Jerome Watson joined the Mathematics Department in 1982 and is currently the longest-standing member of staff. He retired from teaching in 2015 and continues to play a key role as the Examinations Hall Manager. Like so many members of staff, he immersed himself in school life, making significant contributions to Hockey, tours to Africa, photography, Sixth Form Lectures, The Ousel, and as a Burnaby Tutor. There are many references to him in the Bedford School Digital Archives.
Academic and Exams
He clearly is a remarkable mathematician, evidenced by this Ousel article about setting mathematical problems. He has been Exams Hall Manager since 2004, and as a key member of the Exams team, he is in school all year round, helping with all external exams, training, mocks, assemblies, and setting up rooms in the holidays. He has been a great support to the Examinations team at Bedford School and continues to be so today. He has a great relationship with the invigilation team, and his attention to detail is second to none. Jerome always goes above and beyond for exams, being there first thing in the morning and the last to leave when exams have finished, no matter what time of the day – he is always there to help the team, both physically and mentally. He takes immense pride in the job and is pastorally supportive of the boys in what can be a very stressful time for them. The Exams team have great respect for him, and they hope he will be with them for many years to come.
Hockey
His personal hockey ability and achievements would have contributed to his successful appointment, ‘his earlier hockey career had seen him play for England at every level, the high point being winning a bronze medal in the 1978 European Nations Cup. Other highlights were becoming an Oxford Blue, playing in the European Club Championship with the Hounslow Club and representing British Universities. A very skilful and technical player with an aggressive edge, he was a feared and effective forward in those years. He was a significant appointment to the school, particularly when combined with his exceptional mathematical abilities’ (Ousel 2014-15). He coached the very successful U16 & U18 indoor squads, winning five championship titles. He coached many successful boys and, in 1999, won the Sport England Coach of The Year for The Eastern Counties, an award across all sports.
Jerome Watson was appointed the East Division U14 Boys’ Hockey Coach in 1993, and his teams have won the national title for that age group five times in the ensuing seven years,1999 bringing a hat-trick of titles. Nearly 40 boys from these teams have gone on to gain England International status in age group teams, perhaps twice as many as might be expected for a medium-sized division, including Bedford School boys Mark Darbon (England U21), Lee Tickner (U15) and James Stedman (U16/U18). Previously, Jerome had been involved in coaching all five of Bedford School’s national championship-winning indoor teams and the winning East Division U16 boys’ team of 1992. His 11 National titles in just 14 years have earned him this major award, presented to him by Kate Hoey, MP, Minister for Sport, an achievement he can rank alongside his winning of a bronze medal with England in the 1978 European Nations Cup as a player. (The Ousel 2000). It is worth noting that more than ten of Jerome’s East boys have become full internationals and five of them are Olympians.
The African Tours
Jerome has another passion which contributed to his life at school. He has a keen love of Africa and organised the 1988 Hockey Tour to Kenya after a chance meeting with Burnaby OB Frank Thompson on a visit to Bedford School, who had founded a school in Kenya. The resulting tour included visits around the country and opportunities to meet the people and see the wildlife. Later, Jerome organised three more tours to Zimbabwe. The 1993 tour also took in newly independent Namibia and Bedford was the first English School to tour there for any sport. The 1990 and 1996 trips combined with the German Club Uhlenhorst Mulheim.
The Photography
Jerome has always been a keen photographer. He ran the Photographic Club for many years and was an editor and photographic contributor to The Ousel. At least 10 Ousels covers are his photographs. He accompanied many school trips, particularly in Geography, which resulted in many great photographs, including his favourite from Morocco, of a Tuareg pouring mint tea in the traditional way (Ousel 2008-09). His many Upper Sixth Form lectures on the African continent have been appreciated over nearly forty years.
You can read the full Ousel article here. Please go to page 33.