The head of the Royal Navy has supported a new project to honour boarding school pupils and staff worldwide who lost their lives in conflict.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key is an Honorary Patron of The Boarding School Book of Remembrance, a unique on-line archive being launched by the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA).
“I am delighted to support The Boarding School Book of Remembrance and to be an Honorary Patron,” said Sir Ben, a former boarder at Bromsgrove School.
“This Book recognises and pays tribute to all those connected with boarding schools who, for centuries, have served their nations with great courage and selfless commitment, and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
The Boarding School Book of Remembrance will formally launch in November 2025 to mark the BSA’s 60th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
In partnership with archive specialists SDS Group, The Boarding School Book of Remembrance will give boarding schools their own tab where they can submit their own roll of honour.
Historians Sir Anthony Seldon, Headmaster of Epsom College, and Geoffrey Fremont-Barnes from Sandhurst have agreed to be military advisors for the project, and the Australian Boarding Schools Association is an official partner. Tim Butcher, journalist and military historian, joins as a historical advisor.
Joining Sir Ben as Honorary Patrons are:
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, KCB, CBE, former Commander-in-Chief, Air Command, Royal Air Force (Stamford School)
- Lord Hutton, military historian and former UK Secretary of State for Defence
- Vice Admiral Sir Clive Johnstone, KBE, CB, National President, Royal British Legion (Shrewsbury School)
- Admiral Sir Benjamin Key, KCB, CBE, ADC, First Sea Lord (Bromsgrove School)
- Lord Lexden, OBE, historian and former General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council, London (Framlingham School)
- Surgeon Rear Admiral Fleur Marshall, Head of the Royal Navy Medical Service (Repton School)
- General Sir Tim Radford, KCB, DSO, OBE, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (Rugby School).
General Sir Tim Radford said: “I am delighted to support The Boarding School Book of Remembrance and to be an Honorary Patron. This Book recognises, and pays tribute to, all those connected with boarding schools who, for centuries, have served their nations with great courage and selfless commitment, and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Project Director and BSA Group CEO Robin Fletcher added: “Thousands of boarding school pupils and staff boarding schools across the globe have sacrificed their lives in conflict. The BSA is pleased to be launching The Boarding School Book of Remembrance to mark that sacrifice and we hope it will be an important resource for schools, families and researchers.”
School or organisations which would like to participate in the project should email Robin Fletcher via robin.fletcher@bsagroup.org.uk
Categories: BSA News
