Edward Thring, Headmaster of Uppingham School, encouraged his privileged boys to remember the plight of the poor and to assist them through charitable donation and direct action. They responded by founding a public school mission in 1870, at North Woolwich in London’s East End. Over the course of the next 40 years, many more schools and two universities followed this example. Bright the Vision is the story of 22 of those school missions and their legacy. With contributions from HRH The Princess Royal, Dr Lucinda Matthews-Jones and the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, this wide-sweeping book describes some of the notable forerunners and forefathers of the Welfare State.

The schools featured are Bradfield, Charterhouse, Cheltenham Ladies’, Clifton, Dulwich, Durham, Eton, Haileybury, Harrow, Highgate, King's Canterbury, Marlborough, Monkton Combe, Radley, Repton, Rugby, Shrewsbury, The Leys, Tonbridge, Uppingham, Wellington and Winchester.

The chapter about Bradfield has been written by Mr John Cardwell the College Archivist. The book is available to purchase from Sunnyrest Books, 4 The Quay, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5HF or by email sunnyrest-books@outlook.com from October 2023 priced at £35 in hardback and £25 in softback plus postage.