Seventy years ago in 1952 Bradfield was a school with around 325 boys on roll during the Headmastership of J D Hills who was in charge from 1939 to 1955.

Mr Mousdale was the Housemaster of G House and had been Housemaster there since 1930. His house in 1952 is pictured in the photo gallery below.

The Bradfield Chronicle of May 1952 records an announcement page "Le roy est mort" and "News of the sudden death of His Majesty the King on Wednesday 6th February 1952, reached the School in the course of the morning. It was decided that, as a mark of loyal respect for His Majesty's memory, the contingent of the Combined Cadet Force should observe a two minutes' silence during the afternoon parade. Special prayers were said at Morning Chapel on Thursday.

On Thursday 7th February, the School assembled in the Quadrangle at the end of Break, standing in an informal semi-circle in front of the old College building. Loudspeakers were placed on the balcony above Mr Templer's study and the Proclamation of Her Majesty the Queen was relayed from St James' Palace. The sun shone, the broadcast was admirably clear, the circumstances and the surrounding buildings made us feel that we were ourselves taking part in this impressive ceremony."

That was also the summer of the sixth Bradfield production of Antigone in the Greek Theatre in June, since its first performance in 1850. The Bradfield Chronicle described it as " two hours of well-nigh flawless poetry" and a guest on leaving the theatre was heard to say "I do not know a word of Greek, but they made me feel every syllable." A compliment to everyone involved for sure!

During the Coronation procession, six members of the Combined Cadet Force represented the college from the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.  Ten cadets also took part in the Coronation Naval Review as part of the complement of HMS Implacable.

Two Old Bradfieldians received OBEs as part of the Coronation Honours: Lieut-Col. AHG Wathen of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (in the Military Division) and DC White, Resident, Sarawak, of the Colonial Civil Service (Civilian Division).  

The Chapel Choir had its annual half-holiday during the Coronation celebrations and visited Odiham for the RAF Coronation review, ‘it was contrived to be at a point at which 604 aircraft flew exactly overhead’. The rest of the day was spent in a tour of Windsor Castle grounds followed by refreshments and swimming at Runnymede.