News Compendium

Alan Forster

We have been informed of the death of  Alan Forster, on 4th April 2021 by his son. Alan attended the School 1945 -1951. 

Bryan Short - recollections

We have received many tributes for, and recollections of, Bryan Short from Old Bordenians and ex-staff. We are pleased to be able to share these below and will also publish any further material we receive.

David Cross

We have been informed of the death of David Cross who was a pupil at the School from 1940-1946.  His daughter has been in contact to tell us he died in February aged 91. She says he often spoke about the School and was 'very proud' of being an Old Bordenian. 

Peter Bedelle

It is with great sadness we report the death of Peter Bedelle, who died on the 27th April 2021. His son Paul (himself an OB) informs us that Peter died just short of his 90th birthday.

Bryan Short: An Obituary

As previously reported, Bryan Short Headmaster of Borden Grammar School from 1968 to 1998 died on 19th May, aged 87. We have compiled an Obituary which is featured below. We also invited Old Bordenians to provide their own reminisces and some of these are woven into this obituary. All submissions from Old Bordenians will be published in a separate article as well.

Bryan Short

With great sadness we report news that Bryan Short, School Headmaster from 1968-1998, has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. 

It is no exaggeration to say Bryan was a towering figure in the history of the School and generations of Old Bordenians will have passed through the School under his leadership. He emobodied much of the School ethos - discipline, tradition and the power of education - and many of us will have strong personal memories of his time at the School and as President of this Association.

We will be publishing a more fuller obituary in coming days. Old Bordenians are welcome to send to this website any personal memories they wish to be published - please send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

BGS Meccano Club

School clubs were the staple of many a Borden pupil - Chess Club with Mr Sayer and Wargames with Alun Davies spring to this Editors mind. But delve further back and it seems the School had some interesting other clubs. 

Mike Symons

It is with sadness we have been informed of the death of Michael (Mike) Symons on February 9th 2021.

Mike was at the School until 1969 and afterwards went to UMIST. Following University, Mike became a chemical engineer with ICI.

OBA Dinner 2021 - Update February 2021

Given the current circumstances across the UK, the OBA Committee has confirmed that the 2021 Dinner will not take place. The current pandemic situation negates our usual early Spring date and of course we are still uncertain when restrictions will be fully lifted to allow indoors social events such as our annual gathering. We will of course alert Members to any decision on potential events later in the year if the opportunity to hold them safely arises.

Nitere Porro - what does it mean?

Mark Sayer offers us this reflective view on the School motto and his schooldays. 
 
I am pretty sure that I knocked over a bottle of Nitere Porro in the Chemistry Lab, one lesson. Never mind what year I was in; which decade was it ? Fortunately, someone mopped it up and saved it … and they’re using it again.

Closing episode of Ron Swan memories

In September we published articles detailing the early life and school memories of Ron Swan, who attended the School 1936-1941. Ron's family have now provided a further and final instalment bringing us up to date with Ron, likely our oldest living Old Bordenian. 

 

Ronald_Swan_P3.docx