The Bremer clan were honoured & delighted that Brighton College had offered to host a gathering in remembrance of our late father, Nick Bremer (Director of Art, Brighton College, 1969-2000) – a man who’s clearly remembered vividly & with great affection by so many past colleagues & pupils.
Accordingly we mustered for drinks & breakfast pastries on the most glorious of Brighton mornings to celebrate his time at the school as well as his seemingly endless catalogue of contributions to it - social, creative & scholarly. The turn-out was so much greater than I’d imagined; old comrades, friends, family & pupils, many in colourful & garish ties, all with tales to tell.
It’s a source of great comfort & joy that so many of our father’s colleagues still walk among us. The assortment & variety of mobility aids in no way diminished the vitality & sparkle these dear friends still possess – Dad would have been so excited to see them all again.
The ever-youthful John Pope (CR. 1971-2008) & Simon Smith (CR. 1973-2011) were on fine form. John gave me my very first rugby coaching session when I was just 6… I remain in no doubt he could still run me off the park & leave me ruined in the process. I was very much looking forward to hearing Simon speak about Dad & of course he didn’t disappoint… funny, affectionate & bang on-point – a joy to hear.
The College Director of Development & Engagement, Scott Sheridan, then took a sizable & reasonably well-behaved group of very interested folk on an epic tour to show off what’s been going on (& up) at the school during the 22 years since Dad retired. The pace – & quality – of building work is nothing short of astonishing. A comprehensive list of the sights (& sounds) that we witnessed would be prohibitively lengthy, suffice to say if you get a chance to take a tour anytime soon – take it! The Sports & Science block must be the envy of Imperial College, the new theatre that will dominate & envelope the back quad is (even in its current state of undress) quite the most beautiful modern building I’ve seen in a very long time & I’ve waxed lyrical on the merits of the (not so) new Art Department already elsewhere on this site.
Truly Dad would have loved this event – doesn’t it always seem that the absent subject of these sort of gatherings would have? Those of us who loved him so much take enormous comfort in knowing that the impact he had on Brighton College over 31 years of teaching is still appreciated & admired. Thank you, Scott for laying this on for us, & thank you Simon for speaking so beautifully.
With love, The Bremers x
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Nick's grandchildren, George & Teddy, with his son Patrick's portrait of him.
Nick's grandchildren, George & Teddy, with his son Patrick's portrait of him.
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Ken Grocott, Anthony Whitestone & Simon Smith
Ken Grocott, Anthony Whitestone & Simon Smith
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The Bremer family.
The Bremer family.
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On the roof of the Sports & Sciences building as part of Scott's grand tour of the College.
On the roof of the Sports & Sciences building as part of Scott's grand tour of the College.
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