The Old Bordenian Association

After a career in teaching and a long flirtation with the French way of life through a house in the Perigord, Edwin Westacott (Borden 1940-45), together with his wife, Jan, went to live permanently in 2004 in a small village named Pointis-Inard, deep in the South of France not far from the Spanish border.  Readers of The Maroon will be familiar with a number of articles which he contributed over the years, and which were memorable not only for their content but for their style.  They were full of self-deprecating humour and keen observation.

Over the past two years or so, he and Graham Barnes have exchanged sporadic emails – usually commenting on all the trivial things which now fill their lives.  Graham thinks that Edwin’s stories and anecdotes deserve a much wider audience and has persuaded Edwin, very reluctantly, to agree to the publication on the Website of a few of the choicest examples.  They are not only very funny but detail experiences with which many of us can identify, despite not living in France.

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Bob was a pupil at Borden Grammar School from 1941 until 1948, after which he did his national service in the Army, and then went on to Cheltenham College for teacher training. His teaching career began at Borden Village School, followed by a spell at Middletune School and ending with roughly 20 years at Holy Trinity Primary School, where he was Deputy Head.

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In establishing a Remembrance section of the website, the Association pays tribute to those pupils of Borden Grammar School who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the many freedoms we enjoy today, not least the freedom from tyranny. All of us will have glanced up at the names listed on the school’s war memorial boards but how much do we know about the men themselves? When, for example, did they attend the school and what were the circumstances of their deaths?

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We very much regret to announce the death on 13th March 2010 of John Lifton.  He was at Borden from 1939 to 1945, and spent much of his life in New Zealand where, despite the geographical handicap, he remained an enthusiastic Member of the Association. 

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