tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post3016348399504045208..comments2024-02-16T08:06:02.281+00:00Comments on maytrees' musings: The Beaumont Unionmaytreeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-65589106629497718382017-02-19T13:41:29.215+00:002017-02-19T13:41:29.215+00:00The final year of boys at Beaumont left the Colleg...The final year of boys at Beaumont left the College some 50 years ago when the College closed.<br />One of those boys is organising a 50th anniversary reunion and dinner at the old place now an hotel.<br />His requests for those members of the BU concerned to attend, is meeting with resounding success as I gather that so far 50 or so old boys have responded positively. <br />Given that the total in the year group probably numbered around 65 boys and given that some have sadly died in the intervening years, including one who died in the 9/11 New York bombing and another in a tragic motor cycle accident as well as of course other sad deaths, the number of possible attendees so far, signifies the impact the old school may have made on our lives.<br /><br />If any who read this was in our year and would like to attend please leave me a message.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-22480300578827293452013-10-04T14:39:23.046+01:002013-10-04T14:39:23.046+01:00Well, Jerry, your post certainly stirred up the pr...Well, Jerry, your post certainly stirred up the proverbial hornet's nest! I have never managed to excite as many comments!The Subliminal Mr Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026560115807068974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-27455886918928659412013-01-05T12:02:26.042+00:002013-01-05T12:02:26.042+00:00From this blog's guestbook:
"Name Chris...From this blog's guestbook:<br /><br />"Name Christopher Shelmerdine<br />Date 2013-01-02<br />Location <br />Message I would like to contact the Hon Sec of the Beaumont Union to get onto the membership list, and to learn who else is still around from my years 1951-1956."<br /><br />If anyone has contact details for Christopher perhaps they could let the Hon Sec know.<br /><br /><br />maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-86625065595644355942012-10-28T11:24:47.370+00:002012-10-28T11:24:47.370+00:00Posting here to respond to posts from HigherLine ...Posting here to respond to posts from HigherLine and anonymous above of October 2012: <br /><br />HigherLine - you and I probably were at Beaumont at the same time as my final year ended with the closure of the school so do email me if you wish to catch up.<br /><br />The closure of the Beaumont was I think very badly handled at the time though 'bad handling' is always an easy criticism to make with the benefit of handsight, after the event. <br /><br />Looking back, particularly having regard to the (almost) London address of Beaumont the Js and more importantly us students, might imho have been better served by favouring Beaumont over one of their more northern schools as regards closure.<br /><br />The way in which the closure was handled though is history now and expressions of bitterness etc in C21 seem pointless. <br /><br />Beaumont was in my humble opinion a privileged place for boys to be educated and even at the time a fun though far from easy place to learn and grow up in up to 1967.<br /><br /> I am glad however that in C21 my own children were able to attend local Catholic schools mainly in the State sector and that the boys' school was and is still SJ run.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-30943882087305649272012-10-26T05:04:24.698+01:002012-10-26T05:04:24.698+01:00Well as these interesting posts are dated Friday 2...Well as these interesting posts are dated Friday 26th October 2012 and as it is still Thursday 25th October here in Seattle at the moment, I will post a response after returning to the UK and re-entering British time. Probably though I will post at the end of these posts rather than here in the middle of the post line.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-12453015678107116382012-10-26T01:34:00.100+01:002012-10-26T01:34:00.100+01:00Well I was there during that "somewhat run do...Well I was there during that "somewhat run down and seedy" period", and the years 1965-67 truly were quite depressing. I remember seeing about the place the Canadian Jesuit who we were told was the architect of the plan to 'merge' Beaumont and Stonyhurst - he was rumoured to be one of those management types that Americans had, but that we had not yet developed - the horns and tail were implied. <br /><br />I take an entirely different view from that of anonymous above about the motivation of the Jays in taking the decision to close Beaumont. The furious accusations at the time, and by anonymous reflecting his father's feelings, are an entirely understandable emotional response because the decision was taken quickly and was not explained well. These days an expensive PR firm would no doubt have been brought in handle this better, and we may have had a clearer explanation than at the time for the rationale behind it. <br /><br />Having said that, young as I was, I thought the decision was wrong at the time, and with hindsight it seems worse. How many schools do the Jesuits run in the UK now? Most of the rump have a 'Jesuit ethos' while being run by lay teachers, and Beaumont, with a bit more imagination could perhaps have been the first of these. It was a civilised place, close to London, with great potential for expansion. For this failure of imagination I do blame the senior people in the Jesuit Province at the time.<br /><br />Anonymous - your last two paragraphs are complete bollocks. HigherLinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-8642479448514465382012-10-24T20:10:00.444+01:002012-10-24T20:10:00.444+01:00Hi anonymous TX for your post which I have just re...Hi anonymous TX for your post which I have just read in Seattle - I sympathise but disagree with much of what you say but will post again on return to the UKmaytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-81979273843530499522012-10-24T01:54:32.810+01:002012-10-24T01:54:32.810+01:00My Beaumont educated father and grandfatherwere pa...My Beaumont educated father and grandfatherwere particularly shocked at what they considered to be the Jesuits dishonesty in closing a school which although, let's face it, somewhat run down and seedy, was still, just, a leading public school and one for which their sons' names had been put down at birth.(I was at school there at the time the closure was announced and was immediately withdrawn...to my great joy). Had my parents wished me to have gone to Stonyhurst, into which Beaumont was to be assimilated, that is where they would have sent me in the first place.<br />They were furious and, in my father's case the scales fell from his eyes after a lifetime of trust in the Jesuits. Particularly shocking was the extensive fundraising that had been underway, almost to the point of the closure announcement, for a new wing and other sundries(I recently saw an old Beaumont altar in a leading Auction House Catgalogue and couldn't help wondering if this was still the Jesuits enriching themselves or if it had long since passed into other hands). Other parents who donated in good faith for the benefit of their sons' education were,I imagine, similarly angered by this aspect of the matter. <br />As I child I saw only as a child and now as a man, as I learn through evidence and anecdote of the Machiavellian nature of this devious order of priests, I can only wonder how, in such recent times, they were deemed to be suitable 'educators' of young and vulnerable people. I look forward to the day when religious orders are completely proscribed from having any influence at all on childrens' education...least of all in a boarding school environment.<br />Despite the act of closure being one of great dishonesty, the consequence was to the huge advantage of many generations of boys spared the theological and educational tyranny of these, collectively, malevolent men. An unintended but rather fine example of ends justifying means.L.D.S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-44569041730540945152012-08-16T10:28:49.847+01:002012-08-16T10:28:49.847+01:00Greetings Lin
I'll forward your message to th...Greetings Lin<br /><br />I'll forward your message to the BU Hon Sec but he may need some way of contacting you. His email address is: <br /><br />guybailey@monaco.mc<br />Or mine is pjm.hawthorne@btinternet.com<br /><br /><br />maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-60494810542639793712012-08-16T00:19:45.014+01:002012-08-16T00:19:45.014+01:00Hi there. I am after some information on my great ...Hi there. I am after some information on my great Grandfather, Albert LANGTON, who I am told attended the Beaumont Officer Training Corp prior to WWI. All we have is his name, and a photograph of him in uniform from which it's been identified that his cap badge is that of Beaumont College OTC. He never married my great grandmother and it is a mystery to what happened to him. I would dearly love to know who I can contact to find out more.Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890619849951879239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-9553414793959129122012-07-02T19:57:42.409+01:002012-07-02T19:57:42.409+01:00Another comment left just now in this blog's g...Another comment left just now in this blog's guestbook reads:<br /><br />"Lesley Dedman<br />Date 2012-07-02<br />Location <br />Message My grandfather was a pupil, but well before the first world war. I have a picture of him with his class, although I am not sure which year this was taken. Any information about the school at that time would be interesting."maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-41488629468607997022012-06-19T18:39:49.332+01:002012-06-19T18:39:49.332+01:00Another post from this blog's guest book reads...Another post from this blog's guest book reads:<br /><br />"Sergio Osmena<br />Date 2012-06-17<br />Location <br />Message Hello old chaps,<br /><br />I would like to get in touch with former school mates.<br /><br />Charlie Cate, Thierry de Galard, Michael Hamilton,<br />Colin McCarthy, Michael Parker, Michael Lazar,<br />William Gammell, Michael Wolff and many others.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-27689519968373597992012-05-08T19:01:33.150+01:002012-05-08T19:01:33.150+01:00The following is copied and pasted from the blog&#...The following is copied and pasted from the blog's guest book:<br /><br />"Greetings. I am researching my late father-in-law Ronald William Blake who taught for a while at Beaumont around the end of WW2. I am not sure if he was at the college or the prep school. His specialty was English Literature. He had been planning to become a priest, but was having doubts. He then met Nadine Altvatter who was also at the school, possibly as a nurse, and they married in 1944. I would be most grateful to hear from anyone who remembers anything about them. <br />Barrie Lees"<br /><br />Barrie your late father in law's time at Beaumont was a little before mine but I will forward your message to the BU Hon Sec<br />in case he or other OBs can assist.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-37966797799358946762012-02-09T16:17:14.515+00:002012-02-09T16:17:14.515+00:00Not sure it was a question of money - the Jesuits ...Not sure it was a question of money - the Jesuits had to resume their missionary activities and there were not enough to go overseas and educate us at the same timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-60559163298288719602012-02-07T19:12:08.447+00:002012-02-07T19:12:08.447+00:00Just noticed the following in this blog's gues...Just noticed the following in this blog's guestbook and copy and paste here for wider interest:<br /><br />Marcus Wigan<br />Date 2012-01-27<br />Location <br />Message Just posted a note.. was at St Johns and beaumont 1949 or so to 1957. marc wigan<br /><br />www dot mwigan dot commaytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-12250132212205842602012-01-14T10:45:05.507+00:002012-01-14T10:45:05.507+00:00Greetings Nigel,
Thank you for your comment. A pr...Greetings Nigel,<br /><br />Thank you for your comment. A private email with the email address of the Hon Sec of the BU is on its way to you.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-84884854240333205602012-01-14T00:38:00.812+00:002012-01-14T00:38:00.812+00:00Hello - I've been looking for a BU website, bu...Hello - I've been looking for a BU website, but considering the years that have passed since the closure of the school, perhaps it's appropriate that it's elusive --.<br /><br />I was a pupil from 1957 to 1963. Prompted to look up details by coming across pictures of a 1961 sailing trip with Rupert Lescher, Andrew Dearing, Tony Russell and Francis Beckett.<br />Can you give me contact details for the BU?<br /><br />Nigel Harman - nigeljharman@aol.co.ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-24819059052455779022011-10-09T13:20:33.977+01:002011-10-09T13:20:33.977+01:00Sadly just posted on this blog's guestbook fro...Sadly just posted on this blog's guestbook from the USA:<br />carrol DuBoulay<br />Date 2011-10-09<br />Location <br />Message Denis H C DuBoulay April 30 1932 - October 3 2011 Student of Beaumont Will be sadly missedmaytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-82587443813462997802010-09-26T10:56:42.531+01:002010-09-26T10:56:42.531+01:00Greetings John,
Thank you for your comment which ...Greetings John,<br /><br />Thank you for your comment which I have forwarded to the BU Hon Sec. I omitted to cc you into the forwarded message at first but hope that you have now received the copy<br />with his email address.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-72430872723274986912010-09-25T22:28:21.718+01:002010-09-25T22:28:21.718+01:00Greetings
I had the privilege of being educated a...Greetings<br /><br />I had the privilege of being educated at Beaumont, somewhat unsuccessfully, from 1955 to 1960. I left the UK in 1963. <br /><br />My name is John Towsey, I have lived in Africa over the intervening years. Email is johnwt@johnwtowsey.co.za<br /><br />I rather lost touch but would much appreciate my name being forwarded to The BU Hon Sec, in like manner to others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-55494750054165135432010-06-16T18:37:45.089+01:002010-06-16T18:37:45.089+01:00Greetings anonymous
Thankyou for your post. Yo...Greetings anonymous<br /><br />Thankyou for your post. You probably left Beaumont a few years before I started.<br /><br />I have passed your comment onto the BU HonSecmaytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-63428668879377810832010-06-15T23:51:43.812+01:002010-06-15T23:51:43.812+01:00In the midst of an idle surf, I chanced upon this ...In the midst of an idle surf, I chanced upon this blog, and saw that names were sometimes forwarded to the BU Hon Sec. Perhaps you would add mine to the list. I was at Beaumont 1953-57, my brother Stephen with and after me (he also a St Johns boy) I am currently Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Professor of Early Christian Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC: so, a long history between now and 1957! Email: rousseau@cua.eduAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-45394938945662489392010-05-31T11:43:55.267+01:002010-05-31T11:43:55.267+01:00Hello again anonymous
Being aged 61, my first year...Hello again anonymous<br />Being aged 61, my first year at Beaumont may have coincided with your father's last year but there is another OB blogger who I will refer to your comments here in case he has any direct knowledge.<br />Meanwhile yr observations on the Beaumont's closure are interesting. The main reason I think was the reducing number of men joining the Society of Jesus as the fewer Jesuits the fewer schools etc they could run. <br /><br />Personally despite or maybe because of, having parents from London's East End I had a terrific and privileged time there though whether my older brother who might have been a contemporary of your own father would agree, is another matter. <br /><br />But the Catholic Church has imho moved on. The maytrees' sons both attended the local Catholic Jesuit Comprehensive school Wimbledon College, which did them v. well (so far). Even if Beaumont was open today I think they would still have attended Wimbledon College. Boarding was necessary for many service families like mine after WWII but no longer. <br /><br />Diversity in the UK extends or perhaps should do, to peoples of different incomes which schools like Beaumont are probably less likely to provide. I accept though that those who attend school like Beaumont might have a head start in careers etc as you only have to look at the current crop of UK cabinet ministers and MPs to see. Thus the Jesuit argument to the effect that having educated privileged people who end up in influential positions in society might mean that society will be more likely to be influenced for the good seems great in theory yet whether this applies in practice is difficult to discern.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-64538616216716599132010-05-30T16:45:06.978+01:002010-05-30T16:45:06.978+01:00Thank you for forwarding my note.
My father likes...Thank you for forwarding my note.<br /><br />My father likes to say that Beaumont was one of the premier schools in England during his day. (He is turning 67) Is there a reason why the school shut down, besides the one given on Wikipedia? It feels like Beaumont has a distingushed list of Alumni, so I find it quite surprising that noone came in and helped it from a financial stand point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32652391.post-87520425540542086782010-05-29T11:17:34.330+01:002010-05-29T11:17:34.330+01:00Greetings anon.
Thank you for your post which I ha...Greetings anon.<br />Thank you for your post which I have forwarded to the BU Hon Sec as requested. As my final year at Beaumont was the School's last year as well, possibly your father and I were there at the same time though I opted for rowing rather than cricket which from your comment I assume was his option.maytreeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718016285993243848noreply@blogger.com