Yardley Court
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Yardley Court is an
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...
day preparatory school for boys in
Tonbridge Tonbridge ( ) is a market town in Kent, England, on the River Medway, north of Royal Tunbridge Wells, south west of Maidstone and south east of London. In the administrative borough of Tonbridge and Malling, it had an estimated population ...
,
Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, England, founded in 1898 by Mr and Mrs A.L.Bickmore. It now forms part of Somerhill, a
public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...
in the British sense of the term. There are currently around 250 boys in the school, aged between 7 and 13. The school occupies a site of 152 acres just outside Tonbridge, and is self-contained on listed park land. Since its foundation the school has been located on two sites, including the current site. Originally the school was situated in Yardley Park Road, close to
Tonbridge School (God Giveth the Increase) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day and boarding , religion = , president = , head_label ...
. For the academic year 2018/19, Yardley charges £5,155 per term. The Headmaster since 2017 is Duncan Sinclair, previously Headmaster of Taunton Preparatory School and Deputy Headmaster at
St Michael's Prep School, Otford St Michael's Prep School is a coeducational preparatory school in Otford, located in a site in the North Downs, Kent, England. History St Michael's was founded at Hatcham in 1872 by the Reverend Arthur Tooth as a school and home for the so ...
.


History

Founded in 1898, Yardley Court was in its early years run by members of the Bickmore family, initially by A.L.Bickmore and later by his sons Maurice Bickmore (MHB) and Eric Bickmore (AFB). Eric Bickmore played cricket for
Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
(1920–21) and for
Kent County Cricket Club Kent County Cricket Club is one of the eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Kent. A club representing the county was first founded in 1842 but Ke ...
(1919–29).Lewis P (2014) ''For Kent and Country'', pp.102–104. Brighton: Reveille Press. Its original location was situated in Yardley Park Road, close to
Tonbridge School (God Giveth the Increase) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day and boarding , religion = , president = , head_label ...
. In 1973 when Eric Bickmore retired, his sons John Bickmore and Michael Bickmore ran the school as joint headmasters. They were known as “Mr John” and “Mr Michael”. Mr John’s wife, Mary Blaikie, was school matron and known as “Mrs John”. In 1982 Mr John died. And in 1983, the first non-Bickmore, John Barber was appointed joint headmaster alongside Mr Michael. Mr Barber had been a senior teacher for some years prior. Mr Michael retired in 1990 and Mr Barber resigned suddenly in 1992. Mr Barber was replaced by Tony Brook. John Coakley was the Headmaster of Yardley Court and Principal from 1996 to 2017. Yardley Court has had close links to Tonbridge School for many years. A high proportion of boys have gone on to Tonbridge, many of them winning scholarships. Some Yardley Court choristers are members of the Tonbridge School choir. The school moved to its current site in 1990. The Yardley Park Road site was sold to a housebuilder for a substantial sum, which secured the school's future. Yardley Court was joined by Derwent Lodge in 1993, with a Pre-Prep school joining in 1996. The three schools are now known collectively as " Somerhill".


Roll of Honour

44 former students, Masters and catering staff lost their lives in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
and 63 in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Their names are listed on two plaques on the Roll of Honour. A wreath laying ceremony is held each year on
Remembrance Day Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in t ...
. The OYC Roll of Honour includes Wing Commander Eric James Brindley Nicolson VC DFC, Battle of Britain fighter pilot and recipient of the
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
.


Other notable alumni

* Sam Alper, inventor of the Sprite caravan and
Little Chef Little Chef was a chain of restaurants in the United Kingdom, founded in 1958 by entrepreneur Sam Alper, who was inspired by American diners. The chain was famous for the "Olympic Breakfast" – its version of a full English – as well as it ...
chain of roadside restaurants. * Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Beckwith Ashmore, British naval officer * Vice Admiral Sir Peter William Beckwith Ashmore, British naval officer * John Bee, organist. * Eric Bickmore, cricketer and Headmaster at the school * Bernard Cheese, painter and printmaker. *
Robert Fisk Robert Fisk (12 July 194630 October 2020) was a writer and journalist who held British and Irish citizenship. He was critical of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, and the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. His stanc ...
, journalist. *
Michael Fish Michael Fish, (born 27 April 1944 in Eastbourne, Sussex) is a British weather forecaster. From 1974 to 2004, he was a television presenter for BBC Weather. Career Educated at Eastbourne College and City University London, Fish was the longe ...
, weatherman. *
Bill Oddie William Edgar Oddie (born 7 July 1941) is an English writer, comedian, songwriter, musician, artist, birder, conservationist, television presenter and actor. He was a member of comedy trio The Goodies. A birder since his childhood in Quinton, ...
, comedian and conservationist. *
Gerald Ratner Gerald Irving Ratner (born 1 November 1949) is a British businessman. He was formerly chief executive officer of the major British jewellery company Ratners Group (now the Signet Group). He achieved notoriety after making a speech in which h ...
, businessman. *
Andrew Davenport Andrew Davenport (born 10 June 1965) is an English writer, puppeteer, producer, composer and actor, specialising in creating television, music and books for young children. He is known as co-creator and writer of ''Teletubbies'' and creator, wri ...
, creator of
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and co-creator of
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. *
Justin Fletcher Justin Fletcher (born 15 June 1970) is an English actor, comedian, singer and television presenter on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies. Speaking and performing in various, often self-created, roles, he specialises in slapstick co ...
, actor, television presenter and comedian. *
Frederick Forsyth Frederick McCarthy Forsyth (born 25 August 1938) is an English novelist and journalist. He is best known for thrillers such as ''The Day of the Jackal'', ''The Odessa File'', '' The Fourth Protocol'', '' The Dogs of War'', ''The Devil's Alter ...
, novelist. *
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, presenter. *
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, announcer, best known as the "Voice of the Balls" on the National Lottery programmes. *
Martin Clunes Alexander Martin Clunes OBE DL (born 28 November 1961) is an English actor, comedian, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the ITV comedy-drama series ''Doc Martin'' and Gary Strang in ''Men Be ...
, actor and comedian. *
David Marques Reginald William David Marques (9 December 1932 – 29 September 2010) was an English rugby union international lock forward. At club level he represented Cambridge University, the Army and most notably Harlequin F.C. He played international rug ...
, England and British Lions rugby player and member of 1964
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challenger team aboard the yacht ''Sovereign''. *
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, author *
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, businessman and co-founder of B&Q. *
Paul Rutman Paul Rutman is a British writer and producer best known for being the writer of historical drama ''Indian Summers'' and crime drama ''Vera Vera may refer to: Names * Vera (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Vera ( ...
, producer and writer, including TV series
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and eight episodes of Vera *
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, motoring journalist and author. * Ed Smith, cricketer and writer. *
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, presenter. *
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, presenter and novelist. *
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, comedian. *
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, celebrity chef. *
Bob Woolmer Robert Andrew Woolmer (14 May 1948 – 18 March 2007) was an English cricket coach, cricketer, and a commentator. He played in 19 Test matches and six One Day Internationals for the England cricket team and later coached South Africa, Warwick ...
, cricketer. * Charlie Ross, antiques expert. *
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, neurologist. * Ruaridh McConnochie,
England Rugby The England national rugby union team represents England in men's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England have won the championship on 29 occasions ...
and
Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is a professional rugby union club in Bath, Somerset, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. Founded in 1865 as Bath Football Club, since 1894 the club has played at the Recreation Ground in the c ...
player.


References

{{authority control Preparatory schools in Kent 1898 establishments in England Schools in Tonbridge