On Saturday, guests were invited to a dinner at Bloxham in celebration of 20 years of partnership between Bloxham School and Bell Language School.
In a long partnership with Bell, Bloxham helps to offer the opportunity for overseas pupils, aged 12-17, to learn English in our tranquil school environment during the long summer vacation. Students come to Bloxham on a Bell course for at least two weeks and stay in one of our boarding houses.
The dinner invitees were made up of past and present Bloxham and Bell staff and associates. Nigel Halfpenny, who managed the first Bell contract and Peter Barwell, who was heavily involved with the school at the time, were among those invited.
Guests enjoyed a delicious three course meal before hearing from guest speakers Andy Hart and Charlie Little. Andy talked about the history of Bell, founded by Frank Bell, and how the ethos of the Foundation suitably matches that of Bloxham School. Special mentions were given to Lynn and Rebecca who have spent many summers at Bloxham as part of the Bell partnership over the last 20 years (Lynn has been with Bell for 33 years!). Charlie paid tribute to the staff from Bloxham, past and present, who have had a huge part to play in the success of the last 20 years. Many long-serving Bloxham staff members were present who have seen the relationship with Bell grow and develop over the years, including Jackie Howse, who has worked as a chef at Bloxham for more than 30 years, and Marie and Dawn from the Bloxham domestic teams.
Guests then gave their best wishes to Ben Coomber who is leaving Bell this summer after seven years; his first job as a Houseparent was here at Bloxham in 2011; before becoming part of the Bell head office team and an established contact between the two schools.
Thank you to everyone who attended and to all the support and hard work that both Bloxham and Bell staff have put in over the years to ensure such a fantastic partnership.