OB Day 2024 archive display

Warm with Brecon sunshine that brightened the spirits, OB Day 2024 was much enjoyed by all who attended. With hearts full of song from the morning’s chapel, OBs and their guests enjoyed drinks in the Neaudd and lunch in the Dining Hall before discovering more on the ‘menu’ in the Clive Richards Room where carefully chosen items from the Archive were on display.

Similar in format to previous ‘expos’, this year’s Archive display placed natural emphasis on the Pavilion in its centenary year. The Pavilion ‘100th birthday’ display shared more of the Pavilion’s past as well as the story of a current initiative undertaken by the Middle School to engage their peers in the building’s importance.

With the Pavilion behind and a match in full swing, we took the opportunity for one of the initiative leaders to meet Peter J Owen (School House 1953-58), who many will remember did such good work to save the Pavilion in the 1990s. Their immediate connection was a joy to behold. You can read more of their story here.

As well as a full range of printed House and team photographs, also on display was a slideshow of team photographs of the XI from 1924 onwards and other photographs of the Pavilion, including the team boards which line its walls and which were photographed recently by Paul K Edgley for us. 

A second slideshow in the Clive Richards room highlighted Drama and other activties, interspersed with informal photographs. Devised to include all our OB guests, the range of photos always astounds. Covering the 1940s, the 1950s the 1960s and now touching the 1970s, the sequence reveals changes to life in school through changes to uniform, poses and hairstyles. 

This year’s star was Martin E F Vicary (SHR 1966-72). With a camera he recently donated to the archive, Martin gamely re-enacted a photograph he took fifty years ago. He has also donated a collection of photographs taken while at school. The Collection is one of the most important in the Archive, not just because of the quantity and quality of the photographs but also because they show a range of activities seen from the point of view a pupil rather than through the eyes of a professional photographer. We are very grateful to Martin for donating such an important collection.

Photo: FK for Christ College. 

Also on display were other photographs, similarly taken by pupils during the decades of the 20th century. Votes were placed by guests to indicate the one that most evoked its era. One that captured the imagination was taken on Brecon Golf Course. Said to have been taken on the 8th green in 1958, it could have been taken in any era. Smoking paraphenalia aside, it is a happy reminder that fundamental aspects of school life change less than we assume.

From the P J Owen Collection. Christ College Archive. 

Arriving with OBs this year were several new donations of particular value: including XV socks and an unusual OBA scarf worn by Peter J Owen (School House 1953-57), and a carefully kept striped school blazer worn by Tom D C Lloyd (SHR 1956-61). David J W Gibbens (SHR 1961-63) brought along a Book of Common Prayer and a Bible, which he explained was a requirement on the school clothing list but which he never opened. We suspect his copies may not be the only ones that remained unthumbed. What do you think?

The artefacts on display were much enjoyed by all, and the chance to share memories sparked conversations that brought to life items that spend most of their time in carefully packed boxes. We are always looking for more items that relate directly to school life of any era, and we appreciate the trust that OBs and their families place on us when they donate precious possessions. 

Let us know in the Comments if you have a story to share. If you have a longer story to tell or would like to donate something to the Archive collection, contact Felicity. She would love to hear from you.