Old Bordenian Mark Sayer lived in Germany during the 1990s. As part of his travels through the newly opened Eastern Europe, he visited Auschwitz. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, he provides a thought-provoking piece on that experience and his reflections:
This is the time of year we glance over our shoulder to times and ages past in our celebration of Christmas before we firmly look forward again in the New Year. Our Archive of School magazines, bolstered this year with the bequest of John Allard’s Year Books, offers a great view into Christmases Past at the School.
We are always pleased to reconnect with Old Bordenians from whom we have not heard from in a while. Dennis Fowle was at the School 1945-51 and as we reconnected, offered this thoughtful look at the standards back in the day:
"Is the General Certificate of Education (GCSE) easier or more difficult for students than the General School Examination (GSE) it replaced in 1988 in many schools?
I certainly am not brave enough to offer an opinion – but I can offer a few of the questions I had to tackle in the summer of 1950 at Borden Grammar School.
Thank you to Philip Drury (At School 1966 -73) for sending in his reworking of Adlestrop by Edward Thomas which reflects his memories of travelling to/from Sheppey on the train.
The 2022 AGM of the Association was held online on Friday 23rd September. The papers and minutes are available via the link below for members information.
The daughter of John Raymond Allard (School dates 1938-45) has been in contact to report his passing in March 2022.
Paul Martin (1990-1996) wrote to the OBA with a personal tribute to David Jenkins.
OBA Committee member Mark Sayers pens a personal tribute to Old Bordenian and School teacher David Jenkins, whose death in August 2022 in France has now been reported.
Its with great sadness we learn of the passing of David Jenkins (1960-2022) who was both an Old Bordenian through his studies at the School (1973-1978) and teaching career which ended in 2015. Many OBs will have known 'Dave' Jenkins as a fellow pupil during his years or studied under him in his Science classes.
One of our most illustrious Old Bordenians, Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, died on July 20th 2022.
Dr Nigel Dickson (BGS 1968-1975) has provided us with an aerial view of Sittingbourne in 1964, which includes the school, originally published in the Kent Messenger.
Once again the Old Boys Veteran (retired) FC players held their annual reunion on 16th June on a warm sunny evening at the UK Paper Sports Pavilion.
It is with great sadness we learn of the passing of Stephen Bedelle on 15th June 2022. Stephen attended the School 1969-1974 with his twin brother, Paul.
Martyn Lawrence has kindly sent in a copy of the 1965 all School photo.