Bangor Grammar School

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| image1 = Bank_of_Ireland,_Bangor_County_Down.jpg

| alt1 = Bank of Ireland Building

| caption1 = Original site on Main Street (1856–1901), now site of a Bank of Ireland building.

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| alt2 = Crosby House

| caption2 = College Avenue site (1905–2012), building in foreground is Crosby House.

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Endowment for the school came from the will of local gentleman and politician Robert Ward of Castle Ward. Ward was the fourth son of Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor, and grandson of Michael Ward. Ward bequeathed £1,000 to be "…expended in building and endowing a School-house for the education of boys in Mathematics, Astronomy and Navigation…", in his family home town and parliamentary constituency.

Initially established as Bangor Endowed School, the school was originally situated on the site of the modern day Bank of Ireland building on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. By the turn of the 20th century the school had changed its name to Bangor Grammar School and because of a growth in school population moved from site to site over a number of years. With the help of W.K. Crosby, the school moved to a new site on College Avenue, in the northeast of Bangor in 1906. The facade visible from College Avenue is a combination of two buildings: Crosby House (known as the Crosby Buildings), which dates back to 1905 and was named after the school's benefactor; and a later extension to the north, which was added as a Headmaster's residence around the time of the outbreak of The Great War (1914–1918).

Despite Northern Ireland not being subject to conscription like the rest of the United Kingdom, a significant number of Grammarians volunteered for the British Armed Forces and fought in both World Wars, in particular the Second World War (1939–1945). The school population was comparatively small at this time, reaching just 200 pupils in 1930 as opposed to 936 pupils in 2008.Northern Ireland Assembly – Department of Education Interior Correspondence {{cite web|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/researchandlibrary/deposited_papers/2009/dp540.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-08-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216041837/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/researchandlibrary/deposited_papers/2009/dp540.pdf |archivedate=2010-12-16 }} See Page 7, Under the list of SEELB voluntary schools. Retrieved 26 August 2010 .

Two commemorative plaques are erected in the school assembly hall listing the names off all ex-pupils that died whilst serving in the British Armed Forces during both World Wars. The school's Debating Society minutes present a record of motions brought to the house concerning key events of the times, including a motion concerning the Munich Agreement."

Image:Ballymacormack Playing Fields.jpg.]]

Bangor Grammar has won the rugby Ulster Schools Cup on five occasions and has appeared in nine finals.{{Cite web | title = Ulster School's Cup Previous Winners | url = http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/Tournaments/UlsterSchoolsCup/Cup.asp?Season=Earlier | accessdate = 20 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230511/http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/Tournaments/UlsterSchoolsCup/Cup.asp?Season=Earlier | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | url-status = dead }} The school is therefore ranked as seventh in terms of overall success in the competition.{{Cite web | title = Ulster School's Cup Rankings | url = http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/Tournaments/UlsterSchoolsCup/MainInfo/Rankings.htm | accessdate = 20 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201016/http://www.schoolsrugby.co.uk/Tournaments/UlsterSchoolsCup/MainInfo/Rankings.htm | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | url-status = dead }} The late 1980s saw a particularly successful period for the school, appearing in four finals from 1985 to 1988 and winning three of them. Bangor Grammar have won the Burney Cup and McCullough Cup and All Ireland schools titles in hockey. In 2005, a badminton double was achieved in the Ulster Finals of the Minors Division 2 and the Seniors Ulster Cup. The Minors beat RBAI in the League Final 4–2 and the Seniors won 4–2. The Seniors were also in the Division 2 final but were beaten by Belfast Royal Academy, a Division 1 team.

The school had a preparatory school called Connor House for pupils aged 4–11 until the end of the 2011–12 academic year.

As is the case for many single-sex schools Bangor Grammar maintains close links with its sister single-sex school in Bangor, Glenlola Collegiate. The two schools regularly participate in joint activities, most notably the Combined Cadet Force, which meets in an MoD-funded, purpose-built site on Bangor Grammar's campus; the two Scripture Union Societies which hold joint meetings and activities; and the two drama departments, which collaborate on student productions.

{{See also|Category:People educated at Bangor Grammar School}}

Image:Trimble, David (1944).jpg]]

• Leslie Cree – Ulster Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
• David Trimble, Baron Trimble – Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (1995–2005), Northern Ireland's First Minister (1999–2000 and 2000–2002) and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1998. Attended the school from 1956 to 1963
• Peter Weir, Baron Weir of Ballyholme – Democratic Unionist Party member of the House of Lords (2022–present), member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (2017–2022)
• Brian Wilson – Green Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Image:Colin Bateman.jpg]]

• Colin Bateman – Author and screenwriter, creator of Murphy's Law
• Jason Barlow – TV presenter
• Wilfrid Merydith Capper – Countryside campaigner
• Peter Millar (journalist)
• Mark Hamilton – BBC and RTÉ TV and radio doctor
• Adam Best – Television actor, Matt Parker in the BBC TV drama Holby City

• Iain Archer – Singer/songwriter and winner of an Ivor Novello Award
• Brian Irvine - ComposerImage:Two door cinema club, Kitsune, bluebird.jpg]]
• Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird, and Sam Halliday - of indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club
• Sean Walsh, Sean Arkins and Robert Burch - of pop band The Original Rudeboys

Former Bangor Grammar students have represented Northern Ireland, Ireland, Great Britain and Europe at international level in a number of sports.

;{{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British and Irish Lions

• Richard Milliken

;{{ru|Ireland}}

;{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} Ireland A

• Bryn Cunningham
• Paul McKenzie

;{{flagicon|Ulster|rugby union}} Ulster A

• Stuart McCloskey
• Aaron Sexton

;{{cr|IRE}}

• John Elder
• Mark Hutchinson
• Brian Millar
• Michael Rea

;{{fb|NIR}}

• Keith Gillespie
• Terry Neill

;{{fh|Ireland}}

• Chris Cargo
• Stephen Martin
• David McManus

;{{fh|Great Britain}}

• Stephen Martin

;{{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland

• Chris Cargo; field hockey – 2016
• Davey Gray; rowing – 1980
• Stephen Milne; sailing – 2008
• Bill O'Hara; sailing – 1984, 1988
• Conrad Simpson; sailing – 1988, 1992

Image:David Feherty and Tiger Woods.jpg with Tiger Woods]]

;{{flagicon|Great Britain}} Great Britain

• Stephen Martin; field hockey – 1984, 1988 and 1992. Gold medallist in 1988.

• David Feherty; represented Ireland in Dunhill Cup and World Cup tournaments and Europe at the 1991 Ryder Cup

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=http://grammarians.co.uk/members/bangor-grammar-school-launches-its-sporting-wall-of-fame/|title=Bangor Grammar School launches its Sporting Wall of Fame|publisher=grammarians.co.uk|date=22 March 2018|accessdate=4 May 2019|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504220520/http://grammarians.co.uk/members/bangor-grammar-school-launches-its-sporting-wall-of-fame/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/where-are-they-now-kenny-hooks-markethill-1160-119306.html |title=Where are they now? Kenny Hooks (Markethill 1/1/60) |accessdate=2010-12-20 |author1=Ward, Tony |author2=Rooney, Kieran |author3=Kelly, David |date=2006-01-25 |publisher=Irish Independent |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026012824/http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/where-are-they-now-kenny-hooks-markethill-1160-119306.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bangorgrammarschool.org.uk/newsandevents.php?nid=61&archived=true |title=Bangor Grammar School - News Sesquicentenary Sports Weekend |accessdate=2010-12-20 |date=2007-05-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723141316/http://www.bangorgrammarschool.org.uk/newsandevents.php?nid=61&archived=true |archivedate=2011-07-23 }}{{Cite web | title = Ulster Rugby : News Archive - An Exile Returns Home | url = http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/1716.php | accessdate = 20 December 2010 | archive-date = 7 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120307143547/http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/1716.php | url-status = live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.intouchrugby.com/magazine/2010/10/04/bryn-cunnningham-anounces-retirement/ |title=Ulster Rugby Player Has Decided to Retire |accessdate=2010-12-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305061817/http://www.intouchrugby.com/magazine/2010/10/04/bryn-cunnningham-anounces-retirement/ |archivedate=2012-03-05 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/4723.php | title=Ulster Rugby News U21 World Cup | accessdate=2010-12-20 | archive-date=7 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307143559/http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/4723.php | url-status=live }}}}

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|notes = Granted 8 July 1954

|escutcheon = Azure within two bendlets as many bendlets dancettee all between two mullets Or a bordure of the last.

|crest = On a wreath of the colours a griffin couchant wings elevated and addorsed Or.

|motto = Justitiae Tenax {{cite web |title=Bangor Grammar School |publisher=Heraldry of the World |accessdate=11 October 2020 |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Bangor_Grammar_School |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929180104/http://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Bangor_Grammar_School |url-status=live }}}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bangorgrammarschool.org.uk/ Bangor Grammar School Website]
• [http://grammarians.co.uk/ Bangor Grammarians]

{{Northern Irish members of HMC}}{{Education in Northern Ireland}}

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Category:Grammar schools in County Down

Category:Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference

Category:Bangor, County Down

Category:Boys' schools in Northern Ireland