The school boasts many long-standing traditions, with perhaps the most enduring being the celebration and gratitude extended to all who have contributed to its success. On Sunday, 6th October, the school community gathered for the 145th year to not only thank our generous benefactors but also to celebrate generations of boys who have been able to attend the school thanks to our bursary programme.
This year’s Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors began with a wonderful service in the school chapel, where the congregation was accompanied by the talented boys of the chapel choir. The guest preacher, the Right Reverend Richard Atkinson OBE, Bishop of Bedford, spoke about the importance of giving back and the significant impact philanthropy has had on the people of Bedford over the centuries.
Following the service, guests moved to the Great Hall for lunch, where they heard the inspirational story of Leroy Knowles (92-97), a former bursary recipient, about how attending Bedford School on a bursary changed his life. Leroy, who lived with his three siblings and single mother working two jobs to make ends meet, was a bright boy at risk of going down the wrong path. His life took a positive turn when a teacher persuaded his mother to apply for a bursary-assisted place at Bedford School. With support from the school and encouragement from the Registrar, Leroy embraced the opportunity and never looked back, going on to Oxford to study Economics and Management. Now enjoying a successful career in the banking industry, Leroy supports organisations that help young people and promote social mobility.
We also heard from the Acting Head Master, Sam Baldock, who shared his own experience of receiving a bursary to attend university. He spoke about how having a diverse group of individuals from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds adds great texture to school life, enriching and developing us all. He also talked about the recent work on the Estate Master Plan, which includes the creation of a new Health and Wellbeing Centre, which opened at the beginning of term. Additionally, he explained how we are increasing our fundraising efforts to support the new building on Burnaby Road, which is currently paused until 2026.
“I would never have been able to attend Bedford School without the bursary, and so I have to say it did change my life. Bedford School gave me opportunities and it gave me imagination.”
We were thrilled to welcome back three Old Bedfordians (OBs) who benefited from the school’s bursary scheme, which made their attendance possible. Another OB, unable to join us for the lunch, sent a heartfelt letter of gratitude to his benefactors. Copies of this touching letter were shared with all our guests. You can read his letter here.
We would like to thank everyone who joined us to celebrate our long history of philanthropy at Bedford School.
If you would like to find out more about supporting the school’s Bursary programme, which enable boys whose families would not normally be able to consider an independent education to attend the school, you can do so here.
