FROM THE SOCIETY

By Marcus Cryer

Editorial Thanks

A huge heartfelt thank you to all contributors in this issue of Bristolienses. If you'd like to contribute to our 2024 issue please contact us on community@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

Bristolienses magazine • Issue 63 Printed Summer 2023.

Road, Bristol BS8 1SR

+44 (0)117 923 7037 community@bgs.bristol.sch.uk

We are privileged to be Old Bristolians, and to be part of the overall Bristol Grammar School family. As you read this edition of Bristolienses, you will find that the Old Bristolians are an active network of accomplished individuals who come together to form a unique community. No matter where you are in the world, or what career you have chosen, there is an Old Bristolian willing to offer guidance and friendship. Actively taking part in this offers so much – from career mentoring and guidance to holiday recommendations and reminiscing about the Great Hall –and is something we’re constantly striving to strengthen and improve.

The Old Bristolians’ Society is in a good place; focusing on expanding our careers and networking, creating new events as well as strengthening the long term relationships with the School and the sports clubs. As you will also see from reading these pages, we are a busy society. Some events are formal, such as the Annual Dinner and regional networking drinks, and some are less so – such as golf days or hockey matches. All equally as important, and we would love to promote and support any events organised by yourselves so please do share with us on Instagram @oldbristolians or by contacting us community@bgs.bristol.sch.uk. Whilst we’re delighted to have had several performances from the BGS Reel Folk Group and Big Phat Band, we’d love to expand our events to include the performing and creative arts by Old Bristolians, so if you know of anyone or any event, please get in touch.

Sport

Sport has been a large part of the Old Bristolians’ community for a long time and we’re so proud of the sports clubs based at the Old Bristolians’ War Memorial Ground who promote the Old Bristolians family and brand throughout Bristol and the surrounding areas. Their passion and ethos is well respected and admired. You can read more about the sports clubs on page 6 and the story of how they came to be on page 26.

Outside of the official sports club, we have some great Old Bristolians’ sporting competitions. I was lucky enough to support an alumni women’s hockey team in Cheltenham earlier this year, which was a fantastic day. In May, we organised an Old Bristolians v Old Cliftonians golf day and I am pleased to report that the Old Bristolians won! Due to the success of this day we have decided to make this an annual event so keep an eye out for next year’s date.

Changes To The Management Committee

At this year’s AGM there were some changes to the Management Committee meaning it is time to express our heartfelt thanks to Geoff Wright, who stepped down as Chairman; Nick Fitzpatrick as Treasurer, and Richard Smith as a Trustee. All of these individuals committed a lot of time and effort to our Society, and we are very grateful to them. I have been fortunate enough to take on the role as Chairman, Richard Leonard is the new Treasurer, and Melanie Guy and Martin Bates are new Trustees.

I must also thank the School for the amount of support that they give our Society, and I know that I speak for all OBs in offering our continued support to the School.

I hope that you enjoy this edition of Bristolienses, and I also hope that you feel inspired to get involved with society events, they are always great fun and an excellent way to catch up with old mates – as well as make some new ones.

Every so often we get wind of alumni forming teams in London and other big cities and it’s always a real pleasure to see. We recently received this photo from the Christie Championship, an annual sports event held between the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester with many, many OBs taking part representing their University.

The Lunch Club

On the first Friday of every month we host a sit down lunch at the Old Bristolians’ War Memorial Ground, with a guest speaker, usually an OB. Recent talks have included a premiere of an Old Bristolian movie, a talk about his experience supporting the community during and following the Grenfell fire from Graham Tomlin, Pete Jakobek’s experience as a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games and most recently, an insight into the world of BAFTA winning television producer, Lucy Raffety, finishing off the season with Noelle Kumpel, Head of Policy at Bird Life. If you’re near Bristol and available for lunch (or to talk!) on the first Friday of the month, please do come along.

Marcus Cryer OB 1993 Chairman of the Old Bristolians' Society

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From The Headmaster

I have this year – as every year – enjoyed meeting and catching up with OBs of all ages, whether at official events (such as Remembrance, Charter Day, the Past Presidents’ Lunch and the Annual Dinner), or less formally (on the Failand touchlines or at the School itself). As I always remind current pupils, the foundations laid and the friendships nurtured while at BGS serve OBs well throughout the rest of their lives, something I repeatedly see in my dealings with OBs at all stages – and from all walks – of life.

In our recent Report on Giving brochure, sent to over 6,000 OBs worldwide, we state that BGS is ‘one of the great ancient schools of our country, because of a cherished community of Old Bristolians, parents and friends.’ I could not agree more. Throughout our history, we have relied on the good will and camaraderie of our former pupils, and some 130 years ago, the Old Bristolians’ Society was formed to keep those friendships alive, and to provide a means for supporting other OBs and the School. The work of the Society is an essential part of connecting our past and present to our future, and I remain genuinely grateful for the voluntary support and commitment given by so many – both to the Society, and to the School and its current pupils.

Life at BGS is very positive. As I write this, we are in the midst of a school inspection (I am sure the outcomes will be very positive!), and our Year 11 and Upper Sixth pupils are going off on Study Leave. Both year groups have shown magnificent resilience in the face of their interrupted and significantly altered learning over the COVID years, and as examination grading returns to pre-pandemic levels, our pupils are diligently – and without fuss – preparing themselves for their exams (the first proper public examinations that pupils in both of these year groups have faced). This comes off the back of some outstanding results in Summer 2022 and another successful Oxbridge year (eclipsing, again, all of the other schools in Bristol put together). Sport is in a position of strength in terms of both participation and individual and team excellence, and the Performing Arts Centre has been filled again with outstanding shows, including the dance production of Cruella, the musical theatre production of Annie and the Spring Concert featuring our orchestra, several choirs, soloists and bands. The School has more pupils than at any time in its history, and there is a real sense of purpose and looking forwards together, after a difficult few years for society and for schools. I am in constant awe of our amazing

BGS staff, who have kept the show on the road no matter what is thrown at them – out of a deep and genuine care for our pupils and their education in its widest sense.

Our renewed Mission, to provide an exceptional and rounded education to anyone who might benefit from it, regardless of background and financial means, continues to gather pace. Our Report on Giving brochure, mentioned earlier, celebrated the first year of our 500 Campaign, in which we raised over £1 million to support bright and able children through means-tested bursaries at BGS. We have a target of £12 million by the time we reach our 500th Anniversary in 2032, so that one in four of our children can benefit from substantial financial support – bringing us closer to the economic diversity and ubiquity of aspiration which the school enjoyed in its Direct Grant and Assisted Places days.

So, the School is in fine fettle, and our friendship and connection with the OBs remain as important and strong as ever – boosted, in fact, by an increased number of meetings and networking events: in January, we had a fantastic London event at the Swiss Re Building (aka “The Gherkin”) with OBs from across the City and our Bristol networking drinks, held last year in the Clifton observatory. If you were not able to come to one of these (and even if you were) then pop in to see us at School. There’s no need to wait for an invitation – just contact our OB office, and come in for a coffee, a chat, a tour, or whatever else you might want. You are always very welcome.