People in the Archive: Hubert Leslie and his S-s-silhouettes

Every week, I receive a fascinating enquiry from a researcher, a member of the public or an Old Brightonian – sometimes all three. In early February, Julia Webb from the National Portrait Gallery got in touch to learn more about silhouette-artist extraordinaire, Hubert Leslie.

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News from the Archive: Our Reading Room is Ready!

It might be small but there's room for two! 

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Stories from the Archive: The Case of the Missing Lion

This week's post was written by Karen Scanlon, who volunteers at the archive. She was helping to catalogue our collection of uniform, when a picture on the wall caught her attention... 

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Brighton College Bangkok

Brighton College Bangkok opened in September 2016 and shares the aims and ethos of Brighton College UK, England’s top co-educational school.

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Music in the Archive: The Jazz Appreciation Society, 1962

While searching through the Brightonians this week, I stumbled across a short, but fascinating, article written by the Jazz Appreciation Society, in 1962.

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Stories from the Archive: Discovering Documents

One of the joys of sorting through the archive at Brighton College has been discovering documents that haven’t been seen for years – sometimes, these can be ‘hiding’ in places one least expects.

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The family of Lister Durell Wickham (Ch. 1908-13) donate his medals to The College

The North family bestowed a great favour on the College in June 2015 when they arranged for the medals of Lister Durrell Wickham to be donated to the College. Head Master Richard Cairns was delighted to meet with the Phillipson family and to receive the medals, which are now on display in the College Chapel. After serving at Gallipoli Lister had been home ill, and had married his sweetheart musician Marguerite Dickensen.

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History Challenge Week: A History of Brighton College in 50 Objects

As part of History challenge week, a fascinating exhibition entitled ‘the History of Brighton College in 50 Objects’ has been displayed in the library. Based on the popular BBC series, ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’ presented by the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, the exhibition provided an intriguing insight, not only into the history of the College, but also into the wider context of social and political changes that have taken place between the mid-19th Century and the present day.

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News from the Archive: Our New Rolling Shelves!

Christmas has come early at Brighton College Archives, with 'phase one' of our re-fit nearly complete.

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End of Michaelmas term 2015 letter from The Head Master

Two years ago, a boy came to see me in my study to tell me that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and was about to embark on a gruelling course of chemotherapy. He was 17 years old at the time. Thankfully, he is now fully recovered.

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Treasures from the Archive: Sketches from Dorothy Fenwick’s Notebook

Can you guess what the last boy played!? This image is taken from Dorothy Isabella Fenwick’s notebook. From 1929 to 1948, she was a matron at Brighton College: in Stenning House, School House, the Junior School and finally Bristol House. She retired in 1948 and lived in Walpole Terrace, Brighton.

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Robert Wilmot (Common Room 1979-98)

We are sad to report the death of Robert Wilmot on Monday 23rd November after his long struggle with cancer. He taught English at the college for 19 years and did much else besides, most notably coaching teams and directing plays. He was the embodiment of a traditional schoolmaster: naturally courteous, multi-talented, kind and encouraging. The funeral is on Monday 30th Nov at 3pm at Selmeston.

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The Music School officially opened by Pink Floyd legend David Gilmour

Much to the delight of the chamber choir and Alex Sansbury (U6th, Hampden) who memorably performed with the Pink Floyd legend, David Gilmour generously entertained guests with performances from his latest album Rattle that Lock, and the evocative Wish You Were Here.

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Treasures from the Archive: Proclamation from the Third Anglo-Burmese War

Earlier this month, I gave a short talk to our 4th Form Academic Society. Deciding on a theme was tricky, but since I’d recently worked on the school’s roll of honour – ensuring it was ready for our new memorial statue – the theme of ‘conflict’ seemed fitting.

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Every Boy Remembered - an update

The Brighton College Roll of Honour lists 147 former pupils killed during the Great War. One of the first two officers killed in the conflict was Second Lt. Vincent Waterfall, of Hampden House/Chichester House, aged just 22. Old Brightonians fought and died in Palestine, at the Somme, at Ypres, and in the final push for victory in the week before the Armistice was signed, on 11 November 1918.

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