Robin Mitchell (BG 63-69) and Nick Bagshawe (BG 63-68) share memoir of their school days at Bilton Grange.

Biltonians, Robin Mitchell (BG 63-69) and Nick Bagshawe (BG 63-68), from the final years of Mr Machin’s time have combined to produce a fascinating memoir of those days, which will be of considerable interest to anyone who was there under Mr Machin, or to those who would like to know what it was like then. The book will be launched at the London Drinks, where copies may be purchased. Robin and Nick will be present and available to rekindle memories with contemporaries.

Unlike many memoirs published about prep schools in the 1960s, this one does not paint a uniformly gloomy picture but instead presents a rounded view of school life in what was, for its time, a first-class school. The book covers starting at school, food, lessons, sport, activities and crazes, Scouts, matrons, the Gilbert and Sullivan productions, contact with home, and discipline. It also gives the authors’ views on a number of masters, including such arcane sports as Kipper Baiting.

Robin Mitchell comments:
“As an OB myself, albeit from a few years later, I found it very engaging, and I do encourage any of you who were there under Mr Machin to come to the launch at the London Drinks and enjoy a good reminisce.”

If you cannot make the Drinks, you will be able to order a copy via a link which will be circulated afterwards. The price of the book is £15, and all proceeds will go to the Earle Fund.

To sign up to the London Drinks event, please click here.