OB News Spring 2009 - the Bradfield Community

COLLEGE NOTES
4
Remembrance
Sunday
Tony Hancock
(G 38-39)
Jazz Band and
John Etheridge
(C 61-65)
Netball
Tournament
The Bradfield Family Remembrance Sunday, held at the College on
9 November, was a special service to remember not only those who
gave their lives in the last century, but also those involved in the more
recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The wreaths were laid at
the Collingwood Cross, recently restored by a kind donation from an
Old Bradfieldian. Following the Service was lunch in Hall and an
opportunity to view an excellent archive display put on by the College
Archivist, Adam Smith (SCR) and his assistant Val Johnston. Numerous
objects from the 1st and 2nd World Wars were on display including
battle maps and photos. An officer's trench torch with original bulb in
working order and a cased clinometer, also in pristine condition, were
kindly brought to the occasion and generously donated to the archives
by Sir David Stewart (H 49-53).
On the afternoon of 10 October 2008 four G
House boys, two in the Shell and two in the
Lower Sixth, went with Mr Keeley (SCR) to
the British Film Institute (BFI) up on London’s
Southbank. Although we were hit with Friday
afternoon rush hour traffic, we arrived in plenty
of time.
The purpose for going to London was to
attend a talk on one of the world’s most well
known comedians, Tony Hancock, who went
to Bradfield College and was in G House just
before the Second World War.
John Fisher has devoted his career to
preserving England’s comic heritage and the
Reading John Etheridge’s website is an eyeopener:
which great musicians has this man not
played with?! John Williams, Yehudi Menuhin,
Dizzie Gillespie, Nigel Kennedy, Pat Metheny
. . . he has been told “you’re great” by Jimi
Hendrix and “you're a great guitarist” by Eric
Clapton (guitarists clearly don’t waste words!)
An old boy of the College (C 61-65), John was
invited to speak at the Upper Sixth Athena
Lecture in early January. I realised that this
meant that virtually the entire school jazz band
would be in the audience, so why not play with
the great man? John was delighted to oblige,
and after his thoroughly entertaining talk about
The Bradfield College Invitation Netball
tournament started in 1997 for U18s and has
now been won by the College for the third
time. The number of entries varies each year
but is usually between eight and ten. This year
10 teams entered on Saturday 28 February and
the College 1st VII came home with the
winning shield after a very close final against
Epson. Previous wins for the College were
back in the inaugural year in 1997 and again in
2000.
Sir David Steward (H 49-53)
and Val Johnston with the
clinometers
show he put on was truly fantastic. He told us
how Hancock became famous, not just
because he was aurally funny, but because he
was great at miming. We were shown famous
clips like the Blood Donor and I distinctively
remember this because of the line “A pint?
That’s almost an armful!”
At the end of the lecture, we moved to the BFI
gift shop so that we could purchase a signed
book and photograph from Mr Fisher. All in all
it was a fantastic evening and I am looking
forward to the next BFI trip!
James Pearson (G)
Bradfield in the 1960s and his subsequent life
as a musician, the College Jazz Band played two
numbers with him. It was one of those magic
occasions which will stay in the minds of the
pupils (and me!) for a long time. The Upper
Sixth were very warm with their applause, and
luckily the session was captured on DVD too.
John will hopefully be returning to the school
for the Summer Jazz Concert.
Many thanks to Roger Keeley (SCR) for
organising John’s visit.
Mark Etherington (SCR)