Cricket Warming Up
After fiercely contested warm-up fixtures against Old Millfield XI and Stony Stratford, the OB Cricket Club had an encouraging win in the first round of the Cricketer Cup, with outstanding performances from James Kettleborough (00-11), James Stedman (91-01) and Oliver Yew (00-05). OBs are invited to support the team away against Stowe in the next round on 29th June. Read more and see the photos.

Art Exhibition Opens
A team effort between the Art Department staff and OB Club saw the opening evening of the first OB Art Exhibition on 6th June. We welcomed back OBs and art staff, including those who hadn't been back since leaving, to see the artworks by OBs in art-related careers and 40 of us sat down to a dinner. See the photos here. The exhibition remains open to all until 5th July.

British Columbia to Bedford
DVP Michael Evison (51-59) visited the School from Canada, spotting a shield commemorating the success of the 2nd VIII in he 1959 Bedford Regatta with his name on it, in the Bell Room. View the photos. We are delighted when OBs from overseas incorporate a trip to the School when in the UK.

Lunch in Scotland
On 31 May, OBs from across Scotland and northern England united for a lunch at the Roxburghe Hotel in Edinburgh. We enjoyed drinks reception in glorious sunshine before a three course lunch. We hope to build on this next year with another gathering north of the border. See the photos here.

Help For Heroes
We welcomed back Major General Tim Toyne Sewell (50-59) to Bedford on 22nd May, who supported a Rotary Club of Bedford function at the Rugby Club to raise funds for Help For Heroes. Former Royal Marine Ben McBean spoke about his training and deployment, and £13,500 has been raised so far. Tim is pictured with Mark Chamberlain, President of the Rotary Club of Bedford, and Rotarian Anthony Ormerod (47-57). Read more about this story.

D-Day Service
D-Day veteran Major Ron Rogers (28-35) recently read the poem 'Normandy' by Cyril Crain, at a special commemoration Church Service to mark the 100th anniversary of WW1 and 70 years since D-Day, held by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis. He also recently appeared on a TV documentary about the D-Day Offensive. Read local coverage of the event. If you know of other OBs who were at D-Day, please do let us know.

Ickwell and Shuttleworth
We enjoyed a memorable day at this DVP Bedfordshire event, with a fascinating tour of the famous Shuttleworth Aircraft Collection, its workshops and hangers. OB Peter Ganczakowski (64-75) joined us by landing his own plane there! We moved to the School's Ickwell Study Centre for a picnic lunch and a walking tour of this nature reserve with the Master in Charge of Ickwell, Chris Jones, learning about current and future projects including the producation of charcoal, and a grass snake collection! See photos here. 

Radcot House Garden
OB Robin (56-66) and Jeanne Stainer kindly hosted a visit to their beautiful garden at Radcot House in Oxfordshire. We heard from our hosts about the project from its infancy, their vision, their hard work over many years and the challenges along the way. OBs and guests explored the different areas of the garden in the sunshine, coming across unusual sculptures and dramatic planting. In the afternoon we enjoyed a picnic in the beautiful setting. See photos of the event here.

Lost America Winner 
Historian Dr Andrew O'Shaughnessy (67-78) has won one of America's largest and most prestigious literary awards, the George Washington Book Prize, with his "ground-breaking" book 'The Men Who Lost America'. With ten mini-biographies, he reframes the Revolution from the British point of view. Read more

Bell Room Visits
Mrs Salsbury and Mrs Idle love OBs visiting the Bell Room - "it only seems like yesterday when they boys arrived in the Upper School, now look at them!" William Bowers (99-10) and William Johnson (05-10) are photographed as they dropped off their artworks for the OB Exhibition. You are all very welcome to visit the School.

Chelsea Flowers 
OB Richard Read (47-55) and his wife Stella, Horticulturalists and Plant breeders, had one of their new plant varieties exhibited at Chelsea Show. Gaillardia 'Celebration' was in the top fifty plants exhibited, appeared on BBC1's One Show and will soon be available in UK garden centres. 

Summer Drinks Party 
Christopher (72-77) and Rosemarie Jones hosted an OB gathering at their home in Clapham, London, with sun shining, wine flowing and OBs chatting - and some stayed until the early hours of the morning! Read more here.

German OBs Reunite
Following the successful IB reunion last November, the OB Deutschland organised a dinner in Munich, with 21 attendees. Many continued the reunion past midnight. It was great to see a range of year groups and new faces. Read more and see the photos here. 

Foundation Golf Day
Morning rain cleared to give OBs, parents, students and staff of all golfing ability a wonderful afternoon with camaraderie and friendly competitive spirit. A fantastic £3,700 was raised for the golf scholarship progreamme. Read more and see the photos here.