Old Boys

We would like to welcome all Old Boys to our website.

In the future this part of the website will develop and, amongst other things, a message board will be made available where contact details can be exchanged. We will also be highlighting forthcoming events for ex-pupils and there will be galleries of photos of past happenings.

We are very keen to enhance our links with Old Boys, so do drop us a line via the contact facility below and let us know your news.

Do, please, have a look at the Yardley Court Roll of Honour.

Latest News:

OBITUARY

BURNETT, BRIAN WALTER  MC died on 8th March 2009 aged 88.  After a successful time at the school, marked by quickness of mind and foot, he won a scholarship to Tonbridge School, and later went up to King’s Cambridge with a classical scholarship.  His university career included a five year  interregnum, during which time he saw active service in Iraq, Egypt and Sicily, landing on D-day on Gold Beach. He returned to Cambridge after the war to read economics, after which he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple, and began his company’s career with Associated Electrical Industries. During a posting to Switzerland he was a prime mover in setting up the Zurich International School, which later grew to include 700 pupils. He was later appointed as Group secretary of the Sedgwick group of Lloyd’s and international insurance brokers.

Dates at Yardley Court: 1928 (?) - 34
Brother of  M. G. Burnett ( 1930 – 36)
Father of  P. A. B. Burnett (1965 - 70)

All good wishes to Yardley Court,

Paul Burnett.

Letter from Tony Iggulden who attended Yardley Court in the 1940s:

My Dear Headmaster

Never have I seen such an excellent prospectus as yours- I thank you, I have read it from cover to cover. I see New Beacon are still a main rival on the sports side.
How nice to see the class photographs, my little boys in the same blazers I wore 70 years ago and the young ladies look so good in their uniforms, they all look, as should be, so happy.
In my first letter I told you about YC in the war, yet there is so much more to tell. Did you know that two bombs fell on the front fields; one on the first XI pitch and another nearer the school, another in Yardley Park Road and demolished Doctor Cooper’s house.
If you would like me to jump on a train and come to Tonbridge and tell your senior boys and girls about not only YC in the war but the Battle of Britain fought overhead and rationing; 2 ounces of sweets a week and one egg etc and that when I was eight years old my mother gave me this long yellow thing to eat I said “Its too hard” “You have to peel it, it’s a banana” never seen one before.
Before I bore you more, I must tell you about a ‘boy’ I met at T.S. (Tonbridge School)- now 81 as fit as a fiddle. His name is Ian Aplin, one year about 1940 he not only won every cup for his age but in the long jump he jumped over the pit onto the grass, a school record does it stills stand? He was selected to jump for G.B. in the Rome Olympic Games but too busy training to be a doctor.
Again thank you for your time to write such a kind letter. I was sad to hear about my dear friend Michael Bickmore, the thing about old age is memory and every day since your letter I have thought about him, such a wonderful man and a good friend.
Had a full medical last year and was told I had the body and brain of a man of 55.
If you would like me to pop in and talk to your boys and girls, I would be very happy as I believe in making history interesting and after all I can tell them living history and some amusing parts of it. If you are interested I would be pleased to come.
Great minds think a like I like what you give the Mark Iggulden Cup for, when we gave it, it was for the under 8 egg and spoon race with the same idea as you, the wish to do even better so kind of you to write.

Evers Yours
Tony
(A.N. Iggulden BA)
Rtd Major Rtd Headmaster
God Bless you and the school.