The Bedford Physical Education Old Students’ Association (BPEOSA) proudly announces the launch of ‘Stanny’s Stus’. It’s an evocative photographic exhibition presented in partnership with The Higgins Bedford and funded by Arts Council England and BPEOSA. This unique exhibition will be on display for six months, from Thursday 6 November 2025 to Sunday 31 May 2026, at The Higgins Bedford’s Sir William Harpur Gallery.
‘Stanny’s Stus’ celebrates the inspiring legacy of Margaret Stansfeld, the pioneering educationalist and suffragist who founded the Bedford Physical Training College in 1903. The College, located on Lansdowne Road, was an all-female institution whose students and staff earned the affectionate local nickname ‘Stanny’s Stus’.
The exhibition draws upon a rich photographic archive, much of which was created by the students and staff themselves. Featuring images that span from 1903 to 1948, this collection showcases vivid moments of sporting, social, and academic life in early 20th-century Bedfordshire. Through these powerful and personal photographs, visitors will gain insight into the evolving roles of women in sport and society during a transformative era.
“These photographs aren’t just historical records, they’re personal, candid, and powerful,” said Steph Daniels, one of the exhibition’s curators and a Trustee of BPEOSA. “They tell stories of camaraderie, empowerment, and a community of women pioneering Physical Training and Education at a time when it was far from the norm.”
Many of the photographs have been carefully digitised from original albums dating back over 120 years and are part of the Bedford Physical Education Archive, housed at the University of Bedfordshire. This will be the first opportunity for the public to view these remarkable images outside the archive, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the history of women’s physical education.
Councillor Sarah Gallagher, Portfolio Holder for Customer Experience, Leisure and Culture at Bedford Borough Council, added, “This exhibition is a wonderful celebration of Bedford Borough’s rich heritage, and the trailblazing women who shaped physical education at a time when opportunities for women in sport were limited. ‘Stanny’s Stus’ not only honours their legacy but also inspires today’s generation to embrace the powerful role that sport and education play in fostering equality and community spirit.”
The Bedford Borough community and visitors from further afield are warmly invited to explore this fascinating chapter of local and women’s history from Thursday, 6 November.
The Higgins Bedford can be found on Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD, just behind the Castle Mound from The Embankment. For further information, visit their website at www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Home.aspx