Bromley Grammar School for Boys

Past Master: Henry Burgess Drake
Pictured (top right) as a schoolboy in the Eltham College 1912 Cricket Team. According to this fine tribute to Henry’s younger brother Eric by Chris Pigott, Henry Drake taught at Bromley County Grammar School (later renamed BGSfB) from 1930 “with time out during the War", indicating a return to the School post-WW2.

“Henry Burgess DRAKE, born in Tsien Ping, Shansi, on 14 April 1894, the birth registered at Chefoo [Consular Birth Index, Volume 9, page 285]; aged 6 in 1901; attended S.S.M. from 1902 to 1912; aged 16, at Eltham College, 1911. He enlisted as a Stretcher Bearer in the R.A.M.C. in 1915, and later transferred to the Royal Field Artillery, and returned to France. B.A. (First Class Honours in English), University College, London, 1920; Teacher's Diploma, 1921. Identified as the brother whom Eric would join in China in late 1944. For many years a teacher, initially with brother Eric back at Eltham (until 1927), and later, after a stint in Korea as an English Professor in a Japanese University, at Bromley County Grammar School (from 1930) with time out during the War, back in China (at Chanqing, then Xi'an), as a Major in the Intelligence Corps (he requested his brother Eric join him there in 1944), with a mission to recruit spies to pe*****te Japanese held territory. He died in September 1963, late of 7 London Road, Widley, near Gosport, Hampshire; he married Rene BOWKER in 1921, and they had 2 sons, who were his executors - Terence Theodore DRAKE, Lecturer, and Alan Reginald DRAKE, Scientist.”

Text: http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-tribute-to-eric-sowerby-drake.html?fbclid=IwAR1bOKG6Uzo7cl1GE6YU6nDufdJ5sldFK4jfHwdcGppIZvAPOpeZUaLiPU8_aem_Acao1ef8aMhnRzaz-BgFOsi3IcgOg9891VHL-6WqYVrQ7kwG1hi2kyV792Ip9P1Zl0V6yj4TTfJEkPSzsUcf8Chp

Photo: http://elthamiansarchive.net

Original Staff: The top photograph would have been taken sometime before early 1914 and was found on the Imperial War Museum’s ‘Lives of the First World War’ website in the file for Clifford George Grail, whereas the lower one appears in the school's 1961 50th anniversary brochure and is earlier - probably 1911. The postures of the three centrally seated: Crowe, Airy and Grail appear almost identical in both, and in the top picture, Be**er also takes his place in the front row, along with Crowe, Grail and, it’s thought, Bispham, as the founding four House Masters. Bartlett is thought to be the man in the top picture second from left in the back row and Cook the man fourth from left same row. The others would likely include Cheatle and Callender, who were also there immediately prior to WW1, making all eight of the original House Masters.

1963? Lower 6th

Richard Moore. R1 in 1961, left in 1967. Far left of the photo of my band.

I have been digitising some old slides and came across this one. R4 probably 1961 - Mr Kesteven on left. I am the one with the worst haircut ! We may all have had a copy. I seem happy enough having been told, in front of everyone, that I was bottom of the class and bottom in nearly every subject ! Other motivational approaches have superseded this but I did go on to get three good A levels. I can recognise most of the faces and a few of the names - but over to others.

Under 14 Cricket Eleven 1949

15 of 15 images provided by Alan Mallett (BGS 1946-54) and sent in by Max Batten (BGS 1959-64) who runs the website for the Bromley Borough Local History Society at www.bblhs.org.uk.
Thank you for these memories Alan and Max.

First Eleven Football 1953-54

14 of 15 images provided by Alan Mallett (BGS 1946-54) and sent in by Max Batten (BGS 1959-64) who runs the website for the Bromley Borough Local History Society at www.bblhs.org.uk.
Alan is in the team. Thanks for these memories Alan and Max.

First Eleven Football 1952-53

13 of 15 images provided by Alan Mallett (BGS 1946-54) and sent in by Max Batten (BGS 1959-64) who runs the website for the Bromley Borough Local History Society at www.bblhs.org.uk.
Thanks Alan and Max.

First Eleven Football 1951-52

12 of 15 images provided by Alan Mallett (BGS 1946-54) and sent in by Max Batten (BGS 1959-64) who runs the website for the Bromley Borough Local History Society at www.bblhs.org.uk.
Thanks Alan and Max.

First Eleven Cricket 1952

11 of 15 images provided by Alan Mallett (BGS 1946-54) and sent in by Max Batten (BGS 1959-64) who runs the website for the Bromley Borough Local History Society at www.bblhs.org.uk.
Alan is in the team. Thanks Alan and Max.