Come back for items 16-20!
To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the School, Archives Assistant, Jemima Hegerty-Ward and Communications Manager, Bonnie Robinson, took a deep dive into the Archive to find some of their favourite items from over the School’s History. With thanks to Archivist Chris Nathan for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Archive and his endless patience!
Part 3: Items 11-15
Item 11: Account books dating from 1941.
These books give a fascinating insight into the gallons of cream and hundreds of buns devoured by the school population at the time!
Item 12: A hand-drawn bumpers card dating from 1941.
The School’s bumpers races were a much-anticipated annual event, held in early spring. ‘Bumps’ races still take place at Oxford University today and involve a number of boats chasing each other in single file, in an attempt to ‘catch’ the one ahead. If successful, the bumping crew moves up one place at the expense of the bumped crew. Teddies bumpers races took place from 1920 – 1971 - the whole School would line the banks of the river on Port Meadow each evening and cheer their sides on.
Item 13: John Millington Sing, the Warden of the School from 1904 - 1913 received and replied to hundreds of letters from OSE during the First World War.
This selection shows a Christmas card from 1918, a heavily censored letter from a prisoner of war in Turkey, and a black-edged letter from the widow of an OSE.
Item 14: A 1980s St Edward’s sweatshirt.
The Cup and Dagger logo can be seen proudly screen-printed in gold.
Item 15: The Register showing the enrolment of Laurence Olivier in Michaelmas 1921.
At this time, the profession of each pupil’s father was recorded – GK Olivier was a priest. The school was originally established to educate the sons of clergymen. Below is a photograph of Olivier in the School choir.
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