We bring you fascinating, lesser-known facts and stories about our OBs. From an acting legend honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and who played cricket for the Hollywood Cricket Club alongside many Hollywood greats, to an OB who was the inspiration for a character in a popular video game, and many more…

William Biffen

William Biffen had been a distinguished professional oarsman, a winner of the “Doggett” coat and badge, and a Queen’s waterman. Under his guidance, in 1880, Bedford School entered the newly introduced Public Schools four-oared Challenge Cup at Henley……they beat Radley and Cheltenham and went on to easily win the final against Magdalen College School, Oxford. The following year, 1881, they won again against seven crews. Biffen didn’t always stay within the spirit of the rules though, and you can click here to read about the controversy.

Uhlenhorst Connections – Bedford School Hockey

Between 1978 and 1990 Bedford became one of the strongest hockey-playing schools in the country, winning four national titles in the indoor game and being a runner-up in the National outdoor competition. There are many reasons for the school’s hockey success. One of the main ones being its strong link with H.T.C Uhlenhorst Mülheim, who were European Club Champions at one point.

 

Richard Branson Family Ties

Sir Richard Branson’s great uncles – (seated front right) JRB Branson (1883-91) and (standing back left) WPS Branson (1883-93) were at the school. Here’s a great photo of the 1st IV in 1891 which we shared in last year’s Ousel. His grandfather WAH Branson (1855-57) was also an OB and President of the OB Club.

 

the Beaufort Scale

The three sons of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, KCB, all attended Bedford School. The Rear-Admiral was for years the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy and is best remembered for ‘the Beaufort Scale‘ (measuring the force of winds). The eldest, Daniel Augustus Beaufort, was born in 1814, became the rector of Lymm-cum-Warburton in Cheshire; Francis Lestock Beaufort, born in 1815, joined the East India Company and, after a rather chequered career, became the Attorney-General in Bengal; and the youngest, William Morris Beaufort, born in 1823, joined the Bengal Civil Service.

LEICESTER TIGERS 

The first known use of Leicester Football Club’s nickname ‘Tigers’, was after a game against Bedford School in February 1885, with the ‘Leicester Daily Post’ reporting that “the Tiger stripes were keeping well together”. The origin of the nickname is uncertain most probably coming from the side’s chocolate and yellow playing kit, but it may have come from the club’s links to the Leicestershire Regiment,who had received the nickname ‘Tigers’ after serving in India, and from 1825 had worn a cap-badge with a ‘royal’ tiger to mark the connection.

ALFONSO Marconi (1876-80)

Guglielmo Marconi’s elder brother, Alfonso (1876-80), attended Bedford school while the family lived in Bedford. During this time, the school hosted an Art and Science Exhibition which included a telegraph machine and a morse recording register. We like to think that the young Guglielmo attended this with his brother and was inspired by what he saw!

 

Noel Carrington (1903-13) 

Having recently had the International Booker Prize 2021, we thought you’d be interested to know that the man behind Puffin Books, Noel Carrington, was an Old Bedfordian and was at the school from 1903-1913. Glance across the street from the building which houses the OB Club offices, and you may catch sight of a blue plaque on the façade of 40 De Parys Avenue. It commemorates Dora Carrington, Noel’s sister, who was a renowned artist associated with the Bloomsbury Group.

 

Henry Byron Warner (1892-96) 

Henry Byron Warner was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1937.  He began his career playing lead roles in many silent films but, with the advent of the sound era, he took on more supporting roles.  He played cricket for the Hollywood Cricket Club alongside many Hollywood greats such as Boris Karloff, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard. 

 

SCHOOL’s LINK With ALAN Turing

With the new £50 banknote released in June 2021 featuring scientist and codebreaker Alan Turing, we thought we’d share with you a little-known fact. Alan’s father and uncle were both Old Bedfordians. Turing’s grandfather was a Vicar in the town and had arrived here from Rufford, near Nottingham, in order to educate his children at Bedford School and Bedford High School.

 

OB Air Vice Marshall Sir Sefton Brancker (1891–94)

2021 marks the eightieth anniversary of the crash of the R101 airship over France on its maiden voyage to India. The airship was based at the Cardington hangers near Bedford and one of those who died in the crash was OB Air Vice Marshall Sir Sefton Brancker (1891–94). He was travelling with Lord Thompson, the Secretary of State for Air. Sir Sefton was reputed to be the very first recipient of the Air Force Cross. All the victims of the crash are buried in the Cardington churchyard. Find out more here.

 

Neil Dawson’s (78-83) Bee Gees Link

Marketing guru Neil Dawson (78-83) created ‘The Record’ – the concept for The Bee Gees Greatest Hits CD. The album includes 40 tracks spanning over 35 years of music and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Find out more about Neil’s fantastic work with top brands here.

 

 

School’s first Ski trip

Love to ski? In 1929, R V Proudlock (1911-15) took a group of boys on the School’s first Ski trip to Chamonix over the Christmas holidays.  This article from the Ousel contains some great photos and the write-up gives a wonderful account of the trip.  Do you have any photos from your School Ski trips you could upload to Eagle Connect?

 

Major Martin Clemens (24-33)

Here’s a great ‘Did you know’ for all the gamers out there. Major Martin Clemens (24-33) was the inspiration for a character in the 2003 video game Medal of Honour: Rising Sun?  Read his full life story here