Set XXIII (1924-1927)

Scope and Content

Brown oilcloth album with 'BPTC 1924-1927' embossed on front cover containing 135 photographs of Bedford Physical Training College students participating in college life. It is probable that the album was created by members of Set XXIII and presented to the College. Many of the images have captions describing scenes, activities and naming individuals.
Scenes from College life include the following: students being coached by the British Olympic Swimming Team Coach, Mr W. J. Howcroft in the Commercial Road Swimming Baths, Bedford and swimming in Newnham Baths; engaged in displays of Revived Greek Dance for Demonstration Day 1926 and a demonstration of folk dancing in 1927; scenes from the Senior Play Three Meet or Speed the Plough (1927) accompanied by a programme pasted into the album; Set XXIII; the cricket, hockey, lacrosse (including players with international and territorial honours), netball, swimming and tennis teams; scenes from College Sports Day 1925 and Demonstration Day 1926, May Day at Ickwell, Bedfordshire, a summer Guide Camp at Sutton, Suffolk, picnicking at the Australia v. Northamptonshire cricket match in Northampton (1926), a birthday party; exterior of houses in Lansdowne Road and Dynevor Road, College gardens and playing fields, the interior of the gymnasium and Big Lecture Room; views of the rivers Great Ouse, Bedfordshire and Orwell, Suffolk; tutors: Cicely Read, Elizabeth Roberts, and the Principal, Margaret Stansfeld; Miss Charlotte Genevieve MacEwan (1897-1975) from Wellesley College Massachusetts and her pianist, Miss Thomas, who visited the Bedford Physical Training College in June 1926 to teach a month-long course in Modern Dance. See HRef 2/1/1 (1927) for a brief report of the visit by Miss MacEwan.