We take a look back at a unique student publication that chronicled life at St Bede's in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s.

In the annals of St Bede's history, few artefacts capture the essence of school life from  students' perspective quite like The Bedean Times. A weekly publication penned and illustrated by students, it served as a vibrant chronicle of a bustling campus. 

As the school community then navigated the societal and cultural changes of the era, The Bedean Times today gives us a window into the past. Written with youthful exuberance and illustrated with creative flair, its pages brimmed with news, a lot of humour, and a distinctive commentary on day-to-day life at St Bede's. 

From sports updates to academic achievements, social events to student profiles, at its peak The Bedean Times offered a comprehensive snapshot of campus happenings. Its blend of informative articles and at times whimsical illustrations captured the diverse interests and passions of the student body.

At its core, The Bedean Times was more than just a newspaper; it was a reflection of the vibrant spirit and sense of community that defined St Bede's. Through its pages, students found a platform to express themselves, share their experiences, and celebrate their achievements. It was a publication "by the boys, for the boys". 

The first issue of The Bedean Times appeared on 14 June 1957 (a copy of this edition is included at the bottom of this article) and it was the fourth school newspaper to be published at St Bede's. The first paper, The Chronicle, had two editions published some 20 years earlier in 1934 when the college had acquired a small printing press. Baeda, a second more serious iteration of the school newspaper, was introduced by Fr John Bennett SM on September 30, 1944. It made sporadic appearances until its discontinuation sometime in 1945. A group of senior students produced the short-lived publication Look, which went on sale on April 3, 1952, with its fourth and final edition released on July 31 that same year. 

A copy of the third edition of Look found its way into the hands of Head Prefect Michael Gaffaney (1951-1957) in early 1957, sparking the idea of launching another paper under the supervision of Fr. Bill Leeming SM (1940-1943). Michael enlisted the help of John Craig (1953-1957), Mark O'Connor (1951-1957), and Brian Tutty (1953-1957), and so The Bedean Times was born - a publication that was distributed to an eager readership at morning tea. According to the 1957 Bedean, Michael wrote "leaders in good editorial style, dealing with matters which fostered good discipline and the keeping up of the traditions of the school", Mark did the 'Sportsman of the Week', Brian the crossword (for which a half-crown prize was given), and John wrote 'The Bedean Alphabet' and 'Diary of a Spectator'. Apparently "there were no long or serious articles, no short stories or verse: there was a considerable amount of humorous comment on local topics and much friendly persiflage". 

Like any good news organisation would do, we recently reached out to Michael Gaffaney for comment. He told us: "I think we made a small charge for each issue. The producing of the magazine was enjoyable and did not seem to be too stressful from memory." Michael has very kindly donated some of his copies of The Bedean Times from 1957 and 1958 to our archives.  

The following year the publication was taken over by Head Prefect Peter Cartwright (1953-1958), Michael Hall (1954-1958), Vince Catherwood (1955-1959), and Gerald Rooney (1954-1958), who produced 12 editions that "kept up the high standard set by the founders of the paper". In 1959, the paper entered its third year of publication with its third editorial staff. Despite producing fewer issues each term compared to previous years (two per term), the standard "remained consistently high". It adhered to a conservative approach, with minimal changes being made to its format and features. 

At the beginning of 1960, Fr. Leeming transferred to Timaru, but the The Bedean Times continued under the encouragement of Fr Declan Maher and Fr Earl Crotty with a fresh group of eager senior students who agreed to take it over. They included Emmett Hobbs (1954-1960), Brian Bourke (1960), Richard McBride (1956-1960),and Anthony Lee (1956-60). In 1961, the editorial staff, led by Head Prefect Kevin Foley (1956-1961), were granted new premises to produce the paper: the attic room in a classroom block previously occupied by the Upper Sixth or Form 4D class. Additionally, they were provided with a typewriter, which eliminated the need to borrow one. Then, in 1962, the introduction of a printing press was also made possible "thanks to the persistence, importunity, and industry of Fr. Manning and the generosity of a number of friends". 

Over the remaining years of the '60s and very early 70s, The Bedean Times featured less prominently in the annual Bedean and, hence, our understanding of this part of its history is limited (editorial staff from this period, please feel free to email us in your memories!) however we do know that in 1966, £25 raised from the sale of the publication was gifted to purchase a recently renovated Clinker Four Boat for school rowing, then in 1969 a Publications Board took control of the newspaper so better management to ensure "more boys will have the opportunity to contribute to it and the paper will be improved as a result".  

On the morning of May 6 1971, a Bedean Times issue "appeared" and then "disappeared" during morning tea and interestingly there is no mention of it again until the1973 Bedean proudly states "one of the big successes of the year has been a weekly publication bearing the traditional tile of the boys newspaper. The Bedean Times has been in recess for a few years and its revival in 1973 has been greeted with a flutter of excitement in the quad and in the staff room every Monday morning".    

Prefect and First XV Captain Chris Aiken (1969-1973) has kindly provided his recollections (“if my memory serves me right!”) on being on the editorial committee in 1973:

"I believe the boys and parents community had been denied a publication partly because earlier versions were produced 'independently' by the boys had run material more suitable for a University rag and lacked the proper adult supervision. It also lacked a commercial model that would assist with fundraising. So a group of subsequently famous (other than me!) boys got together to have a go at reviving The Bedean Times. The team included a young Richard Keddell (a decorated surgeon), the late Martyn Duffy (the London and Broadway impresario aka Aunty Bob in the paper), current Speaker of the House of Representatives The Right Honourable Gerry Brownlee, and famed sports broadcaster and raconteur John Dunne, and myself.

"In 1973 Fr. Jim Dooley (chaperone) was convinced to be our master in charge and content guide to relaunch a weekly publication. While I was nominated as editor much credit goes to the group and Fr. Dooley. It was a great team and even as boys their future talents were in full display. 

"We also decided to sell a copy of the publication to parents for 5 cents I think and by the end of the year we had raised enough money to contribute to the new squash courts. I believe our weekly run was around 700 copies with pass on readership probably of four. That was a tidy weekly achievement. The secrets of The Bedean Times' success was its inclusiveness - we tried to get everyone mentioned for all activities and at all levels, not just the traditional elite activity, tasteful but marginally satirical humour (that Fr Dooley monitored carefully) and support of the staff and boys for material. Clear recollections for me were John Dunne editing now famous “Stirrer of the Week” column and collecting a wide range of sports news snippets. We also had a “Sounge of the week” and a and “Poser of the week” - no woke labels in 1973.

"Gerry Brownlee provided an instinctively humorous eye on overall tone and Richard Kiddell kept the boarding school voice loud and clear. The late Martyn Duffy’s editing the hilarious (to the taste of 1973 Catholic schoolboys) Letters to Aunty Bob - an agony aunt column that boys (usually Martyn or one of his equally clever mates) would pose their problems to. Aunty Bob would reply usually with great, in some cases marginal, humour. What seems like somewhat corny dad joke humour now was very funny at the time".  

Dear Aunty Bob, I’d like to see my girlfriend
in something long and flowing”. 
Yours rowmantic!
Dear rowmantic; 
I suggest you throw her in the Waimak

"So a simple all pupil focused light newsy formula and lots of hard volunteering. My payback was being able to prioritise the mag deadline over the occasional academic class test. Perfect!".    

Fr. Jim Dooley SM has also kindly shared his memories of this time with us: 

"In the 1960s (I arrived at St Bede’s in 1964) Fr. Earl Crotty produced a Bedean Times. It was a students’ newspaper published periodically but it lapsed when Fr Crotty moved from St Bede’s in 1971. It was resurrected in 1973 and was published every week of term selling for 5 cents per copy at morning break every Monday morning. The Bedean Times reported on all the events of the previous week at the college, including results and commentary on weekend sports events. It also had regular contributors who offered articles presenting a profile of their classmates or information and commentary about current or future events. Each Friday afternoon, John Darby and his friends would provide illustrations or caricatures to accompany some of these articles. Everything was drawn or typed onto wax stencils and a couple of faithful boarders printed the finished article on the Gestetner on Sunday afternoon. There were always eight pages to prepare, ready for sale on Monday morning.

"It was always a lot of fun. While care and restraint were always necessary, no doubt some students must have felt uncomfortable at times with reading about themselves in some of the articles in which they were involved. Hopefully, The Bedean Times brings back, for the most part, good memories.

Fr. Dooley left St Bede's College in 1974. Following his departure, the 1975 Bedean declared that The Bedean Times had "become a Bedean institution in the last few years, thanks largely to the efforts of Fr. J. Dooley. It is a tribute to his organisation that the Bedean Times was so popular that it was unthinkable that it should be allowed to cease publication when he was shifted to become Rector of St Augustine's".  

During this period, The Bedean Times flourished, maintaining its distinctive literary style. The publication was also fortunate to benefit from the talents of several student cartoonists, including Simon Darby (1974-1978), Jonathan Poff (1973-1977), Victor Lenting (1973-1976), and Michael Kennedy (1973-1975).

Fr. Merv Duffy SM (1972-1976), who was on the editorial committee in 1976, remembers Simon Darby, nephew of then Rector Fr. Des Darby, as a brilliant cartoonist. "We would leave a space for the cartoon when typing up the master Gestetner sheet, and he would draw the cartoon directly into the waxy sheet with a sharp stylus," he explained.

"I have very fond memories of The Bedean Times", says Fr. Merv. "Each issue was eight foolscap pages - four sheets Gestetnered off and stapled in the top left corner (done by a team of boarders). It was sold during morning break on Mondays for 5c. There was a lot of sports results. We had the aim of mentioning as many students as we could by name - so that they would buy a copy.

"Fr. Dave Tapp was the staff member responsible for The Bedean Times that year, and Paul Dalziel (1972-1976), now professor of Economics, wrote most of the letters in the agony column 'Aunty Bob' - the letters and their replies were all made up. The aim was usually to poke fun at someone or other. They were frequently written during Physics class." 

Dear Aunty Bob,
Is there any truth in the rumour that Fr Williams was copped for speeding on the Main North Road on his bicycle?
Concerned Third Former

Dear Concerned 3rd Former
There is no truth in this at all. He dragged the cop off.
Yours,
Aunty B

"In the subsequent year (1977), The Bedean Times got into bother when an unapproved extra page was added to an issue. It included a large cartoon depicting members of the staff I believe," added Fr Merv. 

Keen to learn more about this 'scandal' in this history of The Bedean Times, we reached out to 1977's Head Prefect and member of that year's editorial committee, Tim Draper (1973-1977) for comment. 

"The 'bit of bother' that Fr. Merv Duffy refers to is very accurate regarding an infamous final edition that year," explains Tim.  "A surreptitiously added last page featured a satirical poem, accompanied by a corresponding cartoon, subtly addressing a number of key staff and related events that occurred earlier in the school year. 

"The fourth form printing team were sworn to secrecy about this particular edition until circulation the next day and all the copies were duly stored secretly away, rather than left in the Gestetner room. On this particular night, Rector Fr. Des Darby, who would usually pass by the Gestetner room very late each Sunday to claim ownership of one copy from the stacked pile for a final vetting, fortunately (or unfortunately) didn’t inquire further about the whereabouts of the usual pile hot off the press when he couldn’t find them. The next day the bumper edition sold out within minutes of the bell signalling morning break, even when twice the usual number were printed (we all knew it would be a sure seller). 

"The editorial committee pre-empted any summons from on high that day by volunteering as a group to meet with the Rector in his office at lunchtime. What prevented significant fallout was the fact that Fr. Des Darby was incredulously astounded when he discovered that his nephew Simon Darby was the artist of the final page cartoon!" said Tim.   

In the 1980s, the nature and obligations of college life meant that The Bedean Times evolved into an "occasional college tradition" (the 1986 Bedean calling it a "literary phoenix") to ceasing altogether. Although we lack specific details on when and why the decision was made to discontinue The Bedean Times, it can be surmised that the commitment and unrelenting pressure became too burdensome for both students and the responsible staff member appointed, ultimately rendering it an unattractive activity to continue. Again, we would love to hear from any editorial committee members from the 1980s who would like to add their voice to the story of The Bedean Times in our archive.    

In the very first edition of The Bedean Times, a note at the bottom of the front pages reads: 

"Now we intend, with your cooperation to produce The Bedean Times, which we hope will grow and expand from this humble beginning". 

It's safe to say a dedicated line of talented Bedeans successfully achieved this goal. Today, as we reflect on the rich tapestry of St Bede's history, we pay homage to The Bedean Times and the students who brought it to life. Though its ink may have long dried, its legacy continues to live on in the memories of those who experienced its magic first hand. 

The Community Office extends special thanks to Michael Gaffaney, Chris Aiken, Fr Jim Dooley SM, Fr Merv Duffy SM, and Tim Draper for their invaluable contributions to this article. We fully appreciate the significance of The Bedean Times in the history of St Bede's College and have strived to do it justice with the information we have available to us. If anyone would like to provide further insights into their own experiences of The Bedean Times, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at  oldboys@stbedes.school.nz .