Who are we?

The Old Bradfordians Club (London) – referred to as the ‘London Club’ – is the only alumni association of a non-London school to have such a well-established presence in the capital. We have been here since 1896, when the Club was founded by A.C.R. Carter – an Old Bradfordian (OB) originally from Great Horton, who later became a senior civil servant, and an art critic. He and a group of fellow OBs, who were working in London during the week and often commuting back to Bradford and the West Riding (as it then was) for the weekend, established a social club to bring them together to enjoy each others’ fellowship. Since 1913, we have been incorporated as a private company without share capital, limited by guarantee. The London Club is totally separate from the Old Bradfordians Association (OBA), based at the school. Membership of the OBA does not automatically entail membership of the London Club.

What are our aims?

We seek to provide a forum for male and female OBs of all ages, based in London and the South East, to meet, mingle and converse face-to-face about careers, adventures, travels, interests and hobbies, and the social, cultural and sporting opportunities in the region, and our shared background through their connection with the School and Yorkshire. We aspire to be the obvious point of contact for OBs coming to London and the South East for tertiary education, a first job, or a subsequent career move.

Keeping in touch with friends, contemporaries and acquaintances is easy courtesy of social media, but it does not readily identify OBs from a different generation, who might be able to help you get the most, professionally and socially, out of your time in the capital. Alternatively, you might be an OB who is well-established in your career and have made London or the South-East your home. Why not enjoy sharing your knowledge and experience, and make a valuable difference to other OBs? In both cases there is a great benefit for all who are connected with Bradford Grammar School by being an active member of the London Club.

Some boring but important bits

Please read the Articles of Association and the privacy notice of the Old Bradfordians Club (London) Ltd.

Join Us!

We are always delighted to welcome new members, as well as returning ones who haven’t been in touch for a while. For more information, membership details, or to attend a first end-of-month dinner (free to first time attendees, and free thereafter to under 25s), please contact the London Club via [email protected].

Whether you left the School last year, last decade or last century, come and join Old Bradfordians in the capital.

Hoc Age – Do it now!

Mark Lawrence
President
Old Bradfordians Club (London) Ltd

What do we do?

Each year we arrange:

• End-of-month dinners (the last Tuesday in February, June, September and October) at the Union Jack Club, near Waterloo Station;
• Several informal drinks events throughout the year to celebrate aspects of the London Club, the School and Yorkshire, which enable time-pressed OBs to arrive and leave whenever it suits them;
• A formal annual dinner at the Carlton Club in November;
• Sponsorship of an annual rugby match, played in December under floodlights at Blackheath rugby club, between Bradford Grammar School and Colfe’s School (from Lee in SE London), which draws a good crowd of OB spectators, who have celebrated BGS wins in the first two annual matches afterwards in the clubhouse.

We also undertake:

• Some educational philanthropy: contributions to the school’s Assisted Places Awards (through the Sixth Form Scholarship and the Robert Miura Bursary Fund); and the Drummond Trust Studentship Award for career development;
• Sponsorship of kit for some of the school’s teams and the Old Bradfordians’ rugby team;
• Sponsorship of an annual sports award for each of the seven year groups of the senior school, presented at Speech Day in June;
• Sponsorship of the biennial Sixth Form Art exhibition.