Notable former pupils of Bromsgrove School

Notable former pupils of Bromsgrove School

Bromsgrove School, one of the UK's best independent schools, has educated many pupils who have gone on to achieve great things as adults. Perhaps the most notable is the poet and Classical scholar, A.E. Housman. He attended Bromsgrove in the late 1800s and won prizes for his poetry. Housman went on to study at St John's College, Oxford and later became a professor at University College, London and then Cambridge. He is best known for his cycle of poems, 'A Shropshire Lad', but he is also highly respected as a Classicist, in particular for his translations of the work of several Latin poets. Today, the school commemorates him in the names of the Housman Room and Housman Hall, which was once his family home and is now a sixth form boarding house.

In more recent years, the most distinguished of all former pupils is Michael Heseltine, Deputy Prime Minister under Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s. Although only a pupil at Bromsgrove for a short period during the school's exile to Wales, he spoke at the Second Foundation Lecture of the Bromsgrove School Foundation in November 2010.

Bromsgrove School has long been home to a thriving arts scene and there are several former pupils who have successfully entered the world of showbiz. Ian Carmichael and Trevor Eve both attended RADA after leaving Bromsgrove and went on to enjoy long and successful careers in television, stage and film. Eve continues to appear regularly on the small screen and has also played roles in Hollywood films, including 2004's 'Troy'.

A crop of more recent Old Bromsgrovians have also enjoyed success in the arts, including Arthur Darvill, who recently played Rory in the television series Dr Who; Charlie Clemmow, who has a recurring role in the daytime soap Doctors; Ritchie Neville, member of late 90s pop band 5ive; and Fyfe Dangerfield, who has achieved critical acclaim as the frontman of indie band The Guillemots and as a solo artist. His cover of Billy Joel's 'She's Always a Woman', which featured on a hugely popular John Lewis advert, propelled him into more mainstream popularity. All four were very involved in music and drama while at school and trod the boards of Routh Hall stage as pupils.

Many Bromsgrovians go on to enter the world of business and there are two former pupils in particular who have achieved huge success commercially. Sir David Arculus managed the sale of telecoms company O2 to Telefonica in 2006, for a staggering 18billion. This is the largest cash deal ever completed in Europe. Lord Digby Jones achieved great success in the business world and has held several advisory roles in government.

Bromsgrove has a proud sporting history and many pupils continue to play their chosen sport at a high level after leaving school. Recent rugby successes include Andy Goode, Ben Foden and Matt Mullan, all of whom have represented England.

Many Bromsgrove pupils have links with the military and the Memorial Chapel is a lasting commemoration of those former pupils who died for their country. Five former pupils won the Victoria Cross and one the George Cross. Rear Admiral Sir David Haslam enjoyed an impressive naval career and was extremely well-respected as a hydrographer. He remained a close friend of the school until his death in 2009.

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