Bromsgrovians Connected - Alumni Magazine Issue 12 2025/26

BROMSGROVIANS

c o n nect ed

BROMSGROVE’S ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 12 2025/26

Llanwrtyd Wells, 80 years on - the small Welsh town where Bromsgrove was evacuated to during WW2

The first word... Welcome to the latest edition of Bromsgrovians Connected. I hope the pages that follow bring back memories of your time at Bromsgrove, and perhaps some familiar faces with whom you shared your school days. In a rapidly changing world, in which the lives and locations of OBs are anything but constant, we hope that the School continues to provide a reassuring familiarity. However, it was not always so. As the Editor has described, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and I commend to you the film produced by the Bromsgrovian Office and our Archivist, which offers a glimpse of what it was like to be a Bromsgrove pupil during that conflict.

Central to the story was the relocation of the entire School to Llanwrtyd Wells, masterminded by the wartime Headmaster, Mr David Walters, and made successful by the adaptability and resilience of all the staff and pupils involved. All of us hope that there is never again a need to undertake such a change. In the meantime, enjoy the pages that follow, and please do continue to attend OB events; you are always very welcome, just as you are to visit your School.

We are always delighted to meet you, not only to hear more about the path you have chosen to follow since leaving Bromsgrove, but so you can see for yourself how the School has evolved to serve the needs of today’s pupils. However, you will also, I hope, see plenty that brings back memories of your own time as a pupil here. MICHAEL PUNT HEADMASTER

IN THIS EDITION: The year in photographs… OB news through the decades… What Bromsgrove means to me... And much more

Welcome from the Editor As we open the pages of this twelfth issue of the Bromsgrovians Connected Alumni Magazine, we find ourselves reflecting on a milestone of global and local significance: eighty years since the end of the Second World War. It is a moment that invites remembrance, especially in our own School, where pupils and masters walked these corridors and in the town of Llanwrtyd Wells during those turbulent years.

Picture This… A LOOK BACK AT THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/25.

In these pages, we honour the stories and memories of Old Bromsgrovians who lived through that era - voices that remind us of courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Yet, while we look back, we are not bound by history. Our School continues to evolve as vibrant, forward-looking, global and ever proud of its past. As you read through this issue, take a moment to remember each Old Bromsgrovian, from the most recent leaver to one who left seven decades ago. Together, they form the living timeline of Bromsgrove’s story. A story that continues to grow, shaped by every one of you. Enjoy reading your alumni magazine. Megan Griffiths Editor

Commemoration Day 2025 was held on Saturday 28th June with the usual OB Marquee. Old Bromsgrovians ‘old’ and ‘new’ celebrated the day with our 2025 leavers, culminating in the traditional call-over and leavers’ reception.

Bromsgrove School has been awarded CyberFirst GOLD status for ‘delivering excellence in its Computing and Cyber Security education provision’ at an awards ceremony at KPMG HQ in Birmingham. The assessing panel stated that “Bromsgrove School exemplifies national best practice in Cyber and Computing education. It demonstrates exceptional leadership, robust provision, and a sustained commitment to developing a cyber-aware, digitally literate school community.” Bromsgrove will continue to develop its computing programmes, aiming to ensure that every student, regardless of background or area of study, has the opportunity to develop essential digital skills and cyber awareness for the future.

After a superb showing in the knockout phases, both our boys’ and girls’ tennis teams took to the courts in the School Sports Magazine National Finals. In the finals, the girls faced a strong Wycombe Abbey side. Despite a great effort, and some brilliant individual performances, they were narrowly beaten 4-2 in a close and hard fought match. Their journey to the final was a great achievement and testament to their resilience and teamwork. With over 100 schools entering the competition, they can be very proud with second place. Meanwhile, the boys’ team battled hard in their final against Lancaster Royal Grammar School. With outstanding energy in extremely hot conditions, the boys managed to pull off an outstanding victory and were crowned National Champions. To have both teams in the National Final and come away with a National title is an incredible accomplishment for the School’s tennis programme.

This year, our 223 Upper Sixth leavers achieved 61% A*/A grades (or equivalent), with 83% A*/B (or equivalent) at A level. In BTEC, students achieved twenty Distinction*s and a further thirty-six Distinctions. EPQ results were also impressive, with just under two-thirds of the sixty-one entries gaining at least an A grade. Of the seventeen students who took the new Core Maths qualification alongside their A levels, thirteen achieved one of the top two grades. Our fifty-three IB Diploma students performed superbly, with an average score of 39.81 points – placing Bromsgrove as one of the top ten global IB Schools. Five students attained the maximum 45 points – a result achieved by fewer than 1% of students worldwide. On the UCAS tariff, our average IB student achieved more than the equivalent of A*A*A*A* at A Level. Our Fifth Form pupils sat over 1,900 GCSE qualifications, and the most common grade awarded was the top grade 9, achieved in nearly a quarter of all cases. Nearly two-thirds of all grades were 7 or above, paving the way for students to move confidently into their chosen A level, BTEC or IB courses. We warmly congratulate our leavers, and the staff who have supported them, on an exceptional set of results.

Just before prizegiving began, Reverend Hedworth led prayers in memory of our beloved Bursar, Lesley Brookes, in front of a tree planted in her honour.

Picture This… EXTRA-CURRICULAR HIGHLIGHTS. Year 6 pupils took part in a Barnardo’s Charity Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Over twenty choirs came together from across the UK to perform as part of a massed choir. The Choir performed six songs alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The School has been accredited by the Royal College of Organists, the UK’s professional body for organists. Accreditation is only given where the organ plays a core role in the life of the School and there is high-quality organ teaching. We are extremely excited by the opportunities this status will open up for the School and for our organ students.

We are pleased to announce that Bromsgrove School has been ranked fifth in School Sport Magazine’s top sports schools list. The magazine lists the top 200 schools in the country for sport and includes both state and independent schools in the rankings. The results are compiled from more than twenty different sports and over 120 different events. We are delighted to see Bromsgrove feature in the top five, rising from number seven last year.

“After the School bell rings, there’s almost 300 activities and clubs across the Senior School for pupils to choose from.” Bromsgrove’s U18 football team were crowned champions in the ISFA Shield. The final was a close contest with St Paul’s scoring early but with a quick response from Bromsgrove, the score was 1-1 at half time. St Paul’s were largely the better team in the second half and had chances to score but Bromsgrove’s defence and goalkeeper were both outstanding. With the scores locked at 1-1, the match moved to extra time with chances being available to both teams to win the game. Bromsgrove moved ahead with a goal and the hero of the day was our goalkeeper who saved a penalty with two minutes to go. This meant that Bromsgrove emerged as winners. Photo Credit: Adam Scott

As part of our after-school activities, the new ‘Bromsgrove School Flying Club’ was launched with British Young Pilots. Years 6 and 7 learnt about the different parts of a plane and what the controls do. They then had the opportunity to test out their knowledge on the simulators.

The Debating first team travelled to Harrow School to take part in the Nehru Cup competition. In a large field of twenty-eight teams, Bromsgrove’s debaters performed extremely well with two of our three teams making it through to the Gold Final – meaning that their performances ranked them in the top four performing teams on the day.

Members of the CCF attended the Birmingham Military Tattoo where they witnessed a variety of exciting and impressive performances. Among the acts, they were particularly pleased to see Lieutenant Peil, the Contingent SSI, performing with the Shirley Pipe Band. Forty-seven Cadets participated in a trip to Kingsbury Ranges, where they had the chance to fire the Cadet GP Rifle at a distance of 100 metres. This event marked one of the largest range days held in recent memory. The weather was exceptionally favourable, and all the Cadets thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

We are delighted to announce that our Nursery at Bromsgrove Pre-Prep has been named as one of the ‘Top 20 Nurseries in the West Midlands’ for 2025.

Once again, Team Bromsgrove laced up their trainers and took part in the Great Birmingham Run 2025. In aid of Cancer Research UK, our team of runners raised just over £7,000.

The Pre-Preparatory and Nursery School is a place where children have a memorable and positive start to their educational journey. We believe it is the early years, from the ages of two to seven, when the educational foundations are laid for everything that follows. The friendly, secure, family atmosphere of our Nursery encourages children to become independent learners and caring members of our community.

Hot on the heels of the highly successful and entertaining Fourth Form House Drama Competition at the beginning of the Lent Term, came a superb night of comedy, tragedy and a dollop of dystopia, when our Seniors took to the stage. Our adjudicator for the evening, Nicholas Bailey, was so impressed with the quality of performance that he had to deliberate for over thirty minutes. Housman Hall came out on top with Best Play for Machinal. Runners up were Ottilie Hild House with Bazaar and Rummage. The Special Adjudicator’s Award went to Walters House.

About You FIND OUT WHAT OLD BROMSGROVIANS FROM YOUR ERA ARE DOING NOW.

Cookes

Four OBs pictured from Cookes House in the 1960s - left to right Ian Bunton, John Moody, Nigel Clements and Matthew Horton. The photograph marks the start of Ian Bunton’s walk of The Millennium Way, which is a 100mile walk starting at Pershore Bridge and finishing at Middleton Cheney in Northamptonshire. The Millenium Way winds through parts of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. Starting in Pershore, it passes through Inkberrow, Henley in Arden, Hockley Heath, Meriden, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Priors Marston and finishes near Banbury. Ian completed it in sixteen leisurely day sections. Ian, who lives in the Bay of Islands, North Island in New Zealand, is a frequent visitor to England where he invariably walks long distances in the company of OBs. A companion of Ian’s and fellow contemporary from Cookes House, Tim Grout-Smith was unable to accompany him this year. We congratulate Ian on another of his long-distance walks, and were pleased to hear that he was able to meet some of his school friends along the way.

Elmshurst

Andrey Glukhov (1994-1999) returned to Bromsgrove and met with Mr McClure who was resident in the House at that time. Andrey’s son, Max is joining Elmshurst this year.

Mr McClure had a busy term as Tom Morpeth (1997-2001) also bumped into him on his tour of the School. Tom was visiting from Wales with his son who was delighted to spot his Dad in the Whole School photographs.

It was a pleasure to welcome back Constantin von Crailheim (2011-2014). He was visiting from Germany with his girlfriend, showing her around his old House, Elmshurst, and the School grounds.

Seb Atkinson (2015-2020) has been training with England Rugby. Seb is a centre for Gloucester and recently scored a first-half hat-trick in a player of the match display in their 53-28 win over Bristol. He was later named in the England squad to face France at Allianz Photo Credit: England Rugby Stadium.

Joseph Hong (2018-2023) met with his IB Economics teacher, Mr Bell. After gaining a 7 at Bromsgrove in the subject, he went on to study Engineering in London and is now looking forward to a successful year in industry after fulfilling his military service back in South Korea. Joseph also enjoyed reconnecting with his Houseparents, Mr and Mrs Giles, and Miss Heard (Housemother).

Hazeldene

It was lovely to see Harriet Eales (2000-2008) and Edward Eden (School 1997-2008) with their daughter at our Prep Open Morning. A wonderful full circle moment for our Bromsgrovian community.

Jeffrey Chan (2009-2011, also Elmshurst) and his company, Suzu Wine HK, have partnered with Antelope, the first craft mead factory in Japan, to produce a Hong Kong limited edition lemon tea-flavoured honey wine. His company hosted the “Not Too Sweet” Japanese Craft Mead Tasting Event at the Hong Kong landmark PMQ to celebrate the launch of this special product. Several Bromsgrovians supported this event, including Andy Lai (Elmshurst 2004-2009), Brian Tsang (Wendron-Gordon 2009-2011), Howard Kwan (Elmshurst 2006-2010) and Emily Yuen (Mary Winsor 20082013).

Congratulations to Tom Banton (20102015) who broke the record for Somerset’s highest individual score (previously Justin Langer’s 342). In Somerset’s 150-year history, nobody has ever scored higher - 344* / 381 balls. Later that season, Tom was announced in the England Cricket team for the ODI Series vs West Indies. He made his England IT20 debut in 2019 and his ODI debut the following year. At the time of writing, Tom has represented his country in twenty-one white-ball fixtures, scoring 499 runs. Photo Credit: England Cricket

For further insights, please visit Jeffrey’s company page on Instagram: @suzu_wine_hk_sake

Housman Hall

Andrada Tomoni (2013-2015) visited the School in October where she enjoyed a tour of the School and revisited her old Boarding House, Housman Hall. There she met Housemothers, Jayne and Angela, who have fond memories.

Good luck to Freddie Meredith (20152017) who will be running the Brighton Marathon in April 2026 for the charity, Alzheimer’s Society.

During the tour, she met with our Archivist, Nikki Thorpe, who showed Andrada some photographs from her time at the School - the memories came flooding back.

You can find out more about Freddie’s story and the charity he is supporting here: https://2026brightonmaratho nweekend.enthuse.com/pf/freddiemeredith

Andrada has joined Bromsgrove’s board of Foundation Trustees, and looks forward to working more closely with the School and the Foundation.

Lyttelton

Humphrey Morgan (1950-1954) was awarded his athletics cap at Bromsgrove at the age of 18. Unfortunately, he did not receive the actual cap at the time and when the Bromsgrovian Office heard this story at an alumni event, one was quickly procured from the School Shop and sent to his brother, Gareth, as a surprise. We recently heard from Humphrey who is absolutely delighted that he now has his School athletics cap after seventy-one years.

Some of our Upper Fourth pupils got the chance to meet Ollie Lawrence (20162018) at a recent match. He imparted some words of wisdom to them from his own rugby days at Bromsgrove. Thank you, Ollie, for taking the time out of your evening to speak to the pupils.

Lyttelton

Jasper Davidson (2015-2020) was named in the MCC squad for a tour of Zimbabwe in October 2025. The tour, the first to the country in the modern era, was hailed a success.

Alicia Wong (2020-2024) visited Oakley at the end of last year. She caught up with her Houseparent, Mrs Adams and Housemother, Mrs Pugh.

David Rowlands (1966-1972) returned to School in November for a tour. He enjoyed visiting the Heritage Centre and locating his former study in what is now the Administration Building.

Photo Credit: Cricket Scotland

Ottilie Hild Mary Windsor

Anastasia Broder (2014-2016) has written an article in the September 2025 edition of The Spectator about ‘eccentric school traditions’. In it, she mentions that the Head Boy of Bromsgrove can keep a goat on Gordon Green, a feat achieved in 2012 by the then Head of School, Dan Young.

England Netball has announced the roll call for the 2025/26 international season. Alana Pullen (2018-2023) has been selected for the Vitality UK and futures Roses programme, as well as in the Netball World Youth Cup Training Squad. She also represented England U21 at the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar.

Simon Williams (1969-1972), now living in The Netherlands, came to see our musicians in concert in Utrecht. Simon was in School House and played trumpet and piano at Bromsgrove - here he is pictured with a current pianist, a trumpeter and our Director of Music, Mr McKelvey.

Photo Credit: University of Bath

Congratulations to Luke Alcock (20102017) who received First Prize for ‘Best Student Project’ for his design for a Crafthouse in the Old Dorter Ruins of Worcester Cathedral. This was awarded by The Traditional Architecture Group, a linked society of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Oakley

Miray Kose (2015-2020) has had her debut historical crime fiction novel, Game of Iniquity, published. She wrote the book during her time at Bromsgrove and now studies Law at Durham University. Miray’s book signing in Durham was a huge sell-out success. You can still find copies in all good retailers including WH Smith, Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. You can find out more about Miray and her novel at www.miraykose.com

School

Wishing Christopher Price (19391944) a very happy 100th Birthday. Christopher is a great supporter of Bromsgrove and lays a wreath in Wales on Remembrance Sunday each year. You can read more about Christopher’s schoolboy memories and his time in Llanwrtyd Wells further in this magazine.

Miss Scannell was delighted to meet Tuan Vu in Hanoi. Tuan Vu was in School House as a boarder from 20032005, and has fond memories of his Headmaster, Mr Taylor, as well as Mr Greetham and Mr Wingfield.

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Thomas Cookes

Miss Scannell had an impromptu catch up with Emma Cartwright (2014) whilst taking part in a school exhibition at the Village Market in Nairobi. It was lovely to find out that she is teaching Year 3 pupils at Braeburn School in Kenya, and to hear news of her brother, Eddie.

Sophie Sellers (2005-2009) has been included in this year’s Top 100 Women in Shipping. She says that she was incredibly proud to read the generous words her clients and colleagues submitted in their nominations, making it an excellent reminder of what keeps her motivated each day. Sophie is Director of Veson Nautical.

Wendron-Gordon

Mark Carpenter (1988-1993) is undertaking a major challenge: running 50 kilometres every day for 50 days to raise $50,000 in support of The Mirabel Foundation, a charity that supports children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use. You can follow the full journey on Instagram @markcarpenterau and www.gofundme.com/f/50days50k

Recent leaver Stella Nygard (20232025) enjoyed a busy summer of competition. With her new helm Ed, she sailed at the 29er World Championships in Portugal, and despite only having very limited time training together and tricky wind conditions, they sailed on to 21st in bronze fleet and 5th mixed team. In the UK 29er National Championships, Stella and Ed reached 20th overall and 4th mixed team. Stella also raced at the WASZP World Championships in Weymouth. We are proud to report that she finished 58th in the bronze fleet, 11th female and 4th U19 year old - an excellent achievement considering this was her first ever event in the boat class. Stella now goes on to study Geography and Politics at university and will continue to sail whenever her calendar allows. In fact, most recently, she received an invite to the Athena Foiling Pathway, which aims to accelerate diversity, inclusion, and performance in sailing and wider maritime sports. Through world-class training, mentorship, and community outreach, Athena Pathway is shaping the next generation of leaders on and off the water.

Walters

Ben Cox (1999-2010) played for the Trent Rockets at Lords in the Hundred over the summer. He played in the final with another OB, Tom Banton (Lyttelton 2010-2015).

We were delighted to welcome back Bendix Perschk (2009-2012) at the start of the new academic year. He lives in Hamburg, Germany and sells real estate in Berlin.

Photo Credit: Trent Rockets

George Goucher (2009-2014) recently completed the Comrades Ultramarathon, which is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race, covering 90km (55 miles) across South Africa. He finished in 10 hours and 58 minutes. Congratulations George!

Bendix was the second cohort of IB students at Bromsgrove, boarding in Wendron-Gordon under Houseparent, Mr Bell. After Bromsgrove, he went on to study Economics at Undergraduate and Masters level. Also in the same week, last year’s Head of House, Boris Belov, popped back to School to say hello before heading off to university to start his first year.

Staff News

Mrs Gill Punt, the Headmaster’s wife, conquered the Polar Night Marathon in the Norwegian Arctic Circle and raised over £20k for Cancer Research UK. The run took place in extreme subzero temperatures, in darkness, on ice whilst she was dressed in a polar bear costume - and she still achieved a Guinness World Record. Gill has subsequently been interviewed on television for Midlands Today and Lorraine. Overall, she has raised almost £2million for Cancer Research through her marathon efforts.

Did you know that our AV Technician at Bromsgrove School took part in last year’s The Great Pottery Throw Down on Channel 4? Mr Stephen Parkes made it all the way to week 5 where the challenge was to make shop fronts out of clay. Stephen has since used his expertise to run pottery sessions with our pupils and staff.

Mr Gareth Jones (Prep School Geography) cycled the length of Spain from Santander to Malaga to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital accompanied by five other cyclists from Stourbridge CC. The total distance was just under 700 miles.

Congratulations to Mr Shaun Camden, i/c swimming, on his installation as President of the English Schools’ Swimming Association. In the audience during his presentation, it was wonderful to see James Hubbard, one of the first pupils Mr Camden coached upon joining Bromsgrove in 1999. Later in the summer, Shaun was invited to attend His Majesty’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, held in honour of those working in Education and Skills. He had the privilege of being introduced to His Majesty The King and briefly discussed the association and Prince William’s involvement in swimming.

Some of our younger OBS will remember Mr Lee Falconer (Academic Staff 2007-2013) as a member of Bromsgrove’s MFL department. He is now Head of the Secondary School at the British International School of Hanoi, and whilst Miss Scannell (Assistant Head) was visting Vietnam to meet with prospective families, she visited Mr Falconer at the school.

Mr Chris Munn (Prep School Cricket) completed the 50k challenge in a day, Mr Munn said “for the first time, and before a big birthday next year, I decided that 2025 was the year to take on some serious trekking challenges for charity.” He has raised just over £5,000 for the Parkinson’s UK, which has exceeded his original target.

We are delighted to celebrate twenty years of service to Bromsgrove with both Mrs Jayne Wise and Mrs Angela Gregory. Jayne and Angela both joined the School as Housekeepers in the old Mary Windsor House (now Page). Jayne then transferred to Hazeldene with Dr Werrett and Angela went to Lupton with Mr McClure at the helm. Along with Angela, Jayne is now Housemother in Housman Hall, our Sixth Form Boarding House in the town.

Congratulations also go to Mrs Liz Bird, PA to the Bursar, on an incredible 30 years of service to the School. Many of you will remember Liz in the catering department before making the leap over to the Administration building.

Memorial Service

On the 11th of January 2025, we honoured the life of our Bursar, Mrs Lesley Brookes, at a Memorial Service in Chapel. Mrs Brookes was such a special lady who always brought the whole Bromsgrovian community together. Thank you to everyone who attended, paid tribute via the online condolence book and sent in their thoughts and prayers.

Charity Bike Ride

Old Bromsgrovians Richard Brookes, Alex Ashworth, Ollie Fender and Tom Robinson finished a mammoth 500-mile bike ride around Scotland in June to raise funds for The Primrose Unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support. This was in memory of Richard’s mum, our beloved Bursar Lesley Brookes. More than £16,000 was raised - an incredible achievement for the boys.

OBs in... Hong Kong

OBs in... Japan

Old Bromsgrovians present: Andy Lai (Elmshurst 2004-2009) Vincent Wong (Elmshurst 2004-2009) Eugenia Lam (Mary Windsor 2004-2010) Brian Tsang (Wendron-Gordon 2006-2009) Kyna Chan (Oakley 2009-2011) Emily Yuen (Mary Windsor 2008-2013) Philip Lam (Elmshurst 2007-2013)

Pictured here in Japan - Saki Tsubouchi (Housman Hall 2017-2021), Violet Pacileo (neé Jeffries, Prep School/ Oakley 1989-1998), Emily Hartshorne (Hazeldene 2004-2012), and parents Beelian Tay and Tomonori Nakamizo.

A group of Old Bromsgrovians in Hong Kong recently met up over brunch. They enjoyed excellent food whilst sharing fond memories of school days at Bromsgrove.

Another group of OBs enjoyed meeting for Lunar New Year. Daniela Avramioti and Yanice Chan (both the Class of 2011), along with Eugenia Lam (Class of 2010) and Caleb Edward Chan (Yanice’s brother, Class of 2014) met with other friends in Hong Kong. Matthew Leung (Housman Hall 20082010), Michael Leung (Elmshurst 2012-2016) and Adrian Siu (Housman Hall 2014-2016) enjoyed a catch up in Osaka, Japan.

Information Evening Debating Connections

Six members of the School debating team travelled to London to take part in the LSE Schools’ Debating competition. Whilst there, they caught up with current OBs and LSE students, Armstrong Dong (WendronGordon 2020-2023) and Jakob Kreidl (Housman Hall 2023-2025).

Whilst Miss Scannell (Assistant Head) has been travelling overseas to take part in international exhibitions and meetings with agents, she enjoyed a number of informal get-togethers with OBs and parents in Kenya, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Dubai.

Old Bromsgrovians George Hastings (School 2017-2024), Bowen Cheung (Wendron-Gordon 2018-2024), Alvin Chui (Elmshurst 2022-2024) and Nikolay Kovalikhin (Wendron-Gordon 2021-2024) returned to Bromsgrove to talk about their experiences of the first year at university at our recent Upper Sixth Information Evening.

All three OBs are currently living in Hong Kong. Michael and Adrian both work in the legal sector, and Matthew is working in business strategy.

Bromsgrove Mission Hills

Pupils from Mission Hills have settled into life at Bromsgrove UK, spending a term with us as part of our ongoing partnership with international members of the Bromsgrove family. We also welcomed families to our International Camp over the summer where the group experienced life at a traditional boarding school, developed their English language skills and explored the local area. In April 2025, the Headmaster and his wife, Gill, along with Miss Scannell, visited Bromsgrove Mission Hills where they immersed themselves in classroom activities and enjoyed a cocktail evening with BMH parents. 2025 marks ten years of Bromsgrove School Mission Hills, and the Bromsgrovian community wishes them a very Happy Birthday.

BIST

At the end of April, the School welcomed scholars from Thailand who joined our boarding community for a term. Later that summer, our first group of 2025 International Summer Camp students arrived on campus from BIST, along with parents and members of staff. There was a lovely surprise for our Assistant Head, Miss Rachel Scannell, who was taking part in the AIBC event in Bangkok this October. The MC was an OB from Bromsgrove Thailand, Arissa Rogers.

Also in October, the Headmaster and Miss Scannell visited Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST). BIST’s Head Students had the pleasure of meeting with them and taking them on a campus tour.

BISC

In February 2025, the Headmaster and Miss Scannell attended the official launch of Bromsgrove International School Cambodia (BISC) alongside the Founder, Okhna Keo Sambath, Founding Headmistress, Mrs Philippa Barson and Deputy Head, Mr Dakun Lo. They were joined by esteemed guests, including Mr Marc Theyre (Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy), Mr Martin Darby (Executive Director of BritCham), and Dr Hor Sereyvath (Chairman of the Board of Innovation and Development Investors Association). Following the launch, the Headmaster and Miss Scannell accompanied the Bromsgrove Cambodia team to the British Embassy for meetings with the British Ambassador, H.E. Dominic Williams. In September, Mr Punt returned to the country to welcome the first set of pupils to Bromsgrove Cambodia. In attendance were H.E. Dr Hong Chuan Naron (Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports) and H.E. Dominic Williams (British Ambassador to Cambodia), as well as H.E. Mr. Tao (Head of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports). The Founder and CEO, Mr Oknha Keo Sambath, with whom Bromsgrove UK has worked closely, spoke powerfully of his vision to establish a school of true international quality in Cambodia - one that offers young people the same enriching opportunities available in advanced countries. By drawing on the distinguished heritage of Bromsgrove School, Mr Oknha Keo Sambath and his team aspire to ensure that young people flourish and, in doing so, help strengthen the future of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Handel’s Messiah

Last November, the joined forces of the Prep and Senior Chamber Choirs, soloists and orchestra travelled to London’s Covent Garden for a performance of Handel’s Messiah. They were joined by several alumni of the School - some in attendance to listen and reconnect with old friends - and some as singers in the choir. Gabriel Brown (Lupton 2008-2024), Olivia Safe (Thomas Cookes 19921994) and Michael Perkins (School 1948-1952) joined the chorus - who sang brilliantly in the surroundings of St Paul’s Church (known as the Actor’s Church). It is hoped that further musical events will be held and encourage more OBs to reconnect with the School through music.

Llanwrtyd Wells

On Sunday, 9th November, Megan Griffiths and Nikki Thorpe from the Bromsgrovian Office represented the School in Llanwrtyd Wells for Remembrance Sunday. Old Bromsgrovian Christopher Price (School 1939-1944) laid a wreath on behalf of Bromsgrove School and the Old Bromsgrovian community. 2025 is a poignant year as it marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2.

Sixty years on

Six former members of School House (as it was collectively known) met for lunch recently, with some not having seen each other for over sixty years. Jeremy Bristol (Millington 1956-1960) David McMullen (Millington 1956-1960) Richard Hemingway (Lyttelton 1957-1962) Henry Buchanan (Millington 1957-1962) Andrew Newman (Millington 1957-1962) Tim Jobson (Lyttelton 1958-1962)

Left to right: Tim Jobson, Richard Hemingway, David McMullen, Hnery Buchanan, Jeremy Bristol, Andrew Newman

Gold DofE

Students old and new received their Gold DofE Awards at Buckingham Palace, hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. It was a marvellous occasion for all involved.

Five of the group were in the Classical VIth form, but Henry was the only scientist. Four of those then became solicitors.

80 years on - the end of WW2 In the lead up to the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the Bromsgrovian Office, in conjuction with the Archivist, produced a film featuring the schoolboy memories of Christopher Price (School House 19391944). You can watch the film by scanning the QR code or visit the School’s official YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/bromsgroveschool

Moving to Llanwrtyd Wells Following a letter from the H.M. Office of Works marked SECRET, Headmaster of Bromsgrove School, David Walters, set out to Central Wales in April 1939 to find a war-time home for the School; Bromsgrove School had been earmarked for requisition “for national purposes” should war break out. The last place on his itinerary was Llanwrtyd Wells, a Spa Town on a railway line with Boarding Houses and a large hotel set in its own grounds. An agreement was made between Bromsgrove and the hotel owner Mrs Banzhaf that the Abernant Lake Hotel could become the School’s home should the necessity arise. The day after War was declared on 3rd September, a representative from the War Office visited to notify of the requisition order and on 7th September it was served. The first Pickford vans arrived at Bromsgrove for moving on 9th September. From pianos to goal posts, bedding to blackboards, sixty vanloads transferred the School to Llanwrtyd Wells. By 30th September, the whole School (240 boys) was in its temporary home. “The parents responded splendidly” praised Mr Walters, a response that must have been due to the positive approach he led by, epitomised by his letter informing parents of the “ample compensation” of the new place “away from the noise and distraction of the war”.

Descriptions of the Lake as a skating rink in winter and then as a “swimming bath” again show the adaptation of the School to new experiences and the local community’s willingness to accommodate them. Builth Wells loaned their cricket pitch to the School once a week and the School team was strongly supported by the Town. A familiar sight for many of the pupils - Llanwrtyd Wells train station

Christopher Price at Abernant Lake Victoria Hall

Impact of the War Both staff and former students joined the War, some when they reached the end of their school days. Bromsgrove School lost 103 of its community, nine more than just twenty years earlier in the First World War.

Return and Legacy Bromsgrove Senior School was able to return to Bromsgrove in September 1943, but the Prep School stayed in Llanwrtyd Wells until accommodation at Oakley House became available for Prep School boys in January 1945.

From Llanwrtyd Wells, fifteen boys and one master left School to join up and were killed on active service, their deaths announced in the Bromsgrovian and their names read out every year at Llanwrtyd Wells Remembrance Service, where a wreath is laid in their honour by OB Christopher Price, and School representatives Megan Griffiths and Nikki Thorpe.

147 senior boys returned to two boarding houses and a handful of classrooms open for use. Handel’s Messiah was sung by the Choir and special guest Kathleen Ferrier in the Chapel.

A New School As the War intensified and the threat of invasion grew, parents of younger boys asked for their sons to be taken under Bromsgrove School care. Bombing raids on major towns and cities across the country meant it was soon not just parents of existing Bromsgrove School pupils who were keen to send their boys to a place of safety to be educated. On September 20th, 1940, Bromsgrove Junior School opened its doors with just sixteen pupils, housed at Llanwrtyd Hall. The sight of a ‘crocodile’ of boys, aged 6 to 12, walking through Llanwrtyd Wells earned them the nickname of ‘The Zoo’, a name that stuck and was adopted fondly by the OBs who were the original boys of the Prep School.

As the War continued, senior boys took turns as air raid wardens. When VE Day finally came on May 8th, 1945, there was a special Service of Thanksgiving. Staff returned to Bromsgrove once the War ended and slowly the buildings were returned to the School. The former sporting, music and drama competitions were revived and, in 1946, Old Bromsgrovians met again after a break of seven years. In June 1948, friends from Llanwrtyd Wells visited Bromsgrove to see where the School they had welcomed and hosted for six years lived.

“From pianos to goal posts, bedding to blackboards, sixty vanloads transferred the School to Llanwrtyd Wells. ”

Sports News OB Golf

The AGM of the Old Bromsgrovians Golf Society was held at Blackwell Golf Club on 18 September 2025, attended by fifteen members. Secretary’s Report 2025 proved another challenging year with participation slightly down on 2024. However, members welcomed the return to an in-person AGM at Blackwell, rather than online. Thanks were expressed to the School for continued financial support. Events The season began at Maxstoke Park where Tom Huddleston won the Tony Hilton Cup. The Ladbrook Park event was postponed due to bad weather and rescheduled for 25th September with limited participation. At Edgbaston, the team of A. Maund, A. Berry, T. Huddleston, and S. Blake recorded a dominant win. Ombersley saw excellent scoring, with I. Allchurch’s team narrowly beating the Blakes. At Blackwell, trophies went to A. Berry (Graham Fowler Medal), M. Blake (Bayliss Orme Senior Salver), and B. Sayce (Dennis Hayes Millennium Salver – his second consecutive win). The season also featured a well-received mixed event at Thorpeness. Matches The Grafton Morrish team, led by new captain Ryan Cleary, again qualified for the Norfolk finals. The OBs achieved a notable 4-0 win against the School at Blackwell, their first victory in several years under captain Catherine Maund. Michael Taylor’s Edward Harris team prepared to defend their title at Royal Porthcawl in October. Against the Old Silhilians, a close 2-2 draw was recorded, with a return fixture planned for 2026. The Public Schools foursomes team, captained by D. Hope, struggled again, and future team strengthening was suggested.

Future Plans Plans are in place for a London-based sub-committee to organise North and South London events, with the first investigative meeting scheduled for Harewood Downs.

Please do get in touch if you are interested in joining us. - Mark Blake, Hon Sec Email: markb717@outlook.com

OB Rugby 7s As we wrap up an incredible 2025 season filled with new achievements and milestones, we want to extend our thanks to everyone who made it possible. From players and parents to guests and sponsors, your support and dedication have been the driving force behind our success. This year, the Bulls participated in five tournaments, including Bournemouth - the largest tournament in the country - which was a highlight for the team and a truly memorable experience for all involved. We also took a major step forward by competing exclusively in open tournaments, facing top-tier competition and proving ourselves on a bigger stage. The team’s growth and commitment have been inspiring, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come. Looking ahead to 2026, preparations are already underway, and exciting plans are in motion. We can’t wait to share what’s next for the Bulls. We are always looking for more support and new sponsors to help us in this journey. If you would like to get involved in any way. Stay up to date with all the latest news and announcements by following us on Instagram: @Bulls_7s - Oliver Bulleid

Sports News OBEC

AGM - 4th October 2025 (OBEC vs Storm Amy) The Old Bromsgrovian Expedition Club (OBEC) exists to go to the hills to maintain and create friendships across Old Bromsogrovians, staff, friends and family, and the club is thriving under the leadership of our secretary Helen Rowberry. New members are very welcome and should look up the club activities on Facebook. The 2025 AGM took us to the rather excellent and sophisticated Gwydyr Hotel in Betws-Y-Coed, Snowdonia. It’s probably the smartest hotel that the club has ever been to, the staff were quite superb and we’ve already booked them to host the 2026 AGM! Inevitably these events are booked months in advance so we had no idea that Storm Amy was barrelling across the Atlantic for our chosen weekend. As we routinely meet in North Wales, a little bit of wind and rain (storm force I grant you) did nothing to dampen our enthusiasm, however, we did plan accordingly and Meredith Hiemstra (née Strong) selected a great low level eight mile walk starting and finishing at the hotel. The route took us through the Maes Newyddion Woods, passing the Llyn Elsi Reservoir and its monument, crossing disused quarries, clambering through fallen trees, doubling back when the path was impassable and, eventually, getting to our halfway point - The Towers Outdoor Centre. The remainder of the walk was much more relaxing as we followed the River (Afon) Llugwy back to BetwsY-Coed. Along the way, we stopped to admire Swallow Falls, which was in full spate due to Storm Amy and was making some thunderous noise. The AGM was that evening in the hotel. Club t-shirts were distributed and we enjoyed an excellent three-course meal. This year, the speeches were delivered by our born again marathon runner Chris Bywater (Walters House), Mac (our former art master) and Russell Taylor (not an OB but a long standing and valued member of the club as a friend of Neil Gibbs aka Goat), Terry Reis (aka Rat) and Nick Jones (aka Rope). The speeches always celebrate the mountains and the common bonds that we share going outdoors. Inevitably, we had lots of fun in the cocktail bar later but we are all sworn to secrecy.

We are always looking for more OBs to join OBEC. We host walking weekends to suit most abilities and our shared history of the School is something we cherish. Please get in touch if you’d like to join in - email oldbromsgrovians@bromsgroveschool.co.uk - Helen Rowberry (OBEC Secretary)

Baudy Mawr weekend A Newcomer’s Perspective... OBEC activities are recorded in the annals of Bromsgrove folklore with tales of epic adventures alongside unmatched merriment and communal bonding, usually set in the legendary Baudy Mawr hut on the edge of Nant Peris in the stunning Llanberis Pass. Qualifications for membership to this elite club appear to be a loose connection with the School and an animal name! Hence, it was with some trepidation that I set off, alone and uninitiated, in early April 2025, to sample an infamous BM weekend. When I arrived, the Friday welcome party was in full swing, spilling out into a clear and balmy spring evening. It didn’t take long to get involved in the general melee of communal eating, drinking, laughter and the ribbing associated with outdoor pursuits. BM hut is a beautiful old character dwelling - cosy and functional with an incredible sense of history and storytelling connected with the great outdoors. Community spirit is a necessity with the shared facilities, bunked dorms and common goals.

Saturday morning brought a burst of activity in the hut as the group prepared for the mountain walk. We shared cars to our starting point at Rhyd-Dhu then Jon (Badger) and Tom Thompson navigated the route west up Y Garn and along a windy Nantlle Ridge with stunning views of Snowdon. We then looped south and east through the Cwm Du Forest, which had been badly damaged by a storm. (Good job you carried that hack-saw Andrada!) After a hard day’s hiking, we ended up at the pub in Rhyd-Ddu… and then the ABBA hen ‘do’ arrived - they know how to party in these parts! Back at BM, we prepared for the big communal dinner/feast. Thank you Helen (Camel) Rowberry for the dinner and for all the endless organising. This was followed by another entertaining evening of fireside stories, more laughter, too much wine and excellent live music - a big shout out to Rob and the other soloists.

Sunday was clear up day and a farewell to new friends until the next time. What an absolute breath of fresh air! I think I’m now a fully fledged OBEC member … just wondering about my animal name….! - Ruth Al-Nakeeb

A SCORCHING SUMMER ADVENTURE OBEC descended upon Beudy Mawr in North Wales this summer during one of the hottest days Wales has ever seen. Helen Rowberry, ever the enthusiast, gleefully bullied the entire group into embracing the unprecedented weather, insisting we make the most of the glorious warm evenings. For perhaps the first time in the club’s history, every single meal was taken outside the hut a testament to just how exceptional the conditions were. The swarms of midges had a good meal too, judging by the bite marks on our skin. The early arrivals on Friday (Helen, Dave, Tom and his children) wasted no time in seeking out Lake Geirionnydd for a refreshing dip. The Saturday contingent, including Phil, Nick Clive and I (Andrada), retraced the route and ended up at the very same lake, with the Friday crew having driven straight there to enjoy the cool water for the day.

The kids had brought inflatables, which made the whole affair infinitely more entertaining as they challenged the adults to swimming races, proving once and for all that taking on energetic children in any athletic contest is a battle the grown-ups are destined to lose! Meanwhile, Steven struck out solo to conquer a proper peak, proving that even in a heatwave, some of us can’t resist a good climb. The real magic happened back at the hut, where Nick suggested an improv game which saw us all come up with a magical world called Slatetown, and we all launched into it with gusto. Characters emerged from thin air, tales of vengeance and unrequited love wove themselves together, and we bounced ideas off each other with gleeful abandon. The real highlight of the evening, however, came when Clive and Nick delivered such an engrossing

performance of air guitar and lip-syncing that the entire group was transfixed. The performance was so impressive that Clive even suggested his coperformer join his band on the spot. The storytelling and impromptu concert consumed most of the evening; even the singing, usually a club staple, took a backseat to the creative chaos unfolding before us. Sunday morning brought a brief moment of panic when the hut door jammed, and one unfortunate soul, who’d been sleeping outside, very narrowly made it back inside for… urgent business. But even minor mishaps couldn’t dampen the spirits of a weekend that perfectly captured what OBEC is all about: good mates, beautiful Welsh landscapes, and making joyous memories together, scorching heat and all. - Andrada Tomoni

Sports News OB Netball

It’s been another great year for the Old Bromsgrovian Netball Club. Our 21st year! In the 2025 summer league, we secured a commendable sixth place, competing in conditions ranging from scorching summer evenings to torrential rain and strong winds. We also said goodbye to Maddy Longhurst in July who went to pursue her career in the RAF. We will miss her sharp shooting and strong presence on court. Thank you Maddy for all your efforts over the past few years.

Our captain, Maisie Bullivant got married in September and we had a wonderful day celebrating with her in Ludlow. We’ve also recently been enjoying cocktails on a Sunday afternoon for a player with a big birthday. Any excuse for a social! We’re a friendly bunch and if you’re interested in getting back into playing netball we would love to hear from you. Reach out on Facebook ‘OB Netball (Bromsgrove)’ for more information. - Jacqui Wainwright (née Padmore)

This year marked a special first for us, having a mother and daughter playing for us in the team. A huge thanks to Helen Reilly’s daughter, Lottie, for stepping in, helping us out and doing us proud. Together, they made a formidable duo on the court, and we hope to see more of them next summer. Winter season 2025 promises to be an exciting one with some new (younger and hopefully fitter!) members on board. We are currently playing in division 3 of the Redditch league and matches are Sunday mornings. With some new talent in the squad, we’re hoping to make the top half of the table this season, fingers crossed.

OB Hockey

After over a decade away from the pitch, Old Bromsgrovian Hockey made a spectacular comeback, rekindling fond memories and fierce rivalries. It was wonderful to welcome so many familiar faces, particularly those from the late 1990s, a golden era when Bromsgrove’s girls dominated National competitions. Among the returning players were several former National League stars, many of whom had not played together since leaving School. The OB girls proved the old adage true: form is temporary, class is permanent. With poise and precision, they delivered a commanding performance to secure victory over the current girls’ 1st XI. The OB boys, meanwhile, took a little longer to find their rhythm, leading by just a single goal at half-time. But after the break, their experience shone through, and they surged ahead to claim a comfortable win.

The day’s highlight came during the post-match meal where stories of dedication and achievement inspired the next generation. Jenny Bimson shared her journey to Bromsgrove and how, under the guidance of Craig Parnham, she embraced a professional approach to training and gameplay. Her relentless drive led to multiple international caps for England and Great Britain, an extraordinary accomplishment rooted in her time at Bromsgrove. Equally moving was Todd Dudley’s heartfelt tribute to his brother, Ben. His words offered a profound insight into Ben’s passion for hockey and his enduring legacy at Bromsgrove. Playing for the ‘Ben Dudley’ trophies in the presence of Ben’s family was a poignant moment, one that will become a cherished tradition.

It is our hope that this celebration of Ben’s life and love for the sport will continue to inspire future Bromsgrovian hockey stars, just as he did as a pupil, coach, and Director of Hockey. With grateful thanks to OB Will Glover, who not only initiated the resurgence of the Martlets cricket team a few years ago, but was also instrumental in bringing OB hockey back. - Andrew Langlands

OB Cricket

Martlets vs School Lost by 1 wicket In a thrilling T20 battle on Lower Charford, The Martlets put up a far stronger showing in the shortest form of the game than they had the year before and briefly threatened a famous victory in the second edition of the Charlotte Hubbard Cup. The Martlets Selectors – Richard Meese and your correspondent – opted for a youth policy in this year’s line-up. We were both delighted to make way for more recent OBs and settle into the pavilion benches. Clearly these Martlets had more experience of the shorter format and quickly demonstrated their shot making ability with a series of spectacular knocks from most of the top 6. In what has now become somewhat of a Martlets tradition, Dan Ashton was removed by his younger brother… again. With Tom graduating to our ranks for next year, Dan will finally be able to move from this humiliation, which was greeted with wild celebrations from his younger sibling. Martlets posted 160, and the School’s reply started with an early Christian Battely wicket. At 50, the left arm opening bowler retains his immaculate line and length and I’m sure that he’ll be nipping out schoolboy batsmen for a few more years yet. From there, the School took control and it looked as though we were staring at another thrashing before canny spin bowling lured the youngsters into a series of wild slogs, and suddenly, ten were required with one wicket in hand and only 12 balls left. The final over they needed 7, but a couple of quick swings later and the match was over.

Thank you to the School who provided a beautiful pitch (as always), the caterers for putting on a wonderful hog roast, which was enjoyed by both teams and a good number of OB supporters. This year’s 1st XI mixed confidently with the OBs and expressed enthusiasm for playing Martlets cricket in the future. They were all very impressive and engaging young men and we hope to see more of them in the future. Hopefully, we can entice a few of them for next year’s fixtures when we try to win back the Cup!

Notable contributions came from Henry Marshall and Fred Hanson, and without the spectre of facing his kid brother – Dan Ashton was also able to trouble the scorers.

Martlets vs Himbleton CC Won by 9 wickets

Email: wglover@macdonaldandcompany.com

A resounding win for the Martlets after defeat last year. We turned up with a strong team on the day, with several Birmingham League players who quickly showed their athleticism in the field to back up the bowling of the Batteleys (or Batman and Robin, as they have become known). Unfortunately, Old Man Battleley broke a finger stopping a certain four hit straight back at him and was unable to continue. The scoring was building a score quite quickly off the seamers, and given the pitch looked as if it wouldn’t have been out of place in Pakistan, we turned to spin in the form of Jack Warner, Alex Wilkinson, Glynn Harrhy, and yours truly, Will Glover. 3 out of the quartet were fantastic, I was shocking. Jack and Alex both opened the bowling for the Birmingham League teams but bowling spin they were equally impressive. At one point, Jack bowled 3 balls right arm and then switched to left arm with not a lot of discernible difference! Alex took a stunning return catch and soon Himbleton were all out for 180. Frankly, The Martlets destroyed their bowling and knocked off the total with around ten overs to spare.

Thanks to everyone for playing and supporting this year, please contact us if you would like to play Martlets cricket. We want to get to stage when we have social matches, a women’s team and start entering the very competitive Old Boys knock out competitions. - Will Glover

Wedding Bells Lauren Brown (Thomas Cookes 20012017) married Bear Belk on 27th July 2024 in a ceremony near Oswestry. We send our best wishes to the happy couple.

Would you like your wedding featured in the next issue? Contact the Bromsgrovian Office by email oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk Tweet us @OldBromsgrovian, message us on the ‘Bromsgrove School Alumni (Old Bromsgrovians)’ Facebook Page or DM us on Instagram @oldbromsgrovian

Graduation Stories

Siena Horton (2006-2020) graduated cum laude from Harvard University, with a BA in Human Evolutionary Biology, earning High Honours, with a secondary in Economics. Siena says that one of the most rewarding parts of her Senior Year was writing her senior honours thesis titled Folk Evolution; Assessing Public Understanding and Lay Beliefs about Evolution. In this thesis, she investigated

the level of evolutionary understanding in the United States, uncovering key misconceptions and their social implications. Her findings demonstrate that whilst the public’s comprehension of evolution is better than expected, there are persistent misunderstandings, particularly regarding human exceptionalism and race which continue to reinforce societal biases. By addressing these gaps, Siena’s research offers insights that can inform educational reforms, policy interventions, and public engagement strategies to foster a more scientifically literate and inclusive society. Looking ahead, Siena will return to the UK to work at Goldman Sachs in London as a Market Analyst in Global Banking & Markets (FICC & Equities) within Credit Sales.

Pre-1980s Leavers’ Reunion

At the start of the Michaelmas Term, we welcomed back former pupils for a special reunion for those who left the School before 1980. The day began with a welcoming service in the Memorial Chapel, followed by a group photograph and a tour of the School led by current pupils. Lunch in the Dining Hall brought back fond memories, and the afternoon continued with rugby matches and the chance for Old Bromsgrovians to record their school-day memories on film for our Archive. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us – it was wonderful to see you back at Bromsgrove.

Thomas Jay ringing the Chapel bell

What Bromsgrove means to me... My journey at Bromsgrove started and ended before I even realised how quickly time had passed. They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that couldn’t be more true. My best friend, Josie Ward, who I’ve known since we were five, attended Bromsgrove and always spoke so highly of it. I remember feeling so jealous hearing her stories that I decided to apply myself. The day I found out I had been accepted for Sixth Form was one of the biggest turning points of my life. When I first visited the campus, I was amazed; it felt like its own little town, full of history and charm. I even bought a Bromsgrove umbrella, even though it was sunny. Bromsgrove shaped me in so many ways. It surrounded me with motivated, hardworking people from all over the world. I joined debate club where I learned the art of communication; volleyball club where I became captain and developed leadership skills; and even tried hockey (I wasn’t great, but at least I could run!) I also joined the Italian Club, “Ciao ciao!, where I mostly went for the pizza but like to think I left saying “Mamma mia!” a little more authentically each week. Later, I had the privilege of captaining the tennis team and leading us to the National Schools’ Championships in Nottingham, finishing seventh in the nation. Beyond sport, Bromsgrove taught me discipline, time management, and the importance of community, especially through the energy of House competitions. One of my favourite memories was being the only girl in my A-Level PE class; I loved the challenge of competing with the boys and pushing myself every day. Saturdays were the best, travelling with the tennis team, playing alongside my best friends Josie Ward and Letesha Grant, and representing the School with pride. Commemoration Day was always special, a celebration of tradition and unity, but what I miss most are the little moments: walking through campus and admiring its beauty through all four seasons.

I owe so much to Bromsgrove and the incredible teachers who guided me, especially Mrs Bateman, my House tutors Mrs Hannah and Mr Higgins, and Mrs Franks, who first introduced me to sport psychology. Now, I’m in my third year at the University of Delaware in the United States, studying on a full athletic scholarship. Life here has been an adventure, full of new opportunities, inspiring people, and unforgettable experiences. From travelling to San Francisco for tournaments to spending spring break in Miami, I’ve found a second home and a second family in my team.

Bromsgrove gave me the foundation, confidence, and curiosity that made all of this possible. For anyone who has the chance to study abroad, take it. You’ll grow in ways you never imagined. Thank you, Bromsgrove, for everything. Paulina Jurkowska (Thomas Cookes 2021-2023)

“Bromsgrove School gave me the foundation, confidence, and curiosity. ”

‘Dropping in on Dad’ Being able to take to the skies with an aircraft that fits within an average sized rucksack is an unbelievable privilege and always a pleasure.

To be able to fly home is something most pilots dream of, no matter the distance. The flight I describe will remain with me as one of my most memorable flying experiences. Light westerly winds had been forecast for Sunday 10th August, but a busy morning open water swimming with the family prevented me from checking on the day. I excitedly drove from the lake in Coventry to Malvern with my paraglider loaded in my bag, looking forward to a day of flying with my friends. A quick walk up Pinnacle Hill had me on top at 400 metres above sea level for about 1pm. To my disappointment, and despite the content of the chats the previous day, there were no other paraglider pilots there. The wind had shifted from the expected westerly to south-westerly, blowing along the ridge rather than directly against it. It was not going to be possible to ‘ridge soar’ to stay aloft on the Malverns today. I sat feeling rather dejected at the top, checking various forecasts to try to work out what might still be possible, whilst feeling for any changes in the breeze. The wind was still light, so I hoped that a thermal - a rising column of warm air - might be strong enough to override the wind and allow me to take off. Every fifteen minutes or so there was a small puff of wind upslope, so I set up my paraglider and waited. I was aware that if I could get some height and follow the wind, I would drift northwest towards Bromsgrove. My instruments told me that there was enough space to fly under Birmingham controlled airspace, so I programmed my goal into my phone and waited for my luck to change. I had mostly accepted that I would be just flying out to a field at the bottom, to the west of the Malverns. Eventually a gentle breeze blew up the hill and I managed to launch and get into the air. Aiming for a small landing field nearby, I was rather surprised to bump into a small bubble of lift. Gently circling, I drifted back towards the hill and very slowly and gradually I climbed above the ridge.

A stronger thermal soon developed and it wasn’t long before I reached 1000 meters of altitude and the gentle lift finally ran out. I flew north along the ridge, enjoying an amazing view of the beautiful Malvern Hills stretching out below. Just before Worcestershire Beacon, I connected with another weak thermal that drifted me towards Great Malvern as I climbed. I then spotted another paraglider flying on North Hill so flew over to share his lift. Eventually, over West Malvern, I found a good thermal that took me up to 1700m, drifting northeast. From this lofty height, the view is incredible. I could see for miles in every direction - fields, towns, and the winding River Severn. The feeling of floating silently above the landscape, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional beep from my flight instrument is unparalleled. I soon set off on a long glide towards the north, aiming to cover as much distance as possible. Just before Worcester, I found a thermal that lifted me back up another thousand metres. After another glide to Droitwich, small patches of lifting air allowed me to maintain my height while drifting with the wind and I finally realised I was probably within reach of Bromsgrove. I noticed a cloud forming over the lakes at Upton Warren, where I used to sail. Clouds like this often mark the top of a thermal, so I flew beneath it and was lucky to find the fastest climb of my flight. My instrument was telling me that I was only 200 metres below the 2000 metre ‘ceiling’ of

Birmingham airspace, breaching this would not only have been illegal and potentially dangerous, but would have rendered my flight unpublishable! I decided to fly straight on through the lift and out the other side to get fairly steady sinking air all the way to Bromsgrove. My plan was to land at the athletics pitch on New Road to allow an easy walk up the hill to my dad’s house. However, from above, I saw that trees on the upwind side of the pitch might cause turbulence and make landing risky, so chose to fly back to the School playing fields that were much more open and safe. I touched down next to the lower cricket pitch after flying 37km in just under two hours. Free flight is a great privilege and pleasure. After flying paragliders for over twenty years, identifying familiar towns, cities and landmarks that I recognised, and viewing my childhood town from above really added to the pleasure of this experience. My father greeted me as I packed up, and gave me a lift back to his house for a cup of tea, then all the way to Malvern to retrieve the car. It really was a great day out! Tony Blacker (Lyttelton 1982-1987)

“The feeling of floating silently above the landscape... is unparalleled. ”

Commemoration Day

Scan the QR code to listen to the 2025 Speeches and Prizegiving.

Our News to You NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE BROMSGROVIAN OFFICE.

Class of 2025

A warm welcome to our most recent leavers, the Class of 2025, who we look forward to welcoming to OB events in the near future. The Headmaster gave an OB tie or label pin to each Upper Sixth leaver in a special ceremony during the final Routh Assembly of the academic year. We urge all leavers, if they haven’t already, to log on to Bromsgrovians Connected and update their contact details, particularly with a personal email address so that we can stay in contact.

Good Governance

We are delighted that our Governing body have been awarded a ‘Good Governance’ certificate by AGBIS and HMC. The programme comprises of a new Governor Training Framework and the award of a certificate upon completion of a series of individual webinar sessions by the Governors.

Big School

A query from our Archivist, Nikki Thorpe: Does anyone recall an alternative name to Big School? We know it as the science labs for a time, as well as art and drama. An OB seems to remember the building beginning with the letter ‘H’...

Wanted: Contributors

Calling all OB writers! We’re looking for contributors for the next alumni magazine. Whether you have news to share, or you’d like to write a longer article about a subject close to your heart, please email us with your idea oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Networking Reception In October, Old Bromsgrovians gathered at The Fable in London for a lively alumni networking reception. From medicine to investment banking, journalism, AI and technology, guests represented a wide range of professions across the generations. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for OBs to reconnect with old friends, share memories of their School days, and make valuable new connections within the Bromsgrovian community. The Headmaster, Mr Punt, joined the occasion and gave a brief update on life at the School today, highlighting recent achievements and developments. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who attended for their continued support and enthusiasm, noting how inspiring it was to see the enduring strength of the Bromsgrovian network. The event was a warm reminder of the lasting bonds forged at Bromsgrove and the shared pride that unites its alumni around the world.

Nigerian Reunion The Headmaster, Mr Punt, made his first visit to Nigeria where the School held the inaugural reunion for Nigerian OBs, parents and prospective families. Hosted by Mr Mahmud Tukur (Elmshurst 1986-1991) at the Lagos Jet Ski Riders Club, over forty attendees enjoyed a fantastic evening, complete with branded goody bags, Bromsgrove themed cocktails and delicious canapes. If you live or work in Nigeria, please contact us to make sure we have your up to date contact details so we can invite you to future events.

Thailand Get-Together We were delighted to host a warm and welcoming evening reception in Bangkok for our current and former parents, as well as Old Bromsgrovians. Hosted by the Headmaster, Mr Punt, the event was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate the enduring Bromsgrove spirit. Thank you to everyone who joined us – your continued support and shared memories are what make our global Bromsgrove community so special. We were also hoping to host an event in Hong Kong, but the typhoon meant that we had to cancel our plans. We hope to see everyone in HK soon.

From the Archives... A RUN DOWN OF THE ACTIVITIES OVER THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR. This year’s Archive Club has continued to collect archives and artefacts that we know we are missing in our collections and has been helped greatly by student knowledge and action on this mission. Two students focussed on their own Houses to research and collect archive material for a display in the Headmaster’s Dining Room and at Commem. They consequently collected new material for the archive, which had been stored by previous Houseparents. From School House, we took in a large number of framed photos from many decades which have now been de-framed, repackaged and listed on the catalogue, although further dating is required. These images might come out at future reunion events for help from alumni. From Mary Windsor House, our archive club student collected photographs of House events to add to the archive and a DVD of Mary Windsor activities from 2006/07, which we have converted to mp4 to store in our digital archive. Collecting different file formats and old media is an ongoing necessity for archive collections and a key part of our digital preservation strategy to ensure that we do not lose treasures from different eras. We are still looking for more informal House photographs from OBs so please do consider sharing with us if you have some stored away.

We were delighted to receive a collection of archives of the CCF and Music trips from former staff member Richard Stevens. This has been appraised and draft listed by a student during the summer holidays and will now be repackaged and date checked in consultation with the donor.

A donation from Old Bromsgrovian Andrew Sindle, of his father’s collection of cine films, which he had converted to mp4, is a fantastic addition to our archive collection. The films from c.1929-31 show rugby matches, the outdoor swimming pool, Commemoration Day celebrations, Fives being played and, amazingly, the construction of the Memorial Chapel. They provide a tangible link with the past as the School campus is so recognisable and yet so different. They will be shown during Remembrance workshops this year in November and soon available to view on the School website.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, we curated an exhibition of archives to tell the story of the School’s move to Llanwrtyd Wells in 1939, the founding of the Junior School in Llanwrtyd Wells and the war experiences of some staff and pupils at the School. Following a cataloguing project of our WW2 material, completed by an MA Archive student who volunteered with us, we uncovered new stories about this period which we were able to put in the exhibition. Roger Human, the Housemaster of School House, left to serve in the war, and we have his letters to Headmaster Routh talking about his time guarding the Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. Photographs of Human and his wife Rosalind and son on the Whole School photograph for 1939 help bring his story alive.

Also to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2, a first-hand account of life at Bromsgrove School in Llanwrtyd Wells has been recorded with our oldest Old Bromsgrovian, Christopher Price. We filmed Christoher in Llanwrtyd Wells at all the landmarks talking about his memories as a schoolboy there and describing everyday School life during WW2. It is a valuable record of this time in Bromsgrove’s history and a useful and meaningful resource to share with students and the wider community. In fact, BBC Radio Wales picked up the story from the School’s social media channels and interviewed the archivist and Christoper on morning radio for the anniversary commemorations in May. As usual, we have been delighted to welcome back former staff and students to the School and see the changes that have happened and what has stayed the same. This year, we were able to record an oral history interview with former Houseparent and parent Mary Wilson who was part of School life from 1991 to 2005, and shared some lovely memories of her time at Bromsgrove School.

The Bromsgrove Illusive Man For this edition of the alumni magazine, we have an interesting story about a former scholar that took some time to identify, and the role that our archives played in the tale.

In 2025 the Government’s independent conciliation service, Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Service kicked off several celebratory events, including the digitisation of their own archives. From these reports, it is possible to research early members of the Acas council. The Acas council is a tripartite entity that governs the organisation and has representatives for employers, employees (typically trade unions and independents. An oddity of the earlier reports is that they’re unhelpfully polite. For the first ten years or so, any new appointee to the Acas council was introduced by title, initial and surname. And that’s it. No mention of their role on the Council or which firm they work for. As such, one appointee was introduced in 1989 as ‘Mr RBM Way’, which presented quite a challenge to tackle. So, how was one to solve this mystery? First, Acas staff started by ruling out the obvious. During their research, a trueism is that Trade Union general secretaries, in the round, are very active in the media, which leaves a trail to follow in both national and local press. Nothing surfaced. So, researchers were confident that RBM was not an employee representative. However, if he were an independent, he might have been a professor, which would also leave a footprint in the form of academic publications. Again, nothing surfaced. Of course, independent council representatives aren’t always academic; they’ve also been barristers and HR specialists. These individuals would also have some form of publication footprint to follow. For instance, two previous council members, Pat Lowry and Roger Farrance, demonstrably went on to lead the Institute of Personnel Management (now the CIPD). I’m confident that if RBM Way were an independent, I’d have found some supporting evidence.

This leaves one category as the likely option, that RBM Way was an employer representative. Another truism of researching the Council is this: employer representatives are easy to find if they’re drawn from the boards of previously nationalised industries. If not, well, that makes the job harder. So, to progress, a different set of research skills were required, genealogical ones.

Starting with the obvious again, researchers checked the political memoir of the Acas Secretary of State (Employment) in 1989, Norman Fowler. His publications do mention Acas but has nothing regarding council appointments or RBM Way. This left researchers with was what they initially started with: three initials and a surname. If any of you, as readers, are practised genealogists, you might agree that part of the genealogical craft is spotting patterns and trends for further research leads. In his three years on the Council, RBM Way used those precise initials in all the reports in which he was mentioned. If he insisted on this elsewhere, it meant that other literature might exhibit the same pattern, which gave me something to run with. So, going wide, the phrase was tested in several databases and returned hits predominantly in the Birmingham area. Still no full name, but researchers now had a school report from 1954 and a short annual report for an engineering firm. The initials also returned an officer listing in a British Army personal listing in 1962, which indicates RBM Way may have been one of the last conscripts enlisted for National Service for the Royal Engineers. The School was of course; Bromsgrove and we were able to provide an extract from our existing records that fitted into the overall timeline. Armed with this, Acas researchers queried the GRO Indexes for registered deaths specifically in Birmingham and eventually, after some effort, found a Raymond Brinsley Mallen Way who passed away in 2017. Having a full name helped immeasurably, as Mr Way held various board-level positions in the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, their pension fund, and the Hippodrome. The nature of other firms he’d been appointed to provided a consistent story of manufacturing and toolmaking, which was consistent with earlier discoveries.

All of which sounded like an employer representative to me.

Still, as helpful as all this was, there was nothing linking the RBM Way in Acas annual report to the character researchers had been fleshing out. Acas remained confident they were one and the same but still lacked that final concluding link. This confirmation was to be received however, with the assistance of the marketing function, which was in touch with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce for unrelated purposes. After a quick outreach, one of the longstanding Chamber staff visually confirmed their RBM Way, and ours was in fact the same guy. From here, it was reasonably easy to locate additional newspaper articles that detailed Mr Way’s career. I’ve included some of these, alongside Mr Way’s photo from the 1991 annual report and a summary of the genealogical profile I’d composed for him. • Birmingham Mail 20 December 1954: Exam results for RBM Way at Bromsgrove School • Birmingham Daily Post, 16 September 1970: Notice of BRM Way’s appointment as managing director of TS Harrisons and Sons • Birmingham News Friday 06 March 1987: Article, with picture, including Mr Way’s commentary on the region’s economic revival All in all, Mr Way appears to Acas a man who very much cared about the business community he worked in and would have likely had a strong endorsement from the Birmingham branch of the CBI. In 1989, a nomination to the Secretary of State was sufficient for appointment. With this update, I can consider Mr Way’s profile fleshed out to satisfaction, which leaves me with a final three council members to resolve. - Steve Andrews (Head of Collaboration Engineering at Acas)

With the help of our School Archivist, the organisation Acas was able to identify a former Bromsgrove pupil who was proving to be illusive

Obituaries OLD BROMSGROVIANS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2024/25.

Ann Bourne (wife of Jeremy Bourne) d. 5 June 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ann Bourne, wife of Jeremy Bourne (former Housemaster of Lupton), who died on 5th June 2025. Ann occupies a unique place in our School’s history. She was daughter of Joe Mitchell (Bromsgrove School 1924-1958), Housemaster and Second Master. Ann was born at Bromsgrove School in Elmshurst on New Road just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Her father played a vital role in assisting David Walters in the move to Llanwrtyd Wells. Ann moved with them. Ann’s uncle was also a Housemaster at Bromsgrove. Ann met Jeremy at Bromsgrove soon after he arrived in 1964. Bill Littleton, Housemaster of Wendron, put Jeremy in charge of the House for a day or so. But he sent his niece, who was nursing in Oxford, to help out. The rest is history. They married in 1965 but then spent three years teaching in India before returning to our School. When Lupton became a day house, they lived in the old Headmaster’s House - now Hazeldene. They were the last staff to do so. Our thoughts are with Jeremy and the Bourne family.

Dr William Robert Cook (Lupton 1944-1947) d. 25 August 2025

He loved music, poetry, art, architecture, and the gift of each day. Shortly before he died, he described himself as “jubilant.”

Dr William Robert “Bob” Cook, FRCVS, PhD - scientist, artist, gentleman - died on 25th August 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 94.

A swimmer, runner, and yoga practitioner until his death, he still cut a dash on the dance floor. His life’s work: the relentless advancement of kindness - a legacy felt in all those he met, as well as in every horse and rider freed from pain.

Bob was a pioneer in equine veterinary medicine whose career challenged millennia of horse training tradition by proving that bits cause pain, suffocation, and the very behavioural problems they’re meant to solve. A veterinary iconoclast who spent decades fighting to “unshackle the horse,” his research revealed that bit-free riding eliminated conflict behaviors while improving performance and rider safety - findings that may ultimately transform equestrian sport. His final article is soon to be published. Born in Wolverhampton, his career spanned continents, from his Cambridge University doctorate to veterinary work in Kenya and beyond. He counted Sheikh Mohammed and Queen Elizabeth II among his clients. Veterinary medicine proved doubly rewarding: through his work he met the love of his life, Margaret (née Bowen), and embraced her three young sons as his own. He moved to the United States in 1978 to help set up the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, serving as Associate Dean, and was later named Professor of Surgery Emeritus. His development of the Bitless Bridle, still used worldwide, exemplifies his research: removing pain makes better horses and better riders. Bob brought uncommon eloquence to scientific writing. His hundreds of publications stand apart for their clear, engaging style, drawing upon Shakespeare and others to illuminate technical complexity. An accomplished painter and calligrapher, he approached every field of knowledge with the rigor of a scientist and the wonder of a lifelong scholar.

Predeceased by his wife, Margaret, son Nicholas Kirk, and twin sister Francie, Bob is survived by his older brother, Roger; sons Peter and Robin Kirk; and his grandchildren Alice Walker, William (“Wiggy”), Tim, and Madeleine Kirk. Bob also leaves three daughters-in-law (Eleanor, Mary, and Lisa), two granddaughters-in-law (Becca and Sam), and three step-granddaughters (Maggie, Caitlin, and Jenna). - Richard Cook

David John Cory (Elmshurst 1957-1962, former Treasurer of the Bromsgrovian Club) d. 27 June 2025 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of David Cory. David joined Bromsgrove School as a boarder at the age of ten years old, following in the footsteps of his father, being joined by his brother Richard at a later date. Sport quickly became David’s abiding passion, notably, when for four consecutive summers, he won the Victor Ludorum Cup for athletics. He also played hockey and cricket for the School teams. On leaving School, David became a Chartered Accountant working for Deloitte in Birmingham and latterly, locally. His love of sport continued, playing for both Kidderminster Hockey Club and Bewdley Cricket Club for well over twenty-five years. On retirement, notable roles included Chairman of the Governors of Kidderminster College, Governor of the Knoll School (his first school), Kidderminster Chamber of Commerce, advisor to the Young Enterprise Scheme and Trustee of the Museum of Carpet, Kidderminster. David was a man of great kindness, generosity and integrity with always an interest in others. David was very proud to have attended Bromsgrove School. He was a very active member of the Old Bromsgrovians in addition to being their treasurer for forty years and very much enjoyed this close contact with the School.

Professor Christopher Hood (Gordon 1960-1965) d. 3 January 2025 With great sorrow, we announce the death on 3rd January of Christopher Hood CBE FBA, at the age of 77. Christopher came from LSE to Oxford in 2001 as Gladstone Professor of Government and a Fellow of All Souls. David is lovingly remembered by his wife Ann to whom he was married for fiftythree years, his daughters Rachel and Clare and his grandchildren Will, Sofia, Eddie and Henry. - Ann Cory (wife)

Since retirement in 2014 he was an Emeritus Fellow of the College. Christopher’s research concerned public administration and regulation, and his most recent book, on the history of public expenditure control in the UK, was published in 2023.

Obituaries OLD BROMSGROVIANS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2024/25.

Wendy Carey (Academic Staff 1980-1985) d. 28 August 2025

Wendy was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1946. Her father, John Hughes, had joined the Royal Australian Air Force at the outbreak of war, and one of his postings was Australian liaison officer to Southern Rhodesia where there was a Commonwealth training school for pilots and air crew. There, he met his future wife, Vivienne Patterson. (Vivienne was later to become the first House Mother of Mary Windsor House.) Vivienne had a BA degree from the University of Cape Town and was highly intelligent, which helped greatly in dealing with the shenanigans of errant Mary Windsor girls. Vivienne and John married and went to Australia, where Wendy was born. They decided to return to Rhodesia, and first settled in Umtali (now Mutare), a picturesque town in the Eastern Highlands, bordering on Mozambique. Wendy’s sister Pam was born in Umtali. Their father’s job required frequent relocation around Rhodesia and South Africa, and Wendy and Pam attended 7 primary schools, in Umtali, Bulawayo, and various parts of the Transvaal and Orange Free State – some of them Afrikaans speaking, so they quickly learned the benefits of adaptability.

Wendy went to Townsend High School for Girls in Bulawayo for the first four years of senior school, some of them as a boarder, then after O-level, transferred to Umtali Girls’ High School to do A-levels in English, Latin, and History. She made an immediate impact on the school with her confident character and striking good looks, and Wendy was very active in the school choir and G&S theatricals, shared with the nearby boys’ school.

The political situation in Rhodesia was becoming desperate. The country had endured 12 years of sanctions, and the civil war was escalating, with bombs going off in Salisbury, and many roads had mines laid. Cars undertaking long journeys would travel in convoy, with armoured cars taking up the front and rear. Pupils at Prince Edward would finish A-level and immediately be conscripted into the army. Sadly, several lost their lives.

Her settled senior school years were happy and some relief after the constant upheavals of primary years, though the country itself was anything but settled, culminating in Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI - 11 Nov 1965).

This was no place to bring up a family, so Wendy and George left for the UK. Fortunately, Wendy had an Australian passport, so they were granted entry. The children remained in Rhodesia until both employment and accommodation were established. This was extremely stressful for Wendy, but there was no other option.

After school, Wendy went to the University College of Rhodesia (UCR) in Salisbury (now Harare), where she read English. This was an external college of London University, granting English degrees, and was the only multiracial institution in the country in the years following UDI. It was a small university – c.800 students, 200 of whom were white. It was a rare and stimulating experience for the white students, who had little or no previous acquaintance with educated black people. Wendy was never one to shy away from sticking her head above the parapet, and became active in student politics, demonstrating against the illegal Rhodesian regime, and on one occasion acquired a supreme badge of honour amongst fellow students by being arrested at an ‘illegal’ demonstration. Wendy graduated from UCR, completed teacher training and married Arnold Wallace in 1968. She had four children, three of whom went through the Bromsgrove experience – Jonathan (Ws), Matthew (Ws) and Vicky (H). (Her older daughter, Carolyn, was perhaps lucky not to be educated at a school in which her mother taught). Wendy had a variety of teaching posts around Rhodesia, and in 1976 ended up at Prince Edward School, which was a large ‘Premier League’ boys’ school in the capital city, Salisbury. There she met George Carey, a Physics teacher, and they were married in 1977.

Teaching jobs were applied for all over England, and both a Physics and an English post were available in an unknown town called Bromsgrove, at a comprehensive school, North Bromsgrove. The Headmaster was desperate to fill these vacancies, as the term started in only three days, so George and Wendy were hastily appointed. Accommodation was a problem, but miraculously they were put in touch with one Jim Page, who would later become Head of Bromsgrove Prep School. He had a spare room, and that provided a place to board. George and Wendy later moved to stay at the home of Dr Paddy Blacker and his wife, Liz. (Liz produced the tapestries which adorn the walls of the School Chapel.) Miraculously, both Physics and English posts became available at Bromsgrove School – George started teaching Physics there in 1979, and Wendy started teaching in 1980. Wendy taught English and also Classical Civilisation, and her Latin A-level was put to good use. In English, her Head of Department, Janet Cockin, writes, ‘Wendy was a muchvalued and admired teacher of English. Wendy was also a brilliant presence on the Bromsgrove stage as a performer and singer in memorable musicals.’

This is undoubtedly true, and pupils that Wendy taught sent very complimentary messages when her death was announced, even though one commented that ‘She scared the living daylights out of me surely the signs of a great teacher.’ Wendy certainly went to great lengths to help her pupils. For his Classical Civilisation project, one boy made a huge model of a Roman fort, which would never have fitted in a Jiffy bag to post to the examining board. That was no problem - Wendy put it in the boot of the car and drove it down to Oxford for assessment.

Sadly for Bromsgrove School, Wendy was ambitious and set her sights higher than house parenting. After five years at Bromsgrove, Wendy was successful in being appointed Deputy Head of King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, a selective grammar school and one of the schools of the King Edward VI Academy Trust, Birmingham. Wendy made the transition from private education to the state system with ease, so much so that in 1990 she secured the Headship of Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls, in Kent.

Wendy’s excellent singing voice was given suitable airing in several Choral Society productions and in such musicals as Iolanthe.

Wendy’s Deputy Head from 1994 onwards, Sara Kemsley, writes, ‘When I encountered Wendy, I suspected that here was a woman completely dedicated to getting the best outcomes for students, whatever their background or circumstance. And so it was. She was an inspirational leader, and so many of us went on to our own headships and other leadership roles within both state and private education. So many tributes have poured in from students, who feel that their future lives were formed and enabled by her firm yet caring influence.

In the late 1970s, the Governors of the School made a bold move. There had been a sprinkling of girls in the Sixth Form for a few years, but it was decided that the School should become fully co-educational. Wendy and George were appointed House Parents of the proposed new House, which was later named Mary Windsor House. Mary Windsor (d. 1695) was the wife of Sir Thomas Cookes, the English philanthropist who was the benefactor of Bromsgrove School. With no other Girls’ Houses in the School, Wendy had a clean slate to work with and could set up rules and promote an atmosphere in the House that encouraged girls to reach their full potential. Anything that the boys could do, so could they, and possibly even better! This sudden influx of girls caused a bit of an upheaval, and the boys (and some of the older Masters) took some time to adapt to the fact that the school had taken on a whole new dimension. Gail Hayward, who was the Senior Mistress, comments, ‘In the five years Wendy was at Bromsgrove, she helped me considerably, and made an enormous contribution to the successful integration of girls into what was a traditional boys’ boarding school. Her running of Mary Windsor set the gold standard for boarding/day houses in future years and was an integral factor in the success of Bromsgrove School as a top co-educational school.’

Wendy became an influential headteacher within Kent, setting up the first Leadership Centre in the county with programmes of training and high-level conferences, somewhat similar to the National College for School Leadership, which opened in 2000. She was heavily involved in the recruitment and training of school leaders and in supporting under-performing schools to improve. In 2004, she won the Promethean Headteacher of the Year Award for the South-East. Her nomination said, “Wendy has an obsession with excellence and has the highest possible expectations of herself and everyone else. While it can at times be hard for some to keep up, she is equally generous in her support. She will give great portions of her time to helping a teacher, student or parent do a better job.”

Another former colleague, who went on to headship, recalls that “whether delivering new facilities, curricular innovation or higher teaching and learning standards, Wendy’s clearly articulated vision and drive showed that considerable challenges could be overcome with skilful and steely leadership, presented, in her case at least, with a good dose of charm and her winning smile!” When she retired in 2005, she continued much of her consultancy work, and was on several independent and state school governing boards, bringing her warmth, drive, energy and experience to the service of new generations of students. Her own grandchildren were undoubtedly the best-educated children during the COVID-19 lockdown. She showed the same commitment to her family as she showed to generations of children and parents, who benefitted from her wisdom and fearless pursuit of excellence. Wendy would say, “If it’s not good enough for my children, it’s not good enough for anyone else’s” - a mantra that she lived up to every day of her extraordinary life.’ In 2014, Wendy was diagnosed with both chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. She faced this double whammy with characteristic strength and determination and, aided by medical science, Wendy kept the diseases under control. In 2022 she moved from Kent to London, so that she could be nearer her children and grandchildren. A severe stroke in April 2025 put Wendy in hospital, and while there, the cancers made a resurgence, resulting in her death on 28th August. The funeral took place on 23rd September at Corpus Christi Church, Tonbridge. - George Carey

Obituaries OLD BROMSGROVIANS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2024/25.

Jennifer Jones (Academic Staff 1988-2004) d. 28 July 2024

On the 28th July 2024, Jennifer (fondly known as Jenny, or Mrs Jones) passed away peacefully having lost her fight with Acute Myloid Leukaemia. When visiting Cornwall in October 2023 together, to celebrate our grandson Noah’s 11th birthday, Jennifer became extremely unwell. She was soon diagnosed with AM Leukaemia whilst staying in an isolation ward at Truro Hospital. We remained in Cornwall as she went on to have treatment as an outpatient. We stayed close to our daughter’s family until she was considered fit enough for us to return home to Hanbury, Worcestershire. In early March 2024, the Worcester Royal Hospital took over the remainder of her treatment. Jennifer is greatly missed, not only by all the close family and friends, but also many teaching colleagues, both near and afar. Jennifer was born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire. She spent her early life with her family in Water Orton before they all moved to Marlbrook. She attend Bromsgrove High School before choosing to move away to Falmer (Brighton) Teacher Training College to gain her Teaching Certificate. Later, Jennifer went on to achieve her BA in Arts and Education degree with The Open University.

Her life passion for teaching started in 1970 with the Birmingham Education Department at Stirchley Infant and Junior School. Jennifer also spent time teaching English as a Second Language at the Selly Oak Institute in Birmingham. Following the birth of her children, she returned to full time teaching at St Lawrence’s Church of England School, Northfield. Jennifer’s long and fulfilling career with Bromsgrove School started in 1988, first teaching at Ottilie Hild School before moving over to Bromsgrove Lower School a few years later. Jennifer excelled at teaching many junior Bromsgrovians, and she is still fondly remembered by many of them. She always worked hard, was highly committed, and an extremely loyal teacher and colleague. She enjoyed working on School productions and took great pride in further developing the Lower School library. Jennifer chose to take early retirement from Bromsgrove in 2004. However, for a number of years, she continued to work from the family home as a trusted home tutor to many local children. Her teaching experience saw her take on the position of School Governor for Hanbury Church of England School, and she also enjoyed her time working as an Education Officer at Hanbury Hall. In her spare time, Jennifer organised the Hanbury Church flowers – she specialised in displays using seasonal flowers. She also became the lead officer for refreshments in the Members’ Marquee for the Hanbury Countryside Show. Jennifer was always friendly, helpful, thoughtful and supportive in all she did, she was our very own force of nature and is deeply missed. Jennifer leaves behind her life partner and loving husband John, their son Neal and his wife Judie, and grandchildren Cassian and Mallorie. There is also their daughter Kay who sadly lost her husband to cancer in April 2024, and grandson Noah. - John Jones (husband)

Tudor Phillips (School 1944-1949) d. 20 March 2025 It is with sadness but with many wonderful memories that we report the passing of Tudor Phillips. Always known as ‘Tud’, he was a founding member of the School in Llanwrtydd Wells during the Second World War. After attending Llandaff Cathedral School, he unexpectedly found himself not so far from his home in South Wales, a circumstance he often remarked upon. The Bromsgrove School pupils were accorded the Freedom of the Town of Llanwrtyd Wells and occasionally, later, Dad fantasised about this privilege: It was his assertion that, as a Freeman of Llanwrtyd, he was entitled to herd a flock of sheep across the town’s river bridge. As much as he fancied said privilege and eventually owning sufficient sheep, he never actually got round to doing it. Presumably the Town was relieved. He attended many OB events in Llanwrtyd and undoubtedly raised a few pints in discussing the same. At Bromsgrove, he was Captain of Swimming and played alongside Peter Fielden in the first fifteen. Peter was this writer’s Housemaster a generation later. After School, he achieved many diverse achievements including National Service, a degree in agriculture at Durham and, ultimately, settled back in Glamorgan where he farmed for more than fifty years. His military training was a duty and a hobby resulting in his appointment as 2IC of 104 Regiment in Newport after many appointments in the Territorial Army. He served as the Chairman of the RA Officers Association for many years afterwards

Poignantly, he was instrumental in the aftermath of the 1967 Aberfan disaster. As commander of the local Regiment, he found himself responsible for supporting recovery operations, supervising generators and lighting during the horrific excavation of the children and adults who were buried. It was a devastating experience. Shortly after, he was awarded the Territorial Decoration. Happier times supervened, however, and the sailing instruction he received in the Army took root. Sailing became an obsession that he shared with his kids and everyone besides. At his seniority, he could list dozens of protégés to whom he had taught the basics, the nuances and the freneticism of racing and navigating from the coast of South Wales, to Ireland, the Mediterranean and northern coasts of France, and as far as the East coast of Florida to the Bahamas. Ultimately, at the age of 86, he enjoyed a cruise to said Bahamas with his son and granddaughter, a three generational sail of epic memories for those of us who remember. He was an incredible support, tutor and guru to his local community, his extended family and his friends of which he had many. His wife passed many years before him and they are both buried a few hundred feet from the family farmhouse in their tiny village in South Wales. He is survived by his son Jonathan (School 1972-1977) , daughters Caroline and Susan and six grandchildren: in England ( Lily, Archie and Ferdie) and Florida (Emma Sophie and Isabelle), and two great grandchildren in Florida (Josie and Levi). - Jonathan Phillips (son)

Christopher Sellers (Cobham/Lupton 1977-1982) d. 29 November 2024

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Christopher Sellers, a proud alumnus of Bromsgrove where he excelled in sport, achieving multiple caps in rugby and cricket and formed lifelong friendships. Chris was a devoted husband and father whose children, Sophie and Emma Sellers followed in his footsteps at Bromsgrove. Known for his kindness, humor, and his larger than life character, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, Chris. - Sophie Sellers (daughter)

Obituaries OLD BROMSGROVIANS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2024/25.

Old Bromsgrovians who also died in 2024/25 but for whom we have no obituary: Paul Ashworth (School/Millington 1953-1958) d. November 2024

Thomas Guy Robinson (School 1967-1970) Deceased date not known

Paul Coslett (Gordon 1957-1962) d. 31 October 2024

W. John Robinson (Wendron 1947-1951) Deceased date not known

John Gittins (Wendron 1944-1948) d. 1 July 2025

Edward K. Samuel (Wendron 1951-1956) d. March 2024

Prof Charles Handy (School 1946-1951) d. 13 December 2024 Raymond Jarvis (Lupton 1941-1946) d, 13 January 2025 Peter Jones (Lupton 1947-1952) Deceased date not known John Richard Lang (School 1946-1951) d. 19 October 2024 David Lardge (Lupton 1945-1948) Deceased date not known Peter J. Mobberley (Lyttelton 1960-1965) d. 5 May 2024 Graham Miles (Elmshurst 1943-1950) Deceased date not known Glen Neville-Smith (Wendron 1950-1955) d. 21 February 2025 Christopher Omowande Oyediran (Elmshurst 2001-2006) d. 30 July 2025

Editor’s Note: We have only just been notified about Mr Samuel’s death

William Startin-Field (School/Gordon 1963-1968) d. 7 November 2025 Anthony Stickland (Wendron 1948-1953) d. May 2024 Dr Roger Walford Hill (Wendron) d. 16th December 2020

(Editor’s note: We have only just been notified of Mr Hill’s death)

Philip Walters (Lupton/Cookes 1954-1956) Deceased date not known Peter Williams (School 1958-1963) d. August 2022 James Whittaker (School 1958-1963) d. 18 April 2024

Foundation Lecture THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL FOUNDATION LECTURE - MARCH 2025 We welcomed OB Gary Hughes (Lupton 1987-1992) to the Barber-Surgeons’ Hall in London to deliver our Fourteenth Annual Foundation Lecture. Gary, who is Director of Football at Sky, shared his fond memories of Bromsgrove School, his love of tennis, work experience at Sky Sports and the joy of “unscripted drama” in live sport.

Stephen Bradley, Gina and Matthew Horton

Michael Punt (Headmaster), Venetia and Nick Cottman

Guest Speaker, Gary Hughes, pictured with Simon Matthews (Senior Master) and current pupils

Victoria Underwood, Ann Taylor, Mike Marie (Headmaster of Prep and Pre-Prep)

Lee Baker, Heidi Collie, Archie Holder, Christiana Lloyd, Felix Warren

Hamish Schulz, Zach Chattin, Matthew Taylor (Chairman of Foundation)

The Foundation THANKING OUR DONORS, LEGACY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.

Appreciation Lunch Old Bromsgrovians, Parents and Friends of the School attended our annual Appreciation Lunch in the Old Chapel, an event to thank our donors and legacy society members for their support of the Foundation and the life-changing bursaries scheme. You can read more about this in the pages overleaf. Would you like to know more about the Foundation? Email: foundation@bromsgrove-school.co.uk Post: Bromsgrove School Foundation, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, B61 7DU

John Cutler, Matthew Taylor (Chairman of the Foundation), Gillie Bulmer, Richard Kenchington

or visit www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/ the-foundation

Emma and Jerome Wallington Gordon Harvey, Philip Bowen (Foundation Trustee)

Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society

Ann Taylor, Jane Elizabeth Ballantyne Kenchington

The Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society acknowledges and thanks all those who have made a gift in their wills to Bromsgrove. Members are invited to an annual lunch and names are recorded on the donor tree, which is situated on the staircase next to the Hospitality Suite. If anyone is interested in making a gift in their will to Bromsgrove, please contact the Foundation Office: foundation@bromsgrove-school.co.uk or telephone 01527 579679 ext 366.

Donor Roll THANKING OUR DONORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT DURING 2024/25. (DONATIONS & GIFTS IN KIND* RECEIVED FROM SEPTEMBER 2024 - SEPTEMBER 2025)

Cookes Kim Daniels (1960-1965, also Lupton) Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham Kt. (1969-1974, also Walters) Matthew Horton (1962-1967, Foundation Trustee) Richard Kenchington (1965-1969) Matthew Taylor (1968-1973, also Walters, Chairman of the Foundation)

Lyttelton Dan Ashton (2011-2020) Will Lockhart (2005-2016) Gurbinder Maumi (1998-2005) Gareth Morgan (1953-1958)

Elmshurst Philip Baldwin (1954-1958) Richard Cariss (1956-1959) Alvin Chui (2020-2024) Andrew Enston (1997-2002) Hugh Furber (1952-1957) Joe Herbert (1954-1957) Philip Hobson (1948-1952) Sungyoon Joseph Hong (2018-2023) Simon Skelding (1954-1962, deceased) Mahmud Tukur (1986-1991) Topper Webb (1972-1973)

Ottilie Hild Lauren McLean (2017-2021)

Gordon Nevil Malin (1948-1953) Graham Sim (1969-1974) John Vine (1945-1955) Housman Hall Haotian Cui (2015-2017) Robyn Davies (2016-2018) John Kim (2020-2023) Arina Makarina (2022-2024) Paolo Romanengo (2017-2019) Jacky Wong (2015-2020) Lupton Richard Brookes (1961-1965, President of the Foundation) Gabriel Brown (2008-2024) Kim Daniels (1960-1965, also Cookes) Frank Dunne (1960-1965) David Dutton (1956-1961) Gary Hughes (1987-1992) Aled Luckman (2002-2018) Nicholas Martin (2008-2017) Iain Messore (2004-2020) Kelvin Morris (1976-1981) Christopher Porter (1958-1963) Philip Powell (1962-1967) David Reeve (1950-1954) John Steveni (1975-1980) David Walters (1981-1986) Hugh Westlake (2002-2010)

Mary Windsor Caroline Binham (1991-1996) Sarah Winnett (1996-2006)

School John Cutler (1956-1961) John Denby (1956-1965, Foundation Trustee) Jeremy Elwell (School 1990-1993) Geoff Godsall (1956-1959) George Hastings (2017-2024) Owais Iqbal (2019-2024) Michael Perkins (1948-1952) Christopher Price (1939-1944) David Roberts (1953-1958) Chris Tan (1961-1966) Jerome Wallington (1995-2000) Robert Williams (1963-1968) C J Woosnam (1950-1954, deceased) Thomas Cookes Cathryn Bloomfield (1997-2007) Liz Fox (1996-1998) Georgia Doohan-Smith (2006-2020) Charlotte James (2009-2023) Olivia Safe (1992-1994) Walters Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham Kt. (1969-1974, also Cookes) Matthew Taylor (1968-1973, also Cookes, Chairman of the Foundation) Wendron / Wendron-Gordon Bowen Cheung (2018-2024) Trevor Groocock (1951-1955) David Harrison (1947-1950, deceased) Will Horne (1998-2002) Nikolay Kovalikhin (2021-2024) Jeff Lomax (1949-1954) Oleksii Moskalevskyi (2015-2020)

Friends of the School Old Bromsgrovian Lodge Isabel Cree Judy Dennison Chris Edwards June Longmuir Rachel Scannell James Sommerville Ann Taylor Tim Taylor Patricia Whistance Parents Mr Borisov and Mrs Borisova Mr Belov and Mrs Atanassova Mrs Bridgeman Mr and Mrs Bullock Ms Debernardi Mr Dhingra Mr Dines and Mrs Phillips-Dines Mr Fedorovych Dr Gassmann and Dr Bachman Mr and Mrs Ghale Mr and Mrs Gurung Mr Holukoff and Mrs Seon Holukoff Mr Hornigold and Ms McElroy Mr Jones Mr Kiambi and Mrs Kimathi Dr Barbara King Mr Kolpin and Mrs Kolpina Mr Kreidl and Dr Sax Mr and Mrs Loftus Mr Meadows Mr and Mrs Obidi Mr and Mrs Roberts Mr Safarov and Mrs Qasimova Mr Sanchez Taulle and Mrs Bosser Torrens Mr and Mrs Sarpong Dr and Prof Sutherland Mr Swadling Mr and Mrs Thapa Mr J Whitlock Mr Woo and Ms Chan Mr Übel and Mrs Altindag-Übel Mr Vanderweyen and Mrs Gaudard Mr Zhulikov

* We now record monetary donations and gifts in kind, i.e. those who have offered to help students through the Futures department or have given their time to the School.

Giving at Bromsgrove Our new ‘Giving at Bromsgrove’ brochure has been launched, which outlines how Old Bromsgrovians and other friends of the Bromsgrove community can help to enhance the all-round education our pupils enjoy and widen access to that life-changing opportunity. Scan the QR code below to download a copy of the brochure.

We understand that when, how, and indeed whether an Old Bromsgrovian chooses to give back to their School is entirely a personal decision. Some will be in a position to offer financial support; for others, that may not be possible. Whatever their circumstances, we deeply value the connection that each Old Bromsgrovian maintains with us. All are equally welcome to visit, attend events, and stay in touch. It is always a pleasure when former pupils reconnect, share their stories, and rekindle memories from their time here. Once someone joins the Bromsgrove family, our wish is that they remain part of it for life. There are many ways in which support can be given. A gift need not be financial: many Old Bromsgrovians and friends of the School have contributed their time and expertise, for example, by offering careers guidance, providing work experience, or attending events, as well as through regular giving or legacy support. Every contribution, in whatever form, makes a difference. We also want to thank those that have already given, and continue to give, generously in time, support, regular giving and legacies, to benefit future generations of Bromsgrovians. One of the areas closest to our hearts is the provision of means-tested bursaries. For some talented young people, a bursary is the only way a Bromsgrove education becomes possible. We have seen, time and again, how transformative that opportunity can be.

Bursary recipients are treated just like any other pupil, and it is only occasionally, sometimes years afterwards, that they share what that support meant to them. The following message, written spontaneously by a former pupil now studying at a top university, speaks more powerfully about the impact of a bursary than anything we could say: “If you had told me six years ago that I was going to one of the top boarding schools in the country, I would probably have laughed and wondered if you were talking to someone else. Six years ago, I used to live in a one-bedroom council flat with my family of six. Many would think that that would be uncomfortable and a struggle, but for me that was what I thought was normal, and, most importantly, it was what I called home. There are three things that I have always deemed significant to me: • making my parents proud and accomplishing their dreams, because they never had the chance to do so themselves; • being the best role model I can be for my younger siblings; • and, step by step, making a positive change in the lives of others. Making my parents proud means everything to me because they didn’t have the same chance of education as I do. Being the oldest child is like being another parent in the household. I want to be there to support my brothers and sisters and guide them alongside my parents so that they too can achieve their own dreams. My parents have worked so hard and given up their dreams so that their children can have a chance to achieve theirs. The reason I will always appreciate Bromsgrove School is because it gave me the opportunity to have an education I didn’t think I could have. I am now the first in my family to stay at school until 18, and then go on to university. Without Bromsgrove School, I would not be the same person I am today. I have experienced so many things - both ups and many downs - but even when times were tough there were staff and students who lifted me back on my feet.

To know that someone from my type of financial background can be offered a life-changing experience at this School is an unbelievable miracle that many don’t know about. So this is me saying thank you to Bromsgrove School and to God for making it possible for me to reach even closer to my dreams than I could ever have imagined. This School gives people like me a chance, no matter where they come from. Bromsgrove did that for my family, and I know they will continue to do it for others as well. Thank you, Lord, and thank you, Bromsgrove School.”

This was a remarkable pupil who made a lasting contribution to the School, and whose education here was only possible thanks to the generosity of others. Please do stay in touch, attend events, and, in whatever way is right for you and according to your means, help us to provide the next generation of Bromsgrovians with the same life-changing opportunities. To find out more about Bromsgrove School Foundation, please scan the QR code - you will be directed to our website. Here, you can choose to donate via regular giving, make a one-off gift or notify us about a legacy.

Should you have any questions, please email oldbromsgrovians@ bromsgrove-school.co.uk Telephone: 01527 579679 ext 366 or write to us at: Bromsgrove School Foundation Worcester Road Bromsgrove Worcestershire B61 7DU

Events WHAT’S ON AT BROMSGROVE DURING 2026 AND BEYOND.

March 2026

The Fifteenth Annual Foundation Lecture March 2026 Venue: London - TBC The Foundation Lecture is open to anyone with a connection to Bromsgrove. Email invitations will be sent out in the Lent Term.

April 2026

Oakley, Mary Windsor and Thomas Cookes House Reunion Saturday, 25th April 2026 Venue: Bromsgrove School Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm If you were a pupil or member of staff in Oakley, Mary Windsor House or Thomas Cookes House, this reunion is not to be missed. Invitations for eligible OBs will be sent out during the Lent Term.

May 2026

Appreciation Lunch Thursday, 14th May 2026 Venue: Bromsgrove School Donors from the current and last academic year and members of the Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society are invited to a special lunch with the Headmaster. All eligible Old Bromsgrovians, parents and friends of the School will be sent invitations in the Lent Term.

June 2026

Commemoration Day Saturday, 27th June 2026 Venue: Bromsgrove School Old Bromsgrovians and their families are warmly invited to the OB Marquee on Lower Charford between 1.00pm and 5.00pm. Information will be emailed in the Summer Term and posted on our OB Facebook Page. OBs are encouraged to sign up to register their attendance.

November 2026

Alumni Christmas Concert Wednesday, 25th November 2026 Venue: St Pancras Church, London

On-going

Bromsgrove Futures & OB Networking In conjunction with the careers department, we are looking for Old Bromsgrovians who would be willing to undertake mock interviews with current pupils, typically the type of interviews you would have for university entrance or a leavers’ work programme. In addition, the Bromsgrove Futures department are always looking for guest speakers to give a presentation or advice to small groups of current pupils. To find out more about any of these events, or if you have suggestions of your own, please email us at:

To be confirmed

Alumni Dinner Venue: Worcester College, Oxford This event will be held in the Cloisters and Hall at Worcester College, Oxford, and kindly hosted by Matthew Taylor (Cookes/Walters 1968-1973, Chairman of the Foundation). Worcester College shares a connection to our benefactor, Sir Thomas Cookes, having long enjoyed close historic links because of his two significant bequests to education. The Dinner is open to all Old Bromsgrovians and their partner/guest and I hope that you will be able join us for what promises to be a superb evening. The School is subsidising the cost for alumni - tickets prices to be confirmed.

oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk Tel: +44(0) 1527 579679 ext 361/366 Or contact us the good old-fashioned way: Bromsgrove School | Worcester Road Bromsgrove | Worcestershire | B61 7DU Box Office: bromsgrove-school.co.uk/boxoffice Online Alumni Events Diary: bromsgrove-school.co.uk/alumni-events

DID YOU KNOW that our online box office also includes events open to the whole Bromsgrovian Community and general public? We often hire out our theatre and concert hall to external companies who put on pantomimes, music competitions and concerts, plus much more. Visit www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/boxoffice

facebook.com/oldbromsgrovians

Old Bromsgrovians

@bromsgroveschool

@OldBromsgrovian

www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk | Oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk | +44 (0) 1527 579679 ext 361 / 366

Update Form NOTIFY US OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR DETAILS BY COMPLETING THIS FORM. Please detatch and complete this form in CAPITALS. Further details of how to return the form can be found overleaf.

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(If you started in Pre-Prep or Prep, you can begin with this date)

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Events and Communications

Where provided, we will use your email (and occasionally postal address), as given by you, to send you news, invitations and information we believe to be of importance to our Alumni. You can opt-in or out of communications yourself by logging on to www.bromsgrovians.com. To view a copy of our Alumni Privacy Notice, please visit www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/policies

How you can help

There are many ways in which you can help the Alumni Office and School. Please tick the box where relevant. I can offer careers advice or insight into university courses I am happy to offer my services as a speaker on my chosen career/university subject I can suggest work placement or recruitment opportunities You can pass my contact details and occupation to the School Careers Department I would like information about leaving a legacy I have pledged a legacy to the School I would like information about Giving at Bromsgrove (donations) Data Protection Statement: All data is held securely and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Your details will not be passed to external organisations or used for any purpose other than promoting the welfare of The School. Please note that core data, which is in the public domain and consists of your name/s, your year of admission, your House, your year of leaving and a photo, if you have uploaded one, is automatically made available to other alumni on the OB database. You can change any of these settings at any time to make your data visible or not visible to other alumni - just visit www.bromsgrovians.com

Please detatch and complete this form in CAPITALS, and then post it to: Bromsgrovian Office, Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 7DU. Or email: oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk You can download additional copies of this form from www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/bromsgrove-alumni You can also update your own details instantly by logging on to www.bromsgrovians.com