Author Archives: rossjamesparker

Resurrecting The Bournemouthian

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Many of you will remember the long-standing school magazine, The Bournemouthian. Did you know that there have been no new issues since 2003? Ian Westhead, a current member of the Sixth Form, writes:

Recently, I discovered an extensive archive in the library containing, along with a plethora of other documents, all issues of The Bournemouthian. I was dismayed to realise there had not been a copy published since 2003 owing to the departure of Mr Rixon, an old English teacher who edited it (who has subsequently returned).

There is, however, good news:

I, along with a few friends who share my interest in the history and happenings of Bournemouth School, have decided to get The Bournemouthian back on its feet – to resurrect it. We’ve been discussing the content and the logistics of it, and it seems The Bournemouthian will live again!

To help this rebirth, Ian would like contributions of any information, anecdotes and chiefly pictures that could feature in some of the new copies. Ian is particularly interested in the development of the school buildings, especially the effects of “The Great Fire of 1973”,
(“an anecdote I had heard my father mention”). Pictures of past headmasters and old plans of classrooms would also be of particular interest.

Anything from the evolution of the school buildings to the different subjects taught at different times would be of great benefit to the new editions, as I’m looking forward to writing articles about the history of my school!

Please do let us know, in the comments below or by email, if you can help.

Obituary: Leonard (“Len”) Ruffell

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Ruffell-LenOld boy Leonard Ruffell, who was at the school from 1950 to 1955, died on 3 July, aged 75. Len had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.

Born in his father’s police house in Rownhams, Len moved to Winton in Bournemouth with his family when he was three. He spent most of his career in local government, with councils in Bournemouth and Hampshire, and it was through his work that he met his wife, Anne.

Len enjoyed drama, genealogy and writing and illustrating detective books about his alter ego, Lionel Worst. His daughter, Antonia, now lives in Australia.

His death was reported in the Hampshire Chronicle and the Bournemouth Daily Echo. The funeral was held on Friday 17 July at St Barnabas Church, Weeke.

Golf afternoon

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Alan Carver is arranging an Old Bournemouthians golf event on the afternoon before this year’s Annual Dinner, on 11th September. Alan would like to see some OB new faces and even any recent school-leavers, so come along to join the old hands, and maybe lift the annual OB Golf title and trophy and join those ‘Legends’ of the past!

All OBs can play, even if you are not necessarily coming to the OB Annual Dinner.

Depending on numbers entering we will play in pairs, threes, or fours, so if you know someone who you would like to play with then give me his name.

Alan has arranged for us to play at Highcliffe Castle Golf club as we have done in recent years. This is a shorter course than Parkstone, Meyrick or Queen’s Park. A round here, providing there are no hold ups, is about 3 to 3.5 hours, so we have good time afterwards for a natter and time to get ready for the dinner in Bournemouth. Highcliffe is about a mile from Christchurch. The first tee off is 12 noon, and at 7 minute intervals thereafter.

The green fee is £13 and there is a £3 contribution to prize money. The prize pot will besplit with 50% going to the winner and 25% to each of the winners of the longest drive and nearest the pin on one of the par 3 holes. There are no par 5 holes.

If you are interested, please call Alan on 07881 815184 as soon as possible, to give him the following information:

  • your email address
  • your full postal address
  • the years you were at the school
  • you handicap

Old Bournemouthians on the Western Front

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Will Pyke, one of Bournemouth School’s History Masters, is in the process of completing a study of Old Bournemouthians on the Western Front in the First World War. Mr Pyke’s work has involved building a database of some of the very first Old Bournemouthians, some of whom were in the school’s first intake, and is intended to provide a different approach to David Hilliam’s Tig’s Boys. Originally intended to cover the whole war, Mr Pyke reports that he narrowed the focus when he realised that he had 550 pages on the Western Front alone.

To celebrate the First World War Centenary, Mr Pyke has been invited to to give one of the series of Bournemouth Library lectures, Aspects of War, at 11am on Wednesday 8th July at Bournemouth Library. The talk will last for about half an hour, with tea, coffee and the opportunity to ask questions afterwards. A flyer for the event can be found here.