Reunion group celebrate Bury’s links with Harvard – following in the footsteps of Henry Dunster, the first President of Harvard (1640)

Date published: 22 October 2008

On 20th September 2008 representatives of the Bury Grammar Schools visited Harvard for the inauguration of the Henry Dunster Society. The event was attended by 32 people and included alumni/ae who had travelled from as far as Queensland, Australia and others who had flown from the west coast of the US and Canada.

A special highlight of the weekend was an interesting and thoughtful presentation by Megan Sniffin-Marinoff the University Archivist in the august setting of the Pusey Library. The group was treated to a rare glimpse of Dunster artefacts including a viewing of the 1650 Charter of the Harvard Corporation, drafted by Henry Dunster. Megan’s illuminating account of Dunster as a Lancashire lad from Bury Grammar School who had a profound and lasting influence on the formation of Harvard, and indeed, American higher education was exceptional. Dunster was baptised at Bury Parish Church where he later served as Curate; he was a former pupil and Headmaster of Bury Grammar School. Henry’s experiences in running a Lancashire Grammar School were put to good use at Harvard, indeed we may claim that Bury Grammar School is part of the rock from which Harvard was hewn.

The Schools were represented by Derek Calrow, a senior Governor and Chairman of the Development Committee, Bobby Georghiou, Headmistress of the Girls School and Francine Healey, Development Officer. The Reunion Group enjoyed a full weekend of celebrations, based in the welcoming and ambient atmosphere of the Harvard Faculty Club. There is no doubt that the inauguration of the Henry Dunster Society was a huge success and as we move towards the 400th anniversary of Dunster’s birth next year it is expected that links between our two countries will strengthen.

As an act of generosity and to mark this historic occasion, Old Boy, Geoffrey Wandesforde-Smith has formally registered a coat of arms for the Henry Dunster Association with the United States Heraldic Registry. The arms of the Society join those of the Schools with a ship symbolising Dunster’s journey to America in 1640.