Scholarship Exams 50 years ago today
Posted: 10/02/2016
Old Bromsgrovians Matthew Taylor and Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham KB arrived at Bromsgrove School on 10th February 1966 to sit their Foundation Scholarship exam in the Old Chapel. This is exactly 50 years ago today.
On his schooling and professional career Matthew says, "On arrival at the School, I spent two years at Cobham House followed by five years in the senior school – Cookes and Walters Houses. In my last year I became Head of House and Under Officer of the CCF.
In 1973 I took up an exhibition at Worcester College, Oxford for four years where I read Greats and went on to the civil service where I spent three and a half years in tax policy and management at what was then the Inland Revenue in Somerset House. In 1977 I also took up a commission in the Royal Artillery Territorial Army where I served for 17 years alongside my civilian career receiving the TD in 1991.
In 1981 I began my training as a Chartered Accountant with what is now KPMG in London where I remained for 22 years becoming Director, Insurance Tax in 1996. Whilst there I met Liz and we have now been married for 28 years.
In 2003 I moved to what is now EY as a partner continuing to specialise in insurance taxation in London for another 12 years. I retired there on 31 May 2015. Last September I joined Pinsent Masons in London again focussed on insurance and tax.
In addition to being a trustee of the Bromsgrove School Foundation, I am trustee of two military charities and continue to have a close involvement with Worcester College, Oxford."
Digby writes, "I arrived at Cobham House which was the new home of Bromsgrove Preparatory School in September of 1966. I moved from there to the Senior School with an Open Scholarship, won that Summer, 1969.
I was Head Boy that term and won my Hockey Cap, having won my Rugby Colours the term before. I was in Cookes House and then when it divided, in Walters House. I left Bromsgrove in March of 1974. I won a place to read Law at University College, London. I joined the Royal Navy on a University Cadetship in April 1974. By June 1977 I had obtained my Law Degree and I left the RN, achieving my Solicitors Professional Exams in 1978, when I took Articles with Edge & Ellison in Birmingham.
I rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Senior Partner in 1990 and Senior Partner in 1994. In 1998 I joined KPMG as Vice-Chairman of Corporate Finance. In January 2000 I became Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, was knighted for Services to Business & Charity in 2005, and left in 2006. In 2007 I became Minister of State for Trade & Investment, became a non-aligned Member of the House of Lords taking the title Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham KB.
Since 2009, having left Government, I have developed a portfolio of Company Chairmanships, Corporate Advisory positions and many Senior roles in the voluntary sector. I have written a book ("Fixing Britain") which sold 12,500 copies and also made the BBC TV series "Troubleshooter". I deliver speeches and lectures around the World, and I appear often on radio and TV, as well as write for newspapers. I am Chairman of Governors at Stratford-upon-Avon College of Education, and a Trustee of the Bromsgrove School Foundation.
I have been married to Pat for 25 years and we live in the village where Shakespeare was married, some three miles from Stratford-upon-Avon."
Were you sitting the same exam 50 years ago? We'd love to hear stories from your time at Bromsgrove.