THE LIVERPOOL BLUE COAT BROTHERLY SOCIETY  (also known as "The Old Blues' Association")
Motto: “And may all its proceedings be characterised by brotherly love.”

The Liverpool Blue Coat Brotherly Society was founded on 12th February 1838, with the principle objective of assisting, advising and promoting the well-being of the boys who attended the Liverpool Blue Coat School. Members of the Society, (all former Blue Coat pupils), would “look after” Blue Coat boys for at least two years after they left the School, visiting them at home or work, and providing financial assistance where necessary and appropriate. This was of great benefit to the boys, and the care thus shown had a tremendous influence
on the lives and careers of these boys.

Since the School’s return to Liverpool after the Second World War, there has been less need for this sort of assistance, so the Society has turned its efforts towards objects that would benefit the School in general.

Evidence of the generosity of the Society over the years can be found throughout the School. In 1938, to celebrate its centenary, the Society provided the oak pews in the Chapel. In 1963 (the Society’s 125th anniversary) they provided the stained glass south window of the Chapel.
The Old Blues’ Memorial Library was presented in 1952 in remembrance of the Old Blues who gave their lives in the two World Wars and the splendid gates in front of the old main entrance were provided in 1958, when the School celebrated its 250th anniversary.

More recently, the Brotherly Society organised a memorable weekend of celebration and nostalgia for the tricentenary of the school in June 2008. Old Blues travelled from the far reaches of the world to take part.

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION
We have received an appeal from a lady in the USA for information about her mother, who passed away earlier this year. Her mother was a pupil at the Blue Coat School from 1937 until 1940, and was involved in the evacuation to Beaumaris. The lady suffered from Alzheimer's for the last ten years of her life and was unable to recall her time at the school. Her daughter has now found some documents, including an essay written at Beaumaris, and is wondering if any other past pupils remember her.

Her name was Gwendolyn Ardythe Simm, known as "Gwen". She was born in the USA in 1923, but her family moved to England in 1933. Her father abandoned the family shortly afterwards and her mother was unable to cope. Gwen entered the school in 1937 and was evacuated to Beaumaris, with the rest of the school, in 1939. She was billeted in "a large house on the seafront, occupied by an elderly spinster and a maid". During 1940 she was taken back to the USA by other family members, and never returned. This has been verified by records kept at the school.

If you remember Gwen, however vaguely, her daughter Melissa would dearly love to contact you. Melissa is planning a visit to the UK next summer (2012) and intends to visit the school, and take a train ride from Lime Street to Beaumaris on the 4th September. It would be fantastic if she could meet up with someone who knew her mother.

Below are three photographs taken during Gwen's time at Beaumaris. If you can help in any way, please contact us.

  © Copyright: Liverpool Blue Coat Brotherly Society 2011 Website updated: 15th December 2011 (Legal stuff - click HERE) Registered charity No. 1072458

Photo by Frank Irwin

NEWSFLASH!

(From the Liverpool Daily Post, 11th October 2011)

Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral has appointed a former organ scholar to be its new director of music. Liverpool-born Christopher McElroy will succeed Timothy Noon who has left to take up a similar position at Auckland cathedral, New Zealand.

Mr McElroy was educated at the Blue Coat school and is married with one son. He has been based at Leeds cathedral since 2004.

He said: “I am delighted to be returning to my home city and very excited at the prospect of taking over the direction of the excellent music department at the Metropolitan cathedral, of which I have very fond memories from my days there as organ scholar.
Although the appointment may be daunting it offers the opportunity for me to seek to raise the musical standards even higher.”