OFFICIAL OPENING OF BÖU ARCHIVE
The BÖU Archive has moved! Formerly located in Kingsfield House, the BÖU Archive has moved to spacious rooms in another building at North West Kent College. The Archive rooms were officially opened during the BÖU Reunion on Saturday 7th September 2013.
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| Robbie Brightwell, Ann Allen, Avtar Sandhu, Ann Brightwell, Anne Stuart |
Press release:
Saturday 7th September
was an exciting day for the ex-students and staff of Dartford's Physical Education College,
which was located at Kingsfield House on Oakfield Lane between 1895 and 1986. At the Annual Reunion this year, the new Bergman Österberg Union Archive was officially opened by former student and 1964 Olympic Athletics Gold Medal winner, Ann Brightwell née Packer, MBE, alongside the Deputy Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Avtar Sandhu, MBE, Councillor Ann Allen and Councillor Jennifer Rickwood. Councillor Ann Allen spoke on behalf of the Dartford Borough Council. The archive moved into their new premises in March this year, from the old Kingsfield House. Before the reunion lunch, attended by over fifty ex-students and staff, along with other guests, there was the opportunity to look around the new archive, an experience that was fascinating for all attendees as memories were brought back and shared.
which was located at Kingsfield House on Oakfield Lane between 1895 and 1986. At the Annual Reunion this year, the new Bergman Österberg Union Archive was officially opened by former student and 1964 Olympic Athletics Gold Medal winner, Ann Brightwell née Packer, MBE, alongside the Deputy Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Avtar Sandhu, MBE, Councillor Ann Allen and Councillor Jennifer Rickwood. Councillor Ann Allen spoke on behalf of the Dartford Borough Council. The archive moved into their new premises in March this year, from the old Kingsfield House. Before the reunion lunch, attended by over fifty ex-students and staff, along with other guests, there was the opportunity to look around the new archive, an experience that was fascinating for all attendees as memories were brought back and shared.
After lunch, Ann Brightwell
and her husband, Robbie Brightwell, MBE, gave a talk about her success at the
1964 Tokyo games, and spoke motivationally. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Avtar
Sandhu MBE, also spoke to guests. The annual toast to Madame Österberg, the
pioneer of Women's Physical Education, was proposed by the Bergman Österberg
Union Chairman, Anne Stuart. Later in the day, Anne
Stuart also rededicated a memorial stone to Madame, which is located in the grounds of Kingsfield House.
The Bergman Österberg
Union Physical Education Award 2013 was presented to Michelle Knopp, who
achieved a first class degree from the University of Greenwich.
The Bergman
Österberg Union is delighted to announce that Ann Brightwell has agreed to be its
new Patron.
The Bergman Österberg
Union Archive provides information on an exceptional woman, her famous College,
which was the first of its kind, and the achievements of the young women who
were educated there. This collection relates specifically to The Bergman
Österberg Physical Training College (later known as Dartford College of
Physical Education), from its foundation in 1885 to its closure as a specialist
college in 1986. There are books, manuscripts, registers, certificates, badges,
trophies, many photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings, uniform, magazines,
clothing lists, details of royal visits, portraits of international sportswomen
etc., covering one hundred years of exceptional change for women and for
women's education. The archive is open to members of the public who are
interested in researching the College, on Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm. If
you would like to visit the archive please do not hesitate to contact Rosemary
Moon at:
Bergman Österberg Union
Archive, North West Kent College, Oakfield Lane, Dartford, DA1 2JT.
Or by email at rosemarymoon@nwkcollege.ac.uk
Press Release written by Emma Cooper
