Andrew Symonds on Brighton College in 2005

When did you last visit
Brighton College?
Summer 2005
Andrew Symonds (A. 1955-59)

Even if you have not been back for five years, much has changed. Walk with me through the front arch and see what has happened in one generation of College boys and girls.

As we enter the front quad a sense of peace and calm immediately settles on you after the busy Eastern Road traffic, (so long as you don’t visit in the chaotic drop off and pick up times at the start and finish of the school day). From the front quad nothing seems to have changed. The same graceful mid-nineteenth century buildings designed by Gilbert Scott. The roofs of those old buildings and those of the chapel are now being re-tiled, a testament to the quality of work all those years ago in an aggressive salt laden coastal environment. Let’s hope the new roof will last another 150 years!

The College Chapel

We turn left in the middle of the front quad and walk towards the main hall (built in 1912), the chapel on your right and two houses on your left. Nothing has changed except their names!

We turn into the Woolton Block at the south end of the main hall and here there are two new classroom blocks, adjacent the 1960’s building that replaced Tamplins brewery on the south west corner site. This is gracefully landscaped with a water feature, to soothe the late running students rushing to their class.

Penetrating into the Woolton Building to where the squash court used to be, is now the Rose Foundation Lecture Theatre. This 115 seater bleachered theatre has proved its worth in a very short space of time.

The back quad and the Café de Paris

Retracing our steps back north between the chapel and hall, we pass the swimming pool and the ancient laboratories; a first for Brighton College when built. Many of us remember them as the music block. Now it is the Sixth Form Centre. But, what’s this? Where has the back quad gone? That draughty soulless area of tarmac, the scenes of square bashing cadets and windswept sweet papers. All gone! Now as we pass under the arch of the Lester Building there are shops on either side for books and clothes etc. We stand gazing at the modern glazed Performing Arts Centre (PAC for short) made possible by a substantial donations by old Brightonian Neville Abraham and the Headmaster from his book royalties. It is a three storey structure with a café on the ground floor heavily used and very popular with parents, visitors and students. The first floor has specially sound proofed music practice rooms and the top floor a superb dance studio, so popular that if the College had three more of the same, they would all be fully used!

The PAC links into the rear of the main building where the dining hall and kitchen have undergone significant upgrades and have to cater for 1200 students plus staff every working day. The front porch and lobby are currently undergoing a radical change, courtesy of Martin Bussanother another old Brightonian, based in the USA. It will be turned into a reception area, with the porters and security staff moved to the front arch where they can be more effective.

Upstairs in the main block, past portraits of all past Headmasters, we arrive at the library. Another transformation! Now it has a mezzanine storey and stretches into the rooms on either side, where OBs of 50 years plus vintage will have been taught Latin by Blimp (Mr Hill) and maths by Alf (Mr Lester). Computer screens abound to aid research and an electronic security screen to prevent unauthorised borrowings.

I shall pass over for now the Prep School and Pre-Prep School. Both have benefited from improvements to both the play areas and teaching facilities.

Now we leave the main College campus for the Montague Centre for Dramatic Arts and Music. We turn right out of the College and second left down Montague Place to the end, a four minute walk. This old Methodist Church had been converted into recording studios for a rock band. The College with the assistance of Scholarship Board funds converted this interesting building into a theatre and music rooms for groups rather than individuals.

This walk looks at all the major changes of the last 5 years, but before we go, what of the future? The large lawn opposite the Headmasters House has always been kept for a significant and architecturally exciting building. Plans are afoot to build a three storey modern block to fill this open space. It is anticipated calling it the Alexander Visual Arts Centre to house the currently poorly accommodated Arts departments in both the College and Prep School.

Other major expenditure recently has been the Ł750,000 upgrading of the boarding areas to provide improved facilities, particularly in the wet areas. As our walk has revealed, there has been approximately Ł4 million expenditure over the last five years in which individual old Brightonians have made an invaluable contribution. What new developments will the next 5 years bring, and do you want to be part of it?