody to die at 

that age is tragic, but particularly for 

92 

Obituaries 

Roland Stanbridge in 1954 

someone who was supposed to be on the 

trip of a lifetime across Africa, with friends 

from Clifford Chance Law School. Every 

person you speak to will have their own 

memory of Alex. Whether this was him 

dancing around in his boxer shorts for Tilden 

House, hitting golf balls teed up on beer 

bottles in Letchworth, or getting stuck in a 

lift on a school trip to France, the common 

theme in all stories was of an excitable, funloving 

and mischievous friend. As Alex went 

to Cardiff University, we didn’t see as much 

of him as we did at BMS, but his warmth 

and humorous nature meant that the 

months which went by without seeing him 

felt almost seamless. Alex’s kindness was 

unrelenting, even if you really didn’t want 

that lift in his J-Reg rusty white Corsa. Alex 

was remembered in a service at All Saints’ 

Church, Sudbourne, Suffolk on 28 October 

2011. Our thoughts and condolences are 

with his mother Cheryl, father Nigel, and 

sisters ELIZABETH (2006-08) and 

Katherine.’ TOM PARKMAN (1994-2005) 

adds: ‘In a third team cricket match, when I 

was captain, Alex bowled a string of no 

balls/wides within his first six balls. The 

umpire told Alex he must continue until we 

had at least six 'good balls' bowled. On his 

16th ball, he dollied a ball up, the batsman 

came down the wicket to slog him for yet 

another boundary, but sliced it straight to me 

and was out! I could never forget such an 

event.’ 

jack.leadbetter@btinternet.com 

The late Roland Stanbridge (1940-45) 

MIKE STANBRIDGE (1950-58) is writing a biography of his brother ROLAND 

(1940-45), South House, the eminent violinist, who died in 1989. ‘Being 12 years 

younger than my brother, I know very little about his early life. Would any OBM of the early 

1940s who remembers Roland, please contact me, by e-mail (address below), or 

through the Club Secretary? Roland was awarded a scholarship at the Royal College 

of Music at the age of 16 for his violin proficiency and musical ability. This achievement 

at a very young age was displayed on the BMS honours boards amongst other university 

placements. He won the Queen’s Prize for Music at the RCM in 1947 and after two 

years’ National Service in the Band of the RAF, he went on to play in numerous orchestras 

- ultimately becoming leader of the Philharmonia, the Bergen Symphony, the 

Bournemouth Symphony and the Royal Ballet Orchestras, amongst others. He toured 

the world with various orchestras, spoke French, German and Italian fluently and became 

a wine connoisseur, a gourmet and an absolutely wonderful cook. After a very successful 

career he died of a heart attack, aged 59.’ 

micstanb@btinternet.com

Eagle News Directory 

Accountants 

John Wildman (67-74) 

15 Grove Place, Bedford, MK40 3JJ, 

01234 358800. www.jwaccounts.com 

David Birch (67-74), and Mark Standish 

(68-78). Mazars, Milton Keynes 

01908 664466 

Chartered accountants and business advisors 

working with owner managed businesses, 

private individuals and international groups. 

Agricultural Contractors and JCB Hire 

A & A Lammie (47-52) (78-81). 

Church Farm, Tempsford, Sandy. 

01767 640272 

01860 404871 

07860 404871. 

Architects 

Stephen Day BA (Hons) DipArch RIBA 

(84-89) – Fabric Architects, 

24 Mabel Grove, Nottingham, NG2 5GT, 

0115 9819243, 07967 387944, 

office@fabricarchitects.co.uk, 

fabricarchitects.co.uk 

Stuart Devonshire BA (Hons) BArch RIBA 

(88-95) – mk40 architects 

46 Harpur Street 

Bedford 

MK40 2QT 

01234 330646, 07786 858221 

sdevonshire@mk40architects.com 

www.mk40architects.com 

mk40 architects is a young practice interested 

in producing architecture that is derived from an 

understanding of the client’s aspirations and 

brief and the project’s site and context. We 

have a broad portfolio of work from new build 

houses and extensions to educational buildings 

and sports facilities. 

Asset Finance 

Robert Piggott (77-82) 

Red Eagle Finance Ltd, 07725 198754 

Commercial asset finance brokerage 

specialising in Hire Purchase and Leasing for 

business users 

Books – Antiquarian, Secondhand 

Peter Budek (73 – 80). Eagle Bookshop, 103 

Castle Road, Bedford 

01234 269295 

www.eaglebookshop.co.uk. 

Building Contractors 

Richard (Dick) Gray (64-71) – R.P. Gray Ltd 

01234 772007 

14 Wilden Road, Renhold, Bedford 

MK41 0JP rp_gray@yahoo.co.uk 

www.rpgray.co.uk 

NHBC registered House Builder - est. 1980. 

Commercial, industrial domestic. 

Car Sales 

John Mantle (in memory of his father, 

Ian, 30-37) 

Mantles Group Ltd, 115 London Road, 

Biggleswade, SG18 8EX 

01767 602700 www.mantles.co.uk 

Long established family business specialising in 

Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi and MG motor cars. 

Andrew Soul (64 – 72), see under 

Coach Hire 

Chartered Surveyors 

Andrew Lester MRICS (68 – 76) 

AML Surverys and Valuation Ltd, 4 Burrows 

Road, London, NW10 5SG, 

0208 9607573, 

andrew.m.lester@btinternet.com. 

www.a-m-l.co.uk 

Giles Ferris Bsc Hons, MRICS (82 – 91) 

Stimpsons Eves, 74a High Street, Newport 

Pagnell, Milton Keynes, MK16 8AQ, 

01908 611408, www.stimpsonseves.co.uk. 

Giles.ferris@stimpsonseves.co.uk 

A well established local firm of chartered 

surveyors 

Coach Hire 

Andrew Soul (64-72). Soul Garages Ltd, Olney 

& Milton Keynes, 01234 244300 

Franchised dealership for Subaru, Fiat, Daihatsu, 

MG Rover and Proton. Sales, Service & parts. 

Dentist 

Andrew Fox (79 – 81). Ballard & Tucker, Saffron 

Road, Biggleswade, Beds, SG18 8DJ, 

01767 312970 

Engineers – Civil & Structural 

Neil Johnson (64-71) – Unit 9, Beancroft Farm, 

Beancroft Road, Marston Moreteyne, Bedford, 

MK43 0QE, Tel: 01234 768684, Fax 01234 

768707, neil@nja-group.co.uk www.njagroup.co.uk 

Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers: 

Building Design Consultants 

Garage Services 

John Mantle 

(in memory of his father, Ian, 30-37) 

Mantles Group Ltd, 115 London Road, 

Biggleswade, SG18 8EX 

01767 602700 

www.mantles.co.uk 

Long established family business 

specialising in Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi and MG 

motor cars. 

Financial Advisor 

Charlie Wade (86-97) 

Specialising in personal and corporate finance, 

including investments, pensions, life assurance 

and mortgages. Based in London and Milton 

Keynes. 

07958 997001 

Charlie@themartincliffepractice.co.uk 

Graphic Design & Corporate Event 

Organiser 

Oliver Gee (01 – 08) 

Red Occasions Ltd, Studio A, 6 Bromham Road, 

Bedford, MK40 2QA. 020 8960 7573, 

0845 1226638, oliverg@redoccasions.com, 

www.redoccasions.com 

A communication company based in Bedford. 

Our three main divisions: Events, Design & Web 

and Video production. We can offer a 

standalone service or an integrated 

communication solution. 

Guest House/Self-Catering 

Roger Burgess (60-68). Park Hall, 

West Wales, 4 Star self catering, max 20 

01545 560996 

www.park-hall.co.uk 

Edwardian gentleman’s residence, set in 

4.5 acres of ground. Perfect for reunions, family 

holidays, celebrations. 

Health Insurance 

Paul Nash (73-80), 

Western Provident Association 

01234 824770 

Paul.Nash@wpa.org.uk, 

www.wpa.org.uk/paulnash. 

Directory 

Health Insurer of the Year 2007 

(Insurance Times 2007) 

93

Insurance 

Directory 

John Miller (60-69) – Bell HealthCare, 29/31 

Station Road, Hinckley, Leics 

LE10 1AP, 01455 251199 

john.miller2@towergate.co.uk 

Internet Communications Agency 

Matthew Burgess (88-97). Phew. 

0845 125 9070 

www.phewdesign.com 

Logistics and Supply Chain Consultancy 

Bruce Cornfoot (86-91). Tamaris Consulting 

Ltd. info@tamarisconsulting.com. 

0844 884 2658 

Derbyshire-based boutique management 

consultancy helping medium to large companies 

create world class end-to-end supply chains. 

Management Systems Consultancy 

Ian McIver (60-67) 31 Hartshill, Bedford, 

MK41 9AL, 01234 328816 or 

07968 568057. ian@ianmciver.freeserve.co.uk 

Creation & implementation of practical systems 

to manage businesses and achieve 

accreditation to external standards 

Mortgages 

Mark Leach (72-81) – Independent Mortgage 

Intermediary, 01234 772772, 

mtleach@btconnect.com 

Optometrist 

Jan Kuszlewicz (67-75) – John Kaye, 

8 Library Walk, Putnoe, Bedford, 

01234 325060 

Community Optometrist, NHS, Private Eye 

Examinations, Contact Lenses, Extensive Frame 

Range, Convenient Location, Free Parking 

Simon Browning (70-78) – Simon Browning 

Optometrist, 55 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 

2SR. 01234 353454 sbrowning@eye1.co.uk 

NHS and Private eye examinations. Contact 

Lens consultations. 

Optomap peripheral and central retinal 

examinations carried out. 

Pest Control 

Matt Wheeler (85-90) 

Professional Pest Management Ltd, Unit 7A, 

Old Bridge Way, Shefford, Beds, SG17 5HQ. 

01462 811818 

Fax: 01462 811812 

pests@ppmlimited.demon.co.uk 

Specialising in Domestic and Corporate Pest 

Management. Council Appointed. Nationwide. 

Port Authority Security Clearance 

94 

Photography & Photographic 

Lee Garland (92 – 99) – Lee Garland 

Photography, Studio 248, 111 Piccadilly, 

Manchester, M1 2HX, 07779 662178 

www.leegarlandphotography.co.uk 

Printers 

Simon Diffey (77-80). Merry Printers, 

22-36 Hastings Street, Luton, LU1 5BE, 

01582 726959. www.merryprinters.co.uk 

Property Developers 

Anthony Inchbald BSc ARICS (78-83). 

Elliot Charles Group, Elliot House, White Horse 

Yard, Stony Stratford, MK11 1AE, 

01908 561330, info@elliotcharlesgroup.com 

www.elliotcharlesgroup.com 

Residential Relocation Agents - United 

Kingdom & Overseas 

Douglas Fensome (56-62). 

The County Homesearch Company, 

1B Rothsay Place, Bedford, MK40 3QD. 

01234 354592. douglasfensome@countyhomesearch.co.uk 

www.wefindhouse.com 

Home finding service for private and corporate 

clients to purchase or rent in Herts, Beds, 

Cambs 

Roofing 

Dean Henrickson (81-90) M&J Flat Roofing 

Limited Triumph Way, Kempston, Beds, MK42 

7QB, 01234 854890, 

0844 800 3912, Fax: 0844 800 1081, 

mj@mjroofing.com 

deanhenrickson@mjroofing.com 

www.mjroofing.com 

Solicitors 

Gideon Cristofoli (76-86). Bookers & Bolton, 

Alton, Hants, 01420 82881. 

Jeffrey Mills (52-60). Jeffrey Mills Solicitors, 26 

Market Square, St. Neots, Cambs, 

PE19 2PJ. 01480 219699/475871. 

www.jeffreymillssolicitors.co.uk 

lawatmills@aol.com 

Also at St. Ives and Sawtry. 

Graham Humphrey (65-67). Borneo Linnells 

Solicitors, Dixon House, 77-97 Harpur Street, 

Bedford MK40 2SY. 01234 353221. 

www.borneolinnells.co.uk 

Offices also at Milton Keynes and Newport 

Pagnell 

Vincent Foley (79-85). 

Borneo Linnells Solicitors, Dixon House, 

77-97 Harpur Street, Bedford MK40 2SY. 

01234 353221. www.borneolinnells.co.uk 

Offices also at Milton Keynes and Newport 

Pagnell 

Training and Research Services 

Ricky Thakrar (01-05) 

Accelerator – Bringing Pace to Change 

0203 008 6038 

www.acceleratorsolutions.com 

Is a reputation for great customer service critical 

to your organisation's success? Accelerator 

helps organisations succeed through improved 

customer service, leadership and management. 

Transport 

Simon Harris (76-81). HTS, 

196 Foster Hill Road, Bedford, MK41 7TB. 

01234 314522, 07801 365116, 

simonhts@ntlworld.com www.htstransport.co.uk 

Light haulage, courier and removals 

Travel Agents 

Allen Sturges (51-56). 

Consultant to Eagle Travel, 

11 Goldington Road, Bedford MK40 3JY 

01234 348882 

office@eagletravel.co.uk 

www.eagletravel.co.uk 

Valuers, Land and Estate Agents 

Jeremy Clayson (64-71). Warmingtons, 

Park Farm, Stevington, 01234 823661. 

Warmingtons. Your local independent agents 

with a rural perspective specialising in village 

and county property 

Veterinary Surgeons 

Nigel Jacklin (82-89). Rhodes 

Veterinary Surgery, 95 Queens Park Parade, 

Kingsthorpe, Northampton. 01604 712070. 

David Chennells (61-70). Acorn House, Linnet 

Way, Bedford, 

01234 261839/266412. 

Fully equipped purpose built seven vet clinic for 

companion animals and also farm services 

Web Design & Web Development 

Jonathan Woods (89-94). Studio 24 Ltd, 

0870 241 6159 www.studio24.net 

jonathan.woods@studio24.net 

Professional web design and web 

development services from an award winning 

agency.

WWW.FISKENS.COM 

SUPPLIERS TO FISKENS FINE HISTORIC AUTOMOBILES, SIMON DIFFEY OBM, WWW.MERRYPRINTERS.CO.UK 

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Contact Robert Piggott 

Tel: 07725 198754 Fax: 01234 403136 

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95

Thank You. 

If you have left a gift for Bedford Modern School in your will, 

please let us know so that we can thank you in your lifetime. 

Write to: Mr Richard Claas, Development Director 

Bedford Modern School, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7NT 

Tel: 01234 332576 

Email: rclaas@bedmod.co.uk

Eagle News Jan 2012 - Bedford Modern School

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