Back in 2016 John Allday (E 53-57), then President of the Old Bradfieldian Golfing Society, handed over a large trunk of OBGS memorabilia to Tim Rhodes (C 64-68), who started extracting interesting information from it in advance of the OBGS 90th anniversary in 2017. With the society’s centenary now in sight Tim is collating additional information from the materials held in the archive at Bradfield to complete this history to date. On a visit to the school in 2019 Tim managed to capture information from inception to WW2, but his return to College to resume the task was then delayed by the pandemic. So, on his recent visit he researched from 1945 - 1982 and will be returning on a third visit in due course to complete his task. 

Once he has collated all of this information, the question will be whether to communicate this history in a physical publication, or via the society’s website. Either way it is hoped that the OBGS membership of over 200 will take a keen interest in its history, and not only because the future prospects for institutions are always better if they have a knowledge of their past. Meanwhile Tim has been working on Bradfield’s contribution to the (physical) book which is being put together to celebrate the centenary of the Halford Hewitt (The Public Schools Old Boys Tournament) in 2024. Bradfield first took part in 1927 and have been losing finalists three times, most recently in 2014.

More about the Bradfield Archive:

• We are in the process of digitising the publications held in the archive to enable more people to access the College's rich history from the comfort of their homes.
• Although we have a lot of materials, our records are incomplete, so if you have souvenirs, publications and photos from your time in College that you no longer wish we would be happy to give them a home in the archive.
• At present there is no Archivist in post to manage the Bradfield Archive, however we are just about to start recruiting for a part time archivist. If you or anyone you know would be interested in taking up a role in the archive please do contact bradfieldsociety@bradfieldcollege.org.uk