Reg Turner

We have been contacted by Reginald (“Reg”) Turner, who writes:

Hello from New Zealand. I was a pupil at Bournemouth School from 1952 to 1960. My time at Bournemouth School for Boys, and in the CCF gave me the best education I could ever have or expect. Having gained foreign entry at age 12, with passing the 11 plus exam at that time. I was a young student from a primary school background in the Caribbean Island of Aruba. I was blessed that my parents decided to settle in Bournemouth, and the opportunity to gain entry to this great school of learning.

Now aged 77 and a wealth life adventures, I wish to connect with all my classmates still living from my Bournemouth School years. Please put in your “old boys “network my email with a request to connect with them, after all these years. I regret it has taken me 65 years to contact my school “old boys”. I am now writing my memoirs called “Tales from an Innkeepers Log”.

Reg also provided links to his personal website, and the website of his lodge, on New Zealand’s South Island.

Obituary: David Hopkinson

Old Boy John Dearing (1957-65) writes:

I have heard today that my contemporary, David Hopkinson who was at Bournemouth School from about 1958-65 has sadly died in Sligo, Ireland. David worked in technical publishing for over 20 years, aspiring at one point to being “Father of the Chapel” but took early retirement some 20 years ago, moving to Ireland in 1994. He was just over 70 at the time of his death.

Bernard Walker

Hugh Walker, the son of the late artist, composer and Bournemouth School teacher Bernard Walker has been in touch to share his online tribute to his father’s life. The website has a variety of material from Mr Walker senior’s life, including some of his programme designs and playbills from his time at the school that were found among his papers in 2014.

Obituary: Leonard (“Len”) Ruffell

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.

Photos discovered from old school productions

Hugh Walker recently got in touch with the OBA. He had discovered a number of photographs and documents left by his father, Bernard Walker, who designed sets for a wide range of school productions from the 1930s until his retirement in the 1960s.

Mr Walker writes: “They’re a bit jumbled – difficult to identify dates, but at least some of the participants might recognize themselves and have positive reminiscences. I’ve included the stagehands too. I recollect that the programmes were all printed in the art room and particular boys had a hand in this.”

You will find the photographs below. Let us know in the comments if you recognise anybody – or yourself!