Last week marked the fourth annual Boarders’ Games – a hugely enjoyable evening of fun games exclusively for our boarding community to enjoy and to mark the end of National Boarding Week.
The evening started off with a delicious barbecue cooked by Chartwells, our school caterers. Burgers, hotdogs and chicken were served along with salads and slaw, followed by ice cream. Once the boys were fuelled up, the games began! 
Around 220 Prep and Upper boarders, kitted out in their house-coloured t-shirts, gathered on a sun-swathed Inky Pitch for a briefing from their compère for the evening, School Chaplain Mr McCleery, before battling it out for the coveted Boarders’ Games’ trophy.
As the evening sun made its way behind the roof of the Rec Centre, games such as giant darts, Bucking Bronco and ladder run were played, followed by some more traditional ‘old school’ sports day events such as the sack race, the good old egg and spoon race and musical chairs. Boys showed their talents in the most unique of ways in the ‘fastest to eat a cream cracker’ race, and teachers were in awe as they watched the speed at which some boys solved the Rubik’s Cube.
Mr McCleery did a splendid job of creating a competitive yet comical vibe to the evening and explained afterwards, “Another fabulous Boarders’ Games night, lots of fun and laughter mixed in with some serious competition! A great win in the end with just one point separating first and second place and our Prep boys coming in at third position with very little handicap! This event is a great way for the boys to unwind and relax after working so hard all year. It is also wonderful to see the whole boarding community come together; it really shows how great Bedford School, and its people, are.”
After much fun was had and some niche skills shown, it was Burnaby House who pipped the others to the post, retaining their title from last year, and being crowned victors of Boarders Games 2024 with a shiny trophy sporting ribbons in their house colours.
National Boarding Week is a national initiative run by the Boarding Schools Association to help raise awareness of the many benefits of boarding, and celebrates the important role that the boarding community plays in the wider ethos of the school.
