Throughout its history, the generosity of our community has always played a key role in helping to provide the wonderful facilities that our boys enjoy today. Without the school’s original Benefactor, Sir William Harpur, who donated 13 acres of farmland that went on to become Holborn in London, or Head Master James Surtees Phillpotts, who personally purchased the land where the current school sits, the estate would not be as we see it today. In addition, many of the buildings and facilities that the boys benefit from around the estate have been paid for by donors via the school’s charity, the Bedford School Foundation Trust.
To thank and recognise our generous donors, the school and the Foundation Trust held its Annual Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors chapel service and lunch on Sunday 8 October. The day began with coffee in the Recital Hall, followed by a wonderful chapel service led by the Chaplain, Neil McCleery. The chapel choir was in attendance with many of the choristers singing at this event for the first time.
Following the Chapel Service, guests moved to the Great Hall for lunch and were welcomed by the Director of Development, Vincent Gaten. After lunch, the new Chairman of the Foundation Trust, OB Roger Marks (71-82), recalled how, as a boy here, he spent many hours in Design and Technology and would often see plaques on equipment or on buildings, recognising gifts from donors. At the time he had not really understood their importance, but now, as a successful local business owner, a Trustee of the Foundation Trust, and with a lifelong passion for woodwork that began at school, he appreciates that the philanthropy of others played a key role in providing the facilities he used as a pupil.
Roger also spoke about the new academic building on Burnaby Road, which will transform the estate and help equip boys for careers of the future. To achieve the vision to transform the estate, the school will need to raise at least £3M towards the project (having already generated the rest of the funds needed through a combination of low-interest loan funding, historic donations and organisational reserves). It will therefore need to call upon members of its community to help raise these funds and help ensure that Bedford retains its status as one of the UK’s great ‘destination schools’.
James Hodgson, Head Master, concluded the occasion by giving guests some insight into school’s ethos to do good, detailing some examples of boys and staff giving back to the local area through its Community Partnership Programme:
- Boys have been into 13 local primary schools on a weekly basis to teach languages, public speaking, reading, debating and a variety of sports and music to approximately 450 pupils
- One local choir teacher’s job was transformed by a boy who was able to play the piano for her whilst she conducted and organised 50 members of a choir – a task that she previously had to do while simultaneously teaching
- Secondary schools in Bedford Borough were all invited to the annual online OB Careers Fair
- Eight local sixth forms were assisted with Oxbridge and university preparation
- The school hosts the annual borough-wide programme ‘Ready2Lead’, identifying future leaders, which now involves every sixth form provider in Bedford
The school is extremely grateful to all its supporters, past and present, as without their generosity it would not be able to provide the wonderful facilities that it has today.
If you would like to find out more about the plans for the estate, you can do so here.
If you would like to find out more about donating to support the Estate Masterplan, please get in touch with Vincent Gaten, Development Director.
To make a donation directly to the Foundation Trust, please click here.
You can read more about the work of the Foundation Trust and how our generous donors are supporting the school and our boys here.
