New structure and new bursary will strengthen further the links between Society and School

“From the very start, Society and School have been inextricably linked.” This was the keynote for Old Brentwoods President Jos Hollington’s remarks at the dinner celebrating the Society’s 125th anniversary and the launch of the Brentwood School Foundation. The event was held at the RAF Club, Piccadilly on November 21st.

He recalled the very beginnings. A brief item in the School’s 1899 Brentwoodian announced a proposal to start a Society of Old Brentwoods. The first meeting took place at St Philip's Church, Bethnal Green on 16th September 1899. At the recent anniversary celebration on the site where the church had stood, local residents were treated to an influx of stripey blazers and an out of tune rendition of the school song. 

The first dinner took place in January 1900 in the long demolished Holborn restaurant. The 1900 Brentwoodian contained the first mention of the Chronicle as the name for the new OB publication. It ceased to be a standalone magazine only a few years ago. However,a Chronicle section is now to be found within the School’s Brentwood School Times.

The Society, often through the generosity of its members towards their alma mater, remains visibly represented on the School campus. This is exemplified by the President’s honours board and portraits of the OB Chairmen of Governors in Old Big School; and the beautiful stained-glass medallion of the badge of the OB Lodge in the east window of the Bean Library. In 1924, the Society opened the Memorial Hall, in honour of OBs who died in the First World War. In 1955, the Society paid for the new cricket pavilion as a memorial to OBs lost in the Second World War. Many OBs contributed to the Courage Hall sports centre and now support the work of the School Foundation in providing life changing bursaries - support which the Society intends to increase.

The President emphasised that this fruitful relationship will be facilitated by proposed structural changes to the Society to replace the current - and no longer fit for purpose - unincorporated association status with a registered charity structure and an operating company to run the clubhouse and grounds at Ashwells Road. The charity changes will encompass the Indigents Fund and the Old Red Wall Club; provision for a bursary; and other charitable objectives in the Brentwood community. (The new structure, its rationale and components are explained elsewhere on Portal and in the January issue of the Brentwood School Times).

“Thanks are due to Chris Cooper and the other board members who have devoted so much time to an incredibly complex re-structure. As current custodians, we aim to safeguard the Society’s future for those that follow. Thanks to Headmaster Michael Bond, Bursar Jeremy Blunden and Chairman of Governors Guy Black for their personal support and to the School, not least for contributing to legal costs.” 

In 1907, every school pupil was given a card by the Chairman of Governors which read: ‘I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.’

Accordingly, Jos announced that he would mark his year in office by launching the President’s bursary with a personal pledge of £1,000. Others had agreed to contribute and he hoped more would do so, enhanced by gift aid. The ultimate aim was to fund a full sixth form bursary for two years.

“One thousand pounds is not a huge sacrifice to change a young person’s life. In my time, working at the School, I witnessed that happen. If it’s necessary for me to do something crazy to promote the bursary, I’ll run the Brentwood Half Marathon in March 2025, alongside Michael Bond.

“The Society is a formidable network involving fun, friendship, business opportunities and community. One never knows where one will bump into another OB, in Brentwood, London or further afield, perhaps ‘ten thousand miles from the old grey tree.’ Michael Bond and Sam Mason have taken on board my idea to take Society members and the Development Office out and about to the alumni. We had a great first regional drinks last week in Exeter, with over 30 OBs, mostly university students, attending.” 

Thanks were due to Sam Mason and to Theo Harris for organising the event and to President-Elect Sarb Singh for securing the venue.

Jos concluded: “I believe the relationship between School and Society is as strong, if not stronger, than ever – enhanced in recent years by the absorption of the Society’s alumni administration into the Development Office. This partnership will be key to the success of both School and Society as we face the challenges ahead. Here’s to the next 125 years of the Society and the continuing success of the School, its alumni and the Society of Old Brentwoods.”