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13 December 2019
On Wednesday 20th November, Badminton School celebrated the centenary of Dame Iris Murdoch DBE with the unveiling of a Blue Plaque in her honour.
The acclaimed novelist and philosopher, described as ‘one of the finest minds of her generation’, attended Badminton School for six years from 1932 to 1938 during which time she motivated children from across Bristol schools to submit poems for a charity publication, ‘Poet Venturers’, and even secured a foreword for the book by W.H. Auden. Several years later, she also opened the School’s Creative Arts Centre in 1994.
Graham Egarr of the Bristol Civic Society opened the celebrations explaining this is “the first plaque to celebrate a novelist, the first to commemorate a philosopher and the first to exalt a Booker Prize winner”.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol officially unveiled the plaque that is mounted prominently on the outer wall of the School on Westbury Road. She, accompanied by her consort Stephen Williams, commented: “what an honour it is” to unveil the plaque for “[one of] the individuals [that are] so important to our city”.
Mrs Tear, Headmistress of Badminton School, commented: “I am delighted that Dame Iris Murdoch is celebrated in such a public and enduring manner. Her legacy continues to inspire the pupils of Badminton School and we remain proud of the legacy of this Old Badmintonian. This Blue Plaque adds to the already diverse list of individuals who have made an impact to Bristol and we look forward to seeing the number grow through the good stewardship of the Civic Society.”
