Chief Operating Officer Owen Adams then presented the campus developments that have taken place in recent years, of which there have been many, before providing a glimpse at the College’s exciting plans for the future. He spoke of the sound financial planning that has been undertaken to enable all these projects to be undertaken but also underlined the significance of philanthropic support as part of this funding model.
There was then a change in tempo as Matt Lowe took to the stage to speak about Music at Bradfield, an interest shared by many of the 1850 members. His presentation was interspersed with stunning vocal performances by Sixth Form pupils Lottie (I), Tallulah (K) and Rosie (I) and, where Al and Owen had provided crisp facts and nuanced explanations, the voices of these girls truly delighted the 1850 Society members and they received rapturous applause. John Lyon (C 65- 69) and his partner Sharon, who had attended the Scholar’s Concert earlier in the year at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford, appreciated the opportunity to hear the singers perform again.
After the comfort of the new Music Hall seating there was an opportunity for attendees to tour the sights, old and new, of the College. Keen to visit their old haunts, some headed to Hillside, Army House veterans returned to their former boarding house while the remainder made directly for the Art Schools to view the Commemoration Exhibition.
In Hillside, Mike Akers (F 48-52) and Robin Elliott (B 54-59) made the most of their small tour group by quizzing Matron and Assistant HsM Sandie Ankers about the school lives of current Bradfieldians. Robin was surprised to learn that the CCF still played such a prominent role in College life. In Army House, the Honours Boards were carefully scrutinised by contemporaries John Lyon (C 65-69) and Tim Rhodes (C 64-68). The remainder were indeed more than satisfied by the Art Exhibition which had been carefully curated by Head of Art and Design Marc Holmes amazed by the variety of opportunities available to explore and impressed by the skill of the artists on display.
