Headmaster’s Blog 17 May 2019

All eyes were on the stage last week as the much anticipated BMS production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  wowed audiences during its sold-out, three-night run.  It was such fun to watch and showed some incredible emerging talent. For some of our young students in Year 7 it was their debut on the Senior School stage and it was clear that they thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and benefited greatly from it. What I admire most about such productions is the inclusivity; if you want to take part you can, whatever your previous experience. Such a production would not be possible without the band and all those working backstage, too, and everyone involved should feel enormously proud of themselves.  I saw the Friday night performance and couldn’t help but hum the tunes throughout the rest of the weekend and I can guarantee that I was not alone!

School was buzzing on Saturday with cricket fixtures taking place home and away. I’m pretty I sure I saw Potipher in his cricket whites at one point and a couple of the narrators had put aside their sequined jackets for a while. Meanwhile our rowers from Year 9 upwards were out in force at Bedford Regatta; one of the highlights of the rowing calendar and an event in which many of the best schools in the country compete. Again I spotted Joseph in one boat, some of his brothers in others and even Pharoah, thankfully without the impediment of his Elvis Costume, in another!  As always our marvellous parent group were on hand with refreshments and, together with staff and other students, we were undoubtedly the most enthusiastic supporters. We had an excellent day with the WJ18 4x and the WJ14 4x securing wins.

On Wednesday HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO, SFI, inspected both Bedford Modern School and Bedford School’s Combined Cadet Forces. The event marked the Centenary of King George V’s visit to Bedford to inspect both Schools’ Officer Training Corps’ on 27 June 1918 and was a splendid affair.

Last night our musicians and singers showcased their extraordinary talent at a concert here in the Howard Hall which included everything from Mozart to Coldplay and Handel to Hazell. For me the highlight was the trio of Greg May on piano, Tarek Eldin on cello and Amina Eldin on violin whose collective performance of Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No 1 in D Minor  was world-class and rightly deserving of the standing ovation it received.

And today we said goodbye to our Year 13 students.  They have been a super year group and I wish them well as they embark on their study leave in advance of A Level exams in the coming weeks.

Alex Tate
Headmaster