Sports & Special Interest Groups

Secretary: Tom Langley-Poole (96-06)
Tom.Langley-Poole@eulerhermes.com

Ninety years after it was founded, the OB Golf Society (OBGS) is thriving with a current membership of over 100 Old Bedfordians. Collaboration between the School and OBGS has seen the funding of specialist coaching to support current School boys in developing their golfing talent. The Society runs a number of fixtures throughout the year, most of which are available to all OBGS members.

Members aged over 25: £10 per annum
Members aged under 25: £5 per annum

Visit the OB Golf Society page

Secretary: tbc

Regular fixtures for the Old Bedfordians Cricket Club include the limited overs, declaration and T20 formats against such opposition as the MCC, the Ousels, the OBMs and their doppelgängers, the Gentlemen of Bedfordshire, plus the School 2nd and 3rd XIs. The main focus, however, is a series of games during OB Week, the final week of the School summer term, which culminates with a two-day game against the School 1st XI. 2011 saw the OBCC’s first entry into The Cricketer Cup, a great step forward which also continues to attract alumni to don the Old Bedfordian cap.

President: George Wood (83-94) gwood206@googlemail.com

Captain: Will Aitkenhead (04-09) willaitkenhead@gmail.com

Cricketer Cup Captain: Charlie Thurston (07-14)  thurstoncharlie11@gmail.com

Secretary: Steve Lyon (73-84) 
esjlyon@btinternet.com

This very active Club competes in a number of competitions at Bisley each year, and the Imperial Meeting in July, the biggest and most famous event in the world of target rifle shooting, sees a good representation of OBs usually with a considerable degree of success! The OBs v School Rifle Shooting Competition has also been reinstated, and the team meets beforehand for lunch.

The Club is open to OBs (and their families) who would like to experience full bore shooting again.

Daniel Walker (81-85)
daniel.walker@globalsoccerschools.co.uk | 07968 778681 (after 7pm)

Although not yet recognised as a major sport at the School, football continues to be a popular sport amongst our alumni and we have annual fixtures against the School XIs in March. On 21st March 2015 we are holding an Association Football Dinner, the first of this nature for this sport, to mark the 40th anniversary of the game at the School – and the 30th year of running OB Football for Daniel Walker! Anyone who played at School or since is invited to celebrate with us.

Toby O’Dell (78-86)
beaumontfarming@gmail.com

Having recently taken over from Graham Saunders (58-64) as the OB Tennis representative, Toby is looking forward to the annual match against the School during OB week, the final week in the School summer term. With the 2011 renovation of the Phillpott’s Tennis Courts, we now have a wonderful setting to play on, and Toby is looking into an annual inter-OB game.

Chris Davey (04-13)  chris.daveyc@gmail.com | 07720 755569 (Fives)
Sam Morris (96-05)  sam.a.morris11@gmail.com (Squash)

The OB Fives Club play against the School during the annual OB Sports weekend, the last weekend of the Easter term, with a mixed format, as with Squash. 

Ally Satchwill (01-12)
allysatchwill@googlemail.com

Bedford School has a history of success in rowing, with numerous OBs having gone on to represent England and GB in international championships including Phelan Hill (97-97), Richard Young (79-86) and Tom Broadway (95-00).
Recently, Bedford School Boat Club celebrated its 150th anniversary, with a number of events including an anniversary ball with 220 people in attendance. Follow their blog here for updates and events. OBs, parents and staff are all welcome to the BSBC Annual Dinner and Awards Evening, at which successes are celebrated. Usually, OBs challenge the School to a race beforehand. If you would like to get involved, just contact the OB Club.

In recent years there have been various matches taking place. On the August Bank Holiday Monday, we enter an U21XV side to the Cronk Cunis Tournament, the largest national U21 Rugby tournament for Old Boys, in Richmond. Whether recent Leavers what to blow out some cobwebs or continue their rugby past schoolboy level, it is a great day.
2014 saw the first OB Rugby 7s tournament, a great day organised by Lawrence Coward (98-08). Some years we also have an U22 v O22 OB XV game (insurance reasons mean we cannot play against a School side). The contact for each event varies, so if you are interested in taking part in any match, just contact the OB Club.

Will Johnson  (0-13)
will.johnson_95@hotmail.co.uk

The annual match against the School takes place over OB Sports Weekend in March. We get a good number of OBs, of all ages, back to play. Get in touch if you would like to be involved.

After a couple of successful OB Swimming Galas in recent years, the Master i/c Swimming and Waterpolo Elida Calleja Rubio is keen to work with an OB contact who can bring OBs back to the School and reignite their interest in swimming and waterpolo! If this might be you, please get in touch with the OB Club.

The Old Bedfordian Lodge meets four times a year. The current Master is Dr Martin Schwarz (67-73). Old Bedfordians and Former Staff can join the OB Lodge.

What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry.

Under the United Grand Lodge of England, there are just under a quarter of a million Freemasons. There are Grand Lodges in Ireland, which covers both Northern Ireland and Eire, and Scotland which have a combined total of approximately 150,000 members. Worldwide, there are several million Freemasons.

Is there a Masonic Lodge associated with Bedford School?
Yes – the Old Bedfordian Lodge has had an established connection with Bedford School since it was founded on 22nd June 1925. This is part of a near 150 year old tradition of having Masonic Lodges associated with Britain's top public schools.

What is Freemasonry's relationship with religion?
All Freemasons are required to have a religious belief, but Freemasonry does not seek to replace a Mason’s religion or provide a substitute for it. It deals in a man’s relationship with his fellow man, not in a man’s relationship with his God.

Are there women Freemasons?
Yes. Whilst the United Grand Lodge of England, following the example of medieval stonemasons, is, and has always been, restricted to men, there are two separate Grand Lodges that are restricted to women.

How can I join?
The Old Bedfordian Lodge is a ‘closed’ Masonic Lodge. We only admit past pupils of Bedford School or Members of Staff. As an Old Bedfordian, you do not need to be invited into Freemasonry. Simply send an email to the Lodge Secretary Michal Buras on michalburas@yahoo.co.uk who will explain the joining process in more detail.

Andrew Randall (61-66)
aorandall@btinternet.com
01732 452873 / 07749 040 917
6 Wood Drive, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2NL

Stuart Wilkinson (59-66)
stuart.wilkinson@transporttrust.com
01372 801470
36 Lammas Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8PD

Joseph Jacob (07-16)
josephgjacob98@gmail.com

We are delighted that Joseph has volunteered to take up the position of OB Badminton representative! The annual match against the School will take place over OB Sports Weekend in March. We are hoping to get a good number of OBs, of all ages, back to play. Get in touch if you would like to be involved.