A Brilliant Reunion Rooted in the Archives

A recent reunion at The National Archives brought together two familiar faces from Alleyn’s - and offered a joyful reminder of how early curiosity can shape remarkable careers.

School Archivist Nicola Waddington caught up over lunch with alumna Bea Keady (Brading’s 2022), now a member of Ancestry’s Projects Team at The National Archives. The meeting was a chance to celebrate Bea’s impressive progress and to reminisce on where it all began: in the Alleyn’s Archives.

Bea’s first hands-on experience of archival work came as a Year 12 student in 2021, when she volunteered with Nicola for her Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. During that time, Bea curated Alleyn’s first ever Pupil‑Curated Archives Corner.

Working under Nicola’s guidance (who coincidentally, like Bea, enjoyed her first ever job at the Public Record Office, the forerunner of the National Archives!), Bea curated a wonderful archival exhibition on life during WW2 for Alleyn’s alumnus Derek Smith (Roper’s 1953) and his elder brother, Ian. Ian had remained in London during the Second World War while Alleyn’s was evacuated to Rossall, and their family home in Forest Hill was destroyed during the Blitz.

Bea used Derek’s school journal, exercise books and personal memorabilia which he donated to the school archives to form the exhibition. She selected the materials, wrote the captions and designed the exhibition layout herself. She also visited Derek's family home, gathering vital context and photographing the rebuilt property to create a striking “then and now” feature.

Reflecting on the experience at the time, Bea said:

“I absolutely loved working on this project and am delighted with the final outcome. Huge thanks to Miss Waddington—without her, none of this would have been possible.”

The project proved to be the perfect launchpad. Bea went on to study History at Oxford University, where, alongside her studies she undertook internships with Historic England and Blenheim Palace Archives, and even transcribing medieval Latin deeds for Lincoln College.

Seeing her now, thriving at The National Archives, made for a truly special reunion and a proud moment for Alleyn’s Archivist, Nicola!

The Alleyn’s Archives collects and protects the School’s working records, and makes its older records available for members of the School community and the wider public to learn about the School’s history.

The earliest records date to 1857 when Alleyn’s College divided into two schools – the Upper School and the Lower School. Alleyn’s evolved from the Lower School, and so the bulk of Alleyn’s records start in 1882. You can view the digital archives here.