OLD Eastbournian The College Archives We have continued in 2014, like most schools, to research and expand our record of the role of Old Eastbournians in the Great War. hanks to the unremitting photographs and documents. efforts of Bill Bowden The Revd Frederick Williams was T (W 1961–65), we now know headmaster from 1906 to 1924 that 1,015 boys and nine staff and married Muriel Oxley whose (133 more than were originally four brothers all attended the recorded) served in the armed College. forces and that no fewer than 174 Alan Oxley, the third brother, boys gave their lives. And this in died while acting as a Forward a school whose numbers in the Observation Officer with the years immediately prior to the Royal Garrison Artillery in a war averaged 187. former German concrete pillbox The Archives team in front of the Great War exhibition on Devonshire We have arranged for the near Ypres. A heavy shell hit the Society Day 2014: Simon Wood, Michael Partridge, Pat Larkin and Bill names of those boys who died corner of it, killing Alan, who Bowden and whose sacrifice was never was aged just 20, on 10 Decem- previously recorded to be added ber 1917. Mr and Mrs Williams’ or elsewhere. We have begun perhaps a little larger and cer- to the inscriptions in the Memo- grand-daughter Virginia, with her an arrangement with the SDS tainly more impressive. It has now rial Arch. The new stones, funded son Philip O’Conor, kindly lent to Company, who do similar work replaced the one in Big School, by the Arnold Embellishers, were the Archives a large collection of with around 100 schools, to digi- which will be passed on to the dedicated at the annual Remem- letters and photographs relating tize our unique and irreplaceable local Sea Cadets, TS Eastbourne. brance Day ceremony on Sunday 9 to Alan; these include no fewer photo collection. This we shall We contribute substantially November. In addition a new Roll than 17 letters of condolence sent progress as funds become avail- to the articles in the annual Old of Honour with extended biogra- to his mother by his military col- able. The digital archive, which Eastbournian magazine, which phies and including photographs leagues of all ranks. We used this will be fully searchable, will in we co-edit. We also compile of more than half of those who priceless memorabilia to mount a time be made available to OEs via and publish obituaries for the died will be published on the Devonshire Day and Speech Day the Eastbournian Society website. 50 or so OEs and former staff of Eastbournian Society website exhibition based on Alan’s short We were pleased to host whose deaths we are notified. shortly. life and tragic death. David Barnes, a former This year we recorded the lives As other schools, villages and This, complemented teacher at Bradfield of Chris Kirk-Greene, teacher of towns pursue similar aims, we by a similar archive College, for three modern languages for 37 years, have handled an unprecedented from the Passmore days in June when Ian Fraser (formerly Sykes) (P number of enquiries about Great family, is reported he examined every 1947–51), a musician of rare War casualties, as well as the more fully on Eastbournian talents and Richard Vaughan (S usual family and author enquiries. pages 24–26. from 1870 to 1941–45), medieval historian and You will find acknowledgement While this today. David is ornithologist, and many others of of our assistance in the recently work on the researching an extraordinary and diverse range published book Public Schools and Great War has the history of of talents and activities. the Great War by Anthony Seldon constituted Fives in Public Complementary to this work, and David Walsh. We also assisted our major Schools and we maintain an extensive OE and editor Nicholas Antram in his work occupation has given us a staff biographical library which on the new edition of Pevsner’s this year, we CD containing a continually grows as more infor- Sussex East (2013) which now continue to summary history mation becomes available. Please contains exceptionally precise record, dissemi- of the game at send us information about your information on the architecture nate and promote the College. This is own activities and those of other of the College and of the town the College’s rich more fully described OEs and former staff whom you generally. history and heritage, The HMS Marlborough on pages 67–68. Under may meet, read or hear of. We have also been involved with believing it to be one plaque Spencer Beal’s leader- The College Archives team, a team researching the lives of the of our unique distinc- ship since 1984, Fives Simon Wood, Pat Larkin, Sheila 51 boys whose names are recorded tions in the world of independent has enjoyed an extraordinary Partridge, Paul Jordan and the on the Ascham Arch in Carlisle schools. We give talks to new staff renaissance with successes for writer, most of whom are volun- Road. These boys were pupils at and to every Year 11 pupil, as well both boy and girl pupils. We have teers, remain enthusiastic and the former Ascham/St Vincent’s as to external bodies, sometimes asked Spencer to provide a record dedicated to the special work prep schools and five went on to discovering extraordinary degrees of these 30 years and this also is to that they do for the College. And the College before losing their of interest and knowledge. We be found on pages 67–68. during the summer Patrick Davies lives in the Great War. The result, host Service at School (S@S) Earlier this year we were (Pw 2008–13) put in several weeks’ we hope, will be published later pupils on Mondays and mount approached by the Royal Navy worth of invaluable work for us. In in 2015. Our relationship with historical exhibitions which this Old Comrades Club in Eastbourne December we lost our dear friend the arch stems from the fact that year covered Bishop Walter Carey, which was closing due to declining and colleague Bill Bowden OE this is the last remaining physical Chaplain 1936–40 and 1945–48, membership. They wished to pass who died while undergoing heart remnant of Ascham, the College Sir Hugh Casson PPRA OE, Archi- on to us a brass HMS Marlborough surgery. His enthusiasm and his prep school from 1945 until 1977, tect and President of the Royal plaque which had hung in their research skills are irreplaceable, and carries memories for every Academy and Notable OE Girls. lounge since 1988. It is of solid as was his endearing personality. Ascham educated OE. We continue to receive gifts cast brass, highly polished and We shall miss him. A major project this year of photographs and memorabilia mounted on a mahogany back Michael Partridge has been the archiving of the and we sometimes purchase board, similar to the one that pre- [email protected] Williams, Oxley and O’Conor articles or books on the internet viously hung in Big School, though 01323 451901 48 The College Archives – donations and acquisitions 2014 Bob Barnard (W 1959–63) Three Nicholas (Pw 1962–65) & Stephen Virginia and Philip O’Conor Purchased 78rpm records of The Mikado at Gosse (Pw 1965–69)Documentary Loan of a large archive of material Ascham in 1959 and photographic records of their relating to the Revd FFS Williams, Bronze athletics medal, not inscribed Richard Bones (W 1950–53) grandfather’s (Ernest Marson his wife, the Oxley brothers and Ascham and College memorabilia. Gosse MC & Bar) and father’s Alan Oxley who died in 1917 on Book: Killer Elite by Ranulph Eight College exercise books, (Peter Marson Gosse MC, Pw the Somme Fiennes (This purports to describe c.1951 1933–37) service in WW1 and WW2 John Oecken (S 1941–46) the way in which Mike Kealy (W 1959–63) was murdered on the Estate of Bill Bowden (W 1961–65) CR Goulden (Pw 1962–64) Blue books for 1946 Brecon Beacons in 1963) 28 books of reference Booklet: New Writing from Diane Quinnell Photos: Beresford Eastbourne College Book: Forgotten Stars, the Will Clayton, son of Geoff House school biography of John Stuart (Croall) (S 1943–47) and nephew of Ian Mr DF Haddow Memorabilia Geoff Reynolds (R 1957–60) (S 1912–15), silent film star (P43–45) Photos: Gym teams relating to Peggy Hindley Portrait and group photo Book: Pevsner’s Sussex East, 2013 1944, 45 and 46 Estate of Chris Kirk-Greene Eric Smith (G 1948–52) Photo: edition, edited by Nicholas Antram Colin Coulson Photos from an Photos, memorabilia and about 1952 1st XV rugby team 100 books about the history of Book: English Public Schools by album once owned by Peter St JA Harvey Smith (R 1980–84) public schools Rex Warner Seager (Pw 1944–48) Various memorabilia and whole Mike Drummond–Brady Henry Lucas (B 1947–51) Photo: school photo 1984 Book: Public Schools and the General Inspection 1951 Great War by Anthony Seldon and (B 1942–47) Photo: Blackwater Brian Wilson (S 1949–53) David Walsh cricket team 1947 Clifford Mould (R 1956–60 Photos Whole school photo 1951. Ken Gibbs Photos and and other memorabilia Order of Service for Roger Book: Taking Command by General information about his father Michael North (S 1961–66) Books: Holloway (P 1947–51) at St Sir David Richards (W 1965–70) GK Gibbs (S 1911–13) Ex Oriente Salus by VM Allom Margaret’s, Westminster, on Vanity Fair print: ‘The Air’ and Eastbourne College Rugby 28 February 2011 (Mr Frank Hedges Butler) Football 1900–1910 by EC Arnold The Ascham Arch he Ascham St Vincent’s Memorial Arch commemorating boys who died in the T First World War is a familiar landmark in Carlisle Road, and marks the site of Ascham, the College prep school, which was attended by many OEs.