History of the School Part 3

Posted: 22/05/2015

‘A History of Bromsgrove School’ Part Three: 1939 to 1953 plus postscript, presented by Deputy Headmaster Philip Bowen

Thursday 18th June at 7.30 pm in Routh Hall

This is what Mr Bowen has to say about his final talk on the History of the School:

"The title is somewhat deceptive. I am well on the way to completing a History of the School during the Second World War to be published in 2016. It will sit alongside the volume on the Great War and will be equally of interest – OBs at war again and the remarkable time spent in mid-Wales.

We shall only touch on the War on 18th June and concentrate on the fascinating immediate Post-War period from 1946 to the 400th Anniversary of the School in 1953. We shall then select interesting stories and developments through to the visit of the Queen Mother in 1964.

Once again, all will be set against the national and sometimes the international background. We shall close by returning to Sir Thomas Cookes and Lady Mary Windsor visiting a building site in 1694 – our original building – just before she died.

We shall hear about the hard task of restoring Houses and Grounds to their former glory after wartime exile; the legendary winters of 1947 and 1963; another OB dies in Waziristan and one in Korea (our last ONBN killed in war); days off for Her Majesty’s Wedding and the birth of Prince Charles; the first talks on careers; modern exams; the first fees increase in 20 years; debates on capital punishment and apartheid; pupils meet Peter Scott; Shakespeare shredded; famous war heroes at Commemoration – Bader, Embry and Churchill’s Chief of Staff Ismay; a famous OB sailor; a famous OB aviator; the Cobhams; the Memorial Chapel completed; a new Prep School; signs of a rebellious 60s School; Public School guilt; Norman Wisdom, David Niven, Cary Grant, Peter Sellers and our very own Ian Carmichael; our very own (tragically killed) top racing driver Peter Collins; Beatles; Elvis; boxing declining; basketball introduced; a new dining hall 1964 (built for 400 and untouched until now) and much more."

For practical purposes, we do need to know the fairly exact numbers to expect. If you would like to attend this event, please Mr Bowen's PA, Yvette Camden, ycamden@bromsgrove-school.co.uk by Monday 15th June.