So what of the past? What were the milestones in those early years? How is Buckingham College remembered? Here are a few highlights.
15th September 1936 – six boys receive private tuition from Henry Price-Hodges in a rented room a stone’s throw away from Hindes Road.
10th January 1937 – 36 boys are now on the school roll and for the first time in Hindes Road. Amongst them Brian Atkins who 16 years later would be awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the Korean War.
June 1939 - the yard is laid out as an outdoor theatre.
September 1939 – due to evacuation, student numbers drop from 83 to 27 boys.
1941 – The Queen of Albania visits the school and presents a silver rose bowl where the flowers sit this evening.
1943 – The aircraft propeller that graces the school hall is presented to the school by a grateful parent.
1944 – The guests at the school’s eighth speech day include Lady Louis Mountbatten, Mrs Moseley, Mrs Attlee (the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister) and Dame Sybil Thorndike.
1954 – John Edis – becomes Headmaster and Vice Principal of Buckingham College School at the tender age of 28.
A year later, E Ivor Hughes – Principal and Warden of Buckingham College from 1954 to 1984, after whom the Foundation is named, wrote these words:
“It is for the teachers to build on the work begun at home. That is to add academic knowledge to a young man .. to laugh with him when he is happy, console him when he is sad, to give him the chance of education, not in book learning alone, but in the art of living a full and useful life.”
At the time of Buckingham College’s 25th birthday, in the academic year 1961-62, Ivor added: “One of the main principles for which this School has always fought is an attitude of pride in courtesy and the inherent pride the dignity and sanctity of the human being.”
Twenty five years on, the words have a fresh relevance in the school’s 75th anniversary year.
Long live Buckingham College.