The Society of Old Brentwoods

Although "those Gentlemen that have formerly been at that school" were invited to attend the School Feasts held at The Clothmakers' Hall in Mincing Lane between 1682 and 1685 and that, through the efforts of William Quennell, O.B. and Second Master at the time, there was an Old Brentwoods Chapel Service, a football match against the School and a Dinner at The White Hart, Brentwood (now the Sugar Hut) in 1868, it was not until 1899 that the Society of Old Brentwoods was formed.

The then Headmaster, Edwin Bean, and his son, Charles, along with Quennell who, by then , having served as Headmaster, was the Chairman of the Governors, were the prime movers in establishing the Society. Life membership was offered at a cost of half a guinea, an annual or biennial Dinner was to be organised and an Old Boys' column would appear in the Brentwoodian to keep members informed of what was happening.

The Rev. Cannon Quennell was appointed the first President at a meeting held on 15th. September, 1899 and C. E. W. Bean was the first Honorary Secretary. The first rule of the Society established its object as being: "to afford opportunities to members of meeting at regular intervals to keep members in touch with one and other and with the School ... and to promote the interests of the School."

Robert T. D. Stoneham became Secretary in 1905 and his enthusiasm and hard work ensured the success of the fledgling Society. Under Stoneham, Society members made a significant contribution to the building of the new Main School building, a precedent to the Old Brentwoods' support for subsequent building appeals and, in particular, for the Old Brentwoods' Memorial Appeals resulting in the Memorial Hall after the 1st. World War and the Pavilion and Chapel Memorial after the 1939-45 conflict.

In 1904 cricket fixtures had been arranged and in 1905 the Old Brentwoods Cricket Club was formed under the Presidency of Charles Kortright, O. B., captain of Essex and reputedly the fastest bowler of his time. In 1906, Stoneham, in addition to being Society Secretary, was also the Secretary of Brentwood Rovers Football Club, which included many Old Brentwood players. His efforts saw the amalgamation with the Brentwood Alumni F. C. - a club consisting entirely of Old Brentwoods - to form a side to play in the Arthur Dunn Cup competition.

Both Cricket and Football Clubs went into decline in 1913 and the advent of the 1st. World War meant they ceased to exist. In 1920, however, the Football club was re-established, thanks to the efforts of Secretary, Harold Parrish, but the Cricket Club was restricted to an annual match against the School, together with "Home Week" - six one-day games preceding August Bank Holiday, with many non-local Old Brentwoods sleeping in School House dormitory, thanks to Headmaster, J. F. Hough. The problem facing the Cricket Club, and one that still applies today, was the number of Old Brentwoods who preferred to play for Brentwood C. C. and in 1929 it was decided to concentrate on an annual tour - to become the Bunglers' Tour in 1947.

The Old Brentwoods Athletic Club was formed in 1927, the Old Brentwoods Golfing Society in 1931 along with a Tennis Club which, in 1934, became the Old Brentwoods Lawn Tennis and Squash Rackets Club.

This growth in Old Brentwoods' sporting activities required a clubhouse and grounds and, thanks to Headmaster, James Fisher Hough, what was to become the Burland Road ground was purchased. While the O. B. Football Club played on their own ground for the first time in 1939, the ground was acquired by Brentwood Urban District Council during the War and not returned to the Old Brentwoods until 1952. A new clubhouse was opened in 1954 and, as the ground provided a cricket square as well as two football pitches, the Old Brentwoods C. C. was re-established, with their opening game against an Essex XI being played in 1955.

The Old Brentwoods Rugby Club was formed in 1967, playing away games on Sundays for the first three seasons but then moving to a full fixture list for two sides on Saturdays in 1970. With the Rugby Club playing on Jim McTurk's "cow-patch" and then moving, via Queen Elizabeth College, to the council pitch at Bishops Hall, the demand on the Society's facilities, combining with the likelihood of a re-development of Brentwood town centre, meant that it was decided to sell the Burland Road ground in 1975 and look for a new headquarters for the Old Brentwoods.

Sporting activities were moved to the Essex Water Company's ground in Kenilworth Ave., Harold Park for two years while the Society sought a suitable ground for purchase. Following ministerial enquiry, permission was granted to build the Aswells Road ground at Bentley and the Clubhouse, including squash courts, with its 22 acre grounds providing for Football, Cricket and Rugby was opened in June 1978. Tennis courts were built in the early eighties as a result of the fund raising drive led by Peter Griffiths, President in 1982, and the Clubhouse has benefited from the generous legacy left by Joe Hodgson (Master: 1934-74; President:1979)

The 30th. anniversary of the Ashwells Rd. ground was celebrated in September, 2008 and recent re-furbishment means that the clubhouse continues to provide excellent sporting facilities in addition to a well appointed clubhouse for the benefit of past pupils. The changing nature of society in general and of the pupil intake of Brentwood School in particular, does, however, provide a challenge for the Old Brentwoods Society and its headquarters. Fewer past pupils exercise their entitlement to become members of the Old Brentwoods once their initial period of membership has lapsed. Consequently the usage of the Old Brentwoods Clubhouse has also lessened.

It is the hope that the Society web-site is one means of encouraging Old Brentwoods to become active members of the Society and thereby to ensure that the work of those many members who have enabled the Society to grow from its tentative beginnings in 1899, is continued to the benefit of the School and those educated there throughout the 21st. century.

Inevitably the "potted history" of the Society above, centres around the "bricks and mortar" issues since our formation in 1899. Other aspects of the Society, however, deserve mention here, with further details being available elsewhere on the site.

The Chronicle is the publication of the Society and was first published in December 1906 as "The Chronicle of the Old Boys of Sir Anthony Browne's School, Brentwood". During the 1st. World War, publication was suspended and news of Old Brentwoods reverted to being published in the Brentwoodian. The Chronicle was re-established in 1926 and, while the format and publishing schedules have changed over the years, it has been published at least once a year since then. Thanks are due to all the Editors over the years but Mike King - Editor for 15 years between 1981 and 1996, following a nine year stint as Society Secretary - deserves particular mention.

The current Chronicle is an excellently produced, colour, glossy magazine which under Editor, Martin Rowland, carries an increasing number of photos. and news from the School, along with articles from Old Brentwoods near and far. While reports from the Society Committee and its member clubs feature, the aim of the Chronicle is to maintain communication with Old Brentwoods who may no longer be in the area or in contact with their peers.

The Chronicle is sent to all paid up members of the Society and it is regrettable that too many members who do not renew their subscription and/or do not inform the Registrar of address changes, no longer receive their copy of the magazine.

This situation, along with financial considerations, may mean that the Chronicle will return to being an annual publication, although it is hoped that communication with members can be enhanced by greater use of e-mail and the Society's web-site.

The Annual General Meeting of the Society is held in September as part of Old Brentwoods Day. All Old Brentwoods are encouraged to attend; indeed the A.G.M. is a part of an enjoyable weekend focused around the Society and the School. Friday sees the outgoing President's last function, The President's Cocktail Party held at the Clubhouse. The A.G.M. is held at mid-day on the following Saturday, in Old Big School, but before that, school tours are organised to enable former pupils to re-trace the steps of their schooldays while catching up on the developments at the School since then. Following the A.G.M., the Headmaster hosts a buffet lunch in Roden House garden and various sporting activities are organised in the afternoon both at the School and at Ashwells Rd.

The first Old Brentwoods Annual Dinner was held in 1900 at the Holborn Restaurant, London, when 31 members dined at a cost of five shillings (25p), excluding wine. The Dinner continued to be held at various venues in London until 1980 when the decision was taken to move it to the School. The Dinner is held at the end of the Lent term and, as the School can only accommodate 150 diners, members are advised to book early. (see web site page).

The Old Brentwoods Masonic Lodge was formed in 1932 with its first Regular Meeting being held in the Bean Library in July of that year. The Lodge is a London Lodge but the tradition of holding its July meeting at the School continues to today.

The normal meeting place of the Lodge was, at first, the Cannon Street Restaurant but, from 1934 and thereafter, it became Freemasons' Hall in Great Queen Street. The Summer meeting moved from the Bean Library, where a stained glass medallion depicting the badge of the Lodge can still be seen today, to Old Big School and then ,in 1958 to the Memorial Hall. In 1951 the Old Brentwoods Chapter was formed and consecrated. In 1947 the Old Brentwoods Lodge was involved in discussions that led to the formation of the Federation of School Lodges with our Lodge being a founder member. In 2007 the Lodge hosted the Diamond Jubilee Meeting of the F.S.L. in its 75th. anniversary year.