From School Bells to Wedding Bells

by Jade Bartlett née Bradbury-Kirkham (QM 2002-04)

After much cajoling from parents, I have decided to write the story of how two 6th formers who shared a coffee in the 6th form houses, have ended up sharing wedding vows.

Alex Bartlett and I met in 2002. This was the year in which I joined the 6th form, along with two other girls. I was assigned to the ‘artsy’ half of the year in 6HD and Alex was a mathematician, in 6MB. Notable guiding forces during my time at QM included Mrs Martin (whose teaching style has influenced my own career over recent years), Miss Field- Mears, Mr Lawrence and Mr Rushworth. Thought provoking RE classes, an English trip to The Somme and Mr Rushworth’s energetic blow by blow recreation of the Catholic Reforma- tion (including forming a crucifix on the classroom floor) punctuated my days. For Alex, Mr Rocket’s enthusiastic delivery of Physics would lead him to study Engineering at University in later years, and thanks to Mr Wragg’s dedicated tutelage, he would become a proficient pianist and go on to join the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra as a Viola player (as well as singing rousing choral pieces in the shower).

Alex and I bonded quickly, over a cup of coffee in the 6th form houses. This became a daily occurrence, accompanied by dear friends, Matt Whitehouse, Andrew Jinks and Alex Wheble. Frequent trips to Pauline’s Sandwich Shop with Alex Collins ensured we shared many a bacon sandwich and shortened many a lunchbreak (and probably our lives) over the 2 years we were at QM together.

During free periods, Alex would play the grand piano in the school hall and I would evade homework on Henry VIII by listening to him until reprimanded by various teachers. One of the memorable pieces he played, much to the lament of the maths class taking place next to the hall, was Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. This would become our First Dance at our wedding.

A-Levels ensued and Prefects, Proms and Pantomimes would shape the school year. In the blink of an eye, our time at QM was over.

Alex and I embarked on a 4 year adventure ‘up north’ to the remote climes of Lancaster University. During this time, I read copiously for an English Literature Masters Degree and Alex roared, spluttered and revved around the car parks in the Formula Student car he and his team designed for his Mechanical Engineering Degree. The latter project would lead us both to Silverstone for the final week of University, competing against 80 other Universities from across the world.

Swapping bucket seats for tow bars, following university, we set off around Europe with an ancient trailer tent; killing time (and nearly each other) for a few months before the ‘Real World’ crept up on us and we were required to enter the scary world of the workplace. For me, the realisation that writing a bestseller and retiring at the age of 22 would be difficult during a recession set in, I embarked upon a PGCE. Alex settled in to Jaguar Land Rover designing engines, and has remained there ever since.

This prompted a move to Warwickshire, and the start of a shared passion for renovation (or knocking things down). Our first house, on an ex RAF development, lacked basic amenities so we learnt bricklaying, roofing and electric skills. ‘Destruction under Instruction’ of the internet has shaped the last few years, as we moved on to house number 2 and building our own extension. The trenches I had seen during my 6th form visits to Belgium and France were recreated in our back garden, as we excavated footings in what would become the wettest year of the decade. Future projects include ‘Hitting the Roof’ and building a bar in the back garden from which Alex can ply unsuspecting guests with the Homebrew which now clinks and rattles behind every cupboard door in our kitchen.

Project completed, and overdrafts recovered, Alex and I finally decided to get married last year. Long after our dear school friends had given up on the idea it would ever happen, we exchanged vows at Coombe Abbey in June 2017, overseen by family and even some friends from school. Swapping the green tie for a wedding tie took just under 15 years.

We both look back fondly on our time at QM together, a period which has inextricably shaped the course of our lives over the last 2 decades. Alex works happily as a Design Engineer at JLR and my work as a Department Manager at BMET college frequently makes me want to fall to the floor in a crucifix, like Mr Rushworth. Nevertheless, the school motto, Quas dederis solas semper habebis opes seems more than apt as we embark upon life together as The Bartletts.

Jade & Alex Bartlett (QM1997-2004)

PS Jade and Alex are expecting their first child, a little girl, due in June!