Campaign for Sport

The Campaign for Sport enabled the refurbishment to the School Pavilion to go ahead. Originally in a Cattle Shed structure, and adopted as a changing room in the latter part of the 19th Century, the Pavilion has had an extension on the southern façade and the internal areas have been fully refurbished.
mk40 architects designed the new 40sq m extension, creating a new entrance and focal point for boys and spectators approaching along the car park to the south, and circulation space, as well as a new display gallery for the School's sporting memorabilia.

The extension was designed to be a respectful addition to the existing building, so it borrows its form, style and materiality from the existing building. The curve relates to the wing terraces added in 1936, whilst the scale and massing ties in with the proportions of the original building. It sits symmetrically on the southern façade when approached along the car park, but it is set far enough back so that when viewed from the front does not interrupt the existing symmetry of the wing terraces. For the spectators, the raked seating was refurbished, recovered and new benches were installed.

The new extension and stair location has enabled the internal spaces to be reconfigured with great benefits. Not only creating a new gallery and viewing point, the new location of the stairs has enabled all the public spaces on the first floor to look out over the sports field. At the northern end the Long Room was extended and a new high level bulkhead now displays the Cricket Honours Boards. A new room to house the Rugby Honour Boards has been included, also with views out onto the sports field. A new bar area and plenty of viewing spaces, both inside and out, now makes the refurbished Pavilion a great place to enjoy sport, and to celebrate the School's sporting success.

The refurbished Pavilion was officially opened by Alastair Cook MBE (98-03) on 19th April 2012. The Head Master John Moule warmly thanked everyone for their generosity and support for the project, in particular the contribution made by Old Bedfordian John Langham CBE (37-42) and his wife, Betty, after whom the Pavilion has now been renamed. He also thanked Ian Peck (65-76) for his leadership as Chairman of the Campaign for Sport.

The extended and refurbished Langham Pavilion is now once more a top class, modern facility to be proud of; one that fulfils the needs of boys, providing them with a resource that will continue to grow and develop in line with their ambitions and talents.

On Saturday 22nd January 2011, Old Bedfordians, friends of Bedford School, staff and boys gathered for the official opening of the Lindsay-White Fitness Centre. This impressive new state-of-the-art facility in the Recreation Centre receives a lot of use from boys as they train for a particular sport, recover after an injury or those keen to maximise the use of their free time and stay fit.

Without the generosity of everyone who donated through the Campaign for Sport, this important development would not have been possible. In particular, we must highlight the significant legacy gift to the School by the late Gordon Lindsay-White. We were delighted that Alison and Paula, and other members of the Lindsay-White family, could join the School on the opening of the Fitness Centre.

Gordon Lindsay-White remained fit and healthy throughout his life, and was a keen advocate of daily exercise. As a result, the naming of the Lindsay-White Fitness Centre in his memory is a very appropriate way to mark his life and the exceptionally generous legacy gift to the School. It will certainly benefit many future generations.

We were thrilled that OB Andrew Gomarsall MBE (88-93) came back to the School to open the Fitness Centre. During his England rugby career he was capped 35 times and represented England in three World Cups, the highlight being in the winning squad in 2003.

Andrew stressed how important his time at Bedford was in many different ways. The passion for sport and quality of coaching laid the foundations for the rest of his professional rugby career. Boys from the Prep School were very pleased that Andrew returning to the School also found time to join in a rugby training session and to give them some useful tips for improving their performance.

The Campaign for Sport, with the ongoing support provided by some donors, has enabled the Foundation to support the Bedford School Boat Club with new equipment, with funding averaging £10,000 per annum.

We want to continue to support the Club in this way. Those who donate most or all of the cost of a new boat (including tax claims) are invariably invited to name the boat and pour the champagne at the naming and launching ceremony. All benefactors for boats are recognised on the 'Boat List' providing lasting recognition long after a boat may have been de-commissioned.

Started as a trial in the summer of 2006, and with the generous support of some Old Bedfordians, a programme was initiated to regularly coach some of the School's most promising golfers. Since September 2008, the scheme has operated in partnership with the prestigious Woburn Golf Club. Talented players have benefited from regular coaching from Woburn's professionals who have worked on technique, fitness and mental approach. As a result, handicaps have fallen and individual and team successes have increased.

The Foundation was able to use this start to establish Golf Scholarships, to ensure that golf will continue to thrive at Bedford School, in partnership with Woburn Golf Club and ongoing donations. Golf Scholars access regular professional coaching and Junior Membership of the Club.

Find out more about Golf Scholarships

As part of the development plan for sport, the Foundation wanted to offer exhibitions and scholarships to reward those with exceptional sporting ability. These awards allow such boys to benefit from the coaching and facilities available at Bedford, with a view to sustaining a good standard in all sports at Bedford School.

Whilst a few awards were already available we wanted to build on this, with the value of each award determined by need - an endowed fund that yielded around £40,000 per annum for distribution could provide around six awards each year.

Murray Fletcher Sports Scholarship Award
A special appeal was run to name a sports scholarship in Murray Fletcher's name. We were grateful to Murray’s family for their permission to establish this appeal and for their involvement. Murray himself felt indebted to the bursary fund that enabled him to attend Bedford School and its role in providing the springboard for his own sporting success.

To mark the thirtieth anniversary of the reopening of the Main School building after the notorious 1979 fire, Pauline Fletcher kindly donated to the Foundation a framed set of four tiles that Murray and Pauline salvaged from his classroom (B16) two days after the fire. These were auctioned off to raise funds for the Murray Fletcher Sports Scholarship.

Although not originally part of the Campaign for Sport's fundraising projects, the Foundation was delighted to receive a significant donation from Barry (50-57) and Susan Papé, which was very generously pledged for the upgrade of the Phillpotts' Tennis Courts. They attended the Ground-Breaking Ceremony on 8th July 2011 with the Estates Bursar Steve Pocock and work continued through the summer holidays.Boys had access to the top quality facilities from September onwards, and the project has not only helped to develop the School's talented pool of boys already playing youth tennis at competition level, but it has also enhanced the provision of tennis for boys of all ages and abilities. It has had a huge impact on tennis across the School and was a

Boys had access to the top quality facilities from September onwards, and the project has not only helped to develop the School's talented pool of boys already playing youth tennis at competition level, but it has also enhanced the provision of tennis for boys of all ages and abilities. It has had a huge impact on tennis across the School and was a much-needed development.