The following is a list of some notable Old Bedford Modernians who are former pupils of Bedford Modern School in Bedford, England. At the school, alumni are known as OBMs.Underwood, p. 109 The Old Bedford Modernians' Club was founded in 1892.
Academia
Sir William Augustus Tilden FRS (1842–1926), Chemist & Dean, Royal College of Science, LondonUnderwood, p. 258 Professor Joseph Reynolds Green FRS FLS (1848–1914), Professor of Botany to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great BritainThe Eagle, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, Vol. III (1888), p. 243The Eagle, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, Vol. XXVII, no. 2 (1949), p. 135 Professor William Hillhouse FLS (1850–1910), first Professor of Botany at the University of Birmingham Edward Mann Langley (1851–1933), founded the Mathematical Gazette, created Langley's Adventitious AnglesObituary: Edward Mann Langley, by E. T. Bell and J. P. Kirkman, The Mathematical Gazette Vol. 17, No. 225 (Oct., 1933), pp. 225-229 William Robert Bousfield FRS (1854–1943), chemist Professor John Holland Rose FBA (1855–1942), Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History, University of Cambridge George Charles Crick FGS FRGS FZS (1856–1917), geologist, authority on Cephalopoda, 1st Assistant at the Natural History Museum Arthur John Pressland FRSE (1865–1934), educational theorist, linguist, schoolmaster and writerGodber, p. 167 George James Gibbs FRAS (1866–1947), astronomer, engineer, inventor and public science lecturer Professor Richard John Durley MBE (1868–1948), Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University (1901–12)Obituary in The Gazette, R.J. DURLEY M.B.E., DIES IN 81st YEAR - Former McGill Professor of Mechanical Engineering Was Widely Known, p. 3 Edward Augustine Lowe Laxton MBE (1869–1951), expert on fruit production (Laxton's Superb) Professor Henry Payne FRAeS M.Inst.C.E. (1871–1945), Professor of Engineering at the University of MelbournePayne, Henry (1871–1945), National Centre of Biography, Australian National University Jannion Steele Elliott (1871–1942), ornithologistVipan, p. 37 Dr Eric Temple Bell (1883–1960), mathematician who specialised in number theory and formulated the Bell series Sir Charles Oatley OBE FRS FREng (1904–1996), pioneered the development of the scanning electron microscope Dr. G. C. Dunning D.Lit FSA (1905–1978), pioneering medieval archaeologist, authority on Anglo-Saxon and medieval ceramicsObituary in The Times, Dr. G.C. Dunning, Work on Medieval Pottery, 28 April 1978, p. 18A.Underwood, School of the Black and Red. A history of Bedford Modern School (Bedford, 2010 edn.), p. 130 Professor William Francis Grimes CBE (1905–1988), Professor of Archaeology, University of London (1956–1973) Reverend Francis MacCarthy Willis Bund (1906–1980), Chaplain, Dean and Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford Dr D. C. Riddy CBE (1907–1979), Controller-General of the Education Branch, Control Commission for German – British Element F. G. Emmison MBE FSA FRHistS (1907–1995), archivist, author and historian Professor John Roach (1920–2015), historian Professor Ramsay Shearman DSc FReng FIET FRMetS FIEEE (1924–2019), pioneer in shortwave radio and radar Professor Brian Glüss FRSS (1930–2013), statistician, mathematician, systems engineer, author and expert on survivor guiltObituary, Dr Brian Glüss, Eagle News, The Magazine of the Old Bedford Modernians' Club, New Series, Volume 6, Number 3 (Issue 110), January 2015 Professor John Richard Anthony Pearson FRS FIMMM MIChemE (born 1930), pioneer in fluid mechanics Professor David John Bartholomew FBA (1931–2017), Professor of Statistics at the LSE (1973–96)Underwood, p. 259 Professor Philip Bean (born 1936), Professor of Criminology at Loughborough University, former President of the British Soc. of Criminology Professor George Richard Pickett FRS (1939–2024), Professor of Low Temperature Physics at Lancaster UniversitySchool of the Black and Red-A History of Bedford Modern School, by Andrew Underwood (1981) ; reset and updated by Boon, Middleton and Wildman, 2010 Professor Sid Gray PhD FASSA FCCA (born 1942), Professor at the University of Sydney Business School Professor Richard Hugh Britnell FBA (1944–2013), Professor of History at Durham University Sir Peter Knight FRS (born 1947), Professor of quantum optics at Imperial College London Professor Stephen Wildman (born 1951), Professor of the History of Art at Lancaster University Dr. Roger Geoffrey Clarke (1952–2007), ornithologist, world authority on harriers and other birds of preyObituary in The Times, 13 February 2007 Professor Barry H.V. Topping MBCS MICE MIStructE MIMechE FIMA (born 1952), authority and author on computational mechanics Professor Stephen Taylor (born 1953), Professor of Finance at Lancaster University Professor Richard Charles Murray Janko (born 1955), Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Michigan Professor Brian Derby FIMMM (born 1956), Professor of Materials science at Manchester University Professor Gavin D'Costa (born 1958), Professor in Catholic Theology at the University of BristolEagle News, The Magazine of Old Bedford Modernians, Number 53, Summer 1986, p. 14 Professor Tom Inns (born 1965), Director of Glasgow School of Art (2013–2018) Professor Nick Groom FRSA (born 1966), Professor of English Literature at the University of Macau and author Professor Tony Claydon (born 1967), Professor of Early Modern History at Bangor University, Wales Dr Peter David Wothers MBE FRSC (born 1969), chemist and Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Professor Ben McFarlane (born 1976), Professor of English Law at the University of OxfordEagle News, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, Summer 2019 p. 35
Actors, directors and entertainers
E. E. Blake (1879–1961), pioneering exhibitor of motion pictures and owner of cinemasObituary, Mr. Ernest Blake, The Times, 18 July 1961, p. 15 Harrish Ingraham (1881–?), Hollywood film director, writer and actor in the era of silent movies Gillie Potter (1887–1975), comedian and broadcasterObituary in The Times, MR GILLIE POTTER, Comedian of an individual nature, 5 March 1975, p. 16 Reginald Berkeley (1890–1935), playwright and screenwriter in Hollywood (Cavalcade, The World Moves On) Robert Luff CBE (1914–2009), theatrical agent and producer (The Black and White Minstrel Show)Underwood, p. 260 Derek Scott (1921–2006), double act (with Terry-Thomas and Tony Hancock) and music director (The Muppet Show) David Tringham (1935–2022), film director (Lawrence of Arabia, Highlander, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) Hugh Armstrong (1944-2016), actor (How to Get Ahead in Advertising, Death Line)Obituary in Eagle News, The Magazine of the Old Bedford Modernians' Club, Issue 113, Summer 2016, p. 24 David Firth (born 1945), actor (Casualty, Midsomer Murders), screenwriter (Home James!), singer (original cast of Phantom of the Opera) John Sessions (1953–2020), actor (Gangs of New York, The Iron Lady, Filth), comedian and broadcaster (QI)Obituary in The Times, 3 November 2020 Julian Hector (born 1960), head of the BBC Natural History Unit Saul Nassé (born 1965), producer for the BBC (Tomorrow's World)Millennium Eagle, Magazine of Bedford Modern School, Winter 1999, reprinted (with amendments) August 2004, p. 42 Russell Barnes (born 1968), television producer (The Enemies of Reason, The Genius of Charles Darwin) David Jubb (born 1970), theatre director and chief executive of the Battersea Arts CentreWho's Who, Published by A & C Black, 2020, online edition Jim Threapleton (born 1973), painter and film directorBedfordshire Times Friday 14 August 1992, page 28 Russell Howard (born 1980), comedian and presenter (Russell Howard's Good News) Leon Parris (born 1981), writer, composer, musician and actor (Wolfboy) Jeremy Irvine (born 1990), UK and Hollywood actor (War Horse, Now Is Good, Great Expectations, The Railway Man) Sope Dirisu (born 1991), stage, television and film actor Suhani Gandhi (born 1994), model and actress
Adventurers, aviators, exiles and prisoners of war
John Percy Farrar DSO FGS (1857–1929), mountaineer, President of the Alpine Club, Member of the Mount Everest CommitteeObituary in the Bedfordshire Times, 22 February 1929, p. 9Obituary in The Times, Captain J.P. Farrar, 22 February 1929, p. 9 Sir Reginald Wolseley, 10th Baronet (1872–1933), dubbed the elevator baronetVipan, p. 137Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes, Published 1928, p. 1805 Captain and Bimbashi Henry Haymes SBStJ MRCS LRCP (1872–1904), surgeon, an original explorer of the Bahr-el-GhazalVipan, p. 56 George E.M. Kelly (1878–1911), early aviator in the Aeronautical Division, US Signal CorpsThe Eagle, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, vol. 13, no. 8, July 1918, pp. 168-9 Captain Aeneas Lionel Acton Mackintosh (1879–1916), Antarctic explorer, commander of the Ross Sea party expedition W.A.B. Goodall (1880–1941), castaway, described as 'the ruler of the world's tiniest kingdom': Pulau Sarimbun, Straits of JohoreVipan, p. 47 Duncan Mackintosh, 31st Chattan (1884–1966), 31st Chief of Clan Chattan (1942–66)Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003 Wilfrid Thomas Reid FRAeS (1887–1968), aircraft designer and pioneer of the Canadian aircraft industryGodber, p. 181 P.C.B. Newington (1888–1964), author of a cookbook celebrating Malaysian food, conceived while starving as a prisoner of war Frederick Williamson CIE (1891–1935), explorer, founder member of the Himalayan ClubUnderwood, p. 257 Captain Richard 'Dick' Howe MBE MC (1916–1981), Escape Officer at Colditz Castle during World War II (1942–1945)Obituary in The Times, Captain Richard Howe, 4 June 1981, p. 16 Desmond 'Dizzy' de Villiers AFC (1922–1976), chief test pilot at de Havilland and English Electric
Architecture, art and design
Josiah Conder (1852–1920), architect who designed the Rokumeikan and other public buildings in Tokyo Henry John Sylvester Stannard RBA FRSA (1870–1951), watercolour artist Sydney Morgan Eveleigh (1870-1947), architect in VancouverVipan, p. 38 Major Hugh Patrick Guarin Maule DSO MC FRIBA (1873–1940), architect (Royal Veterinary College in London) George Loraine Stampa (1875–1951), artist, contributor to Punch and other illustrated papers and magazinesObituary in The Times, Mr. G.L. Stampa, 28 May 1951, p. 6 Walter Stonebridge FRIBA (1879–1962), Diocesan Architect for Ely, St Albans and Bedford Algernon Winter Rose MC (1885–1918), architect Kenneth Alexander (1887–1975), photographer for United Artists, Samuel Goldwyn Productions and 20th Century StudiosMen Of Hawaii, Being A Biographical Reference Library, Complete and Authentic, Of The Men Of Note And Substantial Achievement In The Hawaiian Islands, Volume I. Honolulu Star-Bulletin Limited, 1917, pp. 17-18 Robert Tor Russell CIE DSO (1888–1972), Chief Architect to the Government of IndiaThe Eagle, The Magazine of Bedford Modern School, Vol. XIII no. 4, March 1917, p. 64 Thomas Francis Ford FRIBA (1891–1971), Diocesan Architect for Southwark and a translator of the New Testament Alexander Girard (1907–1993), textile designer and interior architectEagle News, The Magazine of the Old Bedford Modernians' Club, Issue 114, Winter 2016/17 Victor Farrar RIBA PPFAS FRSA (1930–2007), architect Dennis Sharp (1933–2010), architect, professor, curator, historian, author and editor Peter Forster (1935–2021), wood engraverObituary in The Guardian, Peter Forster, 31 March 2021 Steve Gibbons (born 1956), graphic designer Alex Chinneck MRSS (born 1984), installation artist
Armed forces
Air Force Wing Commander George Marshall Griffith (1877–1946), Commandant of the Royal Flying Corps in India Brigadier-General Percy Robert Clifford Groves CB CMG DSO (1878–1959), Air StrategistUnderwood, p. 256.