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55-911: Frank Bell founded the first Bell Language School in Cambridge , England , in 1955. He was concurrently Chairman of the Educational Interchange Council from 1951 to 1979, for which he was awarded the OBE in 1975. In 1972 he established an educational charity - the Bell Educational Trust. Its main aims remain: to provide language education, mainly in English , for adult students and young learners; to train teachers of English; and to offer language learning and teacher training experiences that will promote international understanding and intercultural exchange. The Trust has no shareholders, and money from fees

110-907: A first in French and Spanish. He joined the British Army in 1940, was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1941, and was posted to the 48th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment which left England on 3 December 1941, destined for North Africa . It never arrived. On 7 December the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor , and the British force, of which the Regiment was a part, was diverted to the Far East (see Pacific War ). It arrived in Batavia , Java on 4 February 1942. Singapore fell to

165-448: A Vice-President Internal and a Vice President External, a team of students on the executive committee and a team of 'Liberation officers'. Together, they organise ' Freshers Week '. Homerton's Fresher's week is longer than in most colleges, where students only have two to three days of 'Freshers week' before the start of term. They also organise events throughout the year for students, as well as offer pastoral support. From 2015 until 2020

220-592: A business called Bell Educational Services Ltd. and a charitable wing operating under the name the Bell Foundation. Bell was Chairman of the Educational Interchange Council from 1951 to 1979 and was awarded the OBE in 1975. In 1986, he was elected Honorary President of ARELS-FELCO (the association of recognised English Language teaching establishments in Britain). He was Chairman of the Bell Educational Trust from 1988. Bell had

275-567: A football section to help keep their players fit during the winter months. The football section continued to grow over the ensuing years and is now Leyton Orient Football Club – a fact acknowledged by an annual match between the college's football team and that of the Leyton Orient Supporters Club. In 1894, the Congregational Board of Education were able to purchase the estate of Cavendish College , Cambridge (named after

330-657: A full college of the university. The college celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2018. With around 600 undergraduates , 750 postgraduates, and 90 fellows , it has more students than any other Cambridge college but, because only half of those are resident undergraduates, its undergraduate presence is similar to large colleges such as Trinity and St John's . The college has particularly strong ties to public service, as well as academia, having educated many prominent dissenting thinkers, educationalists, politicians, and missionary explorers. The college has extensive grounds which encompass sports fields, water features and beehives, and

385-655: A hammer-beam roof, American walnut panelling, a gallery, rose windows, a fleche, and a bell originating from the old college in London which sounds before the College Grace is read at Formal dinner. A new dining hall was designed by Feilden Fowles and opened in 2022; Rowan Moore named it as one of his five best buildings of the year. Other notable buildings of the college include the Ibberson Building built in 1914 (named after its architect, Herbert George Ibberson ) which

440-514: A modern curriculum, with particular emphasis on philosophy, science, and modern history. In 1730, a formal society – known as the King's Head Society after the pub at the Royal Exchange where they held their meetings – was founded to sponsor young men to attend dissenting academies . Today, a secret society and discussion club at the college of the same name maintains some of its traditions. By 1768,

495-554: A rich habitat for various forms of wildlife – including grey squirrels , carrion crows , woodpeckers , stock doves , rabbits, the 'College fox ', and in the summer a small colony of swifts , which nest under the eaves of the roof of the Cavendish building after their return from Africa. There is also a large orchard , where students relax in warm weather. Homerton has several unique traditions. At its Matriculation Dinner new undergraduates are made to form two lines and drink wine from

550-697: A twin brother, Douglas. Frank Bell was married to Elisabeth (daughter of Sir Henry Willink ) and they had a son, Nick and a daughter, Tass. He lived in Cambridge for most of his life. With his wife, Elisabeth, he re-visited Kuching in 1984, and was delighted to find the Batu Lintang Teachers' College flourishing on the site of the former POW camp in which he had established the "Kuching University". After his death in 1989, Elisabeth brought Bell's 1946 account and diary entries from his time at Batu Lintang to publication. Homerton College Homerton College

605-547: Is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge . Its first premises were acquired in Homerton , London in 1768, by an informal gathering of Protestant dissenters with origins in the seventeenth century. In 1894, the college moved from Homerton High Street, Hackney, London, to Cambridge . Homerton was admitted as an "Approved Society" of the university in 1976, and received its Royal charter in 2010, affirming its status as

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660-502: Is another aspect of Bell ’s offering, and courses are run in the UK as well as in most centres abroad. Bell regularly provides teacher trainers to run workshops or tailored courses in other countries. Many Bell staff are regular contributors to international teacher training journals and conferences. Bell Teacher development courses are offered during January, July and August. These take place at Bell Teacher Campus based at Homerton College , part of

715-444: Is considered by many – including Nikolaus Pevsner in his Buildings of England – to be the college's most significant building; a fact mirrored by its Grade Two listed status, the only listed building on the site. An example of arts and crafts style architecture, its present-day Combination Room was probably the only grade two listed gymnasium in the world. Also of interest is Trumpington House (completed in 1847, and which once held

770-663: Is provided in the ABC and D&E blocks, both part of the main college buildings, as well as in Queen's Wing (opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1957 ) which also contains the Homerton Union of Students and both the Undergraduate and Graduate Common Rooms. Outside of university terms, the accommodation attracts extensive use for conference purposes. Like the other colleges of

825-528: Is reinvested in developing and improving the services and facilities for students, and the worldwide services that are offered. Bell staff and staff in Bell partner schools include language teachers, trainers, educational managers, consultants and materials writers, and Bell staff work closely with national and international organisations involved in language teaching worldwide. Today, Bell is an international training organisation with three intensive training centres in

880-473: The University of Cambridge . For many years Bell has provided a variety of management, consultancy and project services to international organisations and governments. These range from developing language training policy and institutions to management of language centres. Bell is also involved in other short-term language training, teacher education work outside the UK. Frank Bell (educator) Frank Erskine Bell OBE (18 September 1916 – 14 July 1989)

935-495: The 'Homerton Horn' – an African cow horn with silver mounts, whilst speaking several Anglo-Saxon phrases to one another (including the greeting "Wassail!", and the response "Frith and Freondship sae th'y'" – 'peace and friendship be with you'). In recent years, the tradition has been adapted so that undergraduates say these Anglo-Saxon phrases to the person sat across from them on the table, and take subsequent drinks from their own glasses, rather than every undergraduate drinking from

990-645: The British summer, in a range of locations including St Albans, and summer camps at The Leys School in Cambridge, Cobham Hall School in Kent, Bloxham School in Oxfordshire and Wellington College in Berkshire. In the UK Bell employs approximately 150 staff all year round with a further 400/500 being appointed on seasonal or short-term contracts. Although for many years a series of trades unions were recognised by management for

1045-534: The Cambridge architect William Wren designed additions to the eastern end of the college buildings in the Neo-Gothic style – now occupied by the Principal's office. The castellated tower is the tallest part of the original college buildings, and it is possible to see the spires of Ely Cathedral on a clear day from its uppermost floor. The Great Hall is one of the largest and grandest dining halls in Cambridge. When it

1100-405: The Congregational Board, and students and staff moved from the old Hackney premises into the vacant college buildings at Cambridge . Initially taking the name of Homerton New College at Cavendish College, it shortly afterwards became just Homerton College, Cambridge. John Charles Horobin became the first Principal: his portrait hangs in the college's Great Hall. The first woman to head the college

1155-662: The HUS organized an annual and immensely popular Harry Potter Formal Hall, at which students and staff would dress as characters from the books, sketches would be acted, and live owls were brought in for entertainment. Formal halls were suspended in 2021 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, but returned in 2022. Homerton's Harry Potter Formal Halls were discontinued in 2023 when an incoming HUS president allegedly objected to their connection with J. K. Rowling and her gender critical views. The college holds an annual May Ball in Cambridge . In 2018,

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1210-635: The Japanese 11 days later, and the Japanese landed on Java at about the same time. When the Dutch forces capitulated to them on 8 March the few British troops on the island, whose role was mainly airfield defence, became POWs. Bell was interned in five different camps before arriving at Batu Lintang camp at Kuching in Sarawak on the island of Borneo in September 1943. At first the British officers and other ranks were all in

1265-462: The Music Director of Studies at the college. Homerton College Boat Club (HCBC) is the rowing club of the college. HCBC colours are navy blue with white trim, although the club's Zephyr (garment) is white with blue trim. The blade colour is white with a single blue (RAL-290-20-30) vertical stripe. It is traditional to wear a sock of each of the boat club's colours when racing with a blue sock on

1320-595: The Society was large enough to need its own premises, so it purchased a large property in Homerton High Street, in London's East End . By 1817, the institution had become known as "Homerton Academy Society", later "Homerton College Society". At that time, it produced some of the nation's foremost dissenting figures, many closely involved in the movements opposed to the slave trade and the Corn Laws . For several years,

1375-624: The UK are the original school in Cambridge , and the partner schools in London and St Albans (Hertfordshire). These schools cater for around 10,000 students annually, and provide intensive English courses ranging in length from a week to an academic year. Courses cover general / business English and English for specific and academic purposes, as well as a wide range of options. Bell St Albans provides full residential accommodation, Bell Cambridge specialises in academic courses, while Bell London specialises in business English courses for Professional students. In

1430-598: The UK provide part-time training in a range of languages for clients from as young as two through to young adults and executives. Courses in English can be targeted to lead into, or follow up from, intensive courses in the UK. Bell centres outside the UK offer courses in their own local languages to diplomatic and expatriate clients, plus a range of other languages that correspond to local needs. On an international scale Bell offers not only English, but also French, Czech, Italian, Spanish, Polish, German and Japanese. Teacher training

1485-501: The UK, a Young Learner operation, several wholly owned subsidiaries and more than 20 partners throughout Europe and in Asia . This makes Bell one of the largest British-owned providers of English language and teacher training courses. In 2012 the Trust's business and charitable entities separated to form Bell Educational Services Ltd and the Bell Foundation respectively. The three main schools in

1540-427: The ball was attended by over 1500 guests, the largest ever hosted on Homerton's grounds, to celebrate the college's 250th anniversary. The college's Charter Choir sing evensong every Tuesday and is formed of choral scholars and volunteers from the college and the wider community. The choir tours abroad once a year, recently travelling to Portsmouth, Gibraltar and Iceland. The choir is directed by Daniel Trocmé-Latter,

1595-532: The camp which was published some 44 years later. It included a passage, written in Cambridge University Library reading room in 1946, which could be said to sum up Bell's vision: I look around me now. I watch men and women working – undergraduates and graduates, men in the Royal Air Force , American soldiers – all reading quietly side by side; and I am convinced more than ever that herein lies

1650-479: The ceremonial horn, which has historically resulted in epidemics of 'Freshers Flu'. Because the college was all-female for much of its history, the design of the college gown is that of those traditionally worn by female undergraduates in early twentieth century Cambridge (this is shared by all the historically-female colleges: Girton, Newnham, and Murray Edwards). The gown is based on the original Cambridge black gown, still worn by undergraduates at Peterhouse, but has

1705-562: The college into a wide range of Tripos subjects. In September 2001, Homerton admitted its first non-education Tripos students. At the same time the old BEd degree was retired in favour of a three-year B.A. in Education, followed by a one-year Post Graduate Certificate of Education. At the time of convergence, it was envisaged that Homerton would move from the status of Approved Society to that of Approved Foundation or full college. In December 2008 Homerton's application to move to full college status

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1760-600: The college was affiliated to the University of London , but when its theological function was moved to New College London in 1850, it was re-founded by the Congregational Board of Education to concentrate on the study of education itself. It did so by transferring its theological courses to New College London , of which the Rev. John Harris DD was the Congregationalist Principal, and by extending and rebuilding

1815-467: The college's wine collection in its basement) built in the style of classical revival and currently leased to the Faculty of Education. Additionally, there is a science education centre named in honour of Professor Emeritus John Hammond OBE, who campaigned for the college to receive its Royal Charter, being elected as an Emeritus Fellow on the same day as the grant, passing away only a few weeks later. Like

1870-469: The early 1970s that the university admitted Homerton because, by then, all of its students were doing four-year honours courses. In late 2000, the Regent House approved a proposal to "converge" Homerton with the rest of the university. Convergence involved the transfer of most of the college's teaching and research activity to the new University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and the diversification of

1925-417: The end of the century, the growth of industry had turned the village of Homerton into a manufacturing centre, lowering the quality of life of the students and, between 1878 and 1885, there were seven deaths from tuberculosis , smallpox and typhoid . At the same time, increasing numbers of students required more space. In 1881, former students of Homerton College who were members of Glyn Cricket Club formed

1980-508: The evenings when dusk or darkness gave some protection against surprise by their captors. Paper for writing exercises and for compiling textbooks was always at a premium: books were fashioned out of paper from soap wrappers, newspaper, the backs of letters and envelopes, and cigarette paper. These were bound into books and often covered with sarong material. This experience was formative in strengthening Bell's interest in language and adult education. In 1946, Bell wrote an account of his time in

2035-553: The focal point of the college, its Victorian Gothic hall. It also has a wide range of student clubs and societies, including Homerton College Boat Club , Homerton College Music Society and the Homerton College Rugby Football Club. The college's origins date back to the seventeenth century. In 1695, a Congregation Fund was created in London to educate Calvinist ministers. As non-conformists, they were barred by law from attending Oxbridge colleges, and so studied

2090-555: The foot opposite the rigger. The Men's 1st VIII hold the Oxbridge record for the most places advanced during one series of bumps (either Mays , Lents , or Torpids /Eights for Oxford), advancing 13 places in the May Bumps 2001 , where the crew moved up a division to division 3 and also won blades. In 2022, Homerton made offers to five students, who are among more than 50 candidates from backgrounds of educational disadvantage to be offered

2145-582: The greatest hope for the future of mankind, in the friendly co-operation that is found in study and in learning, as in no other sphere of life; enmity and jealousy cannot flourish when the welfare of common humanity is in view. After the war, as Assistant Secretary of the University of Cambridge Board of Extra-Mural Studies, Bell was actively engaged in the organisation of extension classes and lectures, courses for German ex-POWs, and University vacation courses for students from overseas. In 1948, he became Secretary of

2200-486: The headship of Principal Alison Cheveley Shrubsole, Homerton was accepted as an Approved Society of the University of Cambridge following a 3–1 vote of the Regent House in favour of its admission. The possibility of introducing a Cambridge Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree had been given as one of the reasons for the original move into Cambridge. It was after the shake-up and governmental criticisms of teacher training in

2255-507: The majority of Cambridge colleges, Homerton offers on-site accommodation for its students for all three years. This is provided by four purpose-built accommodation buildings: East House, West House, South Court (the latest addition to the college, opened in 2007), and Harrison House. Harrison House exclusively houses graduate students and fellows, and was opened in November 2006. Harrison House is named after Sir David Harrison . Other accommodation

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2310-569: The old mansion house and 1820s buildings of the academy, at a cost of £10,000. The college reopened in April 1852 as the Training Institution of the Congregational Board of Education, with Samuel Morley as its treasurer. Shortly afterwards, it began admitting women students. Then Principal John Horobin called an end to mixed education in 1896, shortly after the move to Cambridge, and the college remained all-women for 80 years thereafter. Towards

2365-459: The past, students were also able to attend Bell Schools in Bath , Norwich (3 schools at one time - Willow Lane, Bowthorpe Hall and The Old House), Saffron Walden and Oxford . Saffron Walden was initially named Saffron Walden International College (SWIC) and later changed to Bell College. In addition, Bell runs residential courses for over 3000 young learner students (aged 8 – 17 years), mostly during

2420-819: The purposes of negotiating staff salaries, conditions etc., this right was withdrawn recently when union membership fell below 50%. Subsequently, although a membership drive among permanent staff restored an adequate level for recognition, the management withheld recognition on the grounds that temporary staff had not been included, although previously denying union rights to represent this category of staff. Bell subsidiaries’ schools are located in Budapest (Hungary) and Geneva (Switzerland). In addition to these wholly owned schools, Bell has an international network of Partner Schools. These centres are located in: Czech Republic, Bulgaria, China, Jordan, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, Vietnam. Bell centres outside

2475-467: The same sub-camp, but after a while the officers were separated out. As he was a 2nd Lieutenant, Bell was housed in the officers' compound. Bell was known by the nicknames "Tink" and "Tinker" (a reference to the character Tinkerbell in Peter Pan ). Bell was largely responsible for conceiving and organising what became known by the prisoners as the "Kuching University" in the British officers' camp. [Bell]

2530-415: The slits in the sleeves closed up. As a homage to its all-female origins, or simply because the college has never had one re-designed, this gown is now worn by all undergraduates at the college regardless of sex. The Homerton Union of Students is one of the most active student unions in the university. The President - the only paid, sabbatical Presidency of all the Cambridge colleges - manages, along with

2585-441: The then-Chancellor of the university and not to be confused with Lucy Cavendish College ) which had become available. It had been founded to allow poorer students to sit Cambridge tripos exams without the expense of joining a true Cambridge college. It was briefly recognised as a "Public Hostel" of the university in 1882, but a lack of money had brought the venture to an end. All its estates and furniture were bought for £10,000 by

2640-596: The university's committee for re-establishing links with German universities. In 1955, Bell founded in Cambridge the first Bell School of Languages for the teaching of English to foreign students. Further Bell Schools were opened in Norwich (1967 and 1975), Bath (1968) and Saffron Walden (1977). In 1968, he acquired Concord College , where overseas students were prepared for university. In 1972, he converted both these enterprises into Educational Trusts. As of 2012, The Bell Educational Trust (an educational charity) now comprises

2695-428: The university, Homerton's library includes thousands of books covering numerous academic disciplines. Unique to Homerton, however, is a children's book collection, which contains early editions of many famous books from 1780 onwards. Homerton has more green space around its buildings than many other Cambridge colleges. In its grounds are several rare examples of wild orchids and over 150 species of plants, which act as

2750-437: Was Mary Miller Allan, who was responsible for Homerton's national reputation as a trainer of women teachers. Her successor in 1935 was Miss Alice Skillicorn, a former HMI, who took the college through World War Two, during which time it was bombed. Dame Beryl Paston Brown was Principal in the 1960s, at a time when Homerton's numbers doubled after the introduction of three-year training courses in 1960. In December 1976, under

2805-607: Was a British educator. Whilst a prisoner of war (POW) in Borneo during World War II he organised a "secret university" to provide educational opportunities for his fellow prisoners. He founded the first Bell Language School in Cambridge , England in 1955 and later established the Bell Educational Trust , a charity involved in language education. Bell was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge , from where he graduated in 1938 with

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2860-501: Was a delightful character with a keen mind, a quirky sense of humour and a deep commitment to his fellow man. In our circumstances of gradually increasing starvation and sickness, ever threatened by growing feelings of hopelessness, he realised that there was a great need for us to keep our minds active. The combination of deteriorating physical and mental states was truly a deadly one. We could do little about improving our physical condition, but with determination and encouragement, everyone

2915-551: Was approved by the University Council. The change in status was completed with the grant of a Royal Charter on 11 March 2010. The original Victorian Cavendish College buildings were constructed in 1876 in the Gothic Revival style, using a combination of red Suffolk brick and Bath stone dressings. One of the most notable features is an oak doorway with an ogee arch flanked above by ornamental grotesques. Several years later,

2970-509: Was built in 1889 it was the largest college hall in Cambridge. It now houses one of the college's most notable works of art – the celebrated Pre-Raphaelite piece by Jane Benham Hay known as 'The Florentine Procession', painted in the 1860s and winning 'Picture of the Year' in the 1867 Saturday Review . Also encircling the Hall are portraits of former Principals of the college, The Hall itself features

3025-670: Was free to exercise his mind without needing any extra food. Under Japanese regulations, prisoners were forbidden to teach, to learn, to compile or possess notes on any subject whatever, or to meet in groups for discussion. The penalty for disobedience was imprisonment or death. Despite this, the university, led by Bell, established classes in seven modern languages ( Dutch , French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Urdu ), as well as subjects as diverse as history, public speaking, navigation, pig-farming, civics, chess and poultry keeping. Bell and his fellow educators compiled text books, led classes and awarded diplomas. Classes were often held in

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