Bedford Modern School

Bedford Modern School has its origins in The Harpur Trust, born from the endowments left by Sir William Harpur in the sixteenth century.[3] Since the separation of Bedford School and BMS in 1764, the School has had four names – the Writing School, the English School, the Commercial School and finally Bedford Modern School, the last change being made in 1873 to reflect the School's modern curriculum, providing an education for the professions.[2]

Bedford Modern School: Blore Building

BMS provided education not only for the locality but also for colonial and military personnel seeking good education for their young families.[2] In 1834 BMS moved from its original premises in St Paul's Square to buildings designed by Edward Blore in Harpur Square, Bedford.[2]

The ‘Long Swim’ was established under Dr Poole (headmaster 1877-1900), a ‘free-for-all’ swimming race in the River Great Ouse from Bedford town bridge to the ‘Suspension Bridge’. The gruelling event was stopped in 1957 due to river pollution.[2] An annual compulsory steeplechase still takes place at the school for each year group.[4]

During World War II, the inventors Cecil Vandepeer Clarke and Stuart Macrae took a prototype of their limpet mine to Bedford Modern School swimming baths, which were closed for such occasions. Clarke was an excellent swimmer and was able to propel himself through the water with a prototype bomb attached to a keeper plate on webbing around his waist.[5]

Inspection of the BMS OTC by Field Marshal Earl Roberts VC, 1914

Dame Alice Owen's School was evacuated to BMS for the entire duration of World War II.[2][6]

The school’s Prichard Museum, a collection of artefacts sent back to the school mainly from old boys around the world, became Bedford Museum.[2] George Witt was a major benefactor to the school's museum.[7]

The successful growth of the school meant that the buildings became increasingly cramped and in 1974 the school moved to new premises in Bedford.[2] The Foundation Stone for the new building was laid by Margaret Thatcher.[2] On 11 May 1976, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative panel at the new school building during her visit with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[2]

BMS became a coeducational day school in 2003. In 2014, BMS celebrated the 250th anniversary of its separation from Bedford School.[4] David Scott Daniell (OBM) wrote about his schooldays at BMS in his first novel, Young English.[8][9]

Following a tradition of over a hundred years the Senior School Houses of BMS were: North, South, East, West, County and United Boarders.[2] United Boarders comprised the combined boarding houses: Culver, Shakespeare, and School House.[2] The day boy houses often, though not always, reflected the parts of the town or county from which the boys hailed and were mentioned in the chorus of the school song.[2]

A decision was made in October 1997 for the House system to play a more central role in the School and to reinvigorate internal competition whilst upholding its traditions.[4] Six Heads of House were appointed from the staff under the direction of a Senior Head of House, with the brief to establish a modern House system to be integrated into a new school structure and working week, beginning in September 1998.[4] A competition was launched to establish the new house names. The Houses were named in honour of six Old Bedford Modernians who had gained national or international recognition in their field.[4]

Each house has its own tie which consists of stripes of the three school colours and their own house colour.[4] Inter-house sports cover all major and minor sports run by the school, at both Junior and Senior level, and range from rugby and hockey (major sports) to shooting and fencing (minor sports).[4] There are also non-sporting events such as quizzes and Music and Drama competitions.[4] Students take leadership roles as House Captain or House Deputies.[4]

Bedford Modern School: Prize Book, Midsummer 1889

Monitors are selected, following a written application process, from students in the Upper Sixth.[4] Each team of monitors works with a specific year group, and are led by two Senior Monitors, appointed by the Head Master.[4] Senior Monitors, along with the Heads of School, are entitled to wear a red trim on their blazer.[4]

Boys in years 7 to 11 wear their house tie and school blazer alongside black trousers and a white shirt.[4] Girls may wear the school skirt or black trousers with the school blazer (girls' blazers have a red and black braid). Sixth form students wear a business suit.[4]

Until 2003, BMS was a day and boarding school for boys.[4] Following 12 years of discussions, Bedford Modern School closed its boarding houses and became coeducational in September 2003.[4] In 2013, BMS celebrated 10 years of coeducation, with a play written by Mark Burgess commissioned to celebrate the event.

The Eagle, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, first published in 1881

The school has several of its own publications, the most prominent of which is named The Eagle.[1][21]

The Eagle has been published mostly biannually since 1881 and doubles as an archive of life at the school during that year.[1][21] The Eagle is predominantly designed and edited by sixth form students, and since 2000 is printed as a glossy magazine with around 48 pages.[1] It often also includes feature articles and interviews from former students.[1][21]

In addition to The Eagle, other publications include The Eaglet, which, until recently, was included as part of the main magazine, and includes articles from the Junior School.[1][21] Another publication is the Eagle News, which is published for the benefit of OBMs.[1][21] It includes School news, and follow-up articles of former pupils.[1][21] In 1906, the mathematician Eric Temple Bell reported news of an earthquake in San Francisco, where he was resident at the time.[22]

The School is still known for this magazine in the Bedford area, where extra copies were often distributed.[1][21] However, distribution externally is now limited.[1]

The following have been Head Masters of Bedford Modern School.

Bedford Modern School: The Harpur Window

• Rev. Thomas Blyth DD (1844–1913), later author and Commissary to the Archbishop of Ottawa and Bishops of Niagara[23]
• Professor William Hillhouse FLS (1850–1910), first Professor of Botany at the University of Birmingham[26]
• Edward Mann Langley (1851–1933), founder of the Mathematical Gazette and creator of Langley’s Adventitious Angles[2]
• Sir Percy Nunn (1870–1944), educationalist[27]
• Ronald Welch (1909-1982), author[28]
• John Moore (born 1943), footballer, 1st team football coach[29]
• David Davies (born 1957) author and historian, former history master[4]
• Mark Burgess (born 1960), actor and playwright,[30] Head of Speech and Drama[31]
• Rob Hardwick (born 1969), Director of Rugby, former England Rugby International[4]
• Chris Willmott (born 1977), football coach and retired English footballer

Former pupils of the school are known as Old Bedford Modernians.

• Underwood, Andrew (1981). Bedford Modern School of the Black and Red. ISBN 0-9507608-1-1.

• Godber, Joyce (1973). The Harpur Trust 1552–1973. White Crescent Press Ltd. ISBN 0-9502917-0-6.
• Conisbee, Lewis Ralph (1964). Bedford Modern School, Its Origin and Growth. Foundry Press Ltd., Brereton Printing Works, Bedford.[32]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bedford Modern School.

• Official website
• List of Old Bedford Modernians Serving in HM Forces 1914-1918
• Bedford Modern School at Henley, 1938