John le Carré: Tradecraft – a new exhibition exploring the work of John le Carré opens at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library on 1 October 2025 and runs to 6 April 2026. The exhibition showcases material held in the Bodleian Library’s John le Carré archive and includes his annotated manuscripts and personal correspondence, offering a glimpse … Read more
At 4.40 pm on Monday, 30 September 1940, the air raid siren sounded at the police station in the Digby Road, warning of the approach from the west of a squadron of about 150 German Heinkel He.111 bombers which proceeded to drop about 300 bombs in three lines across the town. Although the bombing raid … Read more
Japan’s surrender on 15 August 1945 was accompanied by an announcement from Prime Minister Clement Atlee of a two day national holiday on the 15 & 16 August 1945 to celebrate VJ Day. The end of hostilities was received by many with a sense of gratefulness and relief, but also of sadness for the huge … Read more
During the summer holidays in 1965, five intrepid boys from Abbeylands went on an expedition to North Africa, travelling in a Land Rover they covered 7,000 miles in just under seven weeks, visiting Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The boys left London at 3 a.m. on 26th July and arrived back on 8th September, ready for … Read more
Can you believe it is 25 years since Code Crackers was performed at Sherborne School? Where has the time gone?! Written by Garry Wilkinson (Head of Brass) and Andrew Wilkinson, Code Crackers was commissioned by Headmaster Peter Lapping as part of the celebrations to mark the 450th anniversary of the signing of Sherborne School’s Royal … Read more
Following on from our report about the discovery of the final resting place of Old Shirburnian Captain Ernest Blencowe (1881-1916) of the Dorsetshire Regiment, we are pleased to be able to share with you news and photographs of the moving rededication ceremony held on 11 June 2025 at Captain Blencowe’s grave in Bedford House cemetery, … Read more
109 years after his death on the Bluff in the Ypres Salient, Belgium, the final resting place of Old Shirburnian Captain Ernest Blencowe (1881-1916) of the Dorsetshire Regiment has been identified. A rededication ceremony will be held at his grave in Bedford House cemetery, Belgium, on 11 June 2025. The location of Captain Blencowe’s body … Read more
An exhibition and lecture series currently being hosted by Sherborne Abbey marks the centenary of the ‘rediscovery’ in June 1925 of the bones of Æthelbert King of Wessex. Admission is free to the exhibition and lectures, further details of which can be found on the Sherborne Abbey website. On 4 June 1925, during the restoration … Read more
We are delighted that John Harden, Sherborne School’s much-loved OS Secretary, has reached the grand final of Mastermind, widely regarded as ‘the most rigorous and intellectual British quiz show.’ You can watch John’s final assault on the Mastermind summit on Monday, 19 May 2025 on BBC 2 at 7pm. During an interview made with John … Read more
On 13 May 1550, King Edward VI put his seal on a charter to found at Sherborne the ‘Free Grammar School of King Edward the Sixth’. Find out about Sherborne School’s Royal Charter. Visit Sherborne School Archive News for more stories from the archives. Posted 12 May 2025 by Sherborne School Archives.