School and OBM News
News
The Bousfield Speaker Programme OBM Professor Nick Groom (1974-84) visited the school in October as our guest speaker at The Bousfield Speaker Programme. In the lecture Nick discussed Frankenstein and Dracula and why they matter in the twenty-first century which was enjoyed by more than 60 visitors, including BMS students, parents and guests from local schools and colleges. Professor Groom also spent the afternoon with our Sixth Form English Literature students. He currently works in the English department at the University of Exeter and among his many books are The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction (2012) and an edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (2018).
David Ball Piano Scholarship
New OBM services We are always looking for ways to extend the services we offer to OBMs and have recently launched two new initiatives: University Representatives and International Representatives.
Year 12 student Niall Townley is this year’s recipient of the David Ball Piano Scholarship which is now in its second year. Niall is an exceptional pianist who fully meets all the criteria of the award, demonstrating commitment to his musical studies and contributing to the general musical life of the school. The annual award was established in memory of OBM David Ball (1937–45) by his partner Janet Clark to benefit and provide encouragement for promising BMS piano students. The award will cover the cost of Niall’s piano lessons at school to the value of £1000 for the coming year.
We have recently identified OBM representatives at nine of our most popular destination universities; Reading, Imperial College London, Warwick, Sheffield, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent, Leeds, Loughborough and Birmingham who are on hand to offer advice to current sixth formers. Similarly we have established OBM representatives in France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, USA, South Africa, Malaysia and Japan. They are available as a point of contact for OBMs to help with travel advice, offer recommendations, make introductions or even organise OBM meet ups. All contact details for the OBM Representatives can be found on our website, click on My BMS, OBMs and OBM Representatives.
8
Old Bedford Modernians’ Club
